"Here he is." Adi said as they made it in front of The Tree of Life.
Janna looked out as she spotted the lion cub. "Do you know his name?" she then asked the two servals.
"I'm afraid not... He seems important though and not from your pride." Muuguzi replied.
"Although he might or might not remember who he is, his head shows a slight bruise, telling us that he might or might not have amnesia," Adi said. "So do you think Nirmala can help this young lion cub so he can survive?"
"I really hope so for the cub's sake." Muuguzi added.
"She should be able to since you brought him over as quickly as possible," Janna nodded. "Even if this cub is not among the Night Pride like we are. I shall tell her right away."
"I'm already here." Nirmala soon said as she suddenly came into the scene.
"Wow what a stroke of luck." Adi smiled.
Nirmala soon checked Kopa and could feel his faint pulse as it was still beating. Adi and Muuguzi waited in suspense.
"He still has a pulse," Nirmala informed. "You got very lucky to bring him in when you did."
"Oh, thank goodness." Muuguzi sighed out of relief.
"We should take him inside." Nirmala suggested.
Muuguzi and Adi soon helped Nirmala as they moved Kopa inside so that he could be properly taken care of.
"Once he wakes up we'll find out his name." Nirmala said.
"So he'll remember it still?" Muuguzi asked.
"Yes, he'll just not know where he is until we tell him." Nirmala nodded.
"That's good because for a second there due to that bump on his head I thought he would have amnesia." Adi said.
"Fortunately, this isn't the case." Nirmala replied.
"When he will wake up?" Muuguzi asked.
"Very soon, I think we should take him to some water when he does wake up though." Nirmala nodded.
"Okay then," Adi said. "But, uh, how do we get him there without waking him up?"
"We'll carry him." Two voices said.
The others looked over to see two other dark-furred lions: a male and female.
"Are you sure, Sãhasí and Ãnanda?" Muuguzi asked the two younger adult lions.
"Yes, and we will help give him the strength like we do for our cubs to take care of the Tree of Life if anything should happen to us." Sãhasí replied.
"Oh, don't say that, you two will be around for a while." Adi reassured.
"I'm not too sure about that." Ãnanda said mysteriously.
Adi and Muuguzi were curious and concerned as to why Ãnanda would say that. The two younger adult lions soon helped Janna bring Kopa over to some water so he could drink whenever he would wake up as he was healing up a bit, thanks to the help of Nirmala. And where after a short while, Kopa began to groan as he started to wake up.
"Ah, good," Janna smiled in relief. "He's awake."
"Ugh... My head..." Kopa groaned before he saw some water and decided to take a drink. "I must've fallen or something." he said to himself as he didn't realize where he was and he began to drink the water before seeing he wasn't alone.
"Hello there." Janna greeted.
Kopa yelped as he nearly fell in the water.
"Oh, I'm sorry, my dear," Janna said to him. "I didn't mean to startle you."
"Who are you and where am I?" Kopa asked.
"It is going to be all right," Janna told him soothingly. "I am Janna and this is my pride."
"Your pride?" Kopa asked.
"Yes," Janna nodded. "Welcome to the Night Pride."
"The Night Pride? I don't think that's anywhere near the Pridelands." Kopa said.
"As a matter of fact, it's quite far from the Pridelands," Janna replied. "So you know who you are?"
"Yes, I'm Prince Kopa of Pride Rock," Kopa nodded. "If it's not too much trouble, but could you tell me how I ended up all the way from the Pridelands to here?"
"Would you care to share?" Janna asked the two servals.
"Very well." Muuguzi nodded.
Kopa soon looked at the two jungle cats, far different from his own species.
"You see, Prince Kopa, you were near the gorge and you were in very bad shape," Muuguzi began to explain. "Adi and I found you and we decided to come to save you just to make sure you were okay and hope you could survive, especially since you're a young cub. You looked very close to death."
"I remember I was attacked by Zira after she tried lying about Dad killing Grandfather Mufasa and didn't take it lightly when she thought I was lying when I told her that dad wasn't the one that killed Scar but the hyenas, and of course me fighting back by biting a part of her ear off didn't help." Kopa said, remembering how he got the scars on his body.
"You're lucky you were able to survive her attacks," Adi replied. "And we brought you to the Tree of Life in time."
"Very lucky indeed." Janna agreed with the servals.
"My parents, my pride, Zazu, Binti, Timon and Pumbaa and Vitani... They must all think I'm dead." Kopa said softly.
The others frowned softly as Kopa's situation was very sad.
"I should probably go back to them." Kopa suggested, but just as he was about to take a step outside to start his journey, the image of Zira ready to kill him the moment he got back haunted him.
Janna looked concerned about Kopa.
"I... I can't go home..." Kopa said worriedly. "Especially with Zira out there."
"Then why not stay here?" Adi asked.
"Oh, uh, I-I don't know..." Kopa stammered. "Would that be allowed? I especially have a little brother and sister to look after."
"It's up to you, Prince Kopa," Janna told the cub. "You can go home and still be a high risk for Zira so she can avenge Scar... Or you can stay here and be safe with us as your new family."
Kopa looked back and forth to them and to Pride Rock, though his eyes filled with tears as he knew he would miss his true family very much before he heaved a sharp sigh as he thought this would be better for him with his final decision. "...I'll stay here with you."
"Welcome to the Night Pride and the Tree of Life, Kopa." Janna smiled.
"Well... Thank you," Kopa smiled back. "Great to be here."
"I am Queen Janna." Janna smiled back.
"Hello, Queen Janna." Kopa nodded as he bowed a bit.
"And this is my son, Sãhasí and his mate, Ãnanda." Janan then introduced.
"Good to meet you two as well." Kopa then said before greeting the two younger adult lions.
"Hello." Nirmala and Surak greeted the young lion cub.
"Kopa, these are Nirmala and Surak." Sahasi said.
"Hello to you two." Kopa greeted.
"Welcome to the Night Pride," Surak smirked a bit, showing off his swept-up mane. "I see we're gonna have a lot to teach ya."
"Yes, looks like it," Kopa smiled before seeing Rani and Baliyo. "Aw... And who are these two?"
"My niece and nephew." Surak replied.
"So your cubs?" Kopa asked the adult lions.
"Yes, our cubs," Sãhasí nodded. "Rani is our daughter and Baliyo is our son."
The brown-furred lion cubs looked over from behind their parents and uncle.
"Something seems to have caught their attention." Kopa said.
"I believe it's your arrival." Janna said out of amusement.
"Hello there." Kopa smiled at Rani and Baliyo.
And just like with his own sister, Rani seemed to do the one thing to his tail once it was close enough.
"Gah!" Kopa yelped.
"Rani!" Ãnanda scolded.
"Heh... Reminds me of Kiara a little." Kopa smiled bashfully.
"So your little sister did that to you too?" Adi asked.
"Yep, my tail just seems to be something for baby lioness cubs to teeth on." Kopa laughed.
"Okay, Rani, let go of Kopa's tail." Sãhasí said with a chuckle.
Rani pouted before she soon let go.
"Maybe she's hungry." Ãnanda remarked.
"I hope just not for my tail." Kopa said with a laugh with them.
Rani and Baliyo were both soon seen getting their food given to them in the only way a parent knew how.
"Let's get you some food," Surak told Kopa. "Just for you."
"That sounds really good right about now," Kopa replied. "I guess I did sorta miss breakfast."
"You didn't wait until after breakfast to leave the den?" Adi asked the young lion cub.
"Well, I had only some time until my parents and the others would wake up so I had some time to go see Vitani," Kopa said. "My best friend even though her mother is Zira."
"Woke up early, huh?" Muuguzi asked.
"Can't help it," Kopa smiled. "Mom and Dad say I'm very excitable for my age. Even my Grandmother Sarabi said that she reminded her of Grandfather Mufasa from when they were cubs."
"Aw." Muuguzi smiled back.
Kopa was soon given some food from the lions of the Night Pride as his new life was just beginning as he couldn't go back to Pride Rock. At least not now, but of course he would still deal with loss as there was going to be a reason why Ãnanda said that her and Sãhasí wouldn't be around for much longer. After eating, Kopa got to know his new family better. It took a lot of adjusting, but he soon began to fit in and feel almost like an honorary member of the Night Pride, but more than that: he felt like he was truly part of a family, even if this family wasn't like his own. It soon seemed for the moment that nothing could ruin it. Kopa seemed to get along with Surak like having a big brother of his own. It took a lot of adjusting for everybody, especially with Kopa being around, but he managed to get along alright and was almost like he was a typical member of The Night Pride with a few differences. He was told where to get food and where to go and told some stories about the pride, he even told them about his family's worship for the one called The Great Spirit which was also known as The Lion in the Moon as his grandfather had told Simba about him and he told him and his siblings about the spirit. And where it seemed like everything would be perfect with no conflicts to deal with for the young prince.
Much time had passed by.
"Kopa, would you take Rani and Baliyo out to get some food?" Janna asked. "Sãhasí and Ãnanda should be back home soon."
"Yes, ma'am." Kopa nodded as he rounded up the younger lion cubs and had them follow behind him.
During the walk though, they saw the younger adult lions from the Night Pride before they heard a different voice which made them hide away behind the bushes.
"Well, well... If it isn't the King and Queen of the Night Pride?" A voice smirked at the two adult lions.
"It's been a long time, Dakarai." Sãhasí glared.
"It's been too long," The darker furred lion chuckled, almost looking as black as a smoky panther in nightfall and he had piercing eyes: one was icy blue and the other was red as blood. "How have you two been?"
"We're fine, really," Ãnanda replied as she narrowed her eyes. "I didn't think they welcomed spawn like you to these jungles."
"Who is that?" Kopa wondered to himself as he hid away with the younger lion cubs, keeping them down to protect them.
"I think we should catch up," Dakarai smirked. "Especially with The Shadow Clan."
"So you brought them along with you." Sãhasí glared.
"Well, at least the ones that are still left." Dakarai smirked.
"Leave, Dakarai," Ãnanda scowled. "You shouldn't get involved or mixed up in a situation like this."
"No, Sãhasí and Ãnanda, I believe it is you who should not have gotten mixed up with me before you got away," Dakarai smirked. "Especially with two acolytes of mine who agree strongly with the decision."
Two other dark-furred lions soon came over to Dakarai's side.
"Meet Akata and Abrafo." Dakarai smirked.
"Friends of yours?" Sãhasí guessed.
"And some enemies of yours who wish to carry out a job for me," Dakarai smirked. "Akata and Abrafo? Show them what you can do."
"No... This is what I was warned about..." Ãnanda gasped in horror as the two darker lions were too fast and advanced for the brown-furred lions to realize as Kopa looked wide-eyed and terrified for the two lions who had become like new parents for him.
"No, I can't lose them, we can't lose them," Kopa said. "I have to do something."
Baliyo and Rani backed away in fear.
"Oh, guys, don't feel scared." Kopa frowned at them worriedly.
Unknown to Kopa, Baliyo, and Rani, they could be heard by Dakarai as he smirked evilly. Sãhasí and Ãnanda did what they could to defend themselves up against Akata and Abrafo, but it proved to be useless. Dakarai grinned darkly as he took that time to stalk after the young cubs he had overheard.
"Oh, no..." Kopa gulped as he stood protectively in front of Baliyo and Rani.
"Come on out, little cubs," Dakarai smirked as he came closer. "I just wanna talk to you for a minute~"
Kopa was the first to come out while he kept Baliyo and Rani out of sight so they wouldn't be seen by Dakarai, Akata, or Abrafo. Dakarai sniffed the air a bit as he looked around and used his sense of smell.
Kopa reminded the younger cubs to be quiet as he tried to help them escape before getting caught by the black-furred lion. "What do you want?" he then asked him.
"Ah... I thought I smelled some young flesh." Dakarai smirked.
Kopa glared as bravely as he could.
"I just thought I'd stop by to see some old friends." Dakarai explained, a bit darkly.
"Then why weren't you invited here?" Kopa glared. "I heard everything."
"I have a special invitation," Dakarai grinned darkly. "Surely you of all animals understand that." he then said, gesturing of how different Kopa looked and was different from the Night Pride since he originally came from the Pridelands.
"I-I was brought here for healing and I'm staying here for as long as I need to," Kopa said. "And I won't let you hurt anyone else."
Dakarai chuckled. "I'd love to see you try, little cub."
Kopa growled bravely as he tried to look strong and brave like his father.
Dakarai simply whacked him away with his paw, making the cub roll away briefly before getting knocked into a tree, turning him upside down. "You wanna play, Little Cub? Well, then, let's play." he then challenged, not even feeling bad that he could possibly kill the cub, having a dark heart as much as Zira did.
Kopa gulped before he got back on all four paws as he looked ready to fight Dakarai as his claws came out ready.
"Let's see what you're made of, Cub." Dakarai challenged as he sheathed his own claws.
And so, the two began to fight as Kopa felt more ready to defend himself than he was against Zira who nearly killed him the first time. And where Kopa even with no fighting experience was able to keep up with Dakarai in battle, even getting a new scar. And while they fought some company would come as Janna started to get worried as were Surak and Nirmala.
"They've been gone for so long..." Janna said to Surak and Nirmala. "The cubs too."
"Maybe I should've gone to keep an eye on them." Surak remarked.
"We should go check on them." Nirmala said.
"I'm sensing very bad and strong vibrations," Janna told them. "You better hurry."
Nirmala and Surak nodded to the older lioness before they soon left home to go after Kopa and the cubs.
Kopa was seen still fighting Dakarai and where he seemed very annoyed that he couldn't seem to take down one lion cub.
"How could you possibly be stronger than I?" Dakarai sneered at Kopa. "You are merely just a cub."
"I've had some training since my last big fight," Kopa glared. "Maybe you should sharpen your skills like I have."
"But how? You couldn't possibly have gotten this strong by training by yourself." Dakarai glared back.
"I have connections in the Night Pride now," Kopa snarled. "You stay away from my family if you know what's good for you!"
"You think one lion cub can take on three lions?" Dakarai snarled back. "Especially since Akata and Abrafo have finished them, they could do nothing but watch until they die."
"What?!" Kopa gasped.
"I'll have to congratulate them," Dakarai smirked. "Akata and Abrafo have made me so proud."
"Why did you let them kill Sãhasí and Ãnanda?!" Kopa cried out. "They've done nothing to you!"
"It's because they were standing in my way of taking over all of this." Dakarai smirked.
"You can't take over this land!" Kopa glared.
"You might be strong and wise for a small cub, but I really don't think it's any of your business to stop me." Dakarai retorted.
"I will because I won't let anyone take over this land!" Kopa growled.
"Oh, this should be fun." Akata smirked as he and Abrafo came over to Dakarai.
"A lot of fun." Abrafo added.
"Leave! NOW!" Kopa roared at Dakarai as brave and strong as he could. As he roared his roar was met by three other roars who weren't Dakarai, Akata, or Abrafo.
The three invader lions soon saw Janna, Surak, and Nirmala coming right over as they looked very angered and hostile towards the invaders.
"Stand down." Janna snarled, even if she was an elderly lioness.
"We're outnumbered." Abrafo glared.
"We can still take them." Akata roared.
"Kopa, come over here," Janna told the cub who soon went to do as he was told. "We'll help you handle these invaders."
"Are you sure, ma'am?" Kopa asked Janna due to how much older the lioness was than the lion invaders.
"I've been training my whole life for moments like this," Janna replied. "I'm pretty sure that I am ready for anything."
Kopa soon came over to Janna, Nirmala, and Surak while making sure Rani and Baliyo were still hidden. Rani and Baliyo looked very scared and worried.
"I'm really sorry about this, guys," Kopa frowned at the younger cubs. "You must feel so worried and confused."
"Who are you talking to?" Dakarai smirked as he walked up to the lion cub.
"Nobody!" Kopa gasped.
"Leave him alone, Dakarai," Janna glared. "It's us you want, not him."
"True, but he's been more trouble to get rid of than catching lunch." Dakarai glared back.
"Back home," Surak told Kopa. "It might be better if you go there and look after Rani and Baliyo until we get back."
Kopa would have disagreed and wanted to help them fight off Dakarai, Akata, and Abrafo, but he knew that Rani and Baliyo would be in danger if the invading lions caught a glimpse of them during the battle. "Okay." he then nodded.
And so, the Night Pride was left alone to take on the invader lions. Kopa then took his surrogate brother and sister back home and waited with them.