Battle between the Outsiders and Simba's pride

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Battle between the Outsiders and Simba's pride
General information
Location	Pride Lands
Participants	•  Kiara  •  Kovu  •  Nala  •  Pumbaa  •  Simba  •  Timon  •  Zira  •  Vitani
Outcome	•  Zira dies  •  The Outsiders are accepted into Simba's pride
Guide
Previous	Kovu's exile
Next	Marriage of Kiara and Kovu

The battle between the Outsiders and Simba's pride was a physical conflict that served as the final confrontation between Simba's pride and the Outsiders. The battle ended when Kiara and Kovu intervened, with the former asserting that "[they we]re one."

Information[]

Background[]

In the aftermath of Zira's ambush on Simba, Nuka died and Kovu abandoned the Outsiders. In response, Zira declared war on Simba, asserting that they would take the Pride Lands by force. Meanwhile, Kovu went to Pride Rock to ask Simba's forgiveness for the ambush, but the king refused to hear his pleas and exiled him from the Pride Lands. Horrified by this turn of events, Kiara condemned Simba's decision and subsequently fled Pride Rock in search of Kovu. When she found him, he declared that they should start their own pride elsewhere, but she asserted that to leave would mean that their respective prides "[would] be divided forever."

Meanwhile, the Outsiders entered the Pride Lands. Back at Pride Rock, Simba learned of Kiara's disappearance at the same time that Zazu informed him of the Outsiders' advance. Simba ordered Zazu to find Kiara while he, Timon, and Pumbaa assembled the pride. As Kovu and Kiara raced back through the Pride Lands, the two prides met on an open stretch of land on the edge of the gorge. Simba gave Zira one final chance to return home, to which she replied that she was already home. She then ordered the attack.^[1]

The battle[]

The two prides engaged in a vicious battle. Zira commanded the Outsiders from an overlooking rock, while Simba joined in the fight. Kiara and Kovu spotted the battle from the other side of the gorge and hurried toward it. Pumbaa and Timon tried to attack an Outsider, but she merely roared at them, prompting them to flee in the other direction. Kovu and Kiara made their way across the gorge by navigating the perilous dam of logs. Vitani tussled with Nala, while Timon and Pumbaa were cornered by a group of Outsiders. Luckily, Timon had the idea to threaten them with Pumbaa's flatulence, which scared them away.

Meanwhile, Zira triumphantly looked on as Simba was swarmed by Outsiders. He fended them off, only to be downed by a hit from Zira. Shocked, the prides stopped fighting to watch their leaders face off. Simba regained his footing, and he and Zira circled each other, preparing for a duel. Just as both lions were about to strike, Kovu and Kiara arrived and stood between them, preventing the fight. Despite their respective parents' commands to stand down, both Kiara and Kovu refused to move, each protecting the other side. Kiara reminded Simba of what he had told her when she was a cub: that "we are one." When he protested, she reminded him of how similar both prides were. After a moment of consideration, Simba relented and proudly embraced his daughter.^[1]

Zira's death[]

At that moment, Zira ordered Vitani to attack. However, Vitani refused, asserting that it was time to end the war. Furious, Zira vowed that Vitani would die for her treachery, a statement that prompted the rest of the Outsiders to abandon her in disgust. Simba called for Zira to let the past go, but she refused. Instead, in a desperate last stand, she leapt at Simba, only to be intercepted by Kiara. The two lionesses tumbled over the edge of the gorge and down the steep cliff face, with Simba giving chase after them. Kiara managed to grab hold of the gorge wall, while Zira fell further down and dangled precariously over the distant river below.

Meanwhile, Nala spotted the nearby dam of logs give way, allowing collected rainwater to gush through the gorge. She alerted Simba, who hurried to reach Kiara. Down below, Zira struggled to retain her hold on the cliffside. Kiara tried to reach her, only for the older lioness to swat her paw away. Despite Kiara's pleas, Zira continued to refuse her offer of help and slid further down the wall of the gorge. Finally, she lost her grip and plunged, smiling, into the raging water below, where she was swept beneath the torrent. The water soon drained away, and Simba helped Kiara out of the gorge.^[1]

Legacy[]

Shortly after the battle occurred, a painting depicting the event was done at Pride Rock. When Kion and the Lion Guard returned to the Pride Lands from the Tree of Life, Kiara explained to them that the Outsiders had joined their pride. Back at Pride Rock, Kiara and Kovu told Kion of the battle between the Outsiders and Simba's pride and all that followed, and Rafiki showed him paintings that depicted the events.^[2]

Appearances[]

Trivia[]

General[]

• The number of lionesses in Zira's army changes frequently.

In development[]

• In the October 1996 draft of the film, Zazu took part in the battle.^[3]

• In the 1996 draft of the film, Zira fell to her death in the river after attempting to kill Kiara (then-named Aisha). Kovu then aided Simba in rescuing Kiara from the flooding gorge.^[3]

• Originally, Zira was going to reject Kiara's help and let go of the cliff, with her last words being, "No. Never." However, her suicide was deemed too dark for a Disney film, and the scene was cut. Despite the scene's deletion, Zira can still be seen smiling as she falls to her death in the final film.

Media[]

The Lion King II- Simba's Pride - End Battle Scene (Part 1)

The battle between the Outsiders and Simba's pride, as depicted in The Lion King II: Simba's Pride.

The Lion King II- Simba's Pride - End Battle Scene (Part 2)

The battle between the Outsiders and Simba's pride, as depicted in The Lion King II: Simba's Pride.

The Lion King II- Simba's Pride - Zira's Death

Zira's death, as depicted in The Lion King II: Simba's Pride.

The Lion Guard - Return to the Pridelands, Kovu tells about what happened while they were gone

The battle between the Outsiders and Simba's pride, as depicted in The Lion Guard.

References[]