king stated, upset that his own flesh and blood did not want to follow his pawprints as the next monarch of Pride Rock. His son nodded. "In that case, I have no choice." The king stood seriously, yet inside he was in sorrow. The young prince did the same, awaiting his father's order of judgment. "Kopa, I hereby banish you from Pride Rock. You may roam wherever you please, but you will never be allowed clearance into Pride Rock ever again."

"I understand," Kopa spoke in response of his banishment.

"Furthermore, your title of "Future King" will be stripped of you as soon as you say your goodbyes to the royal court and servants tomorrow morning, while the sun rises in the horizon." Simba continued the sentence. "And once you leave, you will go one direction and never be allowed to back to the safety of your former home. Do I make myself clear, son?"

"Yes," Kopa said with regret and a sudden gladness. He walked to his father and nuzzled with him with a grin. "Thank you for understanding me. I know it hurts you to do this to me, your own son, but I think it's best for all of us."

That next day was the day for Kopa to leave Pride Rock forever. Everyone that lived at Pride Rock was there to see him and say their goodbyes: the lionesses that helped care for him since he was born; his babysitters, Timon and Pumbaa, who both cried so much that bubbles came out of the warthog's large nostrils; Zazu spread his wings and led the others into his final bow as crown prince; and Rafiki gave him a big monkey-hug and a wack with his stick to help him remember where he came from. At last, a final farewell from the King and Queen was planned for the cliff of Pride Rock. The majestic King Simba, the still-elegant Queen Nala, and the now-former Prince Kopa all embraced and shed tears together and remained at the cliff as they watched their son roam free in the kingdom that they loved and ruled. No matter how much they missed him, they knew he could never return inside their home. Kopa remained on the royal family tree, and they never truly forgot him or understood why Kopa would leave the royal life for a common wandering lion lifestyle; however they learn to accept his fate, only able to watch him from the safety of their castle. Simba, Nala and the rest of the pride promised themselves that if they ever a second heir was born to them, they would keep a terrible secret from their young cub: the secret of their eldest son, Kopa, and the short life that he had lived in the comfort of Pride Rock.

Part Four: The Circle Continues

It had been a few months since Kopa's farewell from the throne. He knew that his parents were still upset by his choice, but this was his life and the way he wanted to live it - not closed in as a royal prince, but as free as a lion should live. He remained in the Pridelands, but he was closer to the edge of the Outlands, where his great-uncle's followers gathered, secretly plotting their revenge. He enjoyed venturing into the forbidden areas of the Outlands, learning from the lions that he had befriended months ago. He learned of their leader, Zira, and was amazed by how they still worshipped Scar, although he had been dead for many months. He became companions with them, and even lived among them with the help of Zira's only son, Nuka, who was only a few months younger than himself, and the rest of Zira's pride. He knew that they could accept him because he no longer was a member of the Pride Rock lion pride, and now he too was a rogue lion; he was at last free of the hold of the royals that he had endured for his whole life.

During that time, the former prince had wooed one of the Outlander females, who happened to be one of his childhood friends. They decided to forget the event that had happened and eloped later on. They brought a young son into the world: he was of a dark shade of reddish-brown with a tiny tuft of ebony hair on his head. Unfortunately, the lioness died soon after the cub's birth, which made Kopa shed tears of both joy and sadness. He couldn't bear to keep the child, since there was no way he could make any nourishment for the cub. He loved them both, his mate and his new son, but he knew he had to let go of them. In his sadness, he left the cub that he named Kovu, based after his grandfather's brother's name, in the care of the leader of the Outlanders, raising him with with her latest cub, Vitani. After saying his goodbyes to the ones that he had come to love for the short while that he had lived nearby, he left them to their leader, never to return back to the Outlands again. Since then, the other Outlanders knew about Kovu's true heritage, but thought it best not to ever tell him. Kopa had no idea that later, his son would indeed become a future king. 

After Kopa ran away from the Outlands, he returned back towards Pride Rock. As if it were perfect timing for his final time in a long while, he was just in time for a new presentation from the royal family. All of the creatures of the Pride Lands had gathered to meet the new heir to the throne, eagerly awaiting uplifting news to lighten their spirits - especially after Kopa's dismissal from the royal court many weeks ago. The shaman Rafiki finally appeared onto the cliff's edge; the golden newborn cub on his shoulder also bore the same gourd mark on its forehead as he had at his own birth. The baboon lifted the cub towards the sky, as the great Mufasa again smiled upon his kingdom, especially his family. He then turned to Kopa, who was among the menagerie of animals looking up at the sight, and gave him a wink and a proud grin, as if he was proud of his decision of leaving Pride Rock royalty. Before disappearing, he blew a wind of blessing among all of his family, including to the young Kopa.

The presentation ended as Rafiki returned the cub back to its parents and announced to all: "It is a girl."

Kopa smiled back at the summit where his family stood. He wished he could return to them just this once and meet his new sibling, but because of his banishment, he would be chased out by the lionesses and his father, so he kept his distance from the rock's base. He turned away from the summit, ready to go on his way to a future that would be unexpected and new to the former prince. But before leaving the area of Pride Rock, never to see them again until he would make his return, he let out a roar of joy for the new heir and then said a blessing before bursting into a run through the land that was near the place that he had known as his home.

"Welcome to the world, my little sister. I only wish that I could be with you now . . . . maybe one day when the time is right. But until then, I will always be by your side as your brother."

END

------------------------way he could make any nourishment for the cub. He loved them both, his mate and his new son, but he knew he had to let go of them. In his sadness, he left the cub that he named Kovu, based after his grandfather's brother's name, in the care of the leader of the Outlanders, raising him with with her latest cub, Vitani. After saying his goodbyes to the ones that he had come to love for the short while that he had lived nearby, he left them to their leader, never to return back to the Outlands again. Since then, the other Outlanders knew about Kovu's true heritage, but thought it best not to ever tell him. Kopa had no idea that later, his son would indeed become a future king. 

Note: There are some things to point out:

- Kopa = Kovu's father?: According to a deleted scene from TLK2:SP, Kovu mentions to Zira that Scar was not his father, although he was chosen to follow in his paws (Probably by Zira?). Also, Rafiki and Mufasa both know about Kovu. I don't think they know who fathered him. (of course, it is also unknown who fathered Vitani and Nuka, but I think Scar is actually Nuka's father IMO. Maybe the Outlanders have other males?) This gave me the idea to make Kopa the father that Kovu never knew - mainly because Kovu looks so much like Scar, it's not even funny . . . and how else could he look like Scar if instead of beitood. He wished he could return to them just this once and meet his new sibling, but because of his banishment, he would be chased out by the lionesses and his father, so he kept his distance from the rock's base. He turned away from the summit, ready to go on his way to a future that would be unexpected and new to the former prince. But before leaving the area of Pride Rock, never to see them again until he would make his return, he let out a roar of joy for the new heir and then said a blessing before bursting into a run through the land that was near the place that he had known as his home.