A/N: Well another chapter finally done and I have to say sorry to my loyal readers. I had a hell of writers block on how I wanted this chapter to go, and started and then deleted it several times before this one came to me. So here you go, and once again I would like to thank my beta readers for looking it over. Thanks a bunch
Enjoy
Chapter XI
The sounds of the battle could be heard even deep inside Mumm-Ra's inner sanctum. The attack came from out of nowhere just after dawn, which infuriated the mummy to no end. Try as he might for the past few days, every time that he looked into his all-seeing pool there was nothing—no signs of what the cats where doing after he and his army attacked their city.
"Lord Mumm-Ra," Silthe said rushing into the sanctum, "The cats have broken through the defenses," the Lizard General informed his master. "I had thought the Fortress was impenetrable," he questioned.
"Do not question me. Get out there and kill every one of those miserable cats." Mumm-Ra boomed.
The fact that he could not understand what and how this was happening made the ancient creature grow very angry. How could the being that he devoted his life and energy to block to this attack? He looked to the idols that surrounded the sanctum and wondered just what had caused them to go silent for the past few days.
Out in the halls of the fortress four cats were cutting a bloody path further in. The red maned lion who was leading them was out at point despite the objections of his companions. Yet no matter how much they tried to get him to hold back, he wanted none of that. All he could focus upon were the group of lizards that had taken away the love of his life, and he was not about to give them the chance to do it again.
Ducking under some gunfire, Lion-O dashed back and forth making it harder for the lizard to get a bead on him. Before they knew what was happening he was upon them making sure every one of them answered for the lives of every Cat that had fallen during their raid. Soon the four ThunderCats had cleared the section they were in and had a chance for a breather.
"What's gotten into you?"
"We have the element of surprise, brother. We need to keep it up and not let Mumm-Ra know what we are really planning." Lion-O answered as he looked at his brother.
"Still, kid, you fight like you're possessed." Panthro added.
"Are we going to stand around here and talk or are we going to finish our mission?" Lion-O asked as he stood there, lizard blood dripping from the tip off his sword.
Cheetara looked at her love and was a bit scared at how he had dispatched the lizard soldiers they had encountered. While she understood that this was a fight to the death and for the future of their people, each of them had taken out their fair share of the enemy. However, Lion-O seemed to be taking this more personally and with more ferocity. She stood close to him and observed his demeanor, then noticed something.
"Lion-O you're injured." She said noticing the gash on his upper right arm.
"It's nothing, let's keep moving." He said as he started to move but she stepped in front of him, blocking his path. "Cheetara, the longer we stand here and waste time, the greater chance more of our fellow cats are killed outside," he said trying to move again.
"We're not going anywhere until you let me bind that wound," she insisted.
Lion-O looked into her eyes and saw the determination set in them. Despite the fact that he was heir to the throne, Lion-O knew well enough by now not to argue with his lover about something like this. He nodded to her, giving in and standing still as she ripped some cloth from her own cloths to make a makeshift bandage.
"We need to get going, more lizards are coming this way." Panthro said as he stood guard.
"Which way Lion-O?" Tygra asked.
Lion-O looked to him then to Cheetara as she finished. He looked down the long corridor, feeling as if something was guiding him further into the fortress—sensing it was the same force that gave him that dream last night. He had a fair idea of who it was, but without being able to get to the Sword he couldn't be sure.
[Flashback]
Lion-O was lying in his cot with Cheetara snuggled closely next to him. The long march of the day and her worry after talking with his father had tired her out, but not enough that it kept them from making love once more before she finally fell asleep. Now she lay next to him with her head on his shoulder sleeping peacefully. He loved being with her like this and knew he was going to have her move into his room with him once they returned to Thundera. He also knew that there would be talk within the court when it happened.
However, this was not what was keeping him awake staring at the canvas of his tent above him. No he was also worried about the upcoming battle and what Cheetara told him about what his father had said to her. He knew that neither he nor his father ever saw eye to eye as he was growing up, but now just as they were starting to come together as a family, Lion-O couldn't stand the thought of losing the only parent he had. Not like this—not at the blade of some lizard. No, Lion-O would never say anything to anyone about it, but he still needed his father. He still had so much to learn from the man.
"Destroy the sarcophagus and you will destroy him forever." A voice rang in his head.
He looked over to Cheetara and for a moment he thought that it had been hers, but she was sound asleep. There could only be one other possibility of the origin of that voice, yet the voice was not the same as before. In fact, this voice sounded a lot more female than the spirit he talked with before.
He was too tired right now to figure it out, so he closed his eyes and drifted off to sleep.
[End Flashback]
The small quartet stopped at a junction and looked around the corner. As Lion-O looked down the hall, he felt that pull again, that force that was drawing him and his party further and further into the fortress. He wasn't sure why he trusted this pull, but he knew if it led him to Mumm-Ra and a way to carry out his plan to eliminate the biggest threat to all of Third Earth then he was going to take whatever risks that he had to.
"We're close." He said quietly.
"How can you be sure?" Cheetara asked him.
"I'm not sure entirely, but something is telling me to go this way," Lion-O answered her.
"So you planned this whole mission on your gut?" Tygra interjected.
"I can't explain it, Tygra, but something it pulling me this direction, telling me that we need to take out Mumm-Ra's sarcophagus." Lion-O looked at his brother then to Cheetara hoping that she would understand. "All I do know is once we destroy it, he'll be no different than you or me."
"This feels wrong." Tygra said once more.
"Well, however it feels to you, Lion-O led us this far and there no going back." Panthro said.
Lion-O looked to the elder panther and then to the rest of his companions. All of them gave him a nod, agreeing with Panthro's statement. Even his brother agreed to keep pressing on despite his misgivings. The young Prince nodded back and started moving again in the direction of the crypt.
[Flashback]
Lion-O opened his eyes, quickly realizing he was not in the tent with Cheetara anymore. In fact he was in a place that he barely remembered from when he was a child, when things were a lot simpler before his mother passed away. The vast green meadow just outside palace was just like he remembered it from childhood.
He knew he had to be dreaming being here again. The meadow hadn't looked this manicured since she had passed away. He let out a deep sad sigh when he thought about that day when he was only six years old and his father came and told him and Tygra the sad news.
"Why did you have to go?" Lion-O said, feeling a tear slide down his cheek.
"It was simply my time, my son." A voice said behind him.
Even after all these years he knew the sound of his mother's voice. He spun around only to see her standing there before him. She looked just as he remembered her before she got sick.
"H...how?" He stuttered taking a few steps back only to fall on his rear.
"Still uneasy on your feet."She said with a slight chuckle, walking towards him.
"Mother?" Lion-O asked with hesitation in his voice.
"Yes, sweetheart." She said kneeling down in front of him.
He shook his head thinking that it was only a dream but when he opened his eyes again she was still there kneeling in front of him. Her warm smile that would make all his pains go away whenever he had gotten hurt as a child was spread across her face. When he looked into her eyes all doubt that it was really her was gone. Like a little cub again he launched himself into her arms.
"I've missed you so much mother," Lion-O said as he buried his face in his mother's chest, unable to contain his tears.
The former Queen of Thundera held her son tightly. Lion-O felt her stoke his mane as she did when he was a young cub. Dream or not, he didn't want to let her go, just wanted to feel his mother's warmth once again.
"You've grown into such a wonderful young man my son." The Queen told him as she rocked her son to calm him. "You've made me so proud, but I do not have much time," she said.
"No, I'm not letting you go again. I miss you, Tygra misses you, and Father misses you." Lion-O pulled himself away just enoug to look into his mother's eyes.
"And I miss you all deeply, but I have only been given enough time to give you a message," she said, placing a hand on her son's cheek and wiping away a tear. "Maybe when this is all over I can visit you again, but for now please listen. The creature you face tomorrow, Mumm-Ra. He is not indestructible."
Lion-O looked to his mother and wondered what she'd meant by that. Granted he knew there had to be a way to kill the vile creature, but how he didn't know. He had thought about asking the spirit in the sword for any clues but with his father carrying the sword ever since they had left Thundera, it had been hard for him to get close to it.
"His sarcophagus is the key my son." She looked down into his eyes. "I am proud of you my son and of what you have become, and who you have chosen, I wish I had more time, but now I must go and you must awake," she said, giving her son one final hug and kiss on the forehead before stepping away from him.
"Mother, please, don't leave me," Lion-O called to her.
Try as he might and as fast as he ran he could not reach her. She seemed so close yet still so far away. Tears streamed from his blue eyes and as she finally faded from his sight. Lion-O dropped to his knees and bent over, crying into his open hands. He sat there in the middle of wherever this place was and cried, but soon he heard another voice call out to him. At first he thought it could have been his mother again, but as he listend he knew all too well who it was.
When he opened his eyes he looked up to see the warm smiling face of his love and future queen. He smiled back at her, reaching up to cup her cheek, bringing her close to him and kissing her deeply. Cheetara wasn't sure what had come over her prince to cause him to react to her waking him with such passion, but she wasn't going to complain. After last night's talk with his father, making love last night and again this morning was more than welcome.
[End Flashback]
"Cheetara, behind you!" Lion-O yelled as he spotted another lizard sneaking in behind his love.
The closer they were getting to their final destination the more of Mumm-Ra's goons they started to encounter. It was a clear sign to all of them that they were on the right path. There was a brief reprieve from the oncoming lizard assault. It was enough time for them to catch their breaths and think.
"This is taking far longer than planned." Tygra said as he tried to catch his breath.
Lion-O agreed with his brother, it was taking longer than he had planned to get to the crypt and to Mumm-Ra's sarcophagus. Each moment wasted fighting the lizard was a moment longer than he feared their soldiers outside had—or even had themselves. He looked over to Cheetara standing next to him. He was worried about everyone's safety but he worried for her most of all. Even the reassuring smile that she was giving him didn't help the deep feeling of fear in his gut.
"Then we need to push harder." Lion-O finally said.
"I think it might better our chances if we split up from here," Cheetara spoke up, causing the men to look at her. "Think about it, with the four of us together it is harder for us to move about the fortress. In pairs we can move more swiftly and attack Mumm-Ra's crypt from two different directions."
Lion-O looked at her for a moment and then started to contemplate this idea. He could hear Tygra starting to voice his thoughts on it but he ignored him for the time being. He knew his brother would jump at the chance to get to the crypt first and set the explosives. Even though thingbetween them was starting to get better, Tygra's competitive drive concerning Lion-O still existed. He looked to Panthro who only gave him a nod.
"Alright, we'll split up." Lion-O said. "Cheetara you're with me, Tygra you and Panthro keep heading down that way. If the map we found is accurate, then the hall should lead you two the east side of the crypt. We'll go this way." Lion-O pointed to the hall to their left. "Don't take any unnecessary risks and don't make a move on the crypt alone, got it?" He said looking right at Tygra.
"Yeah, yeah, we'll do what we can to save some for you," Tygra said with a smirk.
Lion-O shook his head at his brother. He knew well enough that Tygra would try to beat him if the opportunity should arise. He stood there for a moment and watched him as he and Panthro started down the path they were assigned. Despite the competition between them and the trouble they'd had in the past, Lion-O still worried about his brother. He felt Cheetara walk up next to him and place a hand on his arm.
"They'll be fine and we need to move my prince." She told him softly.
"I can't help but worry." Lion-O said placing a hand over hers. "But you're right, let's get going." He looked over to her and leaned in for a quick kiss.
"Silthe what is going on?" Mumm-Ra roared.
"I am not sure myself." The lizard general hissed out. "All I know is that cats are attacking and there are reports of a small group of them in the pyramid." Silthe raised an eyebrow at the mummy. "I thought that you knew all Mumm-Ra?"
"Are you questioning me Silthe?" Mumm-Ra snarled at his general.
"You are all knowing Mumm-Ra, but yet we had no idea that the cats were about to attack." Silthe questioned again with a mocking tone. "Maybe you are not as all knowing as you claim."
"Do not question my power, Slithe." Mumm-Ra snapped again.
Silthe could see it all over his master's face, he was worried. Well, as worried as a creature like him could get. This was a surprise attack with no warning from the mummy. The lizard was losing his people quickly, all in the name of revenge that this creature had sought against the cats. Silthe was no fan of them either but after the failed attack on Thundera, Mumm-Ra's increasing lack of regard for the lizards had started to wear down on Silthe.
"I am beginning to question your reason. You are so driven by revenge on the cats that you care not for the amount of my people you throw at them," Silthe said just as another explosion sounded through the fortress.
"If you do not like how I am doing things then I will find new generals who will do my bidding without question." Mumm-Ra spat back.
"If you do then you will do it without my men," Slithe threatened back.
He knew he was pushing his luck with the mummy, but even a cold-blooded lizard had his limits. His people were few in number compared to the cats as it was, and as things stood his people would be extinct before the day was out. He could see the anger build in Mumm-Ra's eyes and he was about to say something in return when the sound of laser fire could be heard down the east hall.
[Flashback]
"Father you have to trust me on this, it will work," Lion-O insisted as he stood inside his father's tent that morning.
Claudus looked at his younger son and thought about what he was proposing. He rubbed a hand over his beard as he looked over to his son's mate. It was a difficult choice that he was being asked to make.
"I don't like it; we are supposed to plan the attack because you had a dream about how to kill Mumm-Ra?" Tygra added, sitting in one of the chairs in the tent. "How do we know that it was Mumm-Ra who sent you that dream only to get you alone in his fortress?" Tygra questioned. "I mean you did pretty much stop his invasion plan."
"That not it at all." Lion-O looked back at his father, the king. "Please Father. I know in my gut that this is what must be done to take care of Mumm-Ra once and for all." Lion-O said with a very determined look on his face.
Claudus still had not said a word about his son's request to enter the fortress on his own and deal with Mumm-Ra while the rest of the army fought the creature's lizard army. It was a risky plan to say the least and one that he could very well cause him to lose his youngest son. He looked about the small tent at the people who had gathered there. With a final stroke of his beard and a deep sigh Claudus nodded his head.
"Very well, but on one condition, you will not go alone," Claudus answered finally. "Gather a small group and carry out your plan my son. I, along with the rest of the army will do our best to keep Mumm-Ra's attention outside his fortress and blind to your movements."
As they sat there listening to the King lay out the rest of the plan for the day's attack, not all of them were paying complete attention. Cheetara was busy with her own thoughts about this plan. Something about it just didn't feel right, and as much as she hated to admit it, a part of her was thinking that Tygra might be right. Yet, she understood the reason why Lion-O wanted to go after Mumm-Ra and if there was a chance that they could end this war before it really got started then she was all for it.
However, what was it that Lion-O saw in his dream to make him come up with this plan? No one knew that Mumm-Ra existed and only knew of him in the stories of their people's past. So how was it that Lion-O was able to dream of a way to kill him once and for all? That was the cleric side of her talking, but her other half, the one that trusted and loved the prince so much was telling her to just keep trusting him. She shook herself mentally and focused on the rest of the plan being laid out. She trusted Lion-O with her life and if for some reason this was a trap, then she would be by his side to protect him, even if it meant her life again.
[End Flashback]
"We're here," Lion-O said in a whisper, yet he got no response from her and when he looked back to her she seemed lost in thought. "Cheetara?"
With a touch of his hand and the sound of her name on his lips, Cheetara was quickly brought out of her thoughts from earlier that morning. When she turned to him she saw that Lion-O was looking back at her with concern in his eyes. She said nothing at first but gave him a reassuring smile that she was fine.
"We're here" he said again. "And from the sound of it, Tygra and Panthro are giving us one hell of a distraction," he told her.
He looked back into the crypt. The sound of a fight on the other side could still be heard. A quick scan of the room and Lion-O could see Mumm-Ra standing in front of a giant pool of what appeared to be water or some other liquid. The mummy's back was to them, which was going to make getting in easier. However, the sarcophagus was only a few feet away from Mumm-Ra.
"We've got to find a way to get Mumm-Ra away from the sarcophagus," Lion-O said as he turned around and leaned against the wall behind him.
"Leave that to me, I've got something I want to talk to him about," Cheetara said gripping her staff tightly.
Lion-O looked at her and noticed the look in her eyes. He was sure that the so-called talk would be her trying to fight him and pay him back for everything he had done to her and to them. There was also the fact that she wanted to protect him. He let out a low sigh and placed his hand over hers as it gripped her staff. As their eyes met, the fieriness in her eyes lessened.
"I'll face Mumm-Ra, Cheetara," he started and continued when she tried to object. 'I've faced him before and I've got a bigger score to settle with him." He then took the pouch that he was carrying off his shoulder and handed it to her. "Take the explosives and complete the mission. Once there set, get out of here."
"I'm not leaving without you."
"I'll be right behind you," Lion-O said cupping her cheek, "Don't worry my love, now that I have you back I'm not going to let anything or anyone keep us apart again." He reassured her before leaning over and kissing her lips.
Cheetara eagerly returned his kiss, but even their passionate kiss did not lessen the worry that was building in her gut. However, she trusted his word and one look in his blue eyes confirmed it.
"You'd better be my prince, or I will come after you till I find you." She said with a determined look in her crimson eyes that told Lion-O she meant what she said.
They shared one more kiss before parting ways. Cheetara watched him enter the crypt with his sword firmly gripped in his hands. She heard him shout out to the mummy and knew that was her cue to make her move.
"Mumm-Ra," Lion-O shouted to get the mummy's attention as he walked into the crypt. "Time to put an end to you, you bag of bones," he quipped.
Mumm-Ra whirled around and let out a deep growl at the site of the young lion prince that had derailed his takeover of Thundera. As much as he wanted to dispatch the young cat himself the mummy spotted several of his lizard soldiers heading toward him. He started to let out a deep laugh.
"It seems that you will not be the one to end this ThunderCat." Mumm-Ra said as he watched his lizards attack.
Lion-O turned to face the oncoming lizards and smirked as everything was going according to his plan. If they were focused on the three of them then that meant Cheetara could get to the sarcophagus and set the charges. As Lion-O started taking out one Lizard after another, he heard the battle cry of his other companions and another smirk crossed his face.
"What kept you?" Lion-O asked his brother as he kicked another lizard causing it to skid across the floor.
'Well you know how it is, have to see if I can beat you in the number we take down," Tygra answered.
Lion-O just let out a grunt as more Lizards came rushing toward them. Their numbers were starting to grow but Lion-O was not worried. A bright flash of yellow caught his eye and he knew that Cheetara was making her move, so it was now time to make his.
"Keep them busy I'm going after Mumm-Ra," Lion-O yelled to Panthro and Tygra.
Before either of them could say a word he was running head long after the decrepit mummy. Mumm-Ra was too busy watching the battle between his lizards and the cats that he nearly missed Lion-O charging at him. He dodged Lion-O's strike but not enough to avoid the hit completely. For the first time in centuries, pain surged through the area were Lion-O had cut him.
"How?" Mumm-Ra hissed, his hand gripping over the cut.
"So you can bleedthat means that you're not immortal after all," Lion-O said.
"I am Mumm-Ra the ever living, not mortal weapon can or should be able to harm me," Mumm-Ra snarled.
"Well I guess you were misinformed bone bag," the lion prince smirked back, 'This time we finish what we started back in Thundera," he said again and then charged after him.
[Flashback]
"Son take it."
"I can't, it's your sword." Lion-O looked at his father.
Claudus had asked Lion-O to stay behind after the briefing was over. Now the young prince stood before his father looking down at what he was offering him. What his father was suggesting was completely crazy.
"Father you will need it in battle today."
"Not as much as you will my son," Claudus said, looking down at the sword. "Legend tells that Leo was able to harm Mumm-Ra with the Sword of Omens. If that is true then you will need it for your fight with him."
As they spoke the sword's eye started to glow and both lions could have sworn that it looked to Lion-O. Lion-O looked down at it and as if it was calling to him and he reached out and put his hand over the eye. The sword reacted to it new master's presence accordingly.
"It knows you son, and the sword chooses it's master, not the other way around. I saw what you were able to do with the sword in your hands. It is a part of you Lion-O, just as you have always been a part of it since the day of your birth." Claudus said as his son looked to him with questioning eyes. "There will be time to explain more after this battle. However, for now take it, show Mumm-Ra what the true master of this sword can do."
[End Flashback]
"Your speed will only get you so far, lion prince, but in the end it will be I, Mumm-Ra the ever living, that will rule over all the beasts of Third Earth." Mumm-Ra laughed and then chanted the incantation that changes him to his true form.
When the light of the transformation finally died, Mumm-Ra was greeted with a golden fist coming at his face. The hit was hard and unexpected, which sent the mummy flying across the crypt into one of the ancient statues of evil, cracking it. When he pulled himself from the rubble he saw the lion prince with the golden gauntlet and Sword of Omens. He understood at that moment just how the young cub could inflict pain on him.
"A gift from my father—to end your miserable existence and free Third Earth from your evil." Lion-O's blue eyes were glowing.
"You are not the only one with powers of the stone pup," Mumm-Ra said, standing fully upright. A shield and sword of his own was fixed in either hand. "Now kitten, let us finish this as you say."
Lion-O was undeterred by this new development and let out a deep growl before charging straight at Mumm-Ra. The mummy charged at the lion prince at the same moment. He knew that by the end of this one or both of them would be dead. Despite his promise to Cheetara, he was willing to give his life to make sure that Mumm-Ra never harmed another animal on Third Earth again.