FORWARD
Hello lovely readers, and welcome to TLKII Rewritten! As this is (as can be inferred from the title) a rewrite of the second Lion King movie, inspired heavily by what I thought the film was all about when I heard of it but didn't watch it as a kid, there are several changes that'll be made apparent later on. To start off, though, I wanted to preface this fic by saying that Timon and Pumbaa are not in it, as I felt I couldn't do their comic relief dialogue justice. They live at the oasis rather than the Pridelands in this, and visit on occasion (so maybe they'll show up at a different time). Also, Zira's dialogue and motives are changed, as in my version of the canon she was obsessed with Scar only once he became king, and only desired to be his queen for power, not out of attraction for him - this is to clear up the grey area in Kovu and Scar's relationship, so that he's definitely not Scar's biological son.
Anyway, let's-a-go-go! Enjoy~ 🐾
Dawn broke over the savanna as the various herds slowly made their way across the plains towards Pride Rock, the massive mountain from which the Lion King, Simba, ruled over his kingdom. Today, as it had been for Simba 23 lion-years prior, was the christening of the child of he and his faithful queen Nala. Hundreds of animals, all of varying prey-species, slowly ambled to the foot of the great rock as the sun slowly rose over the horizon in preparation to greet the future monarch. Low murmurs could be heard from the crowd...
"Can you see them?"
"It isn't time yet..."
"I heard it's a young prince!"
A hush fell as the baboon shaman, Rafiki, carefully approached the rock's precipice, just as he had the day Simba was born - which to the old ape only felt like yesterday. In his shaggy arms he carried a small bundle, which he slowly lifted to the skies above as the sun's rays struck the little cub he held aloft. An uproar of celebration broke out at this - trumpets, whinnies and chatters in a loud song of triumph at the continuation of the royal bloodline, and the Circle of Life.
King Simba and Queen Nala slowly made their way to stand proudly behind Rafiki, both looking tired, but still deeply proud and pleased over the birth of their cub. Simba raised his head to look up at the blue sky and the clouds above, a warm breeze blowing through his mane and carrying with it a familiar presence - one that felt unmistakably like his late father, Mufasa. The king closed his eyes to savor the welcome presence of the former king, opening his amber eyes again to watch his young cub. The little one had felt the breeze as well, and Simba's heart skipped a beat as he saw a determined gleam in his child's eyes, the little paws haphazardly swatting at a few stray leaves caught up in the wind.
He's just like you, Dad, Simba thought with a contented purr as he nuzzled Nala.
Rafiki finally lowered the cub and turned around to face the two royal lions, nodding his head respectfully. "Congratulations, you two," the old ape rasped, still holding the newly-christened heir to the throne. "She's a fighter, this one - just like someone I know."
"She certainly is," Nala purred softly back, a wry twinge in her voice as she remembered the pain of labor she'd just experienced. She and Rafiki slowly began to make their way back to the den, leaving Simba standing there daydreaming about everything he was going to teach his son. Then, as the sun reached its precipice over the savanna, a look of realization struck the king.
"Wait - she?!"