Ever since the reveal of the truth about Pumyra and how she died since Episode One I've wanted to write a 'what if' kind of story. And I sort of like spin off so...It's not much for now but there'll be more. Reviews are appreciated from now :)
YOU'RE WARNED BY NOW. I don't speak English actually my language is Spanish so this may have some grammatical errors. It's worth to say that first I had to write the story and then translate it to English. (I'll be posting this on all my fics to remind you all I'm not a born English speaker.)
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-These were days of peace and prosperity on Third Earth. When one empire stood above all others; ruling with a just heart and razor claw. And though omens foretold in the book would be ignored, the tragedy to come was necessary. For it was written that he would be born of fire; a king to lead his people to victory against Ancient Spirits of Evil!-
Indeed, in the prosperous land ruled by the race of cats, the centuries-famous kingdom of Thundera, people lived surrounded by privilege and comfort; envy of any other species. About the city the Palace of the Thundercats home of the royal family formed by King Claudus and his two sons stood imposing.
In the square outside the palace's walls, mingling in the crowd, a young cloaked cat and his cat-pet made their dated getaway to the poorest districts of the kingdom without noticing the blond figure watching over him closely.
"Relax Snarf. You think we're gonna get killed every time we come to this part of town. " The cat told his frightened friend.
The streets were full of cats that day walking among the many and varied shops, selling -and others, unwittingly- buying unwanted troubles. "No, they're not cats Snarf. But no one should to be treated like that." Claims the hooded cat as watching four alley cats bullying a merchant dog against its own post.
The largest cat turns to their witnesses. "What are you looking at?" Looking eager for a fight.
"Whiskers-" He mumbles ducking his head under the hood as the four cats surrounded him and his furry friend hiding behind his leg.
"You gotta pay too. In the slums everyone's a dog." The leader said extending his hand in front of him.
"I have a feeling you're the one who's going to pay." The young cat responds and grabs the cat's waiting hand giving him something quite different from what expected as the young cat grabbed and turned his wrist knocking him to the floor.
The others went on the offensive immediately, the only female first, throwing her knife over the hooded's head but he eluded it leaning back and counter with a well-aimed blow to her face with the palm of his hand. Soon the second cat pulled out his own blade to attack him from behind but he was quicker turning back and took him out of combat with a roundhouse kick as the next cat with a bigger weapon charged with fury toward him, but soon he tipped over because of the scaredy creature running between his feet, and fell hitting his head with his own helmet.
"Thanks Snarf!" The cat smiled at his cat-pet, who responded with an enthusiastic meow.
Confident that the gang have been taken off the young cat was unaware when the leader of the alley cats pounced on him from behind circling his neck with his big strong arms attempting to knock the air out of him. The cat struggled to free himself but he couldn't. Until he felt his neck was released immediately after hearing a dry blow behind him and seeing the big cat unconscious on the floor.
Fixing the collar of his coat the young cat turned to his savior. "Not that I needed, but who can I thank for the assist?"
"Cheetara." Said a young slender female cat with long blond hair and brown spotted shoulders, holding a wooden staff.
The cat's eyes widened as they stared. He tried to talk and let out a shaky..."Hello-" Quickly correcting with a deeper..."Hello there."
"I'm sure the king will not be happy to learn his son was wrestling alley cats." The cheetah pointed in a calm voice. Listening to her the cat knew that there was no reason to keep hiding himself and takes his hood off revealing the red mane of the lion, Lion-O.
"He is the prince. Scatter!" Shouted the large cat and ran away along with his minions behind him.
"Ah, it's my dirtiest cloak and still is a bad disguise." The lion sighed pulling at his cloak sighs and shrugging.
"What's so important you'd risk your life coming down here?" The she-cat asked.
"That depends. Can you keep a secret?" The prince asked with a smile, which she just responded with one of her own.
Back at the palace, three cats sat waiting in the throne room. One of them sitting casually in his chair while the other two, older than him, wondered where the heir to the throne could be. One of those two being the very king of Thundera. "He knows how important today is. Where is that boy, Jaga?"
"Be easy on him, Claudus. Remember when you were his age, your father wasn't always pleased with you either." The oldest of the three, adviser of the king replied meekly.
"I never neglected my duties as prince like he does!" The great lion returned with strength. "Why can't he be more like you, Tygra?" Turning to see his eldest son.
"You're asking for the impossible Father." The tiger answered relaxed resting his head on his knuckles.
Up on the town surrounding the palace middle-classes lived peacefully, happy, and most of time, unharmed. But this was not the time for a little farming family with their only child sitting on the floor in the front yard crying out of pain but asking his parents not to move him from his spot for the pain was too much for him. His father stroked his son's head while her mother tried to distract him caressing his hand and giving him a little kiss on the kid's cheek until someone came to check on him. The wait was not long.
"So, he is it?" A voice asked.
The cub lifted his teary eyes looking at a cat walking barefoot to him and his parents while carrying a cloth bag hanging down her shoulder. The boy's father stood up to greet the visitor. "You're the medic? Thanks for coming." Smiling while leading the cat toward his son.
"No need to thank, sir." She smiled to the father but looking at the kid. Soon she knelt down beside him and checking him up from head to toe and finally his sore leg. "Hi, my name is Pumyra, what's yours?" She asked nicely.
The boy saw the tender expression on the face of the young girl and wished he wasn't sobbing when he answered. "Bo-Bobcat, miss."
She looked once more at him, noting in fact the breed which his family belonged and smiled friendly. "Well, that's...a fitting name. Now Bobcat I'm going to attend your wound...would you tell me how this happen?"
Pumyra didn't need the explanations. Seeing his young age was easy to assume how it happened but she also knew letting him tell her instead of his parents would distract the cub from the pain. As Bobcat told her about his 'over enthusiastic' games she attended his leg starting by sterilizing the wound with the contents of a bottle from the bag and a piece of cotton, after that she straightened the leg to bandage it firmly yet carefully.
While listening about him playing with other cats his age Pumyra had to retain her laughter a few times. Now, Bobcat really liked to play some serious wrestling. Of course, she related with the feeling well. As cubs, fighting with others cats to relate with them was more than normal. She did so when a cub herself. Although she had to admit, this little wild cat played with more enthusiasm than she could remember she had at his age. "It seems that you are very strong to have walked all the way back to your home with an injured leg. While I'd have recommended to save your energy and wait for someone to pick you up." The puma's voice was serious and her gaze steady on the cub as he lowered his head in shame. "But energy is a good with to be over charged with." She added letting out a breath in a cheerful tone as she stroked his head making him laugh. "But don't push your luck next time, you'll have to take it easy for a few days." She said indicating that her work was done.
"That was it?" The boy asked in awe. "I didn't feel a thing! You're very good." His parents looked at each other and smiled.
Pumyra smiled at the compliment as his father lifted him from the ground to take him inside to rest. "Now the bandages must be changed after a while...but your mom has that covered." Pumyra said looking at the woman with a knowing smile between them. The family led her to the house to attribute her good work on their child while she gave them the last cautions. "He just needs to rest and eat healthy and plenty, and he'll be as good as new in no time."
The mother laughed just answering. "He already does that, every day. Many thanks for your help, child." Her husband left their son sitting in a cozy chair by the game table and approached her with a market bag for the young cat.
"What is this?" She asks.
"This is your pay." The male cat granted giving her a small pouch with coins inside. "And this is from us, for your attention to our son. We've very grateful with your work." Now handing the bigger bag.
Pumyra tried to refuse the second bag but the family insisted that she did not leave the house without it. She sighed in defeat and said goodbye to her patient on the other side of the room. The boy was about to take a stand from his seat to greet her, quickly forgetting his instructions about taking it easy so she stepped forward and stood next to his seat. "Goodbye and thank you!" Giving her an enthusiastic kiss on the cheek.
She smiled and stroked his head once more. "Have a nice lazy day now, okay?" And waved goodbye to the family.
Meanwhile the Crown Prince had brought his companion to a store not visited by many that belonged to a dog, Jorma, coincidentally a friend of his, who kept all kinds of artifacts that thunderians could only dreamed of. The lion told the blonde cat about his dreams and expectations settled beyond Thundera's walls, the real existence of technology mentioned in the mythical Book of Omen that many thought were just fairy tales. And how all that junk, as many described it, was the proof that there was a bigger world out there.
He returned from the clouds and looked into her eyes. "You think I'm crazy, don't you?"
Cheetara just blinked her fuchsia eyes and replied. "I think you're...different." And he held his gaze on her with a smile on his face.
At the same time the strong ring of a bell struck the young lion's attention. "Oh, I'm late! I'll take it." He said throwing a couple of golden coins into the dog's hand and took the rounded piece Jorma saved for him. Towards the door Lion-O turned to the cheetah before putting his hood back into place. "Maybe next time I can bail you out of trouble." He said with a wink and run off.
The lion ran all the long way from the slums markets heading to the stairs that leaded to the vicinity of the palace. Between the steps he wondered why there could not be a shortcut to the palace, on second thought, that was the shortcut. As he stepped out of the stairs he did not get sight of the cat walking with a bag that blocked the view from her side and prevented her from seeing him as well, and as the second bell rang stumbled on to her to the floor dropping everything both carried.
The lion saw the bag contents scattered on the floor and hurried getting himself off the other cat. "I'm sorry. Really, I'm very-" Realizing the cat beneath him was a young woman. Presumably of his own age, brown hair with white highlights bound in a ponytail and wore a dark brown dress with golden manacles, and a small pouch attached to a red belt around her waist. While taking a better look he noted she was a mountain lion, a puma.
The she-cat raised her head up as he lifted himself off of her. "What's the matter with you?" She asked in a raspy voice massaging her head without seeing his face.
"Sorry, I didn't see you." He let out and quickly started picking up her things, putting them back in the bag.
"I can see that." She got up looking around and laid her eyes on something that didn't belong to her. "We're not in wartime, what's the big hurry?" She picked up the round piece of metal and looked at it in an inquiring manner.
That word reminded the lion why was he running in first place and saw his recent acquisition in the cat's hands. Before she started to question things he took the device out of her hand without warning. "Sorry, but I really am in a hurry."
"Hey!" The puma yelled watching him leaving till she noticed that cat at least got collected most of the things and put them back in the bag. She looked puzzled in the cloaked cat's direction... "Who was that?"
Moments later the royal cats stood up at the sound of hurried footsteps. The young lion rushed into the throne's room and stands before his father, apologizing several times with a sheepish smile. Claudus looked at all pleased and immediately ordered Jaga to begin with the sacred rite of passage.
The Head Cleric nodded and raised his staff above his head. "Guardians of the crown…bring forth the Sword of Omen!" And a group of figures covered in robes and cloaks entered the room, the one in the forefront holding something covered by a cloth in its hands stopping in front of their master as the later leaned down offering what was on its hand to him.
Standing next to the lion, his adopted brother sent an inadvertent wink to the masked cleric and this raised its fuchsia eyes toward him almost instantly. The lion made noticed of that and turned to his brother surprised. "Are you flirting?" The tiger just looked at him and smirked.
The younger prince then turned to Jaga's words. "While you will one day wear the crown, Lion-O-" Lifting the cloth in the hands of his disciple revealing the mighty sword. "Only the eye of Thundera, the source of our power, knows if there is, indeed, a King inside of you. Take the sword, and become one with it."
Lion-O stared at the sword and held it in his hand marveled at its light weight, took a few steps away from the rest of the cats around to swung the weapon experimentally while his father, the king, said. "You hold in your hands what built the Thundercats' empire. But only he who is deemed worthy can harness its awesome power!" Claudus approached his son and snatched the sword from his hands. "Let me show you what it's capable of in the proper hands."
"Uh-oh, catch!" Tygra threw a sword in his hands for his brother to catches, Claudus turning and raised his sword violently against Lion-O almost at the same time. His son barely had time to react to the shock of the Sword of Omen against his own, sparks of electricity flying as the two swords clashed against one another, forcing Lion-O to move back.
"The book told that it was the Thundercats, our ancestors, who first defeated Mumm-Ra. It was the Thundercats who brought law and order to a world of warring animals. And it is now the Thundercats who are strong enough to maintain this fragile peace!" Claudus stated while clashing swords with Lion-O, who dodged every shot he threw at him.
Lion-O was able to block the coming blow but it was the great force of it that knocked him to the ground. The king then stabbed the sword downward on the ground, the sound of thunder and lightning coming from the blade. All present admiring the display of power. The young lion stared and took the Sword of Omens in his hands again, swinging it in the air with much more strength and concentration. With each stroke, thunder and sparks came out of the blade. Lion-O set the tip of the weapon on the ground and the circle under his feet began to emit a red light, as if the contact with the sword made it shine. He then raised the sword holding it close to his face. As the hilt extended, his eyes began to shine along with the Eye of Thundera, feeling his gaze extend to a distant place revealing to him a pair of red eyes and a grim face. He immediately gasped moving the sword away from his face.
"Lion-O, why did you stop?" His father asked, Jaga standing next to him.
The prince looked worried. "I- I saw something."
"Tell us..." The elder jaguar pleaded.
"Uhm," Not sure to answer, the prince looked uncomfortable around him when his ears caught the sound of giggles. "That." He made his way to the window spotting two young ladies walking by in dainty garments. "Ha, meow!" He exclaimed staring at them.
The king and head cleric came to the window beside him. Jaga closed his eyes as the large lion looked at his son with disappointment and took the Sword of Omen from him. "The sword is ready Lion-O, but you are not." His son looked at him sadly as he walked out of the room.
Jaga approached the young cat giving him a meaningful look. "What? I didn't see anything."
"And I did not say anything." The cleric replied walking away.
Lion-O dropped his shoulders; his eyes followed the clerics parting from the room and his brother after them.
That afternoon the prince was in his room examining the piece of technology he bought from his dog friend that day, put the screwdriver on his desk and stare at the ceiling reminiscing…on a spotted cat with blond hair. Throughout the time he had been interested in technology Lion-O had never shared his thoughts about it with anyone before. Not even his brother bothered to pay attention since, like almost everyone in Thundera; he claimed that such was pure dreams and myths that only existed in ancient times. But the cheetah seemed different; when he looked into her eyes for a moment he thought she understood him. Maybe did not share his point of view about it, but at least seemed to respect it. But Cheetara was not the only girl he met the same day, there was the cat he ran onto at the square, what was it about her?
Lion-O could not put his claw on it but something about her caught his eye, but was in such a big hurry at the time to know what that was and he only saw her for just what, seconds? It was insane! And there was the pain too...wait, pain?
Lion-O let out a 'oomph' when he felt a sharp pain in his left ribs. "Wha-" Then it returned to his head. When he bumped into that girl something at the bottom of the bag she was carrying embed in his midsection. He looked out the window and felt like going out for a walk. Outside the palace, the streets were not as crowded as in the morning and Lion-O was sure that Jorma's store was closed by now. It occurred to him to go to the barn for his riding beast, a rare quadruped feline species of large built with bushy tail and purplish fur. When he reached the place behind the doors he heard a squeal followed by someone's cry, Lion-O quickly opened the wooden doors and got ran over by one of the beasts which escaped at high speed from the barn.
"Hey, come back here!" A brown cat in farmer clothes shouted.
"What happened?" Asked the young lion standing up.
"I'm sorry prince Lion-O! I was just taking a nap and fell off my chair on the animal's tail- I guess that scared him off." The cat explained a bit nervous.
"Don't worry, I'll bring it back." The prince looked in the direction the creature ran and turned to the keeper. "I'll get him; you stay here and take care of the others." He ordered.
"But- Wait! We can send a guard to go for him!" The cat screamed in vain for Lion-O was already off after the quadruped beast.
Fortunately the animal left a trail of paw prints that made the tracking just a little bit easier. The lion ran along the fence dividing the houses looking into every space but it was no use.
In the watchtower a couple of guards on duty spotted the prince running near the wall. "General, would you see that?" A cat looked over his shoulder and pointed towards the lion.
"I cannot soldier. What is happening?" Another cat in red armor and white mustache stood from his seat and walked to the edge of the cockpit to give a sniff. "Ah, but if it is prince Lion-O." He then raised his voice to speak. "Doing some exercise, young highness?"
Lion-O instantly turned and looked towards the tower from which the soldiers watched. "I'm looking for my riding beast. I want to take him back to the barns."
"Why not let the guards deal with that?" The youngest of the soldiers suggested, Lion-O shot him a look from the distance.
The general ignored the remark of his partner and sniffed some more. "You should try the East, my prince. My nose is rarely wrong." He advised.
Lion-O then relaxed expression. "Thanks general Lynx-O!" And he moved on.
Confident in the sense of smell of the great general East he went. Turning a corner he found an astonished face with which, unable to stop in time, he collided. "Not again!" Both cats whined lying on the floor.
Lion-O pushed himself off the cat. "I'm sorry, I'm very-"
The voice, even the words were the same, the cat recognized, half way of getting back to her feet.
"You?" Both at the same time.
"You're..." The she-cat stared at him.
"Well, I am—" As silly as it was, he could not finish that sentence.
"Lion-O." She said. "You are the prince. So, it was you this morning." Sounding a bit confused.
Now Lion-O remembered she couldn't have known who he was because of the hood and cloak. "Uh yeah, that was me. I didn't mean to—"
"Yeah, I know. You were in a hurry." She answered for him somewhat annoyed. "Now I get it. Sure was…royal duties?" Raising an eyebrow then began to stand at the same time the lion did too.
"Something like that." Answered briefly and put his hand to his left side. "Look, I'm sorry for what happened. I could've hurt you."
"Then why it's you who seem sore?" The cat asked noticing his face and the area where his hand rested.
"It's nothing. I think I got hit with something inside your bag the first time we hit." This time massaging the spot to ease the pain.
"Really? I can give you something for it if you come with me." Said the young cat as she heading her own direction but stopped when he spoke.
"Thanks, but I'm in the middle of something. I'm looking for an animal that ran from the barn. It shouldn't be away from here." His eyes looking around.
"You mean this way?" The puma pointed her right. "You were running that way, right?" Lion-O nodded. "Then I'll help you find it." And she began to walk.
Her attitude was something. Instead of showing respect and proper manners in the presence of a prince, she acted as if she always knew him, and not in the sense of royalty. "Are you coming or what?" The female turned to see him.
"You will help me?" He asked in surprise. The cat nodded matter of factly and resumed her walk. "Okay, okay." And hasten to walk beside her. "By the way, you know who I am...what's your name?"
The cat turned facing him. "It's Pumyra."
"Pumyra." He asserted looking at her, it could've probably been his imagination but Lion-O thought he saw a little smile on the corners of her lips when he said her name. "So, Pumyra." Trying the name again. "You're not hurt? I mean, we both fell hard twice in one day."
She wouldn't put it as fell, but then again, it was him who said it. "I'm fine, you're not that heavy." She lied, but it did feel less painful then the time that morning, considering she wasn't carrying any bags this time. "Maybe I know how to fall."
"Not that all cats land on their feet?" Lion-O joked.
Gladly she noticed and replayed. "Like you're someone to talk. Let me remind you, on both occasions you crashed on me, Your Majesty." Smiling inwardly.
The prince looked surprised and blinked. Was she trying to make fun of him, or actually, she was—
At the library of the palace the prince Tygra sat on a big chair as he laid aside the book he was reading. His eyes followed the words, but his mind could not follow their meaning as a different thought occupied his mind. Tygra was all his life used to being the center of attention, being on everyone's sight and not only because of being the only tiger in all Thundera. As he considered himself a good looking cat and being considered as such by almost all the ladies of the kingdom, it was always easy for him flirting with them. But he never actually did it in a serious way as if feeling something for any of them. Now something was different, moments ago, in the throne room he winked at one of the guards, a female without a doubt and for the first time in his life he wondered why? The answer was simple, there was nothing in sight to notice she was beautiful or a woman girl either, at least at first sight, because of the clothes and the veil covering her face, but there were those eyes, of that fuchsia coloring...so unusual.
Something about her felt familiar, like an innocent memory. But soon Tygra shook the thought off his head, for the end of this memory turned out not like he expected. And actually he was the kind of cat that believed in coincidences and perhaps that's all that thought really was, a coincidence. The prince left the library to join his father when the alarm rang.
"You didn't have to, but thanks you" Lion-O offered Pumyra holding the reins of the quadruped.
"It was nothing." Answered without looking at him and stroking the creature's muzzle. "I'm going now. Prince Lion-O." She bowed her head slightly at him before leaving.
"Pumyra wait!" Holding one hand in front of her and the other with the other still on the reins. "I wanted to make it up to you for what happened this morning and then again for offering your help."
"You don't have to; you picked my things up before you left—"
"Not entirely, and then ran away leaving you behind on the floor. That was not good on me." The lion anticipated.
"Now I know you had more important things to do, why don't you just drop it?" Pumyra questioned curiously.
Before he could answer both heard the sound of the horn from the watchtower followed by a scream and a splash. Lion-O quickly mounted the quadruped feline and looked down with a smile on his face. "Because I can't. I have to go but I'll find you, I promise." Then kicked the creature's sides and ride toward the palace.
The young puma seemed astounded looking in the distance. She thought for a second and concluded the prince was kind of weird, and weird was also the way she felt then.
From the king's window Claudus looked through his telescope toward the kingdom's gates, Jaga and his eldest son with him. The vision on the horizon certainly was a sight for sore eyes for him. "It can't be, at long last!"
The next chapters won't be so sticked to the actual events and dialogues of the Thundercats 2011 Series' Episodes. This was just a first step's start.
"THUNDERCATS is not cancelled, but CN still figuring out next steps."
-Thundercats' producer Michael Jelenic. (DC Nation panel at San Diego Comic-Con 2012)
A/N: Visit my profile page for information.