A/N:Woot...I'm on a roll! Okay, new chapter...finally. Um...I'll be uploading two of these chapters today...it was originally intended to be just one really long chapter, but I felt it was getting too long...
Disclaimer: I don't down anyone...I don't think...
"I think Opak has something to tell us…or should I say…Kopa!"
Suddenly the whole Pride Lands seemed to stop as everyone looked at Kovu.
"What are you playing at?" Simba asked, his expression emotionless, but his eyes filled with pain.
Nala had looked away, and Kiara was staring at Kovu with disbelief.
"Go on…tell them," Kovu said and Kopa looked up
"I have nothing to say…" he narrowed his eyes at Kovu and he sent him a look.
"Opak…we are sorry. My son-in-law must have you confused with…someone else," Simba said, his face now showing the pain his eyes withheld.
"No…no…he didn't confuse anyone. Look at me…look closely," Kopa said, walking up to Simba
Simba stared at him, studying his face. Nala stood beside him, her eyes searching every inch of his face.
"Kopa…?" Nala said finally, and her eyes filled with tears.
"I've come home mother…" he said, nuzzling her.
"Oh…Kopa…" Simba muttered, and Kopa smiled.
Kovu looked at them smugly, and Kiara looked at Kopa strangely.
"Brother?" Kiara asked and Kopa, Nala and Simba smiled.
"Yeah…I'm your big bro…" Kopa said, getting closer
Kiara smiled and nuzzled him.
"Dad…what…what happened to Tanabi?"
"Is he my brother?" A young lion with golden brown fur leaned over Nala's paws, peering at his younger brother.
"Yes, my son. This is Kopa…you have to look after him," Simba said, smiling down at both his sons, Kopa and Tanabi.
"Can I play with him now?" Tanabi asked
"No…not yet. He still has to grow…" Nala said, nuzzling Tanabi
"But that's boring…" Tanabi moaned
"He…I haven't seen him since you…well, since you…'died'" Simba said softly.
"Who is he? What happened?" Kiara asked
"Tanabi was your older brother…older than Kopa. But…." Simba started
"When you came here you were a cub, your mother had died and your father couldn't look after you. We took you in and gave you a place to sleep, food and a family. Over these years we treated you kindly and you had a cub here with my uncle. Today you abandoned all this and…and you killed Kopa. You and your cubs are banished, forever," Simba yelled and Zira glared at him, picking up her youngest cub.
Tanabi looked up at his father, his eyebrows raised. He was an adolescent now, his mane growing thick on his neck, and he was a spitting image of his father.
"Where is Kopa?" Tanabi asked, looking around.
"Well…he isn't gonna be around anymore…" Simba said, tears welling up in his eyes.
"Why?"
"Well…Zira…Zira hurt him bad…" he said
"What…no…he's…he's dead!" Tanabi asked and Simba nodded sadly.
"No…no…no!" Tanabi screamed.
He turned and ran, jumping down the steps and into the distance. Simba sighed, letting him run.
"Where did Tanabi go?" Nala asked, tears still streaming down her face
"Let him go...he'll be back by morning," Simba said, sitting down next to Nala.
By morning, he hadn't returned, and Simba paced the den anxiously.
"No sign of him sire," Zazu reported, after he had flown around, asking animals.
"After three weeks, we stopped looking…well…we've never stopped, but we stopped trying so hard." Simba finished
Kopa looked out to the distance.
"So…he could still be out there?" Kopa asked
"Maybe…but he wouldn't remember us…" Nala said sadly.
"Anything can happen…" Kiara muttered
"Hey…does this mean we can't be king and queen…since there is already an heir to the throne?" Kovu suddenly asked and three faces turned towards Simba and Nala.
"Well…technically, Kopa should take the throne…but it's up to him…" Simba said
"I am leaving…I never intended on being here this long. You weren't even supposed to know. Just…know that I am alive…and I will find Tanabi, and I will bring him here…goodbye mother…father…Kiara…Kovu…" he said, and turned, running off
"Kopa!" Simba called, but the young lion did not slow, nor stop nor look back.
Simba sighed but smiled, nuzzling Nala
"I hope he'll be okay…" Nala said "What if…what if Tanabi is dead? And he never finds him?"
"Do not worry my love…" Simba muttered, nuzzling her.
(Three days later)
The days seemed to go by, and they forgot about Kopa, and they lived like he had never come back. One morning, Kiara and Kovu sat on the very tip of Pride Rock, basking in the sunlight of the sun, which had barely risen above the horizon.
"What's that?" Kiara asked, suddenly asked, standing.
Kovu stood also, looking out. Two figures were standing in the distance, not moving. One looked like a lioness, and the other's mane was blowing in the gentle breeze.
"We should tell daddy…" Kiara said, her eyes narrowed
They bounded down the steps and into the den, where they nudged Simba and Nala awake.
"There are two intruders in the Pride Lands, near the Northern Border." Kiara reported and Simba and Nala were fully awake
"Must have come from the Elephant Graveyard…" Simba muttered to himself. "Nala, rally some lionesses. Get others to stay here…they could be luring us away…"
Nala nodded and woke up Vitani, Dotty, Sarafina and Scruffy, telling them the news. They woke regretfully, but were at Simba's side in seconds.
"Let's go…" Simba said and they ran towards the graveyard.
A/N: Who is it? You'll find out soon enough!