Vitani opened her eyes to find she was in a cave. She looked around and seen her parents looking at her.

"Father..."

Kovu looks to the cave entrance to see Adela, Jicho and Zira. After seeing the three lions sit the dull tan lion looked back at his daughter.

"What happened?!"

Vitani cringed at the rise of her father's voice but took a deep breath and looked him in the eyes. "The plan failed...but in all I thought it was a foolish plan."

Kovu's eyes widen before he snarled. Nala looked at her daughter hard.

"Vitani..."

The creamy lioness shook her head. "Did you actually think that we was going to succeed with only sixteen lionesses, minus myself and grandmother and Nuka was going to rid of Simba and his sons?"

Adela spoke up, earning everyone in the cave looked at the old creamy beige lioness. "She is right. That wouldn't work, especially with the warriors they have. We must use the inside to our advantage."

Nala glared and growled at her aunt. "You old fool. There's no one in the Pride Lands that would ever think about betraying Simba!"

Adela wasn't fazed, she smirked at her neice before continuing. "The youngest prince has been living a life of lies. He doesn't even know the truth. If I know my blasted son and his mate, they're going to try hard and keep it from him."

Jicho's green eyes widen as he looked at Adela. "Laufey..."

Nala looked at her father. "The red-brown cub you abandoned and Simba took?"

Vitani gasped as her amber eyes widen. "I met him. He's a...amazing fighter.."

Kovu inhaled and exhaled before nodding. "It's settled."

Then a white, blonde maned lion with hazel eyes walked in the cave and bowed. "King Jicho,"

The dark red lion looked from the others to the cave entrance. "Yes, Jadi?"

Jadi looked at the Western king. "We have visitors."

Everyone smirked, already knowing who it was. It was no secret about Prince Kopa being reckless and war hungry. Passing birds flew and spread the word that Kopa's crowning ceremony was today and they know that they interrupted it.

It also wasn't no secret also that wherever Kopa goes his younger brother is most likely to follow.

Jicho laughed evily. It was time to start faze one. Give the prince the truth.

"Let's go meet our guests.."

~O~

Kopa and the others turn and stare out in horror and wonder at the wasteland before them. The whole land is a massive flattened ring of jagged rocks, slowly breaking apart. Huge chunks of rocks calve away from its outer edges. The land's surface cracks and melts as far as the eye can see.

"We shouldn't be here." said Chumvi still looking around in fear.

Kopa snorted. "Too late now."

Maji looked from the land to Kopa. "Actually, it's not. We could turn right around, run back to the Pride Lands, share a kill by the water hole. Could be nice."

Kopa ignore him, heads off.

Jesús looks around, anxious before he looks at his brother. "Perhaps we should wait."

Kopa turns to the red-brown lion. "For what?"

Jesús looks from the land to his brother. "To survey the enemy. To gauge their strengths and weaknesses from a distance."

Maji nodded. "I'm liking that. Gauging, surveying. Particularly the distance part."

"We know all we must. It's time to act." says Kopa before heading on.

Reluctantly, the others follow. The group trudges behind Kopa across the barren wasteland. Jesús looks around them, still feeling anxious. Kopa, invigorated, turns back to his comrades.

"It feels good, doesn't it? To be together again, adventuring another land?"

"Adventuring?" The dark orange lion looked at the tawny lion. "Is that what we're doing?"

Kopa looks at the oldest twin brother. "What would you call it?"

Chumvi looked at his prince and friend. "Suicide."

Maji nodded as he added, "Trouble."

Jessica rolled her hazel eyes. "Whining."

Kopa nods and looks at his friends. "How about a song to lift our spirits?"

The others groan. Chumvi moans and shakes his head. "No, not that!"

Jessica glared at the oldest prince. "Please don't make us sing again!"

Maji snorted. "If I have to listen to Chumvi's singing voice one more time, I'll fall by my own claws!"

Jessica snickered. "Well, now I'm on board."

She and Kopa share a grin. The party reaches the edge of the land- its ancient structures of rocks melting and crumbling, ravaged by warfare long ago. A large and tall cave with a high ledge on the top.

Jessica looks around. "Where are they?"

Kopa growls. "Hiding. As cowards always do."

Kopa leads the others onward. Jesús pinned his ears as he reluctantly follows. They don't notice the shadowly figures move in the shadows of the structures nearby. The party reached the cave. They sense the westerners in the shadows and crevices, surrounding them now on all sides.

Jadi stepped out on a ledge with a few lionesses behind him. "What is your business here, Pridelanders?" The western's voice itself sounds like cracking ice.

Kopa sneered. "I speak only to your King. Not to his foot soldiers."

"Then speak."

Kopa turns towards the source on the ledge on top of the cave where Jicho sits, veiled in the shadows.

"I am Jicho, King of this kingdom."

"And I am-"

Jicho growled. "We know who you are, Prince Kopa. Why have you brought the stench of your blood into my land?"

Kopa growled. "I demand answers!"

Jicho stands, sizing up Kopa, tries to piece this together. "You demand?"

"How did your pride get into the Pride Lands!" Kopa growled.

Jicho looked around until his green gaze fell on Jesús. "The Pride Lands is full of traitors."

Jessica and the twin brothers exchange a puzzled look, disturbed by the King's words.

Kopa snarled and bared his teeth. "Do not dishonor my father's kingdom with your lies."

Jicho growled. "Your father is a murderer and a thief. He stole what was ours! We have the right to help reclaim the Pridelands!"

Kopa sneered. "Not when you'd use it to make war against other kingdoms and innocent lands!"

Jicho laughs, cold, mocking. "And why have you come here? To make peace? You long for battle. You crave it. I see you for what you are, Prince Kopa. Nothing but a cub, trying to prove himself a lion."

Kopa growled. "This cub has grown tired of your mockery!"

Kopa takes a step towards Jicho. The other Westerners step in front of Kopa, blocking his path. They finally sees the westerners as they are. Pelts from black, sliver, brown and different colors of grey.

Jesús quickly moves next to his brother and quietly implores him. "Kopa, stop and think. Look around you. We are outnumbered."

Kopa snapped his teeth at the red-brown lion. "Know your place, brother..."

Jicho sneered. "You should listen to his counsel. You know not what your actions would unleash." Jicho calmly stepped out of the shadows. "But I do. Now go, while I still allow it."

Jesús speaks up. "We will accept your most gracious offer."

The others look to Kopa imploringly. Kopa stares Jicho down then relents. He turns to leave. His comrades breathe a sigh of relief and follow, when a lion nearby mutters under his breath.

"Run back home, little princess."

Kopa stops in his tracks. Jesús goes pale. He knows what's coming.

Jesús closes his eyes and cursed. "Damn."