Nala (The Lion King)/Synopsis

The story of Nala from Disney's The Lion King franchise.
==History==
===Background===
Nala was born at Pride Rock in The Pride Lands into the Pridelander pride to Sarafina and an unknown lion. At some point before or shortly after Nala's birth, her father died or left The Pride Lands, leaving Sarafina to raise Nala alone. 
At some point after Nala's birth, she was betrothed to Simba, the son of the Pride Lands' rulers King Mufasa and Queen Sarabi.
== Films and Television ==
=== The Lion King ===
 Nala is first seen early one morning as a cub briefly with her mother Sarafina and the rest of the pride sleeping inside Pride Rock when Simba comes in to wake up Mufasa. 
She is then seen later that day getting a bath from her mother when Simba arrives and asks her to come with him to a cool place but when Sarabi asks where the cool place is, he says it is at the waterhole. Nala asks what is so good about the waterhole to which Simba quietly says that he will show her when they get there. The two cubs are given permission by Sarabi to go, as long as the royal family's majordomo Zazu goes with them much to the cubs' dismay. As the trio get nearer to the waterhole, Nala asks Simba where they are really going and Simba replies that it is an Elephant Graveyard much to Nala’s excitement. Knowing Zazu won't take them there however, the two cubs think of a way to get away from him. While whispering to each other, Zazu mistakenly believes they are flirting, and thinks this works perfectly, explaining to them how they are betrothed and will be married one day. Nala and Simba both find this disgusting, since marrying their best friend would be "too weird". When Simba vowed to change that law and remove their betrothment when he was king, and he and Zazu began arguing over it, Nala supports Simba by saying he was the "future king", meaning Zazu needs to do what he tells him. The cubs then enacted their plan to ditch Zazu by singing "I Just Can't Wait To Be King" to distract him, with the two taunting him and making fun of him as they sang together, and running through several animal herds while he chased them, resulting in Zazu getting trapped underneath a rhinoceros.
After the song, Simba and Nala are able to escape Zazu, and the two celebrate their success, with Nala happily remarking that they lost him. But, after Simba arrogantly calls himself a "genius", Nala stops and glares at him in annoyance for trying to take all the credit for himself and they begin arguing over who came up with the idea and deserves credit. Nala counters every argument Simba makes, pointing out it was her idea and he only pulled it off with her. Eventually, Simba gives Nala a devious smirk and remarks "Oh yeah?" slyly before he suddenly pounces on her with a tiny roar, intending to make her admit he deserves credit. But she easily flips him over, and with a triumphant "Ha!" quickly slams him down with a small thump, pinning him. As he looks up at her in complete shock over what just happened, unable to say anything, she playfully chuckles at him as she holds him down and teases him "Pinned ya" for his loss with a bright smile. Simba, finally overcoming his shock, rudely tells her to let him up and pushes her off him in embarrassment, and Nala turns away as he glares bitterly at her, holding her head high victoriously with a satisfied smug look, feeling proud of herself for her victory against Simba. Simba however, seeing she's distracted, pounces on her again from behind while she's not paying attention to get revenge, but accidentally sends them both tumbling down a nearby hill. As the cubs tumble down the hill together, Nala laughs the whole way down while Simba struggles to stay on top of her, and right as they reach the bottom with Simba seemingly on top, Nala once again flips and pins Simba in the same position they were in before, slamming him down on his back with another small thump, a bit more forcefully than previously. Smirking down at Simba, Nala rubs her victory in his face by bragging "Pinned ya again", with her smirk and tone of voice towards him much more smug and superior than her previous friendly and playful one, while Simba is only able to glare at Nala in defeat as she taunts him and holds him down. A nearby steam geyser interrupts them and their squabble as the hiss from it startles them, and they both realize they have stumbled into the Elephant Graveyard, where they are pursued by the hyenas (Shenzi, Banzai, and Ed). As they climb up a pile of bones to escape the hyenas, Nala loses her footing and starts to slide down towards Shenzi. Nala calls out to Simba, who rushes down and scratches Shenzi in the face, giving himself and Nala time to escape. The two of them are eventually cornered but are saved just in time by Mufasa (who had been told of what was happening by Zazu). Mufasa scolds Simba for deliberately disobeying his orders to not got The Elephant Graveyard before leading them back to The Pride Lands. As they follow Mufasa, Nala in an attempt to comfort Simba quietly tells him that she thought he was very brave. 
After returning to The Pride Lands, Mufasa has Zazu take Nala back to Pride Rock while he stays behind to deal with Simba. As Zazu leads her away, Nala looks back sadly at Simba. She is last seen as a cub the following night mourning along with her mother, Sarabi, and the other lionesses after being told by Simba's uncle Scar that Mufasa and Simba died in a wildebeest stampede and watches in horror as Scar becomes king and allows the hyenas into the Pride Lands.
 A few years later, a now young adult Nala travels far from the Pride Lands and tries to hunt a warthog named Pumbaa, who spots her and runs away. Nala chases after Pumbaa into the jungle and the latter gets stuck under a tree root and his meerkat friend Timon tries to protect him. Just as Nala closes in on them, a young male lion comes to their defense and attacks Nala. Nala pauses in brief shock at the sudden arrival of another lion, and is tackled and briefly held down by the male lion before regaining focus and quickly breaking free from his grasp. The two engage in a fierce brief fight, with Nala clawing at the male lion’s mane and shoulders and both lions grappling and biting at each other, until Nala wins by flipping the lion when he attempts to tackle her again and violently slamming him down with a loud thump, pinning him. Nala holds down her defeated enemy while growling and glaring at him angrily, practically nose to nose with him as he looks up at her helplessly, but the lion’s anger was replaced with shock and wonder. The shocked lion then says Nala's name, much to her surprise, and she gets off him, allowing him to stand. When Nala questions the lion on who he is, he tells her that he is Simba. Nala is overjoyed to see that her friend is alive and learns that Timon and Pumbaa are Simba's friends. Nala then wonders what Sarabi and the rest of the pride would think about Simba being in the jungle all this time. Simba replies that nobody has to know to which Nala replies that everyone thinks he is dead as Scar had told the pride about the stampede. When Simba asks what else Scar told them, Nala insists that nothing else matters as Simba is alive and that means that he is the king. Simba replies that he is not the king, and attempts to deny any right to claim the throne. Nala asks Timon and Pumbaa to give her and Simba time to themselves to which they agree.
After Timon and Pumbaa leave, Simba notices Nala looking sad and asks what's wrong. Nala replies that it's like Simba is back from the dead and tells Simba that he doesn't know what this will mean to everyone, let alone what it means to her. When Simba reassures her, Nala says that she has really missed Simba before nuzzling him affectionately. Simba replies that he missed Nala too and nuzzles back.
The two young lions then travel through the jungle and begin to fall in love. While drinking by a lake together, Nala notices Simba smiling slyly at her, before he suddenly runs off behind her while she watches in confusion. Simba suddenly swings into the lake on a vine and Nala looks over the still water of the lake trying to find him. Suddenly, Simba lunges out of the lake right underneath Nala, grabbing her around the neck and pulling her into the water with him. Nala immediately resurfaces gasping for air as Simba watches her with a smile and pulls herself out of the water as fast as she can, soaking wet, shivering cold, and having a terrified expression. Simba soon comes out next to her and gives her a goofy smile, dripping wet too with his soaked mane covering his face, and she smirks at him in amusement over his prank and ridiculous appearance, before jokingly shoving him back in as revenge and running off. Simba gets out quickly and playfully chases after Nala, with the two running across an open field and back into the jungle, where she lets him catch up to her and they begin to playfully wrestle like when they were cubs, standing on two legs and grappling each other happily. While wrestling, Nala falls backwards with Simba on top of her and they roll down a hill together. They hold on to each other as they tumble down, rolling on top of each other in the process until they reach the bottom, resulting in Simba landing on top of Nala, winning their playful little wrestling match and finally pinning her. As Simba chuckles to himself over finally “beating” Nala, she surprises him by giving him an affectionate lick on the cheek as a reward for finally successfully pinning her. 
Simba is surprised by this and glances down at Nala, but she just smiles up at him and gives him a seductive stare as he lays on top of her. Simba quickly returns the smile, understanding Nala's intent, and the two lean forward while gazing into each other's eyes and hug, embracing their love for each other as they nuzzle. Later, Nala urges Simba to return to Pride Rock, telling him about Scar letting the hyenas into the Pride Lands and there is no food or water. However, Simba refuses and storms off. The next morning, Nala comes across a sleeping Timon and Pumbaa and wakes them up and asks if they've seen Simba. Just then, Rafiki arrives and tells them that "the King has returned", causing Nala to realize that Simba decided to return to Pride Rock. When Timon and Pumbaa express confusion over what Rafiki meant, Nala gives them an explanation.
Nala along with Timon and Pumbaa follow Simba back to the Pride Lands and offer to help him. Whilst Timon and Pumbaa distract the hyenas, Simba tells Nala to find Sarabi and rally the lionesses whilst he looks for Scar.
Nala is later seen during Simba confronting his uncle, rallying Pride Rock's lionesses. She along with Sarabi are shocked when Simba claims that it was his fault that Mufasa died. Nala then calls out to Simba in horror as he is forced down Pride Rock by Scar too horrified by the lies to try and save him. After Scar confesses that it was he, not Simba, that caused Mufasa's death, Nala, Sarabi, and the other lionesses are reinvigorated and charge forward to save Simba from being attacked by the hyenas. During the battle, Nala fights off the hyenas with the lionesses, Timon, Pumbaa, and Rafiki whilst Simba takes on Scar. After Scar's death and the hyenas have gone, Nala approaches Simba and they affectionately rub heads. Afterwards, Nala, Sarabi, Zazu, Timon, Pumbaa, and Rafiki watch Simba ascend Pride Rock and roar in victory signaling the end of Scar's misrule and the return to balance for the Circle of Life.
She finally appears during the final scene with Simba (now her mate), Timon and Pumbaa where her and Simba's newborn cub is shown to the other animals by Rafiki.
====The Lion King 2: Simba's Pride====
 Nala is given a slightly minor role. Now a mature adult and is queen of Pride Rock. 
She is first seen at the start of the film, climbing up Pride Rock with Simba and carrying their infant daughter Kiara, who is to be presented to the animals of the Pride Lands. They approach Rafiki, who gently takes Kiara from Nala and raises her into the air for the animals and Mufasa's spirit to see. Afterwards, Rafiki lowers Kiara down and places a marking on her forehead. Nala then walks over and affectionately rubs heads with Kiara. 
One day a few months later, Nala sees an overprotective Simba telling Kiara to be careful when out playing. Nala approaches and jokingly tells Kiara to mind Simba, to which Kiara says she will. Nala then watches as Simba and Zazu tell Kiara to stay away from the Outlands, which is home to a Pride of lions called the Outsiders (who were banished by Simba for their loyalty to Scar), whom Simba says to never turn your back on. After Kiara leaves, Nala playfully teases Simba by pointing out that Kiara is just like him when he was young. Simba confirms this and speaks of the dangers they put themselves in. Nala then playfully pins Simba down and says that he means the dangers he put them in. Nala then affectionately nuzzles Simba and tells him that Kiara will be fine on her own but after Nala leaves, Simba sends Timon and Pumbaa to keep an eye on Kiara. 
Nala later appears with Timon, Pumbaa and two other lionesses where they along with Simba go off to find Kiara and find her with an Outsider cub named Kovu (who was chosen by Scar to be his heir) and his mother and the Outsiders leader Zira. Nala and Zira briefly address each other before Simba orders Zira and Kovu to leave. After Zira and Kovu leave to return to the Outlands, Nala, her family and the others also leave return to Pride Rock. On their way back home, Simba stops with Kiara. Nala notices this and calls out to Simba, who clears his throat, signaling to Nala to gone on ahead with the others back to Pride Rock while he stays behind to talk with Kiara. Nala gives Simba an understanding smile and then leaves with the others.
Nala is next seen a few years later when Kiara (now an adolescent) is preparing to go on her first hunt. Nala gives Kiara a reassuring hug and tells her she will do just fine, to which Kiara smiles to her. After Simba spots a fire (which had been set by Zira's daughter Vitani and other son Nuka) near where Kiara is hunting, Nala goes with him and finds Kiara with another lion who is revealed to be Kovu, who had saved her from the fire (secretly under Zira's orders in order to infiltrate the Pridelanders and kill Simba to avenge Scar's death). Nala and Zazu convince Simba to let Kovu join the Pridelanders due to laws saying that all depts must be paid. That night, Nala is seen sleeping next to Simba as he has a bad dream about Mufasa's death. The following night, Nala finds Simba watching Kiara and Kovu stargazing and tells him to give Kovu a chance.
The next day, she along with Kiara, is seen on Pride Rock standing next to Simba who was injured in an ambush set on him by Zira and the Outsiders. Nala then sees Kovu arrive and watches Kiara go over to greet him, only to be stopped by Simba, who believes that Kovu was part of the ambush. She then watches Kiara try and fail to convince Simba to listen to Kovu and looks sadly down at him as Simba confronts him. When Simba chooses to exile Kovu from The Pride Lands, Nala expresses shock at her husband's decision but unlike Kiara, she remains silent and doesn't actively protest against the punishment (perhaps believing that there was nothing she could do and that Simba would not listen to her) and watches as Kiara leaves her side to try and intervene, only to be stopped by some of the other lionesses, who have taken Simba's side. Nala is not present with the other lionesses when Kiara confronts Simba for his decision before running into Pride Rock, presumably going to another part of Pride Rock to leave the two be, believing it was not her place to involved. Nala's reaction to Kiara running away from Pride Rock (having left to find Kovu) is not seen, but it is very likely that unlike Simba, who reacted in anger, she would have been saddened.
Nala later appears during the battle between the Pridelanders and the Outsiders, which she easily defeats Vitani, who taunts her over Kiara's disappearance, before Kiara and Kovu soon arrive and put the battle to an end and convince the Outsiders (sans Zira) to join the Pridelanders. Nala then watches in horror as Kiara tackles Zira (who had tried to attack Simba), sending them off a nearby cliff. Nala watches Simba climb down the cliff to reach Kiara, who is trying to help Zira. Nala then notices a nearby damn burst and warns Simba as he tries to get to Kiara. After Simba helps Kiara back up the cliff, Nala is the first one to meet her and the mother and daughter hug. Nala is later seen watching roaring happily with Simba, Kiara, Kovu (now Kiara's mate) and the other lionesses when Mufasa's ghost points out, "We are one".
====The Lion King ½====
Nala is seen briefly as a cub during "I Just Can't Wait To Be King" on top of the animal tower before it is knocked down by Timon.
Nala is next seen as a young adult reuniting with Simba as Timon and Pumbaa watch on. Not wanting to lose Simba, Timon and Pumbaa try to split him and Nala up during the "Can You Feel The Love Tonight" scene, only to accidentally make things even more romantic for the two of them. Later, Timon and Pumbaa see Simba storming off from Nala and believe that their plan worked, unaware that they had an argument.
Nala is later seen giving Timon and Pumbaa a further explanation into where Simba went. She then tells them that Simba needs them now, before leaving.
====The Lion Guard====
 Nala appears in the 2016 Disney Junior TV series The Lion Guard. It is set in the middle of The Lion King II: Simba's Pride and sees Nala and Simba having another cub together, a son named Kion.
Nala is first seen in the series's 2015 pilot film The Lion Guard: Return of the Roar with Simba and Rafiki at Pride Rock overhearing Kion's Roar of the Elders (which he had used to save his friend Bunga from two hyenas named Cheezi and Chungu). Hearing this, Rafiki declares that it is time for Kion to become leader of The Lion Guard (which is led by the second-born child of The Lion King). Simba is reluctant as he believes that Kion isn't ready for that responsibility as he is still a cub, but Nala agrees with Rafiki and encourages Simba to listen to him, before leaving the two be.
She is later seen with Simba and Kiara's friend Tiifu witnessing and watching in horror as Kiara gets caught in a gazelle stampede caused by Janja and his clan. Luckily, Kion and his Lion Guard (Bunga, Beshte, Fuli and Ono) are able to get the herd away from Kiara and get her to safety.
After Janja and his clan are driven away, Nala and Simba are shown to be proud of their son.
Nala makes recurring appearances throughout the series carrying out her royal duties and supporting her children.
In the Season 3 opener "Battle of the Pride Lands", Nala along with Simba and Kiara, becomes trapped on Pride Rock after it is set on fire by Outlanders that are in league with the spirit of Scar. Fortunately, Anga and Hadithi are able to help the trio escape. After the defeat of Scar and his army, Nala, Simba and Kiara go to the Lair of the Lion Guard and see that Kion had gained a scar from Scar's snake ally Ushari whilst Ono has damaged sight after saving Bunga from falling into the Outlands volcano. Nala along with the other Pride Land animals wish Kion and the Lion Guard along with Anga (who replaced Ono as Keenest of Sight) and Makini good luck on their journey to the Tree of Life where Kion and Ono can be healed.
Nala returns in the Season 3 finale "Return to the Pride Lands" (which takes place after The Lion King II: Simba's Pride) where she and Simba greet Kion after he and the Guard return from The Tree of Life and tell him what had been happening in The Pride Lands whilst he and The Lion Guard were away (e.g. how the Outsiders joined the Pridelander's pride) and how Kiara and Kovu would one day be the next rulers of The Pride Lands. She along with Simba, Kion, Kiara and Kovu are later seen at Pride Rock talking with Mufasa's spirit. She later watches Kion's Lion Guard and Vitani's Lion Guard (who were formed in the usual Guard's absence) compete to decide who should be the Lion Guard for The Pride Lands. When it comes down to Kion and Vitani, Kion disbands his Lion Guard and makes Vitani his successor after seeing that she believes herself to be fierce among to lead the Lion Guard. Nala later goes to the Tree of Life with Simba, Kiara and Kovu and witnesses the wedding and coronation of Kion and Rani.
== Other Media ==
===Books===
====The Lion King: Six New Adventures====
In 1994 six books called The Lion King: Six New Adventures (which are non-canon to the films and TV shows) where released and set after the events of the first film where it showed Nala along with Simba having a son named Kopa.
One book in the series was called Nala's Dare and featured Nala as a cub living in the Pride Lands during Scar's reign and had two friends, two cubs named Kula and Chumvi. In the book, Nala is saved from hyenas by a young rogue lion named Ni, who is offered a place in the Pridelander pride, but turns the offer down to start his own pride.
====Simba's Big Secret====
In this book (which takes place during Nala and Simba's childhood), Nala sees a mouse and tells him that she is scared of mice, but asks him not to tell anyone, to which Simba promises. However, later Simba accidentally tells this to Mufasa, who replies that he used be scared on mice too. Nala overhears this and is annoyed at Simba for breaking his promise, but forgives him though does not tell him anymore secrets.
Nala later tells Simba about a secret cave near the red cliffs, but refuses to let Simba come with her to it, but makes him promise not to tell anyone else about it. Later that day, Nala has not returned and Sarafina starts to get worried and asks Simba if he's seen Nala, but Simba, still wanting to keep his promise, says that he hasn't.
However after some encouraging from Sarabi, Simba tells Sarafina that Nala went to a cave near the red cliffs. The pride go to the cave discover a Nala trapped inside. Luckily, the pride are able to free her, and Nala reunites with Sarafina and promises not to go anywhere without telling someone again.
===Musical===
Nala is given a larger role unlike in the movie. She is first seen as a cub with Sarafina, Sarabi and the other lionesses hunting before Simba arrives and invites her to come to The Elephant Graveyard with him. She and Simba are later attacked by hyenas before being saved by Mufasa, who sends Nala back to Pride Rock with Zazu whilst he talks to Simba. She along with the other lionesses mourn Mufasa and Simba after Scar says that they both perished in a wildebeest stampede before becoming King and letting the hyenas into The Pride Lands. 
Nala next appears as a young adult in the Act II scene "The Madness of King Scar", entering the royal den, where Scar, attracted by Nala's beauty, tries to get her to marry him and be mother of his children. Disgusted by this, Nala slaps Scar across the face and leaves the royal den (this scene was originally supposed to happen in the film, but was cut for being too dark). Following this, Nala decides to leave the Pride Lands to find help and is given a send off by the other lionesses and Rafiki (who in the musical, is portrayed as female).
She finds an alive and well Simba living in the jungle with Timon and Pumbaa and begins to develop romantic and for him vice versa. Nala later tells Simba about what Scar has done to The Pride Lands and tells him that he must do something. However, Simba (who blames himself for Mufasa's death) refuses and storms off. The next morning, Nala along with Timon and Pumbaa learn from Rafiki that Simba has went back to The Pride Lands to challenge Scar and go after him.
Nala returns to The Pride Lands and battles the hyenas with the pride after discovering that Scar killed Mufasa and had framed Simba for it.
After Scar is defeated and killed by hyenas for blaming them for Mufasa's death, Nala marries Simba and becomes Queen of the Pride Lands. She is last seen with Simba watching Rafiki present their cub to the animals of the Pride Lands.
Category:Synopsis