TheSparklyKitten: Thanks,

Rogue-Lion: Scenes from the movie won't take place till 1 or 2 chapters later,

SpiderEye: I've been little too busy, but longer chapters will arrive.

The rainy season had come and gone and the cubs werw growing quickly within Nala.

Kiara kept going on about the fun things she was going to teach her younger sibling.

Her lessons continued as always, with new challenges everyday. Simba taught her how to overcome them and how to be a good and caring queen.

Kopa, though his future was unknown, often went with Kiara for her lessons, feeling as though he might learn something. His meetings with Vitani continued and neither Simba nor Zira knew of their time spent together. They often met at the Elephant Graveyard late at night and would play or talk until early morning. The scratch upon his eye from their first meeting there healed, but left a scar. Vitani was still unaware that Kopa was royalty, assuming that he was just close friend.

Nala and Simba continued their duties, bubut being the worrying father he was, Simba often tried to make her relax, but nothing seemed to work.

Finally one evening, it happened.

Kopa smiled, amused as he watched his father pace outside the den while he and Kiara sat, watching.

"Geez, kid, you're gonna wear the floor out." Timon said.

"I can't help it! I'm nervous!" Simba cried.

"Don't worry, Simba! It'll be just like last time and soon we'll have a new cub!" Pumbaa said.

Simba managed a smile before they noticed a lioness come from the den. "Would you like to meet your new son?"

Simba beamed. "Yes!" He cried as he followed her inside.

"I have a brother!" Kiara cried.

Kopa laughed as he watched her dance about.

Timon smiled as he patted his friend's tusk.

Soon the lioness returned and motioned for Kopa and Kiara to follow. The cubs did as they were told and walked in to the den to see their mother sitting on a bed of grass with Simba beside her and a golden cub lying in her paws. A small patch of red fur sat atop his head.

"This is Kion." Nala whispered to her children. "Your new brother."

Kopa smiled as he leaned down. "He's so small."

"Hi, Kion." Kiara whispered.

The cub mewed and the family laughed.

"Hey, Kion, I'm your big brother." Kopa said softly. "Don't worry, I won't let Kiara baby you."

Kiara pouted. "What else are you supposed to do with a cub?"

Simba chuckled as Kion sneezed.

Nala smiled as she nuzzled her mate. "Our little family." She said.

The lionesses smiled as they left the family alone. Rafiki, who had been over seeing the birth, bowed and walked out. A familiar wind passed through his fur and the monkey laughed. "He is a beautiful cub, Mufasa." Rafiki said. "He will become a great asset to the pride."

In the den, Simba was lying down next to his mate while Kopa and Kiara lay in front. Nala gave gentle licks to the cub as she bathed him.

The stars were twinkling over head as a welcome for the new Prince of the Pridelands.

TLK

"Hey, Kopa!"

Kopa yelped as a familiar honey badger leapt onto his back.

"Bunga, what'd we talk about?!" He cried.

Bunga nervously laughed as he slid off. "Sorry, got a little excited. Er, the mane's coming in good!" He said.

It was true, Kopa's mane was now sprouting from his chest and down on his neck. Rolling his eyes, Kopa smiled. "Thanks, shouldn't you be with Kion?"

After Timon and Pumbaa adopted him, Kion and the honey badger became good friends and very soon started a little group with a cheetah, a hippo and a bird. Kopa nearly didn't see one without the others.

"I wanted to say hi!"

Kopa nodded, yawning, the meeting with 'Tani the night before had gone on longer then usual. "Hi, now go play."

Bunga smiled as he jumped from the rock slab Kopa lying on and went to find his friend. Once he was sure he was gone, Kopa stood and stretched before walking out of the den where he saw Simba looking over the land.

"Hey, Dad."

"Dry season is coming on quickly, Kopa." Simba said. "Ma Tembo and the elephants have agreed to start looking early."

"Is it going to be bad?"

"Not of we prepare. Thing is, we have more herds here then last year, which means more water to find."

"We'll make it, Dad, Mufasa's watching over us."

Simba smiled as his son. Suddenly, a fruit bounced off his head. Turning, they saw Kion race up and grab the fruit. "Sorry, Dad, fruit got away."

Simba sighed. "Kion, I thought we talked about playing fruit games on Pride Rock."

Kion smiled sheepishly before his father grabbed the fruit and threw it into the sky before grabbing it in his jaws. "Catch me if you can!" He cried, racing off. Kopa laughed as he and Kion raced after him, passing Bunga on the way.

Fruit in teeth, Simba rushed past Nala who was sunning on a rock.

Suddenly, he most his balance and went tumbling down. Kopa growled as he jumped onto his father and grabbed the fruit.

Kion skidded in the dirt and panted as his brother took off in another direction.

The game of chase went on for a few more minutes, until it ended with Zazu alerting Simba of some fighting deer and he left to sort it out.

"Hey, Kopa, want to go to the waterhole with us?" Kion asked.

"Not today, squirt, I gotta be somewhere." Kopa said as he ruffled the tuft of red fur upon his brother's head.

With a smile, Kopa turned and broke off into a run. The sun was beating down harder then it usual did, Simba was right, they were in for a very dry season.

TLK

"Tani'! Tani'!" Kopa called once he had reached the graveyard. Don't tell me you forgot our meeting, he thought.

Suddenly, someone pounced on him and knocked him to the ground.

Kopa rolled onto his back and his attacker smirked. "Hey, Pridelander." She said, nuzzling his chin.

"For a second, I thought you had forgotten our little meeting." Kopa smiled.

"I would never forget our meeting." Vitani said. "So how's things on the other side?"

"Good, but the dry season is coming up fast."

"Yeah?"

"I feel bad, knowing we have water while you suffer in the Outlands."

The tan lioness sighed as she hopped off her friend. "Kopa, we talked about this. My family and the royal family don't get along. We've survived worse, we'll be fine."

Kopa smiled. "You're amazing, you know that?"

Vitani giggled. "Yeah, I know." Then she frowned as she turned away. What am I doing? Mother would be furious if she knew that she was with a Pridelander! She and Kopa would both be in grave danger if her mother found out. Kopa wpuld possibly be killed!

Ignoring the concerned look upon Kopa's face, Vitani turned away. She was being seflish.

"Vitani!!

Vitani gasped. "Nuka. Kopa, quickly, get out of here! If my brother catches me with you, it'll mean big trouble for the both of us."

"But-"

But Vitani didn't give Kopa a chance to argue as she started pushing him away.

"When can we see each other again?"

"I don't know! Not soon, I've been sneaking off too often, my mother might be getting suspicious. Now go!"

Kopa gave her a quick lick before racing out of the skull they were sitting in.

Vitani frowned as he disappeared, right before her brother appeared. "What're you doing way out here?" He asked.

"Nothing, I was scouting."

"Better hope Mother doesn't find out. Come on, Kovu's night training is about to begin."

Vitani sighed. The war her mother had planned seemed to be getting closer each day. She didn't want to fight though, not if it meant fighting Kopa.

"Vitani, come on!"

The tan lion snarled at him before following.

Once he was back, safely in the Pridelands, Kopa noticed his parents heading towards the borders between the Pridelands and Outlands. Curious, Kopa followed. Catching up with his mother, he asked what was wrong.

"One of our lionesses saw Zira lurking by the border."

"Do you think she means trouble?"

"We're about to find out." Nala answered as they came upon the fallen log that led to the Outlands.

Simba frowned as he noticed Zira sitting at the edge, smiling. "Hello, Simba." She smiled.

"What do you want, Zira?"

Kopa watched as Zira sighed. "You know as well as I do that the Outlands are unbearable during the dry season."

"You lost water rights in the Pridelands years ago. You were lucky we were kind enough to allow your pride to share the water."

"One mistake."

Nala scoffed. "You broke the law, hunting near the water hole is forbidden!"

Zira growled as she continued. "Your pride was out of line. Especially your son. He attacked our royal advisor."

"I spoke with Nuka."

Simba shook his head. "No, Zira, you'll have to fend for yourself."

The tan lioness growled as she turned and walked away.

"I didn't know Zira was allowed in our land." Kopa said, turning to his parents.

"Once, a little after you were born. Zira asked for water, but she betrayed our trust." Simba explained.

"So you banished her for that? Of course she hunted, her pride was hungry." Kopa pointed out.

"Kopa," Nala said. "She killed two zebras out of sport, near the waterhole. Her son attacked Zazu and very nearly killed him. They have no respect for the Circle of Life."

"Maybe some do?" Kopa asked, hopeing to defend Vitani.

"Perhaps, but I have yet to meet them." Simba said. "Come, I think the pride has returned with a fresh meal."

Kopa frowned as he glanced over his shoulder before following his parents home.

Kiara and Kion were waiting at the bottom of Pride Rock for their parents and older brother.

"Hey, cubs, what are you doing out here?" Simba asked.

"We were waiting for you!" Kion said.

"Zazu needs to talk you." Kiara put in.

Simba sighed. "All right, where is he?"

"Right here, sir." Zazu said as he flew and landed on a rock before the royal family. "Checking in, sir, with the evening report and message from Ma Tembo."

"Let's hear it."

"The crocodile float has offered to give their source of water for when the dry season comes. They promised not to eat anyone unless necessary."

"And Ma Tembo?"

"So far three possible water supplies have been found."

The king lit up. "That's fantastic, Zazu! We'll be more then ready for the dry season."

"Yes, sir."

"All right, that's great news, now let's go celebrate with some zebra, I'm starved!"

Later that evening, Kopa was standing atop Pride Rock, looking over the kingdom that would have been his own. He had no doubt Kiara would make a wonderful queen, still-

"Kopa?"

The teen turned to see Kion standing behind him. "What are you doing out here alone?"

"Nothing."

The two sat quietly, looking over the land before Kion spoke once more. "Why didn't you want to be king?"

Kopa chuckled. "Being king isn't everything."

"But you would be loved."

Kopa frowned. "What're you talking about? Just because you're not destined to be king, it doesn't mean we won't love you. Who gave you such an idea?"

"I just thought-"

"Well, it's not true, don't ever think like that again."

"But what about Scar? He became evil because no one loved him."

"His family adored him. The only reason he became evil was because his heart was filled with hate by hyenas."

"His family still loved him?"

"Yes."

Kion smiled as he higged his older brother. "I love you, Kopa."

"I love you too, little brother. And don't you forget that."

Very sorry this is late, but I hope you guys liked it. Life has been crazy, so this was a little rushed, sorry for mistakes.

I'm not sure if I'm going to add the Lion Guard, the characters will still be here, but I don't think I'm going to make them an official guard, for instance, Kion will not have his powerful roar.

Next chapter will continue with The Lion King 2, where Kiara goes on her first hunt.