Author's Note - So, I've decided that I'm going to completely ignore the colossal mess that the writers of the show have made of Lion-O and Cheetara's relationship, and am going to from now on re-write the episodes the way I believe they should have gone, if Lion-O/Cheetara had been treated better and with more respect. Hope you all enjoy~ =3
Trials of Lion-O
He was gone...
Cheetara's eyes squeezed tightly shut as she tried desperately not to hyperventilate, while sitting huddled in a corner of the cell the minions of Mumm-Ra had locked her and the rest of the ThunderCats in.
WilyKit was gently stroking Cheetara's long mane of hair, while softly telling her over and over again that Lion-O was alive, and that he would here soon to rescue them.
Cheetara heard WilyKit's words and she desperately wanted to believe them but...she had seen Lion-O fall to his death with her own eyes. No one could have survived such a fall, and the rocks...oh Jaga, the rocks that had fallen in after Lion-O would surely have crushed him.
Cheetara let out a soft moan of despair, as her mind once again replayed the events that had taken her Lion-O away from her. And he had been 'hers' as she had chosen him over Tygra.
Cheetara could still remember that day when they had driven off Slithe and his lackeys with the help of the Elephants. She had stood looking into Lion-O's beautiful, cerulean-blue eyes as the young King looked back at her with the cutest little grin tugging up the corners of his lips. He'd been so happy and proud of himself and the rest of the ThunderCats, for all they'd accomplished that day and Cheetara hadn't been able to fight against the swell of emotion that had filled her. So, she'd done the only thing she could to release that emotion...she'd leaned forward and claimed Lion-O's lips with her own.
Lion-O's eyes had widened briefly, but then had quickly closed as he leaned eagerly and happily into the kiss, wrapped his strong arms around her back, and pulled her in close to his body.
Cheetara had let out a soft sigh of pleasure, as she finally allowed her mind and body to have what they'd both been craving for so long...Lion-O's love and affection.
But now he was gone...
And with him all the warmth and caring he'd bestowed upon her every single day since they'd been together.
Cheetara's heart ached and clenched in pain, as she leaned her forehead against WilyKit's shoulder, seeking what little comfort she could from the kitten they all considered a little sister.
"I swear to you Cheetara, Lion-O is coming. I just know it. So please...don't cry anymore...Lion-O wouldn't want you to be so sad mourning him when he is alive," WilyKit said in a soft, sad voice as she looked down at the practically shattered Cat in her arms. Cheetara had taken Lion-O's supposed death pretty hard, and WilyKit wanted desperately to make the older female Cat accept that Lion-O had not left her.
In the case of Tygra, he had taken Lion-O and Cheetara getting together pretty hard, and Kit had watched him carefully ever since then to make sure he didn't try anything to break them up. Luckily for him he hadn't tried anything, and in fact he had actually shown some remorse and regret when Lion-O 'died'. Though he'd also quickly inserted himself into the role of 'King' shortly after, and WilyKit did her best to keep the scowl from her face at that thought. It was all thanks to Tygra's 'idea' of being King that they were in this mess.
But Lion-O would get them out. Of this WilyKit was absolutely certain.
A small sniffle had WilyKit looking down into Cheetara's burgundy eyes shimmering with tears, as the older Cat looked up at her with something of desperate trust to believe shining in her eyes.
"But WilyKit how do you know that he's still alive and coming for us? How do you believe so firmly?" Cheetara asked in a voice so small and lost, it almost broke WilyKit's heart to hear it.
"Because my heart tells me he is, Cheetara. And I trust and believe in what my heart says completely," WilyKit answered softly, as she gave Cheetara a small smile.
Cheetara seemed to wrestle with something deep inside herself for a few moments, before a look of total and complete peace came over her face, and she returned Kit's smile with one of her own.
"I believe too," Cheetara said in a voice made soft with wonder, as she sat up a little and straightened her back against the prison wall with resolute determination to trust in Lion-O as firmly as Kit did.
"Well, that's good to hear Cheetara, as I am indeed quite alive," a new, almost-playful voice spoke up from outside the prison force-field, and Cheetara felt her heart leap into her throat at the same time that she leapt to her feet.
"Lion-O...you are alive..." Cheetara murmured in a soft, wondering voice as she began slowly moving towards that handsome, grinning face that she never thought she'd ever get to see in this life again.
"The one and only," Lion-O replied with that same playful grin that Cheetara had always loved to see on his face. Suddenly the force-field was gone, and nothing stood between Cheetara and the Cat who had so completely captured her heart.
"Lion-O!" Cheetara choked out, as she ran towards him and flung herself into his outstretched arms.
Lion-O enfolded Cheetara within his arms, and held her tightly against his body. He'd missed everything about her. He'd missed her scent; the way that her body molded so perfectly against his; the way that she slid her long fingers into his mane, and stroked along the back of his neck.
"Cheetara..." Lion-O breathed out against her ear, as he continued to hold her closely. He was vaguely aware of the other ThunderCats approaching, and he spared some space in his hold on Cheetara to enfold the kittens into a hug. Panthro came up and patted him on the shoulder in pleased welcome. Tygra was the only one who hung back from the happy reunion, but he did bow his head in acknowledgment of Lion-O's return.
It had stung the Tiger when Cheetara had chosen Lion-O over him, and he was still having trouble reconciling the idea of the two of them together. But he was still Lion-O's older brother, and he was happy to see his kid brother alive and back with them. Especially since his brief stint as 'King of the ThunderCats' had ended so badly. It had finally occurred to Tygra, that even when Lion-O's plans seemed crazy and doomed to failure...they always had a way of working out. Tygra wasn't entirely sure how Lion-O always pulled that off, but Tygra was happy now to relinquish the title of King back to him.
"Come on everyone let's get out of here, and get the sword back from Mumm-Ra. I...we...don't have much time," Lion-O said softly, as he began leading his ThunderCat family out of the prison cell.
He didn't have much time left...he only had until sunrise to make sure that they were all safe...to make sure that Cheetara was safe...and then he'd have to leave her again...
Lion-O's heart broke at the thought, but he pushed those emotions away, squared his shoulders, and charged forward with the rest of his ThunderCats to take on Mumm-Ra and his minions to win back their freedom.
~x~x~x~x~x~
Jaga said he could stay...
Jaga said he could stay!
Lion-O jumped into the air with a whoop of joy, ran up to Cheetara, wrapped his arms around her, and twirled her about as she laughed in response to his exuberant action. She tried asking him while still laughing just what Jaga had meant by 'ultimate sacrifice'. But there was only one thing that Lion-O wanted to do right now, and it was not talking about how he'd nearly been separated forever from the woman he loved. He could have 'that' particular conversation later on.
So, instead he slowly stopped spinning Cheetara, gently rested her back onto her feet, while enjoying the slightly-flushed look on her cheeks, and the bright happy look in her eyes. Then he dipped his head down and claimed her lips in a kiss so tender and sweet, Cheetara melted into it and returned it deeply.
WilyKat and Kit howled and clapped at the kiss, while Panthro lightly chuckled at the display. Tygra just let out a disgruntled huff of air, before turning around and looking out over the distant horizon.
After an indeterminate amount of time Lion-O slowly leaned back from their kiss, and reached up to gently stroke the soft hair across Cheetara's cheek. Cheetara leaned into the touch and reached up to tenderly cup Lion-O's face in her hand, as she looked deeply into his shining blue eyes.
"Please never leave me like that again, Lion-O. I don't...I don't think I could survive that kind of pain again," Cheetara said softly, as she stroked her fingers gently against the side of Lion-O's face.
Lion-O looked back into Cheetara's eyes, and saw the now-healing bits of Cheetara's broken heart, and he pulled her back fiercely into his arms.
"I promise you, Cheetara that I will do everything within my power to never leave you like that again. We live a dangerous life now I know, and many things can happen in the future that could separate us again...but if it ever does happen again I will do everything I can to return to you. I promise you," Lion-O whispered fiercely as he peppered soft, tender kisses across her face.
Cheetara clung desperately to Lion-O, and nodded her head at his heartfelt promise. She already knew very well that with the kind of life they all now led, that any of them could be taken away from the others at anytime.
But she held tightly to Lion-O's promise, as with this particular time he had found a way to return to her, and she believed with everything she was that no matter what else may happen in the future, he would always find a way to come back to her.
Hope you guys enjoyed! Please review and let me know what you thought~ ^.^
