The Story
(Song:He Lives in You) The story starts on a very windy morning. All the animals of the Pride Lands wake up and head to Pride Rock to see the presentation of Simba and Nala's new cub, the next heir to the Pride Lands. As the sun rises more animals gather to Pride Rock and Rafiki signals them. From the sky, Mufasa's spirit watches over, smiling. All the animals bow down as their king and queen enter. Zazu flies to Pride Rock to join them. Rafiki gives Simba and Nala a hug before taking Kiara. Kiara is curious about Rafiki and touches him. Zazu smiles to Rafiki and bows to him. When Kiara is held up the animals make sounds in joy. Mufasa smiles down at his granddaughter who has started laughing. Simba and Nala watch from behind as wind blows by. Leaves float by and Kiara looks at them curiously, then swats her paw at them playfully. The animals make more noise and bow again. Two elephants stomp, startling some birds who fly off, passed Pride Rock.Rafiki pulls Kiara down and puts juice on her forehead. Baby Kiara is confused until her mother gives her a gentle nuzzle reassuring her. Timon talks to Pumbaa about how fun raising Kiara is going to be, thinking she's a boy:they'll be able to teach her how to belch and dig for grubs. When Timon says it'll be like old times, them and the little guy, Rafiki replies "It is a girl." Timon calmly repeats the gender out loud before realizing what he'd said. Timon and Pumbaa both yell "Girl!?" Before passing out from surprise.
Some time has passed and Kiara is now a cub. Kiara excitedly exits Pride Rock and is ready to explore. She starts to leave, but Simba stops her. Kiara laughs it off and tells him to let go. Simba tells her, he just wants her to be careful. Kiara is distracted by a butterfly and decides to chase it, however Simba steps on her tail and asks if she's listening. He reminds her she can easily get hurt, stepped on or lost, and to stay in sight of Pride Rock at all times. (Kiara knows the list by heart). She finishes by saying if she sees any strangers don't talk to them and come straight home. Kiara gives a big smile and asks if she can go. Simba smiles and laughs a bit saying "Very funny." Nala enters and tells Kiara to mind her father. Kiara chuckles and says she will. Then Simba tells her to stay away from The Outlands. Zazu flies in and tells her "Nothing there but a bunch of backstabbing, murderous Outsiders." Simba agrees and tells Kiara not to turn her back on them. Kiara is confused but Simba just answers "You'll understand someday." Kiara nuzzles his leg and runs off to go play. Her father yells after her to stay on the path he marked for her. Nala laughs and explains how Kiara's like Simba when he was younger. Simba uses this as his reason to be protective saying how they put themselves in danger. Nala playfully pins him down and explains she never put them in danger, only Simba did. She nuzzles him and reassures him Kiara will be fine. Once Nala is back in the den, Simba calls Timon and Pumbaa over, telling them to keep an eye on Kiara since she's bound to run off.
Meanwhile Kiara is chasing a butterfly and playfully growling. She tells it to come back and says she just wants to play. The butterfly lands on a rock and Kiara crouches down to pounce it saying "The mighty hunter has cornered her prey." She pounces and scares it away. Kiara looks up and sees the Outlands and wonders what's out there. Timon and Pumbaa are behind her. She hears and turns around and screams when she sees them. Timon and Pumbaa both scream too, startling Kiara and making her fall into the water. Pumbaa hops in and lands on her. Timon is scared she might've been hurt and practices a speech to Simba, "Gee Simba, the good news is we found your daughter: The bad news is we dropped a warthog on her." Pumbaa looks around in the water for Kiara and realizes he's sitting on her. He gets off and Kiara emerges coughing up water. As they get out of the water, Pumbaa scolds her saying she knows better than to run off all alone. Timon rushes over to make sure she isn't hurt. Kiara is annoyed and tells him off. He then puts a fern leaf over her to keep the sun off of her. Kiara bats the leaf away and says, "Will somebody please just listen to me!" Timon says he wasn't listening and refers to her as princess. Kiara is mad and tells him "I'm not jsut a princess you know! That's only half of who I am!" Pumbaa asks her what her other half is, but Kiara doesn't know. Pumbaa lifts up a log reveling bugs. Timon offers one to Kiara who thinks it's gross. Pumbaa eats one and spits it out. Timon yells at Pumbaa. Pumbaa defends himself by saying he can't tell which ones are slimy from the outside. Timon retorts that crunchy is better. The two of them fight and Kiara sneaks off.
Kiara strays away from Simba's path to somewhere else. She trips as she goes down a log and bumps into Kovu. He gets up and growls at her, demanding who she is. Kiara tries to growl back and makes sure Kovu doesn't get behind her. Kovu asks what she's doing. Kiara replies, "My father says to never turn your back on an Outsider." Kovu calls her "daddy's little girl" and walks onto some rocks into the water as he explains he doesn't need anybody and takes care of himself. It turns out the rocks are crocodiles. Kovu and Kiara scream and try to get away. When they get to some rocks they sit down and pant out of breath. Kovu says it was a close one and Kiara agrees. The rocks rise, revealing themselves to be crocodiles and they run again. Kiara makes it on a branch and Kovu keeps running. Kovu says he'll distract them and orders her to run. He falls on the last crocodile into the water. As he comes up a crocodile approaches him. Kiara swipes her claw at a crocodile and tells him to look out. The crocodile is about to eat Kovu, but Kiara jumps on his head, closing his mouth. They make it back to land and look at the crocodiles. Kiara proclaims she did it and raspberries the crocodiles. Kiara starts talking about how they beat the crocodiles. In the grass, Zira is watching and growls when the two get friendly. Kiara tries to start a game of tag, but Kovu doesn't know how to play. Kiara then crouches down and play growls. Kovu starts to play fight with her until he is interrupted by Simba's roar, followed by Ziras'.
Simba growls her name and Zira growls his. She crouches down, ready to attack, until she notices all of Simba's Pride is gathered around. Zira growls Nala's name next and Nala growls hers. Timon introduces himself and Pumbaa then yells at Zira to get out of their Pride Lands. Zira roars at Timon, startling him. She yells that the lands belong to Scar. Simba reminds her she's banished and tells her to leave with her young cub. Zira introduces Kovu saying he was chosen by Scar as his heir. Simba growls at the mention of Scar which startles Kovu and causes him to shake. Timon jokes that Kovu's not a king, he's a fuzzy maraca. She explains Kovu was the last born before the Outsiders exile and tries to play the pity card by saying they have little food and less water. Simba yells at her syaing she knows the penalty for returning (Which is implied to be death). Zira explains Kovu didn't know, but if he needs his pound of flesh to kill Kovu (Impleid by her pushing him towards Simba). Kovu is scared and whimpering. Simba looks at her in disgust. Zira smiles knowing he'd never kill a cub. Simba tells her to take him and get out and that they're finished. He goes over and picks up Kiara. Zira tells him that they've barely begun before going over and picking up Kovu. As they leave, Kovu and Kiara whisper goodbye to each other.
Simba and his Pride go back to the Pride Lands. The lionesses, Zazu, Timon and Pumbaa head back to Pride Rock while Simba stays back with Kiara. Nala pauses and nervously says his name. Simba clears his throat. Nala smiles and follows the lionesses back to Pride Rock. Simba sets Kiara down on a rock. She gives her father a huge smile which is met with a glare. Simba asks what she thinks she was doing and says she could've been killed. Kiara tries to explain, but Simba says he loves her and doesn't want to lose her. If something happened to Kiara he doesn't know what he'd do. He explains one day he won't be there and Kiara needs to carry on his place. Simba starts to explain The Circle of Life, but Kiara already knows. Simba tells her as future queen she needs to be careful. Kiara pulls away from his paw and says "What if I don't wanna be queen? It's no fun.." Simba is surprised and compares that to like her sayign she doesn't want to be a lion, it's in her blood as he is and they're a part of each other. Simba playfully nudges her off the rock. She slides down and curiously looks at her father. Simba gives her a big, innocent smile. Kiara smiles nervously and goes to him. He gently nuzzles her. He starts signing We are One to her as Kiara looks at a nest of birds. She smiles at a bird that is attempting to fly. The bird's mother forces it back into the nest. Simba then shows her a mother wildebeest teaching her calf to walk. In a tree some monkeys are eating bugs off each other and in a lake a hippo is jumping on it's family's backs. Kiara looks at her reflection and asks if she can still be herself or is she just part of a plan. Simba is on a log, his mane flowing in the wind. He looks up and sees Mufasa's star. Kiara joins him on the log and Simba sings to her. They chase each other back to Pride Rock. Kiara nervously stares at Pride Rock. Simba nuzzles her and tells her "As long as you live here, it's who you are." then he licks her cheek and then adds, "You'll understand someday." He goes into the den. The bird Kiara saw earlier flies by and Kiara smiles at it. She frowns when it flies off, but then smiles. She sits down and watches the sunset.
In the Outlands, Nuka is growling to himself how Kovu isn't even Scar's son, while Vitani chews on a branch. He goes over and asks her where the little termite Kovu is and calls him "The Chosen One" sarcastically. He then extends his claws and cuts the branch Vitani is chewing, causing her to fall backward. She's mad and asks where Kovu is and if Nuka left him out on his own again. Nuka tells her "It's every lion for himself out there." and that Kovu has to learn to be alone. Vitani warns him Zira will be mad. Nuka scratches his fur (Which is full of termites) and says he should be king since he's the oldest, strongest and smartest. He scratches more as he explains he could be a leader if Zira gave him a chance. Vitani doesn't believe him and says "Why don't you tell that to her?" Nuka says she will. Vitani laughs and tells him it's his chance.
Nuka sees Zira come back with Kovu. He tries to get her attention, but she ignores him and puts Kovu down. Vitani crouches down and asks if Kovu wants to fight. He smiles and Vitani starts play growling. Zira turns to Nuka and yells at him because he was supposed to be watching Kovu. Kovu defends Nuka by saying it's not his fault and that he went off on his own. Zira scolds him and reminds him they hate the Pride Landers and Simba. Kovu explains he didn't think Kiara was so bad and thought they could be friends.
Zira thinks that sounds stupid, "You thought you'd get to the daughter and Simba would welcome you with open arms!? What an idea..." Then she thinks for a moment and realizes it's a really good idea. She pulls him close and praises him for being brilliant, saying he's just like Scar. Nuka makes a sound of disgust by her praising, which Zira replies with a roar, startling Nuka. Zira takes Kovu to to den and Nuka angrily mutters under his breath "Chosen one..."
Zira places Kovu in a rock and tells him, "I now see the path to our glorious return to power!". Kovu tries to tell her he doesn't want to do this, but Zira hushes him. She gets gentle and nuzzles him while stating to sing My Lullaby. She tells him tomorrow his training will intensify and walks off. She hops from rock to rock moping about her exile. The mention of Simba makes her tense as she extends her claws in anger. She then sings to the Outsiders how she dreams a dream so pretty she doesn't feel depressed. The dream is: Simba's dying gasp, Kiara squealing in her grasp and Nala's mournful cry. She dramatically says how she's tried to forget the past and to forgive her foes, but she can't because she hates them so much. She then crushes some termites, then licks her paw. Nuka still wants her attention and asks if she found some one to kill Simba. Zira explains how violent the battle is, but how it will work for her and pushes Nuka away. The Outsiders growl in excitement. Zira steps on Nuka's tail before heading over to Kovu. She sadly remembers Scar and promises to take care of Kovu. The Outsiders gather around the sleeping cub. Nuka is still jealous and calls him a termite, quickly changing it to "Precious little thing" then Vitani glares at him. Vitani hits Nuka and sings to Kovu, "One day when you're big and strong-", finished by Zira, "You will be a king!" Zira describes the war and the Outisders roar and jump around. Zira breaks out of the rocks and finishes the song.
Some time has passed and Rafiki is in his tree, painting on Kiara's drawing. He turns to Kovu's drawing paints a mane on him, telling Mufasa how Zira is filling his heart with hate. Rafiki admits to Mufasa that things aren't going well. To Rafiki's surprise Mufasa has a plan. With the win Mufasa knocks down a gourd, breaking it. Rafiki picks it up and slowly puts the pieces together realizing Mufasa means Kovu and Kiara need to be together. Rafiki says the plan is crazy, and Mufasa angrily blows more wind at him. Rafiki doesn't think the plan will work, but he agrees to help.
In the Outlands, Zira says Kovu is ready and checks him over. She has him repeat his destiny to kill Simba and retake the Pride Lands. The Outsiders roar in pride for the heir.
In the Pride Lands all the lionesses have gathered to celebrate Kiara's first hunt. Nala is the last to walk down and sits next to Simba, who is nervous. Kiara, now a grown lioness, walks out and Rafiki gently says her name. Zazu flies in and lands a tree branch, smiling. Timon and Pumbaa are beaming with pride for her. As Kiara walks to her parents, the lionesses give her words of encouragement. Nala steps forward and nuzzles her, telling her she'll do fine. Kiara makes Simba promise he'll let her do it on her own. He nervously glances at Nala who gives him a smile. Simba promises and Kiara gives him a nuzzle. Timon and Pumbaa start crying in joy. Kiara runs off to go hunt. Simba is still nervous and watches her go off. He sends Timon and Pumbaa to go watch her.
Meanwhile Nuka and Vitani are in the Elephant Graveyard. Nuka comments how it's creepier since the hyenas ran off. Vitani replies with "Aw, jeeze.." to his cowardness. Nuka says he's not scared, but gets startled by the sound of steam. He explains he doesn't get why they have to be there and that if Kovu's so special, why does he need them? He complains how he never got a chance to be king and gets starled by a steam blast. Vitani rolls her eyes and then sees it spit fire. She lights a stick on fire and urges Nuka to do the same, then they run off to the Pride Lands.
Meanwhile Kiara is having trouble hunting. She keeps scaring the antelope away on accident by making sound. Timon and Pumbaa are trying to watch over her and almost get trampled by antelope. Kiara catches them and is mad Simba broke his promise. She runs off to hunt away from, the Pride Lands and Timon and Pumbaa scramble after her.
Nuka and Vitani light the grasslands on fire. Nuka sings "Roasty, Toasty Princess!" as he does so. He gets burned and hops out of the fire, then laughs at his progress. Vitani is annoyed and pulls him away. Kiara is stalking antelope, but she breathes too hard and the antelope here her and run. Kiara chases after them but pauses at the smell of smoke. She sees a fire on the horizon and the antelope hurrying back, and runs while the fire spreads. From a high rock Zira and Kovu are watching. Zira orders Kovu to go into the fire and save Kiara. At Pride Rock Simba is still uneasy about Kiara's first hunt and is pacing back and forth, Zazu is trying to calm him down and reassure him that nothing will happen to her. They both see the fire and get worried. Kiara manages to make it to a ledge and just barely gets up it. The smoke has filled her lungs and she passes out. Kovu checks her pulse and puts her on his back.
Kovu pounces down the rocks through the fire, heading towards the Pride Lands. A burning tree falls and almost hits him, but he backs up in time. He jumps off the ledge and he and Kiara fall into the water. He drags Kiara out of the water onto land. Kiara wakes up and asks where she is. Kovu tells her and she gets mad saying she had everything under control. Kovu disagrees and Kiara tells him to move down wind. Kovu growls at his and leaps in front of her. Kiara tries not to turn her back on him like she was taught as a cub. Kovu asks what she's doing and Kiara recognizes him. Simba, Nala and Zazu come in. Simba roars at Kovu and Nala nuzzles her daughter. Kiara is outraged that Simab broke his promise. He said it was good that he did and tells Kiara she's not allowed on anymore hunts. Kiara says she was doing fine even before Kovu showed up. Simba recognizes the name and roars again (Nala scolds him for this.) Rafiki brings it to Simba's attention that Kovu saved her. Simba asks why Kovu saved her. Kovu asks to join the Pride, but Simba refuses saying he was banished with the other Outsiders. Kovu lies and says he's a rouge and for Simba to judge him. Simba reserves judgment and they head back to Pride Rock.
Simba doesn't let Kovu sleep in the den, so he's forced to sleep outside. Kiara goes over to thank him for saving her and Kovu makes fun of her hunting skills. Kiara challenges if Kovu could teach her: He says he could. Kiara tells them they start at dawn and goes into the den. Nuka and Zira are watching from the distance and Nuka is mad Kovu let Kiara go. He starts to complain, but Zira hushes him and tells him the plan worked perfectly. Now all Kovu has to do is get Simba alone.
That night Simba has a nightmare. He's an adult at the gorge and hears his father yelling for him. Mufasa is slipping down the gorge and about to fall into the wildebeest stampede. Simba is about to grab his paw, but gets distracted by Scar. He tries again to get Mufasa's paw. Scar grabs Simba's other paw and mutters "Trust me..." Mufasa slips into the stampede below. Simba looks at Scar and growls. It turns out the figure isn't Scar, it's Kovu. Kovu then throws Simba into the stampede. Simba wakes up, panting in fear.
In the morning Simba goes to get a drink from the Water hole. Kovu is watching and is about to attack when Kiara comes in and says she's ready for her hunting lesson. Kovu looks at the Water Hole again and sees that Simba is gone. He growls to himself and goes off with Kiara. He lays down and has Kiara pounce him from behind. Since Kiara makes a lot of sounds he ducks down just in time. Kiara asks if he could hear her to which he replies "Only, a lot." He tells her she's breathing too hard and teaches her "Relax. Feel the earth under your paws so it doesn't shift and make noise." Kovu sees some birds and tells Kiara to watch. He pounces at the birds, but ends up catching Timon instead. Timon is scared and urges Kovu not to hurt him. Timon is relieved to see Kiara. He explains that he and Pumbaa are there because of all the bugs. He complains about the birds eating them all. Timon and Pumbaa are having trouble scaring them off, so Pumbaa suggests Kovu help scare them off (Which Timon passes off as his idea). Timon urges Kovu to roar, but he's puzzled at what to do. Kiara shows him, she roars scaring many birds away. Kovu roars and the four of them chase the birds. Kovu asks what the point of the training is. Kiara seas it's not training and it's just for fun. It turns out the birds are friends with the rhinos, who are not happy about the four chasing them. The rhinos chase them and they manage to hide in a cramped area. As Timon and Pumbaa get out, Kovu and Kiara accidentally touch lips and pull back awkwardly. Timon urges them to come on and they follow.
One night Kovu and Kiara are under the stars looking at constellations. Kiara sees a rabbit and Kovu sees "Two lions killing each other over a scrap of meat", then he tells her he's never looked at the stars before. Kiara's surprised and tells him about The Great Kings of the Past. Kovu asks if she thinks Scar's up there. He then gets up and sits away from her explaining, "He wasn't my father, but he's still...part of me." Kiara goes over to him and explains her father said there was a darkness in Scar that he couldn't escape. When Kovu says "Maybe there's a darkness in me too.", Kiara gives her friend a gentle nuzzle. Simba is watching from a hill and talking to his father about how Kovu is still and Outsider and he doesn't know what to do. Nala comes over and joins him. She suggests that Simba get to know Kovu. Kovu starts to feel bad about the plan and tries to leave, however Rafiki comes in and stops him. Kovu and Kiara follow him.
Rafiki takes them to a special place in their heart called Upendi. He sets them on a leaf boat and touches their noses together. They ride the leaf in the water while Rafiki sings Upendi to them. A crescent moon shines while some baboons kiss. One of them hands Rafiki a flower which he gives to Kiara. Kovu smells the flower and sneezes. Some hippos swing on jungle vines and some rhinos go a conga line. The rhinos bump some flamingos who are forming hearts with their heads, causing stars to appear, which Rafiki throws into the air. He gives Kiara passion fruit, which she eats and tries to give one to Kovu, but he backs away. Rafiki sees a bush and pushes the boat towards it. He picks up a leaf that looks like a heart and puts it on Kovu, who pulls it off immediately. Kiara asks where Upendi is. In reply Rafiki covers her eyes,gives her a wet willy and says "No place you don't take with you." Kiara laughs and Rafiki tips the leaf boat over. They fall into a thing of water, released when Rafiki pulls a string. They land back on the leaf boat, laughing. Some passion fruit falls down and Kovu chokes on it. Kiara catches two before noticing. She licks Kovu's cheek and he's able to swallow. Rafiki presses their noses together again to form a heart. Some more animals form a conga lien while holding small bushes. Rafiki is on top of Mt. Kilimanjaro and opens the top, releasing butterflies. He pulls down a sunset and Kiara says "Upendi, it means love, doesn't it?" Some water shoots up and takes the leaf boat with it, all the animals conga line around it. Rafiki throws them each a passion fruit before they jump into the water. Kovu and Kiara smile at each other before jumping off the boat and joining the conga line. They go back in the water and ride up a waterfall. As they fall a leaf parachute opens. The two of them head back to Pride Rock.
Kovu and Kiara go back to Pride Rock to sleep. Kiara nuzzles him before heading in the den to sleep. Simba comes out and says it's cold out and lets Kovu sleep in the den. Vitani is watching form the distance and is ecstatic that he has Simba alone. To herself she cheers him on and is disappointed and mad when he doesn't attack. She runs off and tells Zira. Zira is mad and says Kovu will not betray the Outsiders.
The next day Kovu decides to tell Kiara about Zira's plan. He doesn't want to be part of it, because he loves Kiara. He practices it, but doesn't think Kiara will believe him. He still decides to try. He's about to talk to her when Simba comes in saying he doesn't her talking with him, because he wants to talk with him. Kiara is glad he's giving Kovu a chance, but Kovu is nervous. Simba tells Kovu the story of Scar (Presumably form his perspective) as he leads him to the place of the fire. He brushes away some ash, reveling a sprout. Just then the Outsiders surround them and Kovu freaks out. Zira gives Kovu credit for the attack and Simba is outraged. Kovu tries to explain he didn't have anything to do with it, but then Zira orders the Outsiders to attack. Simba manages to swipe Nuka and another Outsider away before two attack him. Other lionesses, including Vitani join in. Kovu tries to attack the Outsiders, but Vitani kicks him, causing him to fall back and hit his head on a rock, passing out. The Outsiders over whelm Simba and he falls down the side of the cliff. The Outsiders chase him up the dam. Kovu is awake and watches them. When Zira tells him to attack, he runs off. Nuka sees this as his chance and runs up the dam after Simba. Some logs slip and crush Nuka, killing him. Kovu tries to pull him out, but Zira pushes him to the side and finishes digging Nuka out. Nuka says "I'm sorry mother...I tr-tried". Zira gently shuses him and grips his face. He dies and she's heart broken.
Simba limps back to the Pride Lands. Kiara, Timon, Pumbaa and Zazu see him. Kiara tells Zazu to go get help and goes over to him. Simba whispers Kovu's name before passing out. Kiara doesn't believe Kovu would hurt Simba. Pumbaa puts Simba on his back and takes him back to Pride Rock.
Meanwhile the Outsiders are mourning Nuka's death. Zira tells Scar to watch over Nuka before angrily turning to Kovu. She extends her claws and hits him, giving him a scar that resembles Scars'. Zira angrily asks "What have you done!?" Kovu is scared and tries to tell her it was an accident and not his fault, then he realizes something. He yells at her he did nothing. Zira tells him he betrayed his Pride and Scar. Kovu roars he wants nothing more to do with Scar. Zira tells him it's his fault Nuka's dead. In disbelief and anger Kovu runs off. Zira says to let him go and runs to a higher rock to talk to them. She says Simba has hurt her for the last time and since he's now injured it's time to attack.
In the Pride Lands Kiara and Nala are beside Simba. Kiara tells him it can't be true, she doesn't think Kovu could hurt anyone. The animals notice Kovu and whisper in disgust and mention his new scar. Kiara tries to run to him, but Simba growls and stops her. Timon is mad and wants to go after Kovu. He has Pumbaa hold his tail back, but Pumbaa lets go when Timon tries to go for Kovu again. Kovu tries to explain it wasn't his fault, but Simba won't listen and exiles him. The animals start signing One of Us. The animals stomp angrily. Kiara tries to run to Kovu, but is blocked by two lionesses. The animals call him a disgrace and some antelopes threaten him with their antlers, causing Kovu to fall back. Some zebras and giraffes call it and outrage and Kovu a disgrace. Some snakes his and try to bite Kovu. The zebras wave their hooves fiercely at him. As Kovu runs through the antelope, they hit their heads together. He passes some ostriches that hit his head. Monkeys angrily throw rocks at him. When he gets away for mPride rock, birds swoop down and attack him. Kovu makes it to the water and looks back at the Pride Lands. Simba is angrily staring at Kovu. The lionesses guarding Kiara let down their defensive,and Kiara starts to run to Kovu. However, two other lionesses step in front of her. Kovu looks at his reflection and sees Scar. He quickly runs off. Rafiki watches in grief of the plan failing as Kovu leaves. Kiara is heart broken and asks Simba to reconsider. Simba tells Kiara she can't go anywhere without and escort from now on. Kiara is mad and tries to explain herself. Simba interrupts saying Kovu used Kiara to get to him. Kiara is outraged and insists Kovu loves her for her. Simba tells her it's because she's his daughter and says she has to stay at Pride Rock where he can keep an eye on her, away from Kovu. Kiara yells that Simba doesn't know him. Simba says he knows Kovu is following in Scar's paw prints and that he must follow in Mufasas'. Kiara yells "You'll never be Mufasa!" and runs into the den. She lays down and cries before seeing a light from a crack in the rocks. She breaks through the rocks and runs off to look for Kovu. She looks in her reflection and half of her is missing.
(Song: Love will Find a Way) Kiara gives up and walks through the grasslands at night. Some doves fly up from the grass and fly with each other. This makes Kiara think of Kovu. Some antelope are running, and two of them run ahead. One of the antelopes gently nuzzles another one. As Kiara walks some more she sees two butterflies flying with each other, while two monkeys smooch each other in a nearby tree. She sadly looks up to the stars and sees the constellations she found with Kovu. Kiara lays down and looks into the water, the other half of her refection still gone. A patch of grass moves and Kiara is hopeful. However a frog jumps out and Kiara sadly moves away. Kovu sees her and is nervous, but then he smiles and approaches her. They happily run to each other and nuzzle. Kiara licks his cheek and runs. Kovu follows after her. Kiara paws some ash at him and sits down with him. Kovu remebers what Simba did and pushes up some ash, reavling a sprout. They nuzzle as some ash blows by. Kovu sees the butterflies so he laughs and chases them. Kiara laughs and joins in. Kiara pins Kovu down and he licks her cheek. They look into the water and their reflections have merged. Kovu comments, "Hey look, we are one." Kiara thinks for a moment and remembers what her father taught her as a cub. Kovu suggests they run away together and start a pride of their own. Kiara chuckles and goes over to nuzzle him saying, "Kovu, we have to go back." Kovu is shocked because they're finally together. Kiara tells him "Our place is with our Pride. If we run away, they'll be divided forever."
Zira and her Outsiders start their descent to the Pride Lands. They walk through a swamp and come out covered in mud. Lighting strikes across the sky and thunder roars as they make their approach. Timon and Pumbaa are in the den arguing about who was supposed to watch Kiara when Simba comes in. They try to explain the situation to him without saying they lost Kiara. Simba figures it out and is outraged Kiara's gone. Zazu flies and tells Simba the Outsiders are on the attack and that it's war. Simba orders Zazu to find Kiara, and tells Timon and Pumbaa to help assemble the lionesses. The Outsiders and Pride Landers get ready for battle. Kovu and Kiara are hurrying in the rain back to The Pride Lands. All the animals rush away for mthe battleground in fear. Zira gets on a high rock. The two Prides face off (Timon and Pumbaa tease them with "Na-na-na-na"). Zira tells Simba it's over and she's dreamed of nothing else in years (Timon remarks she needs a hobby.) Simba tells her it's her last chance to go home. Zira says she is home and orders the Outsiders to attack. Zira watches them fight and gives out commands. Kovu and Kiara see the fighting and hurry towards them. Timon and Pumbaa charge an Outsider, but she roars at them. Kovu and Kiara run over the breaking dam. Kovu almost falls, but manages to make it. Vitani gets on a rock and says "Where's your pretty daughter, Nala?" Nala roars her name and they fight. The Outsiders are chasing Timon and Pumbaa and corner them against a rock. Timon gets on Pumbaa's back and aims his tail like a gun, warning the Outsiders he'll use it.The Outsiders scream and run off. Zira knocks Simba down and the two Prides stop to watch the battle. They're about to fight, but Kovu and Kiara jump between them, facing their respective parent. Kiara tells Simba it has to stop. Kovu wanrs Zira she'll never hurt Kiara or Simba, not while he's there. Simba tells Kiara to stay out of this. Kiara gives a speech "A wise king once told me, We are One. I didn't understand him then..now I do." Simba tries to interrupt, but Kiara continues "Them? Us! Look at them, they are us! What differences do you see?" The rain stops and the sun comes out. Simba smiles and nuzzles Kiara. Zira orders Vitani to attack. Vitani doesn't want too and says she agrees that they need to stop fighting. She goes over to the Pride Lander's side. Zira threatens to kill Vitani which disgusts the Outsiders and they join the Pride Land side. Simba tells her to let it go and that it's time to put the past behind them. Zira roars that she'll never let it go. Suddenly the dam breaks and starts to leak. She tries to attack Simba, but Kiara intercepts and they fall down the cliff. Sima hurries down the cliff after them. Nala warns Simba that the dam broke and the river is flooding over. Kiara tries to help Zira up, but she refuses and ends up slipping and falling into the water and drowns. Simba helps Kiara up. Kovu and Kiara nuzzle each other happily. Simba tells Kovu he was wrong and that he belongs. He leads his Pride (Including the new members) back to Pride rock. They all sit in a circle and Rafiki waves his stick above Kovu and Kiara. Timon and pumbaa cry in joy. Kovu, Kiara, Simba and Nala go to Pride Rock and roar proudly. The wind blows Simba's mane. Mufasa's spirit says the last words: "Well done, my son. We are one."
Some time has passed and Kiara is now a cub. Kiara excitedly exits Pride Rock and is ready to explore. She starts to leave, but Simba stops her. Kiara laughs it off and tells him to let go. Simba tells her, he just wants her to be careful. Kiara is distracted by a butterfly and decides to chase it, however Simba steps on her tail and asks if she's listening. He reminds her she can easily get hurt, stepped on or lost, and to stay in sight of Pride Rock at all times. (Kiara knows the list by heart). She finishes by saying if she sees any strangers don't talk to them and come straight home. Kiara gives a big smile and asks if she can go. Simba smiles and laughs a bit saying "Very funny." Nala enters and tells Kiara to mind her father. Kiara chuckles and says she will. Then Simba tells her to stay away from The Outlands. Zazu flies in and tells her "Nothing there but a bunch of backstabbing, murderous Outsiders." Simba agrees and tells Kiara not to turn her back on them. Kiara is confused but Simba just answers "You'll understand someday." Kiara nuzzles his leg and runs off to go play. Her father yells after her to stay on the path he marked for her. Nala laughs and explains how Kiara's like Simba when he was younger. Simba uses this as his reason to be protective saying how they put themselves in danger. Nala playfully pins him down and explains she never put them in danger, only Simba did. She nuzzles him and reassures him Kiara will be fine. Once Nala is back in the den, Simba calls Timon and Pumbaa over, telling them to keep an eye on Kiara since she's bound to run off.
Meanwhile Kiara is chasing a butterfly and playfully growling. She tells it to come back and says she just wants to play. The butterfly lands on a rock and Kiara crouches down to pounce it saying "The mighty hunter has cornered her prey." She pounces and scares it away. Kiara looks up and sees the Outlands and wonders what's out there. Timon and Pumbaa are behind her. She hears and turns around and screams when she sees them. Timon and Pumbaa both scream too, startling Kiara and making her fall into the water. Pumbaa hops in and lands on her. Timon is scared she might've been hurt and practices a speech to Simba, "Gee Simba, the good news is we found your daughter: The bad news is we dropped a warthog on her." Pumbaa looks around in the water for Kiara and realizes he's sitting on her. He gets off and Kiara emerges coughing up water. As they get out of the water, Pumbaa scolds her saying she knows better than to run off all alone. Timon rushes over to make sure she isn't hurt. Kiara is annoyed and tells him off. He then puts a fern leaf over her to keep the sun off of her. Kiara bats the leaf away and says, "Will somebody please just listen to me!" Timon says he wasn't listening and refers to her as princess. Kiara is mad and tells him "I'm not jsut a princess you know! That's only half of who I am!" Pumbaa asks her what her other half is, but Kiara doesn't know. Pumbaa lifts up a log reveling bugs. Timon offers one to Kiara who thinks it's gross. Pumbaa eats one and spits it out. Timon yells at Pumbaa. Pumbaa defends himself by saying he can't tell which ones are slimy from the outside. Timon retorts that crunchy is better. The two of them fight and Kiara sneaks off.
Kiara strays away from Simba's path to somewhere else. She trips as she goes down a log and bumps into Kovu. He gets up and growls at her, demanding who she is. Kiara tries to growl back and makes sure Kovu doesn't get behind her. Kovu asks what she's doing. Kiara replies, "My father says to never turn your back on an Outsider." Kovu calls her "daddy's little girl" and walks onto some rocks into the water as he explains he doesn't need anybody and takes care of himself. It turns out the rocks are crocodiles. Kovu and Kiara scream and try to get away. When they get to some rocks they sit down and pant out of breath. Kovu says it was a close one and Kiara agrees. The rocks rise, revealing themselves to be crocodiles and they run again. Kiara makes it on a branch and Kovu keeps running. Kovu says he'll distract them and orders her to run. He falls on the last crocodile into the water. As he comes up a crocodile approaches him. Kiara swipes her claw at a crocodile and tells him to look out. The crocodile is about to eat Kovu, but Kiara jumps on his head, closing his mouth. They make it back to land and look at the crocodiles. Kiara proclaims she did it and raspberries the crocodiles. Kiara starts talking about how they beat the crocodiles. In the grass, Zira is watching and growls when the two get friendly. Kiara tries to start a game of tag, but Kovu doesn't know how to play. Kiara then crouches down and play growls. Kovu starts to play fight with her until he is interrupted by Simba's roar, followed by Ziras'.
Simba growls her name and Zira growls his. She crouches down, ready to attack, until she notices all of Simba's Pride is gathered around. Zira growls Nala's name next and Nala growls hers. Timon introduces himself and Pumbaa then yells at Zira to get out of their Pride Lands. Zira roars at Timon, startling him. She yells that the lands belong to Scar. Simba reminds her she's banished and tells her to leave with her young cub. Zira introduces Kovu saying he was chosen by Scar as his heir. Simba growls at the mention of Scar which startles Kovu and causes him to shake. Timon jokes that Kovu's not a king, he's a fuzzy maraca. She explains Kovu was the last born before the Outsiders exile and tries to play the pity card by saying they have little food and less water. Simba yells at her syaing she knows the penalty for returning (Which is implied to be death). Zira explains Kovu didn't know, but if he needs his pound of flesh to kill Kovu (Impleid by her pushing him towards Simba). Kovu is scared and whimpering. Simba looks at her in disgust. Zira smiles knowing he'd never kill a cub. Simba tells her to take him and get out and that they're finished. He goes over and picks up Kiara. Zira tells him that they've barely begun before going over and picking up Kovu. As they leave, Kovu and Kiara whisper goodbye to each other.
Simba and his Pride go back to the Pride Lands. The lionesses, Zazu, Timon and Pumbaa head back to Pride Rock while Simba stays back with Kiara. Nala pauses and nervously says his name. Simba clears his throat. Nala smiles and follows the lionesses back to Pride Rock. Simba sets Kiara down on a rock. She gives her father a huge smile which is met with a glare. Simba asks what she thinks she was doing and says she could've been killed. Kiara tries to explain, but Simba says he loves her and doesn't want to lose her. If something happened to Kiara he doesn't know what he'd do. He explains one day he won't be there and Kiara needs to carry on his place. Simba starts to explain The Circle of Life, but Kiara already knows. Simba tells her as future queen she needs to be careful. Kiara pulls away from his paw and says "What if I don't wanna be queen? It's no fun.." Simba is surprised and compares that to like her sayign she doesn't want to be a lion, it's in her blood as he is and they're a part of each other. Simba playfully nudges her off the rock. She slides down and curiously looks at her father. Simba gives her a big, innocent smile. Kiara smiles nervously and goes to him. He gently nuzzles her. He starts signing We are One to her as Kiara looks at a nest of birds. She smiles at a bird that is attempting to fly. The bird's mother forces it back into the nest. Simba then shows her a mother wildebeest teaching her calf to walk. In a tree some monkeys are eating bugs off each other and in a lake a hippo is jumping on it's family's backs. Kiara looks at her reflection and asks if she can still be herself or is she just part of a plan. Simba is on a log, his mane flowing in the wind. He looks up and sees Mufasa's star. Kiara joins him on the log and Simba sings to her. They chase each other back to Pride Rock. Kiara nervously stares at Pride Rock. Simba nuzzles her and tells her "As long as you live here, it's who you are." then he licks her cheek and then adds, "You'll understand someday." He goes into the den. The bird Kiara saw earlier flies by and Kiara smiles at it. She frowns when it flies off, but then smiles. She sits down and watches the sunset.
In the Outlands, Nuka is growling to himself how Kovu isn't even Scar's son, while Vitani chews on a branch. He goes over and asks her where the little termite Kovu is and calls him "The Chosen One" sarcastically. He then extends his claws and cuts the branch Vitani is chewing, causing her to fall backward. She's mad and asks where Kovu is and if Nuka left him out on his own again. Nuka tells her "It's every lion for himself out there." and that Kovu has to learn to be alone. Vitani warns him Zira will be mad. Nuka scratches his fur (Which is full of termites) and says he should be king since he's the oldest, strongest and smartest. He scratches more as he explains he could be a leader if Zira gave him a chance. Vitani doesn't believe him and says "Why don't you tell that to her?" Nuka says she will. Vitani laughs and tells him it's his chance.
Nuka sees Zira come back with Kovu. He tries to get her attention, but she ignores him and puts Kovu down. Vitani crouches down and asks if Kovu wants to fight. He smiles and Vitani starts play growling. Zira turns to Nuka and yells at him because he was supposed to be watching Kovu. Kovu defends Nuka by saying it's not his fault and that he went off on his own. Zira scolds him and reminds him they hate the Pride Landers and Simba. Kovu explains he didn't think Kiara was so bad and thought they could be friends.
Zira thinks that sounds stupid, "You thought you'd get to the daughter and Simba would welcome you with open arms!? What an idea..." Then she thinks for a moment and realizes it's a really good idea. She pulls him close and praises him for being brilliant, saying he's just like Scar. Nuka makes a sound of disgust by her praising, which Zira replies with a roar, startling Nuka. Zira takes Kovu to to den and Nuka angrily mutters under his breath "Chosen one..."
Zira places Kovu in a rock and tells him, "I now see the path to our glorious return to power!". Kovu tries to tell her he doesn't want to do this, but Zira hushes him. She gets gentle and nuzzles him while stating to sing My Lullaby. She tells him tomorrow his training will intensify and walks off. She hops from rock to rock moping about her exile. The mention of Simba makes her tense as she extends her claws in anger. She then sings to the Outsiders how she dreams a dream so pretty she doesn't feel depressed. The dream is: Simba's dying gasp, Kiara squealing in her grasp and Nala's mournful cry. She dramatically says how she's tried to forget the past and to forgive her foes, but she can't because she hates them so much. She then crushes some termites, then licks her paw. Nuka still wants her attention and asks if she found some one to kill Simba. Zira explains how violent the battle is, but how it will work for her and pushes Nuka away. The Outsiders growl in excitement. Zira steps on Nuka's tail before heading over to Kovu. She sadly remembers Scar and promises to take care of Kovu. The Outsiders gather around the sleeping cub. Nuka is still jealous and calls him a termite, quickly changing it to "Precious little thing" then Vitani glares at him. Vitani hits Nuka and sings to Kovu, "One day when you're big and strong-", finished by Zira, "You will be a king!" Zira describes the war and the Outisders roar and jump around. Zira breaks out of the rocks and finishes the song.
Some time has passed and Rafiki is in his tree, painting on Kiara's drawing. He turns to Kovu's drawing paints a mane on him, telling Mufasa how Zira is filling his heart with hate. Rafiki admits to Mufasa that things aren't going well. To Rafiki's surprise Mufasa has a plan. With the win Mufasa knocks down a gourd, breaking it. Rafiki picks it up and slowly puts the pieces together realizing Mufasa means Kovu and Kiara need to be together. Rafiki says the plan is crazy, and Mufasa angrily blows more wind at him. Rafiki doesn't think the plan will work, but he agrees to help.
In the Outlands, Zira says Kovu is ready and checks him over. She has him repeat his destiny to kill Simba and retake the Pride Lands. The Outsiders roar in pride for the heir.
In the Pride Lands all the lionesses have gathered to celebrate Kiara's first hunt. Nala is the last to walk down and sits next to Simba, who is nervous. Kiara, now a grown lioness, walks out and Rafiki gently says her name. Zazu flies in and lands a tree branch, smiling. Timon and Pumbaa are beaming with pride for her. As Kiara walks to her parents, the lionesses give her words of encouragement. Nala steps forward and nuzzles her, telling her she'll do fine. Kiara makes Simba promise he'll let her do it on her own. He nervously glances at Nala who gives him a smile. Simba promises and Kiara gives him a nuzzle. Timon and Pumbaa start crying in joy. Kiara runs off to go hunt. Simba is still nervous and watches her go off. He sends Timon and Pumbaa to go watch her.
Meanwhile Nuka and Vitani are in the Elephant Graveyard. Nuka comments how it's creepier since the hyenas ran off. Vitani replies with "Aw, jeeze.." to his cowardness. Nuka says he's not scared, but gets startled by the sound of steam. He explains he doesn't get why they have to be there and that if Kovu's so special, why does he need them? He complains how he never got a chance to be king and gets starled by a steam blast. Vitani rolls her eyes and then sees it spit fire. She lights a stick on fire and urges Nuka to do the same, then they run off to the Pride Lands.
Meanwhile Kiara is having trouble hunting. She keeps scaring the antelope away on accident by making sound. Timon and Pumbaa are trying to watch over her and almost get trampled by antelope. Kiara catches them and is mad Simba broke his promise. She runs off to hunt away from, the Pride Lands and Timon and Pumbaa scramble after her.
Nuka and Vitani light the grasslands on fire. Nuka sings "Roasty, Toasty Princess!" as he does so. He gets burned and hops out of the fire, then laughs at his progress. Vitani is annoyed and pulls him away. Kiara is stalking antelope, but she breathes too hard and the antelope here her and run. Kiara chases after them but pauses at the smell of smoke. She sees a fire on the horizon and the antelope hurrying back, and runs while the fire spreads. From a high rock Zira and Kovu are watching. Zira orders Kovu to go into the fire and save Kiara. At Pride Rock Simba is still uneasy about Kiara's first hunt and is pacing back and forth, Zazu is trying to calm him down and reassure him that nothing will happen to her. They both see the fire and get worried. Kiara manages to make it to a ledge and just barely gets up it. The smoke has filled her lungs and she passes out. Kovu checks her pulse and puts her on his back.
Kovu pounces down the rocks through the fire, heading towards the Pride Lands. A burning tree falls and almost hits him, but he backs up in time. He jumps off the ledge and he and Kiara fall into the water. He drags Kiara out of the water onto land. Kiara wakes up and asks where she is. Kovu tells her and she gets mad saying she had everything under control. Kovu disagrees and Kiara tells him to move down wind. Kovu growls at his and leaps in front of her. Kiara tries not to turn her back on him like she was taught as a cub. Kovu asks what she's doing and Kiara recognizes him. Simba, Nala and Zazu come in. Simba roars at Kovu and Nala nuzzles her daughter. Kiara is outraged that Simab broke his promise. He said it was good that he did and tells Kiara she's not allowed on anymore hunts. Kiara says she was doing fine even before Kovu showed up. Simba recognizes the name and roars again (Nala scolds him for this.) Rafiki brings it to Simba's attention that Kovu saved her. Simba asks why Kovu saved her. Kovu asks to join the Pride, but Simba refuses saying he was banished with the other Outsiders. Kovu lies and says he's a rouge and for Simba to judge him. Simba reserves judgment and they head back to Pride Rock.
Simba doesn't let Kovu sleep in the den, so he's forced to sleep outside. Kiara goes over to thank him for saving her and Kovu makes fun of her hunting skills. Kiara challenges if Kovu could teach her: He says he could. Kiara tells them they start at dawn and goes into the den. Nuka and Zira are watching from the distance and Nuka is mad Kovu let Kiara go. He starts to complain, but Zira hushes him and tells him the plan worked perfectly. Now all Kovu has to do is get Simba alone.
That night Simba has a nightmare. He's an adult at the gorge and hears his father yelling for him. Mufasa is slipping down the gorge and about to fall into the wildebeest stampede. Simba is about to grab his paw, but gets distracted by Scar. He tries again to get Mufasa's paw. Scar grabs Simba's other paw and mutters "Trust me..." Mufasa slips into the stampede below. Simba looks at Scar and growls. It turns out the figure isn't Scar, it's Kovu. Kovu then throws Simba into the stampede. Simba wakes up, panting in fear.
In the morning Simba goes to get a drink from the Water hole. Kovu is watching and is about to attack when Kiara comes in and says she's ready for her hunting lesson. Kovu looks at the Water Hole again and sees that Simba is gone. He growls to himself and goes off with Kiara. He lays down and has Kiara pounce him from behind. Since Kiara makes a lot of sounds he ducks down just in time. Kiara asks if he could hear her to which he replies "Only, a lot." He tells her she's breathing too hard and teaches her "Relax. Feel the earth under your paws so it doesn't shift and make noise." Kovu sees some birds and tells Kiara to watch. He pounces at the birds, but ends up catching Timon instead. Timon is scared and urges Kovu not to hurt him. Timon is relieved to see Kiara. He explains that he and Pumbaa are there because of all the bugs. He complains about the birds eating them all. Timon and Pumbaa are having trouble scaring them off, so Pumbaa suggests Kovu help scare them off (Which Timon passes off as his idea). Timon urges Kovu to roar, but he's puzzled at what to do. Kiara shows him, she roars scaring many birds away. Kovu roars and the four of them chase the birds. Kovu asks what the point of the training is. Kiara seas it's not training and it's just for fun. It turns out the birds are friends with the rhinos, who are not happy about the four chasing them. The rhinos chase them and they manage to hide in a cramped area. As Timon and Pumbaa get out, Kovu and Kiara accidentally touch lips and pull back awkwardly. Timon urges them to come on and they follow.
One night Kovu and Kiara are under the stars looking at constellations. Kiara sees a rabbit and Kovu sees "Two lions killing each other over a scrap of meat", then he tells her he's never looked at the stars before. Kiara's surprised and tells him about The Great Kings of the Past. Kovu asks if she thinks Scar's up there. He then gets up and sits away from her explaining, "He wasn't my father, but he's still...part of me." Kiara goes over to him and explains her father said there was a darkness in Scar that he couldn't escape. When Kovu says "Maybe there's a darkness in me too.", Kiara gives her friend a gentle nuzzle. Simba is watching from a hill and talking to his father about how Kovu is still and Outsider and he doesn't know what to do. Nala comes over and joins him. She suggests that Simba get to know Kovu. Kovu starts to feel bad about the plan and tries to leave, however Rafiki comes in and stops him. Kovu and Kiara follow him.
Rafiki takes them to a special place in their heart called Upendi. He sets them on a leaf boat and touches their noses together. They ride the leaf in the water while Rafiki sings Upendi to them. A crescent moon shines while some baboons kiss. One of them hands Rafiki a flower which he gives to Kiara. Kovu smells the flower and sneezes. Some hippos swing on jungle vines and some rhinos go a conga line. The rhinos bump some flamingos who are forming hearts with their heads, causing stars to appear, which Rafiki throws into the air. He gives Kiara passion fruit, which she eats and tries to give one to Kovu, but he backs away. Rafiki sees a bush and pushes the boat towards it. He picks up a leaf that looks like a heart and puts it on Kovu, who pulls it off immediately. Kiara asks where Upendi is. In reply Rafiki covers her eyes,gives her a wet willy and says "No place you don't take with you." Kiara laughs and Rafiki tips the leaf boat over. They fall into a thing of water, released when Rafiki pulls a string. They land back on the leaf boat, laughing. Some passion fruit falls down and Kovu chokes on it. Kiara catches two before noticing. She licks Kovu's cheek and he's able to swallow. Rafiki presses their noses together again to form a heart. Some more animals form a conga lien while holding small bushes. Rafiki is on top of Mt. Kilimanjaro and opens the top, releasing butterflies. He pulls down a sunset and Kiara says "Upendi, it means love, doesn't it?" Some water shoots up and takes the leaf boat with it, all the animals conga line around it. Rafiki throws them each a passion fruit before they jump into the water. Kovu and Kiara smile at each other before jumping off the boat and joining the conga line. They go back in the water and ride up a waterfall. As they fall a leaf parachute opens. The two of them head back to Pride Rock.
Kovu and Kiara go back to Pride Rock to sleep. Kiara nuzzles him before heading in the den to sleep. Simba comes out and says it's cold out and lets Kovu sleep in the den. Vitani is watching form the distance and is ecstatic that he has Simba alone. To herself she cheers him on and is disappointed and mad when he doesn't attack. She runs off and tells Zira. Zira is mad and says Kovu will not betray the Outsiders.
The next day Kovu decides to tell Kiara about Zira's plan. He doesn't want to be part of it, because he loves Kiara. He practices it, but doesn't think Kiara will believe him. He still decides to try. He's about to talk to her when Simba comes in saying he doesn't her talking with him, because he wants to talk with him. Kiara is glad he's giving Kovu a chance, but Kovu is nervous. Simba tells Kovu the story of Scar (Presumably form his perspective) as he leads him to the place of the fire. He brushes away some ash, reveling a sprout. Just then the Outsiders surround them and Kovu freaks out. Zira gives Kovu credit for the attack and Simba is outraged. Kovu tries to explain he didn't have anything to do with it, but then Zira orders the Outsiders to attack. Simba manages to swipe Nuka and another Outsider away before two attack him. Other lionesses, including Vitani join in. Kovu tries to attack the Outsiders, but Vitani kicks him, causing him to fall back and hit his head on a rock, passing out. The Outsiders over whelm Simba and he falls down the side of the cliff. The Outsiders chase him up the dam. Kovu is awake and watches them. When Zira tells him to attack, he runs off. Nuka sees this as his chance and runs up the dam after Simba. Some logs slip and crush Nuka, killing him. Kovu tries to pull him out, but Zira pushes him to the side and finishes digging Nuka out. Nuka says "I'm sorry mother...I tr-tried". Zira gently shuses him and grips his face. He dies and she's heart broken.
Simba limps back to the Pride Lands. Kiara, Timon, Pumbaa and Zazu see him. Kiara tells Zazu to go get help and goes over to him. Simba whispers Kovu's name before passing out. Kiara doesn't believe Kovu would hurt Simba. Pumbaa puts Simba on his back and takes him back to Pride Rock.
Meanwhile the Outsiders are mourning Nuka's death. Zira tells Scar to watch over Nuka before angrily turning to Kovu. She extends her claws and hits him, giving him a scar that resembles Scars'. Zira angrily asks "What have you done!?" Kovu is scared and tries to tell her it was an accident and not his fault, then he realizes something. He yells at her he did nothing. Zira tells him he betrayed his Pride and Scar. Kovu roars he wants nothing more to do with Scar. Zira tells him it's his fault Nuka's dead. In disbelief and anger Kovu runs off. Zira says to let him go and runs to a higher rock to talk to them. She says Simba has hurt her for the last time and since he's now injured it's time to attack.
In the Pride Lands Kiara and Nala are beside Simba. Kiara tells him it can't be true, she doesn't think Kovu could hurt anyone. The animals notice Kovu and whisper in disgust and mention his new scar. Kiara tries to run to him, but Simba growls and stops her. Timon is mad and wants to go after Kovu. He has Pumbaa hold his tail back, but Pumbaa lets go when Timon tries to go for Kovu again. Kovu tries to explain it wasn't his fault, but Simba won't listen and exiles him. The animals start signing One of Us. The animals stomp angrily. Kiara tries to run to Kovu, but is blocked by two lionesses. The animals call him a disgrace and some antelopes threaten him with their antlers, causing Kovu to fall back. Some zebras and giraffes call it and outrage and Kovu a disgrace. Some snakes his and try to bite Kovu. The zebras wave their hooves fiercely at him. As Kovu runs through the antelope, they hit their heads together. He passes some ostriches that hit his head. Monkeys angrily throw rocks at him. When he gets away for mPride rock, birds swoop down and attack him. Kovu makes it to the water and looks back at the Pride Lands. Simba is angrily staring at Kovu. The lionesses guarding Kiara let down their defensive,and Kiara starts to run to Kovu. However, two other lionesses step in front of her. Kovu looks at his reflection and sees Scar. He quickly runs off. Rafiki watches in grief of the plan failing as Kovu leaves. Kiara is heart broken and asks Simba to reconsider. Simba tells Kiara she can't go anywhere without and escort from now on. Kiara is mad and tries to explain herself. Simba interrupts saying Kovu used Kiara to get to him. Kiara is outraged and insists Kovu loves her for her. Simba tells her it's because she's his daughter and says she has to stay at Pride Rock where he can keep an eye on her, away from Kovu. Kiara yells that Simba doesn't know him. Simba says he knows Kovu is following in Scar's paw prints and that he must follow in Mufasas'. Kiara yells "You'll never be Mufasa!" and runs into the den. She lays down and cries before seeing a light from a crack in the rocks. She breaks through the rocks and runs off to look for Kovu. She looks in her reflection and half of her is missing.
(Song: Love will Find a Way) Kiara gives up and walks through the grasslands at night. Some doves fly up from the grass and fly with each other. This makes Kiara think of Kovu. Some antelope are running, and two of them run ahead. One of the antelopes gently nuzzles another one. As Kiara walks some more she sees two butterflies flying with each other, while two monkeys smooch each other in a nearby tree. She sadly looks up to the stars and sees the constellations she found with Kovu. Kiara lays down and looks into the water, the other half of her refection still gone. A patch of grass moves and Kiara is hopeful. However a frog jumps out and Kiara sadly moves away. Kovu sees her and is nervous, but then he smiles and approaches her. They happily run to each other and nuzzle. Kiara licks his cheek and runs. Kovu follows after her. Kiara paws some ash at him and sits down with him. Kovu remebers what Simba did and pushes up some ash, reavling a sprout. They nuzzle as some ash blows by. Kovu sees the butterflies so he laughs and chases them. Kiara laughs and joins in. Kiara pins Kovu down and he licks her cheek. They look into the water and their reflections have merged. Kovu comments, "Hey look, we are one." Kiara thinks for a moment and remembers what her father taught her as a cub. Kovu suggests they run away together and start a pride of their own. Kiara chuckles and goes over to nuzzle him saying, "Kovu, we have to go back." Kovu is shocked because they're finally together. Kiara tells him "Our place is with our Pride. If we run away, they'll be divided forever."
Zira and her Outsiders start their descent to the Pride Lands. They walk through a swamp and come out covered in mud. Lighting strikes across the sky and thunder roars as they make their approach. Timon and Pumbaa are in the den arguing about who was supposed to watch Kiara when Simba comes in. They try to explain the situation to him without saying they lost Kiara. Simba figures it out and is outraged Kiara's gone. Zazu flies and tells Simba the Outsiders are on the attack and that it's war. Simba orders Zazu to find Kiara, and tells Timon and Pumbaa to help assemble the lionesses. The Outsiders and Pride Landers get ready for battle. Kovu and Kiara are hurrying in the rain back to The Pride Lands. All the animals rush away for mthe battleground in fear. Zira gets on a high rock. The two Prides face off (Timon and Pumbaa tease them with "Na-na-na-na"). Zira tells Simba it's over and she's dreamed of nothing else in years (Timon remarks she needs a hobby.) Simba tells her it's her last chance to go home. Zira says she is home and orders the Outsiders to attack. Zira watches them fight and gives out commands. Kovu and Kiara see the fighting and hurry towards them. Timon and Pumbaa charge an Outsider, but she roars at them. Kovu and Kiara run over the breaking dam. Kovu almost falls, but manages to make it. Vitani gets on a rock and says "Where's your pretty daughter, Nala?" Nala roars her name and they fight. The Outsiders are chasing Timon and Pumbaa and corner them against a rock. Timon gets on Pumbaa's back and aims his tail like a gun, warning the Outsiders he'll use it.The Outsiders scream and run off. Zira knocks Simba down and the two Prides stop to watch the battle. They're about to fight, but Kovu and Kiara jump between them, facing their respective parent. Kiara tells Simba it has to stop. Kovu wanrs Zira she'll never hurt Kiara or Simba, not while he's there. Simba tells Kiara to stay out of this. Kiara gives a speech "A wise king once told me, We are One. I didn't understand him then..now I do." Simba tries to interrupt, but Kiara continues "Them? Us! Look at them, they are us! What differences do you see?" The rain stops and the sun comes out. Simba smiles and nuzzles Kiara. Zira orders Vitani to attack. Vitani doesn't want too and says she agrees that they need to stop fighting. She goes over to the Pride Lander's side. Zira threatens to kill Vitani which disgusts the Outsiders and they join the Pride Land side. Simba tells her to let it go and that it's time to put the past behind them. Zira roars that she'll never let it go. Suddenly the dam breaks and starts to leak. She tries to attack Simba, but Kiara intercepts and they fall down the cliff. Sima hurries down the cliff after them. Nala warns Simba that the dam broke and the river is flooding over. Kiara tries to help Zira up, but she refuses and ends up slipping and falling into the water and drowns. Simba helps Kiara up. Kovu and Kiara nuzzle each other happily. Simba tells Kovu he was wrong and that he belongs. He leads his Pride (Including the new members) back to Pride rock. They all sit in a circle and Rafiki waves his stick above Kovu and Kiara. Timon and pumbaa cry in joy. Kovu, Kiara, Simba and Nala go to Pride Rock and roar proudly. The wind blows Simba's mane. Mufasa's spirit says the last words: "Well done, my son. We are one."