Suddenly as Zira lunged at Simba she yelled NOW! Loud enough it could be heard by Nuka.
"Now it's time. Lionesses you and Tani go and aid mother, I'll deal with the brat," Nuka said.
Kopa backed into a corner of the lair trying to hide from Nuka. Vitani stopped for a moment and looked back at Kopa, feeling a bit guilty for what was about to happen to him.
Above on pride rock, Simba pinned Zira to the ground, as little Kovu tried to run to his mother not knowing what was happening. Sarabi trying to cool things down ran over and grabbed Kovu.
"No little one, it's okay," Sarabi said.
Simba heard his mothers voice and he looked up at her in shame. As the anger in his eyes went away as he saw Nala standing beside her.
"Zira you are out of line. I need you and your pride to go home. I will have further consequences after reviewing the law of my father with Rafiki," Simba said as Zira squirmed trying to get free from his pin.
Simba could see the fear in Kovu's eyes but then he looked down below the peak and saw the smile of two lionesses that were loyal to Zira. Simba remembered that his mother was supposedly watching Kopa.
In the lair Nuka swiped and clawed at Kopa who was running for his life. Kopa's little claws scratched Nuka a couple of times in the process.
"Hold still little bug," Nuka said angrily.
"Stop please, Nuka. Your better then this," Kopa pleaded as he dodged another swipe.
Out of the corner of his eye Kopa saw an opening in the lair. He found his Way out. Suddenly that opening he saw was filled with a single flaming branch.
Nuka saw the flame too, and thought he that he had forgotten part of the plan. He quickly acted natural while still trying to pin Kopa down to kill him.
The room quickly began to fill with smoke but no smoke exited the lair to be seen by the animals outside. Kopa and Nuka both coughed. But out of nowhere Nuka slapped Kopa's head knocking him down and making him dazed. Nuka grabbed him and threw him out of the opening in the wall where the flame had come from. Nuka jumped through as well only to find Kopa laying there motionless.
Suddenly, Mbali the cheetah appeared in the brush beside pride rock.
"Who are you?" Nuka asked.
"Your mother bargained for me to be here, in case something went array. I'm going to take the cub far away," Mbali said.
"My mother didn't believe in me?" Nuka said as he felt crushed his mother would do such a thing.
Nuka helped put Kopa on Mbali's back and she took off as fast as she could away from pride rock. Just as Simba started calling for Kopa from pride rocks peak.
"Kopa!" Simba cried out as the leaders were now concerned about the young prince. Simba released Zira from the pin as Zira looked at Nala with hatred in her eyes. As Nala began to worry for her son.
Simba ran to the lair as he saw the room billowing with smoke. His worst fear was unfolding before his eyes.
"Kopa!" Simba yelled as he rushed through the vines pushing Nuka out of the way. Zazu flew in behind him as Nala was behind them. Sings frantically called for his son then he saw in the water of the lair a figure laying in the pool.
"Kopa," Simba screamed as he coughed from the smoke still in the lair. He grabbed what he thought was Kopa, but turned out to be a different cub, the son of one of the lionesses loyal to Zira.
Simba was enraged as he couldn't find Kopa. He saw the opening in the wall. And he commanded that Zazu fly through and see if he could find Kopa. Zazu looked for a long time as Simba caught a collapsing Nala.
"Nooooo! My son!" Nala screamed in agony realizing that her son was gone.
Simba helped her out of the lair. As he walked the first animal he saw was Nuka. Simba slapped him in the face in anger.
"Go to hell Nuka!" Simba said.
"You see he's not fit to carry the burden of the throne. He even attacks my son," Zira taunted. But she quickly realized the animals were on Simba's side. Simba helped Nala to Sarabi as both were laced in grief.
Simba climbed up the peak overlooking the leaders.
"Pride landers! I motion to have Zira and her family exiled. From all of the pride lands because of the death of my son Kopa! And if they ever return to the pride lands, the penalty will be death!" Simba roared.
"Granted your highness! Amanefu said.
Zira was in shock. But for a moment of remorse and a sense of almost humanity came upon her.
"But what about my cubs, Kovu and Vitani are very young," Zira pleaded.
"I don't care about your cubs, just like you didn't care about mine. An eye for an eye," Simba replied still furious.
"Sire. I must remind you that if a murderer is found within the pride or it's allied prides. The cubs should be deemed innocent," Zazu whispered.
"I don't care. My judgment is final," Simba said sitting down at the peak shedding a tear for Kopa.
"Your majesty, we can level punishment on this pride of lions later, you need to mourn that which you've lost," Amanefu said.
"Thank you Amanefu. And pride landers I will mourn. But a month from now I will hold a ceremony introducing my newest born cub Kiara," Simba said.
Zira was shocked she didn't know that they had another cub. In fact only those closest to Simba and Nala did.
The animals surrounded Zira and her loyalists. As well as her kids.
"Mom, where are we going?" Vitani asked scared.
"To hell little one," Zira replied as the animal leaders escorted them out of the pride lands.
Rafiki memorialized this day on the Lair's wall. But hid the most painful detail. Simba and Nala after their mourning realized that in order to move on they had to move on without Kopa's memory. The day was remembered as the day of tears. But little did Simba know that the Cheetah he wanted to immortalize held the key to finding his prodigal.