Deviation Actions
Description
Name: Shetani
Meaning: Demon
Language: Swahili
Gender: Female
Kingdom: The Outlands – Wandering – The Outlands
Generation: 18th
Relatives: Descendant of Ujama, Granddaughter of Mjusi and Queen Chafu, Daughter of King Tembo and Tasa, Sister of Mgomo, Half-sister of Kioo and Akisi, Mate of Unknown, Mother of Mshamba
Voice Actor Suggestion: Whitney Houston
Theme Song: Let me Entertain you by Shakespear’s Sister
Appearances: Originally an alternative name for Vitani, also an extra “Zira-Clone” lioness in the second movie
Fan-fiction Appearances: The Rejected Prince and Perils of the Outlands
Born well out of the running for leadership thanks to her elder brother and later baby brothers, Shetani is lucky in being the daughter as her father never thinks twice about having her in the area when he teaches or scolding her. As much as she upsets and angers everyone, just one quick cry to her daddy and everyone is being crushed beneath her father’s will. Plus, as she is her father’s favourite, Tembo indulges her by joining her in the ‘circle of secrets’ where he tells her and her elder brother Mgomo all his secrets. He knows Shetani learns quickly that her sire was initially illegitimate and only gained position by killing his own brother, loosing his eye in the process. The Outlands were a tough dry place so only the toughest were permitted to survive and everything was a power struggle.
Shetani absorbed this better then her siblings and when their father died in a boarder battle, Mgomo became king and Shetani expected him to slaughter their other brothers. But instead Mgomo sent the cubs away with their mothers to the Pride Lands as a gift for the King, Mufasa, to train as boarder guards or diplomats to breed with the lionesses. Shetani is shocked by her brother’s actions and warns him that they might one day come back and take over, but Mgomo is not done with his plans – he wants to make the Outlands a safe place with a central kingdom and without the nomadic manner that the kingdom was “cursed” into by the Ancient Emperor Kwanza. Shetani is angry at this idea of keeping in one place and ignores her brother’s wishes, gaining a following that go with her often to the boarders and hunt whatever comes their way, no matter age or health. Mgomo is frustrated with his sister but continuously believes it is because she believes in the traditions of their kind.
Then suddenly there is shocking news, their younger brothers have been adopted into the Pride Lands but their mothers were killed by rebellious old allies who were raging against Scar’s inheritance. With interest Mgomo got involved and insisted on his brothers returning, but Scar wants them for his bodyguards and Mgomo is quite scared of the hyena army. To Shetani, this is the ultimate weakness and she informs the lionesses of this, being sturdy ex-rogue types used to fighting to keep places like the Pride Lands free of the massive Rogue male prides, the lionesses agree and none will allow or accept offers to breed with Mgomo. The king cannot understand what is going on until he is killed, alongside their mother, by Shetani in the middle of the night.
Shetani takes the crown and marches to Scar to see her “baby” brothers. She visits and learns about the situation carefully before agreeing that Scar can keep them and in keeping him protected as king. Shetani likes Scar’s charismatic manner and she likes young Zira too… but she can see that it is unlikely Scar will be able to produce anything but a weak son so she intends to find a good mate and produce a beautiful son to take the kingdom from Scar. What better way to remove the curse over the Outlands then to wipe out the legacy of the lion that Kwanza cursed them over? Shetani is hopeful but her breeding attempts with powerful rogues are unsuccessful until she is finally pregnant with a daughter and decides that she must do something else – remain an ally and hope Scar produced a son!
Shetani’s luck is in when Nuka is born and she intends to introduce her daughter to the prince but Scar’s own dissatisfaction is causing problems. When Scar reports her nephew may be chosen, Shetani knows that she can’t have anyone but her own offspring linking to the Pride Lands’ throne so she sends out one of her faithful young lionesses to find the most dangerous rogues they’ve ever fought and lead them to all the lionesses of the Pride Lands. Offering her own faithful lionesses as breeding vessels to these males as a form of alliance and to keep herself safe, Shetani sends the psychotic monstrosities out into the Pride Lands and manages to have her baby brothers murdered…. But not Scar thanks to his hyenas! Shetani goes to Scar with a sob story about her lionesses own wounds to these beasts but Scar is suspicious of her sudden appearance and so gives her a ‘trust’ exercise. Shetani must make war on the Birthing Lands and take out Queen Dwala so as to dishearten the remaining alliances to Sarabi through her sisters.
Her paw forced to prove herself, Shetani goes into battle but is defeated badly, Dwala even rips into her left leg leaving permanent scars. Shetani refuses to face Scar over it but Dwala is not afraid and gathers her sisters to collect Sarabi and take them away. Shetani becomes even more unlucky as Simba arrives soon after and exiles Scar’s followers into her lands and threatening to slaughter any of her lionesses that arrive near his land on sight. The Outlands are massive though, so Shetani does not need to keep near the boarders of the Pride Lands and does her best to make friends with other neighbours, finding a great ally in Kishindo’s lands. This alliance later leads her to the squatting pride of Zira and the Outsiders, whom Shetani welcomes and excepted to rule over them, but Zira wins their brief battle and Shetani accepts this divide in her lands. Amongst their group is the young Kovu however whom Shetani has plans for involving her daughter… offering the position of Prince to him of the Outlands in return for a union, which Zira rejects. Zira wants the Pride Lands and Shetani starts planning how to get the Pride Lands for herself…. She would let Zira’s lot do their job and then she’d kill Zira and Kiara – simple!
Things just never seem to go her way however and Shetani constantly takes out her anger on her own lionesses, scarring and beating them into mindless fighters with her own ferocious attacks. She is eager for battle but makes a point not to get involved in the initial fight against Simba to see if Zira’s son can perform his task. Of course he fails and Shetani arrives late, but just in time to get involved in the war and look good to Mateso and Kishindo in assisting their baby sister. In fact, the war goes very well indeed and Shetani gets the chance to battle not only Pride Landers but some of their allies including the warrior daughters of Dwala, one of which she is able to scar though she also mutilates the others. Shetani is stopped in her tracks however by a strong hit from Kosey, who manages to keep her pinned and therefore stop her troops from fighting. Shetani is released and sent off before Zira’s fall and she intends never to get involved every again… until Mateso finds her and forces her to take care of the surviving Zira.
So it would seem Shetani has not finished her battles against the Pride Lands… just yet.
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Originally Shetani was another name for Vitani in planning for the second Lion King, but because it was considered a little too harsh the name was changed. I’ve decided to keep it for a harsh reason and a harsh character whose another explanation for the various Zira clones in the merchandise for that film as well as the massive army of Outlanders that keeps getting smaller then bigger etc during the final battle of the film.
As you can see in the little box I’ve chosen her colour design from the comic book-coloured outlander lionesses and one of the many Zira lions in the movie, mainly the one that roars to start the battle advance.
Also, Zazu calls Zira’s group Outsiders, I don’t think anyone calls them Outlanders so I made a point that the Outlands were a kingdom once and Zira’s gang are squatting there basically.
Shetani (namesake), Mis-coloured Merchandise & The Lion King © Disney
Shetani’s story & Characterisation © 