Welcome! I've been planning for this chapter for some time. It was the original idea that bloomed into this fic. It wasn't even a full idea, just a frame work. Quick warning, I'm not gonna hide the fact that lions eat or animals. Disney might not show it because it's intended to be family friendly but I'm throwing is some realism to the mix.
Disclaimer: I only own my ocs.
Chapter 8: Last Dinosaur
Pride Lands
Zane was watching Aqua as she wheeled about in the air. It had been a few hours and she was a natural at flying. In the back of his mind a voice reminded him that she looked stunning as a snow phoenix. He blushed and pushed the thought aside.
He was perched in a tree that sat in the sea of grass just recovering from a drought. There was trees like this scattered across the savannah. Aqua called out. "Zane! There's locals cornered near the watering hole!" Zane took flight and followed Aqua.
The Watering hole
"can't we talk about this?" Timon the meerkat asks as he cowered behind Pumbaa who had lump on his head from the rock the hyenas dropped on him. The three Hyenas licked their lips as they boxed him in. "Boys, you hear that? He wants to talk about it!" Shenzi the leader said mockingly as her clan members laughed at what she said.
"You see, you made a fool of us." Banzei snarled as he remembered how the warthog had defeated them with a fart of all things. The last one, Ed just laughed crazily. "how shall we eat them?" The leader asked. From above Zane yelled "how about no!" The hyenas scattered and fled after Zane lit their tails on fire.
"We'll get you for this!" Banzei yelled. Timon feeling brave yelled "You better run! You fleabags!" He dusts off his paws as if he was the one to make them flee. Pumbaa groaned and asked "why is there fix birds and three of you?" Timon turned around saying "I'm not sure about birds but there is only one me."
Aqua landed behind him saying "That'd be us. He must be concussed." Timon jumped and spun around as Zane landed next to Aqua. "EEKK! Don't scare me like that!" He said as his heart raced. Zane chuckled. "Thanks for helping us. My name is Timon and this big lug is Pumbaa. What brings you to the Pride Lands other than scaring the thieving fleabags?" Timon said inspecting them.
Aqua answered "I am Aqua and this is Zane. We come seeking the one called Rafiki. Do you know where to find him?" Timon scratches his back and sticks the flea he found into his mouth eating. "I know that name. Hey Pumbaa do we knew a Rafiki?" Pumbaa blinking says "Isn't that Simba's monkey uncle?" With a snap, Timon says "Maybe. Let's ask Simba. Come on!" He gestures for them to follow. Zane and Aqua look at each other then follow.
Pride Rock
As they approached Pride Rock a hornbill flies down. "Hold it! You can't just bring strangers here! What if they..." He trails off and bows deeply "Your lordship! I didn't know you'd be visiting! And is this loving companion your betrothed?" He said as both Zane and Aqua blushed at the second question. "What do you mean lord?" Zane asked. "Because you have been granted the honor of being the lord of sky. There is some above you but all of feathered kind are yours to command should you need help. Oh! Where my manners? I am Zazu, royal adviser to King Simba." Zazu said.
"great. Another title I don't need." Zane grumbled Aqua patted him reassuringly. "I will take you to King Simba if you want." Zazu offers. They nod and follow him to the king's chamber. Inside they see two lions arguing. "Simba! You have to do something. The hyenas are waltzing into our lands without a care. They need to be driven out!" the lioness yelled. The other lion, sighs and says "Nala. I know. But there is more pressing issues to tackle. For one the underground network hasn't recovered from Scar's rule. Without them, the hyenas will just comeback and we won't know until it's too late."
The lioness, Nala frustrated walks off in a huff. Simba called out "Nala! Wait!" She didn't stop. Simba noticed them. "Zazu, who are these two." Zazu bows "My king. Presenting Lord Zane, lord of the sky, and Lady Aqua, his betrothed." once again they blush but don't deny it making Simba chuckle.
"I am King Simba of Pride Rock. I'd like to help you but as you hear there is hyenas somewhere in the pride lands." "you mean a trio of them consisting of the boss of the clan, a high ranking male and one that just laughs like a loon?" Zane asks. "Yes where are they?" Simba asks "Last I check fleeing in defeat."
Simba relaxed "That's good news. How can I aid you?" "Do you know a Rafiki?" Zane asks hopefully. Simba nods "Yes He lives in a cave at the base of Pride Rock. Right this way."
Pride Rock
Rafiki's Cave
"Took you long enough!" The baboon said laughing. "Were you love birds enjoying each other's company too much to get here on time?" Zane and Aqua blushed atomic red. Rafiki continued "Never mind that. You got here. I will consult the spirits for the answers you seek. No promise." With that they were kicked out of the cave.
Pride Rock
Outside
"what just happened?" Zane asked "Don't mind him. That's how he is." Simba said "You may look around while you wait. I sure that there is someone that needs help." Simba walked off. "lets look around.
A few hours later
peak of Pride Rock
It tuned out that there was a lot of odd jobs to be done. Locating things, helping lift rocks and logs for grubs (as it turned out they tasty as a bird.) and the hardest job of all, watching the cubs. They were paid in munny for their troubles.
"I shear those cubs wan t to make me bald." Zane complained as he preened his wings. "They are cats. They love to chase and pounce things." Aqua says amused. They were on the top of Pride Rock giving them the perfect view. The sound of wood hitting stone made them look.
It was Rafiki. He spoken grimly "I bring sweet and sour news. The earth's body is stolen by the dark puppeteer but the heart and mind rest among graves. The wind's body lies hidden by the waters seal. And the wind's heart sleeps in the sky." Aqua sighed "Thank you Rafiki."
Rafiki nodded but pointed to the horizon. "The hunger approaches from the bones. Defend the king or the land is lost." "what?" Zane asks. WHOOP! "What was that for? !" Zane yells because Rafiki had bopped him on the head with his stick. "The hunger was driven out by you but they are back for revenge."
"The Hyenas!" Zane and Aqua say at the same time in alarm. They rush to Simba as Rafiki left, they hoped he could get help.
An hour later
The battlefield
Zane stood on a rock next to Simba, Aqua, and Zazu. "so we've got about a few dozen lions and a bunch of birds versus an army of 3 thousand hyenas." Zane says trying to stay calm. "That is right My Lord. But with you leading the birds we will win!" Zazu says. Grimly Simba does a speech for the lions.
"You all came here by your own free will. The hyenas have dared to attack our lands. We will drive them. If one of us falls then we will take dozens of them with us!" He roared and his pride roared in agreement. It was Zane's turn to rally the troops.
Taking a calming breathe he called out. "The battle looms. They underestimate us! Use that mistake and send them to the grave or fleeing in defeat!" The birds answered with cheers.
The hyenas started the charge. "ATTACK!" Simba and Zane commanded and the battle begun.
The lions slashed and bit, killing or injuring combatant until they couldn't fight. This plan wouldn't have work if the birds weren't pelting the enemy with rock seeds and nuts. Some uses talons and beaks.
Zane and Aqua blasted magic as the hyenas fought on without caring of those that died.
Ten minutes later
Zane panted. This was getting worse. They didn't stop! They needed a miracle. As if on que a stampede of rhinos and elephants attacked from the flanks scattering the hyenas formation. With hope renewed the defenders surged forth.
Rafiki joined the fray, striking swift and skilled. He was may be old but he's tough as nails. Swiftly as it started, the battle ended. Only 400 hyenas left alive, fleeing to some where easier to steal from. 10 of the lions, 3 rhinos, an elephant, and a third of the birds died. Zane lay on the ground drained physically, mentally, and his magic reserves were tapped. Aqua was just as drained.
The next Morning
Pride Rock
"You are a fine general." Simba tells Zane who wondered how difficult the next steps would be. "I guess. I wonder what sora is doing right now?" Simba pauses then smiles "If I know Sora he's helping others and keeps on smiling."
Rafiki wakes in saying. "go to the magic stump. That is you're step." It took Zane a moment but he started laughing. The magic stump was Merlin! So stuck in his ways that he was like an old stump that is hard to remove.
"I best get going. Thanks for the meat." Zane say going to tell Aqua it was time to leave. The lion cubs pounce on him saying "bye Uncle Zane." Zane sighed they were adorably a pain.
Three hours later
Hollow bastion
Zane and Aqua touch down and a green blur slams into him hugging his leg. "Hello to you too. I've had an interesting time." Zane say fondly. The Cactaur looked up and with widened eye holes it hugs Aqua's leg. "I missed you too." She says patting it's head.
Author's Note: From what I saw in the Lion King movie there was a lot of hyenas. They were driven out but would they just let the lions win? No they would wait amassing an army and strike back. The title Lord of the Sky is just a title. It just means that the feathered ones(birds and the like) will be more likely to respect him and listen to what he has to say. Not all birds will care about the title but it's useful at times like on a battlefield. Those who played KH2 know that Zane will heading into another battle and he will confront the murderer of Master Eraqus.
