Zuka Zama Part II: The Scourge of Kopa | The Lion Guard

28. According to Plan

Kupotea took deep breaths once he broke away from Changamoto once again. The fight was going on much longer than he expected it to. And Changa was not letting up at all. She was determined to protect the lion she cared about so much. 

"Come on, Changa! There's a whole war over there and here are fighting too. Come on. You can help me stop this", Kupo offered. The hyena did stop and seemed to think about it. 

"Kupo. I'm trying to tell you. This war was started as much by me as by Kopa. We're not doing this out of some kind of evil. We're doing this to  help them. You were an Outlander, too. Don't you remember all the times you went hungry or the ones who died around you?"

"I remember you never lived in the Outlands", Kupo pointed out. 

"But when I got there I saw the pain and death all around. Kopa and I took the action that no one else would", Changa argued. "And I won't let you stop it!" She threw herself at the jackal. Kupo gasped in surprise and on reflex swiped his paw. Changa pinned Kupo to the ground and looked to her shoulder that was now bleeding from the inflicted wound. The jackal did not mean to hurt the hyena like that and laid stunned on the ground. Changa herself stood there as well. Footsteps were heard that got the attention of both the jackal and hyena. There Kopa himself loomed over the two smaller mammals. There no words exchanged between the three of them for a solid 10 seconds. 

"Kopa I-", she started but was interrupted by the simple wave of his paw. Knowing the gesture she moved to the side. 

Kupotea scrambled to his feet and rose to challenge the lion. "Alright, Kopa. I'm ending this right here and now!" The jackal steeled himself and jumped at the lion. Kopa just watched the jackal throw himself at him. Once the jackal came close enough, in one swift motion the lion extended his paw and smacked the jackal to the ground. 

"Kupo!", Changa cried out as the jackal's body  fell limp to the ground. 

"He'll be fine", Kopa said, watching Changa gingerly walk over the jackal. As he said Kupo was indeed just knocked out. 

"Kopa! Kopa!", the insufferable voice of Zira had now gotten his attention. He left the hyena behind to he what was the matter. Changamoto stood there over Kupo and simply looked at him. 

Kopa returned to the waiting lioness but she was not alone. Behind her was Vitani that instantly caught the lion's attention. 

"Vitani....Is she alright?", Kopa asked, rushing to the two lioness. He could see the pain on her face from walking the distance here. "What happened?"

"What happened is that we are losing! This plan of yours is falling to ruin!", Zira scowled. 

"Hmmm...", Kopa mused to himself. "I knew that the Pride Lands would push through us. But don't worry. I have something that can end them all in an instant."

Zira looked on at the lion with confusion. It seemed Kopa was talking more to himself than to Zira. 

"Then it is time I take on the front lines", Kopa said with determination. 

Bunga, Kion and Kovu weaved through the ranks and dodged fighting with the goal of finding the king. It was time that they took the fight to Kopa himself. Soon he was in sight. 

"Dad!", Kion called to his father who turned to him. 

"The Outlanders are pushed farther than ever if we're gonna end this we have to do it now!", Kovu explained. 

"We're gonna get rid of all these Outlanders by taking the fight to them! We gotta take out that Kopa!", Bunga rallied. 

Simba nodded in agreement. The task now was to meet the one who orchestrated it all. The King, Queen, Princess, and Prince all stood together to lead the charge. Each of them were determined to stop this war for their own reasons. For Simba it was to put the Outlanders back where they came from. For Nala it was to protect her family. For Kiara and Kovu it was to ensure the land they would inherit would be in peace. For Kion it was to protect the Pride Lands itself and all who lived there. And for Kion's mate Bunga it was to ensure that everything and everyone he loved would not be taken from him as it was before. 

With all their determination, resolve and strength the royal family prepared to end this once and for all. 

But Kopa himself was steeling himself as well. He was aware that their army of malnourished hyenas and jackals would stand no chance against the whole of the Pride Lands. But none of that mattered. He had all that they need now. He looked to his shoulder that carried the mark of the Roar. Even though he never used it before he could feel the power of it coursing through his veins. In that moment he heard the voice of Scar once again. It is time.