bravest member of the Guard because you fear nothing and are not afraid to put yourself in harm's way to help others. You also have a lot of nerve using your courage when not necessary and that has put you in danger a lot of times. Did you ever think twice about the risks along the way and whether or not this was helping your contribution to the Guard?

Bunga: Yes, I guess I wasn't really thinking about my own safety as well as others when I went looking for trouble. I guess it comes down to natural instinct. But whatever that instinct may be, you really have to know when to use it. There will be times when you have to hold off or even seek an alternative option, such as going a more sensible and safe way rather than looking for the fast and easy solution or the solution that you think may be best. It is important to ensure that you think before you act, because if you don't, it could spell disaster. Such can also put the health and safety of others at risk, and it would be shameful to have to carry that burden.

Kion's father, King Simba, made one such mistake when he was a cub: His father Mufasa told him never to visit the Elephant Graveyard because it was too dangerous, but Simba was desperate to prove how brave he was, and therefore ventured there anyway. However, he almost got killed by hyenas as a result, and Mufasa, who had saved him, scolded him for being disobedient. He then told him, "I am only brave when I have to be. Being brave doesn't mean you go looking for trouble", and that said plenty. Simba then became more disciplined and wiser after that.

It is the errors that only make you stronger, smarter and wiser. I know that I have made a few too many, and sometimes I am just too confident and stubborn to listen to my conscience. But in no way do I want anyone to follow such a less than perfect example. As members of the Lion Guard, we are not just here to serve and protect, but also to set the good example to our fellow animals and our eventual successors. I have not always done so and, through my experience, I only hope that I have learned to play a little more sensibly. By all means, I want everyone else to do so.

Regardless, life is about challenging your fears and gaining the courage to try everything. Experience comes with challenge, and the more you challenge yourself, the more confident you will become as an individual. You will not necessarily succeed at every challenge that you come across, but having the determination to try only makes you psychologically stronger. Personally, I have never even stopped to ponder the meaning of the word 'fear'. I do not believe in it and I always keep in blocked from entering my mind. That should go for anyone seeking great courage and determination.

*

This role of leader of the Lion Guard came upon you unexpectedly, and yet you did not hold back from accepting it. You then defied Royal tradition by assembling a first Lion Guard of it's type and who were all young. But this particular Guard is special to you. What does it mean for you to lead this unique team of animals?

Kion: Well, these mix of animals are a lot more than just good and skilled teammates to me. Sure, I chose them for their natural instincts that aids in adapting to their roles, and they have all applied them well so far. But these four are also my good friends. I developed a relationship with them when I was younger and got to know them well. I very much admired their unique abilities that shone over the rest of the animals in the Pride Lands, and therefore I considered them special. That doesn't just go for their skills, but also their personalities: Bunga for his energetic spirit, Fuli for her stubborn confidence - I mean that in a nice way -, Ono for his intelligence, and Beshte for his kind nature. Such skills and personalities combined make, I believe, the perfect defence against enemies, and the vital aid required for all respected animals within the Circle of Life.

I also take note of the fact that we are all young, and for that reason it would be easy to underestimate us, for our enemies might believe they can get over us. But as long as you believe in your abilities and keep your mind totally focused when required, you can achieve anything at any stage in your life. That is where the maturing process comes in: Enjoy life for what it is and how you make it to be, but when duty calls, you have to get your mind set on your responsibilities. Otherwise, you will not be doing any favours for yourself, your family, or your allies. This is what keeps the Circle rotating.

Based on you experience at the helm, what are your beliefs on leadership?

It can be a very tough job being a leader, or captain, of your team - especially when you are young and lack experience. When it comes to working within a team environment, usually you start out working under a leader who gives you guidance and shows you all the tricks of the trade. At that point, you are a student of the game who is working with and learning from the experienced masters, who become your mentors. But those mentors must first set a good example by doing their hard work and showing integrity so that their allies can follow suit. So having the proper guidance is very important in learning how to be a good team player and, eventually, a good leader.

Dad was, and still is, a good enough mentor in that sense because he is the King of the Pride Lands and he knows how to be a good defender as well as a wise leader. He provided plenty of good advice and his gentle presence when even one has faulted is very inspiring. He also understands the Royal values and how one must show plenty of integrity when on Royal duty. So I certainly learned a lot from him growing up.

Then when I became leader of the Guard, my Grandfather Mufasa appeared to me in spirit and has since given wise advice when I have needed it. He has trusted me to use my instincts and do what is required to make the team perform well. He probably would not have done so if he did not believe in me, because I think that he saw a bit of himself in me. I guess there is a bit of genetic inheritance in there! But bottom line, the guidance from both father and grandfather has been of great help and advanced education.

But as much as you can learn and be taught, the real learning experience comes from practical on-the-job training. You learn better by actually seeing how things get done rather than hearing about it, and therefore it sticks in your head more easily. As a fresh team, we still had plenty to learn to better succeed at our duty, and the only way we could do that was to get that practical experience. 

That includes one or several mistakes that we made along the way that did us plenty of good. One example was when Mum and Dad left the Pride Lands for a few days to attend a funeral for a fallen local hero, and my older sister Kiara was left in charge as queen. She gave us an official decree to assist a herd of eland away from beehives and ensure that they would not get hurt. The idea of being told what to do by my sister agitated me, and I selfishly decided to do it my way and move the bees instead, only to get myself and the whole team stung multiple times and angering the eland when they crashed into us. Kiara was very unpleased after that, and, out of spite, she considered negotiating with the enemy when they were setting up a trap for her. Had the Guard and I not intervened, goodness knows what could have happened to her, if not the worst case scenario - perish the thought.

So after that incident, I realised that I let personal issues get in the way of my duty and it led to complete disaster. Big mistake. As a leader, you have to stay composed and try to understand the extent of the issue and attempt to solve it before you jump to conclusions. It is no different if it comes from your own camp. Not every team, or family, is perfect and there will be differences and disagreements sometimes, but by taking the time to reason with them, you may just be able to work something out for the better and overcome those issues so that you will be able to function more efficiently as a team. At the end of the day, it enhances the culture within and makes the team work.

As much as mishaps in the line of duty can hurt, you learn a lot from them and they only make you stronger. Nobody learns without getting it wrong. You have to get it wrong to get it right. You have to lose to win. You have to suffer failure to taste success. These days, It really is the best way to learn if you have the willpower to understand how it is supposed to work.

The most important thing for a leader is to gain the respect of his teammates, and, again, that comes from leading by example. You have to show them why you are at the helm by performing all the necessary duties required of a leader. It also comes down to a vote of confidence within your camp, where they show belief in you and that you truly belong at the helm. But you must first show confidence within yourself before your team will show that confidence in you, because they will see that you have that belief and therefore they will return it.

It is also just as important to create comfortable camaraderie among your teammates. That requires spending as much time as possible with them in both the good and bad times, whether on or off duty. They may also require help to sort out their working or personal problems, and that is where your moral support as a leader becomes most valued. Once your teammates recognises that friendly culture you create, it becomes more than just a working environment: It is a place to truly belong. To me, that is what makes a real team.

And as I said, you can learn while on the job, and that can sometimes come from your own camp. Five heads are always better than one and you never know where your next good idea is going to come from. You can all