Author Note: So...Thundercats was made by Rankin Bass, Rankin Bass also made the animated Hobbit and Return of the King movies. Just...Just keep that in mind when reading this.
Chapter 5
As the sun stood high on the tip of the Cats Lair, Lion-O took a deep breath as he looked outside of the newly developed cat's lair. The center of the restored Kingdom of Thundera, the first of what would be a new age. Once the war ended and peace returned to Third Earth.
It had been close to a year since the fall of Avista, home of the mighty Bird people in the sky, and the loss of the tech stone. However, what they lost in the stone Lion-O and the other Thundercats gained in an army, a resistance to fight against the growing power of Mumm-Ra the Ever Living.
War had broken out among the people of Third Earth.
A clash between light and dark
Good vs Evil.
Omens vs Plunn Dar.
However, leading a rebellion was one thing, but Lion-O had a bigger vision in mind, he wanted to create a civilization, a New Thundera, no, a new Third Earth, something better than what came before. A place where all animals and designs of Thundera can live in peace and harmony, but most importantly, a sanctuary away from the evils of Mumm-Ra. Hence the new Cats Lair being built with the help of the Robear Berbils. It would be the headquarters for the resistance. A place to plan attacks against the forces of evil, and defend those who couldn't defend themselves.
That was after all the dream of Leo the Lion, the cat commander who rebelled against Mumm-Ra and stranded him and his armies here on this planet, hoping to start a new life. This time though, they would do it better, they would do it right.
It was also a test run for Lion-O to prove himself a King, just as his father always wished. Sometimes he wished he was here to see all that they were trying to accomplish.
Every day his mind would go back to the fall of Thundera, when his father, the previous king, Claudis was killed by Mumm-Ra himself. The day that changed everything. How he and his brother Tygra, a cleric named Cheetarah and two kittens named Wily Kit and Kat left the ruins of their home to go out and single handedly destroy the demon full on.
Foolish thoughts those days back when he thought he could just take Mumm-Ra on all their own.
Now he had people to look over, responsibility and sadly even among his allies and people there was tension. Old wounds that were not quite ready to heal.
Looking down into the city, he could see all the other animals mingling with one another, Berbils, Elephants, Dogs, Avions, and of course Cats. Lost refugees from the old Thunderian Kingdom. However this time it had to be different. Cats were still trusted among the other animals, and how they could be. They were on top for so long. While the others, well, they simply weren't. Even during the days of Mumm-Ra, Cats were their oppressors as well. Co-collaborators to the evil force.
That was a stain on a legacy of cats that Lion-O hoped to overcome.
Granted that would be hard with Mumm-Ra and his forces still having the overwhelming advantage. Large numbers and more weapons than anything they all had. For months they have been attacking villages destroying towns, laying waste to the homes of their allies and anyone who was taking a stand against the Dark Lord. Really New Thundera and the Cats Lair was still the safest space within Third Earth that one could get away from it all, and fight back against him. However it all felt so far away right now.
Then of course there were the ones who were lost, like Pumayra.
"Hey, are you spacing out again brother"
Lion-O shook his head and looked to see Tygra walk up along with Cheetarah, smirk on his face as he leaned back next to him. His older Step Brother had always been a bit of a jerk to him at times, however he was still loyal and he was still here.
Cheetarah had always been with them since the start of their journey, being a powerful cleric and trained by Jaga the Wise himself and once Lion-O had a bit of a crush on her too, but apparently her heart belonged to another.
"No, I was just you know, Kinging"
Tygra rolled his eyes, leaning against the railings along with him"Riiight, kinging, well you'll be happy to know that so far no news from the front, Mumm-Ra hasn't even attacked a single outpost or village in a week"
"Huh, oh, oh, good, yeah very good, no attacks is a good thing" Lion-O chucked trying to keep up a good face.
"Your fretting again are you" Cheetarah replied
Lion-O sighed, "Yeah, I mean it's weird being on the run was easier compared to well...all this" he looked down over the ever growing city next to them, "Kinda wish everyone just got along"
"Well when you have a bunch of animals all together who never got along in the first place in one place, yeah I don't expect perfect harmony, heck not all cats go along either" Tygra grunted
Cheetarah nodded, "For years us cats haven't been good at the privilege we've gained because of the Sword of Omens and other benefits we've had. In many ways we've pretty much abused our position at the top of the food chain"
"That's why I want to change that" Lion-O replied, "Be a king for everyone and not just the cats, that's what Leo wanted when he rebelled against Mumm-Ra the first time"
"Yeah until it probably will all go bad again" Tygra added.
"Thanks for the confidence brother" Lion-O muttered.
Tygra smirked, "Any time"
"We can worry about the future later" Cheetarah replied sternly, "We need to focus on the here and now otherwise this entire world will fall and there won't be much of a future to debate enough"
Lion-O sighed "Fair enough but still…"
"Pack up gents we got a mission"
Lion-O turned as he heard Panthro booming voice coming from the main hall his lumbering body appearing before them now.
"What's wrong?" Tygra asked.
"Spaceship just crashed, Mumm-Ra's forces are attacking"
Lion-O blinked, "Wait? Did you say Spaceship?"
-000-
The pain in Catra's head felt massive as she opened her eyes.
Everything was a bit dizzy however she felt something soft above her. Slowly she began to stand, although her arms were a bit woozy. Looking down she saw Adora laying down in front of her, she was breathing though. Gently she began to shake her awake.
It seemed almost appropriate though that something would happen. Going to new planets was something Catra had always had hesitancy of, especially after the Etheria incident. At least they didn't crash. Now it seemed that something had attacked them directly, although what had yet to reveal themselves.
"Adora," Catra whispered, "Adora, Adora wake up"
Adora eyes fluttered open a bit, Catra taking a deep breath, "C-Catra! What happened" she stood up.
"We got attacked by something" Catra said, turning to look at everyone else, "Everyone okay!"
So far it seemed everything and everyone was okay. .However equipment wise it seemed darla felt pretty dingy. Bits of machinery were sparking in and out. Entrapta was the first to get up checking on the various computer screens and engine works of Darla.
"Well, she's crashed,'' she said matter of factly.
Catra frowned, "Well duh, can we make her air born again"
"Yes, well sure, I mean, it will take a while" Entrapta scratched her chin thinking, "Honestly i'm more worried about what crashed us"
Catra agreed, in fact she could hear something, "Entrapta open the hanger" she ordered.
Entrapta nodded, activating the hatch.
"Stay here" She told Adora as she rushed off. "Melog, disguise the ship"
Melog let out a painful meow indicating that they couldn't use their magic.
"Okay, I'll scout out ahead anyway, just everyone try to get your strength back"
"Catra wait-" was all she heard Adora say as she rushed out.
Catra didn't even make sure she was being followed as she rushed down out of the ship.
Walking down she found herself in the middle of a forest plain. She could smell something out in the air, something foul and unsavory. Outside she could see Darla, a bit beaten but still relatively intact. A credit to First One ingenuity.
Suddenly out from the distance as she could hear a loud cleaning sound coming closer and closer towards them. Using her cat eyes she could see something getting closer until she saw it coming to them.
A mech.
A large mechanical mech machine. The only reason she knew what it was, was because Entrapta had designs for a weapon for the Horde but never got to work on due to Catra's own betrayal of her. However this was definitely mechanical. Large and green, almost reptilian in nature.
Seeing a nearby tree Catra jumped up to get a good view and saw a horde of what looked to be liars, wearing helmets and carrying blasters coming near the ship. They all seemed to be part of an army. Using her Cat ears, Catra tried to listen in to what they were saying.
Or strangely enough...What they were singing.
Where there's a whip, there's a way.
Where there's a whip, there's a way.
Where there's a whip...
We don't wanna go to war today
But the Lord of the Lash says: "nay, nay, nay!"
We're gonna march all day, all day, all day!
Where there's a whip there's a way!
Where there's a whip, there's a way!
Where there's a whip, there's a way!
Where there's a whip, there's a way!
Left, right, left, right, left
Where there's a whip, there's a way!
Left, right
The crack on the back says we're gonna fight
We're gonna march all day and night and more
For we are the slaves of the Dark Lord's war.
Left, right, left, right, left, right
Where there's a whip, there's a way!
Where there's a whip, there's a way.
Where there's a whip...
We don't wanna go to war today!
But the Lord of the Lash says: "nay, nay, nay!"
We're gonna march all day, all day, all day!
Where there's a whip there's a way!
Left, right, left right!
Where there's a whip!
We don't wanna go to war today!
But the Lord of the Lash says: "nay, nay, nay!"
We're gonna march all day, all day, all day!
Where there's a whip there's a way!
"Enough! The song is becoming a hiderence!" Catra looked down to see a large lumbering lizard commanding what had to be his men, "Search the area, if the cats have discovered a better way of flight, we must destroy it before they gain a advantage over our forces"
Beside him were a large lumbering ape creature with white fur and a helmet, and the other a jackal man with an insane look in his eyes, wielding an axe. All three of them looked quite powerful and dangerous, while the other lizard, dog and ape creatures searched the perimeter around Darla.
"What do you hope to achieve, Slythe?" The ape man said.
The one called Slythe hissed at him, "Atticus, a vessel in the sky and you don't think giving it to Lord Mumm-Ra would be something worth doing".
"I don't know, that old bag of bones has more interested thing on his mind" The Jackal Man cackled widely, "Like cats"
"Shut it Kanar, yess!" Slythe hissed again.
Kanar laughed, "You just can't stand not being Mumm-Ra's favorite general, not that old Pumyara taken your place in his black withered heart"
"Silence!" Slythe growled at both of them, "When was the last time you saw something from the sky, Lord Mumm-Ra will want to know if it's friend or foe, it's simple as that"
"Well you can ask her for a start" Kanar pointed right where Catra was hiding.
"A Cat!" Slythe's eyes widened in anger, "Kill them"!
"Oh boy"
They began firing her weapons but Catra was too fast for them, she managed to take a few out while avoiding their attacks.
Until she found herself surrounded by them.
"Surrender now Cat" The one called Slythe hissed as his two other compatriots studio at his side.
"Oh let me skin her please" Kanar cackled, "I haven't been able to do that to a cat since ...well ever"
"Maybe Lord Mumm-ra would take them as a prisoner"
Catra rolled her eyes, "Look, guys, I don't know why your trying to kill us but your making a mistake"
"Of course not"Slythe hissed again, "Your a cat, that's all the answer we need"
"Well my friend Hordak behind you is a clone, and his answer to you guys is a big canon he's pointing right at you"
The lizards looked confused, "His what"
KABOOM!
Before they could turn around Catra watched from Darla as Hordak fired his large arm cannon at her lizard captors, causing them to go flying sky high. He seemed a bit battered but still in fighting shape. Adora came rushing out now along with Marlena, Scorpia, Entrpata and Melog.
"Catra, what's going on?" Adora asked rusinh to her side.
"Bunch of lizard guys, apparently not a fan of cats," Catra snickered.
"Well they aren't gonna be a fan of me" Adora held out her sword, "For the honor of grayskull"
In a flash Adora had transformed into She-Ra, Catra honestly wondered if she just made the transformations extra flashy just to show off at this point. Granted it was kinda pretty, not that she'd ever admit that to herself.
"What is that?" Addictus groaned.
Unfortunately it wasn't just lizards they would be dealing with now but large mechanical robot machines that now headed towards them. Their loud feet caused the ground to shake as several of them, each with a cannon on their metal shoulders aimed themselves right at Darla.
The one called Slythe glared at all of them, "Wipe them out, securet the ship!"
"Wow!" Entrpata beamed looking at them, "Reminds me of the old mechs I was gonna make for the Horde! Oh i wish I could have gotten a prototype done, imagine the implications"
Adora just glared at Entrapta for a moment.
"What?"
"I believe going over past endeavors may not be for the best now, Entrapta" Hordak advised.
Entrapta blushed in realization, "Oh right, war, bad thing"
Catra stood her guard as she watched Adora take on this army single handedly it seemed. Not that she doubted it. If Adora could take on Prime's clones or the Horde bots Catra herself sent after her during the war this should be a breeze.
Adora was busy taking on the crazy jackal named Kanar, he seemed quite happy to be in the heat of battle.
"Ha ha! You're fast for a weird hairless animal" Kanar laughed.
Adora snickered, "Thanks, I'm also strong" she kicked him back against a tree.
"Nice one!" Catra smirked at Adora.
"Thanks"
Sadly even She-Ra was not invincible for it seemed more mechanical monstrosities were on the way and worse, not everyone was She-Ra.
An array of bombardment came down on them.
Now more lizard soldiers surrounded them. They were all outnumbered 10 to 1. Granted Catra thought with She-Ra they could take them on at least. It did seem that the odds were not in there favor. However she was ready to try and beat them.
Or die trying.
What she didn't expect was one of the mechs to explode.
Then another.
Oh and another too.
Also one more.
"Okay, I'm not used to that happening" Adora muttered looking at herself, as if she was the cause of it.
"I'm not sure this is you dummy" Catra stated as she turned behind her.
In the distance, a large massive tank began to appear firing large rockets upon the mechs. .The lizards looked horrified as many of them started to head into retreat. It made a small u turn as it stopped right in front of the group. A young yellow cat with long flowing hair jumped out and ran at supersonic speed knocking many of them off. Hopping up from the main driver's seat a large lumbering blue furred cat appeared while two more cat-like people, one with a light red main carrying a sword the other .
"Need a lift" He said in a booming voice.
"Woah" Adora seemed taken aback by him.
"Hey, we got company coming" A tiger-like cat replied using a long three tonged wip to knock back a bunch of incoming lizards.
"Come on!" The large blue one said.
"Wait, what about Darla?" Entrapta yelled, looking at thes hip with concern.
Catra signed hopping into the tank, "We'll come back to it"
"I put the tracker on, we'll know where she is at all times" Hordak assured Entrapta
Entrapta looked to the ship and sighed waving to it, "We'll be back soon baby I promise"
"Baby" Catra whispered.
"Come on Marl-I mean mom" Adora helped Marlena into the tank.
Catra could see more of these lizard forces coming, and boy were they armed and ready, "COME ON PEOPLE MOVE IT!"
The other two cats joined them as the large one began to finally hit the speed getting them out of here. Catra hated the idea of leaving Darla behind. But hopefully they wouldn't have what it takes to move or destroy it. Or at best maybe Entrapta could build them a better ship anyway. Either way they needed to get out of here and now.
Catra just watched as the lizard people get further and further away and finally took a moment to rest again, until she realized just where she was resting.
"Wait, hold on, who are you guys? And why are you all like me?"
The youngest looking one with the red main and cyen eyes looked at them smiled, "Hi, I'm Lion-O, and we're the Thundercats"
Catra just blinked and looked confused, "The Thunder who now?"
-000-
The Thundercats.
A funny name, but Adora liked it. They were nice enough to save Catra and the others. Although they had to leave Darla behind for the moment. They would need to get her back soon in order to get back home. Apparently this planet was in some sort of conflict. These people were fighting an evil entity known as Mumm-Ra the ever living. Some ancient benign of pure evil who had plans to take over the planet and maybe the rest of the universe itself So just the last thing they needed was more war and fighting.
Sometimes Adora wondered if she would ever get to know peace.
A time when She-Ra would no longer be needed, however now would not be that time that's for sure.
"So, you guys are like hero's or something?" Adora asked, oh yeah great questioning.
"Something like that" The young one who called himself Lion-O said, "We'll take you back somewhere safer and then will catch you up"
"Where are you taking us?" Catra asked, that suspicious look in her eyes.
"Our home, New Thundera"
"Thundera?" Catra whispered.
Adora heard it as well, as in Thunderians, were these the cats her mother Marlena had mentioned to them before.
The tank they were driving was going at supersonic speed. Passing the forest quite quickly until Adora could see them coming across a large mountain range . The one driving, lumbering cat named Panthro pushed a few buttons and activated a whole within the mountain. It took a few minutes in the dark before I was excited to come across a lovely valley, and inside a bustling city that still looked like it was growing every day.
As the tank slowed down Adora looked to see all sorts of other animals walking around, Elephants, dogs, monkeys, birds. It reminded her much of Etheria with all sorts of different species, and people all merged together. However unlike Etheria, or at least the parts of Etheria she's been to, there was unease, a tension among the service. Various people seemed to be giving each other strange, almost suspicious or resentful looks.
Something felt off.
There seemed to be a tension beneath the surface, an unease among the various species. As if this place was barely holding together. Adora wanted to leap up and go investigate and find out what was wrong, however she felt a hand over shoulder stopping her from going.
"Adora" Catra took her hand hissing, "Don't go off solving every problem, we have to find Darla first"
Adora looked at Catra but gave a faint nod.
This wasn't Catra being selfish, this was Catra looking out for her. Adora still had to admit it, she did jump into things, and often never in a way that was helpful.
"You will be devoured by good" the voice of her evil uncle Skeletor rang in her head.
No, no, can't think the complete opposite either. She couldn't let her uncle's words get into her head. There had to be a balance. Right now though she should focus on the mission of getting Darla back. Still, the urge to help out and fight evil was powerful. After all, what if this evil came to Etheria, it may be a problem later down the line.
So maybe they could help a bit as long as they were here, just a little...not too much.
"Oh look at all these life forms" Entrapta was documenting things on her pad, "Hordak, do you know anything about them"
Hordak shook his head, "Unfortunately not, suppose Prime never encountered this planet personally"
"But didn't Wrong Hordak say it was a no, no world" Catra reminded him.
Hordak nodded, "Yes, but the specifics as to why I'm still not sure"
"So what's your story" Catra leaned into the other cats who rescued them, "Those lizards didn't seem to like you very much"
"That's what happens when you're at war, kid" the one called Panthro grumbled.
"We know a thing or two about war, our planet had one or decades, just ended though, good guys won, not that anyone cares"
Adora notices Lion-O taking interest, "Wait, you guys won a war, what is that like, how do you do it?"
"Well, me and my girlfriend Catra kissed and my magic saved the universe" Adora said with pride in her voice.
Lion-O just seemed confused, "So your saying I have to kiss someone in order to save my world"
"No idiot" Tygra said, giving him a light flick on the ear, "Although I don't really know how that won a war"
"Well it did," Adora said with pride.
"Don't argue while I'm driving please" Panthro muttered, where almost there anyway.
Adora looked up to see where they were heading. A large cat shaped building carved into the edge of the mountain. It was magnificent as it was fierce. The tank began to roll up towards it and stopped right by what appeared to be the entrance before one of the black paws lifted up revealing a secret hanger bay.
"Wow, amazing" Entrpata awed in delight, "This is some fascinating tech here, I must catalog it, oh we need to exchange notes"
Exiting the tank the one called Lion-O led them to the main command center of the cats lair.
It was a pretty well sized area with a massive computer and other screens. Leaning on of them was two young kittens who seemed to be whispering to one another.
"Kit, Kat, don't break the monitors please" Lion-O scold.d
Kat frowned, "Hey were just sitting, not like we're pushing buttons"
"Yeah Lion-O were good"
Lion-O rolled his eyes, "Yeah, yeah, anyway we have visitors"
The one called Kit looked up at them and was in awe, "Oooh, I've never seen animals like these before, except you" she pointed to Catra, "Since you know…
"Yeah," Catra muttered, "Well i'm not from this planet either"
Adora couldn't help but see the two small kittens in awe, they were so cute. In fact everyone here was rather...flattering. Of course none of them held a torch to her beloved Catra and how cute she was when she was just a tiny ball of fuzz back in the Horde, with that puff of a main of hers. Honestly she missed the long hair, although it was slowly growing back to what it was before Prime took it away.
"So, why exactly are you here?" Panthro asked, getting right to the point
Adora stiffened unsure how to answer, so she went with honesty, "We're here to look at some first one tech that your planet has, we found a large signal of it"
"First Ones? What's the First One?" Tygra asked, "Never heard of those animals before".
"There, well...There what I am" Adora waved looking nervous.
"Are you all First Ones?" Cheetarah asked.
"Nope, just Adora" Entrapta interjected now, "Well, technically we consider ourselves Etherian since that's the planet we're from but sub species why, Adora is First One, I am human, Queen Marlena is Eternian and First One as well Scorpia here is Scorpino, Catra is Magicat, and Hordak is clone of Horde Prime who is uh…" She looked at Hordak confused, "Hordak what is the Horde Prime species?"
Hordak shrugged, "I'm afraid that knowledge was forgotten or forbidden"
"Well, Hordak is clone" Entrapta added, "Oh and Orko is a Trollan and Roboto is a Robot"
"I can show you my components if you wish" Robot said.
Lion-O blinked, "Uh, no thanks"
"Noted"
The other so called Thundercats just looked very confused at the moment as they each gave a slow blink.
"Yeah, we're an odd bunch," Adora responded with a nervous chuckle.
"Well an odd bunch that now has their ship most likely taken by Mumm-Ra" Panthro groaned.
Catra seemed anxious, "So...we're stuck here"
"Seems like it kid"
Catra just looked at Adora and sighed, "Great….Just, great"
The youngest one Lion-O then stood up and said, "Well uh, as King I m-make you my h-honorable guest until we can get back you're ship"
Marlena then stood bowing, "On behalf of the group and of Eternia, I accept the honorable gesture"
"And Etheria" Adora pointed out too thinking it was good to be formal.
"Well...Great!" Lion-O beamed, "Come on, i'll give you guys the tour, welcome to the Cats Lair"
Tygra rolled his eyes, "Very kingly bro, very kingly"
Author Note: So in case anyone was still confused the Thundercats 2011 status quo will be HEAVILY INSPIRED by the lost Season 2 in which the Thundercats built a cats lair and a New Thundera and are at war with Mumm-Ra for the fate of Third Earth.