Kopa and Tiifu ran to Luis and Sherise just as Desta and Sabra ran over.

"What's going on?!" demanded the brownish lion.

Luis nodded his head towards the three unknown lions. "We have intruders."

Everyone followed the creamy-white lion's gaze where Kopa's eyes nearly popped out of his head. The tawny lion walked over with a broad smile on his face.

"My friends, I've never been happier to see anyone. But you should not have come."

The five Neverlanders looked shocked at the reunion. Tiifu stepped up with questions running through her head.

"You know them?"

Kopa nodded before he nuzzled her lovingly not seeing the hurt look on the whitish lioness' face but the orange lion caught it and frowned.

Kopa turned back to his friends as the dark orange lion began to speak.

"We're here to take you home."

Tiifu gasped as her ears pinned against her head to the news of Kopa leaving.

Kopa shook his head before pinning his ears against his head. "You know I can't. My father is dead because of me. I must remain in exile."

The other Pridelanders exchange puzzled looks. Jessica swallowed the lump in her throat before speaking with concern in her voice. "Kopa... your father still lives."

Kopa's widen at the revelation. His brother lied and the kingdom was in danger. He looked at the brownish lion who nodded. With a deep breath he looked at Tiifu.

"I must return home. But when I'm done I'll come back for you."

Tiifu smiled before buring her head in Kopa's dark brown mane. "I love you."

Kopa nuzzled her lovingly before repeating. "I love you too."

After biding his goodbye, Kopa took off towards the Pride Lands with his Pridelander friends in tow.

~O~

Mheetu's ears perked at the sound of rusting grass. Followed by the sound to the western border.

"What the...?"

Mheetu was about to roar when something knocked him up side his head, knocking him out.

Jesús shook out his black mane before he walked over with a proud smile as Jicho and a few lionesses walked over the border.

Jesús pushed his black mane back before looking at the dark red lion.

"Welcome to the Pride Lands, father."

Jicho smiled before running towards Pride Rock with two lionesses in tow.

In the cave on priderock, Simba lies in the king sleep, Kiara is still at his side. She hears the growls and roars of of pride outside, the sound of a battle. Kiara stands and face the cave entrance ready for battle. A dark brown, almost black lioness runs in.

Kiara attacks taking the lioness out. Before Kiara could turn around, Jicho walks in and swats her aside angrily.

Jicho laughs before walking over to the out cold king. Jicho looks at Simba lying helpless on his side. The western king stands over the unconscious dark beige lion, relishing the moment. He lets his claws out.

"It's said you can still hear what transpires around you, even in this state. I hope it's true, so that you may know your death came by the claws of Jicho."

He raises his paw above Simba's body, when the dark red lion gets attacked from behind.

As the western king falls to the cave floor on his side, to see his son with his teeth and claws bared.

Jesús snarled at the dark red lion. "And your death came by the son of Simba and Kiara."

Jesús slits his father's throat before breaking the lioness standing there shocked, neck. Kiara takes out the other two lionesses before she looks to Jesús, runs to him and buries her head in his black mane.

Jesús nuzzled her. "I swear to you, mother, they will pay for what they've done today. I will end the western threat, now and forever!" He looks to Simba. "And I will make you proud."

Jesús savors the moment, but it's short-lived, as Kopa runs in. He's thrown by the scene before him, Simba safe, King Jicho and two westerners dead, his mother regarding his brother with pride and respect. Stunned and delighted to see her son, Kiara beams.

"Kopa!"

Kiara moves to Kopa and hugs him, but Kopa's eyes remain fixed on his brother.

Jesús looks at Kopa with mixed feelings.."I see you made it home."

Kopa growled."No thanks to you!"

Kiara picks up on the tension building between her sons. "What?"

"Why don't you tell her?"

Jesús says nothing earning Kiara to look at him alarmed and confused.

Jesús smiled. "It's good have you back, brother."

Kopa looked at his brother searching before growling. "You're a talented liar, brother. Always have been."

Jesús laughs. "If you'll excuse me, I need to destroy the westerners."

Jesús suddenly raises his paw and knocked Kopa down and out. Jesús smirks before running off.

A few moments later, Kopa awakens being licked by his mother.

"He's heading towards the gorge."

Kopa nods before running out of the cave. Kopa reaches the gorge see Jesús on a ledge.

"Why are you doing this?"

"To do what Father never could. To destroy their kind forever. When he awakens, he'll see the wisdom of what I've done."

Kopa shook his head. "He won't! You can't kill an entire race!"

Jesús leaps down and glares at the tawny lion. "What is this newfound love for the westerners? You, who would have killed them all."

Kopa sighed. "I've changed."

Jesús growled. "So have I." Jesús hits Kopa across the face with force making Kopa take a few steps backwards. "Fight me."

He swings his paw again. Kopa ducks before pouncing and pinning his brother.

"Is the throne really worth what you've done? What you would become?"

"I never wanted the throne. I only wanted to be your equal." Jesús spat before kicking Kopa off and landing another blow to the face. "Now fight me!"

The force of the hit made Kopa land on his side. Kopa rises to his paws, turns to Jesús.

"I will not fight you, brother."

Jesús laughed. "I am not your brother. I never was."

Kopa looks shocked. "Jesús, this is madness..."

Jesús grins remembering those words. "Is it?" He takes another swipe at Kopa but he dodges the attack, rolls to his paws. "What happened to you on that unknown land that turned you so soft? Don't tell me it was a lioness."

Kopa doesn't answer. Jesús laughs, realizing he's right. "It was. Perhaps when we're finished here I'll pay her a little visit myself."

That did it. Jesús and Kopa rush at each other. Their bodies collide. The two battle, Jesús unleashing life worth of pent-up rage and jealousy, Kopa having no choice but to defend himself.

Jesús battles savagely. Jesús hits Kopa across the face, sending the tawny lion sliding across the ground. Kopa gets up and tackles Jesús, sending the two over the edge of the gorge.

Jesús hangs on but.. barely. Kopa tries to reach but he starts to slip. A large paw catches Kopa's leg. Jesús looks up, shocked to see Simba standing on the edge awakened from the king sleep, restored to his full strength.

Jesús searches his father's face, looking for some kind of approval, some kind of redemption, but all he sees is disappointment and regret. Jesús closes his dark brown eyes and lets go.

Kopa roars. "No!"

But it's too late. Simba and Kopa can only watch as Jesús falls into the rushing torrent of a raging river below. It carries him away, Simba pulls Kopa up onto the edge. Drained, Kopa falls back onto his father.

Simba nuzzles him. "It is over."