A/N: KawaiiCutie12: Kopa does know Nuka, he just hasn't heard from him in a while. It has been a year since he's heard from Nuka. Kopa right now is a year and 6 months old. The last time Kopa saw Nuka was when he was 6 months old. So basically a year.

Anyways, here is Chapter 23 for you all! And as always, go to Chapter 1 for disclaimers so you don't get confused about who is who. Without further or do, here is Chapter 23.

"So you met this lion who is roughly a year old named Nuka?" - a year and six months old Kopa

Chapter 23: Decision

"Kopa stop!" Nala cried, getting in front of her son, forcing him to stop. They were close to the Outlands "Confronting Zira is not going to solve anything!"

"But she commanded her lionesses to kill my sisters!" Kopa shouted. "Not to mention Penda as well! There's no way in hell she is getting away with this!"

"I know that what she did was terrible Kopa," Nala cried out, still standing in front of her son. "But do you think going to the Outlands to confront her is going to do anything? She has her followers there and they might kill you."

"That doesn't stop me from going there though," Kopa declared, trying to get past his mother. "She really needs to be taught a serious lesson for going near my sisters! I'm not going to lose another sibling! I've had enough of losing loved ones!"

"But Aisha and Kali are safe Kopa," Nala cried out, trying to reason with her son. "They weren't harmed! They managed to get away from Zira and her lionesses!"

"But still!" Kopa shouted, his voice rising with anger. "She needs to leave my loved ones alone! I've already lost enough! I'm not going to take this anymore! I'm not losing my sisters like I lost dad and Chaka!" With that Kopa managed to walk past his mother and started heading to the direction of the Outlands. Nala's eyes went wide in shock realizing her son wasn't listening to her.

"Kopa," Nala began. Kopa stopped upon hearing his mother's voice. "I have a deal with you. If you go to the Outlands I will ground you for a week. If you don't go to the Outlands I won't have to." Upon hearing his mother's word, Kopa's eyes went wide. But then it turned his expression turned to a frown. He then turned to his mother, with pain and hurt in his eyes.

"I'm sorry mother," Kopa stated. "But your light punishments don't work for me anymore. You can ground me for a month and that will go by fast. But I am still going and even you won't stop me."

"Kopa.." Nala began.

"No I don't think you understand mother," Kopa said. "I don't think you understand how hard it is losing loved ones. I could have lost two sisters in one day. Losing dad and Chaka was my breaking point. I've had enough. I'm not losing two loved ones who brought joy back to me when I first saw them. I'm not going to lose them too."

"Kopa-" Nala began but was cut off by Kopa again.

"No you don't understand mother," Kopa said. "I don't think you really do. I'm sorry mother. But your pleas are not going to change my mind. I am still going and nothing will change my mind. It's like you never loved Chaka at all." With that Kopa walked away from his mother, heading to the direction of the Outlands. Nala was absolutely stunned at what she heard.

"Kopa," Nala called. However, he kept walking. "Kopa," she called again. He still kept walking. "Kopa," Nala choked, tears coming out of her eyes. She then let out a growl knowing how close her son was to the Outlands.

"Kopa!" Nala roared, causing Kopa to stop in shock at his mother's loud outburst.

"You are going to listen to me because I am your mother!" Nala shouted from behind him. "You will not speak to me the way you spoke to me! You will not go to the Outlands because me and Simba forbad you and the cubs from going to the Outlands!"

"And?" Kopa said stubbornly. "You have a problem with me going to the Outlands to confront Zira? I'm only going to confront Zira. I'm not going to fight her." With that Kopa continued to walk to the direction of the Outlands.

"I do have a problem with it, Kopa!" Nala cried, causing Kopa to stop walking. "You are going to put yourself in harm's way! There are lionesses there that could kill you! And if they did, how would that make me feel?!" Kopa's eyes went wide in shock when he heard his mother say this. However, he said nothing so she continued, "If you got killed how would that make me feel?! How would I feel if I lost you like I lost Chaka?!" Kopa was shocked. He was too stunned to even move.

"I cared for Chaka," Nala choked, tears rolling down her face. "I always have. And I still do. I wish I could have been there for him, but I couldn't. Scar wouldn't let me go near him. If I did I would be dead. I wish I just disobeyed him and just ran with you and him. I wish I could take it back but I can't... I-I-I.." Nala couldn't finish because the pain had washed all over her. She then started to cry because the pain was too much for her. Kopa didn't know what to do. He wasn't sure if he should go comfort her or just go to the Outlands and confront Zira. Everything his mother said hit him. It echoed in his head. Suddenly a flashback went through his mind.

Flashback - a day after Simba returned

"Mom?" six and a half-month-old Kopa said, approaching his mother. Simba had gotten mad with Nala earlier today.

"Yes, honey?" Nala said, giving her son her full attention.

"I um... don't have g-good news for y-you," Kopa stammered nervously. He had been told by Kamaria and Nadia yesterday the day he came back that Chaka was "dead".

"What is it, honey?" Nala asked, not liking where this was going.

"It's about C-Chaka," Kopa trembled.

"What happened to him?" Nala asked, praying that it was nothing bad.

"C-Chaka's dead," Kopa said, tears coming out of his eyes. Nala gasped in horror at what she just heard.

"T-T-This isn't true is it?" Nala trembled, as she felt tears forming in her eyes.

"I'm afraid not," Kopa said sadly. "He is dead. Scar killed him." With that Kopa broke down, tears rolling down his face. Nala went to comfort her son, both of them crying.

"Damn you Scar," Nala thought bitterly, still comforting her son as she wiped her eyes with her paw. "I should have just taken Chaka away from you. I was his mother and I had every right to have access to him. No mother should be denied access to their son. Because of you Scar, my son is dead. You took away your own son's life." With these thoughts, Nala continued to comfort her son as more tears rolled down her face. This by far, was a rough day for her and Kopa.

End of Flashback

Kopa felt tears forming in his eyes. The tears then rolled down his face. He then looked back at his mother, who was facing the other direction and was crying.

"What have I done?" Kopa thought to himself, wiping his eyes with his paw. "I just got her distressed. What do I even do?" Just then a voice in his head said, "Go to her. Comfort her. She's your mother. She raised you all by herself after your father died. She has been through a lot. Change your mind about going to the Outlands and comfort her. She needs it. She cares for you, Kopa. She always has." Kopa shuddered, remembering that he was supposed to go to the Outlands. Instead of going to the Outlands, he went over to his mother, who was crying. Once he was close to his mother, he hesitated to do anything. Then suddenly the same voice in his head said, "Come on Kopa. She won't bite. Your only comforting her." Kopa shook his head before the voice could even say more, but knew that if he just stood there, he would stand there forever. He gently rubbed his mother's back, but she didn't react. He didn't know what to do to comfort her. Then suddenly Kopa licked his mother's cheek, catching his mother's attention. Before she could react, Kopa slid his head underneath his mother's chin, gently nuzzling her while also putting one of his paws on top of hers. Nala closed her eyes letting tears escape her eyes and roll down her face while taking a shaky breath feeling her son nuzzling her underneath her chin. She then nuzzled her son back. Then suddenly she embraced him, catching Kopa by surprise. He was not sure how to react because he felt tense. But then he relaxed and embraced his mother back. After a few minutes, they pulled apart.

"I'm sorry mom," Kopa said, his voice full of regret. "I'm sorry for what I said to you about you not understanding losing loved ones. I was just too angry and not thinking clearly. I'm still mad about what happened earlier today. I didn't mean to say those hurtful things to you."

"Oh Kopa," Nala said softly. "I forgive you. But please don't ever say those hurtful things to me again. Understand?"

"Yes," Kopa said softly. "I understand mom." Nala playfully rubbed the top of Kopa's head with her paw, messing up the mane on top of his head. "Jeeze mom," Kopa said with annoyance, shaking the mane out of his eyes and putting the mane on top of his head back in its original place. "Don't mess up my mane." Nala only chuckled at her son's response.

"You know I love you right?" Nala said, putting a paw around her son.

"I know you do," Kopa replied with a smile. "I love you too." Nala then licked Kopa's cheek, causing him to laugh. Then a few minutes later Zazu came and told them that Simba is worrying for them. With that, the mother and son headed back to Pride Rock.

As Nala and Kopa returned to Pride Rock, they were met by Simba, Aisha, and Kali. Aisha had her ears pinned to her head, while Kali had an angry expression on her face, and was looking down. "Oh Kali what did you do this time?" Kopa asked, raising an eyebrow. Kali immediately shot her brother a glare, her teeth clenched. Nala shot her daughter a look, and the glare vanished.

"You both know better than to go to the Outlands," Nala said sternly, looking at her daughters with a look. "Me and your father specifically told you both to not go anywhere near the Outlands. You both could have been killed. Do you girls realize that you put yourselves in danger?"

"Yes," Aisha said, looking down in shame.

"You two are most definitely not getting away without a punishment," Nala said. "You both are grounded for a week."

"You two are lucky your mother is the one who's giving you the punishment," Simba declared. "I would have made it a month." Kali scoffed and rolled her eyes in annoyance.

"Kali," Nala scolded, giving her daughter a sharp look, causing Kali to flinch. "Do you want me to extend your punishment?!"

"No," Kali said fearfully, knowing that she was going too far.

"Then enough of your attitude," Nala said sternly. Nala was starting to get fed up with Kali's attitude. Kali's had this attitude for six months now. "Now head inside the cave. Both of you."

"Yes, mom," Aisha said. Kali said nothing. With that, the twins went inside the royal cave.

"I um.. gonna go inside too," Kopa said as he began to go inside the royal cave. "Kopa wait," Nala said. "Don't go. We need to ask you something." Kopa stopped and gave his mother and step-father his full attention.

"Would you be okay watching the cubs for the night?" Simba asked.

"Oh?" Kopa said with a raised eyebrow. "What are you two up too?"

"Me and Simba want to spend the night alone," Nala explained. "So we were wondering if you and your grandmothers can watch the cubs for the night."

"Of course you can," Kopa replied with a smile. "You both can spend time alone. Besides the cubs are grounded anyway so I wouldn't mind watching them with Grandma Sarabi and Grandma Sarafina for the night."

"Thank you Kopa," Simba said with a smile. With that Kopa gave his mother a nuzzle and headed inside the cave to get some rest.

A/N: Oh Kopa when will you learn *shakes head*

Seems like Simba and Nala are now about to do some cub making. Well, they waited for a while and obviously Simba wants a kid of his own.

This chapter was so damn frustrating to write! It really was. The lines were very frustrating to write. They really were. But finally, this chapter is done!

Anyways, that is it for Chapter 23. See you guys later in Chapter 24!