A/N: I've always liked the way that the Clone Wars in Star Wars had "heroes on both sides," both the Republic and the Confederacy, people that fought bravely for what they believed in. In this ThunderCats story, I'm experimenting with the concept of heroes being on the side of Plun-Darr as well as on Thundera and New Thundera. It's only reasonable that maybe some of the Mutants and Lunataks were not greedy warmongers like the canon villains, but well-meaning people who wanted the best just as much as the ThunderCats and their allies. I hope that I do a good job of writing that here.
Disclaimer: I do not own ThunderCats 1985. It belongs to Rankin/Bass.
Mumm-Rana's Plan
"Thunder! Thunder! Thunder! ThunderCats! HO!"
The cry of the Lord of the ThunderCats for help from his friends echoed through the valley. The Mutants and the Lunataks were on the loose again, and this time, all of them save Ratar-O were present, firing a massive number of thundranium cannons at the ThunderCats, Lion-O, Bengali, and Pumyra. Thankfully, Snarf and Snarfer had arrived on the scene first and formed a distraction long enough for Lion-O to call the other ThunderCats' assistance.
"Blast! Now we'll have even more ThunderCats to tangle with! Caw!" said Vultureman, who was at the trigger of one of the thundranium cannons.
"Don't look at me, Vultureman!" said Slithe, "It was Monkian and Jackalman who let those pesky Snarfs get so close to us, yessss?"
"Hoo, hoo, hoo! That's not fair, Slithe, and you know it!" protested Monkian.
"I'll tell you what's fair and what isn't-!" started Slithe.
"Be quiet, you miserable Mutants!" screamed Luna, leader of the Lunataks. "You're supposed to be concentrating on defeating the ThunderCats, not fighting amongst yourselves!"
"Oh, let them fight, Luna," said Tug Mug, "They're no use for anything, anyway."
"Yes," said Chilla, "Let them get fried, if that's what they want!"
Amok grunted his agreement.
"And you can be quiet, too!" Luna yelled, "It's bad enough the Mutants can't work together; why can't we learn to do so for once?"
"HO!" Lion-O suddenly shouted at the mystical Sword of Omens, which was pointed at Vultureman's thundranium cannon.
"Luna! Watch out!" shouted Alluro. Jackalman screamed like the coward he was.
A white blast fired from the blade of the Sword, and, aided by the mighty power of the Eye of Thundera, it blew up the cannon, sending Vultureman flying up into a tree.
"You could've warned me too, you Lunatak loony!" he yelled at Alluro, "Cawww!"
But now Bengali and Pumyra were taking advantage of the improved situation. Bengali's Hammer of Thundera smashed through another thundranium cannon before the Mutants could think to shoot again. Pumyra's deadly whipcord shot pellets at her unassembled enemies, knocking them off their feet. Luna fell off of Amok and lay helpless on the ground.
"Somebody do something!" she screeched.
Chilla stood up and blew an ice wind at Pumyra and Bengali, but Pumyra said, "You're not getting me that easily again, ice witch," and she dodged the blast of cold air, subsequently shooting a sphere of fire and blinding light at Chilla, which hit her in the throat and melted her ice-blowing ability temporarily.
It was about then that the other ThunderCats arrived at last. Slithe noticed this and said to the Mutants, "I think it's about time we retreated, for the umpteenth time, yessss?"
"We're with you, Slithe!" said Monkian and Jackalman, and they ran back to their Nosediver and Skycutters.
"Hey! Get me down from here!" Vultureman yelled.
"Get yourself down, feather brain!" Slithe mocked him as he and the others left.
Vultureman squawked pathetically at Slithe, but he managed to get himself down, eventually, and retreated to his Flying Machine.
The Lunataks, meanwhile, retreated as well, with Amok remembering to pick up Luna before doing so. "We'll be back, ThunderCats, and next time, we'll have better help than those miserable Mutants!" Luna yelled back at the Cats.
The ThunderCats watched them run away yet again. Panthro, in the driver's seat of the ThunderTank, said with a smile, "It looks like we missed the action this time."
"Yeah, and that's too bad," said WilyKat, "I was rather looking forward to it, this time."
"Now, now," admonished Cheetara, "We've said many times before that we're a team, and we each have a part to play. And sometimes, some of us have to 'miss the action,' but it isn't like any of us always miss the action."
"That is a good point, Cheetara," said wise old Lynx-O, "We have said this numerous times, WilyKat. When are you going to take it to heart, anyway?"
WilyKat looked slightly dejected. "Yeah, you have a point. I guess I'm just not as good as most of the rest of you at resisting the call to excitement."
"That's all right, WilyKat," said Lion-O, "I was always the same way when I was a ThunderKitten, so I know what it feels like."
"You certainly were one little troublemaker to your father," remarked Lynx-O in good humor.
The ThunderCats shared a laugh together. Then they returned to the new Cat's Lair on New Thundera.
Tygra was still at his post at the old Tower of Omens on Third Earth, but Pumyra, who usually watched over the old Cat's Lair there, was visiting the other ThunderCats at the time. As many of the Cats returned to their duties, Pumyra wanted to have a talk with Lion-O and Cheetara. The ThunderKittens joined in on the conversation, too.
"I wonder sometimes how much longer this war against the Mutants, the Lunataks, and Mumm-Ra is going to go on, Lion-O," said Pumyra. "Although it can be entertaining at times, as a healer, I'm growing weary of always besting those cowardly fools, only to have to get up and do it all over again, time and time again."
"Believe me, Pumyra, I know the feeling," said Lion-O, "But I'm afraid it isn't that easy. Maybe the Mutants and the Lunataks can be stopped and contained in a prison, but all our attempts to destroy Mumm-Ra have failed, no matter how cleverly we've beaten him. I mean, as long as those Ancient Spirits of Evil continue to exist, so will Mumm-Ra, and he's so evil, he'll never give up for good."
"And let's not forget that there are other people in the galaxy who could free the Mutants and Lunataks when they were imprisoned," said Cheetara, "Remember when Captain Cracker attacked Captain Bragg's Circus Train and freed the Lunataks for a while in an attempt to overrun Third Earth?"
"I remember," said Pumyra, "And I don't like remembering it. I can still see the seven of them, eight if you count that bird, Polly, charging Cat's Lair on Third Earth before the rest of you came along to help stop them."
"But after today," continued Cheetara, "I was hoping that the ThunderKittens would learn a lesson about teamwork for once in their lives. They'll never mature if they don't."
"Uh, Cheetara," said WilyKit, "Please don't talk about us as if we weren't here, okay? Besides, I've been doing my best to honor that rule of teamwork, too, and I think that I don't have as much difficulty as WilyKat does."
"Hey!" said WilyKat.
"Easy, WilyKat," said Cheetara, "This isn't the time for jealousy. I'm sorry, WilyKit. I guess you two have been a pair for so long that sometimes I forget you're two separate people. And sorry for talking as if you and your brother were not here, as well."
"Sometimes," said Pumyra, "I wish our youth could think of an idea as to how to make this ridiculous war end for good, and I was hoping that either Lion-O or the ThunderKittens could think on an idea, any idea that makes remote sense."
"Truthfully, even after all this time fighting the Mutants and Mumm-Ra, I don't understand any of it," said WilyKit. "I know that the Mutants and Lunataks are as evil as Mumm-Ra, but I've never once learned what motivates them to be such fierce enemies of ours. All I hear about is their greedy desire for power and conquest, and virtually nothing about why they're so determined never to give up until they win, or they're dead."
WilyKat shrugged helplessly.
"I'm not sure either, WilyKit," admitted Lion-O, "War can be complicated sometimes. But I would think that if the Mutants and their allies had another motive besides their desire to possess the Eye of Thundera, I would've learned of it by now. It doesn't seem like any of the Mutants or Lunataks are any different than single-minded Mumm-Ra."
"Well, I'm still not sure, really," mused Pumyra, "I think I need another opinion on this. And I think I can find her on Third Earth, not far from my post. And maybe one or both of the ThunderKittens would like to come along with me; they could learn something they've never been taught before." She looked at the kids.
"Uh, thanks, Pumyra," said WilyKat, "But although I love adventure, seeking for answers to stopping an exciting conflict against our mortal enemies isn't really what I had in mind. I think I'll stay here."
"Aw, you're just being a scaredy-cat, WilyKat," joked WilyKit.
"I am not!" said Wilykat. "I just – wait. Are you saying that you do want to go with Pumyra, WilyKit?"
"Sure," said WilyKit, "I think it would be a lot of fun, and like Pumyra says, maybe educational, too."
"Well, it's good to hear that someone's with me," said Pumyra, "Thanks for your help, Lion-O."
Lion-O looked at Cheetara, who shrugged. "Uh, thanks for what?"
"You and Cheetara implied that my friend on Third Earth and I should teach her about the politics of war," said Pumyra, "So I'm going to."
WilyKit winked at the others. Cheetara said as they left, "Well, I guess we'd better tell Panthro, Lynx-O and Bengali that we're short a couple of ThunderCats for a little while."
"Yeah, I agree, Cheetara," said Lion-O. "Let's do that right now."
"Hey," said WilyKat, "Can I get to see some of the action next time the Mutants come?"
"WilyKat," said Cheetara in a warning voice.
"Oh, right, I forgot already," he stammered.
On Third Earth, after returning there via the Feliner, Pumyra flew the ship to a special location on the lush, green planet. It was the White Pyramid, the home of Mumm-Rana the Ever Good, the good answer to Mumm-Ra the Ever-Living. The old, gentle mummy woman greeted them kindly as they came inside and she rose out of her sarcophagus.
"Pumyra, WilyKit, it is good to see you again," said Mumm-Rana with a smile, as she slowly walked toward her cauldron. Pumyra and WilyKit stood on its opposite side.
"It's good to se you're doing well, too, Mumm-Rana," said Pumyra courteously.
WilyKit said, "Same here, O Mighty One."
"Uh, listen, Mumm-Rana," Pumyra started to say, "There was something we wished to discuss with you-"
"Ah, yes," Mumm-Rana politely interrupted, "I know why you are here. My powers have increased in strength since my discovery of the existence of the demon priest, Mumm-Ra. I have already heard of your concerns. You know, it may not be impossible to end this Thundera-Plun-Darr war more easily. I think you should talk to Prefect Vuronure."
Pumyra blinked. "Who is he?"
Mumm-Rana smiled. "'He' is a 'she.' She's a Vulturewoman politican on the planet Plun-Darr."
Pumyra and WilyKit started. "Your friend is a Mutant?" said WilyKit, "Another one of Mumm-Ra's pawns? Or is she a pawn of Slithe, or Ratar-O, or Luna?"
"Relax, WilyKit," said Mumm-Rana patiently, "She is none of the above. She is a Mutant, but unlike her cousin, Vultureman, she is of good heart, like us. Like Mumm-Ra, I know much about the universe, and I was once very closely aligned and friendly with many of the Mutants of Plun-Darr. I also used to know plenty of the Lunataks that inhabit the Moons of Plun-Darr, and you would be surprised to find out how kind many of them are. Not all of the Mutants and Lunataks are aligned with evil, and those that are good are no one's pawns. That is why, when I first met Slithe, Monkian, and Jackalman, I assumed that they were good people, because I was used to associating with good Mutants, and I didn't think that evil ones would dare to trespass in the White Pyramid."
Pumyra whistled a wolf whistle. "Well, you learn something new every day, don't you, WilyKit?" she remarked.
"Sure sounds like it, Pumyra," agreed WilyKit.
"Well, I suppose we could talk with this Vuronure," said Pumyra, "But I'm not sure if the evil Mutants on Plun-Darr, which might have stronger military power than the good ones, would even dream of letting living ThunderCats set foot on their planet, except as prisoners. I know little about Plun-Darr besides the Sword, but I'm pretty sure the Mutants and the Lunataks made it illegal for Thunderians to have conversations with so-called good Mutants and Lunataks, because it might incite the good ones to rise up against the evil ones."
"Well, again like Mumm-Ra, I do have the ability to influence minds when I truly have to," said Mumm-Rana, "And perhaps I could fool the Mutants into letting you enter without being arrested. But it would be against my nature as a force for good, for me to put all my power into controlling many minds all at once. Even evil creatures deserve to have free will, ThunderCats."
"Well, younger, more impetuous ThunderCats like Lord Lion-O, Bengali, WilyKat, and me hold aggressive negotiations with the Mutants and the Lunataks all the time," suggested WilyKit. "We're very used to fighting them, because we've had a lot of practice. But then again, that might bring the whole planet down on us, and that wouldn't be good, either. It's a shame that we can't hold more peaceful talks with our enemies."
Mumm-Rana suddenly perked up. "You just gave me an idea. You are ThunderCats, and because of your high rank as mighty guardians of this part of the galaxy, it gives you special clearance. And ThunderCats have the authority to work with neutral parties like the Demolisher and Captain Shiner."
"True," said Pumyra slowly, remembering being a prisoner of that money-grubbing mercenary when the ThunderCats and Mumm-Ra first discovered her existence. "But wait. You know people like Shiner?"
"Yes, I do," said Mumm-Rana, "As I said, I know many things."
"But we can't trust Shiner," protested Pumyra, "He works for Mumm-Ra and evil."
"Yeah," said WilyKit, "He's no good to anyone except himself and his crew."
"Correction," said Mumm-Rana with infinite patience, "He is neutral, because he will work for anyone as long as that person or party pays him substantially for it. And while I do not believe in money as a very nice driving force for good, Shiner does keep his word when he is paid, and will treat you with the utmost courtesy. I will see to that."
"You have money to pay him?" WilyKit asked.
"I know where I can get money legitimately," said Mumm-Rana. "My plan is this: I pay Captain Shiner the money to smuggle you into Plun-Darr, and I will tell him exactly where on the planet to take you. While you are on your way, I shall contact Vuronure through my cauldron and tell her of your visit and your names, so that she can prepare to get you to her private estate quickly and quietly, so you can meet with her."
"That sounds perfectly reasonable to me," said Pumyra, "if still a little strange."
"And as a popular politician of Plun-Darr," continued Mumm-Rana, "Vuronure knows some other Mutants and several Lunataks on the planet and its moons who might be willing to meet you, too. Do not pass up the opportunity to meet as many friendly Plun-Darrians as you can."
"Oh, don't worry, Mumm-Rana," said WilyKit, grinning, "We won't."
"You know, Mumm-Rana," said Pumyra, "I think that you and Mumm-Ra have more in common than you know. You're both clever at making plans to stop your enemies and help your allies, though you obviously do it at the opposite extremes of morality. It's no surprise that you are so evenly matched."
Mumm-Rana looked vaguely disturbed. "Yes," she said, "But I still hope that one day, my powers may become strong enough to best Mumm-Ra the Ever-Living for good."
"I agree," Pumyra said. "So, where shall we meet with Shiner?"
"You will go back to Cat's Lair on Third Earth," said Mumm-Rana, "And there, you shall await the Vertus' arrival. Shiner will be ready for you. Make sure you are also ready for him."