Chapter 7

Grounded.

The one word all cubs feared. To be grounded to be watchful eyes of the Pride. When Zuri took Kopa back to Pride Rock, the rest of the pride was there waiting. They all seemed concerned to see if their Prince was alright. Even Simba, but after he checked his son over he became stern lecturing him about how dangerous it had been to go out at night, how something could have happened to him. And finally that he was grounded to Pride Rock until Simba was sure the cub had learned his lesson.

That had been five days ago.

Kopa had found out the other cubs had been grounded too, only they been grounded to their cave and forbidden to ever play with him again.

Not even his parents had gone as far as that. Kopa was allowed to still explore Pride Rock but under the watchful eyes of at least one of the lionesses at all times. The young cub was sprawled upon the tip of Pride Rock, his front paws dangling over the edge as he stared out over Pridelands. He was waiting for his mother and the hunting party to return.

His babysitter that day was Kana, and said lioness was lying not far from him under the shade that a rock produced. From time to time she would open her eyes and raised her head to see if the Prince had moved but Kopa hadn't moved from his spot since the hunting party had left that very morning.

Finally a small roar could be heard signalling the returning of the hunting party. Jumping to his paws, Kopa stared out over the lands spotting the figured of his mother, grandmother and the lionesses dragging back carcasses of two impala's.

Turning the prince bolted on down past his babysitter who had gotten to her own paws at the call. Kana watched with an amused expression as the cub scampered on by her, his claws scratching the rock as he tried to control himself when he turned and jumped down bounding off the rocks to the bottom of the structure to await the party.

Zuri approached with Sarabi, both dragging the carcass of one of the Impala's, she looked up when she spotted Kopa making his way over to them. She smiled at her son, "How was your day sweetie?"

"Boring!" Kopa answered sitting down and scuffed the ground with his paw. "There's nothing to do here and Zira still won't let the others out to play!"

Zuri didn't want to admit that she was also keeping her son away from the other cubs, not because of the cubs themselves but because she was suddenly scared of Zira's warning. A warning she hadn't admitted to anyone about not even when the lionesses had asked her what Zira had said to her that night. But she knew she couldn't keep the cubs away from each other forever and that it wasn't right too but for now her sons safety was her concern.

She smiled softly and lifted his chin up with her paw "Don't worry my little prince; all will be well before you know it. And then you'll be able to play again." Lowering her paw she stepped around her son as Kopa quickly fell in line behind her while they took their days kill up out of the way of other predators.

Zuri tearing off pieces for herself and Kopa she carried them over to a shaded spot and lay down with the meat in front of her. She watched her cub dig into his food, tearing at it to make chewable pieces he could swallow. Kopa looked up with Zuri's favourite toothy smile that he inherited from his father "Aren't you going to eat mommy?"

"Of course my little one, but I can wait until you've had your fill," Zuri smiled softly at her son.

Kopa looked down at his food, licking his chops; he then bent his head and with his nose nudged the food toward his mother who watched him. "Eat!" he told her, flashing another toothy smile. Smiling, Zuri reached out and grabbed the meat with her teeth and began to eat.

Kopa watched her to make sure his mother was eating then dug back into the rest of his meal until his stomach was full. Once he was done he watched while his mother began to wash her face, making his way over to her he sat down between her paws and started washing his mothers face with his tongue. Zuri stopped and lowered the paw she been using and watched her son clean her fur, this being the first time Kopa had ever attempted such a thing.

She purred and nudged him with her nose and gave her a loving smile. "Well now time for your own bath!" she remarked laying him down in her paws she began bathing him with her tongue, cleaning his face from the blood and from there went to tongue bath the rest of him cleaning his fur.

Normally Kopa didn't really bother to stay still for his baths, but with nothing else to really do when you were grounded to Pride Rock. Plus he enjoyed his mother's company especially given his father was always busy, "Momma?"

Zuri lifted her head, "Yes?"

Kopa turned in her paws to face her and cocked his head to the side; "Could I go out…" he started.

"Kopa, you know what your father told you!" Zuri cut him off.

Flattening his ears against his head, Kopa slumped his shoulders, "But…I was thinking maybe I could go out with Dad, you know…on his patrols with him?" Kopa queried looking up at his mother with a hopeful expression.

The Pridelander Queen had to think about this for a moment, she remembered Jaali's old punishments in the past when they got in trouble was her and Simba were always grounded to the den but Jaali was always forced to accompany his father on patrols and his prince lessons. The Queen thought about it and nodded thinking that her son was hold enough to accompany his father.

"Alright…"

"Yes!" Kopa cheered jumping to his paws.

"However," Kopa stopped and looked at his mother, "I will have to speak with your father first to see what he thinks and then we will tell you tonight. If he agrees you can start going out on patrols with him…now you may cheer!" Zuri chuckled watching Kopa jump around in circles for a few minutes then turned and bolted off toward Sarabi.

"Grandma guess what!" was the last thing Zuri heard as he ran off.

The Queen laid there for a few moments more, then slowly climbed to her paws and stretched her body out. Feeling her joints pop, she sighed, her muscles were sore from that days hunt. Turning she began to make her way into the den to relax unaware of the pair of eyes that were watching her.

From the rocks above, two lionesses sat watching the Queen make her way into the den, then looked off in the direction where Kopa was bounding around in excitement in the presence of Sarabi and the other lionesses.

The two made no move to make their presence known, they simply slinked off into the shadows, climbing behind the rocks toward the back caves where their opposed Queen stood awaiting in the entrance awaiting their report.

"Well?" Zira sneered.

Dotty stepped forward first, "The young prince is always under the eyes of his mother and the lionesses. They are keeping him very guarded."

Zira smirked, so her threat had worked, the Queen was sure to be more protective of the prince now. But she was sure the Queen hadn't told the other lionesses or her usurper King anything or else they would have come to see her. "Perfect, all will go as planned and soon we will be rid of that bastard prince and outsider once and for all. Then Simba will feel the grief he has laid upon me!" Zira turned and walked back into the cave where the others were all resting. Keeping their eyes on the three cubs that lay in the back of the cave.

Dotty and Spotty shared a look, like many they were beginning to think the death of Scar had driven their opposed Queen insane. Though none dared to say it. They too thought that Scar's death had been unjustified. But they knew the cause of his death was the hyenas rather then the others in the pride. No lion deserved to die that way. Many of the lionesses had come into the Pride during his reign and if it hadn't been for Zira speaking up for them they might not have been turned away.

Their loyalty was to Zira. It was the least they owed her.

Making their way into the den they were approached by the three cubs that shied away from their mother. Vitani reached out and touched Spotty's paw with her own, "Auntie Spotty? Did you see Kopa today?" she whispered. The lioness knew why the cub was quiet while speaking of the prince, Zira had punished the cubs for their defiance of disobeying the rules she had set and Vitani had gotten more then one blow for requiring anything about the Pridelander prince.

Spotty spared Zira one look, the lioness appeared to not have heard her cub, or if she had was silent as she awaited to hear how Spotty would answer. Gazing back down at the bright blue eyed cub before her, she gave a simple nod of her head "He is well. Grounded much the same as you three. You should quit acquiring this information Vitani, less you wish for your mother to punish you again," the lioness regretted her words when she saw the fear enter the young she-cubs eyes.

Bending her head, she gave the cub a quick lick and a nudge with her nose, "Relax, you'll be fine!" she raised her eyes to look at Zira who wasn't paying attention to them. She knew her opposed queen loved her cubs, but she had a hard way when it came to showing it.

Vitani looked up at Spotty and then at her mother, she walked to the edge of the den where her brothers sat staring out. It been five days since they had stepped outside of the den, in trouble for wanting something they hardly had. More time to play. Look at what that cost us, Vitani thought bitterly.

"Why do we have to sit in the den? Kopa get's to run around Pride rock!" Kovu huffed, lying down, his tail twitching behind him.

"Mom's being unfair!" Nuka mumbled under his breath.

"You'll be able to play soon, don't you worry," Dotty and Spotty came to sit behind the cubs while they to stared out into the green lands outside the cave. They couldn't believe that this was what the Pridelands originally looked like, when they had first come into the lands; the ground had already been brown with lack of rain and little water from the drought. This land was completely new to them; though they were rather jealous they couldn't enjoy it as much as the other Pridelander's. Zira had forbidden them from mingling and that often meant keeping to the back caves to keep the other lionesses away.

"I wish we could play…" Vitani sighed lying next to Kovu.

Dotty thought of something for a moment, then turned and made her way back into the cave, she passed the other lionesses that raised their heads to watch her pass them lowered them again. Dotty approached Zira, "Zira…"

Snarling, said lioness turned to face Dotty. "What is it?"

"The cubs have been punished for five days now…"

"And you think they should be let off? If that it Dotty? Are you questioning my parenting?" Zira snapped loud enough that it caught the attention of the other lionesses and cubs in the cave that all turned to watch how this would play out.

Dotty kept her head up as Zira snarled at her, she quickly shook it "No…never Zira," though Dotty knew that was somewhat of a lie, she did not think corporal punishment was suitable for cubs. "I am only here to suggest that maybe the cubs should be allowed to leave…" Zira snarled again, "Under the supervision of a lioness or two!" she added quickly.

Zira eyed Dotty, then looked at her three cubs who were watching all this with baited breathes, all hoping their mother would content. Leaving the cave was what they wanted, and if it was with babysitters then they would settle for that. Sneering, Zira looked back at Dotty, "Very well. You and Spotty will watch them…starting tomorrow…however…" she spoke up cutting off the three cubs cheers.

"Keep away from the prince!"

The three cub's shoulders slumped. Sure they were being let out but their mother still wouldn't let them near their friend. Dotty did not care for this rule, she was getting the cubs a time to play outside, and she nodded her head. "Yes, of course!" she turned and approached her sister. The two of them shared a look then sat down with the cubs who were now talking among themselves trying to figure out where they should go the next day.

Zuri stood at the entrance of the den, watching the sun set over the grasslands. She smiled as the wind breezed on by ruffling her fur, and closed her eyes. During these quiet times she got, she liked to reflect back to the flourishing jungle and the grove and waterfall that was Rasheda Territory.

Her true home.

How she often missed it. Walking the paths her mother took her and Simba on as cubs. The smell of the trees and the undergrowth. The sounds of the birds and animals that scurried through the trees and underbrush.

The games she and Simba played with Jaali.

The presence of familiar faces of her aunt, uncle and the lionesses she had grown up around.

How she missed them. The Pridelands was her Kingdom, hers and Simba's. But the jungle was where here heart was and she often ached for it. But she knew if it came to the Jungle or her mate and cub. Simba and Kopa would win every time. She would not give them up. Death would have to rip her from them to make her give up the two she loved the most.

"Mommy?"

Sapphire eyes opened, and turned to lay upon the young male cub that padded his way over to her. "Is dad home yet?" he asked eagerly. He had been waiting all day for Simba to come home so that his mother could ask him about taking Kopa out with him into the Pridelands.

The brown lioness shook her head, her smile only widened at the disappointment on the cubs face. "Now Kopa, he'll be here shortly and then we can ask him!" she answered smiling at him reassuringly.

Grumbling the prince nodded and sat down beside his mother, staring out of the cave. He waited all day; he wanted to know if his father would let him. He shifted his weight from paw to paw when they heard the sound of flapping wings approaching and watched as Zazu soared from the Sky. And just as the hornbill landed, Simba climbed up over the rocks.

"Dad!" Kopa jumped to his paws and ran toward his father.

Simba looked up as his son approached him and grinned; he chuckled and flashed a grin as the cub started bounding around him. "Now what's got you all wound up?" he questioned grinning at his son, looking up at the sound of approaching paw steps he spotted his mate making her way over toward the two of them.

Kopa jumped away from his father over to his mother and jumped up and down in excitement. "Ask him! Ask him!"

Eyebrow raised, Simba looked toward his mate who with her paw settled their young son down as best she could. "Ask me what?"

"Simba, Kopa here today has come to me with an idea. He wishes to continue his grounding under your watchful eye out in the Pridelands. Helping you with your patrol. Much like Mansa had done with Jaali!" Zuri proposed watching her mate as she awaited his reaction to this.

Simba blinked his eyes; this was not what he expected Zuri to ask he looked down at his son who was watching him eagerly. His tail twitching behind him in the excitement that was bubbling up inside him. He gave this some thought. Kopa had obeyed his punishment without much complaint; he guessed he could let his son come along with him.

If not to continue punishment but for some more bonding time with his son.

Simba gave a curt nod, "Alright. He can come. Starting in the morning!" he agreed with a large grin actually looking forward to spending more time with his son.

"Yes!" Kopa jumped up and down again, bounding around his parents who laughed at the excitement of their son.

"Well then that mean's and early bedtime to make sure to get up early enough!" Zuri mentioned grinning as she watched the cub stop his jumping and turned toward his mother with wide eyes and started to whine.

"But Mooooooooooom!"

"No buts, now into the cave little lion!" Zuri moved her body behind his, giving his rump a nudge with her nose to shoo him into the cave.

Grumbling the young prince stomped his paws all the way into the den, where Zuri and Simba could hear the quiet snickering of the pride who watched on in amusement. Zuri looked at her mate and nuzzled her head in his mane, "You made your son really happy just now."

Simba grinned and shrugged his shoulders "Hey gives us more time to bond, a son can never have enough father bonding time!" he asserted as the two of them made their way into the den to see their son padding around the back of the cave. "Time for bed Kopa, you heard your mother."

"But Daaaaaaaaaaaaaad!"