The Lion King II: Simba's Pride (January 1996 draft)

The Lion King II: Simba's Pride is an early treatment for what would become the film of the same name. It was written by Jenny Wingfield and dated March 1, 1996.
==Synopsis==
One day, Simba anxiously awaited the birth of his cub. Before long, Nala and Rafiki emerged from Pride Rock with the newborn. To Simba's shock, Rafiki declared that the cub was a girl. He then carried the infant to the promontory of Pride Rock and presented her to the gathered Pride Landers. Later, Nala sang a lullaby to her infant daughter and asked Simba if he was disappointed that he had not had a son.
Seasons later, when Shani was a young cub, Timon and Pumbaa babysat her while eating grubs. However, while they were distracted, Shani chased a butterfly away from them.
Meanwhile, Bianca plotted with Banzai and Shenzi to kill Shani so as to weaken Simba.
Shortly before Shani's first hunt, Simba worried over her safety, but Zazu reminded him that this was her initiation into adulthood and that he should not ruin it for her. Simba reluctantly accepted Zazu's words, and Zazu reminded him that the greatest gift he could give his daughter was the chance to do things on her own. Shortly afterward, Nala and the lionesses saw Shani off on her first hunt.
Later, Kovu informed Bianca that he was planning to leave her out of commitment to Shani. Enraged, Bianca reminded Kovu of everything that Simba had done to their family, but Kovu retorted that their prides' historical strife did not involve him and Shani.
News of Kovu and Shani's engagement spread throughout the Pride Lands. When Shenzi, Banzai, and Ed caught wind of this, they reported what they had heard to Bianca in the Elephant Graveyard. Bianca lashed out and disclosed her plan to kill Simba and Shani after the wedding, although Shenzi questioned how living in the Pride Lands would be possible if they killed Kovu's new family.
One night, Simba encountered the spirit of his father, Mufasa, in a dream, during which he lamented his daughter's relationship with Kovu and asserted that Scar had won from the grave. Mufasa retorted that Simba had defeated himself, for he lived beneath a shadow that was no longer there. Simba argued that the shadow remained, but Mufasa countered that it would only remain as long as Simba held on to it and chastised Simba for letting his family break apart and, in doing so, letting the Circle of Life break apart.
Later, Kovu and Shani broke off their romance, and Shani fled into the jungle. Binti asked Kovu why he would let Shani go, and he answered that it was either that or losing her. That night, Bianca and her army of hyenas assembled and invaded the Pride Lands, unaware that Shani had witnessed the event.
Finally, Rafiki married Zazu and Binti at Pride Rock, while their friends watched happily.
==Appearances==
==Gallery==
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Category:Concepts
Category:Drafts
Category:Real world