Summary: "He expected the king to swipe a large paw at him, to refuse to hear him out. Instead, Simba's eyes went wide in shock and his jaw slowly hung open." A certain rogue lion has come home, and the lionesses don't seem pleased at the sight of an intruder. Luckily, the king recognizes him...One-shot. Set before Simba's Pride and after Kiara's birth.

A Promise Fulfilled

The lithe young lion stood uncertainly at the border of the Pride Lands, his light brown mane waving in the gentle afternoon breeze. The fur on his back rose in something akin to fear, matching the expression in his soft blue eyes. He knew the scars on his face and shoulders made him look a tad menacing, but couldn't the three hostile lionesses opposite him see that he posed no threat to them?

"I don't mean you any harm." He repeated, tail flicking behind him uneasily. "I-I can help you bring a catch in for the elders, if you want. I just wish to speak with the king."

"The king is busy." One of the lionesses growled. "We've told you this. Return tomorrow."

"I've been waiting almost my whole life to talk to him." The outsider begged. "Please don't make me wait any longer."

The lead lioness bared her teeth at him, taking an intimidating step toward him. "Leave."

"No...I can't!" He stepped back in growing dismay. "The Pride Lands are my home."

With powerful hind legs, he launched himself over the lionesses as the first lunged at him. He landed on all four paws behind them, taking off as soon as he touched the ground.

With natural speed, his paw pads skimmed over the soil beneath the wild grasses. He easily began to outdistance his pursuers, his pelt parting along his spine with the moving air. His mane pushed back in the wind. His original distress began to fade into the comfort of running through the grasses. He had never felt more at home.

But that faded in a rush of terror as a large form leapt down in front of him as he neared Pride Rock. With a roar of alarm that was drowned in the warning one of the other lion, he sprang up into the air to clear his attacker so as not to crash into him. He landed on all four paws once more, staring up into the eyes of King Simba himself.

His own blue eyes widening at the hostility in the larger lion's eyes, he moved to back up. His rear bounced off the smooth surface of Pride Rock. The lionesses skidded to a halt behind their king. He was trapped.

"I-I-I can explain." He stammered, cowering low to the ground.

He expected the king to swipe a large paw at him, to refuse to hear him out. Instead, Simba's eyes went wide in shock and his jaw slowly hung open.

"Kopa? Is it really you?"

"H-hey, Dad. I'm back." The young lion offered softly, nervously straightening up as the other lion backed off.

"You're alive." The king's head tilted in awe. "I thought I lost you...Zira-"

"I got away from her. She lost me in the grass. Someone, a monkey, helped heal me. Then I learned to survive on my own. I promised myself that I would come back here one day, and here I am." Kopa took a few steps away from the hard surface of the rock behind him and lightly shook his head. "I missed you."

"You've grown so big. Oh, Kopa, I missed you too."

Simba stepped forward, bowing his head down to nuzzle his son's head, breathing in the once familiar scent of the prince. Kopa closed his eyes, relishing in the knowledge that he was home once again, hopefully to stay.

"Come, let's go see your mother. There's someone I'd like you to meet."