Hi everyone, and late Happy New Year, from LionJustice! Sorry I couldn't update sooner with any story but life always gets in the middle of things. Anyway, I don't want to bore you all babbling about and I'll just mention a little change of plans since I'm not continuing with the sequel of 'Reaching out for you' as it was planned from the start (for those who are waiting for that one, don't worry! It will exist.) but with the continuation of my retelling of Thundercats 2011 Season 1. For new readers I recommend you to read my fic 'The Fall of thundera' since that's where this story starts…Enough for now, hope you like it.
YOU'RE WARNED BY NOW. English isn't my birth language so this may have some grammatical errors. It's worth to say that first I had to write the story and then translate it. A process I'll try to accomplish weekly. (I'll be posting this on all my fics to remind you all I'm not a born English speaker.)
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Several hours after the unexpected invasion of the lizard army and even more unexpected treason from their fellow feline, the general Grune, the picture was still hard to believe for the survivors of the fallen kingdom. The streets were empty and there was no building that was left intact. Only some of the enemy troops stayed behind scavenging for any goods they could find…they were so concentrated on the task that didn't even pay attention to the sad and yet tender lullaby that whispered through the air.
"Hey, Kit!" A little wildcat called from the floor.
The melody stopped. "Uh?"
"Come on, there's nothing left here!" The boy said to his sister that was sitting on a white stone pillar.
"Alright, next spot we look I'll give you a paw." The girl smiled putting her flute on her pouch.
"Sure thing, let's go." Her brother agreed and both ran to the next stop.
At the remains of the palace of the royal family, three cats were holding a funeral pyre to the late King Claudus at the base of a broken statue. The young cleric sprayed something over the fire turning it of a blue color as a sign of purifications and the youngest prince held his sword between the flames till it was hot red and preceded graving the Thundercats' symbol in the statue's feet in his father's memory.
"Rest now to raise again, father." The lion says solemnly.
"May your next life show you peace." His brother said in the same voice.
Next to the cheetah cleric, Pumyra's sorrowful eyes stayed focused on the body of the late king ubtil hearing the princes' words and they shut tightly.
To mourn his father was the last thing the young lion imagined himself doing at this moment in his life. It made him realize how things were like now. And they were bad…
Down town, the lizards left no home unrevised taking anything of value they could find and took it to their vehicles. Behind one of their tanks a pair of kittens sneaked in and looked into the big suitcases. Their faces shone with joy having found a whole change of clothes for the two of them and ran away without being seen.
Once the flames were consumed and the body reduced to ashes Lord Lion-o spoke up. "We should move out while the lizard's trail is still fresh. Mum-Ra's lair is probably past the Sand Sea, so we have quite a journey ahead of us."
To the mention of the name, the other cats looked up to their new King. One of them did not try to hide her questioning. "Mum-Ra?" Cheetara objected. "Jaga told us to fist seek out the Book of Omens. Those were my teacher's last words to us." The last part ending almost in a whisper.
"The book can wait. It has for centuries." Lion-O returned sharply.
"But only the book can provide us answers, Lion-O…" Tygra claimed to the anger of his brother who raised his voice to him.
"Answers? I already know who destroyed our city, who killed our King. What other answers do you need? If either of us were on that funeral pyre, father would've already buried that demon! I intend to do him the same justice." Lion-o growled.
The rest of the cats just looked at him in silence, only the Cheetah commented. "You're angry, Lion-O." Her voice calm trying to make him see his precipitation.
"I should hope I'm not the only one!" The lion shot back, now the anger that sounded in his voice shown in his face as well.
Pumyra kept staring at her king intently thinking to herself. She could tell he wasn't the only one, she shared almost the same of what he was feeling but looking at the atmosphere of the situation and that there was probably nothing she could do to change it, given the others tried with no results; she remained silent.
Lion-O then got notice of the girl staring at him, and added in a lower voice to the others while walking toward her. "We're going after Mum-Ra, and that's a command."
"Can you walk?" He asked the puma dryly. She nodded with her head. "Then come with me." Walking past her and away.
Pumyra wondered about the sudden change of behavior from him. Till now she thought the young lion was like anything but this, however, that only proved her she didn't know that much about him and besides, how could she not expect such a switch of personality after everything that's happen 'in just one night'. She started walking after him, Tygra and Cheetara exchanged looks showing the same concern till they heard Lion-O speak to them.
"Now that the lizards are gone let's go and search for anything we might need for our journey. And hurry up." And he was out with the puma girl and his pet close behind him.
The others saw they could not persuaded him to change his mind about Mum-Ra, and there was nothing they could do but what asked by their king. "I'll go to the cleric's quarters and see if I can find some information or maps that can help us."
Tygra nodded. "I'll head over here. We'll meet up here later." And the two parted ways as the tiger went back into the palace.
Snarf and Pumyra stood in front of a door, from the other side of it, Lion-o came out now wearing a light blue armor covering his chest and hips with a single shoulder plate on the right side and shin guards that served to cover and protect his knees…also, the Gauntlet of Omens attached to his belt. "Here, put this on." He said and handed the female cat a cloak and a hood and put his own over his shoulders.
With the lizard army gone it was save to walk the streets now. Lion-O headed to the entrance of the city to meet with the others but suddenly he stop hearing the puma's steps behind him and turned to see her moving her head in various directions while her eyes searched the area. The girl finally walked over to a pile of concrete and knelt down to take a closer look.
The lion approached and stood not very far behind her and before he could ask she spoke. "What do you think happened to him?" Her king stood in silence. "What could've happen to Lynx-O…" Her voice flat looking at the stains of blood on the broken stone. She knew is was from him…they were in the same spot of the city where they last saw the general.
Lion-O wondered if she was actually waiting for an answer and so waited before saying anything. The last he knew of Lynx-O was that he was seriously injured with little chance to survive, thought…
"At least there's no sign he's body is still around here…" Pumyra cut the silence.
Without noticing himself, a tiny smile draw on the lion's face. She was right, if the lynx's body wasn't there, there was still a chance that he's survived. The Thundercats' army wasn't known for giving up easily after all. The female cat got back on her feet and faced him. "Let's keep going, Your Majesty."
Those two words again, Lion-O thought. The words that proved the relationship between them, if there was any, had completely changed. Anyhow, it wasn't the time to think about that. He knew the rules have certainly changed now and he would have to play a whole new role but, was he ready to accomplish it like his father did before him?
Back at the entrance Tygra stood waiting for the others to get back. Now sporting a new different outfit than before which consisted on a dark green battle armor to go better with his new laser gun. Right then only Cheetara showed up carrying a bag on her back.
"You were in luck, I see." The tiger pointed.
His friend closed her eyes and replayed on a soft voice. "Only half the luck I hoped." Now looking at him. "The lizards also entered the enclosure. They took everything they could from the library, every book, every map…they left nothing." Frustration coming from her voice. "Luckily they did not take all of the food and I got us some supplies."
"What about you?" The cleric asked.
Tygra shook his head. "Nothing." Bitterly. "Just like you, those reptiles swept the whole place."
Soon after, Lion-O and the others returned to the meeting spot and handed a pair of cloaks to them too. Now the cats headed outside of the kingdom's ruins. The now king looked back for the last time and promised to himself he would make Mum-Ra pay for all he has done.
After a while walking, on one side of the road, two cubs were inspecting the remains of a destroyed vehicle. "You sure you didn't leave it behind?" The cub girl questioned her brother, who lifted his head from his concentration.
"Of course I have it, sis." Showing her a scroll he took out of his many pockets. "Don't worry about a thing. No matter how long it takes us, we'll find El-Dara, you'll see."
"Oh, I'm not worried. I just don't want you to get us lost." The little girl joked and both kittens got back to search for supplies for their own journey.
It seemed there wasn't much of use for them but things were not so bad as they saw a group of cats heading their direction, and their hopes raised when they recognized two the them from the group.
"Kat, look." Willykit shouted as both got closet o the wanderers. "It's the princes, Lion-O and Tygra."
The two walked in front of the serious lion. "Names are Willykat and Kit. We thought we were the only cats left." The lion just walked past them not paying attention to the cubs.
The Willies looked at one another but didn't give up easily. Willykit caught up with Lion-O with her brother close behind. "Maybe we can join you until we get to where we're going…El-Dara, the city of treasure."
"Never heard of it." The red haired cat answered with a frown.
The cubs smiled. "Of course not. I've got the only proof." Willykat said showing the scroll to him in hopes he'd agree to let them come with them.
"No."
The little cats stopped walking feeling rejected. "Please." Kit pleaded.
The elder cats stood behind the cubs when Pumyra stepped forward to take a look at the twins. "You two...!" Lion-O and the others turned around to look at her.
"Hey! You're the one that saved us from the lizards!" Kat shouted surprised to recognize her.
"Yeah, we thought we'd never see you again." His sister added with a smile.
Cheetara turned to the puma girl beside her. "You know these two?"
She nodded. "They ran into me a couple of times…the last time I saw them I told them to get out of the city, that it wasn't safe for them."
"She saved us!" Willykit added out loud.
Lion-O rose up his gaze from the little girl to Pumyra, his eyes widened just for a moment. But his face soon narrowed knowing where all that was going.
"Well, they do look like they have no one else." The cleric commented loosely to the young lion.
"We can't just leave them here." Tygra seconded her.
His little brother glared at him seeing him siding with the blonde cat and said. "We're on a mission to avenge father, and you want to play babysitter? They'll have to take care of themselves, Tygra. Now let's go!" And continued walking.
Now was Pumyra's time to glare at the stubborn King. How could he leave a couple of kittens all alone just like that, she thought. Her glare disappeared quickly as she caught sight of the twins going after the lion anyways and started to mew beside him while rubbing their cheeks with their paws…but all they got was another negative.
Still, the female cat showed a little grin at their little unsuccessful but funny attempt to make the lion give in. She felt bad for them, she knew the others did too, and then again those were the king's orders.
After that, the others assumed they could not twist his tail to make him change his mind and reluctantly kept walking leaving the willies to their own luck. But not before the puma went behind them and leaned down to said to them calmly. "Sorry, but it's for your own good." Hoping they could understand that wherever they were going it was going to be dangerous for them she continued after her king.
But all in all this didn't stop the cubs for much time and they started their way carefreely. "Just so you know, we're not following you." Kat said confident.
"You're just walking in front of us." The little girl completed.
And so, all of them undertook their untiring voyage following the trail left by Mum-Ra's forces. For many days the cats travelled with no stop. In just half a day the ruins of Thundera were left behind and no one looked back. Along their way, the Thundercats were surprised by the different reliefs a small part of Third Earth's got to offer. That was the case of the Bottomless Chasm.
"How are we supposed to go across this huge hole?" Willykit asked curiously looking down the chasm.
"We'll have to surround it, let's go." The lion king commanded and the rest followed.
The only time the cats got to rest was after sunset when it was too dark to see where to go. The group stopped at a lake, serving them as a drinking water source. Tygra set the fire while Cheetara went out for a quick scouting detail since she was the fastest. Meanwhile, Pumyra seemed to be the only one to keep an eye on the little ones and founding relief to see they were good at taking care of themselves. They never stayed very far from the others, though.
"Looks like we'll keep going straight ahead from here in the morning." The voice of the cheetah sound next to the other young girl as she got back from the scouting and sat next to her. "It's been four days…how are you feeling?" The blonde cat asked.
The other female cat was taken aback by the question. It was then she recalled it was Cheetara who helped her the most to wrap her left leg and arm in bandages after Lion-O brought her with them. "I'll be fine, thanks for asking." She smiled.
Cheetara smiled back, she could tell the puma was a strong cat. After four days of none stop walking, although still wounded, she seemed to do pretty well. "You know about medicine, am I right?" The cleric said out of the blue.
"How did you figured?" The other young girl asked.
"The way you directed me while attending your wounds…That and they say doctors are the worst patients." The last part with a little of humor in her voice.
Pumyra smiled at her again and then it faded as she caught sight of the young lion resting against a tree with his eyes fixed on the camp fire. "Will he be ok?" She asked dryly hiding her worry about him.
The cheetah girl got a glimpse of their young king and returned to her companion. "I can't tell." And paused. "He's just full of anger right now. Let's wait till it goes away and he can see things clearly." Cheetara then stood on her feet and went to sit on the grass next to the tiger across the camp fire leaving the puma wondering, with things going like they were how long would they have to wait…
As days went by the footage kept changing for the Thundercats. One day they were wandering through a dense jungle which trees covered the sunlight above them, and the next one they walked across a hot red field filled with rocks that came out of the ground like daggers. The longest time they spent on a large desert full of piles of stone resembling mountains.
Even the youngest ones who showed the most will until now were too tired to go on and everyone got under one of the mountains shade. The twins plummeted on the floor breathless. On the other hand, Lion-O kept looking ahead for the next direction to take on their journey but at this point it was useless.
"We can't keep going like this." Pumyra whined starching her tired legs while resting on a rock. The young lion ignoring her words completely.
"We lost the trail, Lion-O." Tygra said trying to make his brother see there was nothing more around them to help them track the lizards.
"And our supplies are dangerously low." Cheetara added indicating the bag she brought with her full of food at the start of the travel was now empty.
But the young king's stubbornness would not let him see the other's needs as he could only think of finally reaching the Sand Sea. "I don't care. We keep moving forward." And walked blindly out of the shade leaving the others behind.
His older brother growing tired of his carelessness and the puma just stared at the lion letting out a heavy sigh. Snarf groaned, and then fell on his belly next to her feet, tired. Then he perked up at the sight before him.
Kit and Kat following his line sight. "What is that?" Kit asked in awe. Lion-o ran back to take look as well.
Beyond the small arch was a golden flowing object. They walked through, and Lion-o smirked as he recognized the sight before him. "Snarf just found the Sand Sea. Mum-Ra's lair must just be on the other side!"
Tygra looked at the rippling golden waves of sand that moved as if it was water. "Do you see a way around it?" he asked, as they walked forward.
The kittens walked to see the strange sight, and then they gasped. "I think I see something better!" Kat's eyes open wide, pointing to a pile of food floating on the sand.
The cats ran to the sand and everyone grabbed each a bite of the food.
"I don't believe it…" The puma girl mused looking shocked at the fruits and meat without noticing the piece of red meat the young lion held before her so she could regain some strength as well. She took the meat and smiled in thanks…it was good to finally see a nice gesture coming from him after all those days.
While everyone was occupied chewing and savoring the delicious meal, Cheetara got everyone's attention. "Hey, anyone else's wondering where all this came from?"
Suddenly, from the north, the sand split as something rose up, and Lion-o and the others were caught in a net carrying them in the air and crashed onto a boat. In front of them was a white and brown mottled Koi-like fishman, who smirked while others like him came near them.
"Quite the catch I say." The fish said.
The Thundercats looked around them to see they were caught by a group of fish people on their pirate ship.
"What's all that racket?" A grumpy, scratchy voice called. "That better be the Ramlak you spineless jellyfish are carrying on about!" From the stairs leading to the lower deck, a while skinned fish came out. This one with one eye closed shut; he had a red beard fringe and a right peg leg. As he walked up, water dripped from his body as he walked closer and looked at the catch. "Another worthless haul…take what the crew doesn't eat of them and turn it into chum!" He said.
A large red fish with a chef's hat and coat smiled and began to rub two knives together, chuckling darkly.
"Whiskers," Lion-o muttered. The fishes grabbed them and pulled them out of the net. The cats lunged at them, but more fishes came carrying harpoons and strange devices that had spears loaded in them. They struggled to free themselves with no success.
The captain approached them before letting his crew do as asked before. "That bait was meant for the beast."
"I am Lion-O, Lord of the Thundercats and I order you to release us!" The lion commanded to the fishmen amusement as they started laughing.
"It talks, and it still has some fight in it." The white fishman remarked. "Well Lion-o, Lord of the Thundercats, I am Koineleus Tunar, Captain of this ship…and I order you filleted!" He meant for his crew.
The ship's cook rubbed his knifes once again. "Let's start with the little ones…their meat will be the most deliciously tender!"
The two cubs gasped and shivered in fear. As the fish advanced, the ship suddenly jerked, and they all staggered. That's when from the side, a large green tentacle snaked out from the sand and grabbed a fish swinging him high in the air and dragged him into the Sand Sea.
The fishes cried out in panic but not the captain. A grim yet eager expression on his face. "Ramlak, at long last! My wretched quarry returns!" Now more of the tentacles could be seem coming from beneath the sands.
The tentacles swarmed at them. A fishman ran forward and shot at one of them with his spear, a rope attached to it, and it stabbed into a tentacle. A blue colored liquid came from the wound as if it was the monster's blood, a wailing moan was heard and the tentacle swung up carrying the fish that didn't let go of the spear. As the fish swung in the air the spear fell off the tentacle and fell to the deck along with him. Luckily the spear fell close to the cheetah's feet and caught it.
The cats could do anything but to look at the scared crew running to hide from the creature's attacks. Koineleus Tunar cursing the cowards who dared to flee from the Ramlak without putting a fight. "Come on you filthy maggots! This is the moment we've been waiting for, fight!" He shouted.
The Ramlak was gaining territory as it took over the main mast. Meanwhile, Cheetara and Tygra rubbed the rope around them against the spear cutting them all free but as soon as they all got up they were wrapped by the creature's tentacles, except for Snarf that ran quickly to a hiding spot between the ship's cargo.
Lion-O had his arms free so he pulled his sword out of the claw shield. "Thundercats! Ho!" The sword recovered its full size at the word and the cat cut loose from the tentacle with ease, cutting free each of his friends as he landed on his feet to the captain's amazement.
"The food fights better than you!" He bawled scolding his crew and walked over to the Lord of the Thundercats with his own sword in hand to fight along with him.
The other cats also gave fight to the Ramlak gaining space on the battle field making the it hold back its attack and retreat back to the deep of the Sand Sea.
"Run you coward! You can't escape me forever! I'll follow you straight to the flaming pits of Magmel before I give you up!" Koineleus shouted watching the creature disappear beneath the sand.
Lion-O got his group together and stepped forward to face the captain. "Now, what were we talking about before the interruption?"
"I believe we were discussing how we'd fillet you! But had I known you were such fine warriors, I'd of served my first-mate to you on a platter!" The white fish told him with a grin on his face as said first-mate looking shocked. "Listen up fishies, these fine fellows are your new ship-mates. Treat them like your own scaly brothers!" He ordered. "And give the little ones some food."
"Food!" The willies cheered while captain Tunar patted on Lion-O shoulder and leaded him away. The kids hurried after the cook heading to the ship's kitchen.
"Welcome to the crew." Said the first-mate holding a pair of swab-brushes and handing one to the blonde cat.
"Why don't I feel good about this?" She asked jerking an eyebrow.
Leaving the other swab-brush to Pumyra next to her to take. "You're telling me…" Looking at the brush crestfallen.
"What you think about it, Tygra?" Cheetara asked again. "Tygra?" And turned to see the prince leaning on the side with his head held out of the ship and retching.
The puma watched as the other girl went to the tiger's aid, then looked at the swab-brush again and tossed it to a side. She walked across the deck looking around, then up to the main mast and got sight of Lion-O climbing up behind the captain reaching the crow's nest on the top. Her face narrowed, disliking the thought of their king sharing time with a short-tempered and wretched fellow like Tunar. Anyway, she was in no position to argue about it and let out a snort…instead, Pumyra headed inside the ship without being noticed to check on the kids.
"I want to get down of this ship!" Tygra muttered weakly looking at the sand flowing below.
"Don't do that, or you'll get sicker." The cheetah told him helping him to sit on a cask away from the edge of the ship. "Now wait here." She pleaded and grabbed a wooden bucket on her way to the captain's headquarters entrance. That part of the ship was, surprisingly, filled with water. Cheetara sank the bucket just a second in the water and carried some for the prince. "Here, it'll help you to feel better."
Tygra looked at the water that was meant to wash his head and took a good sip of it instead…the female cat stared at him in astonishment and stopped him as soon as possible. "Tygra wait! That water's from captain Koineleus's quarters where he came from earlier."
His eyes almost jumped out of his face as Tygra hurried up to throw up overboard once again. His friend shook her head feeling bad for him. "I hate sailing…" He managed to say before throwing again.
In the crow's nest the captain told Lion-O how his leg got but lost but stolen from him by the Ramlak. Hearing to his words made the lion conscious of the grudge Tunar held against the creature and even more, he felt identified with him as the lion heard how the Ramlak not only took the captain's leg but the fishmen home oasis, a watery paradise somewhere on the Sand Sea and drunk it dry.
"You know what it's like Lion-o? To have everything taken from you and replaced with rage…" The captain commented looking ahead on the telescope.
"A rage that won't go away until the monster that took it all is no more," Lion-o said somberly akin with the feeling…
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Comments and reviews are appreciated, always regarding the story itself (Any hatred comment dedicated to any reader or subject concerning the Thundercats series will be completely ignored and deleted.) Thanks.