Hellooooooooooooooooooooooo everyone! Here is chapter eight!

Disclaimer: I own nothing related to Lion King, Monster Hunter or any other franchises referenced. I own only my OCs.

Monster suggestions are still up!

Also, this is my first story to reach over a hundred follows! Still mind blown by the attention.

ENJOY!

The Pride Lands

The day had entered the early hours of evening, and Rafiki had not left Troy's side since Simba and his family departed home. In the time since, the old mandrill had applied more healing herbs onto Troy's unconscious form. After deeming it was enough, Rafiki performed one more look over of the Glavenus-ized human. His breathing had returned to normal and his wounds began to show signs of healing. Rafiki took some comfort in the fact, but his worries would not be completely relieved until Troy was standing on his feet. The Glavenus-ized human was still young, in human years, and had his entire life ahead of him. Not to mention that Kiara would be devastated if Troy were to pass away only a few days after meeting him.

Rafiki perked his head up when a gust of wind breezed by him. Most animals would simply dismiss this as a force of nature, but Rafiki wasn't most animals. It was how the great kings and queens of the past communicate with him. And right now, they were whispering him a warning of imminent danger.

Heeding the warning, Rafiki clutched his stick and whirled around, gazing out at the vast land. "Come out! I know you are dere!" He called out sternly as he stepped away from Troy's unconscious form.

Immediately, six lionesses appeared through the tall grass, their eyes fixed on Rafiki. "Impressive, old one." One of the lionesses, who Rafiki presumed to be the leader, commented. "Age hasn't seemed to dull your senses. We have business with your friend. Step aside, and we'll let you live."

So, these lionesses were here to finish what the Rathian started. Rafiki was confident that they could not get through Troy's armor, but he could not afford to take chances. Smiling, the old mandrill said, "You know I will not simply submit to your demands."

"Fine." Kora sneered. "You can die with him."

Instantly, Kora lunged forward with a fierce snarl, teeth bared and claws unsheathed. Having anticipated the attack, Rafiki jumped upward, bashing his stick on Kora's head as she passed under him. Kora grunted before she sprawled across the ground. Another lioness charged, and Rafiki whacked his stick at the lioness' face. The lioness shook her head with a snarl before swiping her paw at Rafiki, to which the mandrill evaded effortlessly. Another lioness sprung off the ground from behind, hoping to catch the mandrill off guard. Rafiki knew she was coming and banked to the right. The lioness' eyes widened, unable to readjust her trajectory before she crashed into one of her companions.

"Watch it!" The first lioness hissed.

"You watch it!" The second snapped back.

Another lioness snapped her jaws at Rafiki, who jumped to the left before kicking the lioness in the face. Kora roared loudly as she moved to engage Rafiki. The lioness threw her paws at the old mandrill, hoping to dig her claws into him. Her attempts were for naught as Rafiki simply evaded her attacks before bashing the top of her head with his stick.

Kora shook off the pain and glared at Rafiki. "You fight well for an old mandrill." She noted.

Rafiki smiled. "It is best to never underestimate de elderly."

Growling, Kora resumed her onslaught, her hatred for this mandrill growing stronger by the second.

Blackness, that's all there was. A void that stretched out indefinitely before him, no end in sight. His senses slowly awakened, but his eyes remained shut. Was he dead or alive? The breezing of the wind indicated was indeed alive. But what had happened? His memory was a haze, only being able to remember certain aspects. He was at the water hole with three people… no… not people… animals. He remembered talking before getting into a fight with… what did he get into a fight with? It was something… familiar. Something with… wings? Yes, it did have wings.

Then, as hard as a rock, it all came back to him.

Going to the watering hole with Kiara…

Timon and Pumbaa showing up uninvited…

Scaring off Maxion and his cronies…

The Rathian striking from the skies…

Collapsing to the ground, weakened by the Rathian's poison…

Catching a glimpse of Kiara's worried expression before his world went black…

KIARA!

With newfound strength, Troy's eyes snapped opened, hissing lightly as he felt pain course through his body. The sounds of growls and yells reached his ears. Troy craned his head in the direction of the sounds and, to his amazement, witnessed Rafiki standing his ground against several lionesses. Troy was impressed by the mandrill's ability to fight against multiple attackers. However, the Glavenus-ized human soon became alarmed when he spotted a lioness sticking to the outskirts, no doubt waiting for the opportunity to strike. His worries became confirmed when the lioness began to stride ahead. Troy looked to Rafiki. The mandrill was too busy fighting off two other lionesses to notice the one slowly stalking toward him.

Hatred soon filled Troy's veins. He utterly despised those who choose to strike when their enemies' backs are turned. It was the tactic of a coward. "Oh no you don't." He hissed into his mind as he fought through the pain to stand up on his feet.

Rafiki batted away the two offending lionesses with his stick. A roar reached his ears and he whirled around to see a lioness lunging for him. He prepared to evade, but it wasn't necessary when a pair of jaws came out of nowhere and clamped down on the lunging lioness, tearing a deathly scream from her. Rafiki looked to his savior and smiled. Troy towered over the mandrill and the other lionesses, the cowardly one still in the unescapable grasp of his maw. Troy then reared his head to the left and hurled the dead lioness several yards away. With deliberate slowness, Troy looked back at the enemy lionesses, a fatal ire in his eyes. The base of his back spikes and leg veins glowed red, primordial anger flooding through him. Fortunately for the lionesses, looks couldn't kill, otherwise they would be smoldering corpses.

"Leave. Now." Troy growled, his voice containing a deadly coldness that would make even the ice wyvern Velkhana jealous.

Kora contemplated her options. The warrior part of her wanted to stay and fight, to prove to this beast that she was no coward. But another part of her was advising her that it was best to retreat and live to fight another day. Troy maybe injured, but he was still bigger and stronger than herself and her companions.

Kora was so deep in her thoughts, she didn't notice that her friends had already fled the scene. Only when did she sense she was alone did Kora turn and fled as well, knowing that Zira was not going to be pleased with their failure.

Troy glared at the fleeing lionesses for a few seconds as the base of his back spikes and leg veins reverted back to their normal color before turning to Rafiki, who still had that smile on his face. "For someone of your age, you fight pretty well." He remarked.

Rafiki's smile remained glued to his face. "Like I said to dem, it is best not to underestimate de elderly."

Troy shrugged, seeing no reason to question that. "So, I take it you had something to do with curing the poison in me?"

"No." Rafiki said, and Troy tilted his head in confusion. "I applied healing herbs to your wounds, but fighting off de poison? Dat was all you." He pointed at Troy to better clarify his statement.

Troy nodded before asking, "How long was I out?"

"A few hours at de most." Rafiki answered.

"And why were you fighting those lionesses?"

"Dey were here to kill you. I could not allow dat to happen."

It didn't take long for Troy to come to a conclusion. "Zira sent them. Somehow she discovered my condition and sent her goons to kill me. Huh, what's wrong, Zira? Too scared to do your own dirty work? But this means one of two things; Zira either has a scout prowling through the Pride Lands, or Simba has a traitor in his midst."

"I think it would be best for you do head back to Pride Rock." Rafiki advised, bringing Troy out of his private musings. "Kiara has been very worried about you."

"I'm sure she has." Troy said as he craned his head to look at the corpse of the Rathian laying a few yards away. More questions burned in his head as he stared at the lifeless body. "One more question…" He started as he looked back at Rafiki, only to find the old mandrill gone. "Damn it. Again, with the ninja vanish."

Shaking his head, Troy turned and trudged toward Pride Rock, hissing as pain shot through his entire body. Halfway into his walk, the Glavenus-ized human paused, smirking before he opened his maw and roared, knowing full and well that the residents of Pride Rock would hear him, especially a certain cub.

Pride Rock

ROAR!

Everyone's eyes went to the den entrance upon hearing that familiar roar. With a gasp, Kiara immediately sprung onto her paws and darted out of the den. Although hearing that roar was enough confirmation, she needed to see with her own eyes. Upon reaching the edge, her prayers were answered as soon as she sighted Troy, alive and well, lumbering toward her home. Relief flooding through her veins, Kiara quickly traversed down the rocks and broke into a sprint upon touching the dirt.

"Troy!" Kiara shouted as she ran toward her friend.

Seeing her, Troy quickened his pace, but immediately regretted it as the pain surged to a new level. The Glavenus-ized human returned to a walking pace, taking it easy to alleviate the pain. He lowered his head to allow Kiara to leap on him, as the cub began to sob in relief.

"It's alright, Kiara." Troy soothed. "I'm okay."

"I thought you were gonna die." Kiara croaked, and Troy winced. The fact that he was indeed very close to dying was beginning to sink into his mind. He counted himself lucky to avoid the jaws of death.

"See? The big guy's fine, Kiara." Timon remarked, riding on Pumbaa's back, as Nala and Xena approached while Kiara hopped off Troy.

"How do you feel, Troy?" Nala queried.

"I feel like I've been run over by a herd of elephants, but overall, I feel fine." Troy answered.

"That was quite a fight you had with that…" Xena trailed off. "What did you call it?"

"A Rathian." Troy supplied.

"Are there more of them?" Simba as he approached.

Troy's eyes went to him. "Can't say for sure, but it's a possibility."

Simba was silent for a few moments before letting out a light sigh. "I suppose we owe you our thanks again. Had you been killed first, we would have been helpless."

Troy smirked teasingly. "Does this mean I have your trust now, Simba?"

Simba snorted, though it was in amusement. "Hardly. Though I suppose this is a first step in earning it."

Troy simply nodded, before remembering something. "There's something else you should know." The others looked at him expectantly. "When I came to, I saw Rafiki fending off several of Zira's people."

The Pride Landers were startled by the revelation, while Simba's face contorted with anger. "What were those no good doers up to?" Pumbaa asked with a frown.

"They were there to kill me." Troy stated seriously. "Somehow, Zira knew I was vulnerable and saw fit to take advantage of it. Which means one of two things; Zira has someone scouting the Pride Lands, or, worst case scenario," his eyes locked onto Simba, "you have a traitor in your midst." Simba started. A traitor within his pride? In the confines of his home? So close to his family? It was a very unsettling thought. "Now, if you'll excuse, I'm gonna go lay down."

And with that, Troy sauntered off, Kiara following him, with the others following them. However, Simba was frozen place, Troy's words echoing strongly in his mind. "You have a traitor in your midst." It was very likely that Zira instructed one of her own to remain in Simba's pride prior to him banishing Zira and her ilk to the Outlands. But who, exactly?

Brushing those thoughts aside, Simba turned and headed home.

The Outlands

"RAAAAAAH!"

Kora winced as Zira's furious scream loudly echoed throughout the den. Just as Kora predicted, her leader was not too pleased to hear of their failure to eliminate the wounded Troy.

Kora watched as Zira paced back and forth, radiating an aura of seething anger while low growls escaped through her gritted teeth. Zira stopped pacing abruptly, then whirled around. "This is outrageous, Kora!" She shouted as she stalked over to the other lioness, quickly closing the distance between them, fury blazing in her eyes. It was taking all of Zira's restraint not to strike Kora in the face. "Not only did you fail to kill Troy, but you allowed that mandrill to make fools out of you!"

Kora wisely remained silent, letting Zira rant. Shaking her head angrily, Zira sneered, "Get out, and don't show your face to me until morning." Kora scowled, but still said nothing before she rose and strode out of the den. Zira growled before resuming to pace back and forth. She could not believe Kora's report. They had one target. One! A target who was wounded and vulnerable, but they couldn't even deal with that blasted mandrill. And now, Troy was back on his feet. Their opportunity to eliminate their biggest obstacle had failed.

After a while, Zira's anger built up to a level in which it could no longer be restrained. Unleashing her fury, Zra roared as she unsheathed her claws and swiped them at the granite wall behind her, the sparks created briefly illuminating the den.

After a few moments, Zira managed to calm herself. "This is merely a setback." She thought resolutely. "I will not allow some beast to deny my son from carrying on Scar's legacy." She then ventured further into the den, disappearing in the shadows.

Pride Rock

BURP!

"Oooh, I think you just topped Simba in being able to belch the loudest."

"Add that to my list of achievements."

Initially, it was just Troy and Kiara watching the sunset. Eventually, Timon and Pumbaa joined them. Which brings them to this moment.

"Why don't you try, Kiara?" Pumbaa enticed.

"No thanks." Kiara replied immediately.

Troy chuckled at the fastness of Kiara's response. Then, Timon decided to strike up a conversation. Turning to Troy, the meerkat started, "Say, big guy, you never did tell us where ya from." Troy went rigid, something Timon noticed, but chose not to make a comment on.

"Yeah, we want to know more about you." Pumbaa added, Kiara nodding in agreement.

Troy sighed. He knew it was only a matter of time before that question came along. But he wasn't about to reveal his true origins, or else his smaller companions might think him insane. "I come from a land far, far, far away." He answered, inwardly chuckling at his reference to Shrek 2.

"What was it like there?" Kiara inquired curiously.

Troy thought fast. "It was a nataurally beautiful place. Lots of trees, long rivers, plenty of food to go around." Timon and Pumbaa shifted uncomfortably at the implications of food.

"Kinda like our old place, minus the animals to eat." Timon quipped nervously.

"What about your parents?" Kiara asked.

The Glavenus-ized human hesitated. The subject of his parents was a delicate one. Steeling himself, Troy started, "My mother was very wonderful." Melissa Andrews Winter, overall, was a kind and caring woman. But if someone were to incite her, they would find the maelstrom of a category five hurricane buried beneath the surface. Sadly, when Troy was only four years old, Melissa died in a tragic car accident. After the incident, Troy was taken in and raised by his beloved Aunt Miranda. "She was kind, but could be tough when she wanted to be."

"And your papa?" Pumbaa asked.

Troy closed his eyes briefly. "Sadly, I never knew my father. He… passed away before I was born." He explained somberly. A silence fell upon the group. "Passed away you say, Troy? More like he was brutally killed." He mused privately.

Felix James Winter was once a well-respected sergeant in the United States Army, known for his courage and leadership. Felix was stationed in Afghanistan when he was killed. On a hot summer day, Felix's convoy was ambushed on their way back to base by an unidentified group of hostile attackers. Felix was among those killed. In his final moments, Felix's thoughts went to his wife… and his unborn child. Just a few days before his death, Felix received a letter from Melissa, saying she was pregnant. The news brought Felix immense joy, knowing he was going to be a father. But destiny is a fickle mistress.

"Well," Timon said softly, bringing Troy out of his musings, "if it makes you feel any better, I never knew my old man either." Troy grunted, but said nothing else.

Kiara felt sympathetic for her friend. Although she personally does not know what it is like to lose someone, she imagined it must feel awful. Another short silence fell upon them, before the cub asked, "Troy, why did you leave your home?"

Timon and Pumbaa stared at the Glavenus-ized human, curious to know why as well. "Too many painful memories." Troy answered. "Plus, I wanted to see the world. Staying in one place for so long makes me feel confined." And with that, the rest of their sunset gazing went on in comfortable silence.

The Elephant Graveyard

All was deathly quiet in the Elephant Graveyard. Then it was shattered when the red and black portal opened again. Just mere seconds later, a beast strode through, the portal disappearing once the creature entered the new world.

The beast walked on four legs, with each foot sporting double rows of razor sharp claws. The creature is covered in red scales and bony protrusions that resemble muscle tissue and bone. A particularly bony tail waved around absentmindedly behind the creature, and its semi-elongated snouted housed frighteningly sharp teeth.

An Odogaron.

The creature sniffed the unfamiliar air before letting out an unearthly howl before dashing off into the graveyard with incredible speed.

As always, thanks for reading! Please leave a review, and stay tuned for more!