Shape Changer is The Lion King fanfic written by Fiygon. It is about a thirteen-year-old boy named Daniel, who had been an aspiring zoologist. While out in the Savanah, he ends up losing his family to poachers and ends up alone. Eventually, after reducing their daughter, Kiara, he is taken in by Simba and Nala. From here, he tries to process his emotions of grief and pondering his place in a lion pride, he somehow finds himself with the ability to turn into a lion cub, albeit, strangely, a white one. From here, he tries to figure out his identity and place in life, but unfortunately, his unique power starts attracting unwanted attention from the pride of other white lions...While this story is one of the fandom's "human in lion pride" stories, it plays with the concept by having the protagonist be able to shift between forms. Additionally, it is set in an AU from the movies.
It can be read here: https://www.fanfiction.net/s/13867321/1/Shape-Changer
Warning, unmarked spoilers.
- Abusive Parents: Sheylra, most definetly. Niru's father, Miele, is implied to have been one as well, though he seems to regret it in the present.
- Subverted with Niru and Makazi. At first, they seem to be this, but it turns out to be an act they are forced to put on in front of Shelyra, who seems to expect this behavior of them. Both keep up the act in her presence but drop it the second she is gone. Makazi outright feels bad about hurting Daniel while doing this, as well.
- Bait-and-Switch: When introduced, Niru and Makazi, who are Daniel's caretakers in the Nchi Kavu, seem to be abusive, coercing him with threats to obey Shelyra's demands, and even throwing him across a room to and injuring one of his legs. Then, right after Sheylra leaves their house, Niru berates Makazi for taking the act too far, and immediately drop the act. It turns out they were only putting on a facade of cruelty while in front of Sheylra, who seems to demand they act this way, lest she inflicts nasty punishments on them. Both are quite kind.
- Big Bad: Sheylra, the queen of the Nchi Kavu.
- Child Eater: The hyenas, Shenzi, Banzai, and Ed are introduced trying to eat Kiara in the Elephant Graveyard, just like their introduction scene in the first movie. During this scene, they even try to eat Daniel. Later, after Daniel has transformed into a lion cub for the first time and ran off, they find him and attempt to eat him again.
- Damsel in Distress: Kiara gets into trouble a lot.
- Distressed Dude: Daniel also gets into trouble as much as Kiara. To boot, he has been nearly killed by poachers, nearly eaten by hyenas twice, and willing taken captive by the Nchi Kavu, although his caretakers were nice to him here.
- Happily Adopted: It takes a bit, but Daniel comes to see Simba, Nala, Kiara and the rest of the Pridelanders as a true family to him. Immediately, most were kind and sympathetic to him as well.Niru and Makazi want to do this with Daniel as well. During the Harvest Festival, a friend of theirs suggests they formally adopt Daniel. After Daniel is injured by another cub they declare him their son, without asking him. To be fair, he had accidentally called Niru "mama" beforehand, and was already growing attached to them.
- Involuntary Shapeshifting: Daniel has a hard time controlling his transformation from a human and lion cub.
- Light Is Not Good: The Nchi Kavu pride are the primary antagonists and is composed of many cruel or ruthless lions. This gets complicated later when Daniel is taken to their pride's home. Apparently, plenty of good lions exist within the Nchi Kavu and most of their civilians seem pretty reasonable. Even Niru, the queen's daughter and apparent heir, is an extremely kind lioness.
- Mama Bear: Nala is very protective of Kiara, as well as Daniel. Niru as well. Best demonstrated when she tells off her father (who is implied to have been abusive or at least have done nasty things) that he will never be around her cubs. Said cubs being her unborn one, and Daniel, who she developed motherly feelings towards.
- Comes full swing during the Harvest Festival, after another cub break's Daniel's injured paw. Niru, as well as Makazi, intervene and tell off the cub for hurting him. After that, she heals him and declares she will not let Daniel out of her sight again.
- Older Than They Look: In this universe, lions, or at least the pridelanders, live decades longer than they do in real life. This is applicable to Daniel's lion cub form as well; despite being a teenager as a human, his lion cub form is noted to be the equivalent of a ten-month-old cub. Kiara even considers him a younger brother because of this.
- Papa Wolf: Like in canon, Simba is very protective of his daughter, Kiara. He extends this to his adopted son, Daniel.
- Parents as People": Simba and Nala try their best for their daughter and adoptive son, but are not perfect. During the scene where Nala wants to ask Daniel to formally join the pride, she chooses her words rather poorly.
- Parental Substitute : Niru and Makazi while Daniel is in the Nchi Kavu oasis. Though Sheylra intends this to be temporary, they both act like parents to him and even seem interested in adopting him. Niru outright calls Daniel her cub at one point and is clearly exhibiting motherly feeling towards him. Niru even declares him her son during the Harvest Festival.
- Token Human: Played with and Zig-zagged. Other humans are in fact seen in the story, but only at the very beginning. Daniel is the only major human character in the plot. At times, however, he is in the form of lion cub, so the "human" part is only sometimes applicable.
