Author's Acknowledgments: Characters Copyright to the Walt Disney Company.
It had been a couple weeks since Kopa's birth. Simba sat beside his mate. He as keeping close to her, knowing well enough her body was ready to have cubs again. He groomed her affectionately.
"I'd be away from Kopa for five days," she told him.
"We could give our son a playmate though," Simba suggested. "Besides, you saw how filled with life everyone became when he was born. The Pride Lands are strong again. They can support another life or two."
"Five days," she reiterated.
"Zira is still producing milk for her cubs. She could watch over him for a little while."
Nala turned to the other lioness. "Would you do that for us?"
"Of course, my Queen! It was Simba who spared my own cubs," Zira replied. "I'd be more than happy to watch young Kopa until you return."
Nala glanced at her son. The thought of another cub or two pleased her. She stood up, stretching briefly before rubbing her head against Simba's. "Very well," she said. "Perhaps this time we'll have a princess."
"That would be lovely," Simba replied as he followed her out of the cave.
-- -- -- -- SCENE CHANGE -- -- -- -- --
Kopa laughed as he pounced on Nuka. The slightly older male merely smiled and pounced back. The two enjoyed playing together, and sometimes they even played with Nuka's half siblings, Vitani and Kovu.
Zira, Nala, Sarabi, and Sarafina watched from their resting place. Nala's belly was starting to swell from the lives within her. The cubs practiced stalking one another, and the four mothers merely smiled.
"I am glad to see life is good again," Sarafina said. "I never thought the hyenas would leave."
"Yes," Nala agreed. "I'm glad Simba took care of them so that the children could have food again."
"And the land had time to replenish itself," Sarabi added. "And our pride is growing strong." She glanced at Nala with a warm smile.
"Yes," Nala replied.
The four lionesses continued to watch the children play as Rafiki watched from his tree. He had drawn the cubs on his tree already, and he was pleased to know another cub would be joining them. Still, he was worried.
"Ah, Mufasa, the Pride Lands are prospering again," the mandril said. "However, Simba is a lone lion in his natal pride. He will only be able to produce heirs with Nala and a select few others due to his close relatives having stayed with their native pride. Poor Kopa would never be able to rule this kingdom unless he made Vitani his queen, so long as Scar truly isn't her father." He pondered. "Zira isn't related to Simba, is she?" He bit down in the fruit he was eating for lunch. Then, he looked up at the sky. "Mufasa!" He laughed. "You're being quiet again! Ah well, I shall look it up. I think I made a family tree … somewhere in this tree."
-- -- -- -- SCENE CHANGE -- -- -- -- --
The small lion cub poked its head out of from under the grass and grinned at the bird. He knew this bird well, and he loved to ruffle his feathers. He squirmed somewhat as he prepared to pounce, then he leapt.
"Ahh!!" came a squawk from beneath the lion cub's tiny paws. Then, the hornbill continued, "Young master, you startled me! Don't you think it's about time you found something else to practice pouncing on?"
The lion cub laughed as he jumped off the bird. "Oh, Zazu, you know you're the best target," he growled playfully as he dug his nails in the dirt.
"Well, young master, I do wish you'd stop."
"My dad told me all about how he used to pounce on you too," the cub said. "You must get tired of being the major domo all the time."
"I only tire of being pounced upon," Zazu replied as he dusted off his wings. "You really ought to stop running off like that as well. There are many dangers out there for a young cub li-"
"My dad went and explored the elephant graveyard when he was only just a little older than I was!"
"And your dad was punished by his father for doing such a stupid thing just as you will be if you continue running off!"
The cub shrugged lightly and continued walking as Zazu follow slightly above in the air.
"And as the future king, young Kopa, you really must take these things seriously! Other lions nearby would gladly try to kill you if you wandered too far from Pride Rock. You ought to know that by now."
"My dad hounds me enough as it is," Kopa replied. "I don't need you reminding me. I'm not king yet, so can't I just enjoy romping around like any cub would?"
Zazu shook his head before saying, "You will understand what I mean someday, young master, when you are the king. It was the same way with your father. I kept trying to tell him that he-"
Kopa rolled his eyes and ignored him. Pride Rock grew closer into view until at last he reached it. He ran up the steps, desperate to rid himself of Zazu. He quickly ducked inside and found his mother Nala resting. She picked up her head and he went up to her, rubbing against her in greeting.
"Hello," she said with a warm smile. "And how are you?"
"Zazu was giving another lecture," he replied with annoyance.
Nala laughed and nuzzled her son as she responded, "You will learn to love him. His talks can be filled with wisdom if you listen close enough."
"He's a bird Mom."
"So?"
"Haven't you ever heard anyone being called a bird brain? They do it for a reason. Birds are dumb."
"Oh Kopa, you shouldn't talk that way. Zazu is a very valuable friend of ours. You should enjoy his company while you can."
"Whatever you say Mom," Kopa said as he rolled his eyes. Then, without another word, he wandered off from the cave and hurried off to play before Zazu could follow.
Author's Note: So, it took so long to update because I had to fix this section. When Kiara and Kovu are together, they often look to be the same age. Therefore, the only way to do this was to have Nala either A) have the cubs at the same time or B) mate again shortly after Kopa was born. This does happen in the wild, though it's not as common since this means the mothers have to abandon the cubs for several days. Yes, I could have gone for choice A, however, in the original script of the movie, Kovu and Vitani are already playing around and exhiled when Kiara is born because a deleted scene showed Kovu pouncing on something at the time (look for the script at The Lion King WWW Archive). Comment all you wish ...