Chapter 15

Pumyra left the sickbay and quickly ran down to the control room. The doors flew open and she ran right up to Lion-O and Cheetara. Quickly, the couple separated and they turned their attention to the puma.

"What's wrong Pumyra?" The Lord of the ThunderCats asked.

"I think the evil inside Panthro is toying with us." She said quickly.

"Why, what's going on?" Cheetara asked. The puma told them about the flesh wound and the fact that Panthro was too quiet. Lion-O paced the floor. He knew that the evil being was strong and it would use any method necessary to destroy the ThunderCats.

"He wants to rule the planet but how would he by himself?" Lion-O thought out loud. No one had the answer to that. Cheetara turned to Pumyra and asked,

"What about Panthro's shoulder wound?"

"He had a shoulder wound?" The puma answered, a little confused. Cheetara shook her head.

"Lion-O, if you go up against this thing in battle, I don't see how you would survive."

"If he had taken over me then, he would be Lord of the ThunderCats and King of New Thundera. With everyone who could stop him out if the way, he would rule the other Thunderians. I see what he wants. If I die, then he can claim that he has been given command of the Sword of Omens." The lion seemingly ignored the cheetah. This revelation made Cheetara and Pumyra nervous.

"So what do we do?" The female ThunderCats asked.

"The Sword of Omens will never submit to the evil being. The Eye of Thundera might be strong enough to destroy it." Lion-O explained.

"The Cat Signal?" Pumyra wondered.

"Exactly. The Cat Signal should bring Panthro's mind to fight what possesses him. Maybe it can also extract it from him." The Lord of the ThunderCats postulated.

"That's an awful lot of guesswork. What would we trap it in anyway, if it should leave Panthro?" Cheetara asked.

"We wouldn't trap it. We'd destroy it." Lion-O set his jaw firmly. "Tomorrow, we'll bring Panthro outside the Lair and we will fight. Pumyra fill Ben-Gali in on the details. I'm going to radio Third Earth and talk to Lynx-O." He finished. The puma nodded and shot out of the control room.

"What makes you think that this will work?" Cheetara inquired.

"Jaga said something to me that got me thinking. 'Once a ThunderCat, always a ThunderCat' he said. Well maybe the Sword of Omens can stir our friend from beneath the evil that has consumed him." Lion-O replied.

"Then why would the Book of Omens and Jaga tell you to kill him? It doesn't make any sense." Cheetara argued.

"I don't know. I'm hoping that this is my way around having to kill him. Should it not work then I will have no other option." Lion-O said. Cheetara slumped into the nearest chair and rubbed her temples. The Lord of the ThunderCats alerted Lynx-O to the situation.

"May the Sword protect you Lion-O and may it give you the strength to do what is necessary." The lynx said at the end of the conversation.

"Thank you Lynx-O. ThunderCats Ho!" Lion-O said.

"Ho!" Lynx-O responded. With that the call ended. The Lord of the ThunderCats slumped into the chair behind him. His leg was beginning to throb.

"You'll have matching scars." Cheetara said off-handedly.

"Won't I be lucky?" Lion-O smiled for the first time in awhile. Cheetara got up and came over to him.

"Is it really bothering you? Should I get Pumyra?" She asked.

"No, the only thing I need is this." He pulled her close and kissed her.

"Well then I'd be happy to comply, My Lord." Cheetara smiled.

To Be Continued…