Here's chapter twenty six and please review. Sorry about the long wait.
I'd like to thank BlackLouie, Radiant Celestial Aura, AMBER, balto90, Teddi 8347, Aggregate Dragon, LionFlower, CSIMentalistTLK lover, Fluffy Hug, Asaf, Guest and gary2000 for reviewing. Thanks!
The next day, Kopa was up at sunrise. He had fallen asleep outside under the stars and was glad that nobody had bothered him. Deep inside, he knew it was the best sleep he had gotten in ears. Not since he had been young and sleeping in his mother's paws had he had a good sleep like the one had had last night.
After taking a trip to the Waterhole, Kopa headed up to Priderock. He spotted the figure of a lioness at the ledge and he immediately knew who it was.
"Hey Jasiri," Kopa greeted.
Jasiri startled and turned around but then smiled when she saw Kopa. "You scared me."
"Well I never grew out of that." Kopa grinned.
"Why're you up so early?" Jasiri asked.
Kopa shrugged. "I'm just used to it. I fell asleep in the meadow yesterday."
"Isn't it good to be back?" Jasiri said. "I mean finally being able to settle back home again."
"I don't know," Kopa sighed. "I'm not sure if I want to stay. But what did you want to talk to me about?"
"I just…I…I've missed you." Jasiri blurted out before she could stop herself. Kopa gave her a strange look and she cringed, silently cursing herself that she had said it so straight forwardly.
"It's just that…don't you remember playing together when we were really young?" Jasiri asked." Before you started training and everything."
"Yeah," Kopa said with a soft smile. "You were one of my best friends."
"Were," Jasiri thought. "I was his best friend but not anymore."
"After you started training," Jasiri began. "You were so busy and then all you did was train and train. You never came and played and I really missed that." She remembered how much she and Kopa had enjoyed playing. It had taken their mothers a lot of patience and talking to get them to stop.
"Jasiri," Kopa sighed. "Back then, all I wanted was to prove myself worthy to Scar and I did everything I could do achieve that. I even pushed my own mother away no matter how much she tried to help me. I will never forgive myself for that. And I'm sorry that I hurt you like that but…those times were hard and complicated for me. I don't really know how to explain it."
"You don't have to." Jasiri said. "You have had a tough life. I know that. Kiara has too. But we're all good now right?"
"Right," Kopa nodded with a small smile.
"I have to go now." Jasiri said. "Before my father realizes that I'm gone." Kopa nodded and she walked back into the den.
Jasiri settled down next to her sleeping family with a heavy heart. She had missed Kopa so much and he was finally back. But he didn't see her as one of his best friends anymore. She knew that he had gone through a lot of rough times and lost so many but she was disappointed. She couldn't deny that she didn't have feelings for Kopa but she knew that it was useless. He probably wouldn't even stay in the Pridelands and even if he did, there was no way that they would end up together. Perhaps she could talk to Kiara and see what she had to say about it.
Meanwhile, Kopa was up on the peak of Priderock, wanting to watch the sunrise. He remembered Nala once telling him that the Pridelands had once been beautiful before he was born. She had told him that there was nothing like watching the sun rise at the top of Priderock.
Thinking about his mother sent a throbbing ache through his heart. He wanted to go back in time and be able to spend more time with her. He wished he hadn't trained all day, but rather spend that time with his mother. It hadn't seemed like much back then but now it was more than precious to Kopa. He knew that Nala was probably disgusted with him now. She was watching over them and probably hated him more than anything.
"Kopa?" It was Runju.
Kopa turned around and narrowed his eyes at the sight of his maternal grandfather. He remembered all the times that Runju had ignored him and Kiara when they had been younger. Then there was the time that he had nearly attacked Kopa but Nala had come to his rescue once again.
"Yeah?" Kopa asked.
"Are…are you okay enough to talk?" Runju asked.
"I guess," Kopa muttered.
Runju settled down next to him. "I know that you're angry with me and you have every right to be angry. I know when you were younger I did nothing but hurt you and Kiara along with your mother." He took a painful breath at the mention of his only daughter but continued.
"Every day," Runju continued with heavy grief washing from his eyes. "I feel the guilt eating me. I want to kill myself for what I did to Nala and believe me, there were a couple times that I considered doing that. But we didn't know that you weren't Scar's son. Nala said that you were Scar's son to protect you and we believed her. We thought that she betrayed us when we needed her the most." He squeezed his eyes shut trying to prevent tears from going down his eyes.
"Even if I was Scar's son," Kopa said quietly. "I was still your grandson."
"I know," Runju sighed. "But I let my anger for Scar block that. We all knew that Nala was determined to get you the throne and I thought you would be exactly like him and that only made me angrier."
Kopa was quiet, thinking deeply.
"I don't expect you to forgive me Kopa," Runju said. "And if you don't, it's alright. I don't deserve it." Runju got up and slowly walked back into the den.
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Meanwhile back in the Outlands, Eisha was pacing back and forth.
"What's wrong?" It was Akila.
"Kopa's not back." Eisha explained. "He didn't come back last night."
"Eisha stop worrying." Shanti said walking up to her daughter. "Kopa will be fine."
"Mom, something is wrong,'' Eisha insisted.
"Actually there is." Nuka said approaching them with Zira. "Vitani isn't back yet and she knows she should have done the deed by now. We all know it wouldn't be that hard for her to gain Kiara's trust.''
''Do you think there's something wrong then?'' Akila asked.
''Probably is.'' Nuka said. ''That's probably why Kopa isn't here either.''
''Nuka!'' Came a voice. ''Zira!" Zarana came tearing towards them.
''Mom what's wrong?" Akila asked.
"I found Vitani's dead body by the Pridelands border." Zarana panted.
"What?!" Zira roared. "She's dead?"
"I'm afraid so. Go look for yourself." Zarana said and everyone followed her.
Eisha gasped when they saw Vitani's dead body. It was obvious that someone had killed her.
"No!" Eisha cried. "Vitani!" She felt tears stinging her vision as she stared at her sister's dead body in horror.
Nuka was silent, his eyes wide with shock along with Zira.
Zira looked at her only daughter's body. Grief began to build in her and her body began to shake. She refused to let her emotions show but she felt more guilt that grief. She had always called Vitani useless and the reason as to why she had lost the throne but here she was dead because of a task that she had told her daughter to do.
"Scar," Zira whispered. "Please take care of my poor Vitani."
Beside her Akila and Nuka were trying to stay calm while Eisha was crying. Shanti was mourning by her side along with Zarana both of them trying to comfort Eisha.
A few hours later, the rest of the Pride had been informed of the death and Nuka had sent their messenger, Kito a vulture into the Pridelands to see if they could get any news as to why Vitani had died.
Scar's Pride was nearly falling asleep with heavy hearts when Kito returned.
"Kito," Nuka said getting up. "Did you find anything?"
"Yes," Kito said. "They didn't talk about why Vitani died but Kopa's at Priderock!"
"What?!" Nuka let out a roar of anger. "That traitor!"
"He probably killed Vitani!'' Zira roared. ''That bastard son of Nala!''
''And that's probably why Kiara's still alive!'' Akila growled. ''Kopa must have saved her and killed Vitani. He will always be welcome in the Pridelands because of his father!''
''He told them of all our plans!'' Nuka growled pacing back and forth. ''Now what are we supposed to do?''
''Simple,'' Zira said. ''We will attack right now,''
''What?'' Eisha asked.
''We gained a number of rogues to our Pride throughout the years and we can call in the hyenas. I know that after the battle for Priderock a majority of them were killed but that will still be enough for all of us.''
''Mother are you sure?'' Nuka asked.
Zira leapt up onto a rock as everyone looked at her. ''Simba and his family have hurt me for the last time! They took Vitani and corrupted Kopa! We will take his entire kingdom by force!'' She let out a roar that were followed by her Pride mates'.
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Back in the Pridelands Kopa was walking into the royal den. He decided to spend the night with his father and sister. He walked into the den where Kiara was already there. She smiled when she saw him.
"How was your day?" Kiara asked.
"Okay I guess." Kopa said. "I went on the patrol with Haru and Kovu then we hung out around the Pridelands."
"That's good." Kiara said. "Did you make up your mind whether you're going to stay or not?"
"I don't know," Kopa said. "Part me of me wants to stay and the other part doesn't."
"Why?'' Kiara asked.
''I don't know.'' Kopa said.
Kiara heard the sounds of rain and thunder outside and she wondered why Simba wasn't back yet.
''I want you to know.'' Kopa said. "That even if I do stay, I still want you and Kovu to take the throne?"
"What?" Kiara asked. "Why?"
"You deserve it Kiara." Kopa said. "You grew up decently and honored Mom's wishes and everything. I didn't do any of that. I already talked to Dad and he said it okay."
"Kopa…." Kiara said. "Mom always wanted you to be the King."
"I know but she never expected this to happen." Kopa said. "It's okay. I'll just be Kovu's second in command."
Kiara nodded and was about to speak when Zazu rushed in.
''Kiara! Kopa!" Zazu panted. "Your father needs you two at once!"
"Why?" Kopa asked.
"The Outsiders are on their way!'' Zazu cried. ''It's war!''
Kiara sprinted outside to join the rest of the Pride but Kopa stayed still.
''I have to choose right now. Scar or Simba?" Kopa thought.
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Nala watched lovingly as her son and daughter conversed inside the cave. She had been terrified when Kiara had followed Vitani to the border to be killed and Nala had known that she couldn't do anything but watch. She had begun to weep when the attack started but then had been shocked to see Kopa coming to her rescue.
Nala smiled as she thought about again how Kopa had saved Kiara. She knew that Kopa's path was something he would have to deal with himself. Even when she had been alive she had realized the only one who could help her son was himself. There was no use in visiting him in a dream.
Nala had been filled with joy and relief when Koa had decided to stay in the Pridelands for a while but she was worried that he might leave again. Now her worst fear was that Kopa would fight with the Outsiders. She was worried for Kiara and Simba's safety as well along with the rest of the Pride's but she knew that the only thing she could do was have hope.
Hope you enjoyed and please review. Who will Kopa fight with? Stay tuned for the battle!