Hey guys, this is an epically long chapter. Huge thanks to a certain user who knows who they are for helping me with letter, there are a few minor changes. I know the last chapter got to a few of you (I'm not cruel, I know what I'm doing.), but it is vital to the story. In this chapter we see what becomes of that letter Simba wrote. Please enjoy and don't forget to review!

Cheers: JJZ-109

CHAPTER 20. THE LETTER

Day after Simba's 'assassination'

Carl Santiago twiddled his thumbs impatiently and sweated. Any second Shenzi was going to come through the door, and he would get the full details of his failure. He had been the one that Shenzi had plan the assassination attempt on Kiara, and it had backfired on him. Kiara lived, the two snipers sent to complete the task had been killed, and he had made a martyr out of Simba. Everything they didn't want to happen had happened. Simba was meant to live so that Kiara's death would destroy him mentally, and he would be seen in the eyes of the Pridelands as weak and incapable of leading. But now he was seen a selfless hero, that had given his life.

Santiago could hear footsteps coming from down the hall and he gulped; he could only hope that Shenzi would come through the door rather than Heckler. Almost everyone in the entire HYENA camp feared his wrath, even though Shenzi was technically in charge. Heckler was cruel and unforgiving, and for a mistake of his magnitude, it would be a slow painful death. But sure enough, Shenzi appeared in the doorway, with an enraged expression on her face.

"YOU IDIOT!" Shenzi thundered and struck him hard in the face,

"Do you have any idea what you've cost us?" She continued angrily as Santiago wiped the blood off of his lip.

"It wasn't my fault...The plan was flawless...If I had known that Simba..." Santiago stuttered in fear and Shenzi struck him again.

"Don't mention that filthy name again! Of course he was going to jump in front of the shots you idiot! How did you not foresee that? He's just another fuckin' martyr now." Shenzi rambled on as Santiago trembled in fear.

"Well...I...I didn't..." Santiago mumbled but Shenzi cut him off.

"SHUT UP!" It was official now; Santiago had screwed up big time.

Shenzi took a deep breath and composed herself while Santiago trembled at the thought of his punishment. Then he heard the chilling sound. The chilling sound of more footsteps coming down the hallway, and someone muttering angrily to themselves in German. Santiago's eyes opened wide in terror and he looked up at Shenzi, who seemed to take pity on him.

"Here...I'd take that shot if I were you. Heckler ain't as forgiving as I am." Shenzi said and placed a revolver with one bullet inside on his lap. Santiago nodded compliantly. He would rather shoot himself that feel the wrath of Heckler.

Shenzi exited the room just as the shot rang out, and the sound of Santiago slumping dead onto the floor. She met Heckler in the corridor and told him:

"Don't bother."

Heckler nodded and turned away from her, and back down the corridor. Shenzi shook her head sadly and rejoined her men down in their underground barracks. They were all suiting up for their next assignment; takeover. That night, they would all storm Prideland City when the country was at its weakest now they were without a leader. It wouldn't go quite as planned now that Simba was dead, but they could still pull it off. They would take control of high profile locations, such as stock exchanges, embassies, phone towers and other places that were vital to the country. They were brining it to its knees slowly. Most of the equipment had already been prepared for the 'invasion' and they were pretty much ready to roll. Now was the time when the Constitutional Monarchy fell...and anarchy rose.

Back at Kopa's apartment

Kopa sat on his bed silently, with bloodshot eyes and tear marks lining his face. He failed everyone, he had failed the country, the royal family, Simba and himself. He had promised that after the airport massacred he would never let something like that happen again, and it did. Simba was gone now, and he felt it was his fault. His last memory with Simba wasn't a good one either, he had practically insulted the man.

Simba had put a hand on his shoulder and given him a fatherly smile, and he shook it off rudely, and the memory haunted him. Now that Simba was dead, he also felt strangely that part of him was dead too. Simba had no connection to him except that he favored him a little right? The next few minutes would tell him otherwise. A knock came from his door, and Kopa slowly dried his eyes and got up to open it. Vitani stood there, with a solemn expression and an envelope in her hands.

"Hey...Mind if I come in?" She asked politely.

"Sure." Kopa was happy how they had turned out. When they first met it had been all hostilities, and now they were good friends, even though Kopa believed it was something more.

Vitani took a seat on his sofa and fiddled with the envelope in her hands. Kopa joined her and sighed.

"What can I do for you 'Tani?" He asked gently.

"I just came to check up on you. You seemed to take it pretty hard and I wanted to see if you were okay." She said and looked at the floor, away from him. There was no embarrassment in her tone.

"Well don't mind me, I'm fine. How's Kiara?" Kopa lied. He was finding it hard to hide every emotion he felt. Vitani knew deep down he was far from fine.

"She's doing good. Been a really stressful week for her, I hope the baby's okay." Vitani replied and looked at her letter.

"By the way...we found this in Simba's pocket. It was addressed to you." Vitani said and handed Kopa the envelope, which had a dried bloodstain on the back. He read the front, which said: Lieutenant Conner Palladino. Kopa raised an eyebrow and opened it. Inside, a message was written in messy blue ink.

Conner 'Kopa' Palladino.

This is not an easy thing I do now. Writing out these words for you to read. I am ashamed to admit it, but I don't think I can bring myself to say them in person, and if you're reading these then I have certainly been unable to.

I must ask you forgiveness for this, but hopefully you will understand why.

For you this may be a history lesson, so I beg that you please have some patience with me.

Along time ago, when I was just a child, I was caught up in events beyond my control. In the very square that in a few hours from now I will hold a speech, I stood there. And although at the time I did not know it, I watched my father die, murdered by his brother. I fled the scene, out of fear not for my life. I was deceived by my treacherous uncle into taking the blame for his death, and to my eternal shame I did not remain, to face judgment, or to await my fate. I ran. Out of the city, out of country where I buried my cowardice left my old life behind me. While I fled and lived, the Pridelands burnt under Scar's regime. Whilst I lived out a separate life in exile trying to forget my past.

But his is what is not commonly known. I lived out a separate life under an false name. The name was 'Gaz Wallcroft'

At first Kopa wondered what the hell the King was on about, but he continued reading. He felt that Simba was anything but the coward that he described himself as, and he had seen it first hand.

In this time I met a wonderful woman, who filled a whole in my heart that had existed since I left. That woman was called Alyssa Palladino. And although at the time I didn't know it, we conceived a son. That son is you Kopa.

The sudden revelation stung Kopa to the core. He was the one. That was why he felt such a strong connection to Simba, and was why Simba seemed to favor and trust him so much. Tears burned Kopa's eyes, he had for years dreamed of finding his father, and as it had turned out he was right there with him the whole time. And his mother had been right; his father was a great man. Kopa didn't know whether to be angry that this had been kept for him for so long, or sad that he was sure his father was dead. Either way it made him feel terrible. Tears appeared in the corners of his eyes as he read, and they streamed down his cheeks. Vitani noticed and put an arm around him.

Please understand I have not kept this from you deliberately. I am only made aware of this as I am writing this to you. This is why I cannot bring myself to tell you face to face. You are the son of a king. Once again it seems I am to show my cowardice. I do not know why your mother kept this from me, and I can only assume she kept it from you as well. If you knew the whole time, then I am fool, but I doubt it. I am sure she had her reasons, as I had mine.

I expect you think I walked out on you and left you. And you would be right. I left Alyssa Palladino when Nala came back and my old life came crashing down. She understood, and I beg that you do the same. Scar was overthrown; Zira's rebellion put down, and still I knew nothing of you. I can only imagine Alyssa's feelings every time she saw me on television. When I retook the Pridelands. When I married Nala and when Kiara was born.

I hope she found love again.

And now Conner, you are faced with a choice. I imagine that as you read this you have come to hate me. To despise me, to find out the father who left you is the man you have known for what feels like an age. I am sorry Kopa. As I said you are faced with a choice. I imagine you hate me. You would be well with in your rights to do so, and I am sorry if this is the case.

You can stay here, as an Agent of PI1, working to protect the lives of countless civilians, and today of all days, the life of your sister. Against people like Scar and Zira. Against Shenzi and her HYENA. Against people who set the world a flame. They are dangerous, more so than any I have ever encountered. We were so wrong to assume they were just mere crooks, petty criminals and thugs. They are something new. And I am not sure we can hold back this Shadow for much longer. So that is your first Option. You can stand by me, by your friends and by your family to face this threat.

Or you can do as I did all those years ago. You can run from the past, to find a new life and live it out in peace, free of your worries and responsibilities. There is no shame in that path. You don't owe me anything; you don't have any oath or bond swearing you to this nation. I have wronged you in so many ways, and I would not be surprised if you took this opportunity to turn your back on me as I did to you and your mother all those years ago.

In reality he knew Simba hadn't turned his back on him, but was kept from the truth like him. He knew that if Simba had known, he would have done the right thing and cared for him like the man he was.

Both options are before you, and but for my own cowardice I would tell you this face to face. I cannot bring my self to.

Whatever choice you make, please, remember these two things.

Your friends are by you Kopa. Just as Timon, Pumba, Nala and Weaver stood by me all those years before, Kovu, Vitani, Dion, EJ and Lorenzo will stand by you against this threat. Never forget you friends. Because when evil rises, no man can hope to face it alone. He was never meant to.

Remember also that nothing I did was ever intended to hurt you or to bring pain to you or Alyssa. The damage I did is now one of the biggest regrets of my life, and for that I am truly sorry. I can ask you only for your forgiveness.

Now I have explained my actions, it is up to you Kopa to make your decision. I will not judge you, command you to make any decision other than the one that your heart and mind tell you is the right one. Conner Taylor. Where we go from here is up to you.

Whatever you decide, just remember one thing. You are my son, and I love you more than the air I breathe. And I am very proud of the man you have become.

Your Father, King Simba Taylor.

As Kopa finished the letter he felt it slip out of his hands and float to the floor. The tears burnt his face like acid and he put his head in his hands. He didn't even get to say goodbye to Simba, and now he was gone. For good. He held his face in his hands and sobbed quietly as Vitani hopelessly tried to comfort him.

"No...no...no...no...My fault...my...fault...didn't even get to say goodbye." Kopa whined through sobs. This was the first time he had ever broken down emotionally.

"It wasn't your fault. He left too soon and no one got to say bye." Vitani reassured him. But Kopa looked up at her with teary eyes and revealed the truth.

"No...you don't understand...he was my father!" He blurted out and Vitani opened her eyes wide in shock. But she could tell he wasn't lying. He was the splitting image of Simba.

"My whole damn family is dead! My mom...dead! My father...dead!" Kopa whimpered and Vitani grabbed his arm.

"Your family is NOT dead Kopa. You have Nala, Kiara, Kovu, Dion, Timon and Pumbaa. They are your family and will always be there for you." She told him and held his hand before looking into his bloodshot eyes sincerely.

"And you have me Kopa. You will always have me." Vitani said and closed her eyes slowly.

Kopa sniffled and leant towards her. When his lips met hers, it was like he was whole again. Her warm, soft lips seemed to flush out the pain of Simba's death and all that had happened. Vitani had always made him feel better. He pulled away from her and looked her in the eyes before putting his hands on her cheeks and kissing her again. They had waited too long to express their hidden love for each other, and it was only in these moments of grief that they let it out. Kopa was tired of playing the macho/hothead cop, and Vitani was fed up with the 'bad-girl' ex-Outlander that she presented herself as.

They saw through each other, and that was why their understanding of each other was so great. As they kissed, Vitani ran her hands down Kopa's face and eventually his shirt. He moaned and slowly pulled Vitani's red headband off with one hand and unzipped her jacket with the other.

All of a sudden they had become completely unaware of the terrible world around them and enjoyed each other in the silence of Kopa's apartment. The death of Simba and the airport massacre seemed like distant memories as they expressed their love for each other. The world around Kopa seemed to fade as the day progressed.

How was it? Don't forget to review!