Episode 28:

Beshte and the Beast

On another bright and hot sunny day, the zebras were making their way towards the watering hole for a drink. But just when they arrived, they were suddenly greeted by both Pinkie and Bunga appearing right in front of them waving their hooves and paws up to signal to them they can not approach the area.

“Whoa, whoa, whoa! Hold it zebra- deebras!” Bunga called out to the halted group with Pinkie giggling at what he just said specifically the last bit. “It's the giraffes' turn to use the watering hole!”

Thurston being Thurston expressed indignation at what they are being told. “This is an outrage! We just want a drink of water!”

“And believe us, we totally understand that! But the giraffes here have their scheduled reservation right about now.” She pulled out a clipboard consisting of the schedule of who is scheduled to have rights to the watering hole today. “See! And you all are just a teensy bit early which means you just need to wait your turn for a little while.”

“Indeed.” Ono chimed in while flying over to them. “Sharing water is part of the Circle of Life.”

“But giraffes are so slow!” Thurston complained. “With those long necks it takes them forever to swallow.”

“Thurston!” Rarity moved over to scold the zebra herself. “While we understand your frustration that is no excuse to be rude. Now go over and wait before you say something you’ll regret.” She then ordered of them to which they begrudgingly do so without another word. With her head up high she trotted back towards the others “And here I thought there wouldn’t be a single Manehattan pony that would have better manners than a group of animals over a little drink of water.”

“You’re telling me.” Starlight voiced and shared their frustration. “Makes one wonder if the same could be said about me if I were in their hoofs.”

“Tell me about it.” Fuli sighed while sharing the unicorn’s frustration with the zebra’s attitude. “Everyone gets on edge when the water's running low.”

“It'll be okay, as long as we can keep them from fighting over it.” Kion assured.

“At least long enough for the Princesses to secure more water to share for them.” Twilight added while remaining positive about the whole situation herself to the best of her ability.

“Well, it's been pretty peaceful so far.” Beshte commented feeling good about today himself…

...that is until suddenly they heard roaring coming from the nearby trees. Said roaring came from a massive gorilla smashing and ripping up the nearby trees in his path to the watering hole.

“What is that?” Fuli asked while clearly surprised by his sudden dramatic entrance.

“That’s a gorilla.” Fluttershy commented which earned her a look from the cheetah for pointing out the obvious. “One that seems really fierce right now.”

“That’s right! Me Shujaa!” The gorilla himself confirmed.

“Think he's trying to cut the line?” Bunga asked the others albeit quietly and nervously.

With a mighty roar he pounded his fists into the ground which cracked the dirt a little and shook up the nearby animals.

“I don’t think so!” Starlight stated otherwise while quickly using her magic to get the ground around them to stop cracking.

“Panic and run! Panic and run!” Thurston screamed before taking off with the rest of his herd along with all of the giraffes following suit.

Seeing this sparked the Lion and Pony Guard into action.

“Beshte! Applejack! Ono! Rainbow Dash! Kyoga! Get the herds somewhere safe!” Kion ordered.

“You got it, Kion!”

“Can do, partner!”

“Affirmative!”

“On the double!”

“We got this!”

With that Twilight decided what the remaining others go to do. “We've gotta stop that gorilla.”

“You sure about that, darling?” Rarity asked with concern and worried her friend might be taking her chances with what they are dealing with. “He’s really huge and gigantic!”

“Of course.” Twilight nodded feeling sure it is something she can handle. “If I can take on a giant crocodile than a giant gorilla should be no different.”

“Okay. If you say so.”

“Thought you'd never ask.” Bunga replied eager to take on that challenge.

“Shujaa ponda!” The gorilla roared while throwing and kicking rocks so hard they cracked upon impact.

“Shujaa! Enough!” Twilight commanded while facing one of the incoming rocks head on by using her magic to crack it in half herself with Starlight quick to leap forward to use her magic to halt the last one from striking her face herself.

“Stop tearing up the Pride Lands!” Kion also commanded.

“Yeah! Or you'll have to deal with the Lion Guard!” Bunga fiercely added.

“And the Pony Guard!” Pinkie also added equally fierce.

“Lion and Pony Guard?” The gorilla then happily obeyed their leaders commands by sitting down. “Okay.”

“Okay.” Starlight replied finding it surprising herself. “That was almost too easy.”

But it still seemed that both Bunga and Pinkie still didn’t get the memo registered in their heads yet.

“You asked for it! Zuka Zama!”

“Germando!”

Both the honey badger and gorilla moved to climb up onto the gorilla to punch his back.

But Shujaa however managed to treat it as a soothing back massage. “Mmm. Back rub good. Higher?”

Bunga was left confused before complying. “Yeah, okay! Take this! And this!”

“Mmm. And pink pony, make sure to get the shoulder blades too.”

“Sure thing! Whatever makes this as painless as possible.”

“Oh, yeah! That’s right! You got it right there!”

Twilight can only shake her head along with Kion and the others with their friends antics.

“Bunga, Pinkie you both can stop.”

“Shujaa seems... friendly.”

“Really? He does? Okay!”

“Then my work here is done.”

Both the honey badger and pink earth pony moved to stand down as requested by leaping off of the gorilla.

With that part out of the way, Fuli then asked. “So, you're not here to make trouble?”

“And you’re not here to try to attack us?” Starlight also asked.

“No!” Shujaa confirmed with a soft chuckle before moving towards the watering hole to scoop up a handful. “Shujaa help Lion and Pony Guard. Shujaa save water from long-necks and stripes.”

“"Save?" Rarity chuckled at the misunderstanding. “Shujaa, darling, you misunderstood the situation. What was really happening before you showed up was just the giraffes and zebras trying to help themselves to water due to the intense heat the dry season brings to everyone here.” She moved to gesture a hoof towards the hot sun from above.

“Yeah! But don’t look up!” Pinkie quickly donned a pair of bright blue sunglasses before placing a pair of dark blue sunglasses on Shujaa’s eyes. “Because the sun is really, really, bright at this time of the day. And I mean really, really, really bright!”

“Pinkie, I think he gets the idea.” Twilight kindly tried to insist even when she gets everyone else to wear sunglasses that match their respective eye color. “But these are very nice shades.”

“Thanks! Rarity helped designed them!”

“True, darling. True.” Rarity proudly piped up.

“Not bad, Pinkie. Actually really my color.” Starlight also complimented.

Just then the others called out to them as they regrouped with them.

“Kion! Twilight!” Ono called out first before moving to perch on Shujaa’s shoulder. “The zebras and giraffes are safe and…” He suddenly gasped and realized what he is really perched on before flying on over to Beshte’s back instead in fright. “Hapana! Sorry! My mistake!”

Applejack also gasped. “A gorilla!”

“Requesting permission to send it up twirling his way out of the Pride Lands?” Rainbow then asked while flapping her wings extra hard ready to give her Sonic Rainboom speed to go with it.

“Permission denied.” Twilight firmly stated while shaking her head. “This gorilla is in fact friendly actually.”

“So that said, that won’t be necessary.” Kion added much to the Pegasus’s disappointment as evident by her crossed arms.

“Okay.” Deep down she is thinking. “But I really wanted to use it on someone?” She thought in a pout.

“Well considering that the Outsiders have been constantly lurking around you’ll get that chance soon enough.” Starlight assured for her sake as if she could read the Pegasus's mind right now.

“Anyways…” Beshte then continued. “...We haven't met, have we?”

“I don’t think so.” Kyoga replied while she tries to remember ever meeting her beforehand. “Unless you count that one time when I was passing by.”

“By passing by you mean when you asked me to give you a lift over the mountains, Shujaa remembers that.”

“A lift over!” Pinkie had to resist the urge to laugh before giving in much to Kyoga’s dismay. “Oh, that’s good!”

“Also…” Shujaa continued. “...Shujaa new. Sent by King Sokwe!” He pointed in the direction of the mountains up ahead.

“The gorilla king of the Theluji Mountains?” Ono noted and asked.

“Yep.” Shujaa nodded before moving to match the king’s serious expression. “He hear bad Outlanders hurt Pride Lands. He say, "Shujaa, go help Lion Guard! Do what Shujaa do best!"”

“And what does Shujaa do best?” Fluttershy curiously asked much to the gorilla’s excitement who moved to smash the ground in response.

“Shujaa ponda!”

“Shujaa...what?” Starlight uttered in confusion with her foreign launguge speaking a little tongue tied at the moment.

“Shujaa ponda!”

Shujaa Ponda

Music starts at 0:08 to 1:02

He moved to break out into a song all while demonstrating his impressive strength to the Lion and Pony Guard along the way from smashing trees and rocks along the way. Most of the Guard had to dodge to avoid being hurt because of it with both Bunga and Pinkie the only ones dancing to the beat of his tune. Finally he culminated his display of strength by lifting two heavy rock slabs that had both the Lion and Pony Guard standing on top of them with ease. Kion, Beshte, Ono all looked on in surprise. Applejack, Rainbow Dash, Pinkie, Starlight, and Bunga all looked on very impressed. Fuli, Rarity, and Fluttershy all looked on rather nervously while trying to make sure they don’t fall. Twilight and Kyoga both managed to keep a steely composure even with what is happening around them.

After he was finished singing he placed the slabs along with the Guard all down on the ground to which both Rartiy and Fluttershy were very thankful for. Rarity gasped before fainting while Fluttershy uttered a surprised. “Oh, my.”

“That is pretty impressive.” Fuli admitted with an equally impressed smile when the shock wore off.

“No kidding!” Rainbow was quick to state that is one of the most awesome things she has ever seen. “That was so awesome!”

“Adult gorillas can pick up ten times their body weight.” Ono noted. “Common knowledge, really.”

“You don’t say.” Starlight said like it is news to her.

With that Bunga moved to make some introductions himself. “Strongest in the mountains, meet the strongest in the Pride Lands!”

“Along with the strongest in Equestria.” Pinkie added while gesturing to Applejack.

Hearing this sparked interest in the two with common ground. “You two strong, too? Show Shujaa! Both of you.”

Both Beshte and Applejack thought humbly in response.

“Aw, I don't like to show off.”

“I mean sure I’m strong but it’s nothing compared to yours.”

“It's okay, Beshte.” Kion assured there’s no shame in showing it. “Show him.”

“Yeah, you too, Applejack! Show him what you can do.” Twilight encouraged speaking from past experience. “No need to be afraid.”

“Very well.”

“Okay, I guess…” Beshte moved to demonstrate his strength first. “Twende Kiboko!” He moved to use his snout to lift up and toss a nearby rock slab to Shujaa who managed to catch it.

“Oh, Beshte very strong!” The super strong gorilla liked what he saw before turning to the orange earth pony. “And how about you Applejack what can you do. I know!” He thought of an idea. “Shujaa and Applejack play catch!” He proceeded to throw the rock back at her who had quickly prepare herself to face it head on.

“Whoa nelly!” Applejack reacted with brief worry before quickly turning around to buck at it with great force. And with one super strong kick the rock was smashed into pieces.

“Oh!” Shujaa looked on even more impressed. “Applejack is very, very strong!”

“Yep, that’s right!” Applejack nodded before cautioning the gorilla for what he nearly did. “Though you may want to consider giving me a little more warning next time, if you can. I ended up breaking my legs one time when it did happen.”

“Sure. Shujaa can do that!” He immediately said without thinking much to the farm pony’s concern. And sure enough he immediately threw another rock at the pony without warning. “Here catch!” This time Applejack wisely stepped to the side and let the rock smash into pieces on the ground.

Nervous and feeling unsafe being near the ground, Ono moved to fly up high. “I think I'll stay up here for a while.”

“Me too.” Fluttershy moved to do the same. “Just for a little while.” She politely added to assure there are no hard feelings.

“King Sokwe was right.” Kion then commented turning the conversation towards why he is here. “We can definitely use your help.”

“Maybe sooner than you think!” Onon commented while managing to take a look at what was going on ahead of him. “The hyenas, crocs, and jackals are attacking Big Springs! They're facing off against Basi!”

Hearing that sparked especially big worry from the hippo’s son. “Dad? Oh, no!”

“No!” Shujaa snorted with his protective instincts kicking in. “Dad in danger?”

“Not for long.” Twilight stated certain it’s something they can handle. “Come on, Shujaa!” She along with Kion then led everyone on over there. “Till the Pride Lands and Equestria’s end...”

“Lion and Pony Guard defend!”

Shujaa followed suit himself. “Shujaa defend, too!”

In short time, the Guard along with Shujaa managed to get to Big Springs.

“Okay, here's the plan…” Twilight began.

But before she could explain it, Shujaa ran ahead himself taking charge of the situation by going off ahead. “Shujaa have plan! Shujaa ponda!”

“Of course. We’ll do it your way.” Twilight then said sarcastically. “This should be good.”

At Big Springs, Basi and his pod have the Outlanders held to a standstill despite being outnumbered. “That's far enough! This is our territory!”

“Not for long.” Kiburi scoffed before barking a command to the others. “Get 'em!”

Suddenly the huge dark blue gorilla leaped over the hippo pod’s shoulders and right in front of them. “Me Shujaa!”

“What's a Shujaa?” Janja asked in confusion while raising an eyebrow.

“I think it's the biggest baboon I've ever seen!” Chungu remarked equally confused.

Even still Kiburi wasn’t about to let him get in the way of things. “Who cares how big he is? We got him outnumbered!”

“We sure do.” Reirei said in agreement.

“Numbers not matter! Shujaa can't count!” He proceeded to launch a boulder right at them to which the jackals and crocs were knocked aside when it landed on the ground.

“Think he needs our help?” Fuli asked both Twilight and Kion as they watch the action unfold.

“Shujaa ponda! Shujaa ponda!” The gorilla continued throwing boulders to which the jackals narrowly avoided.

“Looks like he's got it under control.”

“No question about that.” Deep down while impressed she can’t help but note that he lacks restraint in his methods of fighting.

“Shujaa...ponda!”

Even still Kiburi and his float were not backing down from this fight. “Takes more than a few flying rocks to scare a croc!”

When in the process of blindly picking up rocks, he ended up dislodging a rock at the bottom of the pile which caused a small rock slide that forced the crocs and hyenas to back off due to the massive amount of dirt nearly burying them.

“What do we do, Janja?” Chungu fearfully asked his leader.

Upon seeing his strong display, he told them the only thing they can do, especially when he pulls a dead tree to use as a bat. “We run, furbrains! We run!”

But Shujaa was already charging right towards them. “Shujaa ponda!” He proceeded to bat the hyena trio away from Big Springs and bowling right into the nearby oyrxes.

Once they landed, the hyenas were quick to continue picking up where they left off. “Now we run!”

The hyenas along with the remaining Outsiders all were quick to retreat before returning to the Outlands once more.

“That was un-Bunga-lievable!” Bunga first expressed how amazing it was.

“Shujaa ponda.” The gorilla proudly returned.

“Thanks, Shujaa.”

“You really helped us out big time.”

Kion and Twilight then thanked with compliments following from the others.

“That was mighty impressive.”

“That was Poa!”

“120% awesome!”

“Quite a strong showing if I do say so myself.”

“It was pretty great.”

“You sure showed them!”

“Super duper undeniably amazing! This calls for a celebration!” Pinkie moved to get her party supplies and atmosphere going before...

“Maybe later.” Kyoga advised otherwise causing the girl to literally rewind herself a bit.

“But why?” She whined. “Didn’t like what you saw."

“We did but...look!” She said while turning her head to what’s in front of them.

“Oh, my!” Fluttershy gasped before getting right to work helping the poor animals caught in the crossfire.

Unfortunately, during the attack, Shujaa had wound up creating damage along the way starting with the aardvark’s home.

“Hey! Who put these boulders on my den?” Muhungaus complained upon emerging from said den.

In addition, the hares themselves got stuck in the dirt created from the small avalanche.

“Lion and Pony Guard? A little help?” The leader of the bunnies asked.

In addition the chaos had caused the oyrxes to get their horns tangled with each other.

Upon seeing the damage he created Shujaa turned to the Lion and Pony Guard now worried he did something wrong. “Shujaa do bad?”

Both Kion and Twilight were quick to assure him otherwise.

“No! Shujaa did great! We just might have a little clean-up to do.”

“And by that we mean this may take a while and then some more along the way.”

“What do you mean by that?”

“That we’ll talk about later after we clean up.”

Back inside the Outlands Volcano, Scar himself wasted no time in getting furious with his followers once he got word of their recent failure to take over Big Springs. “The Lion and Pony Guard defeated you? AGAIN?!”

“No! No! No!” Janja fearfully insisted before speaking on behalf of the intimidated trio of leaders. “Scar, it ain't what you think!”

“Yeah!” Reirei equally intimidated asserted. “It was a big gorilla that defeated us again…” She quickly corrected herself. “I mean, for the first time.”

“That's right!” Kiburi stated in agreement. “The Lion and Pony Guard just stood there and watched.”

Even still Scar’s anger had not let up in the slightest. “One gorilla beat all of you?!”

“Well, yeah.” Reirei admitted before explaining why it was such a huge problem for them to overcome. “But he was huge! And strong!”

“You shoulda seen him!” Janja added before getting more into detail about it. “Rippin' up trees, Throwin' boulders.”

“He even knocked down a whole hillside!” Reirei added.

“Hmm.” Upon hearing what he is being told he then examined the fight itself with his magic, before pondering and getting an idea out of it. “So a gorilla's tearing up the Pride Lands while trying to help the Lion and Pony Guard?” He then chuckled with sinister delight. “That's perfect!”

“It is?” Kiburi asked confused of why it is indeed a good thing for them.

“Of course!” Scar confirmed and then explained why. “It means all we have to do is keep attacking, then he'll do more damage to the Pride Lands than we ever could!” While the three share devious smiles themselves, Scar himself laughs manically with what is about to happen going forward.

Sometime later, the Guard was able to clean up the mess Shujaa had accidentally caused. The tossed around boulders were removed, the rabbits were free from the dirt they were trapped in, and the oyrxes were all untangled and free from each other.

While Rarity, Starlight, and Fluttershy worked together with Fuli in untangling the oyrxes. Pinkie and Kyoga worked together with Bunga in freeing the hares from the dirt they were nearly buried in. In addition Applejack, Beshte, and Pinkie Pie were left with removing the tossed rocks from Shujaa’s rampage while both Twilight and Kion personally talked and apologized to the aardvark leader for what happened earlier.

“Sorry about your den, Muhangus.” Kion apologized.

“We didn’t intend for this to happen.” Twilight added equally apologetic.

“Shujaa just try help hippos.” The gorilla also added clearly regretful with the damage he caused.

Muhungus however looked on like it is the most ridiculous thing he has ever heard. “Help hippos? Hippos are huge! They don't need help.”

“Well, they kinda did.” Kion pointed out. “Considering they were dealing with the Army of Scar.”

“And as for what happened, our friend just simple got a little carried away in the approach he used in defending them.” Twilight added.

Just then both Rainbow and Ono came by to give their leaders their success report.

“Okay, Kion! Twilight! The oryxes are all untangled now.”

“And all of the hares are out!” By then Bunga freed the last hare.

“Thank you.” Masikio expressed gratefully before leading the other hares away.

“See ya!”

“Take care of yourselves!”

Both Bunga and Kyoga called and waved after as they took off.

“Twende Kiboko!” Beshte said as he moved the boulder itself from the aardvark’s homes. “That's the last one, Muhangus. All your den entrances are uncovered.”

“Which means all is super duper good now!” Pinkie happily declared.

However Muhangus wasn’t about ready to take her word for it. “What about that one?” He pointed to the one more rock blocking said den.

“Ooh!” Shujaa quickly rushed over towards it. “Shujaa get. Shujaa help aardvark!” He picked up that rock and swung it away carelessly forcing Twilight to use her magic to freeze it in place. Just inches away from crashing into the nearby termite home. “Oops.”

After recovering from the near stumble from the sudden shock she proceeded raise up higher to allow Applejack to leap over and catch it. “It’s okay.” She assured the gorilla with a forgiving smile. She briefly strained from nearly pulling some muscles because of what she just did. “Though I highly recommend that maybe you should just let us handle the cleanup.” Turning to her friend who literally pulled the weight off of her horn. “Thanks Applejack.”

“You’re welcome, hun” Applejack kindly replied before making the final touches on their clean job. “And boy I could sure go for some lunch right about now.”

“So can I.” Starlight said all ready eager for that to happen.

No sooner that he said, both Ono and Rainbow managed to pick up trouble on the horizon again. Specifically the Army of Scar once more.

“Uh, I don't think there's time to eat. Look!”

“The hyenas, crocs and jackals are back in the Pride Lands!”

“Where?” Fuli asked.

“On the Savannah, just beyond Nyani Grove!” Ono reported.

“Then we'll go through the Grove and cut 'em off!” Kion then stated before leading the team on over their alongside Twilight. “Till the Pride Lands end…”

“Lion and Pony Guard defend!”

“Shujaa defend!”

“How we doin', Ono? Rainbow?” Twilight asked as they made their way over there.

“Anything happen yet?” Kion also asked.

Ono and Rainbow both flew high to examine their current movements and managed to spot them making their way towards the antelope while taking their sweet time to do so this time around.

“Not yet, Twilight! But they’re still coming, Kion!”

“Looks like they're after some antelope! You'll see them once we get through these trees!”

Immediately Shujaa once again charged ahead without thinking. “Cut through Grove? Shujaa help! Shujaa ponda!” He proceeded to knock down and tear apart the trees in front of him.

“Shujaa, wait!” Kion quickly tried to warn. “Baboons…”

Unfortunately the warning did not get through to him in time and the next thing that happens is flying baboons raining down from their homes.

“...live in those trees.” Twilight finished unable to resist face hoofing herself with what he just did.

“Well…” Fuli couldn’t help but scoff at the gorilla’s short sighted thinking. “...they used to.”

“And that’s not all!” Rainbow alerted after picking up something else.

Ono gasped upon seeing it as well. “Hapana! Look where they're going!”

During their panic, the baboons ended up running right towards the nearby buffalo herd who all stampeded alongside them and right past the Guard.

“Fuli, Kyoga, Rainbow, Applejack, Beshte! Stop those buffaloes!” Kion then ordered.

“On it!”

“Got it!”

“No problem!”

“Hold on there buffalo!”

“You heard her! This ain’t no rodeo!”

Said members of the Guard were quick to go after them upon being commanded to.

“Bunga, Ono, Pinkie, Rarity, Starlight, you're with me!” Twilight then said to the remaining members of the Guard.

“Gotcha!”

“Affirmative!”

“Whatever you say, captain!”

“We’re right behind you, darling!”

“Let’s do this!”

The seven then made their way after Shujaa who kept destroying trees in his way.

“Shujaa ponda!”

“Shujaa, stop!” Kion ordered of him. But the order came a little too late as by then he had already managed to destroy most of the trees in the Grove.

“Shujaa clear path!”

At the same time as the Outsiders made their way across the Pride Lands.

“Anybody see that big gorilla?” Janja asked of the others. Just then said gorilla managed to emerge from the nearby trees,

“Path clear, Kion, Twilight.”

“Great, thanks.” Twilight said with a forced smile while mentally groaning at the damage he just did to the Pride Lands.

Janja snickered with delight with what he is seeing. “Scar was right. That guy's a menace. C'mon!” He then led the others before moving to lead the others towards the antelopes who are yet aware of their looming presence on the horizon.

Upon seeing what’s in front of them the gorilla turned to the others. “Shujaa ponda?” He asked only for both Kion and Twilight to shake their heads in response.

“You won't need to.”

“Just stay where you are and watch and learn.”

“Wait til ya see this!” Bunga said to the gorilla before leaping into action himself.

With a swift teleportation spell, the Guard appeared right in front of the Outsiders who simply stood their ground.

“That’s far enough.” Twilight firmly stated before using her magic to create a wave that knocked the Outsiders backwards and off their paws.

Following her mentor’s example she produced a large magic wall to keep the Outsiders from trying to advance on them.

“Hey!”

“This isn’t funny!”

“Remove this wall!”

The leaders of the Outsiders demanded.

“Sure.” Starlight did what they told her to do, but not without a sly smile before stepping aside much their delight and confusion.

And sure enough, Rarity, Pinkie, Bunga were all ready there to swiftly kick their butts in quick effective fashion while the antelopes quickly retreat to Nyani Grove. Then once the Outsiders struggled in picking themselves up, Kion was looming over everyone before focusing his Roar to evict them all out of the Pride Lands.

To say Shujaa was impressed and amazed would be an understatement. “That best thing ever!”

“Thanks, Shujaa.”

“It’s how we get things done around here.”

The leaders humbly returned.

At that moment the rest of the Guard had just managed to regroup with the others.

“Well, we stopped the stampede. And no one got hurt.” Beshte reported.

“Thanks to a little magic, lassoing, and above all speed!” Rainbow proudly boasted.

“Rainbow!” Applejack looked on while giving her the look.

“I mean a little magic, lassoing, and speed.” She corrected herself albeit begrudgingly given her ego.

“So that was the good news.” Kion commented feeling pleased to hear it.

“And then there's the bad news.” Twilight then commented unable to cringe at the sight of the damage created. “Nyani Grove is a mess.”

Immediately Shujaa wanted to get right to work. “Shujaa clean!” He proceeded to throw a tree branch which ended up breaking another tree cuasing the scared birds that were on it to fly and flee the area. And immediately the leaders of the Guard were quick to order him to stop.

“Shujaa! No!”

“Don't touch anything!”

The gorilla himself was left unable to understand why. “But... Shujaa want to help.”

“You do help, Shujaa. And we're really grateful.” Beshte returned to show that they really do appreciate it. “It's just, sometimes…”

When he struggled to find the right words to say it, Kion moved to finish it. “Sometimes you don't know your own strength.”

“Which can create problems all around you.” Twilight added. “Like just now and earlier at Big Springs.”

“I know his own strength!” Bunga chimed in to compliment. “It's almost as un-Bunga-lievable as Beshte's!”

“Not to mention the same can be said for Applejack.” Pinkie also added.

“Yes.” Ono acknowledged before getting in to what their friends are trying to say. “But when Beshte uses his strength, he doesn't cause all this damage. And neither does Applejack.”

“I just know how to control my strength. That's all.” Beshte explained as he thought nothing of it before getting an idea himself. “Hey! Maybe I can teach Shujaa how to control his strength.”

“That's actually a great idea.” Fuli complimented.

“It would certainly help us before anymore animals are forced to relocate and have to get adjusted to new homes.” Fluttershy expressed feeling that would much appreciated for her own sake if that can happen.

Seeing the worry in her voice spurred Rarity to comfort and assure her that it’ll work out in the end. “Not to worry, Fluttershy. I’m sure this can be resolved in due time. After all, these things take time.”

With the proposed idea having the green light Beshte moved towards the gorilla with this idea in mind. “What do you think, Shujaa? Want me to teach you how to control your strength?”

“Along with me?” Twilight also offered. “Because I know from first hoof experience of what’s that like and I’d be more than happy to teach you too.”

“Shujaa no understand.” The gorilla returned still not getting it before smiling. “But if Shujaa with Beshte, along with Applejack…” He moved to hug both Beshte and Applejack. “Shujaa say "okay".”

“Huh? What?” Applejack looked on in confusion of being suddenly volunteered for a job she never agreed to. “Now hold on there! I never agreed to anything here.”

“Come on, strong pony. Teach me too.”

Applejack could only roll her eyes before relenting for his sake. “All right, fine. I’ll help.”

“Oh, great! Let's go!” Beshte then said before leading the way to find a suitable way to teach their strong friend.

“But first…” Twilight spoke up before working her magic in instantly restoring the Grove to it’s former glory. “...okay, now we can go.” Turning to the leader of the Lion Guard. “Kion, you’re in charge until we get back and if anything comes up get Ono and Rainbow to come find us.”

“You got it, Twilight.” Kion vowed with a faithful salute to which Twilight giggled in response towards the playful banner he shared with her before joining Applejack and Beshte with Shujaa for company.

To help Shujaa learn to control his strength the three friends all made their way to Nedfu Grove for their first stop to help put that into pratice.

“Hmm.” Beshte pondered while looking to their surroundings. “Let's see, what should I show you first?”

Just then they heard a familiar voice call out to them up in the nearby tree branch up ahead. “Beshte? Applejack? Twilight? Is that you?”

“Hey, Laini!”

“Yep, it’s us.”

“How are you doing?”

But before anything else could be said, Laini and the galagoes yelped upon seeing Shujaa. “What is that?”

“What? Where?” Shujaa asked while looking around for danger unaware that the galagos are actually afraid of him.

Seeing this had the three quickly assure they have nothing to be afraid of in regards to the gorilla accompanying them.

“It's okay, Laini. He’s not an enemy.”

“This is Shujaa. He's our friend.”

“Therefore, there you all have nothing to worry about.”

Laini still didn’t feel so sure about that given of how friendship has unexpected turns and directions one would never expect. “Uh, if you say so.”

“So anyways…” Beshte then said moving the conversation forward. “...what's the kerbubble?”

“It's that serval!” Laini pointed towards said serval on the branch on the opposite side of the current they are all in. “He jumped into our tree and won't leave! We're sure he wants to eat us.”

“No, I don't!” Said serval defended with a friendly and innocent voice. “I jumped up here to catch a bird, but it flew away. And I'm not as good at jumping down as I am at jumping up.”

“That’s okay.” Twilight assured with a friendly smile. “Nothing a little friendly assistance won’t fix.”

With that, Beshte took his turn in speaking to their friend with an opportunity presented in front of him. “Okay, Shujaa. First lesson. What should we do about a stuck serval?”

Shujaa gave little thought before making his way towards the tree. “Shujaa tear down tree! Serval fall out!”

Everyone on the tree all quickly shouted when he placed his arms around the tree ready to do so. “No!”

“Wrong!” Twilight quickly used her magic to levitate the gorilla away from the tree, accompanied with the sound of a buzzer in the air to which had everyone looking around wondering where that came from.

“Huh?”

“What in tarnation?”

“Anyways…” Twilight then said focusing their attention back to the confused gorilla. “...no. Tearing the tree down isn’t the answer here, Shujaa.”

“Yeah!” Beshte moved to explain why it would be a bad thing. “This tree is the galagos home. You can't just tear it down. You gotta think first, then act.”

“Now, again…” Applejack spoke up to repeat the question again while emphasizing on key words. “...what "Should" you here after you "Think?"”

“Hmm. "Think." Okay. Shujaa try.” He actually gave it some thought before thinking of something he can do. After a little internal struggle he had a light bulb shine in his head. “Oh! Idea!” He moved to gently pull the tree down with the branch the serval was on coming down first to allow him to step down safely.

The serval himself couldn’t be any happier to be back down on the ground. “Thanks! It feels great to be down from there. So long, galagos.” He then left on his way free to travel as he pleases.

“Good thinking, Shujaa.”

“Well done.”

“Smart thinking there.”

“Aw, Shujaa thank Beshte, Applejack, Twilight.” Shujaa happily returned before letting go of the tree along with accidentally sending the galagos flying much to the three’s shocked gasps. Thankfully they landed on one of the other trees in the Grove.

“Oops.”

“Phew! Good thing Ndefu Grove's got a lot of trees!”

“No kidding.”

Upon seeing his mistake the gorilla was quick to want to fix that. “Shujaa think he flip that tree now, Fly galagos back home!”

Laini was quick however to assert that won’t be necessary. “That's okay! We're good! We'll get back on our own! Thanks, though!”

Seeing what he did, left the gorilla downcast before making his way away from the Grove with his three friends following alongside him.

Upon making their way to another part of the Pride Lands, his friends were quick to console him.

“It's okay, Shujaa. You didn't know the tree would spring back.”

“And believe me, it took me a while for me to get the hang of these trees when I was first handling them my first times around here these parts of the Pride Lands.” Applejack added.

“It’s just a matter of managing self-control all the way.” Twilight also said before spotting something up ahead. “Which you have another chance to try it again.”

In front of them happens to be a butterfly stuck in rocks with one of it’s wings wedged in them.

“See? That little butterfly there?” Applejack asked the gorilla who nodded.

“Shujaa sees it.”

“Good.” Applejack complimented. “And as you can see, even teeny tiny Pride Landers sometimes need help.”

“Oh! Pretty bug stuck.”

“Yep.” Beshte nodded. “So you'll need to be extra gentle to help him.”

“Very gentle.”

“Right. Now, think about what you need to do.”

Shujaa did as he was told and actually came up with an idea that can work. “Shujaa move little rocks first!” He proceeded to move the little rocks one at a time and as gently as possible. At last he moved enough rocks to free the butterfly who then flew freely upwards. “Beshte, Applejack, Twilight look! Pretty bug free!”

“You did it, Shujaa!”

“Congratulations!”

“Well done, partner!”

The three all complimented.

“Shujaa did it!” Unfortunately during his excitement he accidentally managed to punch said large and tall rock which caused it to tilt over and right towards them.

Luckily for him, Beshte managed to push Shujaa out the way in time while Twilight worked her magic to keep the rocks from falling and crushing them. Followed by Applejack quick to lasso them and used some quick and swift moves of her end to climb the rocks to an extent to pull back into place.

“Oops.”

Afterwards, the four all then made their way towards another part of the Pride Lands where the members of the Guard once more consoled Shujaa with what happened.

“It's okay, Shujaa. The big rock didn't actually land on anybody.”

“And you did save the butterfly.”

“And you actually thought things through that time. So it’s not a total loss.”

Shujaa still sighed disappointed with himself. “True.”

Just then they heard moaning up ahead. Said source turned out to be Kifaru who has managed to walk himself into a dead end in the nearby rock caves.

“Kifaru?”

“Kifaru?”

“Are you okay?”

The three Guard members all called out.

Kifaru stopped and turned his head towards the source of his friend’s voice. “Is that you, Beshte, Applejack, Twilight?”

“Sure is.”

“It’s us, all right.”

“All three us of plus one.” She then commented upon seeing what the problem is. “Speaking of which, where's your tickbird?”

“I gave Mwenzi the day off. And now I can't find the watering hole.” Kifaru explained as he looks on looking pretty lost himself.

“Not to worry because we are here to help out here, Kifaru.” Applejack assured.

“Hear that?” Beshte turned to Shujaa seeing another opportunity right in front of him. “Kifaru needs our help.”

“Who's that with you, a pangolin?” Kifaru asked not quite seeing who their friend really is.

“Pangolin?” Shujaa returned in confusion of what he just referred to him as.

“Rhinos can't see too well.” Twilight gently explained. “Usually they have tickbirds to help serve as their eyes around them.” She then had another thought occur as she tapped a hoof to her chin. “Though maybe getting them to wear glasses probably wouldn’t be a bad idea either. But that’s for another day.”

“All the more reason of why he needs us to help him out of this dead end.” Beshte then said.

It didn’t take long for Shujaa to come up with an idea. “Easy! Shujaa ponda!” He proceeded to punch a hole in the rocks to give Kifaru a quick detour out of the dead end he walked himself into. “Watering hole…” He proceeded to push Kifaru towards the Watering Hole. “...That way!”

“Ooh!” He said in delighted relief before making his way on over there in a straight clear path. “I'll take your word for it. Thank you!”

“It feel good to help.” Shujaa proudly said feeling he did a good job although the cringed expressions on his friends faces say otherwise.

“It does, but…” Beshte spoke up first before directing his eyes towards the upset hyraxes in front of them.

“Beshte? Applejack? Twilight? Why little fuzzies so sad?” Shujaa asked upon seeing them.

“They're rock hyraxes, and you just kind of, uh, smashed their home.” Twilight gently explained.

Hearing and realizing what he just did left the gorilla horrified at his mistake. “No! No! No! What Shujaa do? What Shujaa do?”

“Easy, Shujaa. We can still help them and it’s nothing to be upset about.” Applejack reassured just when Twilight worked up her magic in patching up the rock wall exactly as is before Shujaa smashed it. “See?”

“There we go! Good as new!” Twilight said feeling better about as the hyraxes happily leaped up and down before climbing back up towards where their home is.

Even with the damage quickly repaired, Shujaa still felt guilty and incapable of doing good without causing more damage. “It no use! Shujaa no think, bad! Shujaa do think, bad! Shujaa no right ever!”

Shujaa Ponda

Music starts at 1:03 to end.

He then proceeded to walk off solemnly all while sadly lamenting his destructive ways and inadvertently causing more problems for other Pride Landers along the way. During which his friends taking sympathy for him moved to follow after him along with making quick repairs to all of the damage he just did while singing before sitting down on Mbuni’s nest accidentally. Said ostrich who had just arrived briefly stared at him before leaving and opting to come back at another time.

“Shujaa. What are you doing?” Applejack asked.

“Shujaa no move so Shujaa no make trouble, ever!”

“Shujaa…” Applejack moved to try help him feel better. “...it’s okay, really. The damage was quickly undone like it never really happened.”

“And you have been making remarkable improvement in trying to control your strength.” Twilight added. Upon seeing it’s still failing to improve his mood, she moved to fly up to his eye level for a heart to heart approach. “Shujaa, I know it’s been very tough for you but you really are making an effort to improve yourself. And each and every time you have been making progress at it.”

“But Shujaa still makes trouble everywhere he goes.”

“But still you are learning.” When that failed to help matters she moved to relate to his troubles by magically conquering a tree stump so she can sit down while still staying at his eye level. “And you’re not the only one who’s gone through this.” Shujaa turned to the pony in surprise with what she is telling him. “Yep, that’s right. Even a pony with magic is capable of creating massive damage everywhere around her. From brainwashing the entire Ponyville population with a spell, to briefly giving into my dark side in causing trouble to both here in the Pride Lands and in Ponyville, and nearly drowning a crocodile to death after nearly giving into my anger at one point. Heck I even managed to nearly transform and blow up the whole school with my magic when I was just a filly.” She briefly found the last part actually funny herself with a giggle before clearing her throat to get her point straight across. “Anyways, point being, ever since those incidents I’ve had to work hard in practicing better self-control to avoid such instances from happening even more so now that I’m an alicorn. It took a while, but finally I did it and it got to the point I was able to learn how to control and use the Roar to the point I didn’t cause a volcano erupt while inside of it.”

“The Roar? Like how your lion friend did earlier?”

“Yep. And before you ask it’s a long story and it’s something that Kion himself learned when he lost control of the Roar once before. And even to this day he still keeps practicing self control so he doesn’t cause damage like that again.”

The more and more Twilight talks to him, the more and more Shujaa really processes the importance of both practice and self-control to the point he is understanding what she is trying to tell him. But before anything else can happen both Ono and Rainbow quickly came over to them in an urgent manner.

“Twilight! Applejack! Beshte! Shujaa! Kion needs you!”

“The Outlanders are attacking Big Springs again! And this time there's a fire!”

“Oh, no!” Beshte gasped.

“Not if we can help it!” Applejack then stated with determination to stop it herself.

Twilight then got up in flight while transporting the tree stump back to it’s proper place before turning to their gorilla friend. “Shujaa, come on! We have to help!”

Shujaa still didn’t feel confident enough to want to help out. “If Shujaa help, Shujaa make worse. Shujaa stay.”

“But, Shujaa…” But before Beshte could try talking sense into him himself, Ono and Rainbow urgently ushered of him and the others to get a move on over there.

“Beshte, the fire is spreading!”

“And we need help now!”

Rainbow quickly whisked Twilight and Applejack on over there by literally carrying them by the tail.

“Whoa!”

“Hey!”

With no other choice and no time to work with, Beshte moved to leave him be for now but not without saying this. “I won't give up on you, Shujaa. You're my friend. I'll come back when the fire's out.”

Back in Big Springs, the others have been holding their own against the Outsiders so far. Kion, Bunga, Pinkie have all been handling Janja and his hyenas. Fuli and Rarity have all been handling the jackals. And Applejack, Kyoga, and Starlight have been handling the crocodiles.

“Zuka Zama!”

“Sorry, hyenas, but this is no laughing matter.” Pinkie stated before using her party cannon against them.

“And as for all of you, you’re all going back to the Outlands empty pawed!” Rarity fiercely stated before making quick work of the jackals herself.

At the same time, it left Kiburi and his left to deal with Basi and the other hippos once more at a stand still. Even with all of their available strength and magic at their disposal, the crocs proved to be more harder to put down than the others. It got to the point Starlight was starting to pant and sweat a little with fatigue starting to kick in with her magic starting to wear out.

“Say goodbye, hippo!”

But before Kiburi and his float could capitalize on the situation, the rest of the Guard arrived to their rescue.

“Guess again, Kiburi!”

“Twende Kiboko!”

Before any of them could do anything about it, one by one the crocodiles were all knocked aside in a swift manner.

“Beshte! Just in time!” His father happily spoke in relief.

“Better get the pod into the water, it's the safest place!” His son advised to which he was quick to take his word for it.

“This way, hippos! Everyone into the Springs!”

Upon seeing Kion struggle a little during his ongoing battle with Janja, Twilight was quick to blast him aside with both Applejack and Beshte quick to figure out what they can do to help.

“Kion! What can we do?” Beshte asked.

“We need you on fire breaks! I'm not gonna lose another part of the Pride Lands!”

“I got it!”

“No problem!”

‘Let’s do this!”

Both Applejack and Beshte got to work in creating the fire breaks while Twilight tried to help use her magic by extinguishing the ongoing fires as much as possible.

“How we doin'?” Bunga asked upon seeing the Outsiders still fighting still ganging up on them.

“Not great.” Fuli answered.

“They’re being much more difficult to take down than the last time.” Rarity added while starting to feel a little fatigued herself. “Which is quite odd with all things considered.”

“No kidding!” Pinkie agreed while trying and failing to get more party favors at her disposal. “I’m almost out of confetti this time!”

“And my Stare doesn’t seem to be having that effect on them anymore.” Fluttershy timidly shared while recalling said times it’s failed to have an impact on them. “And I think Starlight and Kyoga are starting to run off of magic to use against them.”

“But we still have to do something.” Starlight insisted despite being drained of her energy.

“You gotta use the roar, Kion!” Bunga implored of him.

Kion shook his head in response to that proposal. “Can't! It'll spread the fire everywhere.”

Just then Ono caught an alarming sight up ahead. “Hapana! Everyone! Jump!”

Beshte quick to see this was the first to rush over to stop, but in doing so, he ended up tripping on a open root and ended having the tree split in half when it landed on his body.

“Beshte!” Everyone cried out in horror with what had just happened.

“Hapana!”

“Beshte, are you okay?” Applejack asked.

Beshte tried to get up but he couldn’t lift himself upward. “It's...It's my leg.” He groaned in pain. “I can't get up!”

Fuli looked on in worry when she saw the flames that tried to come right at them. “The fire's getting closer!”

“Not if I can help with that!” Twilight quickly moved to extinguish said fires that tried to come after her friends before moving ahead to continue keeping the fires at by. “Sorry, but I’m afraid I got my hooves full right here!”

“That's okay…” Bunga moved to try help Beshte up. “...we'll get you outta here, Big B!” He tried to push Beshte to no avail not even getting him to budge an inch. “It might take a while. Unless…” He turned to the others especially Applejack.

“We're not strong enough to move him. At least not when e have already been worn out to this point.” Turning to the Guard’s Keenest of Sight. “Ono, get Shujaa! Tell him Beshte's hurt, and we need him, now!”

“Affirmative!” Ono moved to fly on over to where Shujaa is still sitting at. “Shuja! Follow me to Big Springs!”

Shujaa still refused to budge. “Hmm! No! Shujaa no move! If Shujaa stay, Shujaa no mess up.”

“But it's Beshte! He hurt his leg. And Twilight and Applejack are stuck putting out the fires. “They need you, Shujaa!

Hearing that sparked Shujaa’s attention. “Beshte...Twlight...Applejack need...Shujaa?” With a resolve to want to save them in his heart he rose from the nest ready to get on over to help. “Ono! Take Shujaa! Now!”

With his guidance Shujaa made his way on over to Big Springs and once he arrived, he wasted no time in taking action. “Shujaa ponda!” And this he time he used his brains to put out the fire that was starting to surround Beshte who still couldn’t get up.

“Shujaa! You came!”

“Shujaa help Beshte!” He then examined the injury himself this time around. “Hmm. Beshte leg hurt, so…” He moved to make sure he picks Beshte up in a way that does cause anymore harm to his injured leg before moving him to safety.

Beshte upon being rescued was quick to praise him for what he just did. "Shujaa, you did it! You thought first and you controlled your strength!”

“Shujaa did?” The gorilla asked feeling surprised and amazed himself.

“Yes! You knew my leg was hurt, so you were careful and strong!”

“Shujaa careful and strong. Shujaa make no trouble no more!” He laughed feeling confident and sure of his abilities to the point he can contribute to the fight without causing more trouble. “Now, Shujaa help Lion and Pony Guard! Shujaa think, then Shujaa ponda!” He then leaped into action before grabbing a hold of Kiburi and Tamka’s tails. “Leave Lion and Pony Guard alone!”

“Hey! What do you think you're doing?” Kiburi demanded before being lifted up by the tail.

“You not listen? Shujaa think, Shujaa ponda!” He proceeded to slam them down onto the ground without causing anymore damage around them.

“Whoa! He sure ponda'ed them good!” Chungu remarked as he and the other Outsiders look on realizing that the gorilla is no longer a destructive menace.

“Oh, I'm not waiting around for him to ponda me!” Janja moved to retreat leading the way with the others following after him.

“Me, neither.” Reirei also said quick to agree with the hyena for once on the matter.

Upon seeing them retreat, Shujaa smirked with one more idea in mind. “Crocs go home with friends!” He proceeded to toss them long and far from Big Springs causing them all to crash right on top of the retreating Outsiders just as they were approaching the borders once more.

With the Outsiders taken care of for now, Shujaa moved to direct his attention towards the ongoing fire that Twilight is now starting to gain control over. “Now, Shujaa help put out fire! Shujaa ponda!” With a big scoop of dirt he tossed it over the area which all put them all out. Once the dust settled he realized he ended up covering the Guard with dirt too. “Oops.”

Kion however was quick to compliment him. “You did great, Shujaa. We couldn't have saved Big Springs without you.”

“Shujaa ponda. It what Shujaa do.” He replied like it’s nothing new to him.

“You didn't just ponda you thought first.” Beshte reminded. ‘You're a good friend, Shujaa.”

“Any strong friend of ours would be proud of you. And for that I tip my hat to you.” Applejack also complimented while doing just that.

“And a great ally.” Twilight added. “We're lucky King Sokwe sent you here.”

Hearing that sparked shock in the gorilla himself. “King Sokwe! He no see Shujaa think! Shujaa need show him.” He declared ready to show him of his remarkable improvement today.” He then added to assure him it’s not the end of this. “But Shujaa come back if Lion and Pony Guard need help. Shujaa promise.”

“It's a deal.” Kion agreed seeing that is fair. “Thank you, Shujaa.”

“Thank you! Goodbye, Lion and Pony Guard! Goodbye, strong friends Beshte and Applejack!” He moved to hug them both before turning to do the same for Twilight. “And thank you strong and wise pony friend Twilight. “Me know me see you all again! He then moved to head on home.

“So long!”

“Take care of yourself.”

“Safe travels, darling.”

“Stay safe.”

“See you!”

“Bye!”

“Come back soon!”

“Nice meeting seeing you again!”

“Bye!”

“Don’t forget about my upcoming party invitation!”

“Think he'll make it home without knocking something over?” Fuli asked both Kion and Twilight.

No sooner than she asked, Shujaa just so happened to knock over some trees not even a minute in his journey back home.

“Oops!”

Fuli, Kion, and Twilight looked at each other clearly amused with what had just happened before the latter moved to fly after him. “Maybe if he has some guidance sticking by his side the whole way, just to be sure. Besides, I should probably personally head over there to send the king our regards for sending him over here to help us today.”

“Me too!” Kion moved to fly after them. “Wait for me, I’m coming too!”

From the Outlands Volcano, Scar watches the two leaders of the Guard make their way after Shujaa who is making his way home without breaking and destroying anything. He looked at the ongoing magical survelliance with disappointment but remains sure as far as Big Springs is concerned is that part of the Pride Lands is the next area to be conquered. For now, he just needs to find another opportunity to strike upon something that the skinks who are currently inside and watching the scene will do the moment that happens...

“Disappointing.” Scar commented with the tone to match his expression.

“So since that gorilla is no longer a huge wrecking ball of destruction, how are we conquering the next part of the Pride Lands now?” Njano asked his boss.

“The answer to that question will take time for that to happen, time to allow me to figure how to get divert the Guard away from the real target.”

“Anyone or anything in particular?” Shupaavu asked.

“That’ll depend on which Pride Lander leader is the first to stray away from their alliance with their kingdom…” He then eyes the Pride Lands crocodile leader, Makku, himself. “...and if I play my cards right, I think I might have just the one...”

Author's Note

Here we return to the Pride Lands where the Outlanders make another attempt to grab some terrain. Though that proves difficult when a gorilla from the mountains came over to assist the Lion and Pony Guard with their mission to stop them. But on the bright side, he's not very bright himself which can prove to their advantage given his remarkable strength.

Though thankfully for the Lion and Pony Guard, Shujaa had some help in learning how to control his strength and it came in handy at the perfect time when the Outlanders moved to make another big attack again. So big win for Shujaa Ponda! 👏

Up next on the calendar we have a guys night for those staying in Ponyville while the others go on to Yakyakistan for the day so stay tuned because I do have a surprise for you all by then...