Kopa reaches one of the water holes on the far side of the Pride Lands. He roared making nearby animals scattered before striking a tree trunk.

Jesús walks over as do Jessica and the twin brothers. Kopa strides away from them to the far end of the water hole. Jesús smiles as he calmly moves towards him.

Kopa sits but anger could be felt by the ones around. "It's unwise to be in my company right now, brother."

Jesús smirks before sitting. "Who said I was wise?"

Kopa growls. "This was to be my day of triumph."

Jesús nuzzled his brother lightly. "It will come. In time." Jesús then looks towards the border. "If it's any consolation, I think you're right. About the westerners, about Jicho, Kovu, everything. If a few of them could penetrate the defenses of the Pride Lands once, who's to say they won't try again. Next time with an army?

Kopa growled. "Yes, exactly!"

Jesús shook his head and sighed. "But there's nothing we can do without defying Father."

Kopa considers this, looks towards the border, a gleam in his eye. Jesús already guesses what his brother is thinking, and grows concerned.

"No... stop that! I know that look!"

Kopa looks at his brother. "It's the only way to ensure the safety of our borders."

Jesús shakes his head. "It's madness!"

"Madness? What sort of madness?" asked Chumvi as the dark orange lion walked over with Jessica and Maji in tow.

The red-brown lion looks at the three. "Nothing! Kopa was making a jest!"

Kopa snarled at his brother. "The safety of our kingdom is no jest. We're going to the Western land!"

Maji's purple eyes widen as he choked on air. "What?!"

Jesús stared at her friend in shock. "Kopa, of all the laws of the Pride Lands, this is one you must not break."

Jesús looks on, intrigued by the proceedings.

Jessica looked at the tawny prince with wide eyes. "If the westerners don't kill you, your Father will!"

Kopa looked at the whitish lioness. "My father fought his way into this land, defeated my grandfather, and took the throne! We'd just be looking for answers."

Jessica glares at Kopa. "It is forbidden!"

Kopa sizes up his friends, smiles. He proceeds to make his case with enthusiasm and charismatic conviction. "My friends, have you forgotten all that we've done together?" He turns to Maji. "Who brought you into the sweet embrace of the most exotic lionesses in all of the Pride Lands?"

The orange, dark orange maned lion looks away. "You did."

Kopa looks towards Chumvi. "Who led you into the most glorious of battles?"

The dark orange, dark brown maned lion shook his head before replying with a small smile. "You did."

Kopa turns to Jessica. "And who proved wrong to all who scoffed at the idea that a young lioness could be one of the fiercest warriors this kingdom has ever known?"

Jessica rolls her hazel eyes. "I did."

Kopa laughed. "True. But I supported you..." He then look to the others. "My friends, trust me now. We must do this."

The others exchange concerned looks, and realize there's no convincing him.

"Come on. You're not going to let my brother and me take all the glory, are you?"

Jesús nearly choked on his saliva as he looks up startled. "What?"

Kopa looks at his brother. "You are coming with me..."

Jesús was silent for a moment before he smiled. "Yes, of course! I won't let my brother march into the western land alone. I will be at his side."

The twin brothers are second to agree.

Jessica groans before lowering her head. "I fear we'll live to regret this."

Maji snorted. "If we're lucky."

~O~

Kopa, Jesús, Jessica and the twin brothers heads for Mheetu's cave. The red-brown lion sneaks off and speaks with a lioness that was lying nearby. Maji noticed but was soon dragged into the current conversation.

"Now how are we going to sneak past your brother?" Jessica asked, eyeing her tawny friend.

"How does that work?"

Jessica and Maji looked at the dark orange lion as Jesús returned to the group.

"I mean...he was adopted by the queen but is the king's blood brother.."

"I am their uncle as well as their brother."

The five young lions looked towards the sound of the voice to see a dark cream, black maned lion standing not far.

"Mheetu, we must pass." said Kopa walking up to the dark cream lion.

"It's a foolish thing what you are about to do. But I do would like to know how they got in as well."

"Then tell no one, till we returned." Kopa says sternly before walking pass.

Mheetu looked from the young lions following heading towards the border. "You sure have faith that you will return."

Kopa stopped and looked over his shoulder at his older brother. "I don't plan on dying today."

Mheetu shook head before watching his brothers and their friends cross over the border. "None ever do."