Second Legacy

Chapter II

They finally arrived at the destination of this barren wasteland, only to see what they saw from the start: nothing but stillness of a barren world. Regardless, Lion-O still prowled the edge of the crater.

It was not a clean cut; the edges were ragged, ripped, and shown varying degrees of weakness; some parts of the floor had cracks that had gradually worsened over the forgotten time, and some of the surface had crumbled by just the smallest touch from his feet pressing into the earth. He treaded on regardless, lost in observing and comparing what he saw now to an image that only seemed clear in his head.

'I don't know what you're expecting Lion-O; it's a hole' Said Tygra with a declaration of the obvious. 'Nobody is going to pop up'

'I don't expect someone to, but I know something is down there'

Tygra wasn't convinced 'Because the stone tells you, right?'

'It's shown me the truth before, didn't it?'

It was an immediate, emotional reply without thought, his eyes flashing with hostility. The old wound of betrayal had not healed fully and his eyes showed it. Immediate, impulsive, and idiotic was his expression before realising just how hurtful his remark was. Now full of shame, Lion-O turned away. Tygra felt resentment brewing, but it was more for himself than his brother. The two brothers briefly shared shamed recollection of what they had said to one another at that time.

'I'm sorry, Tygra, I didn't mean it like that.' He paused as he tried to describe his reason; his eyes stared to the clear sky, looking for something to help him explain.

'Lion-O, even if it was here, there could be nothing there anymore. The first time you followed the stone, it nearly killed us, and I'm still having a hard time believing what you said it did to you the second time'

'It gave me a second life'

Tygra raised his arms theatrically, his words being met by a denial to what his brother should be seeing. 'It put your soul on trial!'

'It has saved me a number of times! I trust it Tygra!'

Tygra scoffed at the claim 'More self- preservation on its part. And what's next?' He argued 'Bartering your soul for Pyrmya?'

A glimmer of sorrow had surfaced in Lion-O's eyes; the sorrow was then replaced by intense disdain. He said nothing because Tygra could see the immediate truth.

'You consider it didn't you?' His tone took the younger brother by surprise; Tygra wanted the truth, saw it, and nearly despaired upon it. 'You know why I always beat you? You rely too much on one source: your anger. Now you look to that stone too often. You rely too much on that thing, it'll turn on you'

Taking a bottle out, the young king had another sip of cool water; having a heated debate in the sun-baked land just seemed to make him even thirstier, but it did give him time to think about what Tygra warne. Lion-O had been bested and humbled by the older prince, but Tygra was still his brother and he knew him well enough; though he was never ever right, he wasn't ever wrong either.

'Perhaps you're right. But Mumm-Ra has two stones now; I won't allow him to get the third'

'Look around you. It's hot, barren, and dead; the earth is so weak, some parts can't hold the Tank. Do you really think that's the trademark of the stone we're after?'

'I had dreams, Tygra' Said Lion-O quietly 'The Book pointed in the direction, the trail stopped here; it's the visions of the stone that set us here. It's telling me something...but I just don't see it' He cupped his chin in his hands and pondered if he really could rip the visions from his head and mould them into the form of a clear answer before him. It was absurd, but everything had been; what he would give just to be in the palace, chasing lost relics and saying 'meow' to every maiden that went past.

'And what exactly was it you saw?' Said his brother gently, seeing no sense in forcing an answer from someone who was struggling to clarify his own.

'A castle.' Lion-O admitted 'It had a design I didn't recognize and could probably tower father's own statue; it was like it was a host to a great power. Here! In the middle...' Seeing how everything was now made all the following claim ridiculous '...of a lush valley but, it's not here! It's...' His words dwindled as he stared down the blackness before them.

A brotherly hand held his shoulders as Tygra spoke 'I know how it feels, to be in touch with the past, only to see it taken away.'

'Is that a reference to Mother?'

'No. I was thinking of that statue of Father from when we journeyed in the spirit realm; I was also thinking about my clan passing before my eyes. Sprits into memories: the experience of having to let go, even when we don't want to.'

'Of what,Tygra? That some things will never come back? I can never accept that! There is more to this then having to see tragedy unfold one after another'

Tygra could see the anguished expression of a cat lost in his world; Lion-O looked to him as if he was now the great Jaga. The old Tygra was, but to have the wisdom and answers? Even he felt too young to handle such a role, but try anyway he did.

'You're only seeing that because you see through that stone; I don't care if Jaga is in the book or in the stone. One thing I do know is you can't turn to one thing to save someone-'

'You don't think I can save her?'

The older brother answered truthfully.

'I don't think she wants to, and looking into the stone won't help either'

A sense of mutuality between brothers had bridged them; all Tygra wanted was for Lion-O to cross over it to his side and leave this wretched place, but his eyes broke connection from a brother that clearly needed added confidence; he didn't fully explain his reason at first.

'Lion-O, is the com that Panthro gave us switched on?'

'Are you serious?' Lion-O became sceptical, and a partially naive, even going so far as to think Tygra was playing about to brighten things up. 'I'll turn it on and I bet you the twins will still have Snarf hooked on the coms!'

'Well how about you 'challenge' that bet to be certain and switch that thing on!'

In the distance, back from where they first trekked, Lion-O saw something darting ahead, leaving a trail of loose dirt behind them. There were two of them; it was the twins, and he wasn't that naive to think they were racing out because they were eager to greet their king. Lion-O picked the com out of his pocket and reactivated in his ear. 'Erm...Hi, what's up?'

Panthro answered and it was hardly welcoming.

'WHAT'S UP?' He bellowed 'WHAT'S UP?! ARE YOU WHISK...KIDDING ME? LOOK BEHIND YOU!'

Lion-O turned around and stared at the distance

'Panthro, I'm not seeing anything'

'Erm, Lion-O' Said Tygra, who was stuttering with understandable fear 'I think he's telling you to look up as well!'

He looked up and; above the tallest mountain he saw it the ship, carrier of his nemesis.

'Mumm-ra'

AN: To be honest this wasn't my best writing for a chapter, it's short and (to me) was impossible to improve, it was part of the third chapter originally however there are enough breaks in the third chapter, whereas this is a setup of its own, especially with the subject of the spirit stone. I'm just glad to get this one out of the way.