Author's Notes: Hey guys this new fanfic has been nagging at the back of my mind for some time now, I've still to finish the next chapters of my two Wander Over Yonder fanfictions but I could hardly wait to get started on this one. This story takes place right after the end of season one of the 2011 Thundercats series; I just recently re-watched this show that I bought on blu-ray and I'm still really disappointed that it was cancelled!:( It had so much potential and left audiences so unfulfilled. Anyways I hope you guys enjoy this story, leave a comment and have a great day!:D
000000000000000000000000000000000
A month has passed since the Thundercats left the city of Avista to continue their search for the next Stone of Power; they travelled in the Feliner with the Book of Omens guiding the way across Third Earth. But even after finding new vigour for the journey, the emotional wounds left behind by Pumyra's betrayal had not been forgotten by Lion-O and he would often be found deep in his own thoughts with a melancholy expression on his face. His companions tried their best to get him to talk about how he was feeling but he would just brush off their concerns or change the subject, but one day when they had landed to rest and make camp Tygra decided to really put his foot down. He managed to catch Lion-O alone while he was collecting firewood to confront him.
"Okay Lion-O we need to talk and no more dodging the issue"
"Huh? What issue?"
"Don't act like you don't know what I'm talking about. Ever since we left Avista you've been acting really distant with everyone. I want to know why!"
"Look Tygra, I've just had a lot on my mind lately! And sometimes I just like to keep to myself! So what's the problem!?"
"The problem is that we're all worried about you but you won't say anything!"
"Well maybe this is something I have to just deal with on my own! So get off my back!"
Lion-O turned to storm off back to camp but was stopped by Tygra running in front of him with his arms out to block the way.
"You can't just keep running away from this! I won't let you keep avoiding the problem!"
"Get out of my way Tygra" Lion-O growled warningly.
"Not until you start talking" Tygra growled back.
They stood at a standstill growling at one another, but just before things could escalate further they were interrupted by a familiar female voice calling out.
"THAT'S ENOUGH YOU TWO!"
They were then greeted by Cheetara running up and pushing the brothers away from one another. She then turned to Tygra and said,
"Tygra I know you're only trying to help but this isn't the right way of handling the problem"
"Well how else am I going to get him to explain what's going on, cause honestly this whole depression thing he's got going is not going to help us in the slightest" protested Tygra.
"Whoever said I was depressed!? What have I got to be sad about!? We survived Mumm-Ra's last attack and the animals are starting to unite against him, everything seems just fine to me!" Lion-O then once again tried to storm away back to camp.
"Is this about Pumyra?" asked Cheetara.
This made the young king immediately stop dead in his tracks but did not look back which only confirmed her suspicions.
"I figured that was it"
"I know it's pathetic, I shouldn't let it get to me, but… but I just can't stop thinking of how I didn't see it! How I let myself fall for her like a complete idiot!" Lion-O said sombrely while still keeping his back to Tygra and Cheetara.
Hearing the pain and hurt in his voice made Tygra's heart ache and he tried a more supportive approach.
"Lion-O, it's not just you, she tricked all of us, and none of us saw it coming. She hurt you really bad we all see that, but trust me when I say that she's not worth thinking about and don't let any of she said get to you. And to tell you the truth, I never really saw her being good girlfriend material for you anyway, she was always so serious. Next time you should find a girl who's more, you know, fun" he suggested trying to lift his brother's spirits.
"*sigh* I get what you're saying Tygra, but I don't plan on letting myself fall into that trap a third time. From now on I'm only going to focus on our mission, no more unnecessary distractions"
"Lion-O you shouldn't let what happened stop you from finding someone special in your life" Cheetara protested.
"I've made up my mind Cheetara, from now on the only thing that matters to me is finding the last Stone of Power and defeating Mumm-Ra" and with that final statement he headed straight back to camp. Tygra and Cheetara watched him go then turned to each other concernedly.
"What are we going to do about this Cheetara?"
"Honestly, I'm not sure Tygra, I'd hate to think that this whole experience might have damaged his trust in others. But maybe it's best for now we give him some space and perhaps letting him focus on other things will give him some time to think it over."
"I sure hope you're right"
0000000000000000000000000000000000000000000
The next day they took off again following the direction the Book of Omens was indicating. Kit and Kat were looking out the side window at the view below them, Tygra was flying at the pilot seat with cheetara at his side, Panthro was tinkering with one of his mechanical arms and Lion-O was once again sitting alone staring out the other window lost in his thoughts. His train of thought was interrupted when Snarf came up and mewled at him worriedly.
"Hey bud, you worried about me too? Well don't be, I'm fine really, I'll get over this in no time, you'll see" Lion-O assured Snarf petting him gently. Snarf wasn't fully convinced but nuzzled into Lion-O's paw in a gesture he hoped would say he was always there for him.
"Hey guys! You might want to come look at this" called Cheetara.
Everyone came over to look and to their complete surprise, the Book of Omens was pointing in two different directions! There was the first arrow they were originally following pointing directly forwards but now there was a new arrow pointing 90 degrees west from it. This had never occurred before and none of the Thundercats knew what to make of it.
"It's pointing two ways!? What does this mean!?" asked Panthro.
"Could it just be a glitch? Have you tried switching it off and on again?" suggested WilyKat.
"I seriously doubt the Legendary Book of Omens has an off switch Kat" replied Tygra before giving said book a light tap to check but nothing changed.
"You don't suppose there's another stone out there we don't know about?" asked Cheetara.
"There couldn't be, when I entered the book and I saw into the past there was only the four: the War stone, the Spirit stone, the Tech stone and the Soul Stone. But I suppose it could be possible that there might be another stone that just hasn't been discovered yet." Lion-O replied.
"So what do we do? Should we go check it out? If it turns out to be a false lead we'll have wasted time chasing after nothing!" argued Panthro.
"But if it does turn out to be another undiscovered stone it could give us a great advantage over Mumm-Ra" replied Cheetara.
"I say we leave up to the King to decide. What do you think we should do Lion-O? Should we keep heading in the forward? Or do you want to see what's in the other direction?" asked Tygra.
Lion-O thought about it for moment weighing the options carefully before asking "is there any way to tell which one is closer to us?"
"Yeah I think so…here it is! According to this the first stone we were heading for is about 2000 miles from our location, but this new one is only 10 miles away" replied Tygra.
"Okay then here's what I suggest, we'll go check out this new direction, see what we can find and if anyone's living out there we'll ask around about any powerful stones in the area. But if by the end of the day there's nothing there then we head straight back on course at full speed, no detours even if the book wants us to. That sound like a plan?" announced Lion-O.
"Sounds like one to me!" Wilykit replied cheerfully.
"Let's go for it!" said Wilykat excitedly.
"You're the boss" said Tygra while turning the ship.
"Still kinda feels like a goose chase, but I'll trust my King's judgement" said Panthro.
"And so will I" agreed Cheetara putting a reassuring paw on Lion-O's shoulder.
"Sshnaaarff!" mewled Snarf in agreement.
"Alright then, Thundercats Ho!" Lion-O declared.
00000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000
End Notes: And that's the first chapter, as you can tell it's a little shorter than most of the fanfic chapters I do, but I guess you can just consider this a kind of introduction. I've already made a plan on how the story progress's and ends so it shouldn't take too long for the next chapter to come out. As always you guys have an awesome day!:D