Hello, so here's another chapter and sorry for the late update. Hope you like it.
Disclaimer: I don't own thundercats.
Dark past and memory loss
The darkness seemed like comfort to Aideen. There was no pain, no lies, no confusion, no fear. It was silent and dark. For the first time she felt at eased. Her mind wasn't clouded with betrayal or thinking about all questions she had of her family. It was calm with no trouble.
Her life seemed to be fill with only hurt and lies. From her mother, her brothers and now her cousin. The one person she trusted the most had lied to her. She was the daughter of the woman who killed her mother. Not only that but she knew everything. She knew her father and what had happen to her mother. All that time she had stayed quite and said nothing. Why had she done that? Why do people keep hurting her?
But deep down she had a guess to what had happen. Just by looking at the way she was treated by Alchy the girl could already guess why she didn't tell her who her mother was. It was clear to everyone, Alchy didn't love Isha. She had no love for her, no care, she felt nothing towards her. That part she could understand, but everything else she couldn't. What she know didn't involve her, it was all about Aideen. She would understand her not wanting to talk about her mother, but the rest she couldn't.
Everything was to much for her, she was only a teen that had learn about third earth a couple of months ago. Now, a witch was after her. A mummy had plans for her, once she was sure she didn't want to know about. Her mother had once come to this planet and was killed by her twin sister. Her brothers had kept secrets from her along with her cousin. They had lied when she asked about her father. Who's to say if she asked now they wouldn't lie again.
"Yes. They all lie," a dark voice echoed in the darkness. It was the same dark voices as before. The same dark voice that kept telling her dark thought. "They didn't care about your feeling. Your father, your mother, your brothers, and now the one person who you trusted the most. Who knows what else they lied about."
They kept whispering to her making her wonder if perhaps they were right. Showing memories she told herself to forget. Her old friends face appear along with Julie, all looking down at her.
"You can truest no one. They all lie and betray you."
Isha looked down, all eyes were on her. Her eyes were red and swollen from crying, but she didn't care. Why would she? Aideen knew everything, about her mother, about her father, and who knows what else Alchys had told her. The one person the young girl trusted betrayed her, Isha was afraid of her reaction. She didn't want her to find out what happen, she was afraid.. that perhaps, now she really... had lost her cousin, and all because of her mother. Then again her mother lover her misery. That wasn't a surprise to her. Deep down the girl knew even Aideen would be taken from her by her mother, everything she loved was always taken from her.
Isha glanced up at Zane who was sitting next to Aideen, looking down at her with worried. His helmet was to his side as he had taken it off. His once long hair was cut shot and his brown eyes never leaving his sister face. He hand't said a word to anyone sens they had gotten to the forest. She was sure they were all curios, but neither one of the older kids wanted to talk, not until Aideen woke.
The thundercats were all waiting for the young girl to recover, but it had been a full day and there was no sight of her waking up. Neither one of them got closer to the older boy. At first, cheetara tried to talk to him and offer him food, but her didn't even flinch or moved from his spot. Then, Tygra tried to talk to him, which he surprisingly looked up, a small hint of surprise crossed his eyes, then he just looked down at the girl and ignore the other cats. They finally decided to leave him alone. Lion-O said he was perhaps worried about his sister that he couldn't talk to anyone. Then again who wasn't worried?
The young lion was worried about his human friend. The other had told him everything that happen, to say he was surprise was an understanding. He would have never thought Isha, a kind and childish girl would be the daughter of one of the cruelest beings in third earth. The young king, glanced toward the older girl, her eyes were full of sadness and worry. She wasn't her normal self, no smiling, no playing with the kits, she hand't even bother Tygra or even bother to look at him.
The older boy touched his young sisters head then sigh, making them all turn toward him. He stood and walked toward Isha, "Go to sleep, Isa." He said in a deep voice, a hand rested on the girls head.
Isha shook her head, "No, I wan to see Aideen when she wakes up. I need to talk to her... I need to explain." Her eyes began to water again as she thought of her cousin hatting her. She couldn't live with her hate, not her.
Zane sigh, knowing how stubborn the girl could be. "I wasn't asking, or suggesting it. I said, go to sleep. That's an order," he stated. Isha looked up at him, his eyes giving her a warning to follow what he said. She looked back down, knowing that look.
She sigh and stood up, with a nod of her head she walked away. They watched her go, laying her blanker down, the girl laid on the ground and fell asleep quickly. The cats turned toward the boy as he took the older girls spot and finally sat in front of them. They were quite surprise that the older girl would listen to him, and obey his command. The only one she would listen to, sometimes as she ignored her at times as well, was Aideen.
They stood there for a few seconds no one saying anything, to worried to even start a conversation. The boy on the other hand, looked at them trying to make up his mind. He was taught to always be on guard, and even if his sister had trusted them that didn't meant he had to. "She'll wake up tomorrow morning," he informed, finally decided to let them have some information. They all look up in surprise but nodded, glad to at least know when she will wake up.
"Will she be alright?" Wilykit asked.
Zane looked at Kit, "I don't know. She will most likely be very upset when she wakes. Perhaps even angry, but her mental state... well that's what I'm more worried about." He let out sigh. He had done a full check on her, for any injuries. To say he was furious after seeing the bruises on her side and arm wasn't even close to how he felt. But what made him more worried was her mental state. Her mind had been force with information that had long been lost. Information she wasn't meant to remember.
Tygra looked at him, with a confused look. "What do you mean?"
The boy looked at the tiger as if trying to find something in the young tiger. "What's your name? All of you," he asked. There had been to time for introductions as they were all worried about the girl and the brother stayed away from them most of the time. His instinct told him to trust them this time he was going to follow them for now.
She didn't feel herself waking. The darkness had both become a comfort and terror for her. The voices kept repeating constantly what Alchy said. They wouldn't stop talking to her, trying to convince her that everyone were liars and would leave her within time. Deep down she didn't what to believe them, but then again there hasn't been a reason not to.
Her eyes began to open slowly trying to adjust to the bright light. It was early in the morning the sun had yet to completely set on the sky. Her head throb and her heart beat fast. She felt numb, but that left in a couple of seconds. She closed her eyes once again trying to go back to the darkness to the comfort that it brought her. But she still had questions, so many questions that she wanted- needed the answer to.
Taking a deep breath she open her eyes once again. This time she stood up and looked around. Not far from them the cats and Isha along with a human boy sat on wood with a fire in front of them. Her eyes widen as she took a closer look at the boys back. The same one she would always look at and hid behind when in trouble. Pushing the blankets aside she stood up, not taking her eyes off her brother. She manage to take a few steps closer to him before her knees gave up under her. She fell and with a groan tried to stand up again.
A warm hand wrapped around her waist while the other grabbed her hand and was help to stand. She looked up at her brothers serious face. Aideen hadn't see her older brother for a couple of months. She wanted to hug him but the voices kept whispering lies and betrayal making her drop her hand to her side and look away from him. She didn't even bother to look ahead as she felt all their eyes on her especially her cousins. Her brother though didn't let that bother him, he touched her cheek making her turn to him. His eyes had soften and looked at her with worry. At seeing that look in his eyes she pushed the voices away. He was her brother and no matter what had happen she just couldn't feel herself hatting him. Perhaps mad, but hate was not something she could feel towards him.
She looked down and closed her eyes. Turning towards him she hugged him as tight as she could, "I miss you so much," she whispered as tears ran down her cheek.
Zane looked down at her, knowing she was upset, "As did I," he replied as he return the hug. He could deal with her sadness and anger towards him. He would do that as long as he knew she was alright and safe.
After both part from the hug, Aideen sat between both Isha and Zane. "Here," she heard Cheetara say. Aideen looked up at her then at the bowl in her hand.
Gently, she pushed it away, "Ah, thanks but I'm not hungry," she said as she looked down. She didn't want to eat anything at the moment.
Zane let out a sigh already aware that this was going to happen. He took the bowl and pushed it to her. "You have to eat, Aideen," he said as she looked up at him. Her eyes showed sadness and a hint of anger. He looked at her with soft eyes, "I know your upset and mad. I know you are confused and don't understand what your feeling right now, but you cannot stop eating. After your done I'll tell you everything you need to know.. or at least as far as I can."
Aideen looked at the bowl then at her brother. She didn't want to upset or mad at him, but she couldn't control her feelings. The voices kept whispering things to her, things she didn't want to hear. "I don't need to eat. I feel like if I eat all probably just throwing it all up," she stated as she pushed it back and turn away. Her head began to throb as the voices seemed to get louder trying to convince her that they were right.
Her brother frowned as he saw her touching her head, "Aideen-" he began.
"I said, I don't want it!" she yelled and pushed the bowl to the ground. She touched her head as her head began to throb more than before. The cats and human looked at her in shock. Aideen had never yelled or showed that kind of attitude toward them. This took them all by surprise, or at least to some, Zane on the other hand was quite and calm. He had a pretty good guess she was going to react like this.
"Aideen," Tygra called as he looked at the girl with worry eyes. He could tell something was wrong just by looking at her eyes. They held sadness and anger, something none of them had seen before. Not to mention the way she was acting was unlike her.
Aideeen turn to Tygra, the throbbing seemed to calmed down then glanced at the food in the ground. Her eyes widen slightly. Looking up she began to panic at her reaction, "I-I- I.." she began but was unable to find the right words to say.
"They lied," the voices whisper again making her throbbing return. She grabbed her head trying to silence the voices as they were giving her a very bad headache. She became conflicted with her feelings now guilty at her actions, but anger at being lied to. She was confused and now she felt like she was going to explode in any second.
Zane looked at his sister worried about her now more than ever. Her reactions were different, it looked as if someone was making question everyone. Zane narrow his eyes already guessing what was going on. He grabbed a pill from his pocket, "here," he hand it to her. Aideen open her palm and looked at the pill then at him with a questioning look. "Its to help with your head. I can tell you have a headache," he replied as he handed her water.
Aideen looked at the pill and put it in her mouth then drank from the water. "Thank you," she mutter then looked at the rest, "Sorry about that. I don't know what happen to me."
Lion-O gave her a small smile, "Its alright, but how are you feeling?"
She gave a shrug, "confused and frustrated," she answer truthfully.
"Its normal to feel that way especially after everything that happen," Panthro commented as he watched the girl who had a look of sadness.
Aideen looked away as she became more guilty for what happen. Her thoughts were all going wild making assumptions of things she wasn't sure of. Not knowing and being feed lies tended to do that to you. She wanted so badly to just run away and hide away from everyone, but she knew that would only make them more worried. With a sigh she looked at her cousin who had her head down, at seeing her arm with bandage she remember what had happen to her back at the pyramid. Even if she was still mad and felt betrayed by her, Aideen couldn't help but be worried. That was just the type of person she was. She worried even when she was the one that got hurt at the end.
"How's you arm?" she asked as Isha looked up.
After a few minutes she kneed down in front of Aideen and grabbed her hands, looked at her deep in the eyes, as tears began to form at the corner "I'm sooo sorry. I- I," her voice cracked as she tried her best to not cry. In all her years she had learn that crying brings nothing especially when it came to her birth mother. She had promise Zane to always smile and keep being the cheerful girl everyone knew, but at that moment she was afraid of losing the one thing that matter in her life. That was her cousin. "I didn't mean to lie to you or.. to not tell you the truth. I just-" tears fell down her eyes as she remembered all those memories she had bury deep inside her. "I was so afraid... of you hating me and so ashamed of who I was and who my mother was. I'm so... sooo sorry."
Aideen was taken back by her actions as she didn't expect her to reach like that. Even so she didn't move or answer her. She just looked down at her then up at the other who were as surprise as she was. The brave, cheerful girl they knew was no longer there, instead there stood a frighten girl. A girl who was afraid of losing the one person she cared about the most in the world.
Zane looked up at the sky, blaming himself for his cousins misery at the moment. "Don't be mad at her," he said. Looking down at Isha he couldn't help but worry for the girl he used to hate. She had done everything to keep his sister safe even if it meant having to face her mother and return back to the prison she had been kept in. "All she wanted to do was keep you safe. She was only following orders."
"Keep me safe?" the young girl question with a frown, "Following order? From who? My mother?" She looked at him with anger and frustration. Those emotions were never see on her eyes. For a moment the girl just followed her emotions not caring about her actions at the moment. "Why? Why did you lie? Why didn't you tell me the truth? Do you know who confused I am! Do you know what I felt at finding out all I know was a lie. Not knowing who I am!" As her voice began to raise she turn a way from all of the looking eyes and tried to calm down. She didn't want to scream or get angry, that wasn't who she was. But then again who was she? and what was happening to her.
"Mother didn't have it easy either, Aideen," he replied as she turn back to him. He took a deep breath as he knew he was getting angry at something that wasn't worth it. His sister's anger he knew and understood. Looking deeply into her eyes he open his mouth, "do you really want to know who told us to keep things from you? Do you want to know the reason?"
Aideen stayed quite for a few minutes before looking at him with a serious expression, "I want to know everything that you have been hiding from me. I'm tire of the lies, Zane." Her voice began to brake as she tried to hold her tears. Why cry, if it would solve nothing. Then again she was to frustrated to control her emotions.
Zane looked at her as his expression soften, looking down he remember the promise he made. "It was father," he answer with sadness in his voice. Looking up he saw his sister looking at him with confusion. The others began to wounder if they perhaps should leave then to talk alone.
Lion-O looked between the siblings. He cleared his throat and looked at the other before looking back at them. "I think well leave you two to talk," he suggested, but before the boy could stand Zane shook his head.
"It's fine if you want to hear this. Aideen trust you and you can help help her after you understand why her memories were sealed," he said as he looked at the others.
The cats looked at one another before panthro looked at the human girl. "Aideen?" he called clearly wanting to know if it was alright with her.
Aideen turn her eyes away from her brothers to the cats. The voice kept telling her not to truest anyone, but as she looked at them a part of her wanted them to stay. That part was afraid of finding out the truth, of knowing something it does not wish to remember. She gave a nod, "It's alright." Turning back to her brother she waited for him to continue.
Zane looked at his sister, wondering why things had turn out like this. "We had plan to tell you everything when you turn 16 but..." he looked at way as if he couldn't looked at her, his eyes were full with sadness, "Something happen that made us not want to tell you anything." He looked back up as he rested his hands on his thighs, his gazed looked as if he was looking somewhere else. "I can't tell you everything, there only somethings I can tell you about."
Aideen didn't seemed to like that, but before she could ask Tygra spoke. "Why not? She does have the right to know everything," he said in confusion.
"Tygra," his brother said as he looked at the tiger.
Tygra glanced at his brother, but ignores him. He didn't like seeing the girl upset or frustrated. "Why not tell her everything."
Zane looked at the cat, "I wish I could but... magic was used on her and if we just rush everything there could be consequence," he explained. "The magic that was used was ancient magic, one not known by many, only few. Not only that, but it was used on her at a young age if we even remove the source of the magic it could.. tear her mind apart." This was true, as having all ones memories rushed back could cause a great deal of stress on the persons mind. Many people who used magic were always careful with this type and was used just to erase a day or two no more than that. But for Aideen the memory she had forgotten was for 7 to 8 years. Not to mention she was young when that happen and years had already past sense then. "We had plan to tell her small part at a time. That way it would be easier for her to remember and not give to much stress to her mind."
"I understand," Cheetara spoke as she tried to remember the teachings of her master on magic. She looked at the older boy with a frown, "But I never thought this kind of magic was still being used. My master said it had long forgotten."
Zane gave a shrugged, "My father wasn't a wizard or used magic. He only knew about it and some basic things, but he was never interested in it." He turn to his sister and lifted his hand to tap on her headband. "This headband was made out of wood. Wood that contains magic," he turn to the others, "You all went to the forest of Magi Oar, right?" everyone nodded, "Then you know that place is full of magic, but it's not the only place. There's other forest that are like that. This headband was taken from the oldest magic tree, the tree that is connected to all others, and added ancient magic along with the magic it already contain." After explaining he looked down and bit his lip wondering if, perhaps its was alright to tell her the purpose of the headband. She did have a right to know and she was going to know one was or another. He looked up and was meet with Isha's gaze, who was now sitting next to Aideen. As he looked at her, he sigh, "Before telling you more. I want you to know that I can't tell you about Isha as it is not my duty to. If she wishes to tell you it will be on her own."
Aideen turn to her cousin who had her head down. "Isha?" she called.
The older girl looked up her eyes emotionless and yet held some sadden in them, "My past isn't the happiest, it's something I wanted to forget. I wanted to leave it in the past, but I guess I just cant run away from it." Her eyes turn to her cousin as she looked at her, "I-" she stop to look at the others, who were waiting for her to continue. She looked down and hugged her arms, "Do you hate me, Aideen?"
The young girl looked at her cousin, then down at the ground. Hate. It was such a foreign word to Aideen. She never hated anyone, never had the desire to fight someone, or wish misfortune on them. Could she hate the person who was always there for her? 'But she lied' That was true she did. "She hid things from you" that was also true. She had hidden many things, as it seemed. "She did it to protect you" And there they were the voices who guided her to do good. "She cared for you" "Was by your side." That was also true. Both voices were right and she didn't know who she should listen to. "She was afraid of losing you." Loosing her. Was she really afraid of that, then again her eyes had reflect that fear.
Aideen let out a breath and touched her heart. Could she hate Isha, even though she didn't hate Julie? At the mention of Julie, she understood. Looking up Aideen gave a small smile to her cousin who was waiting for her answer. "No, I don't hate you, Isha. I could never hate," She gestures to the others, "I don't think anyone hates you."
Isha turn to the others as they nodded their heads, to her surprise even Tygra agreed. The short hair girl looked at them then turn to her cousin, her eyes began to tear again. She put her head on her hands and cried, letting all those emotions finally pour out. The sadness that she had hid for many years. Her cousin didn't hate her, none of them did, even after finding out who her mother was and she was glad, but what would they say after they learned about her past life? What would her cousin think of her? Aideen put a hand on her shoulder trying to comfort her. This made Isha look up, with tears rolling down her eyes she spoke, "I don't know in what planet I was born. Alchy never told me, she never wanted me to know. I didn't even know my father." She looked down as she remember all those harsh words her mother told her. She had felt as if her life had no meaning except for that one purpose her mother had given her. "My name isn't Isha it's Zamora. I.. was made in order to take the stone that you hold."
"Your mother gave birth to you for the stone?" Cheetara asked as everyone looked at her in shock. "Why did she want it so bad?"
Isha looked around with sad eyes, "She didn't gave birth to me. She made me threw DNA. I was an experiment my mother made with her blood and someone else's," she explained shocking everyone even more. They were all left speechless and Aideens anger vanished as shock set in, all but Zane who just list to what the girl had to say.
"What?"
Isha took a deep breath as her tears stop. She hugged her arms closer to her trying to find protection in them. "My mother said she could never carry a child in her," she began and rolled her eyes at her own words. "Or to put it in her words 'Carrying a child is nothing but a pain. Why would I want something like that in me.' I was five when she told me that. Not once did she act like my mother. She didn't like for me to call her mother. Everyday she would remind me of why I was created, that I was nothing but a weapon that would benefit the dark forces." She turn to look at Aideen with anger, "I was just five years old. Even if I was made, I was still a child. She made me do things no child should do. She-" cutting her worlds of she turn away to look anywhere, but at them. She shook her head trying to forget of everything her mother had made her go threw. "Anyways, When I turn nine I meet someone that had infiltrated my mothers place. I didn't know who she was as she was wearing a cloak that cover her face to not be recognized by anyone. But when she took it off, I knew right away who she was," she had recalled those kind eyes and kind expression. "Her name was Tigress, a tiger who my mother constantly fought against and who she said was powerful than her."
A young Zamora looked at the tiger in front of her. She tried to not look fearful, if she did and her mother found out she was sure to be scolded again. The female tiger looked down at her, her brown eyes looking at her in shock as if just realizing she was there. She turn her full attention to Zamora, who took her knife out in order to defend herself. The tigers long hair swing from side to side as she moved closer to the child as the child moved back. Even she could already tell that this woman was no one to mess with.
"Who are you?" the child asked as she held her knife tighter, her small hands shaking from fear. Her eyes only showed hints of fear, but nothing more. Of course the question she asked was one she knew the answer to, but at the moment she couldn't think of anything else to say.
Tigress stared at her as if trying to figure out who this girl was, trying to read the girls expression. When she finally spoke, Zamora heard a kind and soft voice, "I am Tigress. I can here looking for someone." Zamora was taken back by the woman's calmness and relaxed expression. Her eyes became soft, and the aura surrounding her change to a more relaxing one. Zamora found herself relaxes to the point were she put down her knife.
This cat wasn't like her mother told her she was. She was kind and caring. She didn't even seemed threatening to her. Zamora found herself reaching for the cat, the aura around her was warm and kind. One she had never known. Perhaps, it was the warmness her mother never gave her, but when she saw the kind expression and soft eyes she wanted to cry. At realizing her actions, Zamora took a step back and lifter her knife again. She couldn't let herself be swiped away by the moment, kind eyes were always the scariest to her. It was an emotion she wasn't used to.
Raising her chin, she looked at the cat dead in the eye, "Whoever you're looking for is not here. My mother, though, would be pleased to know that you are here." She narrowed her eyes wanting to intimidate the cat. "I'm more than sure she would be pleased with me if I were to bring you to her." Tigress, though, didn't move she just looked at the girl. This time the way she was being looked at, displeased Zamora. It was eyes of.. sadness.
"I never thought Alchy would be this cruel," the tiger stated.
"What?" Zamora asked in confusion and shock.
Tigress crouch in front of the girl, looking deep into her eyes. "Tell me, child. What has she done to you? What has she made you do?" she question.
Zamora was taken back by her questions. No one has asked her what her mother did to her or made her do. Everyone was afraid of her, they kept quite even those who witness what happens to her when she disobeys her mother. But Zamora didn't say anything she stayed quite, she was taught better than to reveal anything to the enemy. They would always take whatever information for their own benefit.
At not getting a response, Tigress sigh. She knew the girl wouldn't tell her anything. So she decided to approach her another way, she walked closer to her. Putting her hand on her shoulder, which startled the girl a little, she looked at her. "Do you like what she is making you do?"
That question was what shocked the child the most. No one ever, even her mother, asked her if she liked doing the things she does. There was never a question of whether she wanted to do the things was asked to or not. It was always a must do or else suffer the consequences later. She didn't want to give in on answering the enemy, but she was a child and for some reason she wanted to answer her. She looked down and shook her head.
"Then, why don't you leave this place?"
Zamora looked at her as if she was crazy. If she were to leave this place she would be punish severally by her mother. No matter how small she may seem her mother took no mercy on anyone. She didn't give birth to her anyways, so why would she? "Alchy is strong. I don't wish to be punish anymore," she confessed. Her mouth seemed to want to answer the tiger.
Tigress looked at her before turning to the door. The room was light by a red light, signaling the alarm had been turn on. She looked back down at the girl who began to freak out a she looked a the door then at the tiger. She knew her mother would find out the enemy was in her room and would be anger if Zamora didn't at least try to capture her.
Tigress stood up and looked down at the girl. She extended her hand taking the girl by surprise. Zamora looked at the hand then up at at the tiger. "I'm giving you a chance of leaving this place. Will you take it?"
Zamoras eyes widen, a small ray of hope began to light those dark eyes. "Leave?" she repeated.
The tiger nodded, "yes, leave. To never come back and to be who you want to be. Without someone stopping you from doing what you feel is right."
She was about to reach for the hand when she stop. Leaving and being who she wanted to be was what she wanted. It was what her head kept screaming for her to do. To start clean and be some else. But her mother would find her and when she did.. she would forget that Zamora had her blood ruining threw her veins. "Alchy. She-"
"She will not find you. I will make sure of that," the tiger interrupted.
Zamora looked at her and for the first time saw truth in someones eyes. Truth of her words and that she would keep it. Looking at down at the knife, she dropped it and grabbed the tiger hand. Hope growing in the girl as she and the tiger walked out her bedroom door. Hope that, perhaps, she had a chance to be who she wanted and to undo what her mother made her do.
Isha looked up at the others as she told them her story. She wiped the tears away, "She rescued me and took me to my aunt Irene. That's were I meet you and your family," she looked at her cousin with a soft smile. "I didn't want to remember so I never told anyone. Before I was adopted by our uncle, Tigress said I needed a new name. One that would signify the beginning of my new life. I couldn't think of anything so I asked her to choose for me and she choose Isha. Although, I never knew why, I have treasured that name, because it was the name given to me by my savior and was a symbol of my new life."
Zane who had been quite spoke, "Isha means alive or she who lives. I guess Tigress knew what you had to go threw, and she gave you a powerful name. You who went threw a harsh life, especially the one Alchy gave you, and yet is still alive today."
Isha's smiled widen, "yeah, maybe that's why." She turn to Aideen, "your mother always said Zane was like your father, but I think she wasn't completely right. I think the one who is more like him is you." Aideen looked at her in confusion wondering what she meant. "When I meet your father I was..." she stop and searched for the right word. "I was surprise he wasn't like the other's from his species. He was kind, selfless, wise, and understanding. If there was one person that I felt the love of a father, besides my uncle, it was from him. He didn't care who's child I was, how I was created or what I had done." Isha looked deep in thought as she remember the man who had given her the father love she had longed for. "And then wen I saw you with him. I realize that even though your mother was a very important person in his life, to him you were the world."
Zane looked down at his hands as he heard her say that. "To my father Aideen was the world. If anything were to happen to her, he... he would be devastated," the boy said.
Aideen looked down at a she heard them. Her father loved her. He would do anything for her. As she thought that she couldn't help, but feel happy. She remembered those visions she used to have. The once's of her father, his kind voice and the warm he gave to her. He had loved her greatly. And she could already guess she had the same love for him as well. His voice, even if she heard it in her vision, was calming to her. "He-" she began as a tear rolled down her cheek, "He died protecting me didn't he?"
Both Isha and Zane exchanged glanced, but knew they would need to tell her. Zane grabbed his sisters hand then lifted her chin so her eyes would look into his. "I don't know. The wound he got when we left was very deadly. He couldn't have been saved."
Aideen looked down. Another person had died trying to protect her. Both parents. The two people she had loved died protecting her. Who else had died for her? "Why was my memory sealed?" she asked trying to change the subject before she burst into tears.
Zane let out a sigh, "My father didn't want you to come back to third earth. The truth is you were born here," he answer her. "He was afraid if you stayed Alchy would come after you or worse Mumm-Ra would escape and come after you. He feared your death more than the his own."
The thundercats stayed quite as they listen to the story neither one wanting to interrupted them. After hearing what had happen to the girls father they all turn to look at her. Her expression was full of sadness, but they knew she was holding her tears.
Tygra turn to look at the boy, "Does that mean her father wasn't human?" he asked. Zane, who was looking down at his sister, turn to him. He looked at the tiger and stayed quite for a few seconds before nodding.
"Then, who was he?" Cheetara asked.
The boy stayed quite and didn't speak. He needed to know how he was going to answer this question without giving to much away. The last thing he wanted was to harm his sister by telling her everything. "He was a tiger from the last tiger clan," he answer.
"What?" everyone exclaimed as they turn to the boy in surprise. Aideen eyes were wide as she was having a hard time understanding what has just been revealed. Her father was a tiger, a cat.
"He was a tiger from one of the two clans. His name was Sahib," the boy informed as he looked at them.
"A tiger?" Tygra asked as if he was also having trouble comprehending what was going on. He thought he was the only tiger, and not only that, but they didn't even have the appearance of a tiger.
Zane raised an eyebrow as he looked at the others, "Surprise? I thought Isha already told you about our ancestors. They didn't care about the species as they could mate with them. Your species are closer to humans the others. My mother didn't care, she was in love with my father and that was all she needed to marry him."
"But," cheetara began as she looked between the siblings. "You don't look like a cat or have any trace of it," the others nodded in agreement.
Isha looked at Zane with a sly smile. The boy looked at her from the corner of his eyes, "Shut up, Isha."
The girl raised her hands in defend, "I didn't say anything." Her smile didn't leave her face as she found the situation rather funny.
The boy let out a sigh as he scratch the back of his head. "Well, that's what the headband also does."
"What do you mean?" the girl asked as she touched her headband.
"The headband not only seals your memory's it also covers your true appearance," he explained. He lifted his hand up and showed them the black leather cuff with a iron stone at the center. "I also had to get one... for certain reasons. Do you know about Behira's twins?" he asked. Aideen turn to Lion-O as both exchange a glance. She had told him about the two child Behira had with the tiger, that of course didn't mean they weren't surprise that the girl's father was a tiger. They turn back to the boy and gave a nod. "In case you don't know, one was born a Shannen and another was born a tiger. Their father was Cato, a soldier from Mumm-ra's army. Usually, when having twins that's how they are born. One get the fathers or mothers blood and the other gets the other parents. Of course, when just one child is born both bloods are combined to and they get some features from the parent that is not a Shannen. I wish I could show you, but I don't want to risk taking the headband off of Aideen."
Lion-O shook his head, "I think its fine. If its dangerous for Aideen, its best if we leave it like that."
Wilykit sat next to the boy, "So, I guess you were all born separately?" she asked.
Zane looked down at her then up at the others. Now, he didn't want to say anything and he didn't. He stayed quite and didn't speak making the others wonder why he was acting like that. "Zane?" Aideen called as she touched her brothers arm wondering why he was acting like that. They were all born separately so why wasn't he saying anything?
Isha who was looking at the boy knew he wasn't going to say anything. After so long he was still hurt and she could understand that, after all they were born together. She stretched her legs as she looked down. "No, Aideen and Xander were born alone, but Zane wasn't," she informed.
"What are you talking about, Isha?" Aideen asked. She knew her brother wasn't born with a twin, or was he? She turn to him wondering why he wasn't saying anything.
"You see Zane was born a tiger while his twin brother was born a full Shannen. It is normal for at least one pair of twins to be born among our blood line. Especially when one of the parents are of different species," she explained as she looked up at the others. Her voice soften as she turn to glance at the boy who was looking to the side. "This is why they didn't tell you anything, Aideen. Because of what happen to Zanes twin." Looking at the boy she knew he was trying to show no emotion, talking about his brother always upset him. He wasn't only his twin brother, but his best friend the one person who he trusted the most. For everyone having someone like that is always hard to find. Of course the boy had lost his father, mother, and then his twin brother one could already guess why he was also always shut even more than both Aideen and Isha. That was also why he had made that mistake years back with Julie.
"His name was Ian," Zane spoke as he looked up at the others. His eyes were emotionless and yet Aideen could feel the sadness that surrounded him. Over the years the older boy had learn to control his emotions, because of them his sister almost died. He was the older son and needed to take care of his younger siblings. "He had died in an accident, after you learn about that you, yourself locked those memories. I guess having lost mother and knowing you had lost father, trigger the magic to lock your memory of him." He remembered the day he told his sister of what had happen and how she cried for days until she just forgot about him. "Some memories were to important to you that you didn't want to lock them away and instead confused them for evens you and I shared together."
Aideen looked at him and frowned. Her forget she had a brother? No, that didn't seemed right. She treasured her memories of her family more than any memory at all. She wasn't going to forget something like that so easily. "You're lying," she stated as she stood up. Her heart began to race as her head began to throb.
Zane looked up at her, "you think I would lie about my own brother? Xander even remembers him as does Isha." He looked down, "I was..." he shook his head. It was still to painful to remember the people he had lost. "I was there when father died and I saw mother die as well. Do you really believe I would have lied about having a brother and then saying he had lied?" Aideen didn't say anything as she stared down at her brother. She wanted to just hid and forget that any of this had ever happen. "He was my twin brother. We were born together. I was the only one out of all of us that remembered both our parents death and not only that. I remembered so many things, Aideen. So many thing that I myself wish to forget. But I can't."
"Is that why you went out with Julie?" she question. It had been odd for her brother to be dating Julie, a girl that was younger than him and that he didn't speak to as much. She had began to hang out with him more after his brother was feeling depress for an unknown reason. One Aideen didn't know until now.
Zane ran his hand threw his hair as he let out a sigh and looked up at the shy. He wounder why he had dated her, when he didn't care about her and only saw her as his sisters friend. And yet after he had lost his brother and Aideen had erased her own memory she appeared in front of him and for a second he remembered her, the only person he had truly cared about. The only person that knew what to say to him and that made him happy. Even if back then he was still young, that never meant he didn't cared about someone like his father cared about his mother. Then again perhaps what he was feeling was just the beginning of what his parents had felt. Only time would have told, if that tragic day hadn't happen.
Isha who was looking at the boy turn her attention to her cousin, "She took advantage of the stage he was in. Perhaps she put a spell on him to make him fall for her. You know, sense she is working with my mother and all." Even if she didn't agree with what her mother did she couldn't help, but feel some jealousy toward the Julie as she had gotten her mothers attention unlike her.
Aideen grabbed her head and closed her eyes. It was to much, to much information. She had lost not only her father, but a brother as well. She was half-tiger half-shannen. Isha was the daughter of her mothers twin sister, as well as her mothers killer. Her memories were erased so she wouldn't be able to come back to third earth. She was sure that wasn't even half of it, but now she didn't want to hear anymore. Her emotions were in conflict wondering if she should believe them, if they were really saying the truth. It was to much far to much for her to understand.
She looked up at her brother, "I.." she took a deep breath, "I understand." She didn't say anything else as she then turn and left. She began to walk towards the forest as the others called her, all except her brother. She wanted to be alone to think of what they said. To ignored the two fighting voices in her mind. She just wanted to understand why this was happening to her. A few feet into the forest, the girl took off. She ran and kept running as if that would help her runaway from the things she had learn and the mess she was now in. Her father wanted to protect her from both mumm-ra and Alchy and had died trying to. But all of that had been in vain his death had been for nothing, she had come back and now she was in more danger than before.
There were so many thing she didn't understand. Her brother had a twin, a twin she made herself forget. As she ran, pieces of memory replay in her mind. When she asked her brother about events he didn't recall did that mean does were memories with she had shared with his twin? The more she thought about it the more she could see the truth behind it. Zane's hair was light like hers, while some of the memories she had of him, he had darker hair. Hair like her mother, his eyes had been honey color than theirs. That hadn't been Zane. Those memories had been with Ian her brothers twin.
The girl stop running as she got to an open field a river in front of her. Her eyes lifted to the sky as her back touched one of the trees trunks. She closed her eyes wanting to forget as she was more confused than ever. Her memories, she didn't know which one was real, or if she should truest what she remembered. She slid down the tree as tear began to trail down her cheek. She just wanted to forget, to be back home, for everything to go back to the way it was. Why her? Why did she had to be chosen? What was so special about her?
She hugged her knees and cried. Why did people have to die for her? Why did they betray her?
Why her?
As she kept wondering this a hand touched her shoulder. The girl looked up expecting Isha or Tygra only to find the lion looking down at her with worry eyes. He looked at her and said nothing. He was going to do what the elephants told him, he was just going to be there for her no questions asked.
Aideens eyes cast down then closed. She reached for the lion, surprising him as she hugged him. She cried as the lion wrapped his arms around her. There was no need for words only comfort, and that is what she had been longing for.
They stayed like that for a few minutes before Aideen calmed down and pulled away. The lion sat next to her as she wiped the dry tears away. She looked at the river finally able to control her emotions. Lion-O looked at her wondering if he should speak. "Are you alright?" he asked softly. Even if he already could guess what she was feeling he wanted her to tell him.
Aideen turn from the river to look at him. For the first time without hesitation, she shook her head. "It's all confusing and unreal. I don't even know what is true and what isn't," she confessed as she hugged her knees. "Why me? Why did it had to be me. Why?"
The teen didn't know what to say at first. Usually it was her who advised him on what to do, her or Isha. Seeing the girl upset sadden him because she had grown to be a very good friend of his. He cared about her and the last thing he wanted was to see her sad or hurt. He rubbed the back of his head and sigh, "I don't know what to tell you, Aideen. Even I wanted to know why the sword chose me." He turn to her as his eyes soften, "you told me to look at the bigger picture, to see things from a different perspective. Maybe you should do the same thing. Your kind and wise as well as brave, unlike any one I have meet."
Aideen looked up at him, "but why me? Why does everyone betray me? Why do they risk their life for me."
"I don't know, but I can tell you I will never betray you," he stated as he grabbed her shoulder. "Don't let what happen change who you are. I don't like to see you upset," he confessed as he touched her cheek.
Aideen looked down as he comfort her. She looked back at him, "Thank you lion-O."
"For what," he question, "I didn't do anything."
She shook her head, "You listen to me. That's all I needed," she replied with a smile.
Lion-O smiled back at her. He then looked to the side as he leaned against the tree. "Remember how you told me not to fight with Tygra?" he asked. Aideen gave a confused look, not understanding what he was trying to say, but nodded. "Then, I will tell you not to be mad at Zane. Both he and Isha only wanted to protect you, we can all see how much your brother had to endure from being the only one that remembered what happen to both your parent and having lost his twin brother."
The girl looked up at the sky. She closed her eyes, "Yeah, I know," letting out a sigh. The girl stood up, she took a few steps forward. No matter what she could never hate her brother or her cousin. They were the only ones in her life who were there for her, even if there was a problem with her brother he never moved her aside. No, perhaps that part was her fault. "It was my fault," she whispered. "I didn't know my brother was in pain. Why didn't I notice?" She touched her forehead understanding why her brother always had that sad look, why he was always leaning on Julie. It was her fault for not noticing her brothers pain as well or Isha's.
"You couldn't have notice," the lion replied as he stood in front of her. He looked to the side as the girl looked down. "Don't blame yourself for something that already happen."
Aideen nodded and wiped her tears away. She took a deep breath then stretched, she needed to talk to her brother. "Thanks, Lion-O. I really like talking to you," she said as she look up at him. She gave a small smile, "I... could never hate my brother or Isha. They're far to important to push a side."
Lion-O smiled back at her, "Then maybe you should tell them that."
The girls smile widen, "yeah, maybe I should," she replied as she began to walk back to the other. No matter what the voices said to her, her family was always the most important to her. Even if she was still confused she would get over it.
Back in the camp...
Zane looked out to the forest, not speaking a word sense his sister left and the lion followed her. He was grateful that he had, as Zane was sure the last person she would want to see right now was Isha and him. He just wanted for his sister to be safe, he didn't want to lose her as well. He had already seen to much deaths, lost to much. He never complained about the tasked he was given, about the memories he had to carry on. All the things neither one of his siblings remembered or even his twin had remembered. It was only him. The only one that could remembered, he never knew why. Then again he prefer for it to be him than any of his younger siblings.
Zane let out a sigh as he looked at his communicated. Numbers kept ticking by, it was almost time. He only had a few minutes left before he needed to leave. He wish to stay longer with his sister, but he had already wasted to much time. He ran a hand through his hair as he thought of what to do. Knowing Aideen, if she forgave him, she would want him to stay.
"Zane?" Isha called as the boy looked at her. "You need to leave, don't you?" Isha knew the boy better than his sister, in a way. She knew he couldn't stay as he needed to finish certain things. Whatever it was, she didn't know.
Zane looked at her and nodded, "I need to visit my father city. I need to know what happen there or if my father is still alive," he answer. The boy didn't get his hopes up when it came to finding his father alive. He knew the wound was to deep and he had bleed to much. That day he didn't die immediately, but kept fighting so they would leave the city and escape to earth. His mother always cried when she remembered his father. She loved to much and suffer because of it.
"You don't think he's alive, do you?" Isha asked as if she could already read his mind.
The boy shook his head, "his wound was far to deep. Even then he didn't stop fighting, he was already loosing to much blood."
"Perhaps he was able to survive somehow," the cheetah suggested.
Zane let out a sigh, "I don't know. I need to check before anything else," he answer. He turn to the tiger as he kept on staring at him. "What is it?" he asked.
Tygra looked to the side, "I always thought I was the only tiger. How can it be that Aideen and you are decedent from one." He then turn back to the older boy as he studly realize something, "Are there any others?" The others turn to look at him a the boy thought about the questions.
"Perhaps, I don't really know," he answer truthful, even he didn't know if all the tiger had escaped. "The city wasn't full of tiger. I know some people escaped because of an invasion we had, but I don't know about all the tigers."
"So there were other species?" the lion asked as he and Aideen walked towards the others. Aideen sat between the Isha and Zane looking calmer than she was.
Zane turn to her, she gave him a smile and the boy relaxed. He turn to the lion and nodded his head, "Yeah, many species began to live in the city. I rather not explain the reason right now." He turn to his sister, "You could say we were the only ones that have tiger blood, I more than my siblings." As he finished his communicated began to beep, taking it out he let out a sigh. "I need to leave."
Aideen look up at him, "Why?" she asked.
"There something I need to finish doing. As much as I want to stay I can't," he replied. With a touch of his wrist's communicator a bright light began to glow. He turn to his sister, "I'm sorry I didn't tell you the truth. I was just worried of what would happen if we pushed to much on you."
The girl shook her head, "No, part of it is my own fault. I didn't even notice when you were upset. I let you carry to much on your own. I'm sorry." She hugged him and he return the hug. Both stayed like that for a few minutes before they let go of each other. At that moment a black motorcycle like vehicle. The vehicle was larger and with more advance technology than the one in earth, and unlike the two that hid under the thundertanks claws. It stop a few feet from the boy.
Panthro walked to the vehicle in press by it, "Where did you get this?" he asked.
Zane turn to the cat and shrugged, "made it my self from an old model I had found. I just needed to change certain things and add new program to the system." The panther looked at the boy impress by his work.
Aideen rolled her eyes, "I told you he was good with vehicles," she commented.
Zane got on top of the vehicle and looked at the thundercats, "Please take care of my sister. She means the world to me and I don't want anything to happen to her."
The thundercats nodded, "You got it," panthro replied.
Zane then turn to his cousin, "You also better be careful the last thing I want is for you to also be hurt."
Isha waved her hand, "oh, please. You know me," she said with a smile.
The boy let out a sigh, "Yeah, that's why I worry." Isha stuck her touch out childishly at him before giving a soft smile.
Aideen walked to her brother, "Please take care," she said.
The older boy nodded, "I will. Take this," he handed her a communicator. "Call me when you need me. I may answer unless I get busy running away from.. certain unpleasant people." Aideen raised her eyebrow and the boy shook his head, "Don't ask."
"Okay," she replied then looked at him. With one last smile Zane put his helmet back on the speed away. Aideen watched as her brother's vehicle left getting smaller and smaller as he speed to.. who knows where. She turn to the other and smiled at them.
"Are you okay?" Cheetara asked as she stood next to Tygra.
Aideen nodded, "yeah. Still somewhat confused, but better than before." She turn to Isha who was looking to the side, "I'm not mad or upset with you Isha." The older girl turn to her in confusion. Aideen walked to her, "I was at first, but I shouldn't be. You had your reason's why you didn't want tell me anything. A promise should never be broke."
Isha smiled widely as she ran to the girl and gave her a hug. Aideen looked at her, she wasn't to good on hugs unless it was with her brothers, this time she would let it go.
Thanks to all who have favor/ review/ or followed.
Now as for my other story's their update it should go something like; Secret: 1-2 chapters (I don't know how many I will update), then twist of fate: 1 chapter. Although I kind of want to upload native son before Secret, so that may happen or I will just go in the order written down.
Anyways, I hope I didn't confused anyone on this chapter.