Simba's pride

Simba's pride is a pride of lions who live in the Pride Lands. They are ruled by a monarchy. The current king and queen of Simba's pride are Simba and Nala, with Kiara and Kovu set to inherit the throne from them by becoming the future queen and king of the Pride Lands.
==History==
===Mufasa's reign===
====Simba's birth====
Upon the birth of King Mufasa's son, Simba, the pride hosted a celebration at Pride Rock. To honor the cub's birth, Pride Landers from across the kingdom journeyed to Pride Rock and gathered at its base while Rafiki anointed Simba and held him up atop the promontory. The Pride Landers then cheered for their future king while Mufasa and his mate, Sarabi, looked on proudly.
====Stampede and Mufasa's death====
Unbeknown to the pride, Mufasa's younger brother, Scar, plotted to assassinate both Mufasa and Simba. With the help of his hyena minions, he trapped Simba in a wildebeest stampede at the gorge and lured Mufasa to the scene. While Mufasa was able to save Simba, he struggled to climb up the side of the gorge to safety. As he scaled the cliff, Scar intercepted him and threw him back into the stampede to his death.
After the stampede cleared, Scar blamed Simba for Mufasa's death and convinced him to flee the Pride Lands. He then sent his hyena minions to finish the cub off, though they failed to do so and did not inform Scar of Simba's true status. Meanwhile, Scar reported to the pride that both Mufasa and Simba had perished. He then allowed the hyenas to invade the Pride Lands, to the lionesses' horror.
===Scar's reign===
====Famine====
Over the seasons, the Pride Lands fell into disrepair, and many of the herds left the kingdom. Eventually, the lionesses refused to continue hunting altogether, which starved Scar's hyena minions. Many of the lionesses came to resent Scar's leadership, though some continued to favor him as their king. The conditions of the Pride Lands became so bleak that Nala left the kingdom to seek help elsewhere. Eventually, she found a full-grown Simba living in self-exile in the jungle and implored him to come home, as his pride needed him. Though at first reluctant to return home, Simba eventually resolved to reclaim his birthright from Scar.
Meanwhile, Scar called Sarabi to Pride Rock and demanded to know why the lionesses were not hunting. She explained that the herds had moved on, but Scar insisted that they were not looking hard enough. At this, Sarabi declared that it was "over" and that there was nothing left. She then implored Scar to let the pride leave the Pride Lands. However, he refused, and she asserted that he had sentenced the pride to death. In the face of Scar's apathy, Sarabi claimed he could not force them to stay, but he declared that, as king, he could do whatever he wanted. Enraged, Sarabi compared Scar unfavorably to Mufasa, and he struck her across the face, claiming to be "ten times" the king Mufasa had been.
====Battle for Pride Rock====
As Scar struck Sarabi down, Simba appeared with a roar, and Scar recoiled in fear that Simba was Mufasa. Simba hastened to his mother's side and revived her. Though she also mistook Simba for Mufasa, he quickly corrected her and told her that he was home. Finally recognizing Simba's true identity, Scar admitted that he was surprised that the young lion was still alive. In answer, Simba stalked toward Scar and demanded "one good reason" for him to not tear Scar apart. Scar attempted to blame the situation on the "pressures of ruling a kingdom," to which Simba ordered him to abdicate the throne.
Scar appealed to the hyenas, claiming that they recognized him as the king of the Pride Lands, but Nala arrived with some of the lionesses and declared that they supported Simba's claim to the throne, as he was the rightful ruler. Scar lamented the situation ending in violence and reminded Simba of his troubled past. In the face of the lionesses' confusion, Scar pressured Simba into confessing that he was responsible for Mufasa's death. He then backed Simba toward the edge of Pride Rock's promontory and pinned him there. Leaning in to whisper into Simba's ear, Scar admitted that he had, in fact, murdered Mufasa.
Enraged, Simba leaped back up Pride Rock, pinned Scar, and forced him to tell the truth to the members of the pride that were present. At Scar's admission of guilt, these lionesses surged into battle against the hyenas. Eventually, they managed to drive the hyenas away from Pride Rock, and Simba tossed Scar off Pride Rock, after which Scar got fatally mauled by his disillusioned hyena followers.
====Simba's coronation====
With Scar dead and the hyenas gone, Simba reconvened with some of the lionesses below Pride Rock, nuzzling both Sarabi and Nala. At Rafiki's prompting, he ascended Pride Rock and roared over his kingdom. The lionesses who were present then echoed his roar with roars of their own. In the seasons to come, Simba took Nala as his mate, and together, they had a cub, whom they presented to the Pride Landers atop Pride Rock.
===Simba's reign===
====Banishment of the Outsiders====
Though most of the pride supported Simba's reign, several lionesses objected that Scar had been the true king. One lioness, Zira, asserted that Scar had chosen her son, Kovu, to inherit the throne of Pride Rock. However, Simba argued that Scar had never been the true king. Enraged, Zira attacked Simba, but he defeated her easily and henceforth banished her, her family, and her followers to the Outlands for their treachery where they formed a new pride called the Outsiders. 
====Kiara's birth====
In the seasons following his coronation, Simba had a daughter, Kiara, with Nala. One day, Simba and Nala called the Pride Landers to Pride Rock to celebrate their daughter's birth. Once the animals had gathered at the base of Pride Rock, Rafiki held Kiara high for all to see, and the Pride Landers cheered for her. Rafiki then marked Kiara's forehead with ceremonial gourd juice.
====Encounter with Zira====
Seasons passed, and Kiara grew into a young cub. One day, she disobeyed her father's orders and strayed into the Outlands, where she met Kovu. Upon the cubs entering the Pride Lands together, Simba and Zira appeared and roared in the defense of their respective children. Though Zira braced to attack Simba, she stopped herself upon realizing that he had brought Nala, two lionesses from his pride, Timon, and Pumbaa. Timon ordered Zira to leave the Pride Lands, but she declared that the kingdom belonged to Scar. Simba retorted that he had banished her from the Pride Lands, then ordered her to leave with Kovu.
Instead of acquiescing to Simba's request, Zira introduced Kovu as Scar's hand-chosen heir and lamented how he had been the last born before Simba had banished the Outsiders to a land barren of food and water. Unsympathetic, Simba reminded her of the penalty for returning to the Pride Lands, and she offered up Kovu to him as his "pound of flesh." Simba simply ordered her to leave with Kovu and asserted that they were "finished." However, Zira argued that they had "barely begun," then took Kovu and departed for the Outlands. Likewise, Simba and his pride took Kiara back to Pride Rock.
Unbeknown to Simba and his pride, Zira plotted to train the Outsiders hard and turn them into an elite fighting unit, so that one day they could use Kovu to infiltrate their ranks, assassinate Simba, take his place as the king of Pride Rock, and finally reclaim control over the Pride Lands once again.
====Dawn of the Lion Guard====
When Simba's son, Kion, came of age, he acquired the ability to use the Roar of the Elders. Though unsure that his son was old enough for such a responsibility, Simba introduced Kion to the concept of the Lion Guard and tasked him with building a new team of protectors. Following his father's orders, Kion selected Beshte, Bunga, Fuli, and Ono to join his new Lion Guard. Upon learning from Kiara that Kion had chosen Bunga as a member of the Lion Guard, Simba lectured Kion for not choosing lions as team members, as it could endanger his life. He then implored Kion to take his duty as the Lion Guard's leader seriously.
Despite Simba's disapproval of Kion's team members, Kion gifted each of his friends with the mark of the Guard and led them into battle against Janja's clan. The Lion Guard emerged victorious from the fight, and Simba at last accepted them as the official protectors of the Pride Lands.
====Ukumbusho====
Simba and his pride attended the Ukumbusho Tradition at Mizimu Grove. During the ceremony, a horde of bees attacked Ma Tembo's herd, and the pride shielded themselves from the swarm. Eventually, the Lion Guard managed to calm the elephants down, and the celebration continued.
====Kiara's first hunt====
Upon Kiara growing into a young lioness, the pride gathered at Pride Rock for her first hunt. Kiara begged Simba to let her hunt on her own, and he reluctantly agreed to her request. However, no sooner had Kiara left Pride Rock when Simba sent Timon and Pumbaa after her to ensure that she did not get hurt.
While Kiara was out hunting, Nuka and Vitani set fire to the grasslands as part of Zira's plot to use Kovu to infiltrate Simba's pride. Kiara attempted to escape the fire, only to collapse in exhaustion, and Kovu stepped in, as planned, to save her life. Once he had brought her back to the Pride Lands, he revealed his identity to her, and she greeted him in delight. Just then, Simba appeared and roared at Kovu. He forbade Kiara from going on any more hunts, but she protested that she had been doing fine, even before Kovu had arrived.
Recognizing Kovu's identity, Simba roared furiously at him. Rafiki interrupted the stand-off, revealing that Kovu had saved Kiara's life, and Simba questioned why Kovu would do such a thing. In answer, Kovu presented himself as a rogue who had left the Outsiders and wished to join Simba's pride. Though Simba was reluctant to accept Kovu's change of heart, Zazu reminded him that it was the law of the Pride Lands to repay debts, and so Simba decided to reserve judgment on Kovu's character and allow him temporary respite in the Pride Lands. Even so, Simba forbade Kovu to sleep in the den of Pride Rock with the rest of the pride.
====Kovu's exile====
The next day, Kovu attempted to kill Simba, only to get interrupted by an oblivious Kiara. Forced to play along, Kovu spent the day with her and slowly began to develop feelings for her. Eventually, he grew so conflicted over his mission to kill Simba that he resolved to confess his part in Zira's plot to Kiara. Before he could do so, however, Simba invited Kovu to follow him on a walk around the Pride Lands.
Together, Kovu and Simba traveled to a fire-ravaged area of the Pride Lands, where Simba told Kovu the story of Scar. Just then, the Outsiders appeared and surrounded Simba. Zira praised Kovu for having played his part in their plan, and Simba rounded on Kovu accusingly, ignoring the young lion's vehement denial that he had been involved in the ambush. The Outsiders attacked Simba and nearly killed him, but he managed to escape by climbing up a pile of logs in the gorge.
Upon returning to the Pride Lands, injured and weak, Simba revealed to Kiara, Timon, and Pumbaa that Kovu had been involved in an ambush on him. He then collapsed onto his side, and Timon and Pumbaa carried him back to Pride Rock.
Once Simba had recovered, Kovu returned to Pride Rock, amid angry mutterings from the Pride Landers who were gathered at its base. Though Kovu told Simba that he had not been involved with the ambush, Simba refused to take him at his word and exiled him from the Pride Lands. Together, the Pride Landers drove Kovu away from Pride Rock, and the lionesses prevented Kiara from going to him. After the exile, Kiara fled into Pride Rock in tears, to the lionesses' dismay.
====Battle with the Outsiders====
Shortly after the Outsiders' ambush on Simba, Zira led her pride in an invasion of the Pride Lands. Zazu caught wind of the attack and warned Simba, who rallied his pride. The opposing prides met near the gorge, with each forming a battle line. Zira told Simba that it was "over" and that she had dreamed of nothing else for years. Simba gave Zira a final chance to return home, but she claimed that she was already home and ordered her pride to attack. The two groups then converged on one another, and a fight broke out.
In the midst of the fight, Zira attacked Simba, and the battle stalled while Simba and Zira circled one another. The two started to raise their paws to fight when Kovu and Kiara suddenly jumped in-between them and called for the feud between their prides to end. Though the others listened to Kovu and Kiara's plea, Zira refused and, out of loyalty to Scar, made one final attempt on Simba's life. Kiara, however, intercepted the attack, and both lionesses went tumbling toward the gorge. Kiara tried to help Zira climb to safety, but Zira spurned the princess' offer and fell to her death in a raging river below.
====Reunification of the Outsiders and Simba's pride====
With Zira dead, Simba welcomed the reformed Outsiders back into his pride. Together, the combined prides returned to Pride Rock, where Kovu and Kiara were married in a ceremony at Pride Rock. After the ceremony, the royal couples walked to the promontory of Pride Rock, and the lionesses bowed to them. They then roared over their kingdom, and the lionesses roared in reply, reaffirming their acceptance of the royal family's control over the Pride Lands.
Shortly after the reunification of the prides, Vitani formed a Lion Guard comprised of former Outsiders. Kion's Lion Guard soon returned to the Pride Lands with the expectation that the Outsiders were still an enemy, and Vitani's Guard attacked them on the border of the Outlands and the Pride Lands. Kion nearly used the Roar against Vitani's Guard when Kiara intervened and explained that the Outsiders had joined Simba's pride. Taking Kion to Pride Rock, she explained what had happened between their two prides, with help from Kovu and Rafiki.
In order to settle which Lion Guard should serve the Pride Lands, Kion's and Vitani's Guards engaged in a formal competition, the Battle of the Lion Guards. The contest ended with Kion abdicating his and his teammates' roles to Vitani and her Guard.
==Physical traits==
* Heavy and stocky builds separate the lionesses of Simba's pride from the Outsiders.
* Orange or red eyes are most common among Simba's pride. Most members of the royal family have orange or red eyes, including Kiara, Kion, and Simba.
* Rounded noses are dominant in Simba's pride. Unlike the Outsider noses, which were thin and curved downward at the tips, the members of Simba's pride have flat and rounded noses.
==Temperament==
The members of Simba's pride are ferocious and dutiful defenders of their homeland, the Pride Lands. They retain strong loyalty to their leaders and will fight beside them for their right to rule. Unlike the Outsiders, who are more hostile and bloodthirsty, the members of Simba's pride restrain their violence and reserve it for when they are threatened or put in a desperate situation. Like all Pride Landers, they follow the Circle of Life and do not tolerate those animals who over-hunt or disrespect the laws of nature.
The members of Simba's pride are known for being more openly affectionate with one another than the Outsiders are. They are also not afraid to be laid-back and have fun, a trait which greatly surprised Kovu when he first joined the pride. They also have strong familial ties with one another.
==Notable members==
Current members
Older Simba.png|Simba (leader)
Imara.png|Imara
Kasi.png|Kasi
Kiara-HD.png|Kiara
Kovu with scar.png|Kovu
Older Nala.png|Nala
NalasFather.png|Nala's father
Sarabi.png|Sarabi
Blueraysarafina.png|Sarafina
Shabaha.png|Shabaha
Tazama.png|Tazama
Tiifu older.png|Tiifu
File:Vitani with Lion Guard mark.png|Vitani
Zuri older.png|Zuri
Former members
Askari.png|Askari
Kion.png|Kion
Mufasa.png|Mufasa
Scar-HD.png|Scar
File:Zira.png|Zira
File:Nuka Square.PNG|Nuka
==Appearances==
==Trivia==
===General===
* In The Lion King II: Simba's Pride, the members of Simba's pride are simply referred to as the "Pride Landers." However, in The Lion Guard, the term "Pride Landers" also applies to the other animals in the Pride Lands.
===In development===
* In early drafts of The Lion King, the Pride Landers were called the "Ndona Pride."
* In King of the Beasts, an early draft of The Lion King, the pride believed in a deity called the Great Spirit.
==References==
Category:Canon articles
Category:Groups
Category:Prides