Counterpart Conferences

By Michael Weyer

This one hit me suddenly as a quick addition and how it does fit into the theme as well. Consider it more set-up for what is to come down the road…

Eternia

"He's been different."

"He's not that different."

"Yeah, he is. Can't you see it?"

The mood inside the throne room of Snake Mountain was tenser than usual. The pack of bizarre creatures had long been used to the foul temperament of their ruler. Yet in the last several months, it had become darker than it had been before. Half of them had vanished in that bizarre event of sometime earlier before being restored. Their master had been one of them and since his return, his darkness had grown even more.

"He's still our master," Evil-Lyn stated. The beautiful woman was clad in her usual form fitting suit which now resembled armor more than the skin-baring outfit it had been before her vanishing. She was leaning on the huge table where the others had gathered. Beastman was sniffing, his orange fur and outfit matching his feral mood. Mer-Man was seated next to him, his scaly green skin shivering in the foul air of the mountain. Kobra Khan was next to him, the snake-like being fitting in well with the theme of the mountain.

Trap Jaw had to nod his metallic head. "Mer-Man is right. He's been changed since what happened." An echo came from his dark jaw which matched the majority of his half-cyborg body. Tri-Klops was nodding as well, his central eye a wide one while the other two on the rotating headpiece were resting. "You saw what he did to Stinkor."

"Stinkor was an idiot," Evil-Lyn snapped. "Even by our standards. Ridding him was no loss."

"But since when has he been…well…that ruthless?" Trap Jaw pressed. "You can't deny it, Evil-Lyn. He's changed."

"So have I,' she snapped. "Like him, I'm tired of you incompetents messing up so many easy plans."

"Like you did much better," Khan sniffed. "A simple task to kidnap the Queen and yet it was bungled…"

"I'm not the one who messed up having the guard under control!" Evil-Lyn snapped. "Had you just listened…"

She was cut off as the doors to the chamber opened. Everyone stood at attention as the cloaked figure marched into the throne room. A clanking sound echoed as with each step, he struck the lower part of his staff onto the ground. The top end was marked by what appeared to be the skull of a horned beast. The hood and cloak were dark blue over a darker suit. The light illuminated his face which was, for all intents and purposes, a nearly white skull. His eyes within burned with a mixture of power and malice that made anyone who saw it uncomfortable.

The warriors were silent as Skeletor marched up the stairs before turning to sit on his throne. He took a few moments to strum his fingers on the arm of the throne before speaking. "How?" The voice used to be high-pitched but recently had taken on a lower timbre in volume and power. Which made the speaker even more terrifying than he had been before.

Evil-Lyn licked her lips. "My lord…"

"All you had to do was kidnap a queen," Skeletor continued. The false calm in his voice was scarier than any of his previous wild screams. "That was all. A simple task and yet you manage to foul it up beyond comprehension."

Khan stood up. "Lord Skeletor, we did not anticipate Prince Adam…"

"Could outwit you all and whisk his mother to safety?" Skeletor sniffed. "Granted, few would have given that brat any credit for his intelligence. Yet the fact it was him, not He-Man," he spat the name out. "Who defeated you makes it even worse." He rose up as everyone instinctively took a step back. "At least you can claim He-Man gives you a fight but the prince?" He shook his head. "To lose to that child proves your complete incompetence, Khan. Which is of no use to me."

Kobra Khan swallowed. "Lord Skeletor, please, just give us one more chance…"

"I am not in a giving vein this day."

With that hissed reply, Skeletor threw out his hand. A blast of energy arced out to strike Khan. The figure screamed in agony as his body caught on fire, the odor horrific to anyone inside the room. Khan howls continued even as his body was engulfed and incinerated. In seconds, nothing was left but a pile of ash.

A shocked silence filled the chamber. Everyone present just stared in horror at what had been Khan before looking up to Skeletor. Their master was glowering at them coldly. "I have had enough," he hissed. "Enough foolishness. Enough incompetence. Enough of this…crap!" He lifted up his staff and Tri-Klops literally ducked under the table, expecting bolts of energy to fly at any moment. "From here on out, any failure shall be subject to the harshest penalties. I will not allow your bungling to ruin my plans."

He glared down at them all. "Oh, I heard what you said. That I've changed. And you're right. Turning to dust made me realize how I have been wasting my time, my power and my potential. But no longer." He pointed a finger at them. "Once, you were a group of warriors with promise. Somehow, you became this band of bumbling buffoons who enjoy a good time." He rose to his feet, grasping the staff. "The party is over. It's time we got back to the business of being evil."

He began walking down the steps as the others pulled back. Evil-Lyn was the only one not showing absolute fear as Skeletor faced her. "You are to be my general now," he hissed. He reached to brush a metal-covered glove against her face and Evil-Lyn shivered. "Be warned, Evil-Lyn. I will no longer tolerate your own plans and double-crosses. If you ever try to stab me in the back, you will regret it."

He spun about and began marching to the rear doorway. "I shall be in my private chambers on my own…task. When I return, I want a full accounting of our troops and our strengths." He craned his head back to look at them. "Oh and someone inform the Cobra Kult they're going to need a new representative."

The room was silent as he exited before everyone let out simultaneous sighs of relief. "This…isn't good is it?" Trap Jaw intoned.

"No, it's not." Evil-Lyn paused before smiling. "Not for Eternia."

The coldness of his chambers was a welcome feeling for Skeletor. It allowed him time to think and muse, free of those incompetents. The experience of a few months earlier had been an epiphany for him. He had no idea what had happened or how it was undone but Skeletor was grateful for it. Because it had opened his eyes to how he had gone from a feared warlord to a near joke. That he had wasted far too much time and energy on foolish schemes when true power was out there for the taking. He was ready to finally unleash his potential.

It was why he was creating this portal before him. The shimmering gateway was connected to a source of energy he had been tracking for some time. One in another dimension and yet the power it held was enticing. Taking a breath, Skeletor entered the portal. He felt the waves of energy strike him before he finally exited into the chamber of a temple.

The temple was huge, Skeletor could easily see that. It was mostly bare and carried the musk of an area few living creatures had been in for centuries. The chamber was dominated by a pool that bubbled with some sort of inhuman energy, the frame leading to a quartet of stone spikes. Set in the corners around it were four huge statues, each boasting an animal-like face. A stone path led from the pool to a small platform holding a skull-shaped artifact with what looked like a stone coffin standing upright.

Skeletor took the chamber in, feeling the dark energies around it. He glanced up at the statues and how the red gems in their eyes seemed to follow him. Skeletor simply gave a smirk as he headed to the pool. He leaned toward it, looking inside to feel its energy. This was a source of evil power that rivaled anything in Eternia. Which made it just what Skeletor wanted.

He felt it before he heard it. The familiar energies of a portal opening behind him. He turned with his staff raised in time to see the figure exiting. His uniform was dark blue for most of it with black striping around the arms and waist. His chest was dominated by a huge red bat symbol. His grotesque face was pure white, even more than Skeletor's was. His solid red eyes glared at Skeletor and fangs could be seen in his mouth as he growled out. "It's been a long time, Skeletor."

"Hordak," Skeletor replied in a harsh tone. "Not nearly long enough."

"Still mad about the last time?'

"You ruined my plans."

"You ruined mine first."

Skeletor glared. "What are you doing here, bat-ears?"

"The same as you. And aren't we beyond childish insults by now?" Hordak carefully paced about, Skeletor on high alert. "Did you get…dusted?" Skeletor slowly nodded as Hordak went on. "Me too. Which made me realize how I was wasting too much time with that foolish rebellion than ruling as I should have. That it was time to take steps to attain my own power."

"Which is why I'm here." Skeletor stated, his fingers tightening on his staff. "And I shall not let you stop me."

"Of course, you want all that power for yourself."

"I must possess all or I possess nothing."

"Ugh, that all or nothing attitude. I always said reaching too far would be your undoing."

"The only undoing happening here is yours."

Hordak let out a sigh. "Must we really do this?'

"Alas, we must."

With that, Skeletor lifted his staff and unleashed a blast from it. Hordak raised his arm to transform it into a shield which deflected the bolt. The arm then turned into a cannon to fire out his own blast which Skeletor ducked. The two move about the pool, each firing blasts at the other. A few struck the walls, causing the temple to shake. Had either looked up, they would have seen the eyes of the statues suddenly glow brightly.

Hordak growled as a bolt glanced his shoulder. "Still so proud of your magic..."

"Better than your technology," Skeletor fired back as he fired another blast. Hordak dodged it before unleashing a barrage of cannon fire that Skeletor had to move quickly to avoid. The temple shook once more under the bolts flying about.

"Who….dares?!"

Skeletor and Hordak stopped at the sudden rasping voice cutting through the air. They both turned their heads to see the stone sarcophagus inside the mouth of the skull slowly opening with a grinding sound. A figure slowly shambled out of the skull, dark red cloak torn and ragged. It rested on a hunched figure wrapped completely in white cloth and rags. All that could be seen was most of his face which was dark blue with bright solid red eyes.

"Who dares disturb my sanctuary?" the figure continued in that deep rasp.

"That would be us," Hordak stated. "I'm Hordak, leader of the Horde and rightful ruler of Etheria."

Skeletor held his staff out toward the figure. "I am Skeletor, lord of Snake Mountain and rightful ruler of Eternia."

Hordak snorted. "Please. You can't defeat some muscle-bound oaf, let alone the royal family."

"And you can barely contain some pitiful rebellion led by said oaf's sister!"

"Silence!" The mummy spoke out. He took both of the men in carefully. "I sense your power. And your evil. An evil that may indeed rival my own. You could not enter this temple without the Spirits sensing your darkness." His eyes narrowed. "Yet I do not allow intruders onto this world. It is mine, not yours. The power within is mine and no one else's."

Skeletor smirked. "Then perhaps we should take it from you." Hordak nodded as he let his arm turn back into a cannon.

The mummy let out a slow cackle. "Indeed? You wish to test me, do you? So be it…"

Hordak snorted. "You think you can fight us? You can barely walk!"

In response, the figure spread out his arms and spoke out in a stronger voice. "Ancient spirits of evil…."

The eyes of the statures lit up brightly as a wind suddenly picked up through the chamber. It blew the rags and cloak of the figure as he stood straighter.

"Transform this decayed form…."

The wrappings appeared to vanish around the body which grew in size as well as physique. The skin underneath revealed a strong figure of blue skin with powerful muscles. At his chest was what appeared to be a symbol of two black asps wrapped together which briefly glowed. Skeletor and Hordak exchanged uneasy looks as they realized things had taken a serious turn.

"To…."

The cloak had become a long cape with the hood pulled back, revealing an elaborate crown which had matching snakes on the side. He was barefoot with gold anklets and bracelets as well as an elaborate wrap about his waist. A few of the wrappings remained about his body as he threw his head back and bristled with newly born power.

"Mumm-Ra, the Ever-Living!"

Skeletor and Hordak both stepped back as the figure threw out his hands. Blasts of red energy struck out to drive both of them back. They stumbled about the pool before ending up ducking for cover together. Hordak winced as a blast of energy ripped over his head before looking to Skeletor. "All right. Let's get rid of this fool and then go back to killing each other."

"Good plan," Skeletor agreed. They leapt to their feet, dodging Mumm-Ra's blasts to fire off dark energy of their own. Hordak dodged one blow as he concentrated. A shimmer came over his body as his entire form took on the shape of a rocket. He didn't do this too much but it was effective as he blasted toward Mumm-Ra. The figure was about to move when a blast from Skeletor knocked him into Hordak's path and sent him flying against a wall.

Skeletor was moving in, his staff spinning as he unleashed a blast of flame. Mumm-Ra snarled as it struck him and answered back with a blast of his own. Skeletor blasted him with a punch as Hordak moved in, his arm now a sharp sword stabbing Skeletor in the back. He hissed in agony before lashing out at Hordak, knocking him back. That left him open for Skeletor to slam him in the gut with his staff to knock him back. Mumm-Ra responded with dual blasts of dark magic that drove the two away.

Mumm-Ra was smiling. "Ah...It has been far too long since I faced a true challenge!" He unleashed more magical blasts at the duo. "I may actually keep you two alive for a bit after I defeat you! I can use some sparring dummies!"

Skeletor looked to Hordak. "Remember Tar Swamp?" Hordak nodded as Skeletor unleashed a blast from his staff that was a bright light. Mumm-Ra stepped back, startled as Hordak transformed one arm into a large ram and the other into a shield. He charged forward to slam both into Mumm-Ra's chest. The mummy was snarling and about to attack when he saw his reflection in the brightness of Hordak's shield.

The scream was so inhuman that it drove Skeletor and Hordak back. Mumm-Ra was shaking as he backed away, his hands covering his face. He leapt upward and began to fly off, reaching the hole at the top of the pyramid before exiting.

Skeletor smiled as he watched the figure vanish. He then spun around, his staff raised up. He stopped as he saw Hordak standing right before him, his cannon arm pointed at Skeletor's face. Hordak also froze as he saw Skeletor's staff thrust at his own face. They stood silently, each just glaring at the other, each prepared to unleash their power.

Hordak finally spoke up. "I've been thinking…"

"Did you strain yourself?"

"I'm being serious." Hordak actually appeared to be. "What are we doing?" As Skeletor frowned, Hordak went on. "Why do we keep doing this? We fight it out with each other, each trying to show the other up but we're too evenly matched. We fight, we cause a mess and who benefits? He-Man and She-Ra, that's who."

Skeletor had to concede the point as Hordak went on. "What happened just now? You and me? That felt good. That felt like the old days."

"We hated each other in the old days," Skeletor was quick to point out.

"Very true," Hordak agreed. "But we did a lot of good. Well, bad. We did it well. We raised hell better than anyone before or since." Hordak slowly backed up. "Maybe that can happen again."

"What are you proposing?"

"That's it's time we buried the hatchet. And not in each other's backs."

"Team up?" Skeletor managed to sniff despite not having a nose. "That would never last."

"It doesn't have to," Hordak insisted. "Think about it, Skeletor. We find the source of power on this world and we use it. Together. We marshal all our forces for a combined assault. We finally deal with those muscle-bound morons once and for all. Eternia can be yours, Etheria will be mine." He set his jaw. "Then…only then…after all our enemies are crushed….Then we can finally settle once and for all who's better."

Skeletor mulled over the words for a long moment. Then, he backed up, lowering his staff. Hordak allowed his arm to transform to normal as he nodded. "All right. An alliance then."

Hordak grinned. "Admit it, Skeletor. We always were a lot more fearsome together. It's time we used that on others for a change."

The two grasped hands in a long shake. They then looked up at the four statues above. "Right now…" Skeletor stated. "Let's see what these 'spirits' can give us."

Hordak grinned as the two began to go to work.

A mile, away, Mumm-Ra finally came to a stop in mid-air as he recovered. The sight of his own visage was something he could never truly take, no matter the power. Yet that was not the true pain facing him. It was the realization that the two beings he had just met could actual rival him. Not in power but in sheer evil. And now they were in his home.

He looked to it and could see the lightning flash, bolts of red ripping through the sky. There was a battle taking place, between the Spirits and Skeletor and Hordak. As much as he knew the power of his masters, Mumm-Ra had a bad feeling about their chances against those two. Whatever magics they used were beyond Third Earth. Should they emerge triumphant, then this entire world was in danger.

Mumm-Ra had his pride yet he was intelligent enough to know that some fights could be beyond him. This world and its power was to be his, not some invaders. Yet he knew his chances of fighting them and their armies on his own were poor. And forget counting on those idiot Mutants to be an effective force.

Thus, as much as it galled every ounce of his spirit...there was only one place for Mumm-Ra to go.

It glistened in the sunlight like a mighty statue. For miles around, the huge white temple could be seen, dominated by the purple cats head on top. The main building sloped perfectly to resemble a cat's body, complete with "fists" that housed enough firepower to stall any enemy advance. At the chest of the "cat" was the bright red symbol with a black cat's head that had become known to all corners of Third Earth.

It was more than a home, it was a fortress. It had to be for the army that lived within.

In the main training area, the powerful form of Lion-O continued his morning exercises. His blue cloth suit fit his well-muscled form as he moved through his standard training moves. The Sword of Omens was in its "quiet" state yet still an effective tool for his training. His red hair flowed behind him as the lord of the Thundercats began his morning routine.

Nearby, Panthro and Tygra were sparring. The grey-skinned muscle man was leaping out, his nunchucks flashing as he attacked his partner. Tygra leapt upward, easily avoiding the nunchucks and Panthro's spiked suit. He already had his whip out and swinging to try and catch Panthro by the legs. Panthro just managed to avoid it as Tygra landed on his feet for another strike.

There was a familiar gust of wind as Cheetara appeared in the doorway in a blur of movement. The beautiful woman entered, her blonde hair flowing back as her orange outfit mixed with her checkered skin. "Just got a report from the Tower. They've confirmed those odd readings from the area of Mumm-Ra's temple."

Lion-O sighed. "I suppose it was too much to hope he would have been destroyed in that Event."

"We came back," Tygra stated, nodding to himself and Panthro. "It stands to reason he would as well."

"Whatever he has planned, it can't be good for any of us," Panthro stated.

"I still wish we knew what it was," Lion-O mused. "To have half of Third Earth vanish and then come back was beyond even Mumm-Ra's power. Even Jaga couldn't tell us much of the source."

"You'd think being dead would broaden his knowledge," Panthro couldn't help but joke.

It was at that very moment that the alarms echoed throughout Cat's Lair. "Everyone!" Wilykit's voice echoed. "The main chamber! Now!"

Naturally, Cheetara was first, racing off in a gust. The others were quick to follow, coming to the main observation chamber of the base. Wilykit and Wilykat were there, the twins holding what weapons they could at the ready. Snarf was in a corner, cowering and growling. Their eyes were focused on the figure that was lying on the ground that was slowly rising up.

Lion-O had the Sword of Omens out and extended instantly. "What are you doing here?" he hissed.

Mumm-Ra slowly brought himself up. It was clear he'd been through some sort of ordeal as he was attempting to straighten himself. "I…did not come…for a fight…Thundercats," Mum-Ra snarled.

"Really." Lion-O was dubious to say the least. "Then what did you come for?'

Their oldest and greatest enemy looked up at him and uttered two words Lion-O would never have expected to come from his lips.

"Your aid."

I was going for a mix of Skeletor between the classic cartoon and Frank Langella's magnificent performance in the 1987 movie. More classic for the Thundercats as the original cartoon had a charm the later reboot lacked. Just a wild idea that will play a bigger part down the road.