Fall Of The Empire
Rating: T (for now.)
Disclaimer: I don't own this. If I did, the second season would have been out already, and I would be all over that like white on rice.
Author's Notes: . . . still slowly crawling to the end. . .
Almost done with the rewrite!
Warnings: Nothing much. I think I used maybe one curse word? I can't remember!
"So, you really don't have any memories, kid?"
Echo leaned back on her arms, letting the sun wash over her. Beside her, both Panthro and Tygra sat, also enjoying the muted sunshine. The rays filtered in through the jungle canopy. Unlike the cramped environment of the Petalar forest, however, the greenery was much more open and inviting. Echo let out a contented sigh, and briefly considered taking a catnap. She smiled wryly at the thought.
True to her mental promise, she'd slept two days straight.
She had woken up that morning, a wonderfully refreshed human.
"No," She replied, "I don't. I get snippets, sometimes. And sometimes, reality just. . . fades away, and I get. . . images."
Echo didn't know why she was being so open about it. . . she blamed it on the sun.
Panthro let out a thoughtful hum. "Sounds like a flashback."
"A flashback?" She parroted, looking at the giant cat from the corner of her eye.
"Yeah. Somethin' reminded you of something. Even if you don't remember it."
A flashback. . . Those made a little bit of sense.
"From what you remember," Tygra offered, "It sounds like you were living in a wartime."
Echo turned her head and looked at the two.
"You think so?"
"Sounds plausible enough." Panthro agreed.
"Well, think about it. Destroyed buildings in all the scenery, you're always armed, not to mention the fact that you know what guns and tanks are. It only makes sense."
"But the most recent war in Thunderian history was the lizard war. And I don't remember anything about that." Echo said, staring up at the sky.
She'd told Panthro and Tygra a little about her memories. She'd had to confess why she'd apparently frozen while in Cloud Peak Mine, after all. She left out the strange dream she'd had, and instead told them about the times when reality erased itself and another world replaced it. it was easier to explain than her messed up hallucination.
"That's where it gets difficult." Tygra chriped, helpfully.
"Yeah. . ." Echo murmured, staring off into the trees. Through all the glimpses to her past, she'd seen nothing but war. Was that all my life was? One big battlefield?
Something flashed, and she stared at it. it glimmered on the surface of the tank. A moment later, and she sighed. Really? They couldn't have been just a little more subtle about it? She lifted up a hand and flicked her finger, slowly lifting the digit up. Two small squeals sounded in the air, and Echo took the chance to shake her head again.
"Don't spill it next time."
She flicked her wrist, and the two kittens went sailing through the air. Behind them, a medium-sized jug filled with water sloshed after them. Both Wily twins landed harmlessly in the bushes, water splashing out on the ground. Beside her, Panthro cast a wary eye to her.
"Don't think I'll ever get used to that."
Echo rested back on the tank and offered another wry smile in return.
"Makes two of us." Tygra said, knitting his hands behind his head.
Make that three. . .
"You've been practicing," Came a soft voice to her right. Echo turned and found the smiling visage of Cheetara greeting her. "Good job."
She had, actually. Every day of their journey, Echo had dedicated a good hour or two in the morning to exercising her telekinetic muscles. If she didn't stress herself too much, she'd practice for another hour at night. She'd vowed she would never let another repeat of the Ramlak episode happen. . . and happily, her training exercises were beginning to pay off.
Day after day, she got just a little bit stronger.
"That's probably because of you," Echo said, "At least it doesn't creep you out."
Cheetara had taken over her telekinetic training. It was weird, actually, how much Cheetara could apply the clerisy's tenants to her situation.
"Abilities present themselves in many forms. Clerics employ magic. Humans must be capable of telekinesis. That's nothing to be ashamed of."
Echo smiled gratefully. Leave it up to the cheetah to take after Jaga and know just what to say.
"So" Tygra said, interrupting them, "How long are we just gonna sit here and play spectator?"
Kit and Kat, recovering from their spill in the bushes, scampered up on top of the tank, resting on the metal, tails swishing in the air. On the ground, Lion-O stood, tightly holding Omens in his hands.
"Jaga's clues have gotten us this far." Cheetara replied, settling herself comfortably on the tank, "Now, it's up to Lion-O to get us the rest of the way."
"Have some faith, Tygra," Echo said, "Rome wasn't built in a day."
Tygra shot her a bemused glance, and rolled his eyes.
"Rome. . .?" Panthro asked.
Echo shrugged.
"Sword of Omens," Lion-O said, voice radiating around the clearing, "Give me sight beyond sight!" He held Omens closer to his face, and the Eye flashed to life, the hilt curling around his eyes. Echo watched as Lion-O's eyes dilated, a vision stealing over him, but it was gone just as quickly as it started. Lion-O glared at the sword, a snarl on his face.
Taking a deep breath of air, he expelled it, and twirled the hilt in his hands.
"Okay. Alright, let's try this again. Sword of Omens, give me sight beyond sight. . . aagh! C'mon, work you stupid sword!"
"Are you telling me our only chance of finding the Book of Omens is if his sword gives him directions?!" Panthro scowled.
"It's about as hopeless as it sounds!" Tygra chirped happily, cynical grin firmly in place.
"Lion-O can get us there." Cheetara defended.
"A little belief in somebody never hurt. . . might help if you actually believed in him, too." Echo added.
Tygra, correctly admonished, looked away with a huff.
If Lion-O was aware of their little spat, he didn't show it. Tirelessly, their leader lifted the sword up to his eyes again.
"Sword of Omens, give me sight beyond sight!"
A moment later, Lion-O threw his hands up in the air in exasperation.
"This is so stupid!" He growled, glaring at Omens, "I don't even know what I'm looking for!"
Smoothly, Cheetara rose from her place on the tank and approached the lion. Echo watched as Lion-O tried to relax as the cleric drew near. Echo didn't know why her hands dug into the tank, or why her stomach churned. Okay, this is starting to get ridiculous. It's almost like I'm jealous. About their kiss. Or how she's holding onto him. . . Nevermind. I am jealous.
Cheetara leaned in, whispering something in Lion-O's ear.
Echo felt her heart skip a beat.
But. . . but if I'm jealous, then that's got to mean. . .
She was seriously crushing on her best friend.
Oh, come on. Now, of all times, I realize some stupid adolescent emotion? I don't have time to crush on him. Or anybody.
Cheetara's hand twisted, becoming somewhat more supportive, and a heavy blush rose on Lion-O's face.
She didn't have time to feel that way, but her heart felt otherwise.
Her salvation came in the form of the twins. Kit and Kat, upon seeing a new object of torture, ran up to the pair.
"Ooohhh," Kit said, clasping her hands together, "I know what they were about to do!"
Kat puckered his lips.
"Knock it off!" Lion-O said, blush rising more furiously. He swatted at Kat, but the kitten deftly ducked out of his way.
"So, why is this Book so hard to find, anyway?" Kit asked, looking up at Cheetara.
"Did they forget where they put it?" Kat continued.
"In a way, yes," Cheetara said, "The Book of Omens wasn't lost, it was hidden. The intention was that it would never be found."
"That's stupid." Kat said, crossing his arms over his chest. "Why hide something really important?"
"To keep it from falling into the wrong hands," Echo piped in, "It was rumored that the Book of Omens held incredible powers. Some thought it was of even greater value than the Sword of Omens. Think of it like El Dara, okay? All of that gold and treasure, just sitting right where you can see it. If you can take it, you'll be the richest animal alive. Every animal in the world would stop at nothing to get it."
Cheetara smiled softly at her. "Somebody paid attention to Jaga's classes."
Echo didn't want to smile back. But she forced herself to, anyway, and inwardly, she prayed that the feeling of broken glass sitting in her chest would dissipate soon. Lion-O likes you a lot, you know. . . and I think you like him a lot, too.
"The king knew it contained too much power to allow such an event to happen," The cleric continued, "So, he ordered the Guardians of the Crown to hide it. Far beyond the kingdom walls, farther than anywhere the Cats had ever been. To keep it safe, they built a temple, one made with magic. The Tower of Omens was inaccessible to anyone but themselves, and protected by ancient enchantments.
"Then, they sealed themselves in the temple. Forever. Its location would be a secret they took to their graves."
Silence followed the cleric's words. Echo remembered the pictures she'd seen, elegantly crafted tombstones inscribed with honorific titles. There were no names for the clerics. There never would be, to protect the families they'd left behind.
"That's why Grune and I had little hope for our mission. We knew we'd probably never find it." Panthro said, crossing his arms over his chest.
"So, what?" Tygra asked incredulously, "We just have to hope we get lucky and stumble onto it?"
"I still don't get it!" Kat said, tail flickering in agitation.
"Yeah, why does everyone want the book? What's in it, anyway?" Kit continued, face scrunched in confusion.
"Well," Echo replied, "It's rumored the Book knows everything. So if you ask it a question, it'll give you the answer."
Echo tugged at the headband in her hair. White locks spilled everywhere, but she set to taming them again, brushing them back away from her face. She finger-combed her hair, and as she did, she heard Kat let out a sharp gasp.
"You can ask it about your past!"
Echo's hands stilled. She'd imagined it. A million times over. She couldn't wait to hold the fabled Book in her hands and finally rid herself of her amnesia. It was what she had been dreaming about for so, so long. She was going to take the book, open it up, and then ask it every question she could think of. . . after she asked Lion-O for permission, of course. Taking a moment to recover, she finally spurred herself into motion and continued to brush her hair back.
She smiled gently at the twins.
"I think there are more pressing matters."
Trust me, though. When I get the chance, I plan on doing just that.
"And we can ask it about El Dara!" Kit cried.
Immediately, the twins fell into an excited chatter. They secluded themselves, Kat pulling the picture out of his pack, and began to brainstorm a hundred different questions they planned on asking the Book.
Lion-O, having enough of their conversation, pulled out the Sword again. . and failed.
Tying Sunda's ribbon securely on her head, Echo began to pine for a shower. Maybe she should have let the twins dunk them all with some water-
"Echo, you should give it a try."
"Excuse me?" Echo said, looking down at Cheetara. She was standing on the ground directly in front of her, one hand propped up onto her hip.
"Well," Cheetara said, "Mumm-Ra said you had a connection to the Sword of Omens. And when you were in the arena, it responded to you."
"Uh, that was probably a freak accident, Cheetara," Echo replied, shaking her head, "There were a lot of things happening that day."
I did forget about that, though. Kind of.
"But only the king and his descendants have been able to use the Sword." Panthro argued. He gave her a sharp, observant stare, as though he were trying to see through Echo.
"Probably a fluke." Tygra offered.
At any other time, Echo would have snapped at him. But she looked back to Cheetara and shrugged.
"I think Tygra's right. Anything could have happened in the arena that day. I don't think-"
"You never know until you try." Cheetara interjected.
"C'mon, Echo. Cheetara's right," Lion-O piped in, "It won't hurt to try."
Echo groaned mentally, but resigned herself to it. If she denied, Lion-O would only keep persisting. She might as well get it over with now and prove that what had happened in the arena had been a fluke.
But that really doesn't explain why even Mumm-Ra said you could wield War. Whatever that means.
Echo slid off the tank and landed on the ground. She walked over to Lion-O, who offered Omens out to her. Instead of taking the sword from him, Echo wrapped her hands over the lion's and tried to ignore the way the sword vibrated under their hold. Okay, I might have a connection to this stupid sword, but that doesn't mean I can use it.
. . . Right?
Lion-O closed his eyes, and Echo followed his lead.
Silence descended around them, and she felt a gentle wind blow over them. This isn't going to work. I don't have the same power you do, Lion-O.
Still, she relaxed, trying to. . . well, she didn't actually know what she was doing. She was just standing there, waiting for the opportunity to pull her hands away and say it wasn't work-
A beat later, and power rushed through her. Echo's body felt like electricity was running through it. The world melted away as a vision replaced it.
It looked as though she was staring at the world through Omen's cat eye, and she saw. . .
"Snarf?!" Both Lion-O and Echo exclaimed.
Their heads whipped up to the king's pet, who had been climbing a tree, picking fruit. Shouting his name startled him, and he slipped and fell with a noisy tumble on the ground. Fruit rolled after him, along with a sizable amount of vines. Underneath the foliage, there rested a stone wall.
"That. . . that was unexpected." Lion-O conceded, reaching to tug more of the vines away. Within moments, he'd revealed a stone passage, decorated with the visage of a roaring lion's head.
"How did we. . . That's. . . I can't be able to use Omens like you, Lion-O! But how did we. . . I am so lost right now." Echo said, shaking her head in utter disbelief.
"Let's ask the Book when we find it. How's that sound?" Lion-O replied, shooting her a wide grin.
". . . that's a good idea. Let's go with that." She agreed.
The twins fell into step behind Lion-O and Cheetara as they both embarked into the tunnel, and Echo followed right behind them. Musty air quickly enveloped them, and the light began to dim.
"You're just full of mysteries, aren't you?" Panthro rumbled behind her.
"Apparently." Echo murmured.
A few minutes later, the group emerged in a room with a stone bridge connecting to a doorawy. A roaring effigy of a lion glared down at them, as if attempting to warn them away. Echo took a peek down at the floor below them, and couldn't suppress an involuntary shiver at the spikes jutting out of the floor, sharp and deadly.
"Well!" Tygra said, voice echoing off the walls, "Isn't this such a grand welcome? It's so inviting. I feel the warmth."
Echo was somewhat afraid of the stone crumbling underfoot as they crossed the bridge to the door, but to her relief, it held firm. Upon reaching the stone doorway, Echo laid a hand flat on it. The stone felt oddly warm to her touch, as though it were somehow alive. She examined the ancient language etched into the rock surface, and paused when she found a keyhole.
"Do you think they left a key behind?" She asked.
Lion-O tapped her shoulder and pointed up. Echo craned her neck back, and her stomach fell. Hundreds of keys were tied to the ceiling, gently swaying in the breeze.
"Oh, how nice, they only left us a few." Tygra remarked, sarcasm dripping from his words.
"There's way too many - it'd take years!" Panthro said. In her chest, Echo felt her hope falling.
"Then we'll just have to try them all." Cheetara said confidently. She tugged her staff free from her holster and extended it. Reaching up, she lightly tapped three, and as if they were connected by nothing more than spiderwebs, they fell gently into her outstretched hand.
"Only three?" That's going to take forever." Kat griped, staring at the cleric's palm.
Cheetara passed a key to Lion-O, and he fitted it into the lock and turned it - but as soon as he did, the entire group heard the sound of ancient, rusty gears, and the grating of rock sliding away.
"I don't think we have forever." Tygra said darkly.
The bridge they were standing on began to vibrate, and Echo turned around. The rock was sliding back, retracting into a slat in the wall. She could feel it moving underneath her feet. Her eyes went to the spikes below them, and Echo felt her heart constrict as she imagined herself, impaled, slowly bleeding to death, coldness seeping into her.
The bridge picked up speed, and within moments, there was only a few feet left for them to stand on.
Instinctively, Echo jumped, but the rock was gone, and she was falling, along with everyone else-
An arm looped around her waist, and she jerked to a stop, just a few feet above one of the spikes.
Adrenalin flooded through her, and she twisted, wanting to get pulled to safety, but claws dug into her side, stopping her.
"I got you. It's okay." Tygra said, voice strained.
Echo craned her neck back and saw Kit with her arms wrapped around Tygra's waist. The rest of the Cats were hung in the same manner, all of them clinging to Panthro.
The general's arms were shaking as he held onto the lip of the stone doorway.
Echo looked down at the spikes, and found Snarf dangling on one of her legs. She hadn't even felt the poor animal grab onto her.
"Tygra," Echo said quietly, "Please don't let me go."
"I won't. Stay calm."
Stay calm?
He didn't know how close she was to letting loose the hysterical laugh caught in her throat.
"T-The key!" Panthro bit out.
"We got this!" Kit chirped next to her.
"Leave this to the masters!" Kat said from somewhere above her.
"Hurry!" Lion-O urged, "There's hundreds to pick from!"
Panthro can't hold us forever. Maybe I can pick us all up and lift us to the doorway-
As Echo looked, however, she saw the entrance now blocked by another stone slab, also with a keyhole. Almost as though he'd read her mind, Tygra huffed a laugh.
"There went the telekinesis plan."
"Why wast time," Kit said sagely, eerily calm, "Picking a key. . ."
"When you can just pick the lock?" Kat finished.
As if on cue, Echo heard the most beautiful sound in the world. The rock doorway slid back, and Kit and Kat stepped inside. The rest of the group slowly began to jump up into the doorway, and Tygra looked down at her.
"Ready?"
She nodded, gently moving Snarf into her arms.
With a grunt of exertion, Tygra threw her, and Echo pushed against the floor with her mind, boosting herself up into the doorway. Tygra was just a beat behind her. Relief crashed through her, with enough force to make her tremble, as she touched down in the passageway. The rest of the Cats were already helping tug Panthro up, who looked just as relieved as she felt.
Everyone safe and sound, Echo stood up and dusted stray dirt off of her hands. They were standing in a long, cylindrical tunnel, with strange slats cut in the wall. At the end, a circular doorway was sealed with yet another slab of rock.
"The Book could be just beyond that door." Lion-O said.
My past better be freaking worth it.
Panthro began to walk forward, kicking a small stone as he did so. A whirring blade popped out of the wall, spinning with enough force to decapitate the Cat. Echo and Tygra lunged forward and latched themselves onto the back of his vest and gave it a hard pull. The cat stumbled, but managed to avoid getting himself sliced in half.
"Thanks." He said, and Echo nodded.
"Legend says the ancients rigged a series of obstacles near the temple, meant to keep outsiders away."
"And you just now tell us this?" Echo snapped. Why hadn't she mentioned that sooner? Echo certainly hadn't read about booby traps in any of the books in the library.
"Then it's a deathtrap! We'll never get through." Lion-O growled.
"Gotta move fast!"
Before Echo had time to blink, Cheetara ran into the tunnel. She'd been right to nickname her the Golden Flash, because that was all Echo could see. Cheetara was jumping, ducking and weaving under the plethora of death blades, and Echo felt her heart and her stomach knotting in her chest. If Cheetara made one wrong move, if she somehow missed a step-
Another grinding noise sounded through the tunnel, and Echo feared the floor was going to fall away again, but the blades stopped. Slowly, they retraced back into the walls, and at the end of the hallway, Cheetara stood, staff extended, both ends pressing against a switch in the wall.
Behind her, the stone slab slid back, revealing another room.
Tygra pushed her, spurring her to run down the tunnel, and Echo did, although the hairs on the back of her neck were crawling. At any moment, the blades could pop out again. . . as they ran by Cheetara and into the second room, Echo muttered a short, "sorry."
She was glad they were out of the blade room, though, for the next room was far more open and inviting. Ledges jutted out of the walls, and a pool of water sat in the middle of the room, containing pieces of gold. The kittens jumped in the air, eager.
"Look, treasure!" Kit exclaimed.
"We're rich!" Kat chirped happily. He reached his hand into the water, digging for the gold, and Echo felt herself pale.
More stones ground, and water began to pour into the room.
"Up the ledges!" Lion-O ordered.
This day is turning out so, so horrible.
Water. It just had to be water!
Echo hoisted Kat up onto the first ledge, her skin crawling at the feel of water creeping up to her thighs. Heaving herself up, she helped Kat up to the next ledge, and felt like crying when the water started lapping at her feet. Kit was next up, and Echo joined them on the next ledge, nearly losing her grip as her hands started to shake.
"You okay, Panthro?" Kit asked.
Panthro looked how Echo felt. The general was crouched on the ledge, hugging himself and shaking his head.
"I, uh, never told you g-guys but. . . I can't s-swim!"
"Ohh, perfect! You can join Short Stack on the Thunderian swimming team, then!" Tygra griped.
"Are you serious? When this is over, I'm teaching the both of you!" Lion-O snapped.
Echo ignored them, and continued to climb ledges, one at time. The kittens helped her, for as the water rose, so did her fear. Soon, there were no more ledges, and Echo was almost hyperventilating. The Ramlak was waiting for her. So were the red-eyed monsters. She was going to drown.
The water lapped around her, and Echo choked out a few fearful noises. There weren't any more ledges - there wasn't anywhere else for her to go!
A golden gauntlet clapped over her arms, and Echo felt Lion-O grab onto her.
"Nothing's going to happen," The lion said soothingly, "It's just water. I'll hold onto you. Just stay calm, okay?"
It did help, a little. Her breathing was choppy and her head was spinning, but she tried her best to stay calm. None of the cats were afraid. There was no Ramlak, no red-eyed demons. She was alright. They'd get out of this.
Next to them, Panthro spluttered, arms flailing in the still-rising water.
"Panthro!"
"G-Go. I'll b-be okay." Echo stuttered. She was. She was going to be okay. She just had to concentrate on something other than her fears. The Book. She'd concentrate on that. Tygra stroked over.
"I'll take her."
Echo didn't even notice the transfer. One moment, her arms were around Lion-O, and the next, she was clinging to Tygra.
"We're just going to float up to the exit. No swimming involved, okay, Short Stack?"
Echo just nodded, not trusting herself to speak.
Cheetara tried to open the grate above them, but it remained firm and unyielding to her attempts.
"It won't open!"
"I ain't - I ain't gonna make it!"
Panthro finally succumbed to the water, and Echo hiccuped. The monsters had grabbed him, because he was too big and strong to drown.
"Panthro's gone!" Lion-O said desperately, surfacing a second later.
"Echo, stay calm. Don't panic. Stay. Calm."
The water was lapping around her neck, and she felt like she was losing it.
"Echo! Echo, blast the grate!"
"I-I c-can't! C-Can't!"
With her mind clouded by her fear, she had no control over her power.
"Hang on!"
With a deafening, rusty screech, the grate tore itself off.
Tygra hoisted her up, and large hands wrapped around her waist and fished her out of the water. Echo numbly realized she was staring at Panthro. The huge cat deposited her on the ground before helping the rest of the Cats out.
Panthro's alive. That's good. She thought, wrapping her arms around herself. She was sopping wet, and her hair was plastered to her face. But she was alive. That was also a good thing, right?
"Guess not being able to swim has its advantages! I found a tunnel when I sank." Panthro declared happily.
Cheetara laid her hands gently over Echo's arms and began to maneuver her to stand. Echo followed her lead numbly, brain still shorting out.
"Nice try. You're still getting swimming lessons after this is all over." Lion-O grumbled, heading to the only doorway in the barren stone room.
Cheetara steered Echo after him, and the human was relieved to find both kittens completely safe and sound, if not a little wet. As they emerged from the room, her fear began to abate. The farther she left the water behind, the better. Dry, hot heat blasted them, working on their saturated clothing.
They emerged on a cliff side.
Below them, jungle spread.
"There's nothing here!" Lion-O barked, "All those traps just to protect more jungle?! Maybe no one can find this temple because it doesn't exist!"
Cheetara disengaged from her, and Echo took the time to shake out her limbs. She worked out the last of her tremors, and stood, breathing in slowly and calmly.
"Believe in yourself, Lion-O. I know I do." The cleric said quietly. As Echo shoved her fear to the back of her mind, Echo didn't bother to open her eyes. She knew that the cheetah was probably pressed up intimately against the lion again.
Jealousy erases my fear. Go figure.
A tug on her waist made her open her eyes, and she looked down into the happy face of Kat.
"You did a good job, Echo! And I took care of Kit. See, you don't have to protect us all the time!"
It was his way of cheering her up, she knew that. But it only felt like a knife to her heart - she should have been able to protect the kittens at every moment in time. . . she felt like a failure. Still. Echo forced herself to smile, and she ruffled the kitten's fur lightly.
"You did do a good job. I'll work on being better, too."
"There's a switch!" Lion-O exclaimed, giddy, "But it's on the cliff - I can't reach it!"
In response, Tygra pulled out his whip, unrolling the tight coils.
"Allow me."
Expertly, he flicked his wrist, and the whip snapped to attention, hitting against the cliff side. A moment passed, and then another - but finally, finally, a bridge extended from the opposite cliff wall.
Stones slid back, and the river seemed to part as a giant archway revealed itself. Through it, Echo could see the Tower.
"The Tower of Omens! We made it!" Lion-O said.
"I can't believe I finally found it!" Pantho said, excitement vibrating across his frame.
Echo stared at the moss-covered, ancient tower, and that same excitement began to pour through her, too.
The Book. I'm so close.
Only a few more steps, and I'll finally get to find out everything.
"All it took was the right partners." Panthro continued, as they crossed the bridge.
Echo was in step with the general, idly picking at her halfway-dry clothes. She bemoaned her poor swords, which needed attention after getting wet. The hilts and sheathes had a bad tendency to warp if they weren't care for correctly. The things I do to find out my past.
"I can't wait to ask it about El Dara!" Kat shouted, jumping up and down. His sister joined him in his revelry.
Echo stepped through the archway and found a single stone pillar extending upward, small wooden pegs winding around it, acting as a staircase.
"The Book must be at the top," Tygra said, ". . . oh well. We've faced spikes, knives, and death by water. What's height?"
Echo cracked a smile at Tygra's humor. His dark sarcasm helped ease away more of her fear.
"You did it, Lion-O! We're almost there, almost to the Book!" Cheetara said, a happy smile on her face.
"Indeed, he did!" A new voice interrupted, smooth as silk, but twice as deadly, "And it will be the last thing he ever does!"
Echo whirled around, both hands already drawing her swords as her heart leaped into her throat, but for an entirely different reason.
Mumm-Ra stood three, alone, hunched over a brightly-lit lantern that he clutched in his hands. Inside of it, a misty white fog swirled, and Echo could make out the features of. . . Jaga?
"I led him right to you," Jaga said, voice filled with sorrow, "I'm sorry."
Echo reeled.
Her dream.
Her dream!
She remembered the blue light striking against the glass, and that old, withered voice. "Show me the way. Reveal to me the secrets of this world." Just like Thundera's fall, she'd dreamed of Mumm-Ra and Jaga, but she hadn't understood the strange, picturesque way it had been shown to her.
"Jaga!" Cheetara cried, "You're alive! We'll save you - don't worry!"
"Alive?" Mumm-Ra chuckled, "Hardly. He's nothing but a vapor in a jar. And now that I've found the Book's location, I've little use for him now!"
Echo's heart all but stopped as she watched Mumm-Ra throw the lantern carelessly away from him. Time seemed to slow down as she watched the metal and glass fly through the air, but a gold flash zipped to it, catching it before it fell. Mumm-Ra, angered by the cleric's success, thrust his hand out.
Purple electricity arced forward, striking the cleric. Cheetara let out a pained cry as she was smacked against a stone pillar and slumped against the ground, Jaga's lantern still held loosely in her arms.
"Cheetara!" Echo shouted, concerned.
Lion-O tried to sprint to her, but Tygra caught his shoulder.
"Mission first, Lion-O! We have to get to the book!"
"Go!" Panthro ordered, "Mumm-Ra's mine!"
The general lashed out, wielding his nunchucks with a mastery that surpassed many warriors.
Echo stood, holding her hilts and shifting her weight from side to side, looking for an opening. Mumm-Ra ducked and weaved under every strike, seemingly knowing every attack in Panthro's repertoire. By chance, Panthro managed to kick the moth-eaten mummy, but Mumm-Ra countered by blasting him with an energy bolt.
Echo was awed as Panthro flexed, dispelling the purple lightning, and growled, ears flat.
"Don't be deceived by appearances, general," Mumm-Ra grinned, sinister, "My true form is far more powerful! Ancient spirits of evil, transform this decayed form into Mumm-Ra, the Ever-Living!"
Echo shivered as the temperature in the room plummeted, and the hairs on the back of her neck prickled. Purple miasma surrounded the decayed monster, but quickly turned into flames. They burned away his bandages and bones, and left. . . How can we. . . we can't beat this.
Mumm-Ra, transformed, was five times more terrifying. Muscles bulged under his gray skin, and the power he radiated was almost enough to send Echo dropping to her knees. Swiping a hand across the air, Mumm-Ra raised more purple lightning around Panthro, trapping the Cat, before gathering a purple mass in his mouth and shooting it at the general.
Panthro, much like Cheetara, flew back into the a heavy stone pillar and sank onto the floor.
Mumm-Ra took flight, giving a powerful down stroke with his leathery wings. He didn't so much as glance at Echo or the twins. Tygra was running up the pillar behind Lion-O, but the lion had a larger head start. . . not that it mattered. Mumm-Ra would catch up to them within moments.
Do something, Echo.
Fight!
"Take care of Panthro!" She shouted at the twins.
Echo sprinted for the pegs, and began to ran up the winding wooden staircase. Sheathing her swords, she ran faster, determined to stop Mumm-Ra before he could reach the book. I couldn't fight against you in Thundera, but I sure as hell can fight against you now!
Above her, she could hear the crack of Tygra's whip, and his gun firing, but she didn't slow down. She sped up, heart thundering in her chest and her lungs burning as she ran, but she kept going. She wasn't going to fail a second time. Tygra cried out in pain, falling, and Echo snapped her head up.
Mumm-Ra was just a few feet above her.
Bending her knees, Echo jumped. She used her telekinesis to give her a boost, and latched onto Mumm-Ra's back. He struggled, attempting to dislodge her, but Echo held on. She had a small knife tucked away under her shin guard. She planned on using it.
"Pathetic worm!" Mumm-Ra snarled, rolling in the air. One of Echo's arms slipped from him, but she reached down, drawing her leg up close, and drew out the small battle knife.
"I won't let it happen again!" She cried, anger giving her voice volume.
I won't let you strip everything I love from me a second time!
She drew back her hand, preparing to drive it down, but Mumm-Ra tucked an drolled, and Echo went flying. She dropped the knife, and the small metal skittered away from her. She thought she was going to fall to the ground, but she landed on a rock platform. The wind left her as she impacted, and she laid on the ground and tried to breathe.
"The Book of Omens and its power belong to me!" Mumm-Ra said, spreading his hands, electricity crackling between them.
"ThunderCats, HO!"
Red power blasted against Mumm-Ra, but the monster simply reached around it, grabbed it, and deflected it. Lion-O stumbled back, a shocked cry leaving him.
Rage flooded through Echo. She was pissed. She was more than pissed. Mumm-Ra was going to win. Again.
I won't let you!
As though a damn had broken, her power flowed through her, potent and raw. Getting to her feet, Echo lifted a hand and formed a fist. One of the decorative pillars around them snapped into pieces. She bombarded Mumm-Ra with them, one at a time, hardly even daring to wonder how such a feat was possible.
Mumm-Ra faltered, using his arm to block some of the rocks, and he looked at her. She could see anger in his gaze, but underneath, she was sure she saw. . . recognition? Familiarity seemed to pass through his eyes, but Echo grit her teeth and swiped her arm, shooting around rock at the demon.
Mumm-Ra, tiring of her attack, growled.
He let loose a flow of purple energy, and Echo threw her arms up to protect herself, forming a shield.
He increased the power. Again. And again.
Echo's shield faltered, and hot, searing power smacked against her. She went airborne, and fell off the dais. Lion-O snagged her before she could fall, and hoisted her up to the edge of the rock.
Echo tensed when Mumm-Ra charged up another ball of energy in his mouth, but like an avenging angel, Cheetara appeared over the side of the pillar and delivered a harsh roundhouse to Mumm-Ra's face.
Mumm-Ra batted the cheetah out of the air, but the cleric managed to catch herself before she fell over the dais, too.
"Go! I can pick myself up!" Echo said. Lion-O nodded his head and made his way to the cleric, but let out a pained cry as Mumm-Ra pegged him in the back with another purple energy ball. He collapsed, and quicker than Echo ever had before, she hoisted herself up and rushed over to her friend's side.
He was alright, but his fur was bristling in anger.
Before them, Mumm-Ra laughed.
"You are much like your father!" Mumm-Ra sneered.
"What do you know of my father?" Lion-O snarled, voice laden with a death threat.
"Only that I killed him!"
Another blast of purple energy headed for them, and Echo tensed, expecting the worst, but Lion-O shoved her, sending her sprawling. Moments later, the lion was writing on the ground, screaming in agony.
"Lion-O!" Echo cried out.
Mumm-Ra snickered.
Echo jumped to her feet, unsheathed her swords, and raced to kill him. Before she could even attempt to land the first swipe, bandages wrapped around her wrists and jerked her up into the air.
Her swords were ripped out of her hands, and Echo struggled.
"Show me that power, human. Defend yourself." Mumm-Ra spoke, his voice layered with equal parts curiosity and anger.
Echo gasped when she realized he was holding one of her swords, and he was aiming it right at her stomach.
Her power flared to life, and she managed to halt his advance, but just barely. With every passing second, it inched closer and closer to her stomach, and Echo knew she was fighting a losing battle.
Blood began to grip on her lips as she let out a cry of effort in an attempt to keep Mumm-Ra from driving her through with her own sword.
It began to press against her stomach, and she could feel the tip cutting into her skin. Echo swore she could hear Mumm-Ra chuckling as he kept pressing harder and harder. She groaned as her head began to ache, painfully reminding her that she was reaching her limit.
Right as she thought she was about to die, a bright, blinding light filled the temple's podium.
"The light!" Mumm-Ra cried out, screaming in agony.
"The Book will be mine!" He yelled. Echo fell as the bindings released her, and she groaned as she smacked into the stone. She just sat there, trying to calm her racing heartbeat. She could see the hazy form of Mumm-Ra (or, a bird, it seemed), flying away. Her head was throbbing, but she was alright. She could still function. The light died away, and Echo found the rest of the Cats making their way onto the platform.
"Jaga." Lion-O said, his voice horrified.
The lantern. . . it's broken. . . Jaga's. . .
Cheetara knelt on the ground and gathered the broken lantern to her, rubbing her cheek against it.
"He sacrificed himself for you. . . for all of us."
Numbly, Echo collected her swords and sheathed them, swallowing back her grief. She'd just witnessed the cleric die. Twice. How much more was life going to kick her in the teeth? Why did she have to suffer so much?
"Look." Tygra said softly.
He pointed up, to a small mote of light that was swirling through the air. It flitted around before traveling upward, gently pressing against the Book. Echo stared, realizing just what she was staring at.
The Book rested inside of a circular stone enclave, but as soon as the dot of light touched it, the red crystal set into its cover lightened.
And it began to descend.
Echo staggered to her feet, heart racing for the millionth time that day. The Book.
She was so close.
Her grief over Jaga's death was completely overshadowed with excitement as she watched Lion-O approach and take it. Her blood thundered in her ears, and her mouth went dry.
Finally.
Finally.
She was going to know everything.
Watching Lion-O open the cover and flip through the first few pages was utter anguish to Echo. Her legs started to shake. Hurry up, Lion-O!
"Well? What does it say?" Tygra said, pressing forward.
"It. . . it doesn't say anything." Lion-O said, looking up, fear on his face. "The Book is blank."
For the first time in a long, long while, Echo felt like the world around her shattered like glass.