diadem15: thanks so much for the review. I can relate about starting reading unfinished stories. I'm glad and kind of flattered that you decided to give my story a shot and are enjoying! Even more than the show itself? Wow that's probably the best thing anyone can say about my work with this. I really appreciate your words. I assure all my readers that I'm working hard for all to enjoy as much as possible till the 'season finale'!
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When Pumyra told them about the Thunderian refugees, she also gave some details on their prison, Mount Plun-Darr. Cheetara commented the name of the place sounded familiar for some reason and asked the puma some more about the mountain itself, but Pumyra pointed out there wasn't much about the place that she would find out during her stay there, only the different tasks the cats were forced to do.
"It's a one day trip on carriage." The brunette said.
"The Thundertank can get us there faster than that." Panthro stated. "Half that time, maybe ten hours …nine, if I push the engine a little bit." He said feeling his elbow with the opposite hand; he found restrain from the joint.
Cheetara rose from her seat getting the group's attention. "We all should rest for the night before heading on a new task. Lion-O has yet to recover from his injuries."
"I second that." Tygra said from his seat in front of the camp fire.
Lion-O considered their concern on him for a minute, and then looked at Pumyra, her eyes fixed on the flames —probably thinking about the slaves—.
"We'll get there, as soon as possible." He spoke making the puma look back at him. "But Cheetara is right; and I'm not the only one that needs rest."
"I understand." Pumyra answered after some time, her voice was quiet and thoughtful.
Lion-O stood up, along with Panthro and Tygra. "Just tonight," He paused making sure he got Pumyra's attention. "…I'll be fully recovered first thing in the morning, I promise." He said positive. After she nodded in agreement the lion and the others went inside the vehicle for the night.
Pumyra took her time to follow them, she knew the young King only said that to reassure her that he was fine, but he couldn't speak for his injuries. She stopped on her tracks when something caught her attention, her eyes went back to the camp fire and saw Kit and Kat still cuddled next to each other in front of its heat. For all the time she's known them, the puma couldn't remember seeing them with such blue expression on their faces as they did now. She considered, in part, herself to be responsible for it. After letting out a heavy sigh Pumyra went back toward the fire, regarding them with regret in her eyes. The twins saw her sitting down next to them, but still putting some distance between them. Pumyra thanked inwardly they didn't scooch over away from her. She had so much to say and still she couldn't avoid the awkward silence growing around them.
"Kids, I—" She began weakly after awhile.
"We're not the ones you should apologize to." Wilykat interrupted.
"We know how hard it must've been to be away from your friends for so long…" Kit said. "It was terrible, wasn't it?"
Pumyra stared at them with wide eyes. Then she closed her eyes, her head hung down. "It was like living a nightmare."
"And you blame Lion-O for it, don't you?" The female cub asked sadly.
"Is that why you hurt him?" Her brother added. "'Cause you thought he hurt you?"
Pumyra couldn't believe how assertive their words were, in most part. But she wasn't the only one that got hurt, what saddened her the enslavement
their kind and the things they had to endure each day since their kingdom had fallen.
"It's more complicated than that." Was all she said in that moment.
Pumyra recalled her fight with Lion-O from hours ago, and the second she wanted to acknowledge that he intended to make it up to all those that felt abandoned by their King, even her. In her mind she wanted to forfeit the fight, she still couldn't figure out why she didn't and continued to dish blow after blow at him, like she had no control of herself. If she couldn't explain it to herself, she couldn't expect the kittens to understand it either.
"For what is worth… I am sorry." She uttered meaningfully to them. Kit and Kat turned to look at her.
The siblings exchanged looks; they sensed she was being honest with them. Kat was the first to react and fell back on the ground nonchalantly.
"Well, the important thing is that you forgive yourself." He simply said; his eyes closed as he hid his hands behind his head.
Kit smiled looking back at her brother. She then turned to look at the night sky, her tail waving slowly behind her. "And you'll have to promise, not to attack any of our friends again." She added matter of factly.
Pumyra's eyes widened, staring at one and then at the other. It hit her then, how much they have grown all that time she wasn't with them. Finally, a small smile drew on her lips. The silence surrounding her and the cubs wasn't as uncomfortable as it was at first, fortunately. The only relaxing sound was that of the wood cracking in the fire, Pumyra noticed Kat could fall asleep any minute if he didn't stop lying on the ground like that, but his sister was still fully awake. A thought came to her then.
"Kit?"
"Yeah?" She replied matching her tone.
"Do you still play that song to go to sleep?" Pumyra asked, turning to look at her.
The cub opened her mouth but closed it before making any sound. The adult female noticed that and arched one brow. Kit felt ashamed for some reason. Truthfully, while searching for their friend, sometimes Kit would think about playing her flute to her once they were reunited, recalling how she used to enjoy her lullaby with them a few times in the past. But the actual circumstances broke that fantasy.
"What is it?" The puma asked curiously.
"Well, actually—"
"Hey, sis! We should head back inside." Kat interrupted her, straightening up on his spot beside his sister. "It's late."
"Right," The female cub nodded. She stood up and followed her brother as he hurried into the tank.
Pumyra just sat there feeling like she missed out on something but did not let it keep her very long. She got up looking at Mount Plun-Darr in the distance, thinking the next day would be a long day for all of them. Then kicked some dry soil and sand into the camp fire and it quenched, giving room to the dark as she, also, headed inside for the night. She realized then, that it's been months since the last time she had slept in a comfortable bed, certainly a welcome change.
Minutes before sunrise, Panthro had the Thundertank already prepared for their trip through the desert. Cheetara over watched the mountain in the distance, uneasiness wrapping around her the more she stared.
"Looks as if that place's never seen the light of the sun." Another feminine voice said.
The cheetah turned her head around, Pumyra walked up to her, her eyes also fixed in the mountain.
"Yes," Cheetara expressed. "Those clouds around it have been there all night. It is always like this?"
The brunette nodded in confirmation. "Sometimes I think that place is cursed for some reason."
They got interrupted by the sound of clanking metal; they approached Tygra, who watched the General giving the finishing touches to their transport. Soon they were joined by Lion-O and the rest of the group. The females asked if everything was alright, the tiger would have answer but Panthro beat him to it.
"The tank's ready. But I can't say the same about me." He said and shifted one of his arms a little.
"What is it, Panthro?" Lion-O asked.
"Ah…nothing serious." The panther answered. "Guess sometimes I forget I also need some maintenance. My joints are getting creaky; I may need some oil or whatever."
"Panthro needs a mechanic?" Kat told his sister jokingly. Both giggled silently.
"I heard that!" Panthro grunted, making both cubs cover their mouths with their hands. "…but they're kind of right, anyway. I can't do it myself with just a hand."
Lion-O considered Panthro's lack of revision could become a delay, but he couldn't blame him for it. Gazing at Pumyra, he looked apologetically to her. "I'm sorry." He told her, knowing how badly she wanted to help the cat slaves.
But the puma seemed to understand completely. "He didn't ask for those arms." She said. "Too bad I can't do anything for him."
"About that," Tygra stood by his brother side. "How are you feeling?"
Lion-O checked himself up, his face was alright and his arm was almost recovered, still wrapped in bandages. His side kept bothering him but he dismissed the pain. Maybe he could ask Pumyra to give him something for it later, for now it was nothing serious.
"I'm great." He answered to the Prince after a while. Not noticing Pumyra eyed him from the corner of her eye.
As a voice spoke up, the cats looked for the source.
"Do my eyes deceive me?" Lion-O turned around to see a familiar face, one he never thought would see again, the bearded dog smiled at him. "Your Highness! Thank the stars you're alive!"
"Jorma?!" The lion gasped. His shock turned into joy upon seeing his old friend. "I can't believe you're here!"
"After barely escaping the fall of Thundera, I moved the old junk shop back home." He turned to get a look at Lion-O's group of friends. "We meet again, miss." He greeted one in particular.
Cheetara looked at the mix of mutt and Irish Setter and remembered instantly who Jorma was. "Nice seeing you again." Tygra raised an eyebrow at her, realizing she was acquaintances with a dog.
"The lady has good memory." Jorma said happily.
"So, this is your home town?" Lion-O asked him.
"Well, I am a dog, after all." His friend chuckled. When looking around a second time, his eyes widened at the vehicle parked behind the group and whistled in amazement. "Oh my, what do we have here?" He walked past his feline friend over to it, placing one hand over the cool metal. "Never thought I'd get to see one up close…Some work of art you got here."
Panthro chuckled. "She's my pride and joy." He said closing one of the outriggers he was finishing working on.
The young King looked between the panther and the old dog, his mind lit up with an idea. "Hey, Jorma, do you think you could give Panthro a tune up? He's got a bit of a problem with his arms."
"His arm—? Oh, I see." Jorma just realized Panthro had mechanical arms attached to him.
"What are you plotting, kid?" Panthro asked skeptical.
Lion-O hurried his hands in front of him in defense. "Nothing bad! Jorma here is a good mechanic; we used to go over all of his works back in Thundera. He had some creative inventions too."
"Ow, you're too kind, Lion-O." The mutt said flattered. "But I do know my work. If you need some adjustments or repairs, I can help with that. Although, I've never worked with a cyborg before…"
"And you won't have to." Panthro countered quickly with a harsh tone. "I'm not a cyborg, these are just prosthetic."
"Of course." Jorma acknowledged. "How about we get back to my shop and I'll have a look?"
The General agreed to go with him, Lion-O offered his company but Pumyra stopped him with something to ask. After hearing it was about something important, Panthro noticed the seriousness forming in the lion's face and assured them he would be fine going alone. When he and the bearded dog left, the puma got close to her King to talk confidentially. "How much do you trust that guy?"
Lion-O thought about the question. "Jorma? I've known him for a couple of years; he's always been reliable to me when it came to tech, why you ask?"
Not wanting to waste any time while Panthro was away, she just said what was on her mind. "If we're going to mount Plun-Darr we can't take Kit and Kat with us, maybe they can stay here while we're gone." She just waited for the cubs to protest but they just stared at the adults like they didn't hear what she just said.
Pumyra knelt down before them, looking both in the eye. "Trust me; this isn't a trip you want to make with us." The twins frowned at the concern in her voice. "The things that happen there…if someone shouldn't see those things it's you."
Kit and Kat looked at each other, remembering her words the night before about the nightmares. Cheetara stepped forward. "I believe you're right." She looked down to the other adult female and then turned her gaze at the two kids. "This isn't a matter we can have a discussion over, I'm afraid we don't have a choice." She apologized to them.
Usually they would be eager and ready to join in the adventure, but something about the females' faces told them to step down from trying to tag along. Pumyra rose to her feet, thanking silently the cleric for backing her words. Lion-O exchanged looks with his brother and found an understanding. The King addressed the kittens.
"I'll ask Jorma if you can stay with him until we get back," He then turned to his red-yellow pet. "…same goes for you Snarf, just keep an eye on them, ok?"
The feline creature mewled and sighed tiredly, more than accustomed to his job as a sitter.
With another thought in mind the kids agreed. A couple of hours later Panthro and Jorma returned —the cat with a grin on his face—. Lion-O thanked the dog for helping out their friend and continued to ask for another favor. Jorma just needed to be assured that the kids wouldn't toy around with dangerous objects that may be inside his shop, but other than that he had no problem giving them shelter for a while.
The Thundercats got the tank moving while Jorma asked the two kittens to follow him to his workshop that was just outside the city's boundaries. The shop was underneath a few boulders, the inside had walls and floors with various pieces of technology hanging around.
"Make yourselves at home, children." He said cheerily looking into the room. "Just watch your step, and don't touch anything that is sparking." He turned on his heels to address them. When he did, his eyes widened in surprise finding himself alone in the shop and scratched his head in confusion.
Meanwhile Kit and Kat had ditched Jorma and ran back into Dog City.
"I kinda feel bad for him." Wilykit panted, running after her brother.
"He'll be fine!" Kat said looking for where he was going. "We've got to find Tookit and get our stuff back…"
"You're right." They came out of the crowd and found a wooden ladder they used to get a higher advantage point. "It's a good thing they left us behind this time, I guess…" She helped Snarf up from the ladder as they over watched the city, looking for a fluffy ringed tail.
As promised, the Thundertank came to a stop close to mount Plun-Darr after a nine hour trip. The cats filed out of the tank taking into view the dark mountain. It was just as Pumyra remembered, or worse, she couldn't decided. They noticed the enormous pieces of Thundrillium coming out of the black-rock structure and a giant skeleton that looked like a winged reptile draped on top of it as a warning of death. They moved in, from rock to rock, not to be spotted by the rats guarding the place. Soon, they reached a blind spot in the upper level, overseeing the quarry with view to the slave camps. They looked down as they watched cat slaves going in and out of the tunnels, all of them exhausted and tired as they moved the mining gear and supplies around while others pushed the carts.
"I can't stand to see our people treated like this." Cheetara said.
"Try living it." Pumyra said; her face darkened at the lively memories. "I spent weeks suffering lashings from those rodents. At least I fought back; I can't say the same for the others."
"Today they will go free." Lion-O said firmly. "That's a promise."
Before thinking on their course of action, Cheetara sensed conflictive energies around the group, but it all pointed at the brunette, that, and her troubled expression made her ask. "Is something else bothering you?"
"Maybe," The puma said warily, her eyes darted to the tunnels. "I have no way to know if is worth worrying over."
"What is?" Lion-O asked.
"There's this dig site, inside the tunnels." She began slowly. "The rats gather a big number of cats in there, I don't know what for, but is not just Thundrillium that's for sure."
Something in the back of her head told Cheetara all those manifestations of energy had to come from somewhere and luckily what Pumyra just mentioned was it. "Then while all of you free slaves, I'll go check that dig site."
"What?!" The other female exclaimed. "Are you sure? It could be nothing…"
"I think I know a way to be sure..." The two females looked at their leader. Lion-O drew out the sword from his claw shield and held it before his eyes.
"Sword of Omens: Give Me Sight Beyond Sight!"
The Eye of Thundera started glowing its signature red blaze. The lion's eyes shone along with it and the sword began showing a proyection of mount Plun-Darr, the image amplified showing the inside of the mountain, the tunnels, into a chamber dressed with the red mineral. The sword focused on showing him the back wall, something was hidden behind it. The vision amplified again showing him the object beyond the wall, it was a huge black and red scabbard sheathing a black dagger, or maybe a short sword with a purple jewel nlaid on the hilt...the artifact looked awfully familiar to him.
"No!" He muttered coldly, his eyes still glowing from the vision.
"What is it, Lion-O?" Tygra asked concerned by the look on his brother's face.
The lion lowered the blade and looked at his friends with a grim expression. "The Sword of Plun-Darr..."
"The same sword you told us about from your travel in the Book of Omens?" Pumyra asked first. "The one that belonged to Mum-Ra?!"
"That's the one."
"Makes sense." The General said. "Sword of Plun-Darr... Mount Plun-Darr..."
Lion nodded. "Could it be the rats are trying to dig the sword up for Mum-Ra?"
"You mean forcing our people to dig for it!" The puma replied sternly.
"What ever their plan for that sword is, we can't let them get to it first." Cheetara commented, preparing to leave for the dig site.
"And how do you plan on getting down there?" Panthro asked. "There are guards everywhere."
"I'll go with her."
Cheetara looked at Tygra, who stood up. "I'm actually surprised you would offer to come with me and leave them…" She got a playful smile on her face for a change. Cheetara was sure Tygra knew what she was capable of, especially if it was taking care of herself; the strange thing was that her partner would be okay leaving their friends with one of them who had recently lost a good amount of his trust —if not all of it—, and most of all leaving her close to his brother.
Tygra had his reason; he just didn't want to share it until they were alone. "We don't know anything about this place," He showed her his trademark smirk. "Besides, you've praised my stealth before. If it's a secret recognizing mission, I'm your cat."
The flirty wink he gave her with his last words didn't go unnoticed by the others; Tygra just ignored the looks they gave him.
"Oh, brother…" Panthro sighed and shook his head while the lion and puma simply stared at him.
Lion-O noticed the couple leaving their hiding place and jerked his head in their direction. "Be careful, you two! I'm not sure what could happen if you get in contact with that sword. It's a very dangerous weapon." He got a nod from them both and quickly disappeared.
Down at the quarry, Tygra had already shared his plan to infiltrate the dig site with his partner. He saw Cheetara sneaking around, using her speed, not to be seen as she got hold of some cloaks hanging on a wire. When his turn came, the tiger stared at his bolo whip with concerned eyes; it was a spell put on his old whip by Jaga the Wise what gave him the ability of going invisible in the past. It was until know that he thought he may no longer be able to do that with his new weapon, but he did not let it discourage him for very long. Making a leap of faith he moved the bolo whip the same way he used to with his old whip.
"Here goes nothing." He sighed and struck the bolo whip.
His surprise couldn't be bigger when he managed to see through his own hands, it worked. Before getting too distracted by that realization he moved pass the guards and got his hands on a pair of handcuffs. They used them and the cloaks to pass as slaves, soon they located the line of cats being taken into the tunnels, the one Pumyra mentioned, and used their disguises to get inside the group.
Cheetara turned to the tiger, letting show her uneasiness, and whispered. "I think this is a terrible idea, by the way."
"It's the surest way to get us to the dig site." Tygra whispered back to her, and held up his hands. "Besides, these chains aren't even locked."
"Hey! You two!"
They froze on their place as well as the rest of the line at the voice of one of the rats. The guard came up to them, looking over their appearances. Tygra and Cheetara lowered their heads a little, trying to hide their faces. The rat's eyes moved to their wrists, and began to lock the handcuffs. "That's better. Wouldn't want you running off and getting hurt." The guard moved on and began inspecting the cuffs of the slaves behind them making sure no one else had them unlocked.
The tiger Prince felt Cheetara glaring down at him, he shrugged sheepishly and whispered. "At least this will make our disguises more convincing."
She erased the glare from her features and showed a small smile while looking down at her handcuffs. "You're lucky you're cute."
Meanwhile, Lion-O and the others snuck into the camp to free the slaves. Most of the guards were gone into the tunnels and very few slaves stayed behind because of their wounds and bad conditions to go to the mines. There was this cat with long dark hair and worn aspect leaning against a rock. His eyes widened at the cat offering him a bowl filled with water.
"Here, drink this."
"Lion-O…" His voice was tired and sore from exhaustion, but with a pinch of hope. "Our King had come for us…" He said and hurried taking a good gulp of the water.
"I only wish I came sooner." The lion said regretfully.
The slave finished drinking and looked at the three cats standing before him. "They said you wouldn't come, that you've forgotten. But when she came here, she assured us that you would come back for us." He showed a small smile looking at the puma standing behind their King.
Lion-O was surprised to hear that and turned arround giving her a smile as well. She looked away, thinking that was a long time ago —before she'd lost her faith in him just like the rest had—, feeling she didn't deserve his thanks.
"Who did this to you?" Panthro asked severely.
The slave's face became somber, his hand rose to point across the camp. "They did…"
The Thundercats turned in the pointed direction, a lighting struck nearby lighting up that sector of the camp, casting shadows behind some crates. They saw the outlines of a rat slamming his whip violently against another slave. The moment she was met with that familiar sight, Pumyra growled like a ferocious cat, her darkest instincts reawakening. Panthro and Lion-O saw her ready to take off but the lion stopped her by grabbing her shoulders.
"Pumyra, we have to stick to the plan." He told her, but her anger wouldn't let his words reach her. "They all will be free soon enough."
The brunette hit his bandaged arm breaking his hold on her as she darted to the middle of the camp. Their leader went hastily after her.
"Oh Cripes!" Panthro cried, following reluctantly.
Pumyra's rage amplified when she saw Mordax, the white mouse, and right hand of their Governor, was the one dishing slashes to the slave. The look of enjoyment on his face only fueled her even more, if that was possible.
Mordax prepared to dish the next blow, but it never came as her claws stopped his arm and grabbed him. Two more guards watched in fear as she lifted the mouse from the ground and tossed him forcefully into the air, flying away and crashing into a crate with a hurtful grunt. One of the guards would have attacked her from behind, if it wasn't for Lion-O who showed up and knocked him down in two punches. The second guard raised his scythe-like weapon against him but Panthro fired one of his arms and connected a powerful hook to his face sending the rat flying into the air before he could strike. Mordax opened his eyes to see what was happening, Pumyra stood over him with a murderous expression and his face paled with fear.
"Yo— You!" It was all he could utter with her glaring daggers at him. Blinded by a sense of revenge she began punching him with no restrain.
Lion-O watched worriedly, recognizing her lack of control from their fight in the Pit and hurried to stop her. "Pumyra!"
She felt Lion-O's tight grip on her wrist and his other hand trying to grab her other arm in an attempt of pulling her away from the mouse but she forcefully pushed him away. He suppressed a hissing sound when hitting his side on the fall, when Panthro caught up with them.
"Stay out of this!" She snarled getting dangerously closer to Mordax and reached for something tucked in her belt. "I'm gonna make sure he never touches a cat again." Pumyra took out a small blade, a souvenir from the Pit, most likely.
They watched her lifting Mordax from the ground by his collar, holding the knife close to him.
"I was only following orders." The mouse choked out.
The enraged female knew who he was referring to, all the more not to buy his excuse. "Then I'll take care of the rat who gave them, too!" The twinkle of dark red appeared in her eyes again.
"Panthro!" Lion-O shouted as he clutched his sore side, over his ribs. In the blink of an eye Panthro grabbed Pumyra's wrist and circled her middle with his other free arm.
"That's enough, kid." The panther said as she let the knife fall of her hand and let go of the white rodent.
She could do nothing against Panthro's superior strength while her anger slowly died down. Panthro stepped away from her after she seemed calm enough. Her eyes widened, shocked to see Lion-O standing between her and Mordax.
"What is this monster's life worth to you?!" She exclaimed in confusion.
"You remember those two lizards I released in Thundera?" He paused. "Later, one of them did the same thing for me. Sometimes mercy can be an even greater weapon than a sword."
Pumyra found it hard to believe a lizard helped him during the fall of Thundera. "After living through what I did here, sometimes I think these pests are worse than lizards…" She then remembered her oath of loyalty to him and added bitterly. "If you were anyone but King, that rat would be dead."
"Yeah," Panthro relaxed. "…he's got a way of using that crown to get you to do all kinds of cockamamie things." He then saw Lion-O glaring at him with his arms flexing as if to attack him. Panthro grinned at him. "Oh, don't gimme that look, I was joking."
He and Pumyra looked at their King closely, his expression worsened and his arms rose up completely in a surrendering manner. They understood the reason when they noticed the rat he just saved was holding a sword while sticking the tip against the lion's spine.
"Drop your weapons!" Mordax ordered.
"Oh." Panthro said and raised his arms since he couldn't actually drop them as he asked. As for Pumyra, she already dropped her knife when Panthro refrained her earlier, instead she grabbed the bolas stored in the garter on her left hip and tossed them near her feet, while putting her hands in the air, as well.
Mordax gave the signal and more guards came about to tie them up and escorted them out of the camp. The corridor they were being led into the brunette female recognized it well.
"Oh, this can't be good." Pumyra whispered more to herself; she then raised her tone but kept it like a hush while talking to the lion. "I told you rats were worse than lizards!"
For Pumyra to actually think that meant they were about to face some serous adversary. As they continued onward to a lower area of the mine, onto a sheltered outcropping of rock. Radiance appeared in the distance as they were led further inside into an underground chamber.
Kit and Kat sat on a bench at the central square in Dog City; they've been looking all day for the raccoon thief with no luck. Both looked stranged at their furry companion sniffing frantically, holding his tiny nose in the air. "What is it, Snarf?"
"Is it food?" Kat said, remembering they hadn't eaten in hours.
The creature shrieked and ran off.
"Snarf!" The kids cried and jumped off their seat after him. They saw him turning around a corner and heard noises: Snarf's screams and then a different voice grunting as if collapsing against something with great force. They reached the corner and found the pet spread on the floor along with another figured, they recognized, lying in the same position across from him.
"Tookit!" They exclaimed, finally face to face with the one they were looking for.
Before he could recognize their voices he already had his hands held up in front of him in poor defense, screaming non estop. "Please, don't hurt me! I assure you, whatever that you're missing I didn't—" He opened his eyes and saw the youthful faces. "…take it."
The raccoon shook his head and focused on the two kittens, his face lit up as he sprang back to his feet. "I've been looking everywhere for you two!" He said in a false relieved tone.
"We've been looking for you!" Kit returned, sounding honestly irritated.
"No wonder they call you Tookit." Kat said in accusation.
"Oh! As lady luck would have it." The thief kept his upbeat charade. "The greatest minds do think alike."
"That's not it!" Kat countered, frowning at him. "We want our stuff back!"
"And nothing to do with you." Kit added pointedly. "Now, give me back my flute."
"And my Flank."
"All in good time, I can assure you." The thief grinned. "You'll get your things back, but I need a favor from you in exchange."
The three cats stared at him with matching puzzled expressions. "If you wanted a favor, then you should've said so before stealing from us." Kit said.
"Well, I didn't think you two would've trusted me right off the bat. I was a stranger to you, after all." Tookit said. "But now that we know each other a little better—"
"Yeah, we still don't trust you." The male cub crossed his arms stubbornly over his chest.
"Let's not be hasty, young man. Allow me to explain." The thief said nonchalantly. "My actions yesterday had a double purpose. At first I wanted to steal your belongings because, well, that's what I do. But then something wouldn't stop itching at my curiosity about you two and I just had to be sure, that you were exactly what I thought you were…" Snarf glared at him, probably foreseeing where his elaborated speech was leading. "You see, I have a knack for recognizing skilled pickpockets like myself, and as I confirmed after our quick tour through the city while you two pursued me, you two have quite the talent for thievery. Judging by your appearance and your skill, I cannot be wrong!"
Kit and Kat exchanged side-glances. "Well, we do know a thing or two." Kit said tentatively.
"Ah! Then I am correct!" The fluffy tailed thief exclaimed in triumph.
"Yeah, but we've only stolen when we needed to eat." Kat hurried to say. "What's your excuse?"
"Look around you! This is a tough town, I only try to survive." The raccoon finally said. "Just like you two. We are very much alike as you can see. You can trust me, haven't you heard of the honor among thieves?" He smiled showing his full set of teeth.
Yes, they knew of what he spoke of, and they may have accepted his proposal if he hadn't started with the wrong foot. "Not a chance!" Kit insisted. Snarf, for once, had a wide proud smile on his face.
"Just give us back our stuff!"
Realizing he had to work a little harder to get them to cooperate, he pressed on his first offer. "Oh, you shall have them; I'm keeping your music maker and your crafty key grapple back in my humble abode. Follow me!" He said, strolling down the street with the cats following reluctantly in tow.
Tygra and Cheetara followed the slaves; it didn't take them much longer to reach their destination where they joined a bigger number of cats. They were all standing around a massive hole on the ground, it went deeper than the eye could see. The cleric felt threat and tension in the air that got the cat slaves shaking in fear. She assumed it was the Sword of Plun-Darr's power but there was that oddly familiar energy calling specifically to her, as well.
"Who's up next?" The head of the guards spoke to the crowd. A fearful murmur flowed through the mass of cats. "Don't all jump at once. At the rate we're losing Cats, you'll all get your chance." His red eyes scanned through the group. "How about—"
"We'll go." The feminine voice spoke. The rats looked to see the two cats dressed in cloaks stepping out of the group of slaves.
"Finally some brave cats." The head rat pointed out. The cat slaves whispered between each other about their fellow cats' audacity to volunteer descending into the dark pit. "Let's see if your cockiness saves you from the sword's curse." Two more rats went over and unlocked their handcuffs so they could walk over onto the platform. A guard pulled a lever, lowering the platform further underground. Once completely out of sight and surveillance, the couple removed their cloaks.
Cheetara pondered on the rat's words. "Pumyra's hunch was right after all."
"What was that?"
"This morning, she mentioned thinking this place to be cursed" The cheetah commented.
"You thing the sword is cursed?" Tygra asked, putting their disguises aside. "If it is, then Lion-O forgot to mention that important detail." He added, scolding the young King mentally.
"I'm not sure the Sword of Omens could've seen it. A curse does not have a physical form." Cheetara pondered.
Talking about that weapon brought a different weapon to the tiger's mind, along with a question. "Cheetara? I don't know if it's the right time, but I need to ask you about some—"
They heard the cable holding the platform snap right in that moment, the platform plummeted down into the pit. With quick reflexes, Cheetara pulled out her staff, extending it so both tips acted as break against each side of the hole, eventually stopping her fall. Tygra continued falling, until he grabbed his bolo whip and wrapped it around the staff in a single motion and reached Cheetara's side as the bolo whip recoiled itself. Both looked down no longer seeing the platform free falling, but they heard the echo of it crashing at the bottom.
They looked at each other with half worried expressions, but also a bit of skepticism. Could have been the curse of the sword? Or was the cave also cursed?
"If for any reason that was the curse, then it's a good thing I'm here." The tiger said holding on to his weapon's handle.
"Why's that?" His partner asked curious.
"I faced a curse before." He said as memories of the Tiger clan came back to his mind. "And I broke it." He concluded self confident.
Cheetara smiled at him, his attitude was a refreshing contrast to their dangerous situation. Tygra stretched his weapon, resulting in a safe trip down. When his feet touched the bottom of the pit he gave the signal to the blonde cat and she slid down as if using a rope. Once they were both on firmer ground he jerked his bolo whip, retrieving her staff along with it and handed it back to her.
She thanked him as she stored her weapon in the small case attached to the back of her waist. "Now, what was that you wanted to ask me?"
The tiger got reminded of his infinished question and went on telling her of how his weapon worked to make him invisible, but also explaining how it couldn't be since it was Jaga's spell on his old whip what made him turn invisible in the first place.
Cheetara had already learned about Jaga's work on his previous whip. There could be no explanation as to why could he turn invisible with a weapon Jaga had never come in contact with before. The cleric realized he was asking for her insight on the matter, she closed her eyes, place her hand over the weapon and tried to sense the presence of magic in the bolo whip. It took her a few seconds to feel the distinctive power, it was very close, but it wasn't from his weapon. Cheetara opened her eyes.
"What is that?" She inquired, her eyes and her finger pointed to the ornament around his right wrist.
"This?" He asked while raising his wrist. "My father told me this is the only thing I brought with me when I arrived in Thundera. As a kid, I thought it was a toy…but, maybe it was some kind of remembrance from my biological family, I never got to ask about it but that would explain why I never parted with it…"
Cheetara didn't bother to fight the endearing smile that popped on her face. "I told you, you were cute."
He returned the smile briefly. Before he could ask why she got interested on his re-entitled family heirloom, she wrapped her fingers around it and closed her eyes a second time in concentration. Her eyes opened with resolution. "I think I understand now, Jaga casted each half of the same spell in both objects and it would trigger whenever you used your whip." She seemed very confident on her explanation.
"But, why?" Tygra asked, staring at the ornament. "Why not cast the whole spell into a single object?"
She thought on his question for a bit. "It could be that Jaga wanted to make sure you would always carry that spell with you. Perhaps he considered the possibility of you disposing of the object he casted it on, so he divided the magic into two different objects, that way he knew that if it held some importance to you, one way or another, you could still lose one of them but not both."
After hearing her elaborated deduction, Tygra stared at her dumbfounded. At first, as she spoke, he thought an explanation like that would be farfetched but he was relieved when her words got through to him. Who would have thought Jaga would have such appreciation for the adopted Prince, he certainly kept it well hidden. Until it occurred to the tiger asking about it to the cat that probably knew him better than anyone, besides the late King of the Thundercats.
As for Cheetara, she pondered on it, and since Jaga was already aware that Lion-O would be destined to end up with the Sword of Omens, he presumably wanted Tygra to know he wasn't unworthy of possessing a mystical weapon that could grant him special abilities. Sure, his present to the Prince was incomparable to the fabled blade, but it was designed for Tygra's own natural skills. Unfortunately, for her she would never get the real answer as all they could do was speculate about the reason for Tygra to be granted such gift.
The Prince saw her getting into a train of thoughts, but they couldn't stand still with a mission on their hands. He spoke up, suddenly breaking her trance. "Looks like with your knowledge of magic and my experience with breaking curses, if there's one going on down here, it won't be match for the two of us." He said smugly.
Cheetara wanted to point out he was overestimating himself again, since he'd only been faced with a curse once. Although he was, indeed, able to break it and she still appreciated his overconfident positivity, while already in the middle of a mystery she got them into. The blonde cat was still trying to figure out what was that feeling calling to her —the main reason for her wanting to come down there. It couldn't be the Sword of Plun-Darr, something different but that, at the same time, was down there with it.
She resolved going forward to finally get some answers. "Come on, let's go find that sword." Both cats began their incursion into the tunnels.
Unlike Pumyra, Lion-O and Panthro looked in awe having never expected to find such opulent chamber in the middle of a mining operation. The throne room was plentifully decorated in gold and marble. The young King watched the rat lieutenant ascending the steps with his gauntlet and sword in hand.
"Ratar-O, I have prisoners for you." Mordax announced.
Ratar-O stood from his throne, looking down at said prisoners. One of them clearly stood out to him. "Slaves belong in the Pit, you hopeless halfwit." He sneered, clearly displeased with his subordinate. "I don't have time to deal with something I've already disposed of!" He said staring at the brunette.
Lion-O picked on that and looked over at Pumyra from the corner of his eye. She got that murderous expression back on her face, especially regarding the large, fat rat that sat on that throne. He silently hoped she wouldn't be reckless and try anything against him, feeling ironically relief that they were handcuffed at the moment.
Eager to please his master, Mordax showed him what was in his hands. "But they had this!"
Ratar-O perked up, clearly paying attention to the mouse for the first time. "Let me see that!" He demanded, the lieutenant hurried to his side and offered the gauntlet.
Ratar-O picked the artifact up staring intently at it, quickly recognizing the shape of it and the blade it sheathed. He peered down at his prisoners again, this time his focus was the one with the red mane."So, you're the child King of the Thundercats." The rat mused. "A shame you have no kingdom, and an even greater shame I missed its tragic fall." He taunted.
Lion-O tensed at his words. Despite that, he noted by the sound of his voice, he was different from other enemies they've faced. Ratar-O was probably more down to earth than Slithe and his crazed companions. But he sure was self-absorbed and he didn't seem to have to answer to someone either.
"What's left of your people belongs to me," Ratar-O continued. "And soon, the Sword of Plun-Darr will, as well."
Something shifted inside Pumyra at the mention of the evil weapon. She couldn't understand the reason, but it felt like something or someone pulling a string within her that she inwardly fought to withstand.
"Mum-Ra's sword…" Lion-O muttered warily.
"Indeed. And the fool doesn't even know it's here. But long before anyone knew it was once his, it was ours." Ratar-O replied to the lion's words.
"Looks like it didn't do you swamp-dwellers much good." Pumyra countered with a snarky smile.
Panthro leaned closer to Lion-O. "Wait a sec, he's not one of Mum-Ra's flunkies, like Slithe?!"
"Seems that way…" The other male said, picking on that a bit earlier.
"It did," Ratar-O said, oddly calm at the female's remark. "…until the cats took it away." He then stared his monologue on what happened hundreds of years ago, regarding the Sword of Omens' counterpart. "For generations, the rats lived off of other animal's leftovers, feeding on scraps in the swamplands, barely surviving underground. Until my ancestor, Ratilla, made a discovery that changed our destiny forever! With the Sword of Plun-Darr in our possession, we were finally able to take what was rightfully ours…" Ratar-O's tone grew deeper and grim as he continued. "But the cats said we abused our newfound power. The truth was they were unwilling to share it."
Lion-O's gaze dropped with foreign remorse. It's been a long time since he was no longer blinded by ingenuity, ever since the fall of their Kingdom, the young King was fully aware of the faults committed by the cats to the other animals and their self proclaimed superiorly. He couldn't help thinking of his father, the previous King's ruling…
"Arrogantly believing only themselves to be worthy of such a weapon…" His attention returned to the tyrant's tale. "They sent the wizard Jaga, with his own Sword of Omens in hand to destroy it. Ratilla fought for the fate of our people, but Jaga's magic was too much for him. To keep the sword out of the hands of our people, Jaga put a curse on it and plunged it into the earth allowing this mountain to grow over it like a scar…burying it forever!"
Panthro and the young King exchanged shocked looks, but it was Pumyra who spoke the first word. "And that's the real reason you have the Thunderians slaved in those mines!" She spat at the rat.
"Precisely," Ratar-O returned maliciously. "It is said that all who seek the sword are fated to die, I'm well aware that the curse is true so I couldn't go down there and look for it myself..." The cats narrowed their eyes at him, hearing the tyrant refering openly to their people as spares. "After the Sword of Plun-Darr was lost to us, our people never recovered… But when those cats unearth it for me, I will rule as my ancestor once did."
"And we will be back at the top of the food chain." Mordax exclaimed.
Ratar-O glared down at him; he stood from his throne and furiously kicked his subordinate, sending him toppling a few steps away. "We?" Ratar-O scoffed. "Remember, your place is to serve me!"
The lieutenant picked himself up, holding an injured arm. "I'm getting tired of your abuse." He muttered.
"Good!" His master dismissed his remark. "Then take it out on the cats." His hand gesturing to the prisoners at the bottom of the steps. "I want them dead."
Their plan to free the slaves just continued to go wrong, not only they were about to be executed, but their friends were in the tunnels going after a sword that was cursed to kill anyone that got near it.
It was dark out, Tookit had brought Kit and Kat to a jewelry's rooftop. They looked through one of the windows as he indicated. "There, kitties, is our target." He signaled a large ruby cased inside a box made of glass. "Just look how it sparkles, I simply must have it!"
"That's what you want?" Kat asked rhetorically, seeing nothing special in a jewel.
"What do you need us for?" Kat inquired. "If you're as good as you presume."
"Well, my dear, there's one part of the heist, I admit, I can't overcome myself and that's the security part." Tookit said. "See those charming mutts down there." He pointed at a small pack of quadrupeds sleeping around the room. They were very large and with big muzzles.
The Wileys wouldn't want to see them awake any moment soon.
"I'm afraid I tried a few times getting near that precious jewel and they seem to have grown accustomed to my sent, so I can't get anywhere close to it, but you..." He trailed off.
"That's it! You want us to be the bait!" Kat said frowning. "No way!"
"On the contrary, boy." The raccoon countered smiling. "You'll be the ones doing the thievery, and you'll do it because otherwise you're not getting these back." He motioned to a small bag he brought along, attached to his back, with their flute and Flank were stored. He noticed their conflicted expression. "Now, as I said before I have a knack for identifying people familiar with my line of work, but it also applies to unique artifacts…" He paused to take one of the objects from the bag. "Like the young girl's instrument, for example."
She tried to take it from his hands but he snatched it back. "Don't tell me you aren't able to play this to create some kind of hypnotic spell or something similar…"
"How did you know that?!" Kit exclaimed.
"You wouldn't believe what many years of experience can teach you, my dear." He boasted. "Now, this is what will occur; I'm handing your belongings back and you'll use them to get me that exquisite rock in return. If you're honorable thieves, you don't have a choice but to oblige."
Snarf shook his head violently, urging them to back down. They looked back at him knowing what they were getting themselves into but after exchanging a thoughtful look, they nodded their heads in agreement and held their hands out to Tookit.
"Good kitties!" Tookit cheered and returned their things to them.
Snarf facepalmed.
The twins climbed down the Flank's string into the shop and swiftly made their way between the tables to the cased jewel. Kat jumped onto the table and used his claws to trace a circle and make a hole on the glass while Kit kept watch. But before the male cub could get his paw on the jewel, one of the mutts jumped over the jewel stalls grunting at them, drool dripping from its open mouth.
"There they are!" Wilykit shouted as the other dogs appeared and started chasing them. Kat leaped off the table and both ran around in the room escaping the vigilant bulldogs. The feline pet bit at his nails as he watched.
One of the three mutts bit after them, the cubs arched their backs away. Quickly they turned around and jumped over it to escape but were surprised to see themselves running into the mouth of another dog. They avoided that one by leaping and stepping in him avoiding its teeth, and used it as leverage to jump out of their way.
"I'll take care of them!" Kit said, with her flute in hand and on cue she started the soothing melody. In a few seconds she had the bulldogs snoring on the floor. Meanwhile Kat went over to the glass box and finally made himself with the ruby.
"Splendid!" They heard Tookit. "Good work you two, give it here!" The thief said while stretching his hands inside the room.
Kat looked at his sister and winked. She smirked and saw him throw the jewel to the upper window where Tookit and Snarf were, but he didn't throw it far enough. The raccoon leaned in too much trying to reach the sparkling rock and so he fell into the room as he catched it, landing with a loud thud.
That was the kitten's cue, Wilykat hooked his Flank to the edge of the window as Kit held on to him, the string recoiled and pulled them out of the room. The loud impact of the raccoon's fall woke the vigilant dogs up.
"What do you think you're doing?!"
"You were right, Tookit." The girl cub sneered. "We are good pickpockets…"
"But every time, we did so we could eat." Her brother said grinning. "Unlike you, shiny things don't really interest us."
Tookit found himself with the mutts' eyes fixed on him. "We— We had an agreement, come on, help me out of here!" He cried nervously, seeing the window too high for him to reach on his own and no way to climb.
"No," The boy cub said. "You stole from us and blackmailed us into stealing for you."
"Not very honorable if you ask me." Wilykit taunted.
Both kittens then got away from the window; Snarf chuckled and stuck his tongue out to the trapped thief, before following his friends.
Back in the streets the Wileys celebrated they finally got their stuff back. "They should keep him busy until the authorities arrive."
"See, you should've more faith in us, Snarf." Kit smiled, holding the creature in her arms.
They strolled through the city until an exhausted Jorma found them, standing before them while trying to catch his breath. "I've been looking… All day… For you two…" He noticed their pet resting on the female's arms. "Three…"
The twins exchanged knowing looks, then looked at Snarf and grinned. "You look tired, Jorma." Kat said.
"Yeah, we'll walk you back to your shop, so you can rest." Kit said innocently and together they guided the puzzled dog back to his home.
Tygra had pulled out a glow stick to light their way as they walked further away from their starting point where the platform fell. Those unsettling feelings the cleric had while looking at the mountain from afar that morning were increasing disturbingly the moment they entered those tunnels. The fluctuation of energy were getting stronger as they moved forward.
"Are you alright?" The tiger asked concerned, noticing she was having problems concealing her emotions again.
Cheetara said nothing, consentrating on the familiar presence, as if it was guiding her, somehoe. Then the light flickered on the torch, leaving them in the dark momentarily as Tygra got it working again.
"First the platform, not the light…" Cheetara said warily.
"What?" Tygra turned to her. "You think is the curse?"
"What else could it be?" The cleric answered. "I'm sensing there's a strange energy that grows stronger the further we move."
"Is that why you look so tense?" Tygra questioned. "Don't worry, it could mean we must be close to our target."
"That's not why, it's just—"
They continued walking and suddently came upon the rests of a previous cave in, their eyes grew wide at the sight of an skeleton of someone —a cat most likely— that had been pierced by a stone. They looked at each other, hesitant for a moment, wondering if this curse could kill them both as well, but the tiger stayed positive insisting on sticking together no matter what. Cheetara heard something detaching from the roof of the cave and saw a large jagged rock falling down.
"Look out!" She rapidly slammed into Tygra knocking him out of the way and into the ground.
Tygra looked at the rock fixed on the spot he was previously standing on. "Thanks…"
The tunnel suddenly started trembling causing more rocks to fall from the ceiling. "Don't thank me yet, run!"
They sprinted through the tunnel with the rocks constantly falling at their heels until they ran into another sector of the cave for safely. They watched the boulders had stopped falling a few meters from the entrance of the room they were in.
"That was close." Tygra mussed.
Cheetara turned around looking into the cave and realized it was very different from the rest of the tunnel; the walls were entirely covered in red crystals. "Look." She pointed to the farthest wall, which was different from the others as it emitted a dim glow. They approached it with caution seeing there was something inside the crystal that was making it glow.
"The Sword of Plun-Darr must be in there. Just like Lion-O said." Cheetara reached for the wall and placed her hand over the crystal, and the gauntlet, feeling the familiar presence of magic. "There's energy around it…" She closed her eyes. She felt as if the magic surrounding the object inside the crystal was trying to get in contact with her, she let it and something inside her clicked. She knew that energy; pulled her hand back from the crystal and opened her eyes.
"So how do we get it out?" Tygra asked. Seeing the crystal was too thick to break, even for their weapons.
"I know it sounds strange..." Cheetara sounded like she was in some sort of trance as she spoke. "But the magic I sense, I felt it from the moment we got to this mountain…it feels like Jaga's work. It's the reason I was drawned to this place, I sensed it calling to me."
Her partner looked at her intently, somehow, he realized she was the only one that could pull the sword out of the wall. "What do you say? Think you can get it out?"
"Maybe," She answered, taking out her staff, she lengthened it. "Being so close to it, I can sense Jaga's magic flowing through me, as well." And passed that power coursing through her to the staff, making it glow a golden color and spun it in her hands, letting it gain velocity before she thrusted it through the crystal shattering the surface and revealing the blade and the huge, black gauntlet.
"That's my girl." Tygra praised with a smirk on his face. He reached up and tried to pull the scabbard but it still was stuck, too deep into the crystal. Cheetara grabbed the other side of it and helped him, pulling both at the same time, untill it finally came out.
Tygra held the sword and gauntlet and smiled at his partner. "Seems to me, we just broke the curse."
She returned the smiled, but they disappeared as soon as the tunnel began shaking again, provoking another cave in. It seemed the sword was keeping the mountain together but once removed from its place, in the heart of the mountain, it all started to come apart around them.
Outside at the surface, Lion-O and the others were put on their knees by Ratar-O's servants. Mordax approached them from behind holding a sharp axe. The rat tyrant basked at the sight of the soon-to-be execution of the Thundercats.
"It was your mercy that got us into this." Pumyra said in a scolding tone.
"And I'll get us out of this." Lion-O assured her in the same tone.
Panthro looked between the lion and the puma, thinking if he weren't to lose his head over an axe; he would lose it over their bickering. The rats' lieutenant stepped forward, lifting the axe over the young King.
"Maybe you should start with me." The General offered casually, before staring at the lion next to him. "He's gotta get us out of this."
The throne room shivered, everyone looked up in alarm. Pieces of ceiling and dust began falling, and just as quickly, everything in the room along with it. The golden columns cracked, collapsing one by one. A loud crack sounded through the room, Ratar-O looked around disorientated when a large boulder cracked, falling down on him. Most of the guards ran away as fast as they could, except Mordax. Lion-O and company looked at the spot where The large rat had been standing, seeing a giant rock in its place.
Back at the tunnels, Tygra and Cheetara were still in the middle of a cave in.
"Should we make a run for it?!" Tygra asked.
"We'll never make it!" Cheetara said. Larger rocks were staring to crash around them.
Tygra turned to her. "You're fast enough to get out of here! Go!"
"You know I'd never leave you behind!" Cheetara said and noticed a stone about to fall on him again, and like before, she tackled him out of the way, landing on the ground with her on top of him.
Tygra opened his eyes when they heard another cracking sound and more rocks came crashing down. The cleric felt him shifting his body under hers. "What are you—!" She gasped as the tiger Prince changed their positions so he was the one on top, just in time before another boulder fell right over them.
"Tygra!" The blonde cat cried, realizing he was receiving the impact with his body, acting like a shield for her. She heard his painful grunts over the noise of the cave in, his arms flexed slightly but Tygra continued supporting his own weight so he would not crush her. After a moment, the falling boulders stopped, along with the shaking, and the space around them grew silent.
They stood still for a moment, she opened her eyes watching the tiger's deep wince. He opened his eyes then, looking back at her.
"Are you ok?" Tygra saw her staring at him with a bewildered expression. Cheetara was speechless, he just acted as a body shield in the middle of falling boulders and he was asking if she was ok? He lifted himself off of her, roughly sitting on the ground, leaving her room to sit up, as well.
If felt as if her brain had stopped working during the commotion, but once it started working again she continued to stare at him. "Why did you do that?" She said almost gasping.
"Are you really asking me that?" He looked as shocked as she was. He tried standing up, but the acute pain forced him to bend over.
Cheetara hurried to his side, trying to support some of his weight while helping him up.
The Prince looked at the gauntlet resting at their feet, and then looked back at her with his signature smirked. "Told ya, I can break curses." But not entirely being able to hide the pain.
She returned the smile, only more tenderly. "This one almost breaks you."
He placed his free hand over her cheek. "But it was worth it." He told her with no trace of cockiness in his voice.
The cleric almost could hear the thud of her heart against her chest by the way he was looking at her. She would have kissed him passionately if they weren't half way through their mission and it wouldn't be accomplished until they got out of there. She reached down for the black gauntlet, holding it under her right arm and helping support Tygra with the left around his waist, making their way out of the tunnel.
Meanwhile, after what they thought was an earthquake, the throne room was destroyed, there was no longer a roof over them and most of the walls had crumbled down giving view to the slave encampment. Lion-O pushed himself from underneath a boulder, bruises all over the parts of him with no armor. He looked wide eyed at all the destruction around him, looking for his friends; he found Panthro had also survived. The panther was getting back to his feet, the chains they had tied his robotic arms with, easily broke with a pull of his wrists as he also checked for any serious damage on them. But when both cats looked where Pumyra was, she wasn't that lucky. The puma laid on the floor, unconscious under the rubble, one of her legs was trapped under half of a boulder.
Lion-O snapped, looking around for any sign of their captors. He then turned around and was surprised with a sucker punch that sent him flying with his back on the grown.
"Not much of a King, are you?" Ratar-O walked over to his body and kicked him in the middle, the lion rolled over the ground, being painfully reminded of his injury from the Pit, and the one that wasn't completely healed, yet. He let out a painful roar, clutching his side.
"Lion-O!" Panthro exclaimed, reading to go in his aid.
The red maned cat shot his friend a look. "I've got this! Help Pumyra!" He commanded, and then turned to the rat with a growl in his throat.
The tyrant ignored the angered look the lion was giving him. "I pulled my people out from underground, built this mine, enslaved your pathetic kind, and will soon rule over all I survey. And you—"
Lion-O fought the pain coursing through him, pushing himself up. "I'm just getting started!" He charged toward Ratar-O, letting out an angry cry and returned the punch with all the strength he could muster.
Ratar-O got hit hard on the snout, Lion-O actually managed to send him backwards, he skidded over the rocks to a stop and rubbed his face, showing no signs of serious pain.
"You're a tyrant who rules by fear!" Lion-O growled, his hand still clutching his wounded side. "Your people are just slaves on the other side of the whip!"
His opponent smirked viciously. "But my people are still standing."
Right then, the young King heard the sound of unsheathed metal. He looked over his shoulder and found Mordax standing behidn him while holding his blade up, nothing stopping him for a killing blow.
Panthro heaved the rock off Pumyra's leg. He lifted her after taking off her handcuffs, supporting her with one arm while shaking her as gently as he could. "C'mon! Lion-O's surely gonna need a doctor after this."
Pumyra regained consciousness, opening her eyes slowly. She grunted in pain, her head was still a little muddled after the earthquake. She heard the General's voice and looked around.
"He's over there." Panthro said pointing at the middle of what was left of the throne room. They saw Lion-O flanked by Ratar-O and his lieutenant.
"Well? Kill him you dolt!" The rat Governor ordered, seeing the white mouse taking his time while lowering his weapon. "What are you waiting for?!" He exclaimed enraged.
In seconds, Mordax remember all of Ratar-O's insults and harsh treatment toward him. He also remembered when Lion-O defended him from taking a beating from Pumyra and her threat of killing him. "I'm trying to figure out why this cat treated me better than you do."
Ratar-O grew tired of his hesitations. "Kill him, I said!"
The mouse threw away his blade. "Kill him yourself." And backed away, but not before sighting and kicking the golden gauntlet and the Sword of Omens close to the lion's feet.
Lion-O saw this and smiled gratefully at the mouse. Mordax sneered laughing at his former master's face and fled the scene.
Panthro and Pumyra stared in awe at that moment. "He did it again…" The brunette bemused; flashes of the night before the fall of Thundera flowed through her mind.
"Huh?" Uttered the dark cat, not knowing what she was referring to. They saw their King putting on the claw shield and drawing out his blade. They saw the rat doing the same with his Sais and the female's eyes widened in fear at the sight of them, remembering when he had used them to take her down.
The two combatants clashed their blades; the lion was quickly losing his balance and got shoved to a side. He turned on his heels holding up the sword and charged against the large rodent, Ratar-O deflected his attack hooking the sword between his Sais and moved aside prompting Lion-O forward to push him hard on his back, making him lose his footing. The Lord of the Thundercats stopped his falling propelling his body with one arm and landing on his feet again. That move left him short of air, his side continued to bother him greatly.
"This doesn't look good." Panthro muttered.
"You've seen nothing yet." The puma commented while watching the battle. "That rodent can do more than just sword fight with those blades in his hands. I've faced it first hand and it's very dangerous."
If she was trying to reassure the panther that everything would turn out all right, it got the opposite result. Lion-O watched Ratar-O spinning his Sais on each hand, as they stared glowing, he crossed them over his face. Pumyra saw her King prepared to receive the attack with his sword but she knew that wasn't the best way to go.
"Take cover!" She warned him in the distance. "Do it, now!"
At first Lion-O couldn't understand what she was saying, then saw the Rat's Eye glowing brighter, he figured the rat was about to shot some kind of blast of energy and then understood what he had to do. Ratar-O fired his powerful attack, but instead of facing it with the sword like he planned, the young King received it with his claw shield. Using the Spirit Stone, the light shield protected him while also retained the force of the attack. Lion-O pushed himself even further by batting the shield and sending the accumulated energy back at his opponent. The large rat was finally knocked across the room, crashing against the rocks at the base of his broken throne before blacking out in defeat. The lion breathed deeply and no longer able to stand on his feet, he collapsed on his knees feeling totally worn out.
In a second, he had hs friends coming to aid him. The lion opened his eyes, looking at the brunette with a tired smile. "Thanks for the warning, I owe you one." He panted. The other two cats relaxed, the female denied with her head. Lion-O noticed her looking at him with different eyes, she's never looked at him that way in all the time they've knowing each other, he was intrigued.
To Pumyra, the cat before her was nothing like the Lion-O she remembered from before their separation. There stood a strong, mature leader, someone who would go to any lengths to defend his ideals, and fight for their people. He just risked his own life for them. At the same time, she looked at his smile and it was as if he was the same as the day they met, the same day she got —unknowingly— taken with him. She felt strange. The puma could've swore she could feel her heart skip a beat, but tried hard to ignore it.
"I should've asked you sooner…" Lion-O worked up breathing brought her back to the present. "I'm gonna need something for the pain, please?" She looked at his hand clutching his side and it got to her, those were the wounds she inflicted on him the day before. The realization caused the lightheadedness and fuzzy feeling in her chest to go away like the pop of a balloon, replacing it with bittersweet regret.
Despite the ceiling falling over them, Panthro and Pumyra ended up with minor to no serious injuries, they helped carry their King out of the destroyed chamber back to the slave camp. After Cheetara and Tygra had removed the Sword of Plun-Darr from the heart of the mountain, the cat slaves evacuated the tunnels and now they were all gather outside, waiting hopefully for their King to free them. Panthro helped Lion-O take off the chains of the many slaves, the last one in line being the same slave he had helped with a bowl of water when they arrived there. His chains fell down into a huge pile; the cat rubbed his wrists and smiled at the lion with teary eyes.
"Thank you, my King." He said gratefully.
"Ratar-O fled back underground." Lion-O told him, hoping they wouldn't have to run into the rodent tyrant anytime soon. "You'll be safe in the old settlement just outside the ruins of Thundera."
The cat no longer slave nodded and bowed down to him. "Thank you." He repeated, before leaving to join the others on their way back home.
Pumyra looked at the group of cats that's finally been freed, she couldn't remember when was the last time she felt as content as in that moment, when the Thunderian refugees could go back with their families, and hopefully, stay away from the war that was coming. Because now that her friends had found her, and the cats had been freed, nothing stood on their way to finding the next Power Stone, and that single fact would bring them and Mum-Ra's forces into another epic clash.
"That's every cat accounted for," Panthro said watching the refugees getting further away of what was left of mount Plun-Darr. "…except for Tygra and Cheetara." Panthro sighed and looked at the other two cats.
"You don't think the curse—" Pumyra started, visibly worried.
"C'mon! It takes more than falling rocks to get rid of us." The threesome turned around at the sound of Tygra's voice, Lion-O smiled relieved to see them in one piece.
Cheetara laid the dark gauntlet and sword at their feet. The young lion looked down at the Sword of Plun-Darr, his eyes narrowed. That was the blade born from death and destruction, Mum-Ra's ultimate weapon.
"The Sword of Plun-Darr…" Pumyra looked intently at it. Strangely, she felt drawn to it the moment she laid her eyes on it, some part of her felt somewhat identified with the dark waves of energy it emitted, but the rest of her froze in its place, wanting to be as far from it as possible.
"This is Mum-Ra's personal blade." Lion-O's words snapped the puma out of her thoughts. "If what I learned through the Book of Omens is true, its power rivals my own sword." His face darkened at the memories. "If he finds it, it may not matter if we get to the other stones first."
The cheetah's expression matched his. "I understand. At mere sight this isn't a weapon for cats to wield." Her tone became wary as she added. "We should take it to the Tower of Omens, before Mum-Ra learns it's been unearthed."
"It's too late for that!" Everyone looked at Panthro. He was pointing beyond mount Plun-Darr; they could see an army of machines approaching the mountain in the distance, lifting clouds of dirt in its wake as thunder and lightning sawed the clouded sky. The Thundercats' faces paled at the sizes of the heavily armed army. The same question hanging over their heads.
How did the enemy found them?!
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Ok, so, apparently I'm incapable of writing shorter chapters at this point. XD I just keep beating my record!
This chapter is intended to end in TO BE CONTINUED, but I'll just assume you guys already know that. Hope you enjoy this one and thanks in advance for sticking around and reviewing. Also, I kinda felt like naming this chapter/episode differently. What you guys thing about it? Imo, Curse of Plun-Darr is a better fit. I mean, the whole episode transpires at mount Plun-Darr, and the curse originated the mountain itself, so…
I took the opportunity to explain some things unexplained by the actual show, (as usual) mainly Tygra's invisibility trick. I hope it was believable. Also major change to his character here, you surely noticed, since I don't think after his experience in Native Son his skepticism about curses made much sense in Curse of Ratilla. The Wileys got their things back from Tookit and thought him a lesson. As promise, there's not Forever Bag and I don't mean just the episode but the object itself as well. Talk about major changes in the story!
There's also Jorma's introduction at the start of the chapter. If you guessed correctly, it impacts directly on the omission of the Soul Sever episode. You may be thinking, no forever bag? No soul sever? What is he planning?!
Do not fear, I got it under control, I know what I'm doing!
Mostly… Yeah… ^^u
Read you all, next time.