Author's Acknowledgments: Characters Copyright to the Walt Disney Company. (the lines are in italics and are simply used directly from the movie for flashback reference).
Simba sat upon a rock overlooking the savannah. Everything had changed since the night he had taken back the throne. He still had nightmares about it. He could see himself dangling from that cliff, Scar looking down at him for a moment before digging into his tender paws with his claws. He could remember those words so clearly still.
Here's my little secret…. I killed Mufasa…
He shook his head, Scar's words replaced by the chirping of crickets. The sun had nearly disappeared into the horizon. He sighed at the thought of his father. Almost instantly, Mufasa's words came to mind.
A king's time as ruler rises and falls like the sun. One day, Simba, the sun will set on my time here, and will rise with you as the new king.
"I didn't expect it to be so soon," Simba admitted. "Had I not run off scared like I had, perhaps Scar would've never ruled. Perhaps then the lionesses wouldn't have suffered for so long."
He never liked talking about it, but the way things had happened had always bugged him. Though he knew better, sometimes he couldn't help but feel responsible for his father's death. Even more often, he thought about the serenity of Timon and Pumbaa's place. The peaceful waterfall … the gentle streams … the tasty bugs…
He laughed. "How did I ever manage to enjoy eating bugs?"
Indeed, it had been true. He had been taught to enjoy them for the two insectivores would not help him find meat of his own. He was too young to hunt as well and he had highly doubted that his friends would approve of such a diet; he feared they would think they would be next on the menu.
The sky was a deep purple now, the sun fully hidden by the horizon. He stood up and stretched before jumping down from his rock. Then, he yawned and headed home.
-- -- -- -- SCENE CHANGE -- -- -- -- --
Zira stayed close to the cubs as they played. The other lionesses had gone hunting, and Simba was checking the perimeter for danger. She licked her paws as Vitani and Kovu took a nap under a tree.
"Let's go explore," Kopa told Nuka. "We could find lots of adventures out there I bet!"
"Explore? Alone?" Nuka replied.
"Yeah. My dad used to do it all the time with my mom. It will be fun!"
Nuka glanced back at his mother and siblings. "I don't know Kopa…."
"Come on! It'll be fun! There's this awesome watering hole not too far away."
"Well…."
"Come on!" Kopa crept off through the grass, and he was pleased when he noticed Nuka following. The younger lion picked up the pace, and Nuka matched it. They continued this way until they finally reached the watering hole.
Kopa laughed as Nuka took a drink. Playfully, the younger cub splashed water on Nuka.
"Be careful," Nuka warned. "The crocodiles might get you."
"I'm not afraid of crocodiles! I laugh in the face of danger! Ha-"
"Come up with your own catchphrase. Your mom told me that story already."
Kopa shrugged. "And what would yours be? Be careful? There's danger everywhere?"
"Quiet!" Nuka growled. His ears twitched as he listened. He had heard something growl. "Let's go back home."
"You can't be serious! We just got here!"
"We're leaving!"
Kopa shook his head and began to scurry away, but Nuka pounced on him. He grabbed the cub by the scruff of his neck and began to carry him to the grass as best as he could. Though Nuka was older, he still wasn't a strong lion.
When they reached the taller grasses, Nuka heard the low growl again. He crept as quietly as he could but he soon became tired. He dropped Kopa, and whispered, "There's something out there. I think it's another lion."
"Another lion?" Kopa replied. "My dad would never let another lion-"
The two cubs heard a loud roar. "Run!" Nuka said.
A large lion pounced at them, but the two cubs dodged him. They ran as fast as they could, each hoping they were headed towards home. Between the thick grass and the panic, the two cubs became separated. Kopa could see the gorge coming into view.
The male lion roared again as Kopa darted under the uprooted root of a tree. The lion jumped over it as Kopa reached the cavern.
Where's Nuka? he wondered. He hurriedly descended it to make his way across in hopes that he could find the rest of the pride.
-- -- -- -- SCENE CHANGE -- -- -- -- --
"Where is he?" Simba snarled. He had returned from his rounds to find Zira nervously waiting at the den.
"They were both with me one minute and gone the next," Zira said.
The lion roared angrily.
"My son is gone too!" Zira snarled. "I'm just as worried as you are."
"That son of yours is always up to trouble!"
"Sire!" Zazu squawked as he flew in. "Quickly! It's Kopa and Nuka!"
Simba's eyes widened. "Where is he?"
"I saw Kopa running towards the gorge with a male lion close behind him! Your mother and a couple of other lionesses were nearby so they're going to intervene, but they might need your strength! Hurry!" Zazu cried.
The lion king roared angrily before running down to the foot of Pride Rock. The other lionesses were still out hunting; they too were running late. What do I do?
He roared again in frustration before hurrying off into the savannah. He quickly followed Zazu with Zira close behind. The other lionesses had heard Simba's roars and had abandoned their hunt to heed his call for help.
"What is it?" Nala asked.
"Kopa's in danger!"
-- -- -- -- SCENE CHANGE -- -- -- -- --
Sarabi roared as she rushed at the male lion again. He turned on her and slapped her across the face. She fell to the side and stood up, dazed. She pounced on the male, and he grabbed her leg. The sheering pain that followed nearly caused the lioness to pass out, but she focused on helping her grandson. She bit the male's tale and he let go. Then, he bull rushed her and pinned her to the ground.
"NO!" Simba roared as he pounced on the male. The two tumbled and the foreigner pinned Simba down. The lion king snarled and flipped the lion over, just as Nala had done to him so many times as a child. He bit the foreigner on the neck, the mane protecting the intruder from a quick death. The strange male broke free of Simba's grasp and took off before Simba could pin him again.
Immediately, Simba turned to his mother. "Is she alright?" he asked the others.
"She's badly hurt," Sarafina said. "I don't know if we can move her."
He nudged Sarabi and was relieved when he saw her open her eyes. She was visibly dazed; it took her a moment to realize where she was and that she was with family. She sat up abruptly and cried, "Where's Kopa?"
"Kopa was here?" Simba snarled.
"The lion attacked him … he was over there…."
The others began searching, each calling out the lost prince's name.
"He shall never answer," someone's voice said.
The lionesses and Simba looked up and found their friend Rafiki in a tree. He came down and walked towards them. Then, he shook his head as he waved his staff lightly, the wind blowing and stirring his hair.
"Where is my son?" Nala demanded.
He shook his staff again and pointed it in a direction, the wind blowing that way as well. The wind lifted some of the grass and there lied a tawny little cub. Nala ran to him and screamed. Simba followed her and roared angrily at the sight of his mangled cub.
Sarabi whimpered, "I did my best Simba. I am a terrible grandmother."
"No," Simba replied. "This is my fault. I wasn't careful enough as a father. I will never make this mistake again, Nala."
She glanced at him before running off into the brush.
"She will need time to heal," Rafiki said before rubbing some ointment on Sarabi's wounds.
"Where is Nuka?" Zira asked.
The other lionesses were divided in their willingness to search for him and the need to get Sarabi to safety. In the end, some followed Zira, and the others followed Simba.
The injured lioness limped home as far as she could by leaning on her son. Once she was safe in her den, Simba went to search for his friends Timon and Pumbaa. The warthog and meerkat had headed back to their paradise with Timon's family after Kopa had been born. Simba thought it was best to tell them of the death of his son and to talk with them. They had cheered him up as a kid when his father had died; perhaps they could help him once again.