I walked into the Pridelands, the warm dirt on my feet and a cool breeze ruffling my hair. The sun was hidden behind some clouds, but it was shining in my heart. I was off to see Kopa.

I fell for him the first time we met, his strong posture and posh accent made it impossible for me to say a word to him. I was speechless.

At first, he was very frightened, which was understandable - I must've looke a mess - but he soon warmed up to me. I learnt he was Simba's son and he was off exploring his territory. He told me this land would all be his when the sun set on his father's time. He told me all about himself and his family history, about his grandfather being murdered by his greatuncle and how his father ran away from the Pridelands only to return home again and defeat Scar. I had already known the story of Scar, but with Kopa teling it Scar sounded evil and not at all heroic like Zira tells me. Once he'd told me all about himself, it was my turn.

I told him I didn't know who my parents were, how Zira had looked after me from a cub and about my younger brother Kovu was spoilt rotten. He agreed it was unfair as his little sister Kiara was spoilt too. I told him my history, although there wasn't much to tell.

Kopa took it all in his stride. I guess that was the tipping point for my crush to be turned into my heart's desire. The fact he didn't care who I was from my background, but the fact that inside I was different.

I was looking forward to this meeting particularly because I had told Zira I'd found a friend. Nuka smelt awful and had termites so I stayed away from him and Kovu was too annoying to be with. She said I would have to invite them over to meet her and the rest of the Outanders. I was going to tell Kopa the good news.

When I arrived he already looked nervous.

"What's wrong?" I asked.

Kopa squirmed. "I told mother about you and she seemed fine with it, although her whole body tensed up. She called over father and told him. He started to ask lots of questions about you very quickly to me. I answered them honestly and he growled. He told me to stay away from you and your kind."

Then he turned away and ran back to Pride Rock.

He had really hurt me. Kopa had left me all alone and told me he wasn't allowed near my kind. I ran home crying as hard as I could.

I must've got lost because I didn't seem to recognise where I was. I felt even more alone now. I collapsed on the ground and fell into a fitful sleep.

I awoke with a gentle nudging at my shoulder. It was still light and I blinked heavily as the bright light flooded into my eyes. They were a light blue and I recognised them as Kopa's.

"Kopa?" I whispered.

"Vitani, I..." he began.

"You came back for me. Does that mean you love me?"

Kopa paused for a while. "Yes." He said, finally. "I decided I disagreed with what my father was saying."

But that 'yes' was enough for me. I launched myself at him and smothered him in licks.

"I love you too, Kopa!"

I returned home that night in a brilliant mood. I felt like I could fly straight up to the clouds and hug them. Zira noticed my brilliant mood and asked me why I felt that way.

"I met Kopa again and he told me he loved me!" I breathed, hardly daring myself to say it.

"I know." Zira replied. "But watch out Vitani, he might also break your heart."

But I didn't care. I went to bed without complaining. I even let Nuka give me a lick before he went to sleep too. I didn't even think Zira's choice of words was funny or that she never entered the cave that night.

I woke up in the middle of the night to see Zira and her lionesses crowding around her. She had blood on her teeth and claws and was telling the group about her kill. I didn't catch what she had killed but she called it 'a major step forward'. I fell asleep soon after that to the rhythmic growls coming from the corner of the cave.

Next morning I set out to see Kopa again. I walked to our usual meeting place and wainting there for a long time, but Kopa never arrived. He had never been late before let alone missed our meeting altogether! I knew something was wrong.

I headed up to Pride Rock, but as soon as I neared it I knew something was wrong. No birds were singing, no insects were buzzing and not an animal was sturring in the grass.

I had almost reached the bottom of Pride Rock when out of nowhere a lioness came and blocked my way forward.

"Why can't I go forward?" I asked.

"You and your kind were banished from these lands sevral years ago." she growled. "You have broken the law and therefore you must die!"

I cried out as the lioness leapt at me.

"I promise you I haven't done anything wrong. When was I banished? Why was I banished?"

"You liar!" roared the lioness. "You were banished for treason against the true King by aiding Scar!"

"I never..." but I didn't get to finish my sentence.

"Ngoma, stand down." said a rough voice.

I glanced up and saw Simba atop Pride Rock. He didn't look like anything Zira had told me. She had said he was a weak lion who only overpowered Scar by treachery. Simba actually looked quite powerful, yet gentle in a weird way.

"Simba. I had no idea that what I was doing was wrong."

Simba walked down to meet me, saying as he went "I know. You are just a cub, but now you know to stay in the Outlands."

I was relieved Simba believed me. "Kopa never mentioned I shouldn't have been in the Pridelands!"

Simba's kind face suddenly turned very angry.

"It was you! It was your fault!"

"Simba!" I exclaimed. "What was my fault? I was his friend!"

"You killed him! You... killed..." he slumped to the floor and began to cry.

"Kopa? He's dead?" Tears came to my eyes and slid down my face as I came to join Simba.

We stayed together for a while whilst Ngoma turned and padded away, understanding we needed some privacy.

"Simba?" I asked, wanting to know more about Kopa. "How did he die?"

A final tear slid down Simba's cheek as he said "I woke up in the night to a terrible cry. Kopa wasn't beside me, but neither was Nala. I went to see what the sound was and that was when I saw Kopa lying on the ground covered in blood and a lioness running away, laughing."

He paused.

"I went over to his body, but I sensed he was already gone. I left him there for him to complete his duty and fulfil the circle of life."

I left soon after and I vowed I would never enter the Pridelands again. Simba's story had haunted me. I wanted to know who his attacker was. I remembered Zira covered in blood. Was it her? Or was it Nala? She wasn't there when Simba awoke and Zira also told me she had a spark of evil seen in her eyes.

I was confused and I wanted answers!

I confronted Zira as soon as I arrived.

"What did you do last night?"

"What do you mean? I was here all night!" Zira said, slyly.

"I saw you with blood on your claws and your muzzle and you were happy."

"Oh, I went hunting and it was successful. I actually found an animal for once."

That story made sense. Animals were rarely seen in the Outlands. I decided to tell Zira about Kopa.

"Kopa was killed last night."

Zira's eyebrows raised. "Was he? Poor Simba."

I told Zira what Simba had told me.

"I bet it was Nala, Vitani." Zira said. "She always wanted a daughter and Kopa would spend hardly any time with her."

As I grew up, the hole in my heart that had belonged to Kopa had been filled by hatred towards Nala. I trained hard on how to kill Nala and avenge Kopa's death. Kovu was always Zira's favourite, but I felt I was being left out more than usual. He was the chosen one to kill Simba and avenge the death of Scar, but I also felt like the chosen one in my own way.

When the final battle came I scanned the scene for Nala. Once I'd seen her I went for the attack. I put my heart and soul into that fight. I let out all the feelings that had been building up inside me and it fueled my attack.

Once the fighting had stopped, I realised how blind I was. Everyone was the same. Nala couldn't have killed Kopa without having killed part of herself. I was the first to join Kovu and Kiara. It felt right.

Then everyone followed me. I guess they felt the same as I did.

But Zira didn't come. She leapt at Simba and Kiara took her down. I was frozen in horror. When Kiara came up alone, I realised Zira had died. I know she wasn't my mother, but I still felt that sort of connection to her as she had cared for me since I was small.

I stayed at the edge of that cliff for a long time everyone had gone.

I made it back to Pride Rock for the joing of Kovu and Kiara, but I couldn't stay to watch. I felt jealous of Kovu that he had found the love of his life, yet she is still with him. I had found the love of my life, yet he was gone.

I walked down to the waterhole and collapsed on its shore. I stared at my reflection thinking about Kopa and all the good times we had together when another reflection came beside mine.

I stared at the water. The other reflection was of a lion's head that looked like it had been in a terrible battle - it was so scarred. Then I noticed the light blue eyes. I only knew one lion who had eyes that colour.

"Kopa!" I yelled!

I launched myself at his head and we went rolling around the floor. I covered his face with licks and he purred.

"I've missed you!" we said together.