Disclaimer: I do not own thundercats but i do own my OC's and the poem/song.
Song of the Petalars
Aideen took a deep breath as she tried to steady her racing heart. She looked up at Tygra who was smirking down on her. They had been training, and at first she was winning until she lost focus. He had kicked her feet under and she fall back. Now her back hurt, pretty bad.
Tygra shook his head and crossed her arms, "you're not focusing," he noticed.
Aideen glared at him, "I am focusing," she said as she stood up then was once again on the ground with Tigras' knee on her chest.
"Really then tell me what just happen?"
She didn't replied but instead prest her head against the ground and closed her eyes. All she wanted was to be left alone, but of course that was not going to happen. She did not want the bad memories, that she had tried to hard to forget, to take over her. Or the fear that always came with them. The last thing she wanted was to be afraid, especially in this type of place. She could have drowned if it weren't for Tygra, and she hated that. She hated being weak.
"What's wrong, Aideen?" he asked with somewhat concern in his voice. And at the mention of her name, Aideen opened her eyes. He never called her by her name as he would prefer to get in her nerves and call her a 'thing'. But this time he was actually worried about her which surprised her.
Frowning Aideen pushed Tygra away and stood up, "Nothings wrong, Tygra. I just don't want to train." she said then began to stretched out, until her back reminded her that she had fallen. "and now my back hurts, thanks." She began to walk away until tigra grabbed her arm and turned her around.
"Look I know you don't trust me as much as Lion-O. But I know when there's something wrong. You don't seem like yourself," he said then let go of her arm as he waited for her replied. He was sure she would turn and leave, but instead she sigh and sat next to a tree.
"Yeah I guess I really am not myself." she admitted. Tygra sat next to her and stayed quite telling her to continue. She closed her eyes and brought her knees to her chest. She did not like to admit her feeling, the last thing she wanted was to trouble people with what she felt. "I…..hmm…..I am afraid."
Tygra looked at her as she said what she felt. He stayed quiet wondering if she would continue. But she didn't, instead he looked as she stared ahead of her with fear and sadness in her eyes. "What are you afraid of?"
"Being weak."
He blanked as he looked at her, "You're not weak."
She gave a small smile, "I'm afraid of water and other things, Tygra. If I was the enemy i would use that. And I can't fight if i have so many." She hid her head behind her knees then said the one fear she had, " But the one thing that frightens me the most is losing the people i care about. I thought Lion-O was going to die….. I thought we were all going to die. I lost my mother and…. my friends betrayed me. I can't trust anyone anymore. Not even Lion-O, do i trust enough to tell him this." She looked up and rest her chin on her knees. "The only thing that's clouding my mind above all my fears is that….. I dont even know who my own mother is and I'm afraid to know. This place is confusing me."
Tygra stayed quiet as he listen to her and for the first time he knew why she was so closed and always on guard around them. It was a surprise that she would even admit to not having enough confidence in Lion-O. "So, you trust me?" he asked as he wanted to know the answers.
Aideen thought about the answers. She didn't trust most people, especially once she just meet. She truest lion-O but not enough to tell him what she was afraid of. Yet her she was telling this one prince, that was rather rude to her at the beginning, about her feeling. There was something telling her to trust him and she, at first, tried to ignore it but as the tiger had jumped and saved her from drowning, and he was now worried about her. She was finally listening to that small voice. "I guess I do," she answered. "and before you even ask, I don't know why but i do. It's a surprise to me as it is to you."
They stayed quiet for a moment then Tygra spoke. "you're not weak. If you were weak you wouldn't have fought to save the crew. Even when you were frighten you pushed your own fear away and tried to help others. Most people I know would not do that." Aideen looked up at him with surprise as he told her this. She looked down and thought what he said. "Don't forget what Jaga said to you. You may not think you know your mother as much as you thought you did, but maybe you will get to know her more as we travel. Then all your questions will be answered. I told you before you will get your answers. Don't be afraid to know but be happy that you get the chance to know who your mother really was."
Aideen looked at him, "Thanks, Tygra," she said then raised an eyebrow, "who would have thought you would be good at giving advice. I always thought you were bad at that."
Tygra rolled his eyes at her, "yeah, well don't get use to it, thing."
"I am not a thing!"
Some of the lizard army stood by the river bank. Their metal machines along them. The lizards lidar, Slithe, stood alongside the river.
"That trail gone cold," Slithe said.
Hearing a hiss Slith looked to the side at the tree trunk. "No, Slithe. Its still here," the voice said as the tree started to change shape and revealed a lizard that was clunged to the tree. "You just can't see it." He turned to the side, "Cask, what have you found?"
The late water splashed up as a lizard came from the water. He was thin that the other lizards and his eyes were white. He held fish bones, "Food scrapes from upriver, where they must be." He threw them on the floor and another lizard came close to the remaining of the fish.
He was a light yellow-green color, different than the others. The first lizard asked, "How far, Sauro?"
Sauro stood up, "Less than a day away," he answered with a deep raspy voice.
"Then let's triple our pace" Slithe said as he put a hand on his hip. The three lizards left; one disappearing, the other swan up the lake, and the other walked towards the forest. Slith put his hand on his chin, "The prize is close." He turned and left his army following right behind.
(Night)
Aideen puff her cheeks in annoyance. There was no way her brain was understanding any of the writing that was in front of her. Tygra had kept his promise and helped the human girl with understanding Thunderian writing, but she was not understanding any of it. The writing style was the same as that of ancient egypt and other ancient writings. After seeing some of it back at earth, she thought she would have understand some of the words, but her brain was just not getting it at all.
Aideen knew she looked like a little kid right now, but she really could care less. When she was annoyed, she was annoyed, and she didn't care if she looked like a little kid. She groaned, "I don't understand and my head is starting to hurt," she said as she closed the book.
Tigra rolled his eyes, "its simple. What is there to not get?"
"Everything," the human replied. She rest her head on the three trunk and closed her eyes. She may have liked egyptian and other ancient history but there was no way she was going to understand any of its writing.
Sighing Tigra gave up, "Alright, let stop here, for now" he said as he looked at the girl. Aideen nodded her head then stood up. She looked toward the kitts and made her way towards them, but then stopped and turned to look at Tigra. She gave him a smirk making him look at her suspiciously. She walked towards him and sat to his side. Her smile still on her lips. "Sooo can you tell me how you met Cheetara."
The tiger prince raised and eyebrow, "Go away."
"Come on!" She protested.
"No"
"Please?"
"No, now go away," the tiger said then gave a smirk, "or would you rather us continue with the study?"
"Fine, but I will make you tell me," she said as she stood up once again. "Thanks for helping me," she thanked as she began to walk towards the two kitts. She looked as Kat stood next to his sister whispering something in her ear. "Oh no what are does two doing this time."
"Well," Wilykat said as he stood to the side of his sister. "You don't have to if your scare."
"I'm not scare," Wilykit snapped. She then looked to the side, "It's just….."
"Scary cat, scary cat," Kit teased.
"Fine, I'll do it!" She grabbed the frog in front of her and lift him up. She began to whimpered as she looked at him. The frog cracked as she got her face close to it. Aideen saw as she kissed the frog then let go with a yelp of disgust once the frog had open his mouth and stuck his tongue out. The frog running away as kat came behind his sister amusement written on his face.
"I knew it. Wilykit loves the froog, Wilykit loves the froog," her brother began to tease.
"No, I don't," Wilykit defended as she stood up, "You dare me." She chased her brother who ran away once he say her stand up. She chased him angrily while kat had his hands behind his head, laughed.
Aideen chuckled as she stared at the kits. Walking towards the fire the girl leaned next to a tree and crossed her arms, unnoticed to both lion-O and Cheetara. "In the blink of an eye," she heard lion-O say making her turned towards him.
"Hmm?"
"Nothing" he replied to cheetara who had also heard him. He had a sad expression on his face as he looked at the fire. "It's just… I keep thinking about my father." He closed his eyes then reopened them, "I-I know it sound dumb, but I-I thought he'd lived forever. He gave his life and for what? We have nothing," he finished. The human girl frowned she knew he was wrong.
Cheetara put her hand on his in comfort, "We have the sword. We have each other. But most importantly, we have hope."
"Do we," Lion-O said. Aideen watched with a smile, she knew he liked Cheetara. It was plain out obvious. Her smile soon banished as she turned away, 'love, huh' she thought. Her expression turned sad then changed as she saw Snarf run past her making her tilt her head in confusion. She watched as the cat jumped on Lion-O making him fall. The human girl put her hand on her mouth to stop her laughing.
Lion-O stood up, "Are you kidding me? Now? This better be important, Snarf." Snarf who had moved to his shoulder meowed. Then began to shake the lion. The sound of cutting was heard thru the forest. Cheetara used her speed to stand on a tree branch. She looked at the outskirts of the forest, were lizards metal machines were cutting trees down. The rest of the thundercats claimed the tree and looked up ahead.
"Its the entire Lizard army" cheetara said as they stared ahead. Aideen stood under the tree and could hear what she said. She put a hand on her chin and looked around. There was no way they could find them so easily. "Just say the word, Lion-O" cheetara continued as they looked at the new king and waited for his orders.
The young king turned to his side and looked at his sword, "No. if we stay here, we die" he said as he stood up. Tigra stood up along him. Aideen could already hear what he was going to say.
"Thundercats don't retreat!" Tigra protested.
"With a situation this hopeless, I'll make an exception" Lion-O replied.
"Hope comes from action. Isn't that what father told us?" the tiger prince said.
Lion-O looked at him angrily, "And what happen to him?!" he yelled, "Now come on." He turned and was about to leave when he remembered Aideen. He dropped down towards her.
Aideen looked at the young king, "for a minute there i thought you forgot about me," she said with a smile. Lion-Os face softened, he bent down and carried her on his back. The others extinguish the fire, then they left. As they jumped from tree to tree, Aideen looked at the prince and knew he was troubled. She gave a small hug and whispered in his ear, "Don't worried, Lion-O. Everything will be alright."
The lion gave him a side glance then looked ahead of them, "Will it?" he muttered.
The lizard grabbed a handful of sand that had buried fish bones. He then signaled to the right. One of the lizards, that was on the machine, nodded his head then closed the door. The machines began to advance toward the direction the lizard gave.
The thundercats stopped as they came across a huge dome like thorn-bush forest. Aideen staired in excitement and wonder as she looked at the dome that was made up of thorn trees. She knew she should not be excited, but when it comes to discovering new things, especially anything related to history and the earth, she couldn't help it. She knew if they weren't careful they could get lost in there.
Lion-O pointed to the woods, "They won't be able to find us there."
Tigra looked at his brother, "You're asking us what, to hide among the brambles and wait for the lizards to just go away?" Tigra began, "this is not how we're going to win this war."
Lion-O gave one look at his brother, "Am not asking." He said then left.
"You may be king, but I'm still older than you!" Tigra said as the others followed the young king. Aideen rolled his eyes at what the tiger prince said. She knew the tiger was partly right.
Lion-O let Aideen down as the girl rushed inside. As long as they were going in, she was going to explore the inside. Lion-O waited outside and watched as everyone walked in. The lion walked inside at the end giving one last glance toward the forest before following the others.
Aiden was sure that at the end of the day she was going to have to throw away the new shirt she had gotten. Her shirt was beginning to get stuck and riped by the thorns. After having to throw her earth shirt, that was ripped because of the explosion, she had gotten a new one and now this one was ripping. Thankfully though she had a tank top under which was not going to be a problem, and if it got cold she would just wear the clock she had in her bag. They followed Lion-O as he was in front of them, cutting the thorn branches that stood in their way.
Aideen had gotten bored after seeing only thorn branches. She took out her book and decided to read some more of her mother's diary;
' I walked among the forest, thankful that my mother taught me how to survive out in the wild. There were so many different types of plants. Some looked like the once back in my world, but were completely different. The threes and some of wildlife's were almost the same. But then again i was in a world where animals walked and talked like humans. The animals were the same, or almost.
I had spend the couple of days living in the forest getting ready to actually interact with the creatures that lived here. They were so different than the once back in my world. Some of their language and customs were different, more accurate to their specimens. They were more advance that my world and at times more noble.
This world was different but it had a strange way of showing me where i belong. And teaching me new thing. But I am thankful for coming here, this place is helping me with my fears.'
Aideen looked up as she could hear singing voices. She closed her book and walked towards the sound.
Within the woods a light beamed down as small creatures singing. Yellow glowing light glowed around them. They were all flowers looking creatures, their petals were different colors. They sanged as a small seed came down. As it laid on the tree trunk two small leaves sprout from the head of the seed. The small seed turned around and a baby face appeared.
"you have given the gift of life" a voices said as leaf hand carried the small baby seed. A small brown basket-like next to him. "It's a fragile life and not one that you can keep forever," the voice continued, that belonged to an old flower. "But it is the most precious gift in all the world. Use it well little one." He set the baby down on the small bed. The old leaf fell and lay on the ground as the rest sanged. Soon his body dissolved into small leafs. The wind flew the leafs up to the sky.
The rest of the group could hear the small singing voices. "What is that?" Cheetara asked.
Aideen stood in front of them her knife in her hand. She had hear the singing voices before the rest had. Curiosity had gotten to her and she decided to walk ahead of them. She now looked in between two thorn branches "Wow," she stood in awe as she looked at what was in front of her. The whole scene looked amazing and enchanting. The others soon came close and Aideen stepped to the side and let Lion-O look.
Aideen saw as Lion-O lift his sword in order to cut the branches. "Wait, don't-" she said trying to make him stoop, but it was too late as he cut the branches and the singing stopped. The small creatures turned towards them with fear. "-it might scare them," she finished with a sigh. She looked down, and along with the others they starred in amazed at the small creatures. One of them, a small child, came towards the human and thundercats.
"What are you?" the little creature began his interrogation. "I've never seen people like you before. Are you from here in the briar? What's that in your hand? Did you make it?" He slid down a small vine in front of Snarf who was on top of Wilykit's head, "You're not the same as the other. Are you some kind of pet?" He then turned to look at Aideen, "What are you? You're different than the other. Is that yours? Why are you dress differently? What's that in your neck?" Aideen blanked, but was unable to answer as the child moved away. He then stood in front of Lion-O, "Do you grow from seed like us? What's that red crystal? How tall are you, anyways? Why are you cover in hair? What kind of-hmm." He muffled as Lion-O cover his mouth with his index finger.
"Okay, slow down," Lion-O chuckled "you sound like me when I was your age."
The human and Thunder cats laughed at what the young king had said. At seeing them laugh the little creatures relaxed and laughed along with them.
They all sat with the little creatures around them. Aideen grabbed one of the kids hand as she chuckled and played with her. The human was quite intrigued by the new creatures she encounter.
"You've already met young Emrick. We are petalars." One of the Petalars said, "We come from a far-off paradise called the garden."
'In a small garden stood petalars, some in crystal-flower like homes. "One day, long ago, a disaster fell upon our people." The petalars began to scream and became terrified as a strong wind flew. "A terrible wind like none recorded in all our history whipped through our homeland and swept up the entire palace race, carrying us across the sky and bringing us here to briar woods." The petalar were kneeled down and one stayed standing up looking at the sky.'
"And here we have remained, stranded, for generations." The petalar finished with a sad expression.
Aideen stared at him and thought about what he said. "Generations? Is this place so big that you couldn't find your way in all that time?" Tygra asked.
"But we've got a map" Emrick said as two petalar lift a leaf with drawing in it. "It's very, very old. And it will lead us out of the briar to the cliff of the wind. If we can find it, we'll be able to ride the winds all the way home." The kid finish explaining.
Lion-O grabbed the leaf, "We'll help you find it. And together we're both going to find away out of here, Emrick. I promise."
The petalars cheered while Aideen smiled. She knew how kind lion-O was. Then a thought struck her, there was something her mother told her long ago about flowered but she just couldn't remember. She knew that the petalars were not flowers but they reminded her of them.
Her smiled widen when Emrick grabbed onto lion-Os string of hair and began to swing saying, "Hooray for Lion-O! Hooray for Lion-O!"
Cheetara smiled at the young kid, "Seems like Emerick's' found a hero"
"Hmm," Tigra said as he put a hand on his chin, "He's too young to know better."
Aideen laughed, she stood up and brushed her pants then walked toward Tigra and Cheetara. "I think he's smart enough to know who to pick and who to not," She said with a innocent smile as the Tiger growled at her. She then turned and chuckled as she saw Emrick riding Snarf. "He remind me of Isa."
Tygra and Cheetara stared at the human with a questionable expression. "Who's Isa?" they asked.
Aideen looked at them then turned back to look at the petalar, "Isa is my cousin. She is rather….. carefree. She is really wise even though shes really childish. Shes… My bestfriend," the human girl finished with a sad smile. Then her expression turned to an annoyed look, "But she tends to get on my nerves."
Aideen stood to the side as she watched as Lion-O was with Emrick. While Tygra, Wilykat, and Cheetara stood on a hill. The female cat looked at the leaf-map then she turned to the sides, "I can't recognize a single landmark on this map."
The human girl tilted her head, she turned and looked at the stem she was leaning on. She closed her eyes and thought about what her mother use to tell her. She touched the stem and tried to concentrate. She could feel a strong pull threw her body. She was sure she knew how to get out, but before she could figure out what that pull was, the connection broke. Aideen opened her eyes and sigh, for some reason she thought the forest could lead her out. But now she knew that was not going to happen.
"Aideen?" someone asked. The human turned and looked at Tygra.
"Yeah?"
The tiger prince gave her a look of worried, "Why are you here, alone?" he asked.
"Oh" she began then thought about her answered. "I.. Um just wanted to be by myself," she said. At the look the tiger prince was giving her, she sigh, "I'm fine, I just wanted to think about something." Aideen didn't wanted to talk about her thought. She gave the tiger a smile then walked toward the Lion-O.
"When I grow up I want to be like you, Lion-O" Emrick said as his swings a small thin thorn.
Lion-O closed his eyes and smiled as he leaned on his hand. "Enjoy your childhood," he said then opened his eyes and looked at the small petalar. "Trust me, you'll mis it when its gone."
Aideen came closed to them and crossed her arms as she leaned on the stem the young petalar was in. "He's right, you know. Child have a happier life than when they are older."
"But I want to be a hero," the little petalar insisted. AIdeen smiled at the young child. Emrik turned towards Lion-O, "Can you give me sword lessons?"
The young lion stood up, "well, first, you can't just wave around a weapon like that." He took his sword out and stood straight. His formation was relax but his attention was focused. He stood firm, "you need to concentrate," he moved his word to the side up high. "be more precious."
They turned as they heard a loud roar. A big bird came swooping down and took Emrick in his claws. "Whao! Help me, Lion-O" Emrick screamed as the creature roar.
"Emrick!" Lion-O ran right behind them Aideen ran right along side him. "Fight back!" They watched as Emrich began to poke his claw making the bird droop him. They ran fast trying to catch the falling child.
"Emrich?" they yelled. Both looked around looking for the child. They looked to the side as they sow a figure approaching them.
"Emrick? You scare me half to death, Emrick" lion-O said as he ran toward the figure. Aideen looked at the figure and frowned. She watched as her friend ran toward him.
"Lion-O. Aideen. I thought I'd never see you two again," the figure said as he walked toward them. The suns light revealed the figure to be a teen petalar. One that resembled Emrick.
Lion-O stood right in front of him, "Who are you? Wheres Emric." Aideen stared at the petalar with a confused expression. There was no way this petalar was emrick.
"What are you talking about, Lion-O? I'm Emrick," the petalar confirmed. Aideen and Lion-O turned to each other, then turned back at the petalar and looked at him in disbelief. "Don't you recognize your all friend?" the petalar asked.
"Emrick's just a boy," Aideen said in disbelief.
"Maybe the last time you two saw me," the petalar said then put his hand on his chin in thought. "But I supposed I was lost in the woods along time."
Lion-O looked at Aideen who shrugged in confusion as he was. He then looked back at the petalar, "Uh, not that long."
"You never gave up on finding me," Emrick said.
"No problem," Lion-O replied.
Aideen looked at the petalar then she remembered what her mother once told her. "Time moved different for all of us. To some it may go slow, but to other it is fast." Lion-O looked at the girl who was in deep thought. They both turned as they sow Cheetara approach them.
The Cheetah noded to what the human had said. "Thats true. As the ancient Thunderian philosophers said 'time is relevant'" she said. She bent down letting the small petalar that was in her hands go. They watched as the child ran laughing, Lion-O smiled. "This child was just a baby hours ago," Lion-O looked surprise at what she had said. Aideen watched around her as the child petalars was running after a butterfly. "The petalars entire existence seems to pass in the course of a single day," she continued. They looked as an old petalar fell and dissolved to leaves.
Aideen starred as the leaved flew on the wind, "but from their perspective…"
The young king turned to look at them "Its a lifetime," lion-O finished.
'Time is unpredictable' 'to most of us' the voices said the same once Aideen had heard back in Thundera. The girl the frowned as a new question enter her mind. If the time was different for some creatures did tha mean it was different for the planet's as well? And if so how long has Aideen been gone in her planet. This only worried the girl more.
The lizard machine stood outside the thorn forest. They tried to cut threw the thorn branches but the razor would not cut.
"Clever strategy," general Slithe said. He walked towards the branches and grabbed, "but only one that postpones the inevitable." He turned towards the three lizards from before, "If we cannot go in, you will bring them out. And don't hurt the human girl." The three lizards left and general Slithe smiled.
Aideen stood next to Tygra, her book in her hands. She tried to studied as she knew she needed to learn how to read thunderian writing. It was the only way she could be able to read her mother's second book. She closed the book after having read it for a few minutes. 'how did my mother learn how to read this?' the girl thought. She grabbed her necklace and looked at the stone. It was still the same but different. She hadn't really taken a look at the necklace sens lion-O put it on her, but now that she looked close to it, the shape was different. The chain was thin and wavy. The two crystals wore attach to the chin by the same wavy form, but the stones were now of different color; blue, brown, and a transparent white. With the big crystal still white. 'could this be the soul stone?' she wondered but shook her head. 'No, this is not it.' She let go of the necklace and looked ahead.
"Are we making any progress?" cheetara asked making the human girl turn her way. Aideen looked at Tygra waiting for his report.
"If the map is meant to lead us into every single thorn bush in the bariar, then yes, we're doing great," he replied sarcastically. Aideen elbowed him making turn her way.
"No need to be rude," she said as she began to read her book again.
Emrick swings his sword with Lion-O to his side as they followed the line. "You're getting pretty good, Emrick" Lion-O comment.
Emrick turned towards him, "Heh, I hope so. I have been practicing since I was a kid," he replied. He looked ahead and gaped as the bird from before made their way towards them. Just as the bird roar the petalar make his way toward it. "My old nemesis, we meet again," he said. The bird landed on the ground, Emrick ran and began to attack him. He swung his thorn sword to the birds wings making him slightly back away. The bird then hit his sword out of the petalars hand. Emrick looked back and began to run toward his fallen sword. Lion-O, seeing the bird about to attack his friend, went to the bird and sword his sword scaring the bird away.
"What are you doing?" Emrick complained, "I had him!"
The young king turned angrily at his friend, "That was dumb, Emrick! You could have gotten hurt."
Emrick grabbed his thorn sword, "You're not the boss of me, so don't tell me what to do!" he yelled then ran off.
"Teenagars," the lion said as he shook his head.
"Aren't we teenagars too?" he heard making him turn. Aideen stood next to him her eyes not leaving the book page. She may have been reading, but that did not mean she had not hear what had happen. She gave the young king a glace then went back to reading. "Don't worry about him," she said as she waved her head and began to walk away. "He'll be fine. We all learn from our mistakes, all we need is time," she finished as Lion-O walked by her side.
The young prince nodded his head, then looked at the book she was holding. "What are you reading?" he asked.
Aideen looked at the prince from the side of her eye, "Not really reading but…. more like I'm trying to learn ancient Thunderian writing. My mother has a book that is written that way but since I can't read it. I need to learn how to," she explained.
"Who's helping you?" he asked.
"Tygra."
The lion blinked, "Tygra's helping you? I thought he didn't like you."
The girl just shrugged and went back to reading.
The three lizards stood at the top of a small hill, the same one the thundercats had been on. Sauro smelled the ground, "They've past her twice," he said then looked up "they're lost."
"And their not alone" said khamai as they looked down at the foot prints left on the sand.
Aideen looked at the sky, the sun had began to set, night was almost close and they still had not gotten out of the forest. 'let the light, light your way' 'and the moon be your guide' 'let go of the fear' 'in order to leave a better life' 'and for the soul to be pure' Aideen listen as the voices began to say the same thing again and again. She was sure they could feel her uneasiness as the time went by. She wanted to explore the place, but night was falling and she felt trap in the forest. The human did not like feeling trap, it was not a fear but neither was it something she could be calm with. She looked at the petalar and notices one falling, his body dissolved to leafs. Aideen closed her eyes, every time she saw someone dying it reminded her that she could do nothing to stop it. It made her feel weak, incapable.
"Are you alright?" Tygra asked.
Aideen was about to nodded her head until she saw the look on his face. She closed her eyes and shook her head. The tiger prince looked at her and then did the one thing that surprised her, he had given her a side hug. It was not much of a hug but it was close to it. "Thank you," she whispered He nodded as they began to walk again.
Lion-O looked at his friend and brother. He then looked at the leafs that had flown away, "What the point of it all? Kingdom rise and fall, lifetime comes and goes. Are any of us here long enough to make a difference," the prince questioned as he looked at the ground with as sad expression.
"You sound like an old man talking like that," said a voice surprising lion-O. The young king turned and looked at the adult petalar.
"Emrick?" Lion-O said with disbelief.
Emrick made his way towards him, "With so many great adventures ahead of us, we still have a chance to make our mark," he said.
Lion-O closed his eyes his expression with a hint of sadden, "Yes my friend. Many adventures, I hope."
Emrick began to walk ahead, "It can't be," he said then ran towards cheetara. He jumped and took the map, surprising the cheetah. He landed on the ground and looked at the map. He moved the map at a thorn bush entrains. "This is it the gateway to the cliff of wind. Once we get through this pass, we'll be free," he said excitedly making everyone cheer. Everyone ran toward the entrance.
Lion-O smiled then looked back at the rest, "then lets go," he said earning a nodded from them. Wilykit and Wilykat carried the grown children, along with snarf who was rather getting tire of carrying all the children on his back.
Aideen smiled and began to walk away but stopped as the voices warned her once again. 'Do not turn' 'when there is danger close' She thought about ignoring them but soon felt the wind carry a sound that made her turn fast. She saw Lion-O move away then he was shot on the back by a blaster. Khamai turn uninvisible a blaster on his hand.
"Lion-O" Cheetara and Aideen screamed. Just then another lizard came down and hit cheetara behind then with his elbow hit Tygra on the stomach. Aideen was about to attack when a blast was shot her way. She moved the side enough to avoid it but it brought her close to the other lizard. She saw as one of the lizards threw a bola at the two kittens that electrocuted them. She then felt something wrap around her and knew what it was. She could feel the pain of the electricity that ran threw her body.
The petalars sow as one of the lizard began to hit on of the thundercats. He grit his teeth in anger. His hand boiled into fist. Without thinking her ran towards the lizards.
Khamai hissed, "you were fool to try and outrun your fate" he said.
"Outrun this!"Emrick said as he ran toward the his sword in his hand. Just as he was about attacke the lizer hit him sending him back. He used his sword for support as he stood on one knee. "This is the moment Lion-O has prepare me for my whole life." He turned around and looked at the rest of the petalars, "The thundercats had been our friends for as long as we can remember. They have stuck with use through good and bad times, helping make us who we are today. It's time we repaid their friendship. Let this be a day that will be sung about by our people for ages to come," Emrick raised his thorn sword and everyone cheered.
Aideen open her closed eyes and looked as the petalars came running. They jumped and flower pollen was spread around the lizards. Aideen grabbed her knife and cut the bola she then turned and ran toward the kits. Cutting them loose. She turned in time to avoid one of the lizards that ran toward her. Cheetara, using the opportunity of the distracted lizard, she used her staff and hit him on the chest. Some of the petalars hid behind thorn branches. Tygra grabbed ran towards sauro and hit him with his shoulder.
"You can't fight what you can't see" khamia said as he turn invisible.
"We can take care of that," Kat said as he and his sister threw fruit at him. The juice stayed on his face.
Lion-O stood in front of him his sword raised to the side. "I can see you now," he said as he then swings his sword at him.
"Charge," Emrick said as the rest of the petalars ran toward the thorn entrains, the rest behind them. The taller thundrcats and human crawled through the hole.
"You did great out there, Emrick. You've really grown into quite the young man," The young king praised. Aideen smiled at the young king as she was next to him.
"Well, I had a pretty good role model," Emrick replied, "now, the cliff on wind awaits." The petalar ran ahead of them.
Aideen turned towards Lion-O, "hes right, you know."
Lion-O raised and eyebrow "about what?" he asked.
"You really are a good role model." She replied with a smile to which the young king returned. Her smile then turned to a smirk, "Well at time, when your not going crazy." She began to laugh at the look the lion was giving her.
"Your never going to let that go, are you?" He asked to which the girl gave a light laugh.
"Nope," she replied.
The petalars ran ahead with happiness, as they got out of the tunnel their smile fell. They were reseced with more thorn bush and no cliff. "Huh?" they were all in question. The two kittens were next to the petalars.
"Uh.. There's no cliff here" Wilykat stated then his sister liked her finger and tested for wind.
"Or wind. Just more woods," Wilykit added. Emrick looked down at the ground with a sad expression.
The rest of the lizards waited outside of the briar, their leader grew impatient. "Burn this forest. Burn it to the ground.," Slithe order as he sat on a chair with two lizards at his side and a piece of fruit on his hand. One lizard held a tray of food while the other massaged the generals shoulder. "And the thundercats with it! I've waited long enough!"
The lantern looked at him, "But Khamai and the others," the lizard protested.
"Are expandable, as are you, lieutenant" The general replied.
The lizard began to frighten as he remembered what the black witch had told them. "And the human? The witch wants her alive," the lizard asked.
Slithe hissed, "I do not care what that, witch has to say. We will just walk in and take the necklace. Now do as I command."
The lizard salute the general, "Yes sir!" he replied then began to walk away. His mind replied what the witch had told them. In an instant he began to fear for his life. Not because of the threat the general had made, but for the one, he knew the witch would keep.
They set fire on the forest, and Slithe smirk as they watch the forest began to burn . Some of the lizard began to fear what was going to happen when they got back to the pyramid.
By nightime all the petalars and thundercast where sited, with exhaustion and disappointment. The human girl stood next to the seated tiger prince and lion king. Aideen had her eyes close as she listen to her inner voices, or at least tried to see if she could communicate with them, but she was not having much luck. Instead she began to try and connect herself with the forest, just as the voices had hinted her to do. 'the path with be shown' 'if you listen' 'to the earth'
"Maybe I misread the map," Tygra said as he looked at the map closely.
"Or maybe their is no cliff of wind," the young king said. He turned to his brother, "Maybe the map is a lie, but why?"
"Maybe our forefathers wanted to provide us with hope," Emrick responded, "hope so we'd never stop looking for out way home."
Lion-O looked down with a sad expression, "is that all hope is, then? An illusion?"
"No," they heard. The cats and petalar turn to look at the human who had her eyes closed. "Hope is what keeps us alive. What gives us a reason to live. If there is no hope, then there is no way for us to move forward and become stronger." They looked as the girl have open her eye, the stones in her necklaces were beginning to glow slightly. "There is something in here, I know it."
Aideen was about to walk away until she felt a small heat. She turned and looked to the side then gasped and whatever connection she had broke. Her eyes widen and the others turn to look where the forest began to furn. The rest made their way towards them. Soon they were all together looking at the flames.
"Well, thing are about to get a little less hopeless," Tygra said. Aideen gave him a glance then looked back at the flames as they began to flicker. She frowned and looked closer to see if she really saw the flames flicker.
Lion-O turned toward them, "We have to retreat, again."
Emrick stood on his way his arms extender, "No, we must to toward it."
Tygra and Lion-O looked at him in disbelief, "Toward the flames? Are you crazy?" ssid lion-O.
Aideen stared at the fire, "No," she said making them turn her way. "Hes right."
"What?!" Both brothers said in disbelief as the girl had agreed with the petalar.
"Can't you feel it, lion-O? Do you know what this is?" Emrick continued as he pointed toward a group of thorn branch that were arched down. They looked at the plant began to lift toward the sky. Making a small cliff.
Lion-O looked at the branch, "An updraft from the fire," he said then smiled. "It creating wind." The petalars gasped as they stood up and looked at the plant.
"This is why we never give up hope," Emrick said then reached for his sword and raised it in the air. "Were going home." The petalars began to run towards the cliff. The kittens lead the small children, who were carried by snarf, toward the cliff. Aideen stood to the side, she watched at Lion-O put a child petalar on the plant and the child began to climb.
Aideen folded her arms as she looked at the petalars walked away. 'Listen to the wind' 'follow your instinct' 'listen' 'and the question' 'will be answer' 'let go of the past' 'and move on'
Aideen turn as she saw Lion-O bent down and picked up an old petalar. "Hurry, there's not much time. Literally," Lion-O said then gasped as the petalar lay in the lions hands.
"This, I'm afraid, is the end of my journey," the old petalar said as he moved his hand a thorn sword fell on the ground. Aideen looked at the following sword and her eyes widen just as Lion-O realised the same thing she did.
"Emrick?" the young king asked in disbelief. His expression turned sad.
"It's alright, old friend," Emrick said as he closed his eyes.
"A blank of an eye," Lion-O said. Aideen walked to his side her eyes full of sadness.
"In the end, what matters isn't how long we've lived but how fully we've lived," Emrick said as he opened his eyes. "The good we've done, the friend we've made, the love we shared along the way." The petalars surrounded them and began to sing. Aideen felt a tear leave her eye.
"I'm sorry I didn't get you to the garden," the lion apologized with tears in his eyes.
"Its the journey, lion-O. Remember that," Emrick said as the memories of their time together was remembered.
{flash back}
They remember when Emrick was a kid. " When I grown up, I want to be like you, Lion" The thundercats laughed. The image then changed to when Emrick was a teen, "Don't you remember your old friend?" Emrick then stood angry, "You're not the boss of me, so don't tell me what to do." Emrick then appear as an adult, "With so many great adventures ahead of us, we still have a chance to make our mark." "Can you feel it, Lion-O? Do you know what this is?"
{end of flashback}
Emrick took his last breath then began to dissolve in Lion-Os hand. The lion raise his hand to let the leaves go. The kittens sobbed and the lion king had tears in his eyes. Aideen let the tears fall and open her mouth and along with the petalars she began to sing;
'we live a day but gone the next
we live to love and hope to meet again
in another world we will be together'
The petalars sang the melody while Aideen sang the lyrics. Her voice was soft and held many emotions, it was beautiful. The thundercats listen as she sanged;
'don't forget what we went through
the life we share and the adventures we made
we meet for a reason and we will meet again
but for one another we will live our life to the fullest
Our memories together will live in one another
until we meet again and shared the rest of our story
together'
The song soon stopped and Aideen closed her eyes. She let the tears fall as she remembered her mother. Then thought about the words Emrick had spoken. She open her eyes and saw lion-O stand up.
"It's time to go home," he said. Aideen nodded then wiped away the tears.
They watched the petalars glide with the wind as Wilykit blew her flute. Aideen waved as she saw the petalars fly of. This was one memory she knew she would never forget.
Tygra stood next to the human girl, "Are you alright?" he asked.
Aideen closed her eyes then reopened them. She turned and gave a real smile, not like the once she force. "Yeah, now I am."
They watched as the petalars left. "So, what now?" Tygra asked.
"We can try to find another way out of this briar," cheetara commented.
"Retreat? Thundercats never retreat," Lion-O said as he looked at them with a serious expression. "I say we face the lizards," his expression then softened, "And hope for the best."
Aideen looked at the wind, "We're all leaves passing in the wind."
"Here and then gone," Lion-O finished as he looked at Aideen who smiled at him. He then turned to the rest. "But while we are here, we live to the fullest!" He unshiled his sword form the goblet?. "Thunder," he swung his sword, "Thunder, Thunder" the length began to grown as the sword was swinged, "Thundercat, Ho!" A red light beend out of the eye of thundera forming a cats head on the night sky.
"Its time to move on and let go," Aideen mutter.
Outside the briar the lizard army stood looking at the burning woods. The general scratched his chin with satisfaction, "as soon as that fire finishes its work, we can go back in there and mop up. yes," Slithe said. "leuntenant, do you have a tast for rosted cat?"
A bright light shined from behind the lizard general making the leuntenant, "There!" the lizard informed. Just then the thundercat and human ran toward the lizard army. Lion-O slashed the lizards that were close to him. While tigra shot the lizards that tried to shot him, not missing a single shot. Cheetara twirled her staff above her head the slashed the lizards with it. Aideen dodged the shot beams shot her way l, then ran towards one of the lizards. She pushed the gun up and kneed him in the stomach, she then brought her elbow down on his back. Seeing two of the lizard to her side she bend down then ran towards the one on her left. Once close enough she grabbed his gone and shot the one next to them. Pushing her elbow back the girl hit his face knocking him unconscious. With the gun in her hands she she ok the the lizards that were close to her, but missed one of them. The gun was the shot from her hands and a gun was aimed at her. She waited for the lizard to shot but there was no shot. She looked back to find the lizard on the ground and the lion king right behind him.
"Thanks," the girl thanked.
"No problem," he replied then began to fight again.
Aileen stayed quite as she looked at the rest of the lizards. "Well it now or never," she mutter as she stood up. She closed her eyes and relaxed. 'what is it that you want?' they asked at the same time.
`the power to help those I care about' she replied.
'Then let the fear go' 'and fallow your instincts' Aideen took a deep breath and listen to what they told her. SShe felt a warm felling run through her body. She opened her eyes and looked down at her hand. Her eyes widen as she saw them on fire it the fire did not burn her or her gloves. She saw as the machine was about to shot her way. She shot her hands forward the young blasters connected with the fire making an explosion in mid air. The Lion-O and lizard, that were close by, turned towards the human girl.
"How did you do that," lion-O asked as he stared at her hands that were on fire.
"I have no idea," she replied. The girl looked at the lizard, "but I want to try something." She rushed her hands forward throwing fire at the machine and lizards. She caught that way for awhile but as she used her power she began to fell exhausted. One of the lizards shot a blaster towards her making her jumps to the side but not fast enough to escape some of the damage. She felt a sting on her side and her hands wore no longer on fire. Aideen gritted her teeth as lion-O helped her back up. They ran towards the others tygra shooting some of the lizards that came towards them, while the young king strike some of the lizards and protected the human girl. They soon stood side by side with the rest of the thundercats.
"there are to many of them," Lion-O said.
"Father would have been pround pround of your bravery, Lion-O" his brother said.
"A glory I'm honor to share with you all" lion-O said sincerely.
"My serves to the crown has always been a cherish privilege," cheetahs replied.
Aileen shrugged as she felt a wierd sensation on her hand but she decide to ignore it, for now. "Meh," she said, "I rather die this way. Though I am still to young." They stayed next to each other while the two kittens held one another. Aideen heard the sound of a vehicle and turn towards it direction. "But it seems we may be living after all."
Just then the vehicle shot a blasters toward the metal machines destroying them one by one. The lizards became frighten and began to run away.
"hold your poses. I said hold you poses! you miserable cowards," Slithe said but none listen to him.
"what is that?!" Cheetahs said. They watched as the vehicle began to fire at the remaining machines. One was destroyed in front of the vehicle. It exploded as the vehicle jumped over it.
"Talk about an entry," the human girl said. She then hissed as her hand began to hurt. She looked down at it but found nothing wrong or at leas saw as much as her gloves allowed her to see. She clenched her fist with her other hand want bit her lip, to stop the sound that tried to escape from her lips.
The rest watched the scene, no one noticed the pain the girl was in.
"i hope its in our side," Aideen maniged to say. They watched as a figure came out and hit a lizard that tried to attack him with a pair of nunchuks.
"who are you, " The young minced asked.
"names panthro," the Panthers said.
Aideen was half listening as she felt the pain worsen to the point were she felt no strength. She closed her eyes but her vision began to blurred. She learned towards the person closer to her, which happened to be Tygra.
The tiger looked at their girl, "Aideen are you alright,?" He asked. The human was unable to respond as she felt her self fall and her vision became black.
"Aideen!"
Alchy was furious. Not only did the lizard general tried to kill the girl but he also gave her the means to activate her inner power. One that would be troubled for her. She walked toward the lizard as he stood next to the saber. "How dare you," she began as her eyes began to turn black. The lizard that were behind the general began to frighten. They took a step back as the witch came close to them. "Do you have any idea what you have done?"
Both generals stared at her while Mumm-ra stared at the witch. "What are you talking about, witch" Mumm-ra asked.
"Your stupid general. Set fire on the Briarcliff the girl was in. Then decided to kill her," she explained. One thing she could somewhat forget was if they tried to kill her but what she did because of that was something she was never going to forget. "And because of that she can now use her inner power."
"Get one of your spells to make her fear that power," slithe said. The black witch growl and used her dark magic to throw him on the ground.
Do you even know what the inner power of a Shannen is? What it means?" She question to which he didn't answered. "Well, let me tell you. The inner power is a power opposite to the one the Shannen is born with. It is connected to their birth element. It can cost a person damaged as the after effect but it is cure with the birth element. If Aideen can now access the inner power then she may be close to getting over her fear to water and if that happens... She will be able to control the rest of her powers." She then looked at the general that was on the floor. "Not only that but if the girl were to die when would never get the stone."
"Stealing the necklaces is no problem," one of the lizard said making Alchys turn his way. He coward as her black eyes turned towards him.
"You think the stone is those that are in her necklaces?"She asked. Then turned towards the generals, " the stone is not in the necklaces but within her. It must be corrupted in order for the spirits of evil to become stronger. That us why we need do to turn her heart black. The stone she wears are the symbol of her power, while the bigger stone is what tells if her soul is pure or dark."
Mumm-ran turned towards the black witch, "you better have a way of fixing this," he threatened.
Alchys growled, "me?! It was your army that caused this!" She replied angrily.
"Yes, but you are the witch. Now do you or do you not have away of fixing this," he said.
She stared at him with a hard expression. How dare he talk to her like that. None dared to ever speak to her like that. But instead of complaining or getting the mummy angry she decided to stay quite, for now. "Of course I do," she replied. "It time for an old friend of Aiddens to make a visit."
well there you have it! I should have the next chapter by th end of the week, I hope.
Don't forget to; fallow, favored, or review.