The prideland of Africa is ruled by the pride lions. There are two brothers of the royal bloodline: Mufasa and Taka. Mufasa is the proud and most humble lion of them all. Taka was gifted with the legendary lion roar, the most powerful roar known to lions. The two brothers helped each other to bring the natural order to their kingdom. Mufasa was the rightful king of the Prideland. Taka was the leader of the Lion Guard.
Later, the two brothers found love. Mufasa has married a lioness named Sarabi and has a beautiful cub named Simba. Taka has married a lioness named Zira and has a cub named Azra. The two brothers had their perfect lives together in the prideland.
Unfortunately, Taka was injured in a horrible accident and renamed Scar. Due to the accident, he blamed his brother for somehow causing it, but he hid his hatred towards his brother. He stood by and watched his brother's family enjoying their lives.
When Mufasa's son had turned into a young adult, he sent his son to explore the land by himself and bring friends to others. During Simba's journey, he has formed friendships with a meerkat and a warthog: Timon and Pumbaa. After he has returned home, Simba has married a lioness, Nala, and has two cubs: Kion and Kiara.
Meanwhile, Scar has finally grown impatient and began to form a sinister plan to overthrow his brother. He tried to convince his fellow Lion Guards to join him, but they refused and he ended them by using his mighty lion roar. Scar has failed to realize that if he uses his mighty roar on his fellow lions, then he will lose his gift. He convinces some of the lions to join his plot to kill his brother.
Luckily, Simba had learned of his evil uncle's plot and alerted his father about it. Mufasa led his loyal lions and defeated his brother. Scar has released his mighty roar to destroy his brother but failed because he has already lost his gift when he has vanquished his fellow Lion Guards. After Scar was defeated, Mufasa had no choice but to banish his brother and his followers to the outland.
After Scar was banished, Mufasa renounced his power as king and passed it on to his son. When Kion has become the new bearer of the mighty lion roar, Simba has chosen his son to become the leader of the new Lion Guard. Mufasa has chosen to spend his remaining years to watch his son and his family achieve greatness.
Meanwhile, Scar and his followers have faced hardship in the outland. There wasn't enough food for them to feed on and they were forced to live in isolation. They also have to live with hyenas in the same land. When Scar has two new cubs: Kovu and Vitani, Scar decides to send scouts into the prideland and receive food for him and his family. Scar has been waiting patiently till there's a right opportunity to have his vengeance on his brother and his son.
When both of the family cubs have turned into teens, Scar has another cub. The cub's name is Nuka.
It's nighttime, Kovu rushes onto a tall rock structure to tell his father the great news. "Father," the young male lion grabbed Scar's attention. "Mother has finally given birth to a new cub! It's born!"
"So," Scar's unamused.
"Don't you want to know if it's a boy or girl? It's your cub, father."
"Kovu, in case you don't know, we have too many mouths to feed. Every time a cub is born, there are fewer chances for everyone to get their meals. So, why should I care if I have another cub?"
"Father, please. You'd been there when Azra, Vitani, and I were born. Why don't you want to see it?" Scar looked away from his son and didn't respond. "I will go and see if it's my brother or sister. I hope you will be there to see it."
When Kovu left his father alone, he headed to his family cave. He spotted his two sisters by their mother's side. He smiled when he found the little cub in its mother's paws.
"Kovu," Zira called her son as he headed to her side. "You're just in time to meet your little brother."
"I-I have a brother," Kovu said, surprised. "I always wanted to have a little brother."
"I thought he would be the same size as when we were born," Vitani confused. "Why is this one so tiny?"
"He is really small and thin," Azra agreed.
"The main point is that he survives," Zira addressed her children. "He will also grow and become a strong lion one day!"
"You're right, mother," Kovu agreed. "What do you want to name him?"
"How about… Nuka. Yes… that's the perfect name for him."
"Let's hope father will be happy to see him," Azra worried about her father.
"So… it's a boy."
When they turned their attention to the speaker, they immediately spotted Scar entering the cave. Kovu formed a smile when he saw his father, believing that he cared for his children. "Ah, Scar," Zira was excited to see her husband. "Say hello to your newborn son!"
Scar is drawn closer to his newborn son and examines him. When he drew his head away from Nuka, his face was unamused. "What is this," he demanded.
"Why, Scar," Zira laughed. "This is your newborn son!"
"This… thing can't be my new son! He's the smallest, weakest, and most pathetic cub I have ever seen!" His harsh words shocked his family.
"But… he'll grow up! He'll make you proud-"
"I'll never be proud of this thing! He will grow up and become a disappointment. I refuse to accept this thing as my son!"
When Scar stormed out of the cave, Zira lowered her head in disappointment. Azra and Vitani were hurt by their father's harsh words towards their new brother. Kovu was speechless from his father's attitude towards Nuka. "Mother," he comforted his mother, "you know that father didn't mean any of that. He's just upset about-"
"No, Kovu," she cut her son off. "Your father is right." She removed her paws away from the cub and exited the cave. "He is weak."
When Zira abandoned her newborn son, the little cub began crying. Azra stepped forward and comforted her baby brother by wrapping her paws around him. Kovu and Vitani joined their sister and lay next to Nuka. The little newborn cub began nuzzling on his older sister's paw.
"Hi, little Nuka," Azra spoke to her baby brother softly. "My name is Azra. I'm your sister. These are your brother and sister as well. Kovu and Vitani."
"Ha, little guy," Vitani gently patted her little brother's head. "It's your sister, Vitani. Aren't you the cutest little brother I've ever seen?!"
"Hi, Nuka," Kovu said nervously, afraid that his baby brother would be afraid of him. "I'm Kovu, your only brother. I… I'm really happy to have a baby brother."
Then, Nuka began to crawl towards his brother's voice and lick his paw, causing Kovu to giggle. Kovu drew his baby brother closer to his face and began nuzzling him. "Don't worry, Nuka. We will take good care. If you can't rely on mother and father, then you can always come to us."
A lion year later…
Nuka showed complete fear and was breathing hard as footsteps echoed through the cave. He slowly poked his head and looked both ways, making sure the noises weren't close. He is so close to the exits and he needs an opportunity to make his move.
Then, a male and female lion were blocking the exit. Nuka looks around and finds something to lure them away from the exit. Luckily, he found a papple, grabbed it with his teeth, and tossed it across the cave. When the lions rushed towards the noise, the little cub quickly ran towards the exit.
Nuka was about to escape from the lions until another lioness appeared and blocked his exit. He was about to run away from her, but the others sealed his escape. The lioness knocks the cub on his back and marches to him while growling. The defenseless cub backs away until he's up against the wall. The young cub whines in fear as the fearsome lioness get closer to him.
When the lioness got close to Nuka's face, she began to lick him rapidly, causing the young cub to laugh. "Nice try Nuka," Azra lovingly said while nuzzling her baby brother's cheek. Kovu and Vitani laugh while their baby brother is being tickled.
"I almost made it," Nuka laughs.
"Well, looks like thirty-seven times isn't your lucky number," Vitani laughs.
"Keep on trying baby brother," Azra cheered Nuka. "If you keep on trying and never give up, then you will become a big and strong lion one day."
"Thanks, sis," Nuka appreciated his sister's kindness.
"Hey Nuka," Kovu called his baby brother. "You want to head to our… spot." He gave Nuka a wink.
"Oh yeah! Let's go, Kovu! See ya later, Azra! See ya later, Vitani!"
Nuka and Kovu rushed out of the cave and headed to their private spot. Their private hangout is formed by boulders that are shaped exactly like pride rock. The little cub climbed on top of the boulders and stood proudly. "I am Lord Nuka," the lion cub acted, "king of the outland!"
"You will never be king," Kovu played along.
"Who would dare to challenge me?!"
"I dare! I will overthrow you and take your place as king!"
"How dare you insult your true king! Prepare to be vanquished!"
Then, Nuka jumped down and attacked his brother by gently biting his neck. As his baby brother was biting him, Kovu begged for mercy, "No, please! Spare me, your majesty! I didn't mean to betray you! Please forgive me! Nooo…" The adult lion has fallen on his back and plays dead.
"Kovu… you're not dead!"
"No," Kovu shouted as he tackled his brother to the ground. He began buzzing Nuka's stomach, causing his baby brother to laugh.
"Hahaha! No, please! I'm ticklish! Ahahaha!"
Suddenly, the annoyance of laughter has interrupted the two brothers' enjoyment. They immediately spotted the three male hyenas. "Well well well," the leader of the gang spoke. "If it isn't the two brothers of the banished false king! What are you two weasels doing?! Rubbing your infected backs against the rocks!"
"Scram Janja," Kovu yelled at the hyenas, "or are ya here begging for another beat down!"
"Ha, you think you can take on the three of us on your own! Plus, your baby brother is here with you! Should be unfortunate if anything bad happens to him!"
"If you or your mates lay a paw on him, then I'll make sure you freaks regret y'all ever born!"
"Listen losers! You two are the sons of the most pathetic excuse of a lion! You don't deserve to be the next king of this land! And your little brother is the weakest of all lions and the biggest embarrassment to nature! I mean look at him! He doesn't even have any muscles and is so skinny! I'm just glad you two are related because both of you are going to grow old and die in this land together!"
When the hyenas left the two brothers alone, Nuka lowered his head in sadness. "Nuka," Kovu said, concerned for his little brother, "what's wrong? Ha, don't listen to that pig. He's just jealous that the lions are always the better hunters than those disgusting animals."
"But what if he's right about me," Nuka cried. "I mean look at me! I am pathetic!" Tears began to run from his eyes. "I am the weakest of all lions! No lions or any other animals will ever show me any respect! I am a hideous lion reject of nature! I'm a disgrace to the family and the pride!"
As the poor cub was crying, Kovu drew him closer and hugged him. "Don't say that about yourself! You're just a little cub. Like we always say, when you grow up into an adult, you'll be a strong and powerful lion just like me. And you're not a disgrace to the family."
"Tell that to dad!"
"What are you talking about?"
"Ever since I was born, he hardly spent any time with me! He never even once taught me how to hunt! He never did because he hates me!"
"Nuka, don't say that! Father doesn't hate you."
"He doesn't?"
"No. He's just down about us living in the outland. He hasn't been himself ever since we moved here."
"I'm just scared that if I miss something, he might banish me out of pride."
"Nuka, stop doubting yourself. Father would never banish you. Tell you what, when I form my own pride, I will finally leave the outland taking you with me!"
"Are-Are you serious," Nuka jumps for joy.
"Absolutely, baby brother!"
"Thanks, Kovu! You're the best brother ever!" The two brothers resumed hugging each other and waiting for their future.
After Nuka and Kovu finished playing with each other, they were heading toward their cave to call it a day. Until the older brother spotted his father on top of a boulder. "Hey Nuka," Kovu stopped his brother. "Would you mind waiting here for a while? I need to go talk to someone."
"Sure," Nuka nodded.
Kovu heads to the top and meets up with his father. He found Scar lying on the ground and staring at the prideland. "Father," he called his father, causing him to stand up.
"What is it now, Kovu," Scar annoyed.
"Would you mind spending some quality time with Nuka? He hasn't spent any time with you ever since he was born."
"No," he answered and looked away.
"Father, please! He needs a father in his life!"
"That's why he got you. You're like a father figure to him."
"I'm not his father! I am his brother! And I insist that you should spend time with your baby son! You had spent time with me and the others, so why not Nuka?!"
"Look at him! He's been weak and soft ever since he was born. When he grows up, he will still be weak and soft!"
"Then, why not rough him up? Maybe teach him how to become a hunter just like the rest of us." Scar didn't respond and stayed quiet. "You know what, forget it! If you don't want to spend time with my baby brother, then fine! He still needs a father in his life."
When Kovu met up with his little brother, the both of them were headed to the cave. "Stop," Scar cried out to them, which stopped them. "You can go on ahead, Kovu. I would like to spend some quality time with Nuka." Kovu smiled at his father as he was heading off to sleep. "Come along, Nuka. There's something I want you to see."
Nuka followed his father to the top of the boulder and stood by his side. "Do you see what I see, Nuka?"
"It's hard to see from down here," Nuka replied. Scar lowered his head and wanted his son to climb on him. When the young cub climbed on his father's head, he lifted his son so he could see everything. "Wow! What are those green things?"
"Those are called trees, Nuka."
"How come we haven't seen any of those over here, dad?"
"Because we are in the outland, the ruins of the prideland."
"There are two lands?"
"Indeed."
"Are there any other lions in the prideland?"
"There are but they're more dangerous than you could realize."
"What do you mean?"
"The lions in the prideland are nothing but complete monsters. They slaughter each other for sport and murder so many innocent cubs like you. The lions of the prideland will never show mercy nor hesitation to other lions. You can never reason with such savage creatures like them."
"So that's why we live in the outland?"
"Indeed." Nuka yawns and his eyes grew tired. "Now, go and get some rest. Tomorrow, I want you to go with your brother and sister to the prideland. I want you to watch and study how they hunt."
"Why can't you or mom teach me how to hunt?"
"We're very busy supporting others. Plus, we believe that your siblings should teach you. Now, that's enough talking for one day. Go and get some sleep, Nuka."
As Nuka was heading to the family cave, he looked at his father one more time and realized that it was the very first time he spent time with his father. He stops and shouts at his father, "I love you, dad!" Scar turns to him and nods before he turns away. Finally, the young cub rushed to the cave and slept with his family, awaiting the trip to the prideland.
"Nuka," Kovu's voice disturbs his little brother's slumber. "Hey, Nuka. Wake up."
The young cub yawned as he was waking up. He spotted his brother and sister standing in front of him. "Good morning, Kovu," Nuka yawned. "Good morning, Vitani. What are you two doing?"
"Didn't father tell you," Vitani asked "He said that we will show you how to hunt in the prideland."
"Oh right! I completely forgot about that!"
"Don't worry baby brother," Kovu calms Nuka down. "It's still morning. We had plenty of time to go hunting. Just give us the word when you're ready."
"Well," Nuka picked himself up as he cheered, "I'm ready now! Let's get going!"
Before they left the cave, they spotted their mother entering the cave. Nuka rushed to his mother and gave her exciting news. "Good morning mom," he greeted Zira.
"Why," she formed a fake smile at her younger son, "good morning to you too, Nuka."
"Hi, mom! Guess what! Kovu and Vitani are going to teach me how to hunt!"
"How nice of them to do so," she patted her cub on the head. "I hope you learn so much from your generous siblings. Have a great hunt now!"
As the three siblings left the outland, Nuka turned to his father and waved goodbye, but Scar didn't respond. Kovu notices his father's attitude toward his baby brother and grows worried. Finally, the two brothers and sister have left their homeland and into the prideland.
Nuka and his siblings are exploring throughout the field for any preys stealthy. Kovu told him that they need to be quiet when they're seeking prey. The young cub couldn't help but be amazed by the surroundings of the prideland. He has never seen grass nor trees in the outland.
Then, his siblings stopped him and spotted their first prey. The eager cub went up front and spotted a white with black stripes animal. "What is that thing," Nuka asks his siblings.
"That is a zebra," Vitani told her little brother. "The lion's favorite food of all time."
"Alright Nuka," Kovu told his brother, "let me show you how it's done. Watch and be amazed, baby brother."
Nuka and Vitani sit back and watch Kovu sneak on his prey. The young cub watches and learns from his brother as he was sneaking up on the zebra without being spotted. Finally, he jumped on his prey and sunk his teeth into its neck.
As Kovu is having trouble with his prey, Vitani rushes in and assists her brother by ending the prey. Nuka watches his siblings end the life of the zebra. When they're done killing their prey, the young cub rushes to his siblings and congratulates them on their amazing kill. "That was so awesome! I have no idea that you two are amazing hunters!"
"And when you grow up," Vitani told him, "you'll be a great hunter just like us, baby brother.
"Go on, Nuka," Kovu told his brother. "Grab a bite."
"Wouldn't mom and dad be angry if I took a bite out of our meal," Nuka worried.
"You let me worry about them. You haven't tried this in a long time, so why not now. Go on! Try it!"
When Nuka sunk his teeth into the skin of the decayed zebra, he fell in love with the taste. He pulled and got a big piece of the animal flesh. Before the young cub could enjoy his wonderful meal, he notices that his siblings are alerted by something.
"Did you hear that Kovu," Vitani alerted her brother.
"Yeah."
They look around and try to find what's disturbing them. Suddenly, the shock looked on their faces when they spotted the disturbance. Without thinking, the two siblings began retreating while leaving their prey and brother behind.
"NUKA RUN," Vitani screams at her young brother as she's running away.
Nuka quickly grabs the torn flesh with his mouth and flees with his brother and sister. He tried to catch up with his siblings, but they were too fast. When they entered the forest, the young cub was starting to catch up with them. Until an adult lion appears in front of the cub and hunts down his siblings.
When Nuka witnesses the prideland lion's appearance, he quickly hides behind a tree. The young frightened cub breathed hard from the close call with an unknown lion. He was scared from the false story about the lions of the prideland given by his father.
Then, another lion appears and stops at the tree, the one that Nuka is hiding behind. The adult lion returns to the same position as he was talking to the young. "Are you alright, Dad," the teen voice lion spoke.
"I am fine Kion," the adult responded.
"What happened to those other lions?"
"They manage to escape back to the outland. They were trying to steal one of our livestock."
"Dad. Don't you think we're being a little too harsh on them? I mean they're trying to survive just like us."
"They're nothing but disgusting and disgraceful vermin! They don't deserve any mercy from anyone! They deserve to die in that forsaken land! Let's go home!"
When the prideland lions had left the area, Nuka was catching his breath from the close call again. Now, Nuka knows that the prideland lions are savage and dangerous predators. Finally, the young cub took his meat and rushed back to the outland.
After the very long walk back to the outland, Nuka has spotted his family gathered by their cave, except Scar. The young cub stopped by the rear entrance and listened to their conversation. "How could you two just leave our baby brother behind," Azra yelled.
"We're sorry," Kovu apologized. "We panic and just act without even thinking."
"I thought that Nuka was just behind us," Vitani discouraged. "I should have stayed by his side."
"No, Vitani," Kovu takes the blame. "I am his older brother and I should have protected him. I just can't believe we just abandoned him."
"None of it matters," Zira cut in, "because Nuka is dead. Could've happened to anyone. I believe he wasn't ready and never meant to hunt. I believe we should tell your father the bad news."
"Can't we send a searching party," Azra asks. "There could be some chances that Nuka is still alive!"
"Kovu and Vitani both said that they were chased from behind, which means there's no possible way Nuka could escape from it. That proves that our dear Nuka is dead."
Finally, Nuka enters the cave and reveals himself to his family. When his family immediately spotted Nuka, his siblings were completely happy to see their baby brother alive. However, Zira shows only a disgusted look on her face.
Azra rushes to her little brother and gives a loving nuzzle on his cheek. "Nuka," she cried. "I am so happy that you're alive! I thought we lost you!"
"How did you escape from those lions," Zira demanded.
The young cub put the meat down and explained it to his mother. "Well," Nuka said nervously, "when there was a big scary lion in front of me, I quickly hid behind a tree and waited till they left."
"That's a really smart move Nuka," Kovu complimented his brother. "I know that you're smarter than any of us."
"You should have stood your ground and marked your territory," Zira yelled at her cub.
"Mother," Azra yelled at her mother. "You and I both know that Nuka wouldn't last a second against a lion at his age!"
"He should've shown that lion that a lion from the outland while never back-"
"Enough," Scar cut in. "Azra is right, Zira. Nuka wouldn't stand a chance against a lion. Just be lucky that he made it back without a scratch." He turned to Kovu and Vitani, "You two should be more alerted by your surroundings! It's never safe in the prideland. You two are great hunters and very skilled but never let your guard down!"
"And Nuka…" He saw a big smile on his son's face and continued, "...tried not to get killed." Nuka's smile faded and lowered his head in disgrace. He noticed that his son was carrying zebra meat. "You managed to bring me back some meat from the prideland for me. Give it to me!"
Nuka is both confused and afraid because Kovu told him that meat is for him. However, he doesn't want to disappoint his father and is afraid of what would happen if he refuses to obey him. The young cub has no choice but to hand over his meat to his father.
When Scar ate the zebra meat, he didn't even thank his son for giving him the meal. "Alright, I believe it's time for some rest from this stressful day. Now, go get some sleep."
As they're all preparing to sleep, Nuka rushes to his father before he leaves the cave with Zira. "Didn't you hear back there, Dad," he told Scar. "I managed to escape from those scary Prideland lions without a scratch. Wasn't that amazing?!"
"Hardly impressed, Nuka," his father told him with an unamused look on his face.
"But… they didn't spot me… I managed to bring back a meal for you… I did that all by myself-"
"You got lucky, Nuka," Zira told him. "Just be grateful that you made it out of there alive."
"But… But-"
"Enough whining, Nuka," Scar told him. "You're not special, son. Look at your brother and sisters. They have potential and are truly gifted. They are destined for greatness. You, however… might be lucky to watch them become more successful than you."
"But… But… I can be successful… I have potential…"
"Unlikely. Look at you. You hardly have that many muscles and are too skinny to be successful. You'll never amount to anything and you will never have any accomplishments. Now, I advise you to get some rest. Your siblings might have some use for you."
When Scar and Zira exited the cave, Nuka lowered his head saddened by what his parents told him as he was going to sleep. Kovu and Vitani stop their little brother for a couple of seconds. "Nuka," Vitani asks her baby brother, "can we talk to you for a second?"
"Sure," Nuka nodded.
"Nuka," Kovu said, "we just wanted to apologize for abandoning you back there. We were too scared by that lion and we forgot about you. Could you ever forgive us?"
"Of course. I would've done the same thing if I was in your position."
"So, are we good," Vitani asks.
"Of course."
The three siblings gathered together and formed a group of nuzzles. When they're separated, they begin heading to sleep. Nuka heads to Azra and lays next to her side. His older sister gave the little cub a goodnight kiss before drifting off to sleep.
After his siblings went to sleep, Nuka carefully sneaked away from Azra and headed out of the cave. He was hurt by the harsh words of his parents and took it personally. He wanders out late at night to express his feelings to himself by singing.
"They say it doesn't matter
How you look or where you've been
So why do I need pointless attention to feel like I fit in?"
Nuka looks up at the top rock structure, where his parents are sleeping.
"I'd probably have it easy
If I were the only kid
But when you live with three superstars, it's hard for you to win"
He then heads off to the private spot where he and Kovu always play together at a normal pace.
"I wish I could be
Someone extraordinary
But I'm just me
And that's too ordinary"
Nuka rushes over to the spot at a rush pace while jumping over and on obstacles in his way.
"Is there ever gonna be a place in the spotlight just for me?
When the world can finally see
I'm special like my family"
When he arrived at the spot, he slowly crawled to it and climbed.
"Will there be a time
When I really shine
Am I always gonna be
Plain old ordinary me"
He stood on the peak of the boulder and stared at the open.
"Plain old ordinary me
Am I always gonna be"
Then suddenly, when he opened his eyes, he envisioned he's on the peak of the pride rock while he's being adored by hundreds of animals below as they're cheering for him. He looked down and saw his own family cheering him, including his parents. Nuka was so very happy and shed tears of joy as he began to bow.
Sadly, when he opened his eyes again, it was just his imagination. The lion cub lowered his head saddened by his illusions then looked up at the sky and watched the stars.
"I wish I could be
Someone extraordinary
But I'm just me
And that's too ordinary"
Nuka finally rushes back home after he jumps off the boulder as he continues to sing.
"Is there ever gonna be a place in the spotlight just for me?
When the world can finally see
I'm special like my family"
He stopped when he stood on a hill looking down at his home and then looked up at the moon while the wind was blowing through his fur.
"Will there be a time
When I really shine
Am I always gonna be
Plain old ordinary me"
The little cub rushes back to his family cave while jumping down to the ground carefully.
"Plain old ordinary me
Plain old ordinary me
Plain old ordinary me
Am I always gonna be"
He finally enters the cave and crawls to his sister Azra as he's finishing his song.
"Plain old
Regular, boring, unremarkable, ordinary me?"
Nuka then rests next to his older sister and goes to sleep.