CHAPTER EIGHT

Glomer arrived at the Desert of Sinking Sands via self-teleportation. He floated down and stared at his new home. It was every bit the fortress he imagined in his head like the Great Glomley Elder told him - shaped like a proud male Glomley's head. Glomer was sincerely impressed with how well designed it was, as if time had been good to it. It would indeed serve as Glomer's ground of training.

"Me just might liking this place," Glomer marvelled. In his naivete, he failed to notice a black pyramid surrounded by four obelisks near his new home, unaware that he would be the ultimate weapon for chaos.


Mumm-Ra, with his staff in his right hand, smiled devilishly at luring Glomer into the power of darkness from his cauldron. It would only be a matter of time before Glomer completely strayed from the side of light. He pointed the dragon tip of his staff towards Glomer's home, and the tip's red eyes now glowed magenta, which in turn caused the door on the Glomley fortress's mouth to glow the same color.

Brace yourself, Glomer, for the greatest battle of your life, Mumm-Ra thought sinisterly.


Glomer became curious about the glowing door inhabiting the Glomley head's mouth. And then, it stopped glowing, and opened itself to the ground. Glomer's curiosity increased as he entered the fortress. After he entered it, the door automatically closed on him, and a giant-sized, PAR-shaped light bulb on the ceiling shined upon the fortress's interior, which was full of both greens and blues. Four large, clear-crystalled statues of male, less-rounded Glomleys on black pedestals wearing magician-style capes dominated the left and right sides of the interior, with a red carpet leading straight to a lilac-colored strigil crypt with three carved male Glomley heads on the bottom. A white pillow rested on the top left side of the crypt.

Glomer was most definitely impressed with the scenery around him. Whoever designed this mysterious fortress had done an outstanding job of capturing his Glomley heritage, as well as the history of Chaundoon. He took to the air and floated to where the statues were. He looked over all four of them. They looked like all male Glomleys did, but their goatees were different than his - the first two statues' goatees were stylized S-shapes, while the other twos' goatees were curly.

Must be tradition for male Glomleys to change their goatees, Glomer thought. He then looked to the crypt that seemed to be designed with him in mind, for whenever he needed a recharge. He floated back down and looked closely at the three carved Glomley faces at the bottom. They held a soft but stern look about them that acknowledged the Glomley race in general. Glomer felt a sense of hope for his kind, that Chaundoon would still be able to prosper even if he ever did go back there.

Glomer's stomach rumbled, indicating that he hadn't eaten anything since he distanced himself from his friends. "Ooh," he said weakly, rubbing his stomach. "Glomer need something to snack on."

As if on cue, a glass cup of pinkish fluid and a yellow plate of four black cookies with glowing green chips on them appeared magically on the floor near Glomer and the crypt. Glomer had no idea who sent him the plate, but at this point he didn't care; he just wanted to snack on something. He sat down and ate up the cookies and drank the drink. A minute later, he burped loudly. He felt quite full from his little snack.

"Quite delicious snack," he mumbled. The cup and plate soon disappeared, and the image of the Great Glomley Elder appeared once more in his mind.

How you like your new snack, Glomer? the Elder asked nonchalantly.

"It real good, Elder," replied Glomer, "best thing I ate in while. Thanks for sending it to me."

You welcome. Then the Elder got down to business. Now I revealing reason I call you here in first place.

Glomer straightened up and was all ears. "What my mission about?"

It better for me to show you. Concentrate.

Glomer did as he was told. He closed his eyes and focused all of his strength in spite of his inexperience, and in an instant, the Elder's spirit glowed turquoise, causing his eyes to glow the same color. The Elder was about to show Glomer something that could either make or break the younger Glomley. Glomer's own eyes opened up automatically, and they glowed white and fired a telescopic beam that morphed into a signal shape.

The beam revealed images of the ThunderCats, though they weren't the heroes Glomer believed them to be. He saw images of the atrocites they were committing to the good people of Third Earth. And they began to terrify him.

Panthro, in the ThunderTank, driving straight to the Unicorn Forest and turning it and its inhabitants (even the Unicorn Keepers) to a block of ice with the power of his nunchuks. He smirks wickedly at his newfound misdeed.

Tygra, wearing a light-blue cape, slashing his whip around the Wollo Village and its people, generating three fireballs that burn parts of the village. The Wollos cower over their friend's changed demeanor and are forced to bow before him, and he nods with satisfaction.

Cheetara, arriving with blazing speed at the Mines of the Molemen, activating her staff and pounding it once on the ground, the staff sending shock waves across the mines and affecting the Molemen's balance, forcing them to kneel and look at their attacker, who chuckles quietly at what she's accomplished.

WilyKat and WilyKit, swinging on vines from tree to tree and leaping upwards, unleashing smoke bombs of various colors onto the Treetop Kingdom, covering it and the Warrior Maidens (including Willa, Tessa, and Nayda) in smoke, giving the ThunderKittens a chance to attack the women by stealth. One by one, the maidens are unconscious, and as the smoke clears, the kittens are on top of Willa's hut looking over them all with smug expressions, standing victorious.

Lion-O, dressed in lilac-colored armor with suspenders, a grey belt surrounding his ThunderCat symbol, and wearing grey-armored boots, carrying the longbladed Sword of Omens in his right hand and wearing the Claw Shield on his left hand, standing before the Berbil Village and the trembling Berbils (Ro-Ber-Bill and Ro-Ber-Belle including) with a cold expression on his face. He grips his sword with both hands and points it not at the Berbils, but their beloved village. With a shout of "Ho!", the sword fires its sapphire energy at everything. The Berbils are forced to run off, leaving Lion-O with a unremorseful grin as he turns to watch them go.

Lastly, Snarf, in the same place as Lion-O, hoarding all the Berbils' candyfruit and devouring it gluttonously, taking great pleasure in the destruction his master just caused.

Glomer's telescopic beam died down, and he got down on his knees and looked to the floor, clearly shocked at what he'd seen. The ThunderCats, Team Punky's saviors, causing wanton destruction? Lion-O and his friends showed no signs of doing the latter team evil, and it was evident in their body language. Could it have been a front the entire time? Glomer had never felt more confused than he did. By leaving Punky and the others in the ThunderCats' hands, had he sent them to their potential doom?

"But...ThunderCats are friendly," he said weakly, his eyes on the verge of tears. "Th-they not evil."

But it possible, Glomer, said the Great Glomley Elder gloomily. I forsee ThunderCats being corrupted by darkness. What you been seeing were visions of future. Lion-O and friends eventually going to turn on you and your friends. Unless you not want that to happen, you not have any choice but to defend yourself.

"I just not sure what to do, Elder." Glomer was obviously torn about the bombshell that was dropped on him. The ThunderCats had offered sanctuary for him and his friends, yet they had the potential to turn evil. If they did, he and his friends - and all of Third Earth - would be in total danger. Lion-O and his crew outright said they were used to danger even. Would Glomer risk Team Punky's safety just for the sake of trusting their saviors?

The Elder said cautiously, Nothing in life what it seems. You only have to look at someone to know who they truly be. ThunderCat allies may not entirely be what they seem.

Glomer stood up once again and asked in wonder, "What happen if I vanquish ThunderCats? Will everyone else be safe, especially Punky friend?"

Yes, dear Glomer. If you remembering vision dream of Chaundoon I gave you, it was simply to prepare you for eventual war with ThunderCats. Do you accept your mission?

Now it made sense to Glomer. His vision dream was meant for him to get stronger as a magician. He'd fared well against Slithe, Vultureman, Monkian, and Jackalman - invisibly, of course, and with some help - but if he was to prepare for war, if the ThunderCats were to their backs on the very code they upheld, then he had no choice. So, with a more confident expression, he gave the Elder his answer. "Yes," he said, nodding. "I accepting my mission."

The Elder raised his arms and declared, We beginning right now! His image faded from Glomer's mind for what would happen next.


Now that Mumm-Ra completely had Glomer's trust, it was time to power up the Chaundoon native. He shrank his staff to its miniature size and put it away.

"Very good, Glomer," he said, his voice deep with satisfaction. "The treat I have given you is actually a spell that I will now activate, and you will be compelled to only obey me. Prepare yourself for the power of darkness." He clasped his hands into fists, channeling every ounce of his evil into them. His hands glowed crimson like his eyes and robe, and then, with a roar of excitement, he unleashed lightning-like energy on the image before him.


Glomer felt something different than before during the Tongue-a-Saurus incident. He felt pure darkness taking him over. He closed his eyes tightly and clenched his teeth and paws, grunting, his entire body glowing red. He floated into the air as this continued. His hair grew a bit and became wild, his goatee became twisted, his teeth turned jagged, and his whole body became muscular. He stretched out his arms and legs, and his paws and feet became claw-tipped. He opened his eyes, which glowed red with Mumm-Ra's double-headed cobra symbol in them. He had an evil look on his face instead of a serene look.

He crossed his arms and tightened his legs with a growl, and with a roar that would shake even the bravest of them all, he let loose all of his dark power, which momentarily eclipsed the interior of his new home in a crimson glow and gave the whole fortress a super charge as crackling red energy surrounded it and went up to the Glomley head's eyes, which glowed pulsatingly. Inside, Glomer floated back down and relaxed, though his dark side remained. His eyes returned to their natural greenish color, and his body stopped glowing as well. The clear Glomley statues' bodies and eyes glowed, however, having absorbed the impact of Glomer's brief light show.

Glomer said with a grin, his voice now sounding evil, "I feeling really good. I wanting to get stronger and more powerful, so I can take down those ThunderCat meanies." He snickered menacingly.


"Hahahahahahahaha!" Mumm-Ra laughed loudly, feeling actual joy as he raised his head at the ceiling and then focused on the image in his cauldron. "Soon, Lion-O and his minions will Glomer's wrath." His eyes glowing, he shouted to the heavens, "And right after I eliminate Glomer and his homeland, everyone on Third Earth will bow before me, and the power of darkness will eclipse this world once more!" He laughed once more, this time like the madman he embraced himself as. It would be a long night training Glomer, but the ancient mummy was up to it.


Morning came for Team Punky and the ThunderCats at Cat's Lair, and after yesterday's fiasco, the ThunderCats explained to Punky and her friends during breakfast in the dining room that they would get a true tour of Third Earth, so they could understand the environment that they were in better. Team Punky couldn't argue with that decision, seeing as how they only explored a little bit of the planet. So far the kids had been in the Garden of Delights, the Forest of Silence, the River of Despair, and the Forest of Giant Insects.

And now, they were going to explore the entire planet with Panthro's guidance via the Feliner, and they were more than willing to participate. But only four of them would be able to go with Panthro, as the Feliner could only carry five passengers. With regret, Punky would be forced to leave Brandon at the lair. This saddened them both, but the other ThunderCats assured Punky they would look after Brandon while she and her friends were gone. This lifted Team Punky's spirits some, and Panthro promised them it would be an adventure they'd never forget.

Right after breakfast, the ThunderCats contacted the Berbils for help in restoring the lair to its original glory. The lair's left paw opened, and Panthro took Punky, Margaux, Cherie, and Allen to the Feliner, whose front-and-back window shields opened up and whose hatch with steps opened on the right side. The other ThunderCats, the Berbils, and even Brandon were here to see the five passengers off.

"Take care, guys," Lion-O said happily as he, his fellows, and the Berbils waved and Brandon barked/jumped for joy, which made Punky smile proudly at him.

"You, too," Panthro responded as he and the kids waved back. Then the five passengers boarded the ship, with Punky, Cherie, and Panthro on the front and Allen and Margaux in the back. The window shields, hatch, and steps all closed automatically. Panthro activated the ship's engines, which heated up from behind. The ship floated, and when it folded its paws and revealed its wings, it took off incredibly into the distance. The bystanders present gazed at the Feliner until it vanished.

"Shall we get started, then?" Tygra inquired, to which ThunderCat and Berbil alike nodded.

"Brandon'll need somebody to play with," interjected WilyKit.

WilyKat finished for her, "So is it alright if Kit and I take care of him?"

"Of course, ThunderKittens," said Cheetara, nodding. "As long as he's safe, you can play with him."

The twins gave each other a thumb up.

"C'mon, Brandon," said Kit. "You're in the ThunderKittens' care for right now."

Brandon jumped into Kit's arms and licked her face, causing her to giggle. Being with her and Kat wouldn't be the same as being with Punky, but he'd make the most of it.

"Let's go inside, Kit," said Kat, motioning to the inside with no door. Kit, carrying Brandon, went first, and then Kat. The lair would have a new automatic door built for it soon enough.

"We should get to work as well, friends," Lion-O said to everyone before him. They nodded yes, and work on repairing the lair had resumed.


"So where're we going first, Panthro?" Punky asked as the Feliner continued its flight.

"To the very heart of the ThunderCats' adventures on Third Earth: the junkyard of our original spaceship," clarified Panthro.

"What's it like?" Allen asked next.

Panthro turned to Allen with a smile and said, "You'll see."

The flight continued in silence, and soon the gang reached the crash site that jumpstarted the ThunderCats' Third Earth life. Panthro landed the Feliner, and after he and the kids got out, the kids were taken aback by how the ThunderCats' original royal flagship looked. The ship looked damaged beyond repair, its once-silver paint job looking a rusty dark grey and the ThunderCat insignia in front looking faded.

Margaux turned to Panthro, pointing at the ship and asking, "Is this really your old spaceship?"

"That's right, Margaux," said Panthro. He moved past the children and got closer to the ship. He thumb-gestured to it and turned to the children, explaining, "It was this very ship that guided my clan and I from our beloved Thundera. Jaga was in charge of commanding the ship while we piloted her. It's also where I made the ThunderTank from and we began making plans to build the Cat's Lair."

"Really?" the kids asked, beaming.

"Really," Panthro said. He pointed to the ground. "This spot we're on is a constant reminder of where the ThunderCats come from." He added with a smile, "Third Earth is a treacherous place, but we make the most of it."

Punky and the others took a good, hard look at the flagship wreck. For it to be the source of the ThunderCats' adventures on Third Earth would come as a shock to them, but instead, they understood what Panthro was saying. Back on First Earth, they would've thought differently about aliens colonizing another planet, but Third Earth was a different case. From the beginning, Lion-O and the ThunderCats had been there for Team Punky since their rescue from the Bottomless Chasm. Punky sent a silent prayer to Glomer, wishing him the best and that he'd return to his friends when he was ready. Cherie, Allen, Margaux, and Panthro supported Punky as they missed Glomer as well.

Cherie asked, changing the subject, "This must've been quite a ship, huh?"

"It was indeed," answered Panthro. "It was part of many ships that evacuated Thundera before its destruction. Each and every Thunderian was off to live in another galaxy...until those wretched Mutants wiped out all but us chosen few to be ThunderCats." At those last words, Panthro turned angry and clenched his right fist, looking to the sky. He would never forgive the Mutants for what they did to the Thunderian population, but he also refused to let his anger consume him. He cooled down some and remembered what he had now.

Team Punky, noting Panthro's distress, empathized with the struggles he and the other ThunderCats were going through, Punky and Cherie even more so due to having lost something dear to them from their own pasts. It was evident to them all that they would have to make the most of their time on Third Earth while they still could.

Wondering about the ship and pointing to it, Allen asked, "Could that hunk o' junk be any more salvageable?"

"No, I'm afraid not, Allen," Panthro replied sullenly. "There's not a lot more that can be done for her. My friends and I built the Feliner from all-new parts."

Team Punky turned to look at the Feliner. It certainly looked newly constructed, and they smiled, happy to be getting used to flying in it. They turned back to Panthro, their minds made up. Punky said, "I'm glad we came here, Panthro. My friends and I are starting to understand why the ThunderCats fight for what's right."

Panthro's mood brightened at what Punky said. His face turned generous, forming a smile. "Thanks, Punky," he said softly. In a more positive tone he said, "Let's get going. We've got an entire world to explore." He gave a thumb up with his left hand, and Team Punky responded by giving thumbs up from their right arms. Things seemed to be looking up for them all this day.


The Phosphorus Desert, a place of sizzling-hot red sands with clouds in the sky. No one on Third Earth had ever been able to venture here, except ThunderCat Cheetara, whose speed was able to protect her feet from getting burned by the sands. The newly-changed Glomer was currently in the desert, in a floating sitting position with his eyes closed. Mumm-Ra's instructions to Glomer before the demon priest retired to his crypt was to train in the very harsh environments of Third Earth, to endure them. But of course, in Glomer's mind, it was still the Great Glomley Elder that was speaking to him.

First off, Glomer was to train in the very location he resided in. He was humming, concentrating all of his powers in that exact spot, his face a clear frown. Nothing mattered to him now but getting stronger. He opened his eyes with a grunt, and they glowed red. By his command, a tornado formed out of the sands far from him. Hollow eyes and a hollow mouth formed from the tornado, both of pure evil. The new face growled out, its voice echoing across the desert. The tornado came for Glomer, who remained unafraid.

The tornado roared and swallowed the young Glomley hole with its mouth. Glomer's eyes stopped glowing, and he twisted and twirled inside the current he created. But he would not give in. He would not let the Great Glomley Elder down. He closed his eyes and steeled himself. His body glowed intensely white, and when he opened his eyes, they were suddenly glowing white as well. He put both his paws out, and a multi-colored sphere formed from them. The sphere shot a beam at the tornado's mouth, and the tornado closed its eyes and roared in agony, giving Glomer the chance to escape it while he could. Now he was face to face with the tornado, both of them itching to eliminate the other.

The tornado grew out sandy arms and proceeded to swat Glomer with both hands, but Glomer turned invisible before the tornado's hands even hit him, causing it to clasp only air. It looked around so see if Glomer was still present when it heard Glomer's voice shout boldly, "Over here, twister thingy!" The twister turned to see the now-visible Glomley, who was a bit further into the desert. The tornado clenched its fists, and its eyes glowed red again, firing lasers at Glomer, who held out his paws once more and deflected the energy being shot at him. The beams were tough, but Glomer was tougher. He bent his left leg and slightly turned, and with all of his might, he kicked the lasers back toward the tornado. As a result, the tornado roared in anger and pain as it glowed entirely red and imploded violently, and the entire desert was back to normal. Glomer panted slightly as sweat came from his forehead.

"Glomer...still need...to get stronger," he muttered raspily. "Futures of both Third Earth and Chaundoon depending on it."


Panthro and Team Punky's next stop aboard the Feliner was Tuskania, home to the Tuskas. Turmagar and his people noticed the ThunderCat spaceship and waved at it gratefully. It landed near the huts and rocks that established the Tuskas' territory. Panthro and the kids got out and first met up with the Turmagar and his people. The kids took notice of the latter group and were in shock that the people inhabiting this place were walrus-like humanoids, all of them a pale brown and having brown eyes. Their leader, who was a bit bulkier then they were, had grey eyebrows that were thick, wore a brown sweatsuit and black shoes, and had a tan sweater on underneath. The rest of Tuskakind all had black eyebrows and wore identical green-and-beige suits.

Turmagar stepped up to Panthro and smiled. He said, "Greetings, Panthro. It's nice to see you again." He gestured to Team Punky. "And who, may I ask, are these four young ones?"

"Hi, Turmagar," said the engineer/warrior, and he introduced Team Punky to Turmagar and his people. "These children are Punky Brewster, Allen Anderson, Margaux Kramer, and Cherie Benson."

The kids walked up to Turmagar, and they were somewhat intimidated by his appearance. Still, they put on positive faces. They waved to Turmagar. "Uh...hi, Mr. Turmagar," Punky said meekly.

"You must be the one called Punky," noted the Tuska leader. "And please. It's just Turmagar."

"These kids before me aren't from Third Earth, but rather a different timeline," explained Panthro. "The ThunderCats wanna get them adjusted to this world, so that's why I'm on an aerial trip today."

"I see," Turmagar said, nodding.

"We'd like to take a look around your home if you don't mind."

"Oh, no. I don't mind at all. Any friend of the Tuskas is welcome in Tuskania."

"Thank you."

Panthro showed the kids around the place. Turmagar asked to supervise, and Panthro didn't object to it. Under the supervision, Team Punky got a real, close-up look at the Tuskas' lives, inside and out. They even got to see a storage area where the Tuskas kept their weapons. Turmagar and Panthro assured the kids that the weaponry was for self-defense against anyone who dared to threaten life in Tuskania. This forced Turmagar to bring up the Technopede, a giant mechanical insect built during the early Third Earth years. Information on who created it was sketchy, but the Technopede's sole purpose was to destroy all life on the planet, with Tuskania being the first target. Turmagar related to Punky and friends that his people, try as they might, were no match for the superior firepower of the Technopede, so Turmagar called on the ThunderCats for help to obliterate the evil machine, to keep the waters of the River of Despair flowing. Team Punky was incredibly moved by Turmagar's story and thanked him for telling it to them.

By the time the group reached the stable, the children were more amazed than shocked at the visored dragons living there, resting peacefully. The creatures were identical in appearance, but they were different in color. They had feathered wings rather than normal dragon wings. In Team Punky's timeline, dragons were considered mythological, but here on Third Earth, dragons pretty much existed. The Gomplins were a fine example.

"These dragons are so amazing, Turmagar," said Allen. "What're they called name-wise?"

Turmagar answered, turning to Allen, "They, friend Allen, are called Gomplins." He pointed towards the dragon pack. "Tuskas have domesticated these noble creatures for centuries. We use them to patrol every corner of Third Earth." He walked up to the leader of the pack. This Gomplin was an olive-green type that belonged to Turmagar from the way the Tuska leader petted him. Team Punky smiled pleasantly at this moment; they doubted they'd forget it anytime soon.

Cherie said to Turmagar, "It seems like you and your people have everything under control."

"Ditto," agreed Margaux.

"That's true, Cherie and Margaux, but it never hurts to have the support of friends-" he pointed at Panthro politely, "-even if those friends are ThunderCats."

"Right," agreed Panthro, who nodded. "Before the kids and I leave, I'd like you to take them on a little joyride around Tuskania in your Gomplin."

"Are-are you sure about that, Panthro?" wondered Cherie before Turmagar obliged, looking over her friends and back to the panther. "We've never ridden on an actual dragon before. What if we-"

"Don't worry about it," assured Panthro as he put up a hand to interrupt Cherie and gestured to Turmagar and his Gomplin. "Turmagar will take care of you four."

Finally Turmagar said jovially, "I don't see why not. I can put in the time and effort for it."

Panthro motioned the kids to go with Turmagar and assured them that he would be watching the whole time. After some hesitation, the kids decided to fly with the Tuska leader. They had made another friend in him, which was enough for them. Panthro could only wonder how long the new friendships Team Punky were making on this planet would last considering Glomer's disappearance. If word got out about what the young Glomley did at the River of Despair, the ThunderCats would take the fall, and Team Punky would be caught in the middle. Panthro prayed to Jaga that things would work out okay, but he also knew that fate had a wicked streak.


It was now afternoon, and work on fixing up the Cat's Lair progressed rather well. The Berbils and the remaining ThunderCats worked in sync over the fortress they created together since the day they met. They were obviously enjoying themselves. The fact that both sides came from other worlds made their bond even more precious. They took a break now and then, occasionally enjoying snack time. When they got back to work, they never stopped. The lair was more than a fortress to them all; it was considered part of the ThunderCat-Berbil family.

In the lair's open forearms, Cheetara, Ro-Ber-Bill, Ro-Ber-Belle, and Snarf were working on new automatic weapons, while Tygra, Lion-O, and three Berbils were building a different type of weapon in the lair's open chest. The weapons Cheetara's group were working on were double-barreled cannons that were based on the VariCannon from the RatStar, Ratar-O's spaceship, although unlike the VariCannon, they were tank-like. The singular gun in the lair's chest that Tygra's crew was working on was based on the laser design for the ThunderCats' original spaceship, only it was black in color and far more streamlined than the original laser. These new weapons would be masterpieces to be proud of. If Panthro could build things, his fellow ThunderCats would follow suit.

As for the piece of what used to be Panthro's ion cannon near the open door...well, most of the Berbils were looking after it and would add to Panthro's plans for it once he and Team Punky had gotten back from their field trip. Tygra had already related to the Berbils that the former Cat's Lair weapon was designed to intimidate opponents, not slay them outright; he would help the Berbils reformat the cannon. Ro-Ber-Bill and Ro-Ber-Belle agreed with him, saying they'd supervise the reformatting. Tygra and the other ThunderCats were honored by the request, and Lion-O granted it. All in all, today was a good day for ThunderCats and Berbils alike.

Inside the lair, the ThunderKittens were playing games with Brandon in each room (including their room, Lion-O's room, and the guest rooms) and the hallways. Brandon had to admit that it felt good stepping out of his comfort zone, and no matter how much he missed Punky, he would never let himself feel down. WilyKat and Kit, likewise, found themselves having a ball with Brandon, as they treated him as an equal like Punky always did. They sometimes stopped for a drink and a snack before resuming playing. It was a great exercise/distraction for the three of them, as the Cat's Lair was still in need of repairs.

So far, there was absolutely nothing that had prevented everyone at the lair from having a good time with each other. So far.


Glomer teleported himself into the swampy location of the what used to be the Living Ooze. He looked around him and was pleased that all was quiet, and he floated to the ground. He could still focus on preparing for his eventual battle with the ThunderCats. Previously when the ooze existed, it teamed up with galactic convict Plutar, whose touches could turn people and things into decay and rot, to pollute all of Third Earth. When Lion-O and Snarf met Mandora and joined up with her to find the convicts Lion-O accidentally released (including Plutar), they landed near the ooze and were trapped in it. But thanks to Mandora's quick thinking, both Plutar and the ooze were defeated by her enzyme catalyzer, the ooze permenantly dissolved. Glomer was unaware of that event because the ThunderCats never told him or his former friends about it, but he didn't care. All this place was to him was yet another training ground, another stepping stone in ensuring the futures of Chaundoon and Third Earth remain alive and well.

Glomer walked into the Living Ooze's former spot and turned to face the middle, closing his eyes. Focusing all of his energy and grunting, Glomer tapped into a power that his kind, the Glomleys, had been forbidden to master ever since they learned how to use magic. He glowed a sickly turquoise, raised his arms in the air slowly, and created a medium-sized circular fissure that grew into a monolith. Once he opened his eyes while still glowing, he backflipped down to the ground and ran circles around the new monolith. He ran faster and faster, burning up the ground until it caught fire, which was the perfect time for him to leap upward to the monolith with gusto. His turquoise glow faded out. He grinned, letting his sharp teeth show, as the fire below him dissolved and the ground cracked open, giving way to magma. The magma grew rapidly to cover the whole area, even the spot that the monolith was on. Glomer stood firm and breathed in, and, with a brief crimson glow from his eyes, blew super-breath on the magma, turning it into ash.

Next, Glomer held out both his paws and fired golden ricochet beams that bounced off the entire forest that surrounded him and the swamp. The trees immediately turned to dust from the energy. Glomer held the beams in place with telekenesis then, and when he gripped his paws, the beams vanished. Glomer flew up into the sky, stopping near the clouds. Then, like a cannonball, he zoomed back down toward the monolith, demolishing it. Glomer came out of the rubble unscathed, and he looked all around the Living Ooze's domain. Nothing. It was just the way he wanted it to be. Just nothing. Only the flow of the River of Despair nearby was intact. He allowed himself to smile, and he cackled. He was feeling very proud of himself. He felt like he was accomplishing something for real instead of somewhat fouling it up. He looked at his paws and flexed them. He was grateful for this boost in magical strength. Still, he needed to polish that strength. He closed his eyes and pictured an ice-shaped hook and a castle on top of it. That would be his next location. His mind made up, he reopened his eyes and teleported to his next training ground.


After their time in Tuskania (as well as having some food and drinks over there), Panthro and Team Punky bade farewell to Turmagar and his people and were on their way. The Feliner soared across the sky to whatever location Panthro would park her near. He and the kids approached a brown stony cave in the dry-desert region of Third Earth, and he landed the Feliner near it. They got out of the ship and looked at the came simply.

Margaux asked the ThunderCat skeptically, "You brought us to a cave, Panthro? A cave?"

Panthro replied, "No, Margaux. What you and everyone else are seeing is no ordinary cave. It is the Cave of Time. It has the power to rapidly age anybody who enters it." He added darkly, "If a person stays inside there for too long, they die."

The children gasped. A cave that could accelerate age? That thought terrified them.

"Tygra entered the cave once while we ThunderCats were searching for Thundrillium, the fuel source we explained to you guys about during the Cat's Lair tour," continued Panthro. "If we hadn't met Willa of the Warrior Maidens, Tygra would've been done for. We took him to the Geyser of Life, which is across from here-" he turned and pointed across the cave briefly before looking at the kids, "-and restored him to his normal adult age."

Team Punky sighed in relief about Tygra. They made a mental note to never enter something as dangerous as the Cave of Time. They preferred to age the right way.

"There's absolutely no way in heck that I'm missing out on what life has to offer," said Margaux, voicing her opinion. "I gotta keep my looks in check, you know."

"Surprisingly, I agree with Margaux," included Punky. "Before Glomer came along, my friends and I were in a cave once, and it wasn't pretty." She closed her eyes and shook her head at those last words.

All the kids related to Panthro that while they and Brandon were on a camping trip in their dimension, they got lost in the woods and stumbled onto a cave that they learned was of Indian heritage and also haunted by an evil supernatural being named the Owa Tagoo Siam, who was created out of fear by Native-American civilization and whom terrorized all of humanity long ago, until he was weakened by the power of love and forced to hide out in the cave that he resided in. Though Punky and friends seemingly were no match for the Siam, the spirit of Princess Moon, an Indian child whom Punky discovered she was a successor to, advised them that the Siam could only be powered by fear, and thanks to Moon's encouragement, Team Punky had permanently vanquished the Siam with the power of love. Punky's foster father Henry and Cherie's grandmother Betty, who were searching for the kids, had found them inside the cave. Team Punky didn't tell the two adults - or anyone, for that matter - about what happened in the cave, as nobody would believe what happened there.

"By Jaga," breathed Panthro. "That must've been quite the experience."

"No kidding," said Cherie. "We've all got goosebumps just being there."

"And it'll stay with us for the rest of our lives," Allen lamented.

Panthro turned to Team Punky and smiled at them. "Well, I'm grateful you're all in one piece," he said.

"Us, too, Panthro," Punky agreed, she and her friends nodding. "What does the Geyser of Life look like, by the way?" she asked.

"I'll take you all there," answered Panthro. With a stern face, he warned the kids, "However, the geyser is guarded by the Winged Water Snakes. It's best that you be prepared."

"Okay, Panthro. If you insist," Cherie said hesitantly.

When Panthro and the kids reached the Geyser of Life, the kids were amazed by the geyser itself. It gently emitted geysers from its own pool of water. However, the kids were also aware of the Winged Water Snakes Panthro spoke about. They flew around like true guardians, chirping, forbidding anyone passage into the geyser.

"So this is the Geyser of Life," Margaux surmised.

"It's so beautiful," Cherie said dreamily.

"This very geyser has magical properties," stated Panthro. "It restores youth to those of old age. The Winged Water Snakes are another story - they guard the geyser loyally. Once, my friends and I distracted them so that Tygra could return to normal."

"And did it work?" Allen asked.

"It sure did, Allen. Because of that, Tygra swore never to enter the Cave of Time again, even though he knew it was full of Thundrillium."

"The Cave of Time has Thundrillium inside?" wondered Punky. "That sounds impossible."

"Impossible but true," said Panthro sullenly. "Thundrillium can be located in even the most treacherous of places on this planet."

Team Punky looked again at the Winged Water Snakes. They studied the creatures closely, their grey color scheme, yellow eyes with black slits, and fangs wonderfully emphasized.

Turning to Panthro, Margaux asked, "Where do these Winged Water Snakes come from?" The other kids had the exact same thought.

"My guess is that they were born out of Second Earth's transformation into Third Earth," answered the panther. "There's not much else to know of 'em."

"The wonders of this Third Earth don't cease to amaze and shock us," Cherie amusingly said.

"Believe me, Cherie, I know the feeling. Shall we continue our tour?"

The kids nodded yes. Panthro led them back to the Feliner for more places to look into on Third Earth.


Hachiman, a samurai warrior from First Earth's ancient past, was in a sitting position in a rocky desert with his eyes closed and his hands on his knees, meditating. He wasn't wearing his helmet, which was just nearby, but he had his scabbarded Thunder-Cutter. The wind blew on the ribbon tied to his head. He thought back to the day he was brought to this timeline by the sinister Mumm-Ra to take down Lion-O and the Sword of Omens. When Hachiman and Lion-O had met, both of them were crossing the Four-Day Drop on an age-old tree log - Lion-O, to reach the Treetop Kingdom, and Hachiman, to find the one to fight against. Lion-O tried reasoning with him, but Hachiman outright demanded Lion-O to fight him. Lion-O refused to fight someone he didn't know and had no quarrel with, so he stood his ground. Hachiman used the Thunder-Cutter to cut the log that served as the bridge for the Four-Day Drop, and as a result, the log collapsed, and Hachiman and Lion-O would've met their doom had Lion-O not used his Claw Shield to save the day. From that moment on, they earned each other's respect.

Hachiman told Lion-O that he was brought to Third Earth by Mumm-Ra to kill the young lord. Lion-O, of course, knew all about the demon priest and his treachery, and told his new friend that he'd been lied to. Hachiman felt ashamed of this deception, but Lion-O also informed him that he was going to the Treetop Kingdom and seek the Warrior Maidens' help in saving WilyKat and WilyKit from the Cave of Azzurra, which Lion-O briefed Hachiman on, including the tale of the evil wizard Azzurra. Lion-O and the ThunderCats were already made aware of the cave's history by the locals, and now Hachiman was aware too. The samurai agreed to help Lion-O save the ThunderKittens. When they got to the kingdom, Lion-O introduced Hachiman to Willa and told her about the ThunderKittens entering the Cave of Azzurra. Willa had warned the two men of the dangers of the cave. Despite that, Lion-O and Hachiman were unphased. Lion-O summoned the other ThunderCats with the Sword of Omens for backup.

Once introductions between Hachiman and the other ThunderCats were in order, Lion-O led them all into the Cave of Azzurra. The ThunderKittens' rescue from the cave's dark power proved difficult, but ThunderCats never surrendered. With Hachiman on their side, the ThunderCats' chances were on high. Kit and Kat were safe, but as soon as everyone got out of the cave, the Mutants attacked them. Mumm-Ra had ordered Slithe and his minions into action after telling them about Hachiman and learning of the samurai's betrayal, and no mercy would be shown. But by working together, Hachiman and the ThunderCats bested the Plun-Darrian cretins. The samurai bade the ThunderCats farewell, having gained the respect of the rest of the clan as well as their friendship.

Returning his mind to the present, Hachiman poured all of his energy into his concentration. He was one with Third Earth, one with her environment. There was nothing to disrupt him at all. But even he could sense a disturbance in the atmosphere. Whatever he was sensing, it did not bode well. The planet, he was feeling, had become a personal training ground for someone who was experienced with the supernatural. He also felt that that someone, a muscular gopher-type creature, was being influenced by a single dark force, namely the one that brought him to Third Earth's timeline in the first place - Mumm-Ra. The Thunder-Cutter glowed white, feeling exactly what its master was feeling. It was as sentient as the Sword of Omens, and it knew that Hachiman would be needed on the battlefield when the time was right.

Hachiman opened his eyes and looked at his glowing sword, both master and weapon in agreement. Yes, a battle was inevitable, and as a warrior, he could not ignore his calling. As a staunch follower of the Bushido code, he would fight to his last breath. He looked to the partly-cloudy sky with pride. "A storm is brewing," he said, referring to his eventual part in this new battle. "I will meet it head on, and I will not stop until it is over." He picked up his helmet, got up, and put/strapped his helmet on, leaving only his brown eyes. He unsheathed his amazing sword, the very weapon that had been passed down for generations by his family, including his Great Uncle Nishida. With two swings, a firm grip on the sword, and a determined expression on his face, Hachiman began to train.


Panthro and Team Punky's next location was the Bridge of Slime, and right across it the Pit of the Netherwitch. The Feliner was already parked near the bridge and pit, and Panthro and the kids took a good look at both. The children were rightfully repulsed by the slippery nature of the bridge.

"Grosseroo," said Punky in disdain. That was yet another catchphrase in her vocabulary, which earned her a chuckle from Panthro.

"You're all right to be disgusted by the Bridge of Slime," the ThunderCat put in as he regained himself. "It's tough to get across. The Gaw-Rak-Rak, a double-headed serpentine creature, sometimes lives below the bridge, preying on anybody who dares to cross it. One wrong move, and you could fall into the River of Despair, straight into the Gaw-Rak-Rak's mouths."

"I suppose it's a good thing none of us are gonna cross it, then," said a nervous Cherie.

"Amen to that, sister," agreed Margaux.

"Ahead of the bridge lies the Pit of the Netherwitch," continued Panthro as he pointed to the monster mouth-shaped hole across the Bridge of Slime. "Lion-O crossed the bridge to get into the pit to get to the Netherwitch herself, and he asked her to transport him to the astral plane to save Jaga. It was a personal matter that didn't require the rest of the ThunderCats."

"It was that bad, huh?" Allen required.

"Only Lion-O can see Jaga's ghost. The rest of us can't, though we're mindful of Lion-O's connection to Jaga."

"This Netherwitch, Panthro - does she come from the astral plane, too?" wondered Punky.

Panthro explained, "She's from Third Earth, actually. She's a sorceress who's connected to all planes of existence, especially the one where Lion-O was." Unknown to the ThunderCats (except Lion-O) and Team Punky, the Netherwitch was really Mumm-Ra in disguise. The mummy had disposed of the real Netherwitch a long time ago and had posed as her twice - first when he was threatened by the in-his-prime wizard Brodo, and second when Lion-O asked for help to save the spirit of Jaga.

Punky folded her arms and looked at the ground with a sad expression. "I sure wish we could ask her about what happened with Glomer," she said in a low voice, and she looked at the Pit of the Netherwitch. "She could give us a clue on why he had a brief power-up."

"Well, she could, but I think she'd let us figure it out for ourselves, Punky," said Margaux reassuringly.

"We all have to believe that Glomer will return to us," stated Cherie. "There's no sense in worrying about him right now."

"That's right, Punky," Allen agreed, placing a hand on Punky's left shoulder for comfort. "We're not just Glomer's friends. We're his family."

Punky looked over her friends and could see that they were right. Worrying herself to death over Glomer would do her no good. Her face turned peaceful, and she smiled, grateful to have the support of true friends. Panthro smiled himself at the sight before him. Punky and her friends were survivors through and through, just as the ThunderCats were.

The kids looked at the ThunderCat mechanic/warrior, and Cherie said happily, "We'd like to continue the tour please, Panthro."

Panthro gave them a thumb up from his left hand. "No problem."


Glomer successfully teleported to Hook Mountain. He floated and got a better look at the place. It was precisely as he pictured it to be. He smiled wickedly.

"This place perfect for training," he said with passion. He looked somewhere around the mountain for a place to train nearby. There! He spotted a snow location that had basically nothing there. With lightning-fast reflexes, Glomer flew over there. Afterwards he clasped his paws together and formed a lime-green sphere with platinum-gold electrical sparks. Chuckling at this latest display of power, he threw it into the ground, forming a hole for him to enter, which he did when his eyes and body glowed red. The hole closed after that.

Glomer burned through the snow as he flew under it, turning it into plain water. It seemed like an eternity, but the Chaundoon native knew what he was doing. He continued his trek underground, never stopping. All around him the snow was turning to water. It caused a heat wave above that hardened the snow and reached even Hook Mountain, but the mountain somehow remained standing. Its very thick design protected it from the heat wave.

The drawbridge to Snowman's castle opened to reveal Snowman and Snowmeow, the former riding on his loyal steed/friend. Snowmeow walked slowly into the open, exposing him and his best friend to the heat. Luckily Snowman wasn't wearing his helmet, but he did carry his lance and shield in case the heat was the cause of an unknown enemy. Snowmeow growled fiercely at what was happening.

"Easy, Snowmeow," comforted Snowman. "This phenomenon cannot be natural. Whoever or whatever is causing this, the rest of Third Earth may not be safe." He and Snowmeow looked around them to see the heat wave covering Hook Mountain's entire snowy region. The person or thing responsible for this could very well turn all the snow around here into a huge puddle of water, causing a tidal wave that could wipe out everything and everyone across the globe...except, of course, Mumm-Ra, for he was the ever-living source of all that was evil.

Just as suddenly as it appeared, the heat wave disappeared. This left Snowman and Snowmeow confused, however it didn't ease their fears. What they'd seen was no doubt something sinister. They could feel as well as sense that the worst would be yet to come.

Far away from Hook Mountain but still in the snowy region, Glomer emerged from the ground with his eyes closed, his arms stretched, and his legs together. He breathed in and out in and out, and soon his body no longer glowed. He opened his eyes, which were normal again, and smiled that very devilish smile. The cold proved to be quite the exercise for him. It appeared Snowman and his people weren't the only ones who could withstand the harshness of the snowy weather. Glomer cackled, enjoying the teachings that were given him. The more he would train, the stronger he would become. And he would relish every minute of it.


Back at Cat's Lair, the ThunderKittens and Brandon felt ashamed that they messed up all the ThunderCats' bed chambers, so they did their best to clean them up before the adult ThunderCats got wind of it. It was a team effort on the twins' part, and Brandon watched with mere fascination. There was no point in interrupting the lair's restoration. This was their problem, and they were going to fix it. It was stressful yet worth it. The other ThunderCats and the Berbils were doing great reconstruction work, so it was only right that Kit and Kat restore order to each bed chamber. Brandon loved how the cunning, sibling duo seemed to work in perfect harmony throughout. He and Punky were the same way; he still missed her, but being around the ThunderKittens was a welcome distraction. He couldn't, however, stop himself from thinking about the time he almost lost his life back on First Earth.

He had swallowed a rare set of stamps Henry collected, infuriating the elder. Henry ordered Punky to take Brandon outside to get some fresh air, to which the girl complied. While Henry called to order another set of stamps, Brandon pushed Punky aside to save her from getting hit by a car, and it was he who got hit. Guilt overriding them, Henry and Punky took Brandon to an animal hospital to save his life. The hospital's manager, male veterinarian Dr. Frankel, diagnosed Brandon as having a concussion and a damaged leg. Frankel's only option was to put Brandon to sleep, but not willing to give up on her lifelong friend, Punky begged and pleaded with Brandon to come back to her - and he did, making both Punky and Henry happy. That day was a turning point for Brandon, for Henry built him the doghouse that currently resided in Punky's room with Punky's help. It was a memory that Brandon kept close to his heart while watching Kit and Kat do the work.

His time on Third Earth was growing on him, and he smiled, giving out a soft whimper. The twins heard him and turned to him.

"You really do miss Punky, don't you, Brandon?" asked Kit.

"She'll be back," consoled Kat. "They all will."

"Cat's Lair is still under reconstruction, and we three have to make sure we don't get in trouble with the other ThunderCats. Still, Kat and I are grateful to spend time with you. We wouldn't change anything about it."

Hearing the ThunderKittens' reassurance lifted Brandon's hopes even more. He barked proudly, understanding the twins' intentions.

"Attaboy, Brandon!" the twins said cheerily, giving Brandon single thumbs up.

"Let's finish up, WilyKat, before Lion-O and the others beat us to the punch," said Kit.

"Sure thing," Kat agreed.

The kittens resumed their work on fixing up the ThunderCats' rooms, and Brandon watched with nothing but happiness on his face.


Outside the lair, repairs for the fortress continued. Lion-O's crew and Ro-Ber-Bill and Ro-Ber-Belle's crew worked hard in taking care of their greatest masterpiece. As long as they kept at it, they wouldn't be swayed. Until now.

Cheetara put a palm to her head and closed her eyes as she was receiving telepathic images of what would be Third Earth's future. Fires burning up every forest...earthquakes causing fissures...volcanoes erupting violently...whirlpools happening all over the ocean...Cat's Lair and every other Third Earth civilian home crumbling to dust...and in the middle of it all, a short, bulky figure in shadow with wild hair, floating in the stormy sky, with a crackle of lightning revealing him to be a very different-looking Glomer, his face full of pure malevolence with a smile.

Cheetara gasped, her eyes wide. She was shaken by what she saw. Her brief trance didn't go unnoticed by the other ThunderCats and the Berbils.

"What did you see, Cheetara?" Tygra called.

"I...I saw the future," Cheetara struggled to say. "I saw Third Earth being torn apart inside and out. There's something else, too."

"What, Cheetara? What is it?" urged Snarf.

Cheetara swallowed the lump forming in her throat and said three words that would rock the ThunderCats' world: "I saw Glomer."

This earned her gasps from ThunderCat and Berbil alike. Why would Glomer, of all people, be responsible for the destruction of the planet the ThunderCats learned to call home outside of Thundera?

"That can't be true," Lion-O said, shaking his head. "Glomer would never willingly sentence the Third Earth to death. Even if he did, his powers wouldn't be strong enough."

"It wasn't the Glomer we know," continued Cheetara. "The Glomer in my vision looked...different, so ruthless in his actions. It was as if someone else were in his place."

"The last time we all saw Glomer," put in Ro-Ber-Bill, "he showed no signs of violence towards anyone."

"The poor thing is probably traumatized," said Ro-Ber-Belle sadly, Snarf putting a comforting paw on the female Berbil's right arm.

"Could that be why your sixth sense reacted the way it did before when Punky's crew arrived?" Tygra asked Cheetara.

The resident speedster of the ThunderCats replied honestly, "I just don't know. None of us have a clue what Glomer could be really capable of. And what would happen if his friends discovered the truth about him on their own?"

That very question plagued each ThunderCat present. The Berbils had just met Glomer, so they would be unable to provide a definitive answer to Cheetara's question.

Unwilling to let his ThunderCat friends be depressed, Ro-Ber-Bill said to them, "We may not know where Glomer is, ThunderCats, but as long as his friends believe in him, we must do the same. True friends don't turn their backs on each other."

"You're right, Ro-Ber-Bill," agreed Ro-Ber-Belle, her spirits lifting. "We can't allow ourselves to worry over the future. We can only focus on today."

The ThunderCats, touched by Ro-Ber-Bill's words, felt their own spirits lifting. The bond between both parties was very special indeed. Indeed, it was too soon to tell if Glomer would be a threat to the entire Third Earth. Despite Cheetara's misgivings about Glomer, the bond between the ThunderCats and Team Punky still had a lot of growing to do. So for now, Lion-O's crew would keep to themselves.

"I'm sorry if I worried all of you," Cheetara admitted.

"Don't worry about it, Cheetara," Lion-O added. "If something goes wrong, we'll be there to help out."

"I second that. Snarf snarf," added in Snarf.

"Thirded," said Tygra.

Work on the lair had resumed once more. That was everybody's priority right now.


It was about to get dark soon, and the Feliner and her passengers were on their way back to the Cat's Lair. Panthro and Team Punky just got through seeing Acid Lake (which they completely remained in the air for), the Treasure Ruins, the Mountain of Destiny, the Pass of the Rockmen (Panthro reminded the kids that the Rockmen only come alive when their domain is invaded), the Swamp of Serpents, the Hunting Plains, the Pass of Glass, and the Wollo and Bolkin Villages (where Team Punky had managed to befriend said villages' inhabitants). Panthro wondered how the lair was looking, and he would ask the other ThunderCats that once he and the kids got back. He had to admit that his decision to give Punky's crew a tour of Third Earth was exhilirating, even though he had to cut the tour short so he wouldn't run the Feliner's engines dry.

They reached the lair at last, and he and the kids saw his fellow ThunderCats and the Berbils standing before the lair, looking gratefully at the Feliner coming in for a landing. The lair's left paw opened up for the Feliner. Panthro entered the paw and turned the Feliner forward, then landed it. He and Punky's crew got out and greeted their friends, and the paw closed afterwards. Punky asked where Brandon was in the lair, and Lion-O replied the dog was with the ThunderKittens playing games. Glad for the answer, Team Punky went to search for Brandon and the twins while everyone else remained outside. ThunderCat and Berbil alike discussed what happened today, including the lair's repairs and Cheetara's nightmarish visions of the future.

Fortunately Team Punky and the ThunderKittens weren't out here for the discussion, because then things would spiral out of control in minute. The Berbils reminded Panthro that they were holding onto the piece of his former ion cannon for the lair's chest and said they were interested in reformatting it for him if he gave his blessing, which he did. With help from Tygra, and under the supervision of Ro-Ber-Bill and Ro-Ber-Belle, the cannon would be even better than ever. Panthro felt grateful for that and said he'd take a look at it when its makeover was done. He asked if the lair had new weapons installed in the its chest and forearms, to which his friends nodded a yes. He thought they were a welcome change from the usual. What good would it have done for the lair to not get some upgrades?

The revision of the ion cannon would happen tomorrow, it was agreed, along with a special surprise for Punky and her crew. The latter element would help the kids fit in better on Third Earth, and would give them the advantage over even the toughest of situations. The Berbils and the ThunderCats gave the lair another look, and they could see it almost was as good as new, the spikes on its shoulders having been recreated. The Berbils bade the ThunderCats farewell on that note, and they returned to their village. The ThunderCats headed inside the lair to meet up with the ThunderKittens and Team Punky to discuss what would be for dinner, and that tomorrow, there would be something special for Team Punky themselves. So far there'd been no interference from Mumm-Ra, the Mutants, or any other enemy.


Glomer had been at the Field of Daggers (literally crushing the razor-sharp pink daggers that sprung up when he arrived, making the field ordinary), the Vortex (he entered there simply to destroy it), faced the Great Void (an evil spirit that was created by Azzurra to trap people in) and disintegrated it, lifted the entire Acid Lake using telekinesis without any difficulty at all so he could get across, and even created a series of funnels at the sea. Today had been a great day for the powered-up Glomley, and by nightfall, he needed a recharge. So he teleported back to his home in the Desert of Sinking Sands and communicated to the Great Glomley Elder on his progress through telepathy. The Elder sounded pleased with how far his pupil came, and he told Glomer that his training would resume tomorrow. Pleased with this answer, Glomer went to bed.

In his dark pyramid, Mumm-Ra was enjoying having Glomer as his servant and projecting the image of Glomer's mentor into the youngster's mind. It was taxing on the demon priest, but it was worth it in the end. The infernal ThunderCats' obliteration remained foremost on his mind, and to accomplish that feat, he would unleash his ultimate weapon on them - namely Glomer. Lion-O and his lackeys had inhabited the Third Earth for too long, and the line had to be drawn somewhere. Evil would indeed reclaim its rightful place as ruler, and wherever it existed, Mumm-Ra would remain alive and well.


Daylight came once more for our heroes, and it was breakfast time as usual. The ThunderCats reminded Team Punky that they had something special that lay in the latter crew's rooms after they got done eating, a "thank you" for the new friendship between the two groups. When they all were done, Team Punky asked for a much-needed shower, and the ThunderCats obliged them. While the kids went ahead and took their showers, Snarf would assist the ThunderKittens in giving Brandon a bath from outside and brushing his teeth so he'd look good as new for the ThunderCats' special gifts for his friends. The ThunderCats would wash Team Punky's clothes and clean off the kids' shoes, and the clothes would be hung out to dry for days.

No sooner were the child members of Team Punky so refreshed that they put towels around their torsos and brushed their own teeth, and when they got to their rooms, they discovered all-new clothing made just for them by the adult ThunderCats. It was a blend of both group's styles. For Punky, she had a green-and-blue shirt with short sleeves, yellow pants, and purple sneakers, the clothes made of a comfortable rubbery fabric; for Margaux, she was treated with a magenta short-sleeved shirt with medium-to-small tails, blue shorts, and pink go-go-boots; for Allen, his clothes were inspired by Lion-O's, only it was light grey with shoulder cuffs and a light-purple crease in the middle as well as a dark-grey waistband surrounding the pants, accompanied by turquoise boots; and lastly for Cherie, she had a neon violet-blue shirt, lilac pants, and lime-green gym shoes.

The kids dried off, put on their new clothes, and combed each other's hair - Punky, Margaux, and Cherie returning to their usual hairstyles - and soon presented themselves to the ThunderCats in an orderly fashion. Brandon, newly cleansed, was amazed by his friends' new styles. He barked with/jumped for joy. The ThunderKittens and Snarf unveiled for Brandon a cobalt-colored shirt that he'd be quite comfortable in, which he obliged as they put it on him. All the ThunderCats were pleased with the new clothing designs, and they were certain now that Team Punky would be able to blend into Third Earth's environment better. The latter team enjoyed their new clothes and thanked the ThunderCats for designing them. When Punky asked if she and her friends would continue the tour of the planet, Panthro replied that they would get that chance once he, Tygra, and the Berbils revised Cat's Lair's former ion cannon.

Brandon joined the rest of Team Punky and jumped into Punky's arms, licking her face and taking his place among the group. Punky smiled at his affection and then turned to the ThunderCats. She and her friends could never have been more proud of themselves then they were in their timeline. Despite the dangers to come, both sides continued to grow in companionship. And as long as they had each other, both Punky Power and the Code of Thundera would prevail for always.


Here's perhaps my longest chapter ever. My muse demanded I complete it. Sometimes stories write themselves. Props to Sunrise Phoenix for suggesting where Turmagar and his people keep their Gomplins and helping me out with Team Punky's new clothes. I must admit, writing this chapter wasn't easy...but I'm glad I wrote it out. I just feel so good writing out this undertaking of a crossover! Oh, and "PAR" is short for "parabolic aluminized reflector." Next chapter, Cat's Lair's repairs resume, Team Punky gets more acquainted with Third Earth's surroundings, Glomer's training continues, and the Warrior Maidens' suspicions about the young Glomley increase.

And now, without further ado, it's highlight time:

1) Glomer's telescopic vision is a nod to SilverHawks, the sister show of ThunderCats. Whereas Tally-Hawk, a member of the SilverHawk team, reports on his findings with his own telescopic vision, Glomer's is meant to view the future.

2) Tygra wearing a blue cape is lifted from a Deviant-Art ThunderCats group picture of Lion-O and his crew drawn/colored by Jose Luis and diabolumberto, and Tygra is depicted wearing that very cape, which adds to his camouflage ability.

3) The Lion-O in Glomer's vision is based upon a prototype drawing/coloring of the ThunderCat Lord for Kinetiquettes' ThunderCats Classic diorama line.

4) Turmagar made his debut appearance in the season-one ThunderCats episode "Turmagar the Tuska" and has appeared in parts 4 and 5 of ThunderCats, Ho!: The Movie. Mumm-Ra disguised himself as Turmagar in the season-two episode "Catfight" to turn Lion-O's ThunderCats against new members Lynx-O, Pumyra, Ben-Gali, and Snarfer.

5) The Technopede made two first-season appearances: "Turmagar the Tuska" and "Mechanical Plague." I changed the Technopede's target range from Tuskania to all Third Earth life here.

6) The Living Ooze made two appearances on ThunderCats - the season-one episodes "Mandora the Evil Chaser" and "Lord of the Snows." The ooze was defeated by Mandora, yet in "Lord of the Snows" it's shown briefly to be intact and even mentioned in "Snarf Takes Up the Challenge." I'm following the "Mandora" episode in that the ooze has been terminated for good.

7) The two-part episode from season two of the live-action Punky Brewster, "The Perils of Punky," had Punky's crew hide out in an Indian cave and come face-to-face with the evil Owa Tagoo Siam, a ghost that made Punky's friends vanish so that only she was left. It was with the help of the ghost of Princess Moon, Punky's successor, that Punky herself beat the Siam with nothing but love in her heart and got her friends back. I took some liberties with the Siam's origin. Interestingly, the animated version of Punky had an episode called "The Perils of Punky," but it had a different plotline.

8) I've combined elements of the first-season ThunderCats episode "The Thunder-Cutter" and the Random House ThunderCats book The Spear of Azzurra, a basic rewrite of "The Thunder-Cutter," when writing down Hachiman's scene. While the book had two Caves of Azzurra (one in the forest and one in the Plain of Fertility), I limited it to just one cave. By the way, I own Spear of Azzurra.

9) Mumm-Ra posed as the Netherwitch in "The Astral Prison." The fate of the actual Netherwitch belongs to me.

10) Brandon's near-death experience was seen in the first-season Punky Brewster episode "I Love You, Brandon."

11) The Treasure Ruins, the Swamp of Serpents, and the Pass of Glass are from Leonard Starr's Third Earth map.

12) The Mountain of Destiny is lifted from spacedangel's ThunderCats story "Rock and a Hard Place," which can only be read on ThunderCatsFans-Dot-Org.

13) The Great Void appeared in the first part of a five-episode miniseries from ThunderCats season one called "Lion-O's Anointment." The void being Azzurra's creation is definitely all me.