The following story is a crossover, using characters from Disney's "Lion King" movies, and characters and concepts from the Japanese series "Garo". I do not own the rights to any of these characters, and I have no intention whatsoever of profiting from this story.

That being said, enjoy!

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It was another cloudy day on the barren lands outside of pride rock. Scavengers crawled and flew from spot to spot, each one looking for another carcass, as a possible future meal stumbled onto the scene.

Nuka breathed heavily as he walked slowly. He had just recently pulled himself up from the spot where he had supposedly died, being there for…what seemed like a really long time, causing him much pain as he stumbled along the rocks and torn earth, looking all around for anyone he knew, searching for his mother, his sister, his brother, but finding nobody.

Slowly the realization came that he had been abandoned, as he groaned and fell to the ground, still breathing heavily. A single tear welled up in his eye as he saw himself as abandoned and forgotten now…and it seemed he would have to spend the last moments of his life with this fact on his mind, as he slowly closed his eyes…

"Hey!…" a voice suddenly called out…one that Nuka didn't recognize, as he kept his eyes closed.

"Hey…wake up!…" The voice got closer, but still, Nuka saw no point in opening his eyes.

That was until he heard another "Wake up!" followed by a slight swat to the back.

Nuka groaned and opened his eyes, turning over to see another male lion looking down at him.

"What are you doing out here?" the lion tilted his head at Nuka. "Where's your pride?…"

Nuka slowly sighed and lay on the ground still. "Pride…I don't have one…not anymore…"

The lion's eyes widened a bit as he just looked at Nuka, his expression slowly softening, almost as if expressing a sense of sympathy for this poor, pathetic looking Lion on the ground in front of him.

The lion then moved and began to nudge Nuka upwards. "Get on your feet…"

Nuka grunted a bit. "Why?…"

The Lion grunted and nudged again. "Because I don't believe in giving up…and as long as you're around me, you're not going to either. Now get up, on your feet…"

Nuka sighed, realizing that resisting was useless, and slowly stepped up onto all four feet.

"Good…" The Lion smiled. "You've taken the first step to being a true survivor…what is your name?"

The weakened lion looked to him. "Nuka…"

The lion nodded. "Good to meet you Nuka. I am called Kiume."

Nuka nodded softly as Kiume looked him over, seeing all manner of scrapes and bruises on his body.

"My word…" Kiume narrowed his eyes. "What on earth did you go through to get to this place?"

Nuka sighed a bit. "I crawled out of this space…I was pinned under a lot of logs that fell on top of me. For a moment I thought I had died under the weight."

Kiume looked at Nuka. "That's quite a feat…being able to find your way out of such a predicament…I doubt I could have survived that…"

Nuka sighed. "So what?…I've got no family…no pride…" He didn't know what happened to his mother or his sister, and frankly, he didn't care at this point.

Kiume nodded. "It's a hard fact to come to grips with…but its no reason to give up living…every day you exist on this earth is a blessing…and it's a miracle you survived a sure death. All you need to do now is find your purpose to exist…your reason for being."

Nuka narrowed his eyes a bit. "Do you have one?…"

Kiume nodded gently. "Oh yes…quite a good one too…I am a protector…"

Nuka looked around him at the barren lands around the two lions. "Not much here to protect, don't you think?…"

Kiume chuckled. "You'd be surprised at what it is I'm protecting…"

"Oh?" Nuka grew more interested. "What is it you're protecting then?…"

"All in good time…" Kiume smiled as he turned and walked off. "Come along now…I have some food gathered up nearby…a lion like you who's just cheated death must have a hell of an appetite, yes?"

Nuka nodded and smiled a bit. He'd forgotten all about his appetite, but he was indeed quite hungry. The dirty and scratched up lion followed the lone traveler, as he slowly walked in front of Kiume, heading in the direction of the gathered food as Kiume simply stood back and observed…

Suddenly, a small, metallic sounding voice emanated from under Kiume's mane, not loud enough for Nuka to hear.

"Are you sure you know what you're doing?"

Kiume looked down an object he had around his neck, hidden under his mane…it was a strange silver necklace, with an object in the middle resembling a lion's skull…the skull's jaw moved as it talked to Kiume.

"There's something about him, Zaruba." Kiume walked to another area as Nuka found the food and ate hungrily. "Maybe it's because he reminds me of who I used to be so much."

"I see." Zaruba responded. "So you sympathize with his situation."

"Not only that, but the way he got out of that area with the logs…I mean an entire pile of logs fell on him and nearly crushed him, but he still didn't die…it takes a lot of spirit to survive something like that."

"So what does that mean to you?" Zaruba enquired.

"I don't know" Kiume furrowed his brow. "But it could mean there's a fighting spirit buried in that admittedly pathetic exterior. Perhaps I should have a little talk with the girls."

"I can see what you're getting at, Kiume…" Zaruba spoke again. "But I think you might be jumping to conclusions, and I feel the 'girls' might be inclined to agree with me."

Kiume sighed "Maybe. But I'm not going to sit back and simply ignore my instincts." With that, he made sure Zaruba was still well hidden, before going back to eat with Nuka…

Time passed, and the two were now at a small pond, as Kiume was using his paw to wash a slightly struggling Nuka, who coughed and sputtered a bit as he growled a bit unhappily.

"What's the point of all this, Kiume?" he protested

Kiume shook his head. "A true survivor should have a bit more of a dignified look than you do, now kindly hold still." He ran a paw along his short mane, and attempted to straighten out his crooked whiskers.

Nuka sighed, seeing no point in struggling now. Nothing else in his life was working out too well before this point anyway. "Oh, very well…guess I've got nothing to lose, really."

Kiume smiled. "Now that's a good attitude Nuka. You should always try to keep an open mind on some things." He finished and looked Nuka over as he dried off. "Ok, that's decent for now…a little more work, and maybe we can make you even more appealing to a lioness' eyes."

"Whoa, whoa…" Nuka narrowed his eyes. "Aren't we thinking a little too far ahead for that?"

Kiume chuckled. "Well, you never know when opportunities are going to come along, Nuka…I sure wasn't prepared when I met Zina."

Nuka smiled "Ohhhh so you do have someone, huh? Where is she?"

"Oh, she's back home, in the west lands, patiently awaiting my return." Kiume walked away from the pond as Nuka followed.

Nuka looked to him curiously. "What are you doing all the way out from there?"

Kiume smiled "Well…that's a bit of a long story, and I think you should get some rest before you hear it. I'm gonna take you to see someone tomorrow anyway."

"Who?" Nuka enquired.

"Friends of mine…very good friends…" he laid himself down on a patch of grass nearby and rested, as Nuka slowly nodded, feeling sleepy himself as he flopped down on the grass and closed his eyes…

Time passed as Nuka dreamt something awful, his voice talking to another's in his head.

"Nuka, you fool!"

"Mother, stay away!"

"You were always weak."

"Mother, don't say that!"

"You are not my son…"

"Mother, don't!

"Your are NOT my son!"

In flash, Nuka sat up quickly on the spot of grass where he slept, panting heavily. He looked around him, realizing it was all a dream as he sighed. He looked to his left, and realized that Kiume was no longer sleeping in his spot.

Nuka shrugged, and figured he was just off answering the call of nature, as he slowly laid back down…before hearing a voice call to him.

"Hey…"

The voice sounded female, as he looked up to see a pretty lioness staring at him.

Nuka sat up quickly. "Oh!…hi there…"

The lioness smiled, almost slyly. "I'm a bit lost…could you point me out to a watering hole nearby?"

Nuka thought to himself as he got back onto his feet. "Hmmmm…well, there is a pond not too far from where we are now, that should be just as good…"

"Excellent." The lioness grinned. "Lead the way."

Nuka nodded and smiled as he lead the Lioness down the hill to the pond, thinking his clean-up from Kiume was helping him with the females already, a bit excited as he planned to do something he had never dreamed of…talk to a lioness outside of his family!

The lioness simply grinned as she took a drink from the water, and looked up at Nuka. "You like me, don't you?"

Nuka just froze up and sputtered. "I…uhhhh…hehe…uhhhhhh…" he blushed like mad.

"You do…" she smiled as she got up and walked to him. "I can sense it in you." She slowly began to nuzzle up to him!

Nuka just froze more, breathing erratically as the lioness rubbed up to him more, purring. "You love the feel of it, don't you? The soft fur…the supple flesh beneath…the pretty face…all you males are alike…so enamored of such simple charms…"

She grinned more as her smile took on a much more menacing look in the shadows. "…Such easy prey, really…" her voice grew distorted and ugly as well!

Nuka gasped and tried to run off, before the lioness suddenly tackled him with amazing strength! He was now pinned under the weight of this scary lioness looking at him, her eyes now glowing red as her teeth grew longer and sharper!

"Ohhhhh no…" she spoke in her distorted voice. "You shall not be running from me, foolish male." Nuka panted in fear as she sniffed him. "Mmmmm good…your scent is ripe with fear. Fear makes a male taste so rich and succulent."

Nuka's eyes widened. "But you're a lioness…surely you don't mean to eat one of your own kind!."

The lioness shook her head and growled happily. "Ohhhh indeed I do…indeed I do!" With that she opened her large jaw, and leaned down to take a big bite out of Nuka's jugular…

Nuka screamed in terror, before something came out of the shadows and tackled the lioness! He sat up quickly to see that it was Kiume who had over-powered her!

Kimue stood across from the lioness as she growled and got back to her feet, snarling at Kiume as Nuka ran over to his side.

"Kiume! It's about time you came back! This lioness is out of her mind!"

Suddenly, a familiar metallic voice came from Kiume's Mane. "That's no mere lioness my friend…"

Nuka looked left and right for the voice. "Who said that?"

"My friend is right." Kiume said, as he revealed Zaruba from under his mane. "This creature is what we call a 'Horror'!"

"Horror? What? What is this?" Nuka looked at him and the necklace, very confused.

"I'll explain this all later. Right now…duck!" Kiume pulled Nuka down as the lioness suddenly vomited up a mass of black gunk, which burned the ground some, once it hit.

Kiume pushed Nuka to the side so he wouldn't get hurt, as he leapt away from another barrage of black gunk.

Zaruba spoke once more. "That is the horror called "Syrena"…she lures males to her with feminine charms, eating them at their most vulnerable moments."

Syrena noticed the speaking from Zaruba now, and licked her lips. "So…you are in possession of a madou necklace? This should be a very interesting meal indeed." She laughed a bit as Kiume readied himself for something.

"Show me what you're made of, male…" She roared. With that, her body began to twist and shift before his and Nuka's eyes, bones crackling as her skin changed a bit, her body going onto two feet as her form became almost humanoid, eyes still glowing red as she took a form closer to her normal demonic Horror body!

Syrena growled and readied the sharp claws on her hands as Nuka backed away more, looking at Kiume. "What are you doing? Are you actually thinking of fighting that thing!"

Kiume just looked on at the horror. "Just watch me…"

Nuka blinked, and looked on, as Kiume slowly drew a circle in the earth with his claw, before stepping into the middle of it with the same paw, causing a shaft of light to suddenly shoot up from the spot!

Syrena roared again, letting her opponent prepare himself as Nuka watched on with awe, an odd aura of light now surrounding Kiume as his body slowly began to change in front of Nuka's eyes.

Syrena then decided she had seen enough, before roaring and running up to where Kiume was standing, only to be smacked by a large golden hand that came out from nowhere, making her fall back!

The horror squealed in pain as Nuka looked back at where Kiume had been standing. The same golden arm pulled back, to reveal a large, and vicious looking mask, resembling a golden lion's head with its large fangs bared, it's muzzle in a permanent snarl as Kiume let out an unearthly roar underneath it!

Nuka was in awe of the figure Kiume had changed into, a humanoid form dressed in an imposing and powerful looking knight's armor, which glowed as it was golden from head to foot.

Syrena hissed at the knight, spewing another load of black gunk from her mouth as it flew towards him, simply dissolving once it touched his shining armor! She let loose another barrage, only to have it all dissolve on his armor again. Frustrated, she vomited another load onto her claws, before hurling it at the knight! The knight simply raised his arm, as the ball of gunk exploded on his gauntlet, making pieces fly everywhere as Nuka ducked to avoid some of them.

The horror roared as it ran towards the knight, suddenly stretching her arm out to grab him, before he stepped back and reached into the large scabbard on his side, pulling out a huge broadsword he could wield in one hand, as it made a ringing sound upon its unsheathing. He jumped to avoid a few of the horror's grabs for him, before grabbing her wrist, and bringing the sword down, easily severing her arm!

Nuka looked on in awe of the knight's strength, as Syrena squealed and roared loudly at the loss of her limb. Angry, she completely threw away her lioness façade, ripping off all the flesh and fur as her full demonic form was now revealed, unfurling her large wings as she took to the sky, hissing as her small horns grew from her head.

She flew down, reaching out to strike the knight as he soon took his sword and jumped up to meet her in mid-air, having great agility in this armor as well, as he brought up his sword before they collided…the blade slashed through her middle like butter, completely carving the horror in half as her form soon exploded thereafter, a shower of black blood and sinews raining down into the pond below, as it all slowly dissolved.

With that, Nuka slowly got back onto his feet, just staring at the knight as he walked slowly towards him.

"Just who in the world are you?" Nuka managed to finally say.

"I told you…I'm Kiume." The knight answered, his voice echoing a little in the armor, before it suddenly vanished in a flash, leaving Kiume in his familiar form near Nuka. "But as you can see, that's not all of who I am."

Nuka nodded slowly, as he finally saw Zaruba up close. "And what is that?"

Zaruba spoke up as Nuka jumped a bit. "I am Zaruba. I am a madou necklace. I help your friend here in tracking down Horrors…Demon beasts that live in the underworld, but often find ways to come to the earth, and devour or possess any of the living they can find."

"I see." Nuka's eyes widened. "And you two spend your time hunting these things?"

Kiume nodded as Zaruba spoke up once more. "It is written in the scolls of the fates…'Where there is light, shadows lurk, and fear reigns…but by the blade of knights, the world was given hope'."

"Knights?" Nuka narrowed his eyes to Kiume.

"Yes." Kiume answered. "I am a makai knight…the golden knight, known as Garo."

Nuka just looked on and blinked a bit as he rubbed his head a bit with a paw. "How do I know that I'm not still dreaming here?"

Kiume laughed as he began to walk back up to their sleeping spot. "Try to go back to sleep then… if it is a dream, you'll probably wake yourself up in the process."

Nuka nodded slowly as he followed his new companion and his strange talking trinket.

"Trust me, Nuka. After you've gotten a good night's sleep, this will all start making more sense." Kiume smiled, laying back down and going to sleep almost immediately.

"Hmmmm…" Nuka mused as he saw Kiume already asleep. "Already out…I guess slaying an ugly monster will do that to you…"

With that, Nuka began to drift off as well, part of him hoping this was all a dream, but another part of him too intrigued to want to wake up from it all, if it really was.