Chapter 1

"Mommy, help!" the cub cried as the figure pounced and darkness swallowed her precious cub up till she could see no more of him. 'NO!"

"KOPA!"

"Kopa!" a frantic voice echoed throughout the stillness of the night. As a pair of sapphire eyes searched frantically through the darkness that filled the cave for any signs of immense danger, but all seemed to be silent. The only sound amongst the darkness was the some breathing of the sleeping pride and her own rapidly beating heart that pounded in her ears. With her face streaked with tears, Queen Zuri lowered her head back down on her paws from where it has raised from in her hurrying to survey the area.

It had taken her only a few moments to realize her fears were in vain, that it had only been a terrible nightmare she had seen. Closing her eyes, she took a few deep breathes to calm herself, only to have her eyes snap open again when she suddenly remembered the reason she had awoken in the first place.

"Kopa?" she breathed, with frantic eyes she turned her attention to the small ball of fur that snuggled himself against the soft fur of her underbelly for warmth. Her eyes softened while a sigh escaped her mouth at the sight of her sleeping one week old son "Oh thank goodness, you're alright!" she whispered so not to wake him or her sleeping mate beside her. Twisting her body, she picked Kopa up by the scruff making the little cub mew in protest of being woken from his sleep but he settled down once his mother placed him between her paws.

"There my little prince. Go back to sleep, you have a long day ahead of you!" Zuri purred nuzzling her son with her nose while he curled up against the fur of his mothers chest laying his tiny head upon her arm, drifting off to sleep under the watchful eyes of his mother.

"Zuri?" the tired voice of her mate tore her gaze away from the cub resting between her paws. Lifting her eyes she met the sleepy amber eyes of her mate, who was watching her with concern "What are you doing up so early?" Simba asked his head rising off his paws to stare around the cave thinking something was wrong. But all he saw were the sleeping forms of his Pride who lay sprawled around the floor of the cave. "The ceremony isn't for another few hours!" he stated catching a glimpse of the moon hanging in the sky outside the cave.

"I just had a bad dream. That's all, you really shouldn't worry," Zuri explained lowering her head down on her paws beside her sleeping cub, watching as Simba settled himself down closer to her so that their bodies were pressed up against each others his head resting upon Zuri's.

"Simba, explain the reason for this ceremony again, why do you do it?" Zuri asked while closing her eyes. She was told shortly after Kopa's birth, that the Pridelander's had a tradition among them that involved the royal family and each royal cub that was born, which was the royal cubs were presented to the animals of the Kingdom. She didn't really understand why there was a need for such a tradition, seeing she never seen one happen like it in the Rasheda Pride, but she knew every Pride was different and held different traditions.

Simba shrugged his shoulders and licked the side of his mate's neck, "It's a tradition that's been around since the time of the first King of these lands. Mohatu, I believed it was a way to show the animals of his Kingdom, that when he was gone that they would be in capable hands of his heir. But it's also a good way for the animals to catch a glimpse of their new Prince or Princess. I don't know much about it, this will be the first time I will witness it first hand when Kopa is presented," he turned his head enough to gaze at his son with proud eyes.

Letting out a loud yawn, Simba closed his eyes once more letting himself drift off to sleep while beside him, Zuri had opened her eyes once more and stared at the mouth of the cave. She watched the light of the moon move across the flat surface of the ground outside the cave like a ghostly figure. Laying there she focused upon the breathing of both her mate and son to tell her that all she had seen was indeed a dream and this was reality.

'It was only a dream…but why do I feel such dread?' she pondered to herself. Sighing, she lowered her head and turned it to tuck around Kopa to shield him from the world. 'I'm so foolish, it was just a dream, nothing bad could never happen with the protection of the Pride'! with that last thought Zuri let sleep claim her once more.

The Great Circle rose over the Pridelands, its light sweeping slowly across the grasslands gracing the Kingdom with another day of glorious peace. Far and wide across the lands, the animals emerged from their sleep, the birds taking to the sky filling it with their array of colours while the herds trekked their way toward the great stone formation in the distance.

At Pride Rock, as the light of the sun finally reached the great formation chasing away the shadows of the night, Simba emerged from the cave and stared out over his lands his eyes taking in the movement of the herds and flocks. "It's a wonderful day, isn't it Simba?" Sarabi approached her son and sat down beside him looking out over the horizon, "Oh I remember the day you were presented to the Kingdom. How proud your father was that day!" she turned and smiled at her son chuckling when she saw the nervous look on his face.

"Now Simba, what do you have to be nervous about, you look like your sending someone to their death," Sarabi teased patting her son's paw with her own.

"The last cub that was presented was Kovu when Scar was alive, true there wasn't any herds left to present the cub too…I guess I'm just worried what the kingdom will think of Kopa…" the King sighed blowing his mane out of his face.

"Oh Simba, today's suppose to be a happy day, the animals are pleased their rightful King has returned and to present a new royal cub to them will give them hope that the Kingdom will be in the right paws once again. Now is not a time to worry, for there is nothing to worry about, now just enjoy the day, you always will remember this day…trust me on this!" Sarabi nudged her son with her head before trotting back into the cave where the other lionesses were emerging to get their glimpse of the presentation, many nodding and giving their greetings to Sarabi as others were whispering in excitement for the presentation of their new Prince.

Simba turned his head just as Zuri began to make her way out of the cave, with Sarabi, Sarafina and Nala by her side. Dangling in her mouth, eyes heavy with sleep was Kopa, who mewed when the sunlight hit his eyes which clamped shut right away as soon as it did. The cubs eyes had just opened a day prior, where Simba had secretly hoped his son would inherit his mothers beautiful blue eyes, he was happy to see the eyes were the colour of his, much like Simba's had been the colour of his parents. Simba smiled and watched as the happiness and pride washed over Zuri's face at the multiple of compliments she received from the Pride.

"Da young Queen appears to make a fine mother!" Simba jumped at the voice beside him and turned his head toward Rafiki and glowered "Do you enjoy sneaking up on others?" he asked. The old shaman just chuckled and with staff in hand proceeded his way toward Zuri and Kopa with Simba in toe but upon reaching Zuri's side, Simba moved to stand along side her his head held high as Rafiki bowed and held out his arms silently asking for the cub.

Zuri looked toward Simba with her eyes and the King gave a simple nod of the head giving her a reassuring smile. With hesitance, Zuri held out Kopa for the shaman to take she watched as Rafiki held Kopa expertly in his arms while smearing something across his forehead. She tried vaguely to remember Sarabi describing it as anointing; a process that many of the pride's cubs went through but only the royal family had such a grand ceremony such as this.

Kopa opened his eyes wide when he felt a bit of sand sprinkle over his head causing his nose to wrinkle till a sneeze finally managed to escape. A chorus of "Awe's!" and "Just like his father!" broke out behind the royal couple from various lionesses. Kopa squirmed and let his eyes adjust to the light around to get his first real glance of the world outside the cave where the Pride had kept him until the time of the ceremony. He let out a happy mew at the sight of his parents but his tiny eyes filled with confusion when the strange mandrill holding him turned from his parents and began walking to the tip of Pride Rock with Zuri and Simba falling in line behind them.

The small cub, stared up at the sky where he blinked when he saw the smiling figure of a large red mane lion much like his father looking down upon him. Kopa felt two hands wrap around his body, and he found himself being raised further up to meet the smiling figure in the sky as down below an eruption of loud noises sounded out and as he turned his eyes to the animals below Kopa give a little start at how many there were.

From behind, Zuri and Simba watched on with pride radiating off their faces at the cheers of the animals let out as soon was Kopa was presented to them. Turning their heads to face one another, the two pressed their noses up against the others in a gesture familiar to them since they were cubs, staring into each others eyes.

They both closed their eyes when they felt a gust of wind ruffle their fur, opening his eyes once more Simba tore his gaze away from Zuri's and up at the sky where he grinned and turned his attention back to Kopa as Rafiki lowered him down to hold him in his arms once more while turning to face the Queen and King.

Kopa mewed when he spotted his parents again, raising his paw to bat at his fathers nose when Simba got to close to nuzzle him and purred while grabbing his mothers nose with both paws when she licked his head. "Our little prince!"

From the shadows of Pride Rock, a pair of amber eyes glared at the royal couple and their cub. A sneer crept upon the lionesses face as she turned from the scene and trekked toward the nearest cave where two cubs bounded out and greeted her with happy smiles "Welcome back mommy!" but the smiles vanished as soon as they saw the look on their mothers face and jumped off to side while she stomped on by.

The cubs shared a look and followed their mother into the den where another group of lionesses stood from where they were laying looking at the lioness that had entered. "What is wrong Zira?" one asked.

Zira growled under her breath and made her way toward the back of the cave where her youngest cub lay asleep. The other lionesses around her muttered under their breathes as they gathered together to speak among themselves as the other two cubs made their way toward their mother. Zira gazed down at her sleeping cub, then at the mouth of the cave with a scowl on her face "That cub won't be prince for long!" she turned her attention back to the cub at her paws "No, soon you my Kovu will be recognized by the kingdom as the TRUE heir!"

Many of the lionesses shared a common look, a silent thought passing between them all about if their opposed Queen had lost her mind along with the fall of her King, but none dared to speak it. Vitani made her way over to the lionesses and rubbed her head up against one "Auntie Dotty, why is Mommy upset about Queen Zuri's cub, he seems awfully cute?" the young cub asked.

Said lioness lowered her head and looked down at the cub and licked her head with a grin "You'll understand when you're older!" was all that was said while the lionesses turned their attention to their opposed Queen who was looking upon the sleeping cub, Kovu, with determination building in her amber eyes.

Vitani stood confused, she gave her mother a look, then bounded out of the cave to get her real official glance at the new prince not fully understanding why her mother was being reluctant towards. Vitani rarely had time to see the Queen since her mother refused to join the Hunting party anymore going against the Kings wishes but the Queen had spoken to her mate telling him it really was no big deal to the party. The young cub pounded up the slope and over the rocks, only to have her paw get caught on one causing her roll when she hit the ground.

"Oaf!" Vitani breathed out when she collided with someone's leg. Looking up she gulped when she found herself eye to eye with Sarabi, "Hi Miss Sarabi…" she said nervously waving her paw up at the older lioness.

Sarabi smiled and with her paw helped the young she-cub back up onto her own "Hello Vitani, what can I do for you?" she asked. "I'm sure your mother wouldn't like you leaving the cave," she added looking back the way Vitani had come, it had been a great relief when Zira refused too join the hunting party anymore. It made it easier for those who didn't see eye to eye with the other lioness who always seemed to sneer when pointed out that she was no longer Queen and had no say in what they hunted.

Vitani gave a wide toothy smile shuffling her paws nervously "I…I wanted to see Queen Zuri's cub!" she stammered peering around Sarabi's legs at the main cave where she could see Zuri and Simba sitting in the entrance just in the shade, her eyes widened in wonder at the brownish-gold cub laying in the Queen's paws.

Sarabi chuckled and without a second thought about it, nudged the cub with her nose toward Zuri and Simba, watching Vitani stumble as she looked back at her with a nervous smile. "Well, lets go!" she smiled giving the cub another nudge this time with her paw. Smiling, Vitani trotted over to the King and Queen who looked up when they heard her and Sarabi approaching. While Zuri seemed relaxed and smiled softly at the approaching she-cub, Simba had tensed up at the sight of Vitani and moved himself closer to his mate and son.

"Hello Vitani," Zuri greeted when the cub stopped in front of her "Have you come to see Kopa?" she asked, it had been awhile since she had seen the she-cub who had always been curious about what kind of cub she would have. Vitani gave a shy nod, and moved closer to Zuri, her eyes flickering up to Simba who was watching her cautiously then back down this time to the cub lying in Zuri's paws.

"He doesn't look like you Queen Zuri!" she commented, then realizing what she said her eyes widened "Oops sorry!" she apologized only to hear the adults around her laugh.

"Oh don't be sorry sweetie, I know he doesn't look much like me, he looks just like his handsome daddy," Zuri stated turning her head up to watch her mate as he chuckled and grinned down at her.

"Kopa does have a bit of his mother in him," Simba eyed the brownish fur that was growing atop of his sons head, it wasn't much right now but he knew it would grow over the months. Just seeing that small tuft of hair made his heart leap for joy knowing he could see apart of his mate in their son.

"Kopa?" Vitani let the name roll off her tongue for a moment, "Kopa…yeah I guess that's alright!" she agreed making the adults laugh again. "Perfect name for the young prince!"

Zuri nodded "That it is," she beamed looking down at her son, "It was the name of his grandfather…my father!" the name had come to her while she and Simba were discussing names and when it came time to pick one for if they had a son. Zuri, who never knew her father, wanted nothing more then to name her first born son after him.

Vitani crawled closer until she had her nose pressed up against Kopa's, who blinked his tiny eyes open when he felt someone disturb him from his sleep and looked up at the deep blue eyes staring down at him in wonder. Zuri smiled as the two cubs admired one another, smiling at the thought that just maybe her son would have a friend here after all.

"VITANI!"

The young she-cub jumped at the sound of her mothers angry voice and lowered her head groaning "I have to go!" she gave Kopa one last look over before she heard her mother call her name once more. "Bye…" with a hesitant farewell she bounded off with the three adults staring after her.

Sighing, Zuri laid her head down beside Kopa who snuggled up against her neck, licking her with his tiny tongue. 'Ah my son, how I wish you could have been born in a time of full peace…but there is anything but peace in this Pride…not with her watching our every move.'

Zuri raised her eyes and stared in the direction that Vitani had run off too, where Zira stood waiting at the entrance of their cave. The older lionesses scowled at her only daughter and shooed her into the cave then raised her head once more and in that brief moment the old and new Queen caught each others gazes and Zuri shuddered at the pair of amber eyes and tore her gaze away and looked down at Kopa who let out a loud squeaky yawn. 'I'll always protect you my little one…no one will harm you. Not while I'm around! I will always be here for you.'