The Lion King II: Simba's Pride (November 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 Flip Kobler and Cindy Marcus, and dated November 6, 1996.
==Synopsis==
One stormy night, Rafiki drew a painting of Scar's mate, Zira, in his tree. While doing so, he reflected on how Simba had banished her and her followers to the Outlands due to their loyalty to the late Scar. He lamented how the pride's fracture threatened to destroy the Pride Lands and deduced that they had but one hope.
The next morning, the Pride Landers gathered at Pride Rock for the presentation of Simba and Nala's daughter, Kiara.
Seasons later, Timon and Pumbaa found Kiara wandering near the Outlands and brought her back to her father. He reminded her that the Outlands were dangerous, and Zazu added that there was nothing there but a bunch of "back-stabbing, murderous" Outsiders. Simba agreed and added that he could not protect Kiara if she kept wandering off. Despite her protests, he told her to do as she was told until she was older and understood what he meant. He then left her with Timon and Pumbaa.
While babysitting Kiara, Timon and Pumbaa argued over whether grubs were better slimy or crunchy, and Kiara took advantage of their distraction to sneak away. Once on her own, she lamented how she wanted to make her own mark and be more than just Simba's daughter ("My Own Mark"). Eventually, she reached a tall cliff and began to explore a crystal cave in the cliff face. After passing through the cave, she reached the Outlands.
Meanwhile, an Outsider cub named Kovu trailed after an older Outsider lion named Nuka and attempted to persuade him to be allies. Shortly afterward, Kovu met Kiara, and the two cubs escaped a float of crocodiles and became friends. Before long, Simba and Zira arrived, and Zira challenged Simba to kill Kovu. Simba ordered the Outsiders to leave, and the lions parted ways.
Once back in the Pride Lands, Simba chastised Kiara for having put herself in danger and reminded her that she was part of the Circle of Life, to which she protested that she did not want to be queen. Meanwhile, Zira berated Kovu for having befriended Kiara, during which she realized that she could use their friendship to her advantage.
Seasons later, Rafiki was drawing in his tree when Mufasa's spirit caused pigment dust to form a broken circle around Rafiki's paintings of Kovu and Kiara.
On the day of Kiara's first solo hunt, Rafiki encouraged Simba to let her hunt on her own, as it was her rite of passage into adulthood. Meanwhile, Zira admired a fully grown Kovu and declared that he was ready.
Later, Kiara attempted to sneak up on Kovu, only for him to sense her approach. The two briefly bonded over a shared sense of their destinies being mapped out for them, but Kovu deflected that they all had a duty. Kiara asserted that she had to be on her own to make her mark, to which Kovu retorted that she could never survive on her own.
Over time, Kovu and Kiara grew closer. Though Simba remained suspicious of Kovu, he softened when he watched Kovu snuggling with some of the pride's cubs.
Eventually, Simba accepted the Outsiders into his pride, and Kovu and Kiara became mates.
==Appearances==
==Gallery==
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Category:Concepts
Category:Drafts
Category:Real world