Wow, everyone was AMAZED when I told them I'd be doing a non-Muppet fanfic. But after seeing an online theory about Lion King, my childhood Disney film, and not being able to find any fanfiction about it, I decided to put my new motto, If you can't find it, make it, into action. Here is the story of Kopa, the lost Prince (yes I stole that title, don't kill me!)

I don't own Lion King, they are owned by Disney (duh). This fanfic is rated T for blood mention and is a bit gorier than my usual fanfics. But as a person with Hemophobia (fear of blood) myself, I'd say it's not that bad.

There was something very eerie about the Pridelands that day. It was a day no different to any other, and as Simba, Kopa's dad, was busy, Kopa went off adventuring on his own.

Kopa had a brown mane and scarlet eyes like his father. His brownish fur was a mystery to both his yellow-furred parents. Kopa was certainly unique.

It didn't help that it was raining, that was probably the reason why Kopa couldn't see any other animals out and about. It wasn't too late, and yet, the sky was cloudy and misty due to the rain.

The young cub scampered over rocks and splashed his way through various muddy puddles, determined to have fun despite the ominous feeling in his bones. He saw a sparrow flutter by.

Ah, a great opportunity for some hunting practice. Kopa thought to himself.

He crouched very low, kept very still and made near no noise…

But unfortunately, during his pounce, he tripped over a tree branch, flipped over and fell flat on his back. Startled, the sparrow zipped away.

"Rats," Kopa declared, picking himself up off the wet, muddy ground. "Seriously, where is everyone? It's so lonely out here!"

Kopa, unlike his dad, wasn't very good at making friends, other lions thought he was annoying, or vain, or posh, or stupid, or something that made them want to push him out of their friendship group.

"Do you want some company, little Kopa?" a voice from the shadows hissed, an evil essence about it that make Kopa sure this wasn't a friend.

"Who are you?" he squeaked. Kopa tried hard to sound threatening. "Show yourself, for I am Prince Kopa!"

Zira emerged from the shadows.

Zira! Kopa thought in a panic. No!

Kopa had heard all about the vicious Zira from his dad. She was Scar's lover before he died and even now she was bent on revenge after she convinced herself that his death was Simba's fault. She was a dangerous character and Kopa was told he mustn't go near her; she was after Simba and would happily go after his son if necessary.

Kopa was trembling but stood his ground. "Zira, what are you doing here?" he demanded.

"It's not illegal to come here for a stroll, is it? You don't own this land, do you?"

As next in line to the throne, Kopa felt like he owned the land, but without his dad, he had no real power over Zira.

"Tell me what you're doing here," he persisted.

Zira began to circle around Kopa in a predatory way. "I wanted to know what it's like to be a prince. If you weren't born, I would be next in line to claim the throne back for Scar."

"Scar isn't a true king! He's a murderer!" Kopa cried without being able to stop himself.

Kopa had heard all about the tragic death of his grandfather Mufasa when Simba was just a cub.

Zira roared, outraged. She smacked Kopa with her paw, so hard he got knocked off his feet.

"Take it back!" Zira demanded.

Kopa badly wanted to take it back but he couldn't give up now. He shook his head determinedly.

"Then you leave me no choice."

This statement sounded dangerously ominous.

"W-what are you going to do?" Kopa asked fearfully.

"Well, I'll have to dispose of you anyway because you're Simba's son," Zira declared proudly and a little matter-of-factly. "As it is my duty to get Simba out of the picture, first I must get rid of his heir."

Zira ran one claw along Kopa's back as if she was stroking him, when suddenly; she ripped and tore a cut down Kopa's back.

Kopa screamed in pain and collapsed to the ground. Tears sprang to his eyes.

"I'm sorry!" he cried innocently. "I'm sorry about what I said, please, have mercy!"

But Zira didn't know the meaning of the word 'mercy'.

She clawed at him, causing Kopa to bleed terribly. Soon, he was he was weak and feeble. His fur was matted with blood; he had cuts all over his body. He started calling for Simba.

"Dad! Dad! Help me!"

Zira tilted her head on one side. She was sure she could hear footsteps nearing.

"Kopa? Kopa, where are you?"

Ah, so Simba had come to view the scene. Zira smiled, he was going to kick himself when he found out he'd missed the best part. Zira reached around Kopa's neck with her jaws and with one quick snap of her teeth, Kopa's neck was broken.

"Dad…" was the last word he mumbled before he left this world for good.

Simba darted over the hill, but he was too late.

"Kopa?" his gaze fell on his son's body lying in the grass.

"No!"

Tears filled the poor lion's eyes as he dropped beside Kopa and tried to bring some, any, life back into him. But it was no use.

Suddenly, he glared up at Zira.

"Zira! What have you done to my son?!"

She smirked. "Looks like you don't have an heir now, Simba; I look forward to being the next Queen!"

"How could you do this? How could you kill the one person I loved most in the world?"

Zira grew angry, this wasn't fair!

"Now you know how I felt when you killed Scar!" Zira cried.

"Zira, you took my father from me, now you've taken my son. What do you want from me?"

"You know precisely what I want, Simba," Zira said.

"Well as long as I'm alive, you're never going to get it," Simba declared. "Zira, I hereby exile you from the Pridelands get out of my sight and don't you dare come back. Because if you return, you will reach the same fate as poor Kopa."

He gazed a loving glance at his lost son.

Zira, however, didn't have any love whatsoever for this distant relative of hers.

"What, to meet my inevitable and unavoidable destiny?"

This was too much for Simba. He roared, letting all his rage out and causing Zira to slink off into the mist, before collapsing beside his son and crying his eyes out.

…woah, that was deep. Sorry, I didn't realise how IMMENSELY TRAGIC that would be, but if you guys know me, you'll know that I put death in nearly everything and I always make it dramatic so this fanfic was inevitable.

Sorry it didn't have many characters in it, I couldn't figure out a way to wriggle Nuka, Vitani and Kovu in here so they'll just have to abide their time in my imagination. Laters my little Fizzies!