His True Destiny

by IxoxoheartoxoxNuka

Squeal to To Face or Forget. "Mom" he called, his small frame shook in fear as thunder rumbled over head. His fur soaked with rain and mud, "MOM!" he continued to call out into the stormy night, but there was no signs of his mother...

27. Chapter 26

Chapter 26

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'Kopa…'

'Wake up Kopa…'

'Kopa…'

'Wake up boy!'

One ear twitched. Those voices. Where had he heard those voices before?

'Kopa…'

'Get up…'

'Little one, get up…'

'Now boy!'

A low groan emitted from the young prince. Who did not open his eyes. He didn't want too. He just wanted to lay there and let the pain fade away. He just wanted this to be some sort of nightmare. Nightmares like he seen his mother having in the past.

Kopa wasn't sure how long he been out for. It seemed almost like forever. But as he started coming too he could hear them. The voices.

He thought for a second they were the voices of his father and pride. But they weren't. One voice was just too gruff to be his father's. All the others didn't seem like his pride at all. But he knew he had heard those voices before…but where?

Lying there, the young prince tried to recall where he had heard those voices that were calling out for him before. When he was struck with a memory of him running away from Zira or laying there awaiting death when he had lost his ear praying for his mother to save him. These were the voices that had been calling out to him then.

Telling him to run and get up and fight.

But who were they?

They weren't anyone he knew.

A shiver ran through his body. The more he started coming too it was more then the voices that he started taking notice of. It was the rain too.

Drip. Drop. Drip. Drop.

His nose wrinkled at the feel of each drop of rain that splattered against the top of it. He had been out in the rain too much that he was completely drenched. The last time Kopa had been this wet was when he gone swimming in the Watering Hole with his mother and grandmother.

The Prince felt a sneeze building up in his nose which quickly escaped.

'See. I told you, that you would catch a cold if you ever stayed out in the rain. Silly cub, you should listen to me more often Kopa.'

The young prince whimpered. One paw reached up to cover his face. Sniffling as this time he heard an echo of his mother's voice. Reprimanding him with something she had warned him about on many occasions. He knew this voice was nothing but something his own mind was making up in order to seek comfort in some presence of his mother. Even if it was something was simple as reprimanding him for doing something she told him not too.

"Mom…" a small whine slipped past his lips.

Time seemed to tick by and he had yet to still open his eyes. Unaware of what was going on around him. Wallowing in his own self pity when he heard a sudden noise.

A familiar sound.

But where could he place it?

Then it clicked. Water. Running water. That was the sound he was hearing. But where would there possibly be running water?

That was when Kopa finally started taking note of what was going on around them. More importantly how the bottom half of his body seemed more wet than his top. Eyes snapping open, Kopa attempted to jump to his paws onto to have his back paws slip out from beneath him sending him down with a loud splash.

Wait? Splash? Water? Why was there so much water?

Head snapping up, Kopa let his eyes adjust and finally took in where he had fallen into. To his shock he saw that he hadn't just tumbled down a hill but into a small ravine. A ravine that was slowly but surely starting to fill up with water thanks to the raging storm that didn't seem to be ending anytime soon.

Laying on his stomach, half his body in the water half out, the prince could see that the water already came up to his sides but as he climbed; more carefully this time; to his paws Kopa could see that it was only half way up his legs.

Panic started to rise up inside the Prince. He was perfectly safe right now. He wouldn't drown. But question was how long until the entire ravine was filled with water. If he had slept any longer than he already had he would have surely drowned.

He breathed a sigh of relief that he was safe and had woken in time. Reach up with his paw he rubbed the spot on his head where he had bumped it on the ground when he had thrown himself down the slope. Why had he flung himself down it to begin with? It was bad enough that it tumbled but he couldn't have hit his head so hard that he knocked himself out from it.

That was when the young prince suddenly remembered what he hadn't been the only one who had taken the tumble down that hill. As a matter of fact the reason he had hit his head in the first place was because he had flung himself down after…

"Eshe!" The Prince let out a startle cry.

Whipping his body around, amber eyes searching through the darkness for any sign of a brown cub. But wherever he looked he could see no sign of his sister.

"Eshe?" He called out his one ear flickering as he tried to find out where his sister was hiding. But no reply came back. The only sounds he could hear was the storm raging above his head and the sound of rushing water.

Water!

Eye wide Kopa stared down at the water that was slowly starting the rise further up his legs. He took note of how fast it was flowing. The water like he said before was no danger to him yet but Eshe was much too small and had yet to fully walk. Kopa could have sworn he was starting to have a panic attack as he continued to look around trying to find his sister. What if she had drowned while he was wallowing?

The prince felt his heart started to hammer inside his chest. Images of his sister drowning filled his head. If she drowned it would be all his fault just like it had been when Musa died. He had to find her…she had to be alive he told himself. She just had to be alive!

Being mindful of the slippery surface beneath the water Kopa began to run up the ravine following the flow of water, calling out for his sister. "Eshe? Come on baby sis, answer me!"

Tears filled his eyes, so much he started finding it blurring his vision. He continued to call out but no answer came back from his little sister. Beneath him the water was starting to touch his stomach and was continuing to rise at an alarming rate. Under his breath Kopa began to pray that she had been washed ashore one of the embankments of the ravine.

That would be enough to keep her safe until he found her. But the further he travelled down the ravine following the flow of the water. His eyes watching the embankments for any sign of his sister. He could find nothing. "Eshe?" he called out.

Rounding a corner Kopa felt his paws loose traction beneath him sending him crashing back down into the water. Lifting his head out of the water spluttering. Kopa reached up to push his sopping wet tuft of mane out of his eyes. Laying there in the water, which was now starting to reach his elbows Kopa began to wonder if his search was all for vain.

The water was just too high.

How could his sister survive this?

Sitting himself up onto his paws, Kopa sat back on his haunches. Reaching up he covered his eyes with his paw as he fought back the sobs.

It was his entire fault.

Everything was his fault.

All that had happened that night had been his fault.

If he hadn't gone out of the cave none of this would have happened.

Musa wouldn't be dead…

Eshe wouldn't be missing…and could be dead…

Kiara…he didn't know what happened to his other sister. What if she was dead as well?

And his mother…

His heart started pounding in his chest even more at the thought of his mother. Was she alright? Or was Hawa right about her, did she die?

No! He thought angrily.

His mother was NOT dead. She couldn't die. She was the Queen. She was both strong of mind and body. She would have gotten away from Zira.

He betted she was even out there looking for them right now. With Hawa and Kiara. For a moment he held doubt that Hawa had gotten away from Zira but he had to be optimistic…right?

Hawa had to get away to find Kiara and get her back to Pride Rock. Maybe they were there already telling the pride of what was going on while his mother was out there searching.

His mind than went to the voice he heard calling out his name before they fell into the ravine. Kana.

For the first time that night, hope filled Kopa's mind. Hope that his mother was alive. That maybe, just maybe his father really did care for them and he was out there searching for them right now.

But that hope quickly vanished when he remembered the situation at hand. Sitting there in the rising water Kopa remembered there was something that he shouldn't be feeling hope for at that moment. Eshe was still missing. She had been his responsibility. Hawa had Kiara. He had Eshe. And he had lost her.

Squaring his shoulders, Kopa once again carefully got back onto all four paws. He had to keep his hopes up. He couldn't like it die. Eshe was out there and he would find her and then they together would find their mother. He wasn't about to let his little sister die. He just stood back, unable to do anything to save Musa and couldn't save Kiara, who he hoped was safe with Hawa, but he would save Eshe. "Hold on Eshe. I'm coming!" he called out.

Continuing on the way the water was flowing. Kopa soon found himself coming to a fork in the road. Which way should he choose? He thought. Which way could the water have washed his sister down? He had to find Eshe before his mother found him. How could he explain to her that he had lost his sister?

Kopa by this time was standing on his toes in the water which was now covering over the top of his back. He had to tilt his head up to keep it out of the water.

This was getting ridiculous. If his sister was still alive, he knew he was bound to die himself if he didn't get out of the water just looking for her. Maybe he would have a better chance at searching for her from the top of the ravine? It would give him a better chance at searching from a higher view.

That was it. He had to search from above.

Amber eyes began searching for a way to get out of the ravine. His paws began to slip beneath him but he managed to stay standing and wade in the water while on occasion paddling his paws to keep him upright. His eyes still searching.

And then…

There!

He spotted the perfect way to get out of the ravine. It was a small slope that seemed to run up out of the ravine. He took it that it must have been created by some animal that used the ravine frequently. Being mindful to keep his head and sister above the water. Kopa began to swim to the place where the slope started.

Reaching the right spot, Kopa took a moment to relax his racing heart. If he were to slip and fall both he thought he would surely drown. The water was just rising far too quickly. Taking one last deep breath through his nose and unsheathing his claws like his parents had taught him as a good way of creating traction. Kopa started to grit his teeth and started placing one paw in front of the other to make his climb.

With his front paws he gripped the ground pulling him upwards while behind him his back paws were used to grip the ground and push himself upward.

From time to time Kopa began feeling the ground beneath his paws giving way and found himself slipping on back down the slope. But digging his claws further into the dirt he slowed the fall and once he was sure he had his grip again he started to finish his ascent.

When he reached the top Kopa grunted, his front paws gripping the edge of the ravine. Taking a moment to catch his breath then with a heave he pulled himself up over the ledge and laid himself down on the ground. Closing his eyes he calmed his racing heart. One obstacle out of the way he thought.

Above him a loud clap of thunder sounded causing him to jump. Opening his eyes Kopa climbed back to his paws. Taking a moment to clear his vision from the amount of pouring rain the prince made his way back to the ravines edge and stared down it. Taking a moment to see which side he had climbed up on. Seeing that he had no choice but to follow the left side of the fork in the path, Kopa began to run down along it.

Being mindful that he didn't slip on the ground and end up tumbling back down into the water below. All the while keeping his eyes and ears open for any sign of his sister.

"Eshe?" he continued to call out. But like before no answer came. Down below the water only continued to rise and with it filled Kopa with more and more dread. How could someone as small as Eshe possibly survive something like this? He worried. Eshe was too small to even know how to fully walk much less swim.

How could she possibly still be alive.

No! He shook his head vigorously. He refused to believe his sister was dead just like he refused to believe his mother was dead. She was out there right now searching for them. He just had to find Eshe before his mother found him. But the further he ran the more he was coming up empty handed. He didn't even know how far this ravine went. He never had been to these parts of the Pridelands that often. He didn't know them. This ravine could stretch on for miles out of the Pridelands and then how would he find her?

He soon got his answer.

For skidding to a halt Kopa stared wide eyes at what greeted him. He hadn't taken notice that the ravine had started to become wider in length and bigger in size. That was until he came to a sudden dead end…well sort of.

There was now a wall blocking the water. But not just any wall. A wall of wood. Completely made out of what looked like to be fallen trees and rocks that must have been pushed up against each other overtime.

Whatever hope Kopa was feeling was suddenly extinguished. Staring down the deepened slope at the water below that was crashing with force against the wooden dam. The Prince felt his heart leap into his throat, flinching as he watched a branch that came flowing down the water which was now raging like a river and crash into the dam splintering into piece.

"No…" he breathed. "No…" shaking his head Kopa clenched his eyes shut. "NO!" Throwing himself down on the ground the prince covered his head with both his paws as tears poured down his face. Tears formed and pushed out from beneath his clenched eyelids. From beneath his paws sobs started to sound.

His entire body shook with them.

He had failed.

He had failed to save his sister and keep her safe.

His one job!

His one job was to protect his siblings and he had failed two of them already.

Maybe he had gone down the wrong path? Maybe he should double back and try again? He thought.

No, it was useless! He cried mentally. The water was simply too high now. It was impossible. Eshe couldn't have possibly survived.

She was dead…and it was his entire fault.

What was his mother going to think? His father? His grandmother?

"She's gone…" he whimpered covering his face fully with his arms. Sobbing he curled up on the ground listening as the storm rumbled above and below the water continued to crash against the damn.

"I'm sorry Eshe…I'm so sorry little sis…"

---

A wave of relief came over Nala when Pride Rock came into sight illuminate by the lightning that flashed overhead.

Dangling from her mouth Kiara let out another squeak of fright whenever she saw the lightning or heard a clash of thunder. But carrying the cub Nala couldn't comfort her with words.

All she could do was pick up the pace.

But when Pride Rock came into view, her pace quickened further. She wanted to get the cub in and out of the rain. But she was also slow because she was worried about what she would have to tell the last three members of the pride who had stayed back at Pride Rock what had happened to their Queen and one of their prince's.

Upon reaching Pride Rock. Nala stopped at the bottom for a brief moment to take a deep breathe through her nose. Listening while Kiara mewed and squeaked. Tears were in her eyes. She should have stayed with Zuri, she should have stayed there. She should have brought Zuri home with her at that exact moment.

Than perhaps she would still be alive.

And she wouldn't be carrying the daughter of two of her friends while having to deliver the news of what happened to their Queen to her pride sisters.

Forcing herself forward, Nala began to climb the slope to the top where their den was located. She had just reached the top when she heard Ajia call out.

"Nala's back!"

Following the call was the sound of paws hitting the wet rock heading toward her. Lifting her eyes she came face to face with Ajia; Aufa and Kali. All had looks of relief on their face's to see one of those who went out come back safe and alive. But it wasn't long until their eyes took in sight of who Nala was carrying.

"Kiara…Nala what are you doing with the Princess?" Kali asked as she looked at the young princess and was taken back by the light blue eyes that were staring back at her. She had seen the Princess the third day after she was born with the other two new royal cubs and she had expected the eyes to be open by now anyways. But she remembered when Nala had come back earlier that afternoon Sarabi had asked for a report on the cubs and Nala had commented that the cub's eyes were still closed.

All Kali could think of for a moment was how happy Sarabi was going to be that her grandcubs eyes were finally open.

Thinking for a moment, Nala set Kiara down at her paws and stood over her to block her from further rain hitting her. "Where are Zira's cubs?" she asked trying to keep the growl out of her tone but the others seemed to catch it nonetheless.

"Inside the cave…they have been demanding to know where their mother was for sometime now." Ajia answered. "Nala, what's going on? What happened, why is the princess with you? Where are the others?"

Biting down on her lip, Nala took a moment before she said anything. Looking toward the main cave she could see the three cubs of Zira at the far end of the cave curled up together. But their heads were looking at the cave entrance staring out at them with wide questionable eyes.

Growling, she picked up Kiara and began to head to another cave that was in Pride Rock not wanting to have Kiara around the spawn of those who killed her mother. With a motion of her paw she told the others to follow her.

Heading on inside the other cave, Nala moved to the back where it would be warm enough and set Kiara down on the ground again. The princess mewed and looked around her eyes taking in the cave with curiosity. Was her mother there? She thought.

"Nala…what's going on?" Aufa demanded as they joined the younger lioness in the cave. Each wondering why she took Kiara to a place other than the main den.

"Something's happened…" Nala started, with her paw she brushed Kiara's back to calm the cub a bit. "I found Kiara hidden away…I figured Zuri must have hidden her…but it's hard to tell…for Kana and I also discovered a dead Hawa…" she paused watching the lionesses in front of her share a look of confusion. "But that's not all we found dead…"

Nala watched the confusion wash over each of the three lionesses faces but it seemed to slowly dawn on them as Nala continued. "We found the Queen and Prince Musa dead…Princess Eshe and Prince Kopa is still missing…"

Gasping cries escaped the three lionesses. Aufa stumbled back till she just sat back on her haunches her one paw covering her mouth. Ajia was cursing up a storm while Kali stood there with shock and disbelief comes over their faces.

When they saw Nala returning they could only hope it was with good news. That the royals had been found and Zira was being dealt with. It was something they couldn't all but help think whenever one of the three cubs they were left behind to watch would demand to know where their mother was. To which none of the three lionesses would say a thing about it.

"No…" Ajia shook her head. "No! This simply cannot be true!" she ended up shouting but regretted it when she heard the young princess give a startled squeak at the raise in her voice. "We cannot loose another royal…not like this!"

Lowering her head, Nala growled out. "I wish it wasn't true Ajia. But I saw the bodies myself. Zira had gotten to them first before we did. Zuri must have had Musa still on her when it happened…the Queen must have put up a fight…she was simply covered in wounds but her claws also had blood on them that I suspect wasn't hers." Lifting her head the tanned lioness stared at them with a sad but hardened gaze.

Getting back to her paws, Aufa walked forward. Her eyes going to Kiara who was staring right on back at all of them. Blue eyes, she thought with a sad smile. Just like her mothers. "You…you said that Kopa and Eshe were still missing?"

Nala nodded her head.

"And Hawa…she's one of Zira's…she was dead as well?" asked Aufa.

The young lioness nodded her head again. "Yes…we found her on the ground three miles from where Zuri was…we thought Zuri must have killed her in order to escape and protect the cubs. But when I got close I smelt Zira on her wounds. I still don't know what to make of it. Why would Zira kill one of her own?" it was a pondering question.

For all she knew, Zuri could have been the one to kill Hawa. And the rain just washed the scent away and Zira just had been the first to discover one of her lionesses were dead.

But now there really was no way to really find out. Zuri was dead and Zira…if Zira really had been the one to kill Hawa would she really admit it? And why had she done it?

"Mew?"

The lionesses all turned their attention toward Kiara who was mewing for their attentions. Each felt their hearts swell at the sight of the young princess. She was one of their hopes they thought. She was still alive. Their Queen may be dead…their youngest princes…and the other two may be lost. But there was something that gave them relief. One of the royal cubs lived.

Moving the four lionesses sat down in a circle around the cub who was laying flat on her stomach staring up at them with wide blue eyes. Ajia was the one who reached out to the cub and nudged her tiny head like with her paw. Kiara mewed and rubbed her head against the lioness's paw in return. "What do we do?" She asked aloud.

Eyeing Kiara, Nala sighed with a heavy heart. "There is nothing much we can do. But wait here and pray for our Queen…and pray that Simba and the rest find the other two…" trailing off she fell silent with the rest of them who all stared down at their princess with the last bit of hope and joy they could muster upon looking at her.

---

"Where's mother?" Vitani whimpered. She and her two brothers were curled up in the back of the main cave. Vitani couldn't really remember the last time they been in there since their Fathers death. She had very vague memories of it. Nuka knew more about the cave than she did because he was born before her and lived it in the longest. Kovu didn't know any cave but the back caves of Pride rock for he been only days old when Scar died.

Kovu crawled and laid himself down next to his sister. When he was close enough he draped his arm over the older cub while Nuka stood almost protectively in front of them. He been like that since they been brought to the main cave.

All of them had been confused when they been awoken by three lionesses they barely knew. They only knew them by name because they had heard the Queen or Kopa mention their names one occasion. What confused them even more was that Hawa who had been watching them was missing. As was the others. And more importantly their mother.

Their mother said she would be back with the others as soon as see got them.

They were even more confused when the three lionesses demand that they follow. When they didn't, they were picked up and carried to the main cave where they were told to stay. It was then that each cub started demanding to know where their mother was. But neither lioness would tell them a thing.

They all watched as the three lionesses who seemed to have been keeping watch over them had left the cave to go greet Nala. Their eyes though were drawn to what Nala had been carrying which to them seemed like a darkly tanned coloured cub who they didn't know. Vitani had wanted a closer look but her brothers had kept her from going any further from the spot they had stayed in since they were brought there.

But the colour of the cub reminded her of what Kopa had mentioned of one of his sister. Had that been one of the cubs?

They all had waited in silence just watching the four lionesses expecting them to come into the main cave at any minute. Each hoping that they would have news on their mother. But each were surprised when the four did not come into the main cave but headed off else where, with Nala once again carrying the cub who they could hear mewing and squeaking from where they were huddled together.

"What's going on?" asked Kovu when the lionesses were out of sight.

Neither of his two siblings knew how to answer. For they were wondering the same thing. Nuka thought perhaps something had happened to their mother and that scared him. He didn't want anything to happen to his mother. He had already lost his father. He didn't want to loose her as well.

He wanted to go out and find her. But he knew how disappointed she would be in him if he left Vitani and especially Kovu alone. He scowled a little, he didn't like having to be Kovu's babysitter but that was how it was. The older siblings always look out for the younger ones…or so that's what Spotty always told him whenever she heard him complaining about Kovu and how he thought their mother was spending more time with the younger cub than him.

Curling up on the ground as she heard thunder rumbling outside echoing off the inner walls of the cave. Vitani laid one paw over her muzzle. Her mind trying to figure out where their mother was. It wasn't often they were put into the care of the others of the pride. Zuri was normally the only one they were around the most.

Vitani thought back to earlier that day when they found Kopa out near the Eastern border. And how they had discovered that the prince and Queen had been hiding out because of some sort of danger. Then it clicked in her mind.

Jumping to her paws. Startling her brothers. Vitani looked at them like a look like she had just discovered fire. "I have it!"

"Have what?" Nuka asked his voice dripping with boredom. His shoulders were stooped. In a way that he often had the other lionesses snickering at him commenting that he resembled his father whenever he did it. Though he always grumbled about their snickering he would also hold pride that he held some trait of his father. Sure Scar never really paid much attention to any of his cubs, but that didn't mean Nuka never loved his father and hadn't idolized him.

"Why moms not here!" Vitani announced this time catching the full attention of her brothers.

"What do you mean you know where she is?" Kovu climbed to his paws casting his sister a questionable but confused look. "How could you possibly know? She said she was going to collect the others from the watering hole when the storm started…we were in the cave when that happened…" Kovu suddenly found his words muffled when Vitani clamped his mouth shut with her paw.

His eyes shot her a glare which she gladly returned with one of her own.

"If you'd be a good little lion, and be quiet. Then I'll be able to tell you!" Vitani started softly but ended up snapping at her younger brother.

Pulling her paw away from him she moved to stand in front of both her brothers. Facing the storm first then turned to face them. "You don't see the rest of the pride here do you?" she asked waving her hand around. The boys each raised one eyebrow and looked around the cave and back at her with looks that told her to get to the point.

Growling at the fact that they didn't get what she was trying to point out, she commented at the stupidity of males in her mind. "Hello! Remember what Kopa told us earlier?" she stomped her paw against the cave floor. "About how he and Queen Zuri were out there in the caves hidden because their was some sort of threat against them!"

The she-cub smirked watching as it finally seemed to click in her brothers minds about what she was hinting at. "Maybe this threat went after them tonight…maybe mom went to help…the others aren't here so that could only mean that they are out there helping too…"

Brow furrowed. Nuka processed over in his mind. Something didn't make sense to him. Their mother hated the Queen. They all knew it even if none of them could really understand why. Why would their mother want to help?

Maybe their mother had a change of heart?

Maybe she wanted to help because they all loved the Queen. By them, he meant him and his two siblings.

Looking at the entrance of the cave, Nuka watched the storm rage outside. But if that was it why wouldn't the three lionesses that had been watching over them have told them anything?

Slipping away from his two siblings who were now suddenly discussing where their mother could possibly be. Nuka made his way to the front of the cave. Peeking out he couldn't see sight of the four lionesses and wondered where they went. He pulled his head back when he felt too much rain hitting the edge of his nose.

With a paw he rubbed it with a disgruntled grumble.

A streak of lightning made him look up at the sky. For a moment he was trying to remember when there were times when his father had taken him to the very top of Pride Rock. He remembered seeing flashes of light off in the distance that he had asked his father about. Which Scar had coolly explained was lightning. That a storm was happening in that direction.

Nuka at the time hadn't known what a storm was. Nor did he even know what rain had been. He had heard it talked about by many both lions and hyenas alike. But it was the something he found out never came to the Pridelands anymore. That was until recently.

The young cub remembered just how disgruntled his Father had always been whenever the subject had been brought up.

He always wondered why it never rained until Simba came. He heard the rumours from the others who all blamed Scar. But Nuka didn't want to blame his Father. He didn't want to think he was evil.

Taking a deep breathe. Nuka looked back towards the sky. Remember tales of Kings of the past being in the sky. A place he figured his father was.

"Dad…please protect Zuri and Kopa! Kopa is my best friend! Please dad…" he prayed before turning from the storm he made his way back to his siblings who had both seemed to relax now that they thought of a possible solution as to where their mother was.

How true and yet far from the truth they truly were.

---

This couldn't be.

It just could not be!

Tears filled Kumai's eyes; spilling over down her cheeks mixing with the rain that pelted her mercilessly. As she stood there wallowing in her own grief.

She did not want to believe it.

She hadn't wanted to believe her.

Zira had to have been lying because it simply couldn't have been true.

But here laying on the ground before her, body torn with cuts and throat torn open, was her beloved baby sister. Staring at Hawa's body, Kumai still wanted to try and disbelieve what she was seeing.

She and the others had met up after a fruitless search for Hawa when they had heard a roar off in the distance. None of them could mistake that roar. They had heard it many times before. The first night they heard it was the night Simba had taken the throne. But this time his roar was mixed with pain and grief.

Something that right now Kumai could relate too.

It was after that roar that they knew they had to stick together. They knew the King was out in the Pridelands and they figured he wasn't alone. And the sound of the roar they figured came from the place they had left the Queen and dead prince's bodies.

They knew now that this did not bold well for them. More so than they thought before for themselves.

Kumai's mind had gone to Hawa at that time. She could only hope they found her sister before Simba did. She did not know how in his grief the King would react to seeing Hawa with the remaining royal cubs. She was known as a follower of Zira. Would the King listen if the Prince said Hawa had saved them or would he react on instinct at seeing someone he didn't trust with his cubs?

Those questions were shortly answered when they had come across Zira. Who appeared distraught and said she been looking for them. For a couple moments they thought that Zira appeared more wounded than she was before they went searching for Hawa. But before any questions could be asked…Zira told them the unthinkable. Something that had Kumai in disbelief.

She did not want to believe it.

Growling she had demanded Zira to show them. Give them proof. She had to be lying. Zira was known to lie.

But here right in front of her was proof.

Proof that she hadn't been lying at all.

Grief and anger began to form inside her.

Behind her she could hear the soft cries of her Pride Sisters who like her were all in disbelief at what they saw in front of them. None of them had wanted Hawa to die. She did not deserve something like this. Hawa did not deserve to die. Especially not the way she had.

"I had just come upon them…I heard the fight from a mile away…I came as fast as I could…when I arrived…Hawa was already on the ground…close to death…that was when I saw them…Nala and Kana…they were leaving the scene…they must have had the cubs with them…but I couldn't really see…when I reached Hawa's side…she was already dead…"

Kumai's ears folded back against her head as she relayed Zira's explanation of what had happened. Something in that explanation to Kumai almost didn't make sense. She couldn't place it really but upon remembering the new wounds on Zira, Kumai for a moment thought the lioness was lying.

Zira was known to loose her anger even with those who betrayed her. Hawa had done exactly that.

But upon arriving at the scene, Kumai smelt it. The smell of Nala on her sister. It was hard to tell with the rain but the scent was there. A lingering faint smell. But still there.

A low growl rumbled in her throat. With her paw she lifted her dead sister's head off the ground and bent to nuzzle her. "I failed in protecting you Hawa…forgive me…I said nothing would ever happen to you…" clenching her eyes shut, Kumai tried to fight back the sob that was building up inside her throat. But in the end failed as her emotions started to become unstable. "I'm so sorry Hawa!"

Behind her, the others all stood watching the scene unfold with saddened eyes. All but one. Zira stood behind the entire group with a smirk on her face. Her plan seemed to be working. She knew by the look Kumai had given her in the beginning that the lioness suspected her but now…now she could only hope…yes hope that her plan was unfolding the way she wanted it too.

She told them that Nala and Kana left with the cubs. That was a lie too because she hadn't seen whether or not they found the cubs. Which was why she told them she wasn't exactly sure if she saw them with the cubs or not.

Her eyes went to Kumai who had gathered Hawa's body in her arms. Her sobs were nothing to Zira. The lioness got what she deserved. And with her death and the lie she weaved Zira would keep the others on her side for she knew Kumai would want revenge for Hawa's death. Even if the revenge she was seeking were against the wrong lions.

Spotty having enough of standing back moved toward Kumai as the lioness set her sister back down on the wet soaked ground. "Kumai…" Spotty could feel her own tears in her eyes. She knew exactly what Kumai was feeling. Dotty and Spotty hadn't been the only one in their family. They had two brothers who were only a four months old when their pride was attacked. Neither their mother nor the two cubs survived.

None of them had thought they would have to suffer the same fate of another loved one again. When they found a new pride they had hope that all of that was behind them.

But it seemed like it wasn't to be.

"Kumai…" she started again reaching toward the distraught lioness only to have Kumai pull away from her. Her head bent; eyes closed. Spotty's eyes softened as she watched the other lioness's body shake with sobs she could not hold back. "Kumai…I know…"

"Don't you dare say you know how I am feeling!" Snapped Kumai turning her attention toward Spotty with a snarl causing the lioness to take a step back from her. Realizing what she had just done, her glare and snarl vanished to be replaced with a look of remorse. Shoulders slumped she sent Spotty an apologetic look. "Forgive me Spotty…I…I know you suffered the same before…I didn't…"

Eyes softening, Spotty nodded her head. "It's alright Kumai…" she fell silent as Kumai turned her back on them.

Kumai stared at the fallen body of her sister. Tears glistening in her eyes. This shouldn't have happened, she thought. Hawa shouldn't have had to suffer like this. She didn't deserve to die the way she had. Her eyes went to the wound that had been her sister's death. Anger seethed through her as she took in the sight of her sister's torn open throat.

She couldn't even imagine how Hawa had felt in her last moments of life. To be strangled to death in someone else's own teeth like some common prey hunted for food. Reaching out she laid her paw on her sister's face and leaned in and licked her head. "Be at peace sister…I hope you and mother see each other in heaven…I'll see you again one day…" Lifting her head she stepped back from her sister her head hung and shoulders drooped.

She had to get away. She couldn't stand looking at her sister's body any longer. She had to get away. Far away…

Without a backward glance Kumai took off running, tears freely streaming down her face. Behind her she could hear the others calling out for her to stop and come back but Kumai could not. She could not stand being around her sister's body for another second. As she ran images of her past started to cloud her mind. Images of watching her pride fall and how dangerous it had been for them to escape.

But knowing she least had Hawa made it easier to get through the grief of loosing ones pride. Her sister was young at the time, but she was all Kumai had left of her natural family. Her pride sisters wouldn't have been enough to help her cope. But Hawa had been. Hawa had always been a playful energetic being from the moment she was born.

Her sister knew just how to put a smile on Kumai's face no matter the circumstance.

But now that was gone for Hawa was gone. Her baby sister was cut down too short in her life. Kumai blamed herself, if she hadn't told Zira where the Queen and prince had been hiding than all of this wouldn't have happened. But she had done it to keep Hawa safe. Just as she knew when she first discovered the Queen's location, she knew right now Hawa would have been in danger if she had lied to Zira.

But it seemed that it was all for not. Because Hawa still ended up dead.

If Hawa had only stayed back at Pride Rock. If only she had just let Zira kill the cubs and stayed out of it. She would still be alive.

Kumai didn't know how long she been running but when she came to a stop. She found herself at the bank of a small river. Clenching her eyes shut, Kumai reached up and rubbed her paw over her eyes trying to clear the tears from her eyes. But nothing seemed to keep the tears from her eyes. She couldn't remember the last time she had cried this much. Almost three years she thought. Yes that had to be it.

"Damn you Hawa!" Kumai cursed. "Why? Why did you have to die!" she screamed turning her head to the sky glaring at the dark storm clouds. "Damn you! How could you leave me like this Hawa? How dare you!" New tears flowed down her face blurring her vision. "I promised Mother the day you were born that I'd always protect you…how can I protect you if you're dead…" shoulder's slumping Kumai hung her head.

"I should have listened to you Hawa…I should have…" Kumai whispered remembering the conversations she and Hawa had. With her sister begging her for them to go to Simba and tell the king the truth of Zira's plan or to run away from the Pridelands together. But in fear Kumai did not act. And this she thought, was her punishment for not listening to the wise offerings of her sister.

Staring at the water rushing in front of her. Kumai had the sudden urge to step into it and end her own life. Join her mother and sister in the afterlife. Perhaps she would see her entire pride there. Perhaps her mother and sister were waiting for her to join them.

As she sat there pondering the thought of joining her family in death. A new noise caught her attention. A strange but familiar noise. A noise she didn't expect to hear out in the middle of nowhere.

Opening her eyes, Kumai looked off toward the source of the noise.

Her ears strained to hear the sounds that confused it. She knew this sound but it was a sound that really shouldn't be out in the middle of nowhere.

It was the sound of a cub.

Was it a leopard cub?

A cheetah cub?

Shaking her head, Kumai turned her head away from the noise. Closing her eyes again she took a deep breathe and started toward the water's edge. When she heard the noise again. Only this time it seemed louder than it was before. Growling, she dug her claws into the ground. She just wanted to end her life. End her pain. Why was she letting this noise of some stupid cub stop her?

Eyes snapping open, Kumai looked off the way the noise was coming from again. This time she decided to find out where it was coming from.

The mewing cries seemed to get louder the closer she got to it. That's when she discovered the mews weren't that of any leopard or cheetah but that of a lion. What was a lion cub doing in these parts of the Pridelands? Was it some rogue with a cub? It wasn't unusual for a female rogue to pass through a land.

Kumai stopped when she reached the source of the noise and stared in question at a pile of discarded leaves and twigs. A pile that seemed to be mewing. This did not make any sense to her at all. But out of curiosity, Kumai reached out and carefully picked the leaves and twigs up and tossed them aimlessly off to the side. The more she pulled back the more she started to reveal the cub that was curled up beneath the pile.

But as the cub was revealed a loud gasp slipped from her mouth.

Stumbling back a bit Kumai stared at the cub that was laid out on the ground in front of her. Soaked to the very bone so that her fur clung to her body which was littered with mud was one cub she didn't think she would set eyes on again much less out in the middle of nowhere.

What was she doing there. Why was the daughter of Simba laying on the bank of a river in the middle of nowhere?

Stopping herself from taking another step back, Kumai instead made her way back over to the cub. Who to Kumai's surprised lifted her head and stared back at her with light green eyes. Well…one eye that is. That wasn't right, she thought. Both eyes of the cubs were open but only one seemed to take acknowledge of her. Her eyes traveling to the cubs left eye. Where it was not a green eye that was staring at her like her right eye was.

No. The cubs left eye was completely grey in colour.

Was this completely normal? She thought. Was it possible for lions to have different colour eyes?

But Kumai knew that couldn't have been it. No doubt what caused this eye colour was from the wound the princess had received from Zira.

After a moment of thought, Kumai knew the cub was blind in one eye. And she knew she was. Now that she gave it some thought she had seen this in many different animals. And it seemed the cub would forever be blind in her one eye.

What a pity…Kumai thought angrily. One little wound and she was blind. But she was a live. Just how she had ended up in these parts of the Pridelands was a mystery. Zira had said the cubs had gone off with Nala and Kana…no, she shook her head. Zira had only said she thought had seen the cubs go off with the two lionesses. But here was one of those cubs and how Kumai didn't know.

But it didn't matter. Here was one of the cubs her sister had died in order to save and she was alive and her sister wasn't. The cub may be blind in one eye but she was alive and her sister was dead. Hawa had died to save this cub. She died to save this cub. Hawa had saved the cubs in order to keep them safe with the thought that Simba and his pride wouldn't harm her for saving the cubs.

But that wasn't true.

Nala had killed her.

Nala had killed her sister.

Zira said Nala had done it...

Kumai clenched her eyes tight as she growled. Only to growl louder when the cub gave a squeak of fright.

Simba, she thought. None of this would have happened if it weren't for Simba. If Simba had just stayed away from the Pridelands, if Scar hadn't died then her sister would still be alive! There would have been no reason for Zira to want to see revenge and there would have been no reason for Hawa to risk her life for the cubs.

Eyes snapping open, Kumai felt her anger rising. Damn Simba. Damn him. Damn the entire Pridelanders. They all killed her sister. All of them. And she would make them pay. First she would make them pay by killing the cub in front of her. Yes, the perfect start of her own revenge.

Eyes and mind clouded with anger, Kumai raised her paw above the cub. Her sister was taken from her and so she would end the life of anyone who would be in the way of her revenge. But as she stood there staring down at the cub who stared right on back at her. Kumai stayed her paw.

No. She told herself. End this cub's life. Your sister died for this cub. Kill her!

But Kumai knew she could not. She wasn't a cub killer. Infanticide was just simply not inside her. And she knew if she were to kill this cub both her mother and sister would shame her. It was not this cub's fault her sister had died. It was Nala's and Kana's faults. It was Simba's.

Staring down at the cub, a sudden idea came to her.

The idea was perfect. Now she had to only convince Zira of it. But she was sure this would work for it would blend both hers and Zira's revenge.

With her paw she reached down toward the cub, but rather then strike her, Kumai ran her paw lightly down the cubs back in a soothing motion. "Shh…it's okay little one. I'm here…don't you worry…" bending her head Kumai ran her tongue along the cubs back ruffling up her wet fur. But the cub seemed to enjoy the action for her mews turned from frightening too soft purrs at the attention that Kumai was bestowing her. Once she was sure the cub was calm enough, Kumai picked her up gently by the back of the neck and looking off back the way she came. Kumai took off in the opposite direction. Before she confronted Zira on her plan she needed to find a place to hide the cub and she figured she had the perfect place.

'I will avenge you Hawa…I swear it!'

---

"Kumai!"

"Come back!"

"Kumai!"

Spotty and the others called after the fleeing lioness. Looks of sympathy on their faces as none of them dared to follow their pride sister. They all knew Kumai was running in order to get some time alone but that didn't mean that they weren't worried for her and should go off alone.

But none of them had the heart to truly stop her.

Zira took this moment to step forward and fan the flames as it were.

She hadn't expected Kumai to run off. That angered her and ruined her plans but not all of them. She had been relying on Kumai's anger over her sister's death to fuel her new plans.

Zira wasn't about to let her revenge go to waste. Suddenly she could see this becoming an advantage to her. Her lionesses hadn't wanted anything to do with the killings in the beginning but with Hawa's death now seemingly clogging their minds, she was going to use this to her advantage. Sure she was going to need Kumai in the beginning but she was going to use this to her advantage.

Perhaps now she could kill the entire pride so only they survived and then everything would be the way it was before. Well almost. If Simba was dead as well as his pride then she, Zira, would be Queen of the Pridelands once more. She would rule over the Kingdom until it came time for Kovu to take the throne.

Yes, she could just see it now.

This land will be hers and hers alone.

HER family would continue the pride.

Yes, what a perfect plan. She thought with a sinister inwardly snicker.

"Leave Kumai to herself. It is a troubling thing to loose one's family," Zira spoke up hanging her head as the others all turned to look at her. Yes, that's it Zira, play the part. "Hawa had betrayed me…but I was willing to let her go…all I wanted was those cubs so I could finally avenge my mate. But before I could reach her…it was too late…Nala and Kana killed her without letting her get a change to defend herself!" Lifting her head she stared toward the others.

"Isn't that how it always has been? Those Pridelanders have always hated us all because we followed a different King. Even now they hold their grudges against us. We can't even leave our own cave without hearing a single snarling remark." Moving around the lionesses she waved her paw at Hawa.

"And Hawa…she was the kindest of us all…she wanted to save those cubs while I want them dead! Did they even give her a chance to explain? NO!" Zira spoke loudly. "We need to strike back at them once and for all. That's exactly what we will do!" Zira agreed watching the lionesses all turned to face her. "We will kill them all! Hawa is dead because Simba came back! All this grief in our pride was the cause of his returning. If he and that Outsider had stayed away then Scar would still be alive and ruling these lands. He was the rightful King! And now he's dead. Well now we will not only make Simba feel what I felt when my mate died. But we will make them all pay. We will kill them all. And when they're all dead this land will be ours!" Zira held her head high as she announced her plan. Watching the shock come over everyone's faces.

"But there are more of them than there are of us!" Dotty argued stepping up to stand along side Spotty.

Zira growled stepping toward Dotty. "This is your home now is it not?" She waited until Dotty nodded her head nervously then continued. "They already know what we did. What makes you think that when they find us they won't kill us or banish us now. This is our land as much as it is their's. And we will fight for it!" Growling Zira slammed her paw against the ground. "Then this Kingdom will be ours and ours alone. There will be no danger to us. My cubs or perhaps your own future cubs will be safe."

Zira had to fight the smirk that tried pulling at the corner of her lips. She knew that would hook them. The former Queen had heard on many occasions the lionesses discussing cubs. More so after they spent time with Zira's own cubs.

"Imagine it…if you all had cubs. It could put them in danger. Would you truly want that or do you want a home where it is safe to raise your little ones?"

Standing back Zira watched as the lionesses looked to one another their faces lines with turmoil as they tried to figure out what to do.

The others watched Kumai with an uneasy feeling.

They were all saddened and angered over Hawa's death.

But was revenge truly what was needed here?

Look at what trying to get revenge had already cost them.

Taking a look back at Hawa they took in just how torn up she was. Hawa had never been the strongest of them but she always seemed to have the biggest heart of them all. That angered them. That she had died all because she had done what she thought was right.

Clenching her eyes, Baya tore her gaze away from the lioness and climbed to her paws with difficulty but ignore the help that Asma offered her. Opening them again, Baya spoke clear enough for the others to all hear. "It doesn't matter whose fault it is. Hawa is dead. Whether by one of them or all of them. We won't ever have our freedom until they're gone. Even if the crime…" she ignored the snarl from Zira for Baya calling her justice a crime, "That was committed tonight hadn't happened. They still would have continued to shun us like they had when we first came here. We are entitled to live here as much as they are…and they would gladly send us away from the home we have built…"

Turning, Baya faced the others. She didn't want to kill any others but she and the rest of them knew now as they've known for months. That they would have to fight for their place in the Pridelands. They've known from the minute that Zira announced her plan to kill off the Queen and the royal cubs. They knew that killing them would come with consequences.

And though many of them were already prepared to face those consequences. They hadn't expected to find one of them dead because of it.

Especially not Hawa.

Watching all this unfold before her, Zira had to keep fighting back the sinister smirk that wanted to play across her face. This was just perfect, she thought. Stomping her paw on the ground she growled "Well…are you with me?" she demanded. "To fight for poor Hawa here, for your home and for the cubs you love waiting back at Pride Rock? Who knows what they will do now to them!" She knew she had them.

Closing her eyes, Spotty sighed and stepped forward opening them to stare at Zira. "Very well Zira…we are with you. For Hawa and your cubs. We are with you."

Although Zira wanted to smack them all for the fact that they didn't follow her because they wanted her as a leader. They followed her for the sake of her cubs. But it was better than nothing. Her planned had worked. She could see the suspicions in their eyes but her plan had worked overall.

And after tonight, she thought. They would be hers completely.

The former Queen didn't say another word as each lioness passed her and headed off into the distance to find Simba and his pride that they knew was searching the Pridelands already.

She should have though of this plan from the very beginning. Lowering her head Zira chortled darkly to herself when the others were far out of earshot.

Now Scar…all those who opposed you will be dead. And your pride will rule these lands.

Lifting her head she stared at Hawa's body and smirked. "I told you Hawa…your sister will always be mine as will the others. You stupid girl. You should have just done what you did best. Stay out of trouble. If they die…it's your fault now." Turning from the body, Zira began making her way after the others.

Throwing her head back, she let out a loud sounding roar.

This would alert anyone of their position.

Bring the fight to them.

Come find us Simba. Come and meet your own fate. I will send you to the grave with your family so you all won't miss each other.

---

It was times like this that Simba cursed that the Pridelands were as vast as they were. But the King pushed on in his search. His pride behind him. None seemed to be slowing down all of them that came with him wanted to find Zira as much as he did.

The images of his dead mate and son as well as the thoughts of how frightened they must have been at the moments of their death drove him forward. He tried not to think that his eldest son and other daughter were out there missing. He wanted to place faith in the lionesses he set it out to find them. They had to be out there. He had faith that they were.

One thing he took relief in was one of his cubs were still alive. And was safe back at Pride Rock with Nala and the other three who stayed behind to watch Zira's cubs.

Zira's cubs…

That was something to think about. What would Simba do now with them?

Zuri hadn't wanted anyone of them harmed. She still wouldn't. It was why he was first going to give them the chance at living in the Pridelands without their mother.

BUT that was when he thought his mate was still alive.

Now that he knew his mate and one of his cubs and possibly his other two, had fallen to Zira. He didn't want any of his cubs around the cubs of the lion who had killed his father and now killed his mate. He had been tolerable in the beginning. But now the King felt his heart harden over the loss of his mate and cub.

If they found Kopa and he was still alive he knew his son would protest to sending away his only friends. But the King had to look out for his family. What's to say they wouldn't turn on Kopa? What's to say they wouldn't kill him in the future?

Evil seemed to run in that side of the family.

And he couldn't have that around his family anymore. He would not take the risk.

From now on he would cast out the evil from this pride like he should have done in the beginning. For if he had his mate and son would still be alive! He thought angrily.

"…..Simba….." Behind him he heard the faint voice of his mother calling out to him.

Clearing his thoughts, Simba turned to face the lioness coming up to him. Sarabi was trying her best to hold her pain in at the loss of Zuri and Musa and at the thought that her two other grandcubs were out there. But what hurt about them was the fact that they had no way of knowing whether Kopa and Eshe were alive or dead like their mother and brother.

"What is it?" The King demanded.

Sarabi didn't flinch at her sons tone. She knew exactly how he was feeling at that very moment. It was a pain she never had wanted him to feel. Not ever. "We found tracks…"

This caught the Kings full attention and he snapped his head to face the others whom he hadn't realized had all stopped. He had been too preoccupied with his thoughts to have noticed. Not bothering to say a word, Simba quickly made his way over to the others who all stepped aside for him to see the tracks.

Lowering his nose he examined them closely. They were too big to be his cubs. So they had to be Zira's and her lionesses. By the smearing pattern of them, they had been running and must have been in a hurry. There weren't many of them because of the amount of grass in the area. He cursed softly but least they knew they had come this way.

Lifting his head, the King looked off in a couple of directions. Giving it some thought before turning to his pride. "All of you spread out, see if you can find them. Do not fight them. Just signal your position. I don't want any of you fighting them alone. We cannot risk anymore deaths tonight." He ordered.

The other lionesses didn't waste any second but bounded off into opposite directions once again to continue the searches. But like before Sarabi stuck by her son. She wasn't about to leave him alone. Reaching over she placed her paw on his for a moment then together they headed off to continue their search.

But the search continued to prove fruitless. They had soon run into Merah and the two with her. None of them had found the missing prince or princess. Nor had they saw sight of Zira.

Sighing, Binti hung her head. She was trying to hold back to the tears in her eyes. She had been there the day that Musa had come into the world. And seeing him cut down only days after his birth was heart breaking. "We're sorry your majesty…we searched high and low within the area…"

Growling low under his breath, Simba clenched his eyes shut. He been hoping the three lionesses would find something on the missing cubs. He wanted to know whether they were alive or if they were dead. That was the hardest thing of all. Not knowing. The worst part he thought, was what if they never found them. He would be left wondering whether his son and daughter were truly alive or dead.

These sadden, angered and filled him with guilt.

Guilt because now he understood how his mother had felt finding his father truly dead and him missing and thought of as dead. Looking toward her, he could see his mother was peering up at the sky. This wasn't odd to him. Over the year he been back at Pride Rock he seen her staring up at the sky. Sarafina told him it was a habit of his mothers. And had been since the day his father died.

She told him that his mother was praying to the old Kings.

But Simba didn't know what prayers would do for them now.

Though some part of him wanted to pray. To yell at the heavens.

His Father had helped convince him to return home. Mohatu had helped them in the desert.

But where were they now! He shouted mentally. Where were they went his mate died? His son? Where were they now? Why couldn't they show them the way to find Kopa and Eshe this time? Why were the Kings remaining silent?

The King opened his mouth to speak to Binti to consol her that she did not need to apologize for not finding the cubs they had tried their best. But just as he was about to speaking a roar rumbled across the grasslands. For a moment he thought it was the thunder but it was too lion like to be thunder. He must not have been the only one to hear it for the others had all turned in the direction it had come from.

Sarabi moved to stand beside her son. Her prayers falling silent. She knew that roar. She'd known it for years. And it seemed that Merah; Binti; and Asali knew who it was as well.

"Zira…" Asali growled out. "That was Zira's!"

Binti lifted her head, her teeth pulled back in a snarl. "It seems to be coming from the direction Nala and Kana come from when they found Kiara."

That there was enough for Simba. He didn't know why Zira would suddenly alert them of her position. That roar wasn't one of anger or of grief. It was a roar to mark ones position. He and Jaali used it many times over the course of their patrols to know where the other one was. But it didn't matter.

Within seconds the King was already bounding off in the direction the roar had come from. Behind him, his mother; Binti; Asali and Merah were hot on his tail. He was sure the others would have heard her as well and were soon to come running. As he ran Simba was debating what he was going to do.

He wanted Zira dead. That much was for sure. But he knew if he left those cubs motherless or did anything to them he knew Zuri would be disappointed. It was a tough decision to make but one he would figure out when the time came. If he ended up killing Zira so be it.

His own roar soon echoed across the Pridelands. In the distance he could hear the rest of his pride answer his call to show him they were on their way.

None away of the ghostly figures watching them from afar. Their eyes clouded with sadness. Sadness for something they could do nothing to stop.

---

"MOM!? DAD!?"

The call sounded out into the storm. Amber eyes searched the darkness. Shoulder's slumped and head slightly down, Kopa trenched on through the rain and mud. After wallowing in his own grief at the loss of his sister Kopa had dragged himself to his paws and knew he had to find his mother and father. But how was he going to explain what had happened?

But anywhere he looked he could not find them nor hear them. His ear would twitch as he listened out for sounds. Anything that told him his parents were out there searching for him.

"Mom! Where are you?" he called out again.

Looking around, Kopa shivered as the rain and wind started to get to him. His eyes looking out for any sign that may be his parents. More importantly he wanted his mother. He wanted to know she was safe. He lost Musa and Eshe. He didn't even know what happened to Kiara. But he didn't want anything to happen to his mother.

But the more he ran and the more he searched. Not finding a single trace of his mother. Kopa began to fear that something may have happened to her. He really didn't want to believe it. But it was a lingering feeling in the back of his mind that told him that perhaps his searching was in vain. It had been for Eshe why wouldn't it be for his mother?

Another part of him told him that his mother was out there. Somewhere. So was his father. Despite the bit of anger he felt for his father due to Zira's words and not wanting to believe them just as much as he didn't want to believe that his mother was dead.

Kopa soon felt a wave of relief when he passed a tree he recognized. It was a tree that he had passed before when he was escaping with Hawa. That told him he must have been getting closer to where he had last seen his mother. His heart leapt when he soon stated noticing paw prints in the mud but were getting covered quickly by rain and mud. One striking him as larger than others. He knew those prints.

Dad! He thought joyfully. The first bit of joy he felt all night even if it was only a little bit.

Zira had been wrong. His father was out there searching for him.

His heart fluttered. His Father must have saved his mother. Yes that had to be right. His father had come to rescue them and keep them all safe. Just like he always promised he would. For a moment Kopa felt foolish for having doubted his father.

New tears appeared in his eyes.

He wasn't sure what his father would say if he found out Kopa had doubted him. Would he be mad?

Slowing his run to a brisk walk. Kopa thought, his heart hammering in his chest. He may not be mad if he found out Kopa doubted but he would certainly be mad to find out he had been responsible for his brother and sisters deaths.

The prince lifted his eyes to the sky. He didn't want to appear as afraid as he was. A prince was supposed to be brave. It was his job to protect his siblings but he had failed.

His one job and he failed.

But the fear he was feeling suddenly wasn't just from the thought of how disappointed his parents were going to be of him. But fear that something just wasn't right. Fear for his parents. Fear for his only living sibling who he hoped was safe. And fear for himself.

"Mom!?" he called out. His frame shook from both the new fear he was trying to hold back and the cold of the rain. Thunder rumbled overhead. His fur was soaked from rain and caked with mud. "MOM?" he continued to call out over and over into the stormy night but still no reply came.

'Kopa…'

Kopa froze when a voice came out to him.

'Kopa…'

Mom? He thought.

The prince turned his body to the direction he thought the voice was coming from. This voice wasn't like the voice he heard before that was calling out to him in the ravine or the voices that told him to get up and run earlier that evening.

This was a new voice.

It was faint. But it sounded almost like…

"MOM?" he called out again. Straining to hear the voice call out. But nothing came this time. The Pridelander Prince took off in the direction he had heard the voice. His heart pounding in his chest with hope that it was his mother he finally heard calling out to him.

"I'm coming mother! Hold on!" He called out. "I'm over here!"

The further he went the more Kopa began to recognize more and more about the area. He was close to where he last seen his mother. This worried him. Wouldn't she have left this area, the few paw prints he could make out told him many had left the area recently. Why would someone be in this location?

Sure he came back to this part of the Pridelands after he left the dam. But he figured they would just search the locations around not stay where his…where Musa was killed…

Kopa's heart fell in his chest. He was heading back to the place where his brother was killed. A place he knew he would want to avoid for the rest of his life. It was his fault Musa was dead. Kopa knew he would have to live with that guilt for the rest of his life but like he would have to live with the guilt that he had been too late to save Eshe.

Lightning flashed in the sky and suddenly something caught Kopa's attention. Squinting his eyes he stared through the darkness suddenly picking up what looked like a large shape lying on the ground. It looked like a rock. But that couldn't be right, there had been no large boulder in this area at all…or least that's how he remembered it.

But the closer he got the more Kopa came to realize it wasn't a rock at all.

In his chest his heart started to beat fast.

So fast he thought it would jump out of his chest.

And with his racing heart…fear started to rise up inside him.

No…no…it just couldn't be…

There was just no possible way…

It couldn't be…

He must have hit his head harder than he thought. He must still be lying in the bottom of that ravine. He must be having some sort of nightmare because it could not be true.

For the closer he got. The shape started to take the form of something…no…of someone…the very someone he been searching for in the dark…

No…

Tears started to appear in Kopa's eyes. At first he tried to fight them. It wasn't prince like to cry. But he could not contain them and in seconds tears mixed with rain was pouring down his face.

His run came to a halt.

In his chest, Kopa's heart suddenly stopped beating. While all sense of hope slipped from his mind.

He thought…he seriously thought…when he saw his fathers prints…that he had saved his mother.

Hawa's words suddenly came back to him. Words he didn't want to believe.

His visions were almost blinded by tears as step by step toward the body of his mother.

This was some sort of nightmare. He would wake up any moment and find himself lying in in the cave back at the Eastern border. His mother and siblings beside him.

That's it. It was all a nightmare.

Clenching his eyes shut, Kopa started chanting and willing himself in his mind to wake up. Wake up…wake up…wake up! He chanted over and over in his mind.

1...

2...

3...

Wake up!

Snapping his eyes open, Kopa expected to find himself in the ravine or the better yet the Eastern caves. But instead the image that greeted him was something he felt was going to haunt him.

There lying in front of him. Eyes closed as if she were just sleeping. Was his mother. Despite the wounds Kopa could have sworn she looked peaceful. Her face didn't show any sign of pain. Wounds or not in Kopa's eyes his mother was still the most beautiful lioness he ever seen.

Tears blurring his vision the prince made his way toward the body of his mother. It was when he was right next to her that he suddenly took note that she was cradling something. And looking down Kopa noticed that it was Musa she had cradled in her arms. The picture of the two made was that of both of them asleep while mother was comforting young cub. Something Kopa knew all too well. His mother would often cradle him growing up whenever he was scared of something.

Kopa felt a lump building in his throat. Stepping around his mother, Kopa went to stand behind her head. Laying a paw on her he nudged her. "Mom…come on mom…please…please get up…what's dad going to think…" more tears ran down his face as Kopa started to shake his mother with both his paws.

"Mom please!" he begged before laying his head down on top of hers. "Please! Not you too! I can't loose you too!"

He knew she was gone.

He knew.

But he didn't want her to be gone. Kopa didn't want his mother to be dead. He didn't want his mother to be gone. She was the only mother he had. He loved her too much to be gone. But laying there with his head on her he knew she was gone for he couldn't feel her breathing.

Feelings of guilt filled him. Clenching his eyes, Kopa buried his face into the fur of his mother's neck his paws clutching onto her. "I'm so sorry mommy…I didn't mean to leave the cave…I…I was coming back I swear!" the sobs he could no longer hold back came spilling out. "I'm sorry I disobeyed you! I'm sorry I got Musa and Eshe killed! Please come back mommy! I need you….I need you!" he added tearfully.

"You should not blame yourself Prince. Your mother would not want you too."

Kopa's eyes snapped open when he heard someone speak in front of him. And not just anyone. He definitely knew this voice and knew who it belonged too. It been only a week since he spoke with them but he knew that voice. And low and behold when he raised his head from where he had it buried in his mother's fur he saw them.

The two strange two legged creatures standing there. Both of them with a saddened look on their faces but none shed tears. Like before they were furless. Which still confused him, he didn't know of any animals that were like these two strange beings. Jumping to his paws he moved to place himself in front of his mother almost in a protective fashion.

"What are you doing here!?" Kopa demanded glaring at the two creatures.

What were they doing here? He had to wonder. Who were they exactly. Even in their last meeting they never really told him. They were so secretive. He wanted answers and he wanted them now. He wanted to know what they were and why they were there. More importantly he wanted to know why he was seeing ghosts while no one else seemed to be.

It was the taller of the two who stepped forward and much like before knelt down. His strange furless arm resting on his bended knee. "We told you Prince Kopa, when we last met that you would be seeing us again. And when that time came you would know all the answers that you sought before from us." The tall one furrowed his brow giving Kopa a questionable look.

Blinking his eyes. Kopa stared at the tall one then toward the smaller of the two who continued to stand back. What was strange for Kopa was that his hand seemed to be resting on something in mid-air, something Kopa could not see. Turning his attention back to the tall one, Kopa tried to remember the last time he met these two.

It confused him for a few minutes when it came to him.

"You said you would be back and give me answers when I was lost and alone…" he whispered the words sinking in. Eyes widening he growled out at the two. "You knew my mother would die!" He snapped stepping toward the taller one who didn't even flinch or back away but simply just kept kneeling there in front of him. "You knew!"

The taller one eyed him with impassiveness but he did nod his head. "Yes. Yes we did know."

"And you didn't do anything?" Kopa shouted angrily. "You could have helped her! You could have helped Musa and Eshe!"

The tall creature shook his head. "No young Prince. We couldn't. We could not help your mother. For you see it was your mothers fate to die. Be it this way or sickness or another way entirely. Your mother's fate was to die. As was your brothers." Kopa in his anger didn't seem to catch that he hadn't mentioned Eshe. "You see Prince Kopa, there are forces in this world that we cannot comprehend. We all have our time in this world and we all have a time when it is our time to leave it. Tonight just happened to be that time for them."

The Prince stood there letting his words sink in. His eyes wide and disbelief on his face that soon was turned again to anger. "That's a lie! My mother was young, so were my brother and sister! They couldn't have been fated to die! You're lying! Now bring them back! I command you to bring them back!" He continued to yell.

How could his mother have been fated to die?

How could his brother and sister be fated to die?

That was all a lie.

It had to be and he wanted these creatures to bring them back to him.

The tall ones face took a look of sympathy as he shook his head sadly. "I am sorry young Prince. But I cannot do that. No one has the power to bring the dead back to life."

"That's a lie! You bring them back right now!" Kopa's voice was soon laced with tears and sobs. The taller one reached out to lay a hand on Kopa's head but the Prince wrenched his head away out of his touch. His eyes set in a glare.

Standing, the tall one stared down at Kopa then turned toward his smaller companion then back at Kopa. "I cannot bring them back. Fate works in mysterious ways Prince Kopa. It was their times…for where there is death. There is always death. But your mother isn't completely gone young Prince. No one is ever truly gone as long as they are with you in your heart."

Staring at them. Kopa's body began to shake, his head hanging as sobs escaped his mouth. It was official, his mother, brother and sister were gone and there was nothing he could do about it. Nothing that anyone could do about it. It wasn't fair.

It just wasn't fair!

It took several minutes for him to calm down but when he did he remembered another thing that they had told him in their last meeting. Taking deep breathes he looked up at them with red rimmed eyes. "You…you said you were important for my future…how?"

The two creatures shared a look then looked back at him. It was the small one who spoke this time. "Because young Prince. You have a destiny that you must fulfill. And I am here to help you do exactly that." The smaller one eyed Kopa who stared back at him with confusion.

Destiny? What sort of destiny?

Was it to become King? He already knew he was going to be King. That couldn't be it. Why would he need someone else's help to become King? That was his Father's job to teach him.

Narrowing his eyes in suspicion Kopa demanded. "What destiny?"

Stepping forward the smaller of the two creatures stopped when he stood right in front of Kopa. Who crammed his neck up to stare at the creature. He may have been the smaller of the two but he was still much taller than Kopa combined. "I am here to guide you on your true path. A path that has been decided for you long before you were born. A path that those in charge of fate placed down upon you the moment your parents conceived you." Kneeling down he peered at Kopa who was becoming more confused by the second.

"Guide me on what path…I already know my path and of course it was decided for me! I am to be King of the Pridelands!" Kopa stood with his paws planted firmly on the ground. These strange creatures weren't making any sense to him.

"No young Prince. Your fate does not lie here in the Pridelands. But the lands of your mother…" The tall one explained this time.

Kopa stared at them both confused. Far from the Pridelands? Land of his mothers?

That had to be a joke…right…it was a joke.

Laughing, Kopa shook his head. "That's a funny joke. Land of my mother. I'm Prince of the Pridelands, I am meant to rule here. This is my destiny!" He fell silent as the two creatures shook their heads at him.

The smaller one peered down at him. "That is where you are wrong. Your place in the Pridelands has ended tonight Prince Kopa. Tonight you cast aside your title as prince of the Pridelands for you have a destiny that awaits you. Far away from the Pridelands."

His words echoed in his head. That just couldn't be true. These two strangers were telling him that it was his destiny to leave the Pridelands right after his mother died?! To tell him it was his destiny to leave his family? What did they take him for? He couldn't leave the Pridelands, his family was still here. His mother may be dead but his father and that was still alive.

He remembered the tales told to him how his Father had run away from the Pridelands when his grandfather Mufasa died. He couldn't do that to his father. He had to be there. Even if his father hated him for causing his mothers, Musa and Eshe's deaths, Kopa could not run away from that. He would not run away. It was his fault and he would face it.

Glaring upward, Kopa scowled and said firmly. "No!" He watched as both beings raised their eyebrows at him. "I will not run away! You're wrong about my destiny! I am Prince Kopa of the Pridelands and my place is here!"

"That is not for you to decide…"

"Yes it is!" Kopa shouted stomping his paw on the ground causing mud to splash up onto him.

It seemed like a staring contest between the three of them. Kopa glaring at the two beings. He couldn't believe these two fools. How could they expect him to be so cowardly and run away?

The Prince opened his mouth to say something else when he heard it. The loud echoing roar of a lion. He froze and turned his head off in the direction of the roar. That wasn't his father but the roar that soon followed was a loud rumbling roar and this time he did know that roar. It was his father!

Soon enough he heard other roars echoing off in the distance.

The Pride!

The Pride was out there.

They were searching. They must be looking for him and his sisters.

But hearing that other roar before his fathers made him uneasy. That roar didn't sound like any of the pride, it sounded too much like hers. Zira…hate lingered with the thought of Zira. She had killed his mother. She had to be found. Then a thought struck him, his father was out there…what if he was going after Zira?

The thought filled him with dread.

He didn't know why. But it did. He wanted his father to defeat Zira. He wanted Zira to pay for what she did to his brother and mother. But he was worried about what if Zira took his father from him too? He didn't want that. He couldn't loose both his parents in the same night. What would happen to him? To the pride? To his sister?

He thought Kiara had to be alive. He had a feeling deep down that she was safe. So he did not worry for her.

But did worry for his Father. Looking at the two creatures, Kopa glared at them and growled. "I will not run away! I am no coward!" Turning toward his mother's body he felt tears come to his eyes. Stepping toward her he placed his hand on her head and bent down to nuzzle her, his tears falling down onto her. "I'm sorry mother…I promise…I won't run away. I'll protect Kiara…I promise!" Licking his mother's cheek, Kopa stepped back away from her again.

He shot the two creatures one last glare then turning he began running off in the direction he heard the roars. He would find his father. He knew where he was now. But in the back of his mind the words of what the two furless creatures told him lingered and itched.

Far from the Pridelands. The land of his mother.

Why would he be needed there? Was something wrong with his mother's old pride?

No! He shouted mentally. He could not think that. That was NOT his destiny. He was destined to rule the Pridelands, which was what he was born to do. There was no other destiny for him.

Kopa ran fast on his legs pushing himself forward. The rain around him finally seemed to be lessening. It still rained but it wasn't as heavy as it had been. Beneath him mud splashed up as he trampled through puddle after puddle heading in the direction he heard the roars coming from.

But the closer he got the sounds of what sounded like a fight started to reach his ears. This made him run faster. He feared the worst. What was going on?

Kopa's claws gripped the ground as he hurried his way to the top of a hill where he could hear the sounds of loud growls coming from the other side. Making his way to the top of the hill where the sight of a battle greeted him.

His eyes went wide as he took in the sight below at the bottom of the hill.

Far below he spotted his father; grandmother and half the pride fighting against Zira and her lionesses. His eyes though focused solely on Zira who he soon saw began circling behind his father when Simba was distracted by Asma. "No…" he breathed out. "Dad….DAD LOOK OUT!"

For a brief second it seemed the King had heard his eldest calling out for him. For the King struck at Asma sending her tumbling to the ground growling but still alive and then raised his head to stare upward at the hill. More importantly at who stood atop of the hill.

Kopa watched as his father's eyes widened at the sight of him. "Kopa…" he heard his father say almost too softly but it still reached him. The prince could have sworn he saw tears of relief in his father's eyes. And Kopa felt tears in his own, when he called out again. "BEHIND YOU!"

Just as the King seemed to catch onto what his son was trying to warn him about. He turned too late to see Zira pouncing at him tackling him to the ground fangs and claws bared while at the same time Asma took the opportunity to attack him as well. Both lionesses bringing the King down to the ground as he roared in anger.

Eyes wide, Kopa watched as the two lionesses took his father down. "DAD! NO! DAD!"

---

Amber eyes laced with malice watched from the darkness as their prey grew ever closer. Shoulders squared, Zira bit back a snarl. The corner of her lips pulled back to reveal her teeth. The moment she had decided to give the Pridelands their position the plan from sudden attack had changed to that of ambush.

Zira liked this plan. Rather then waste the efforts on finding Simba. He would simply come to her and they would have the time to take them down when they least expected it. She did not know how many Simba had with him but it would not matter. She would see them all fall in order to get her hands on the Pridelands.

Now here she was crouched behind a boulder as she awaited Simba's arrival. Around the area her pride was hidden as well.

Kumai had not come back to join them and though she wondered where the damn lioness had wandered off too she wasn't needed. They could do the job. And they would.

Lowering herself further to the ground, Zira carefully slipped more behind the rock just as Simba passed. She took note that he only had Sarabi, Merah, Binti and Asali with him. The others must still be coming but by then it would already be too late to save their King. Careful not to make a sound, Zira climbed to the top of the rock and glared down at the opposing Pride. A snarl sounded from her lips finally catching their attention. "Well, well Simba. Pleasant surprise to see you out here. Did you catch the surprise I left for you?" she laughed as Simba's heated glare turned in her direction.

Yes, feel my pain young King. But unlike me, you will join your mate in death.

"Zira! You have committed treason for killing your Queen and prince. Now you only have one second to tell me where my cubs are!" the King demanded. His eyes bearing into Zira who stood along atop the rock but he knew she wasn't alone. She wasn't as foolish to come alone he thought.

"Oh…your cubs…I'm afraid I don't know…perhaps they're just as dead as your Queen…but don't worry you'll be joining them shortly in death!" Roaring, Zira leapt from the rock aiming for Simba. But the King was ready as soon as he felt her land on him he bucked his body sending her to the ground. It was around this moment that other roars soon joined Zira's as her pride came tearing out from the places they had hidden in.

Trying to keep their backs to each other, the Pridelanders bit and clawed to keep Zira's followers away from them. Each taking note that two were presently missing. One they had suspected remembering that Nala had mentioned finding Hawa dead but where was Kumai? This left them on edge. Was she lurking somewhere ready to secretly strike one of them when they weren't expecting it?

From her son's side, Sarabi suddenly felt someone grab her from her behind their claws digging into her hips. Roaring in pain, Sarabi twisted her body to fight off who had grabbed her only to find her paw connection with Zira's face. Growling the two lionesses went at each other.

"You're a fool if you think you can battle be Sarabi!" Zira claimed. "Get out of the way old one."

"I am only a year older than you Zira. I have the strength. Just as I had the strength the night Scar died to fight off your lionesses and the hyenas. You killed my grandson and my son's mate! I'll see you pay for that one way or another Zira." Sarabi growled between clenched teeth. Teeth she bared in Zira's direction as the two lionesses circled one another before they started trading blows.

Teeth and claw they went at each other. Two former Queens whose anger they felt for each other for years coming out with each blow they struck at their opponent. For Sarabi this was what she had wanted to do for years. Zira had always been her friend growing up. But Zira much like Scar had changed the moment Scar chose Zira as Queen. Sarabi knew her old friend always dreamt of being Queen one day, she had spoken often of it when they were cubs.

But when it came time for Mufasa to become King and he had announced whom he had chosen to be his Queen, his long and awaited love interest, Sarabi. Zira had become jealous of her and soon after that their friendship had ended. When word of Mufasa's death had reached their years that fateful night after the stampede, Sarabi had thought Scar would take her as his Queen.

Not something she had been looking forward too. She loved Mufasa and Mufasa only. She did not want to be with another. She would not bare another lion's cub.

But it had seemed that Scar had already chosen a lioness to be his Queen. It of course was not announced till several months after Scar became King. But it seemed that Zira had caught the attention of the new King and had been the one that he had chosen to be his Queen.

Sarabi at first had been happy for Zira. For her old friend would be getting what she always wanted. But Zira held it above Sarabi's head that she was now Queen and Sarabi was not. But Sarabi only said her congratulations for she held no ill will. It wasn't until after Zira discovered the other lionesses in the pride were not loyal to her but to Sarabi that Zira started showing outward hate for Sarabi. Zira simply hated that the Pridelanders still saw Sarabi as their Queen rather than her. That was until new lionesses arrived in the Pridelands.

If there was any part of the old Zira in her. Sarabi did not know nor did she care. This lioness was the mate of the one who had murdered her own mate and had now with her own paws killed her son's very mate and her grandson.

The past was the past. But the present crimes Sarabi would never overlook.

Raising her paw, Sarabi brought it down upon Zira's head with a hard blow but the lioness only kept coming. Growling Zira pounced and pushed Sarabi toward Dotty who grabbed the older lioness and held her down. Zira smirked "You've had so many of your family die Sarabi. I wonder how you will feel if you actually watch your son. This time he won't magically come back from the dead." She laughed turning from the struggling lioness but Dotty simply kept holding her back.

Setting her eyes on Simba. Zira bit back a growl. Claws extended she padded her way toward him watching as the King fought of Asma who continued to attack from the front. Perfect, she thought. This was her chance to take down the King.

But just as she was about to strike a voice called out from above. A voice that made her snarl.

"….DAD LOOK OUT!"

The cry seemed to draw more than just the Kings attention to the top of the hill but many other the others as well. But Zira wasn't going to waste this opportunity. The King was distracted this was the perfect time to take him down. Bracing herself she caught Asma who had been tossed to the ground by Simba preparing to attack again only from the front while Zira took the back. She would kill the King and then she would go after the prince.

What a perfect night this was for her!

From above another cry echoed down from the prince. "BEHIND YOU!"

But it was too late. By the time the King caught onto his sons warning. Zira had already attacked the moment Simba turned to face him and at the same moment Asma lunged as well. Both lionesses connected with the King their teeth and claws digging into him as they brought him down to the ground with him roaring.

"DAD! NO! DAD!"

Simba couldn't have believed it. Even if it was right there in front of his eyes. His eldest son. Alive. Standing atop the hill that overlooked the battle. Kopa was a live. Simba had felt years of relief wash down his face at the sight of his eldest. But where was Eshe? He could not see her up there with him. Was she alright? Was she alive as well? Did Kopa hide her to keep her safe?

All of this was running through his head that he only had seconds to let his sons warning sink in before he felt flashes of pain shoot through his body as both Zira and Asma attacked him from two different sides. Roar with pain he was brought down to the ground. Above he could still hear his son calling out for him. Growling loudly, the King fought the two lionesses attempting to push them away from tilting his head back to stare up at his son who watched the battle with wide terror filled eyes.

"RUN KOPA! RUN AS FAST AS YOU CAN! GET BACK TO PRIDE ROCK! GO NOW!" The King shouted out to his son. Before another wave of pain shot through him as Zira attempted to grab him by his neck but his paw pushing her back only kept her from getting a full grip on it.

Zira snarled as she fought against the King. Looking at Asma she snapped. "Catch the prince I'll handle him!"

Asma raised her head to stare at Zira in shock. The lioness wanted her to leave her alone with the King? But seeing the look Zira was giving her, Asma swallowed the lump in her throat and nodded her head. "Ye…yes!"

Asma jumped away from the King who attempted to claw at her to stop her from going after his son and within moments she was tearing up the hill. Where the prince had already disappeared from the top and was running with all his might down the other side to escape the lioness giving chase to him.

Behind her she could hear the King continue to shout out for his son to run and get back to Pride Rock before another roar of pain followed. But what the Prince didn't know was that he wasn't running in the direction of Pride Rock but rather the western border that led out of the Pridelands.

Her paws hit the ground with record speed as she gave chase. The Prince was still a good distance in front of her but she knew she could easily gain on him if she wanted too. But rather she had her own plan in mind. She agreed with the plan of killing the Pridelanders but she wouldn't let another cub die. Remembering the words the Queen had spoken to her before her own death. Asma was no cub killer. Enough cubs had died. Adults were one thing. Cubs were another.

So here now she was running. Driving the prince further toward the Western border. She would drive him out of the Pridelands. As a cub he would not last no more than a few days at best out there. She would let the elements kill him. There was enough blood on her prides paws already.

"Run Prince Kopa…let the desert take you…" she whispered coming to a halt but the prince didn't seem to take notice that she was no longer following him. She stayed there until she saw he was far out of sight. Then quickly finding a hare hole she bloodied up her paws. She knew Zira would be angry she didn't get the chance to kill the cub but she would lie and take whatever punishment Zira dealt.

---

Simba fought with Zira as he watched Asma take off after his son. Anger roared deep within him. He would not let his son die. Not now that he knew Kopa was still alive. He felt Zira attempt to bite his neck again but this time he was ready. Twisting his body, Simba reached up and pushed his paw against Zira's neck.

Causing the lioness to gasp for breath as he pushed up against her wind pipe. Then with his amount of strength he bucked up with his paws sending Zira flying off him. But he didn't let her get far, for the moment she was off him, Simba was on his paws and diving for Zira.

Colliding with her, Simba twisted their bodies until with all his might he slammed the lioness down on the ground beneath him. His paw pushing down on her neck.

"Enough! Stop or I kill her!" He shouted out as all around him the fighting ceased. The Pridelanders and Zira's lionesses backed away from each other. Many of them sporting wounds but none life threatening. Growling Simba glared down at Zira who glared right on back at him.

The King stayed here he was, his paw planted firmly on Zira's neck that the lioness could not budge or she would find her wind piped crushed beneath Simba's weight. "Asali!" He ordered.

Said lioness pushed her way forward, a limp in her leg from a twisted paw. "Yes my King?"

"Track down Asma and find her and my son…"

"It's too late King Simba…Prince Kopa is already dead. His body now lost in the watering hole to the crocs…"

The Kings body stiffened as he watched Asma's return. He did not want to believe her words. But the sight of blood on her paws made any joy of seeing his son alive was gone. He was so close…so close and alive…and now…his family…all his family…but one…Kiara was alive…but Zuri…Musa…and now Kopa were dead…what about Eshe? Was she dead too?

Roaring in pain of a broken heart. Simba grabbed Zira by the back of the neck and pulled her to her paws. But the moment she was up, Simba shoved her until the lioness stumbled back into her own followers. Turning to face Simba, Zira growled out at him. "How does it feel Simba…to loose everything you ever loved…"

Growling, Simba glared at Zira. He wanted to kill her. To kill all of them. But no, he would not kill them. If he killed them he would be no lower then his uncle had…just like Zira had. No…Simba would not kill them.

Killing them would not bring his family back from the dead.

The King clenched his eyes shut. Tears stung from beneath his eyelids.

A pain he hadn't felt in years came back to him. A pain he had thought he would never fell again.

He felt his mother come up beside him. Sarabi glared at Zira, new tears in her eyes at the mention that Kopa was dead. She too had felt great relief and joy when she saw her grandson at the top of the hill. But that joy was gone. She growled as Asma who seemed to avoid eye contact with her.

Straightening his shoulders and head. Simba opened his eyes, his features hardening to that of a King. Stepping in front of his Pride he spoke aloud. "I should kill you for what you've done Zira…I should have all of you killed including your cubs!" he spoke loudly he watched as horror overcame the face's of Zira's followers before growls started to echo from them. Simba could kill them all he wanted but the cubs were innocence they thought angrily.

"But I stand by what I said a year ago. I am no cub killer! I will not kill them. Nor will I kill you. By killing you, I make myself no more less than you. I have never killed another lion in my life and I will not start now. What you have all done is high treason. You have threatened your Queen, and plotted against her. You have killed her and the royal cubs. By law you should be killed but I have already said I will not lower myself to your standards." With every word the King's voice rose.

"But you are no longer welcome in the Pridelands…I hear by pass it now…You and your families…are here by BANISHED from the Pridelands!"