Announcement: so.. I decided to make the chapters based on Aideen and Isha's point of view. I will however include the point of view from the others.
Disclaimer. I don't own Thundercats except my O.C's and other events that are non-canon.
The pit
Isha stared at Aideen. Neither one wanting to back down or lose eye contact. They stayed were they were looking at each other from across the table. The other cats were beginning to wounder what was going on. It had been a normal morning, or at least as normal as it could get with them trying to get way from the lizard army. After the events with Xander, the boy and his companions went their separated ways. The older boy had told them he was looking for Tigris, Tygra's mother and needed to keep on looking. So far he knew she was alive, but as to where she was is he didn't even have a clue. Tygra stated that he wanted to go with them with Shila clearly telling him no and to not complain as he would only make the search worse with his presence. The tiger didn't like being told no. It wasn't until Xander told him that he was supposed to not know that Tigris and Tygra were related that that was to be kept a secret. It was what his mother would have wanted in order to protect him. With much persuasion he finally agreed. Now they were on their way to a dog city to get supplies that were needed. Unfortunately on the way there Isha was back to her old self and was being... well.. Isha.
Isha gave a smile, "Come on just give up," she said.
Aideen raised an eyebrow, but didn't move. Isha was once again being annoying, usually she gave into what the girl wanted to know but not this time. "Nope," she said as she crossed her arms on the table and rested her head there. "Just so you know. Zane asked me the same question, never got the answer to it though. So, if I can stare him down then you are nothing but a piece of cake." She was talking about when she had called her brother asking why he hadn't told them about Tygra. The older boy just said, 'It wasn't time and if someone found out about it Tygra would be in danger." They didn't have much to talk and she decided to leave in until they meet up again which she was hopping would be soon.
Isha gasped at the girls statement. She slammed her hands on the table, startling the cats around them, and stood up. "You can't hold on to that information for long," she stated as she pointed at her cousin.
The young girl rolled her eyes, a smile form on her lips. "Oh, try me," she taunted as the older girl once again gasped.
She put a hand on her chest, "Who are you and what have you done with my precious cousin?!" she said dramatically.
"Just give up, Isha. I'm not going to talk," the young girl replied as she rolled her eyes at her cousin. Aideen turn around and began to walk until someone grabbed her by her braided hair. She yelped at the sudden move as she felt her braid pull. She turn with an angry expression. "You did not just grab my hair," her eyes glared at the older. Telling her she was almost at her limit and that was not something Isha wanted to see. The other cats looked at one another wondering what was going on and were now more confused than before.
The older girl let go as if the hair was on fire. She was getting dangerously close to making Aideen mad. Lately the girl has gotten mad rather quickly and Isha didn't know why though she had a guess. "I'm sorry, but.." she began as she clapped her hands together and looked at the girl with pleading eyes. "Please just tell me."
Aideen, having had enough of the girls pleading, slammed her hand on the table making Isha jump slightly at the sound coming from her hand touching the metal. "No! I mean it, Isha. Let. it. go," she said slowly before turning around and began to walk away.
Isha looked at her walk away with her eyes slightly widen, she wanted to ask her again but instead kept her mouth shut. She had seen the girls angry eyes before and Aideen didn't talk to her at all for a week. Isha couldn't stand not talking to her and from the girls expression she was truly getting mad to the point that she would start yelling at her and when Aideen yelled... well, she didn't even want to think of what she would say to her. "This isn't fair!" she yelled before sitting down with her arms crossed and a pout on her face.
Tygra smirked at her with his arms crossed. "Well that's the first time I've seen you quite down," he commented.
Isha turn to him with a glared. "Oh, shut up," she said as she glared at him, but didn't fight back. Lately she didn't feel like fighting with him but was still very annoyed by him and wanted nothing more than to annoy him more. She tried to forget that Tygra was her masters son and wanted nothing more than to annoy him, but something made her stop. This in return made her be annoyed with herself. "Stupid cat," she mumble as she turn away from him. She needed to find a way for the girl to tell her want she wanted to know. Now to think of a plan. Her eyes glanced at the cats before stopping to look at a certain lion not far from her. "Perhaps"... a smirk grew on her faces as she inched closer to her new prey. If she couldn't get it out of Aideen then she was sure to get it out of Lion-O.
Aideen sat next to panthro with her arms crossed. She let out a sigh. Why did her cousin have to be so annoying sometimes? Couldn't she just let it go and how on earth did she find out? She let out a groan in annoyance and relaxed on the chair. She would need her energy in order to avoided her again. Isha was way to persistent for her own good.
"You seem tense," Panthro observed, "and annoyed. Is it Isha again?" They had all gotten used to the girl annoying them, even if she focused her attention more on annoying Tygra than the others.
"Yeah," she let out as she relaxed. At lest here she didn't have to deal with her. "Sometimes I wounder how I can keep up with her."
"What did she want this time?"
She kept quite not wanting to say anything. If she said anything the other's might get the wrong idea and that was something she didn't want. "Um.. well," she began but didn't know what to say. "I... rather not talk about it."
Panthro glanced at her from the corner of his eye. He could tell that whatever Isha wanted to know Aideen wanted to keep a secret. "Alright then but if you need to talk I'm always here to listen," he answer back as he looked back ahead at the road.
She kept quite as she fiddled with the bottom of her shirt. Part of her wanted to say something but part of her wanted to keep it hidden. If she so much as admit what or try to find out what she was feeling then it would make it real and she didn't want it be real. Then again she has been wanting to talk to someone other than her siblings. Perhaps some one that may understand her in a different form. With a sigh she at tried to talk to Panthro, "Um... well.. what if you have... a different feeling towards someone you care about as a friend?" she began making him raise an eyebrow at her. "But, you know, that person has been hurt before. How do you ignore those feelings?"
Panthro looked at her with soft expression. "So you have feelings for Lion-O?" he asked making her turn to him with hesitating expression. The older cat wasn't blind and he had seen the two teens acting different with each other, a bit closer than before. He cared for Aideen and had a sense of protection towards her. After all she had been threw and yet she still have a will to live and help others. It was admirable to see that in a young girl like her. He was sure the feeling she felt were for lion-O. After all Tygra is her cousin and out of them all she only truest fully both brothers.
"I..I.." she began but didn't know what to say. "I..don't..know." She let out a breath. Most of the time when she had problems with her feeling she would talk to Isha but she already knew what the girl was going to do and say. After all that's what she was trying to find out moments ago. She didn't want Isha to know she knew what she would try to do. "I don't want to have those feeling towards anyone ever again." She wrapped her arms around herself, "And yet they're so... different. Unlike my time with Jason-" she stop talking at the mention of the boy.
He looked at her after hearing the name. "So his name was Jason?" he question and waited for the girl to answer. She kept quite debating on wither she should just talk to him and tell him what happen. Or just forget she let his name slip and not say anything. She was leaning more on the second option. The panther sigh making her look at him, "sometimes it's better to talk about it, but if you don't want to say anything then it's fine.
She looked down and let out a sigh of her own. Closing her eyes she nodded her head and decided to speak now and regret later. "We knew each other since we were little. He was one of my best friends. It was always him, Julie, Isha, and me. That's how it was." She looked down as she could feel tears forming at the corner of her eyes. "I.. What hurts more is that he understood me far more than anyone in the world. I thought he care about me and yet even when he did all of that... I can't forget him.."
He kept quite as he saw tears stream down the girls face. Her eyes were close and she hugged her legs to her chest. Panthro touched her head trying to comfort her but he wasn't used to this and didn't know exactly what to do.
"Come on speak up," Isha said with a smirk. "Your face says it all! You can't hide this, now speak."
Lion-O tried to his best to ignored Isha but the girl was rather.. persistent and wouldn't take no for an answer. He didn't know how Aideen was able to ignored her and wanted the girl to come back so she could tell Isha to leave him alone. Now the situation was rather awkward especially with the other cats looking at him. "Whiskers" he thought as he tried to thing of a way to get away from her questioning.
"Just admit it, Lion-O," Tygra interrupted his thought. The older brother looked at him with his arms crossed. "I saw the look the two of you were giving. There's nothing wrong with you admitting it."
"Yeah listen to your brother," Isha said before frowning. "Wow, i never thought i would ever say that."
Lion-O let out a sigh as he kept quite not wanting to admit anything. He thought there was nothing to admit. Both teens had a..moment and that was it nothing happen nothing change. Only that he knew something had change a bit. Unlike Cheetarah his feeling were different and he knew it, but the moment he admitted then that was the moment it would be true. He knew he couldn't, part of him wanted to, but another didn't. They were different and if things are admitted then things would change far more than they were beginning to.
"There's nothing wrong with admitting it, Lion-O," Cheetara tried to comfort. "She is a kind and understanding girl. If you have feelings for her-"
"I don't!" the young king interrupted.
The older girl raised her eyebrow at his outburst making him groan as he knew had messed up. "Wow, that was a sudden reaction you had there," she observed before leaning on her hand as she looked at him with a knowing look. "I would say you just acted quite defensive. If it's not true you wouldn't have acted like that." Her eyes began to sparkle as she leaned on the table. "I know something happen between the two of you. I want to know what it was and what you feel for her!"
"Um," they all turn to see Aideen looking down at them. She raised her eyebrow as the other stayed quite. It seemed weir for them to act like that, but she didn't mind it that much. "Were almost there." With that she turn around and when back to sit down.
Isha turn to lion-O who looked relief at having being interrupted. "This is far from over," the girl warned with a wicked smile, "I'm gonna get you talking whether you want to or not."
The young prince let out a groan at the conversation that he was already dreading.
Aideen looked around at the massive village withing this deserted place. It was quite impressive. it was like a giant rock with passage wide for anyone to enter. Many dogs were gather, some looking at merchandise and other sitting around shops chatting. Aideen actually liked this place. Panthro walked in front of them looking around. "I say we find the supplies and get out of here," he looked at the others, "I've got real bad memories of this town."
"You've been uneasy all morning," Lion-O commented as they followed him. "What exactly happen here, panthro."
"Forget it, Kid," the panther replied as he kept walking. Isha walked next to him while looking around her hands behind her back. "I don't want to give you nightmares."
Tygra looked at them from the corner of his eye, "He's probably just worried about catching fleas from the locals." This made him receive a punch on the side. "Ow! Why did you that?!" he looked at Aideen who stood to his side. She had never hit him as hard as she had then and he was kind of surprise by the action.
"For being rude," the girl simply replied as she turn away from him.
Isha looked at the tiger, "Better prepare yourself for the other punches that are sure to come. Now that you are consider her family she will be doing this a lot." It was still kind of weir to consider Tygra and Aideen cousins, but no one could deny the fact that they had acted that way before and now they just understood why they had been close.
Aideen rolled her eyes at what her cousin said. "Dogs aren't that bad. Actually, I think I may have always prefer dogs over cats back on earth," she remembered wanting to have a dog as a pet. Even if here dogs weren't consider pets but humans she found no reason to hate them. After all one had helped her.
Isha gave a small laugh, "even when your half-cat?" she asked. She then shrugged as she looked around, "they've been my favorite species too." She then turn to the to the other, "no offence but they are consider the most loyal." To this she received a nod from the girl after all that was why she admire dogs.
"Yeah, they aren't that bad. We used to hang out with them all the time in the slums of thundera," the small boy said. Wilykat began to drool as he thought of the food the dogs back in thundera used to make, "They made the best bone stew." He began to sniff around wondering if there was any of place selling some stew.
"Mmm, bone stew! Let's go find some while where still here," His sister said. They both were ready to leave when the female cat called to them.
"Maybe you two should stay close," Cheetara advised as the twins stop to look back at her.
"But we can take care of ourselves," Wilykat replied before he and his sister walked away.
The young girl walked towards cheetara. "Let them go. I'm sure they'll be fine," she said. She turn as she saw Lion-O bent down and scratched snarf.
"Just make sure they stay out of trouble, snarf," he said before the small cat let out a meow and ran after the twins. She smiled down at Lion-O making him look up and give her a smile of hims own.
"You think he can keep them out of trouble?" the girl question.
Lion-O shrugged, "took care of me when I was a kid."
She raised and eyebrow at that. She couldn't imagine how a small animal could keep up with him. "Really?" she question before turning to look at the way he had left. "Well guess if he can handle you then he can take care of those two."
He frowned at what she said, "What's that suppose to mean?" he asked with a smile.
The girl let out a small smile with crossed arms. "Nothing... just that you tend to get in quite a lot of trouble now that your older. I can't imagine in how much trouble you got when you were younger."
He smirked at her, "I'll have you know I was a well behaved child."
Tygra snored at his brothers comment. "As if," he said as he walked away from the group.
Lion-O let out a groan before turning to Aideen who was laughing. He watched her trying to cover her laughter. He liked to hear her laugh and see her bright face rather than see her upset.
Isha looked between the two a smirk formed on her lips. "Oh, I am so going to keep bothering the two," she mutter. One way or another she was going to make sure they admitted their feeling to each other or at least to themselves. Then perhaps that could help Aideen no longer fear love and Lion-O will realize that sometimes the girl for you is the one who is right next to you.
"Hey, guys," Tygra called out after the other. They all turn to the cat who stood by a pillar with a post on it, "look at this." The poster had a female cat standing tall with a spear. In the back was a gladiator arena like with some form of writing at the bottom. Aideen looked closely as she recognized some of the letter in the paper. She had been trying to learn the languages that was written in this world. Thanks to Tygra somethings she remembered but not all of it.
Lion-O looked at the picture before his eyes widen, "A cat?" he question in surprise, "what's she doing here?"
"She must have survived the fall of thundera," Cheetara said. The young king tore the page from the pillar and looked at it.
Panthro looked down at the post from Lion-O's shoulder. "Now all she has to do is survive the pit," he stated.
"The pit?" Aideen and Isha question as they looked at the poster as well. The younger girl looked at her older cousin, "Why do I have a bad feeling about this?"
In the arena...
Aideen looked down at the arena in displeasure. Many expectorates were cheering at the fight going on. She never liked fighting for entertainment. The only reason why she even fought was in order to protect other and to fight for those who couldn't. This place reminded her of dog fights back in her world and of the fight the roman held many years ago. Three dogs were fighting against a giant machine. The dogs held weapons with a shield each, but she knew they wouldn't be much used to them. One of the dogs tired to hit the metal man only for him to be thrown at the wall. Aideen flinched as she saw the dog slid down the wall unconscious. Two of the dogs tried to attack him at the same time one from behind and one from in front. The robot turn around and took of his head, then threw it a the dog behind him sending him in the air before he fell on the floor. The head kept rolling until it hit a wall, it rolled up the wall then headed towards the other dog. Once it hit him the robot grabbed his head and held it up in triumph, sparks shot from the metal behind his back. The crowed went while.
She frown and looked way in displease. How could some one like this. Why would someone like this. She turn as she heard clapping from besides her. She frowned at her cousin who was actually in enjoying the show. "Isha!" she exclaimed at the cheering girl.
Isha looked at her with a sheepish smile, "Sorry, but what can I say. I love a good fight," she admitted, "besides it not like they are killing each other. That would be far more worse than this." The young girl just shook her head at her cousins action.
"This is the pit," Panthro said. Turning back to look down at the scene before him he continue, "it's were slaves and criminals fight to survive."
"And to entertain..." Tygra said, "Like I need another reason not to like dogs."
Isha shook her head as she had a distant look in her face, "Oh, truest me there are worst people in this world than this people. Not to mention far more dangerous things than this."
The cat and her cousin looked at her with a frown. "What do you mean?" asked cheetarah. She wonder why Isha would say there are far more worst things than this.
Isha sigh knowing she would have to tell them sometime. Perhaps some other day but not now. "You don't want to know. Even though I know well encounter them soon. It's best if you don't know yet," was all she said before she looked back at the arena.
The others wounder who she was talking about but the expression she had at the moment clearly told them not to ask. So they didn't whoever she was talking about they were sure to run into. Whatever they would be doing they would make sure to stop them.
Turning away from Isha, Lion-O looked down at the poster in his hand. He turn to a dog that was sitting next to him, "Who's in charge?" he asked. The dog pointed at high tower in to the side of the arena. The young king looked at a tower with a determine expression. Aideen could already tell there was going to be trouble.
After passing the guards and walking up the tower. They moved the torn clothe that was used to cover the entrance. A single chair was in front of them. The young kind looked at the chair before moving towards it, the rest following closely behind. "What do you know about this cat," he asked as he showed the paper to animal in the chair.
The dog looked at him back at him, "She's a fighter. Belongs to me," he said.
Lion-O frowned not liking what he had said. "She doesn't belong to anyone," he stated.
The black dog smirked back at him, "Is that so?"
"Yeah, she's a free cat now," Lion-O replied, "So well be taken her with us."
Letting out a growl the dog stood up standing taller than Lion-O. "You're welcome to try," he challenge as he looked down at the cat. Aideen was about to get in between them when the other cat spoke up.
"Don't let him scare you, Lion-O," Panthro said.
Cheetara turn back to panthro, "Uh, stay out of it Panthro," she said but the older cat didn't listen.
Aideen looked at the dog as if he had seen him somewhere. She turn to Isha with a questioning expression. "Have we meet him before?" she asked.
Isha blinked and tapped her chin trying to recall if she had seen this dog before. With a frown she turn to her cousin, "I don't think so." The young girl turn back to look at the other. She was sure she recognized him from somewhere.
"He may have been tough once," Panthro began as he walked past the others to stand in front, "Now, he's to old and scrawny."
"Oh, brother," Tygra said with a shake of his head.
Aideen let out a sigh, "Why do they always have to start a fight," she mutter. Turning towards her cousin she could see Isha getting excited to see both dog and cat ready to fight. She shook her head displeased with her cousins amusement at the current situation.
The tall dog growled louder, "You filthy little fur ball."
"You stupid ugly mutt," Panthro insulted. Both glared at one another and growled fearlessly at each other, before they grasps hand with a smile in their faces.
Panthro let out a small laugh, "it's been along time, Dobo."
"A life time, Panthro," the dog said.
Panthro patted his shoulder, "I can see that."
They all looked at the old friends with wide eyes. "Are they.. friends?" Tygra question.
Cheetara turn to him, "I can't tell."
Dobo turn to lion-O after his great with Panthro. "You want to see your cat. Well your just in time," he said before pointing at the arena where the robot was, "She's up against Gormax next."
They looked down as the same robot that had defeated those three dogs. The brow-red head looked up at Dobo, "You can't be serious?" she said in disbelief. The dog turn before a look of surprise crossed his eyes at seeing her. "Do you think she can bet.. whatever that thin is?"
Dobo looked at her before turning back to look at the arena. "Watch. She is far more capable than those three," he said.
They looked over the balcony at the arena as one of the bared door open. Two guards were to the side of the door as a female cat walked out into the arena. She wore a simple brown dress with a belt. Her brown hair was tied in a ponytail with two strands of hair to the side of her face, at the tips was white. Aideen looked down at her with a frown there was something odd about her, but she couldn't help but notice how pretty the girl was.
"She doesn't have a chance against that thing," Lion-O mutter as he looked down at the cat.
They watched at the cat and Gormax stood in front of each other ready to fight. Gormax made the first move a she detached his head and threw it at her. She dodged with eased and did again when it came back to her. Soon after he reattached his head, sparks flying from behind the metal object in his back. Then he threw it again and just like before she was able to dodged it with ease she extended her arm, pressing a switch, a small arrow extended from her cuff. She shot small pebbles inside the Gormax. Sparks shot from his body before the inside exploded and he collapsed on the ground. She walked towards his fallen body and stood on top of him with her arm raised in the air. The crowed cheered as other collected their wins.
Aideen looked down at the scene. "I see," she mutter catching Dobo's attention. He listen as the girl kept muttering to herself, "He can only use his head and because it is heavy and moves on its own he can't make it move more than twice. Once it tries to hit it's target twice it need to come back to its body to recharge. Destroying the body means destroying him." Dobo was quite impress with the girls observation's skills. Then again she must have inherited that from her father.
He turn back to the arena, "and Pumyra wins again," he said. "You cats train your soldiers well. That warrior is making me a fortune!"
They watched as Pumyra was hand cuffed and taken away. Lion-O turn back to Dobo, "Let us buy her freedom."
"With what?" he question. He then turn to Aideen, "Unless you wish to do an exchange for your friend there."
Lion-O looked at Aideen who looked at the dog in surprise. Having remember her almost being sold as a slaved and now Dobo wanted him to exchange her for Pumyra anger him. He growled at the dog, "never!" He wasn't about to let Aideen enter a place like this. He had seen how her disliked when watching the fight.
"Are you sure?" he question. Looking at Aideen he saw the protectiveness her cousin showed. What surprise him was when Tygra moved to stand besides Isha. Both glaring at him.
"He said no," Tygra growled.
"Hm, then she'll earn her freedom when she wins one hundred fights," Dobo replied as he let the subject of exchangement drop.
"It'd be a shame if she escaped before that," Lion-O stated.
Dobo growled down at the young kings hidden message. He then turn towards his old friend, "Make sure your friend doesn't do anything stupid, Panthro." With that he gave one last glazed at Aideen then left.
"He's officially on my bad list," Isha mutter as she lower her guard now that Dobo was gone. She turn to watch lion-O about to follow after him when he was stop by Panthro who grabbed his shoulder.
"The lizards are bad enough," the older cat said, "We can't afford a war with the dogs too."
Lion-O turn around as he watched her being escorted back the way she came from. "She's a Thundercat, Panthro!" he exclaimed as he turn to them, "I won't let her to be a slave."
Aideen sigh at the boys stubbornness. She thought of what to do without angering Dobo or getting in a fight with the citizens. "Look we can try to negotiate with Dobo," she suggested, "but if it doesn't work it's best to let her earn her freedom."
Lion-O turn to her with scowl, "What?!" he couldn't believe Aideen was saying this. After she was nearly sold by a slave trader she was willing to let another person stay a slave? "You were almost sold by a slave trader and yet your willing to let her be a slave?!"
The young girl frowned at him. Did he really think she wanted that? "You can't be serious, Lion-O," she let out getting kind off angry at him. Lately she had been getting angry very easy. "Of course I don't want that! But what choice do we have?"
"She's right, Lion-O," Isha agreed getting between the two before they get angry at one another. "You heard Panthro we can't afford a war with the dogs as well."
"She can handle herself quite well from what we saw," Cheetara added.
Lion-O's anger rises at hearing her say that. "You can't be serious, Cheetara! She's a thunder cat."
"And she will be fine," Tygra said. "We have to find the rest of the stones and defeat Mumm-Ra. Not to mention Alchy. We can't focus our attention on her right now." He watched as Lion-O clenched his first angry at having them all against him. "Unless you want to give Aideen in exchange for Pumyra, because that's the only way you will get her out without angering Dobo."
Lion-O and Isha turn to him with wide eyes at his suggestion. "What! Of course not!" the lion-O exclaimed. "How can you suggest that!"
"Then let her earn her freedom," Panthro stated, "she can handle herself."
Lion-O looked at them before leaving. Aideen watch him leave and was about to follow before she was stop by Tygra. She turn to him as he grabbed her wrist. "Let him be. He need to calm down and know what come first," the tiger said.
Aideen let out a sigh. She had a very bad feeling about letting him be on his own. She knew he would get into trouble when he let his feeling control his actions. She looked back at the arena as the dogs began to exit. There had to be another way to get her out without angering Dobo. She thought she had seen him somewhere but she couldn't remember where. She purse her lips as she tried to remember. "I think I'll call Zane," she told them as she made her way outside. Perhaps he could know who this dog was.
She walked away from the arena. Finding a small shop to sit on she took out her communicator. She waited for her brother to pick up the call, her eyes moved to watch the people around her. She smile at seeing some laughing with their friends as they chat away. This place wasn't so bad with the exception of the gladiator battles.
"Excuse me," a voice called her out of her thought. Turning she saw a shepherd dog with a light brown coat and looked a few years older than her. "Do you mind if I sit here?"
Aideen looked down at her communicator then back at the dog. She had wanted to sit alone and talk to her brother but seeing as he wasn't picking up the call... "Um.. yeah sure. Go ahead," she answer as she shut down her communicator. She looked at the dog as he sat down and notice him wearing dark pants with metal armor to the sides, a chest plate with spikes in it's shoulder, and a sword was placed at his side.
"So," he began making her raise and eyebrow at him. "What bring a Shannen here?"
She frowned at the name he gave her, "How do you know I'm a Shannen?" she question as she watched him with suspicion. Most of the people on third earth she had meet didn't know who she was.
He raised his hands after seeing her look of caution, "Calm down. I'm not going to hurt you or anything," he assured trying to make her see that he was no threat to her. He should have know she was going to act that way. Most of the people who knew about the Shannen where spiritual or wanted to sell them off to some high status people. "I know about Shannen's because I knew someone who was a shannen or at least his mother was. He got his father species than his mothers."
She tilted her head to the side now intrigued by what he had said. She leaned closer to the dog feeling and odd familiarity. "Have we.. meet before?" she question.
"Not that I recall," he replied before leaning towards her as he looked at her. He couldn't help but admire her brown eyes bright eyes and oddly he was sure he had seen them before. "But now that I look at you better I think there is something familiar about you." Both stared at one another wondering where they had seen each other. After a few minutes they sigh not remembering anything. He then grabbed his chin as he looked down at her having been taller than her by a few inches, "Do you by any chance know Zane?"
Aideen was taken back by him knowing her brother's name. "How- How you know my older brother?" she asked. She looked as he knitted his eyebrows in confusion. The shine of his necklaces catch her attention making her look at it. Hanging from a silver chain were two pendants one was a dog tag, in the front were two clapped wings with red stone in between the winds. The other was a curved silver dagger with black designs in the handle. She recognized that dagger. Her brother had one that was the same. They looked up at one another again as their eyes widen.
"Aideen!"
"Sherrod!"
They both stood up as they realized who they were talking to. Even though a large portion of her memory had yet to be remembers. Small pieces came back to her as her headband began to break. Aideen soon realize that pieces of her memory would come back if she saw something very familiar. Especially when it came to objects or places. Seeing the silver dagger around the dogs neck made her remember her one of her brother's best friend her on third earth.
"Is that really you?!" they both said at the same time.
"I can't believe it's you!" He exclaimed as he stood in front of her now. "Look how big you've gotten. Your no longer the same small child I had meet at the castle!"
Aideen frowned at what he had said. "Wait. What castle?" she question. She didn't remember any castle or where exactly she had meet him. All she knew was having been introduce to him by her brother. Where was yet unclear to her memory.
Sharrod frowned at this, "don't you remember?"
"No," she shook her head. Oddly she didn't feel like she needed to hid anything from him. "My father had locked away my memory from my time here. I can't exactly remember anything."
"And yet you remember me," he said with a smile.
She let out a laugh, "Well the necklace did give it away." She was about to say something else when she saw some guards head towards the gladiator arena, Dobo right behind. She frowned at that getting a bad feeling.
"I wounder what happen," Sharrod wounder.
"I don't know, but I need to leave," she said as she began to walk way. "I'll find you later." She didn't even wait for his answer and instead left. She hoped it Lion-O hadn't done anything stupid.
It turns out Lion-O had snicked in to free Pumyra and got caught. Aideen was angry, no perhaps she was far more than angry. She was furies. She may have expected this from Isha perhaps or even Xander. She didn't think Lion-O would do this, but then again he was somewhat similar to both her brother and cousin. She just couldn't believe he had put their whole mission at risk.
"That's out king you've got in there, Dobo!" Panthro exclaimed as he grabbed the gauntlet Dobo had handed to him.
"He tried to steel from me, Panthro," Dobo replied, "Would you rather I turn him to the authority?" He turn to the side to look at the arena, "In the pit, at lest he had a change of getting out."
"After a hundred victories," Chetara stated.
Dobo turn to them, "Sense panthro is a friend all make an exception. If lion-O wins, hes free."
Isha looked at him with narrowed eyes, "And if he loses?"she question. She turn to panthro, "Remind me again how you know this..friend."
Panthro looked down, "Long time ago Dobo and I met at the pit. I was a prisoner of war, he was a thief. For matches we were usually pared of as a team." He recalled them standing together back to back. Fighting together. "Guess they thought it was funny seeing a cat and dog fight together." They fought many opponents, dodging all of their attacks and defeating everyone that came to them. "We beat everything they trowed at us. No matter how nasty." He turn to look at Dobo, "While most warriors die here, Dobo somehow rose to run this place."
"Only slave that's ever done that," Dobo said as he turn back to Panthro. "I owed it all to Panthro. He was a like a brother to me. I wouldn't have lasted a day if he hadn't taught me how to survive."
"That's not true," Panthro disagree, "we survived together."
"Indead," he agreed. Her turn away from them as he spoke there was some anger in his voice. "Until that morning I woke up and found out you escaped."
"I always regretted leaving you behind like that," Panthro said.
"No, it was the best thing you could have done,"Dobo disagreed as he looked at the sky. "I was naive to have expected loyalty from a cat." Aideen frowned at that. "I learn that day I was going to have to earn my freedom by myself." He turn back to them, "if your king wants his freedom he can fight for it too."
Oh, I'm so going to kill him for this! Aideen thought before letting out a sigh. She pinched the bridge of her nose as she tried to calm down. Letting out another sigh she turn to Dobo. "Can, I see him?" she asked. "I just want to talk to him. I won't set him free, i swearl."
The tall dog looked at her before nodding. He turn to the guards, "show her the way to the lion's cell," he order the two guard dogs. He then turn to the others, "only she can go. No one else."
Aideen turn to the others, "wait for me here, I'll be back soon." she turn to Isha who was looking at her with a doubtful expression. "I'm just going to talk to him," she told her as she headed towards the bared door.
The cell open and she followed soon after the guards as the others waited outside. Isha didn't want her to go on her own as she knew the girl was pretty mad at Lion-O. She just hopped the lion didn't say anything to anger her or else both would start a fight. She let out a sight as she was sure there was going to be a fight.
Panthro put an arm on the girls shoulder, "don't worry. I'm sure Aideen can talk to Lion-O."
"I don't know about that, " she mutter.
Dobo looked down at Isha, "If she's anything like her mother she's not just going to talk to him."
They looked at him with a frown. "What do you mean?" Cheetara asked.
The dog smirked at them, "I've meet Irene," he said. Isha's eyes widen as he mention her aunt. How did he know Irene? "And her father. I've seen what she does whenever he didn't listen to her."
Isha frowned, "how..."she began but was unable to form the worlds from her mouth.
"How do you know about Aideen's parents?" Tygra asked with suspicious. He knew that not many people knew about Aideen's parents and most who did apparently were enemy. Him knowing could mean he was both a friend or an enemy of her parent's.
Dobo smirked at them before getting turning around ready to leave. "That's simple. I was there when she was born."
Aideen followed the guards into the dark tunnel. She was furies that lion-O would think of snicking in and trying to free a slave when the owner of the arena had order not to do just that. Why couldn't he think of the consequence his actions could have on all of them. She was furies that he didn't think that his action were wrong. She told him there might be another way. They had told him no to do anything stupid. And yet he never listen to what other's tell him. He always get guided by his feelings. She stop as the guard allowed her to go the rest of the way. She nodded at them before she continue to walk.
As she got close to the cell she saw Lion-O talking to another cat. The female cat he had tried to snicked out. "And how many more days do you need to free your people?!" Pumyra yelled. She turn away as tear formed in the corner of her eyes. "So many waited for you to save them from their torment, and until their last breath, they waited!"
"I can't change whats happen," Lion-O replied before looking down. "But I can promise to stand with you now."
"Aha!" the female cat huffed, "I stop believing you'd rescue me along time ago, Lion-O." She looked "I will earn myself the freedom my king could not give me." She then glared at him from the corner of her eye. "And when we get in that arena. I'm going to rip you to pieces." She smacked the bars before turning away and heading to the back of her cell.
Aideen frowned at the female cat before walking towards Lion-O. "This is what you wanted to do?" She question making the lion turn to her in surprise.
"Aideen, what are you doing here?" he question as he approached the bars.
"I came here to ask you what you were thinking. Why would you do this," she said as she stood in front of him.
Lion-O narrowed his eyes at her, "What did you want me to do?" he question. "I wasn't about to let her be a slave."
"And yet your solution was perfect," she replied as she crossed her arms.
"Is that all you came to tell me,?!" he said with anger in his voice. "If that's what you wanted to say then you better leave."
She took a step back at what he had said. "You can't be serious!" she let out as he turn away from her. She took a step closer and grabbed the bars. "You think I'm just going to leave after what you did? Oh, no! You're going to listen to me." she tighten her grip on the bars as her anger rises. "We told you not to do anything stupid and yet you did! You just couldn't wait and find another solution. You had to do what you though was right."
He turn and scowl at her, "What I thought was right?!" He took a step closer to her, looking down at her from behind the bars. "I thought you would have understood why I was doing this! Yet you decided to agree with the other!"
"Because they were right!" she yelled back. "We have been fighting the lizards and been looking for the stones. Or have you forgotten we have to defeat Mumm-Ra?"
"I know what my mission is!"
"Then why did you jeopardize the whole mission for someone who, clearly, hates you?!"
Lion-O looked away from her as there was some truth to her words. He closed his eyes, "you wouldn't understand."
The girl frowned at him as she gripped the bars tighter. Letting out a sigh she looked down. "You're right," she agreed making him turn to her. "I don't understand. I'm not queen of anything and can't understand the responsibility you have towards your people. I don't even remember the place I was born or the people who I had known." She looked up at him with worried eyes, "I'm not angry that you wanted to save her from being a slave. I'm angry that you put your life on the line without looking for other solutions, Lion-O!"
He looked down at her worried face. As he looked into her eyes he realized his mistake. He understood that there was a chance that he might have jeopardize their mission with his unthinkable action. But he didn't regret wanting to say Pumyra, "she's a cat, Aideen. My responsibility is to protect my people and I have failed them. I'm not going to fail her. I'm going to stand by her even if it cost me my life."
Aideen's eyes widen at his declaration and the seriousness in his eyes. "Above all, Aideen, to a king his people come first. He must protect them even if it cost him his life." Lately she has head her fathers voice in her head. Teaching her why some people acted the way they do. Why they make the decision they do.
The girl looked away from him as she bit her lip. She closed her eyes as she let out a sigh. "I-" she began but stop as her voice began to crack. Her anger was gone and replaced by sadness. "I lost my mother, my father, my brother, and I've see people that I can't remember die." She looked at him with tearful eyes. "I didn't want to lose you... again. You're my best friend, the first person I truest after my friends betrayed me. I don't want to lose someone I care about."
His eyes widen slightly as he saw tears stream drown her face. He didn't want to see her upset and yet he had made her cry. Her brown eyes sadden by what he had said. He didn't want to see her like this, but he was king and above all is people came before anything, and anyone. That he had learned.
He grabbed her hand as he used the other to whipped away her tears. "Aideen," he let out not knowing what else to say. He looked at her brown sadden eyes. He liked to see them when they were bright full of happiness not like they are now. She was important to him and would never let her get hurt by anyone let alone himself. But..
Aideen shook her head as she removed her hand from under his. Turning away she whipped her tears away. "You've made your choice, Lion-O. Who am I to tell you that it's wrong," she said. Letting out a sigh she clenched her hands together. "Let just hope things turn out fine." She turn to him with a half smile trying to be supportive. "Don't regret the choice you've made, Lion-O."
With that she left not wanting to be there anymore. He watched her leave as a guard followed her showing her the way out. He let out a sigh as he rested his head against the bars. His hands tighten against the bars as his chest hurt from seeing her cry.
She walked out into the arena with her gaze down. She didn't want to lose him after all she had come to care about him far more than she wanted to admit. She had already lost many people and losing her friend wasn't something she wanted to see. But she knew she couldn't make him change his mind. He was king after all and above anything else came his people. She thanked the guard before she kept walking forward not knowing where to go.
"Aideen?" Isha called but Aideen didn't pay attention to her and kept on walking. She didn't want to talk to them at the moment. She wanted to be alone at the moment. But her cousin wouldn't let her. Isha grabbed her hand making her turn to her. The older girls eyes widen in surprise at seeing the slightly seeing the girls try tears. She knew she had been crying.
"What happen?" cheetara asked as they saw the girl begin to tear up.
Aideen turn to them with tearful eyes. "He made his choice, said he was going to stand next to her and give his life if he had to." With that she whipped her tears away, there was no point in crying over something she couldn't stop. "We should get the supplies we need before the fight. Whatever happens happens." With that she walked away this time Isha didn't stop her as she knew the young girl would want to be alone. Panthro put a hand on the older girls shoulder giving it a squeeze before walking after her.
Isha turn to Tygra with and angry expression. "You're right. Your brother can be such an idiot sometimes," she said as she ran her hand on her hair. She didn't want to see Aideen upset but it seemed Lion-O had done just that.
"You finally realize that?" the tiger question making her glared at him before she rolled her eyes.
"Do you thing she's going to be alright?" Cheetara asked.
Isha shrugged but didn't worry. "I'm sure she is. She just.. was taken back by what he said to her. I'm sure."
Tygra raised an eyebrow at her, "How do you know?"
She smiled at him, "Well, kitty" he frowned at the nickname she gave him. "I have known her for years. I know she isn't made that he tried to have Pumyra, but she's made at the method he had used. She's upset at the thought of losing him again. You saw how she was when she thought lion-O had died." She looked at the sky as she remember how her cousin was when she thought the young king had died. She shook her head and sigh, "let's just hop everything turns out fine."
Aideen looked away from shouting crowed. After finding the thing they needed they headed back to the arena as night fell. The place was full of dogs waiting for the fight to begin. She stood next to Dobo, Isha right behind her with Tygra by her side. Both older cousins looked at her with worried at her calm expression. Even though they knew she was feeling nervous at what was going to happen. She turn as she felt a hand on her shoulder.
Tygra looked at her, "I'm sure everything is going to be fine," he tried to comfort.
But Aideen didn't know if to believe him or not. She had heard the hatred in Pumyra's voice and was afraid that she was going to do anything to end his life. Lion-O wouldn't fight that she knew. She gave a nod and turn back to look down at the arena as the bar doors rose up.
The two doors across from each other open as Pumyra and Lion-O walked out. They stood in front of one another as the crowed began to cheer. The rest of the thundercats looked down at the arena with Dobo besides them. "It's a rear treat to see two cat's tear each other apart," Dobo commented, "the crowds exited."
"To bad two cats won't kill each other for some dogs.. sick pleasure," Tygra stated with disgust in his voice.
Dobo laughed as he heard this. He glazed at Panthro, "I've yet to see your kind express such loyalty."
Lion-O looked at Pumyra as the match was about to begin. "I know I fail you, Pumyra," He said, "but I ask again that we stand together as cats."
"Only one of use will be left standing," the cat replied, "enough talk." She activated her small bow before starting to shot towards him. Lion-O took cover with his shield but was being pushed back as she kept shutting. She got close enough to him and began to throw kicks trying to get his shield out of his hands. She stepped back and began to shot again this time she manage to push him to the ground. His shield to his side. The other looked at the scene before them, the cats with worried looks while Dobo smirked.
Aideen clenched the rail as she tried to hold back her tears. She wanted to be mad at him but at that moment the thought of him getting hurt had over took her anger at what happen before.
Pumyra grabbed a small bola and began to spin it as she got closer to the lion. Lion-O took a few step backs with his shield raised. She threw the bola and it hit the axe in the young kings hand knocking out of his grasp. The bola bounce from the axe in the air to the ground and rolled towards lion-O. He tried to run away but the bola wrapped around his ankles making him fall down on his face. Pumyra walked towards him. "Huh," she huffed, "it's easy to see how Thundera fell down in a day. Your pathetic." She then began to kick and punch him.
The young girl looked down at the scene before her eyes refuse to look away from lion-O. "Come on, Lion-O," she mutter.
Lion-O looked at Pumyra as he leaned on his arm for support. "I refuse to fight you," he declared.
"The you will dye!" she then threw another kick. "Stay down and I might end this mercifully." Lion-O thought didn't stay down and tried to stand up. He groan as he grabbed his side in pain. Bruises cover his face. "Very well. You can suffer as your people did!"
Panthro looked down at the Loon-O feeling bad for the boy. He turn to Dobo, "Does he have to be punish for what you think I did?"
The dog turn to him, "Should I be the only one, old pal?" he said. "When you ran, you did just leave me behind, you left behind all the enemies we had made together. I had to stand alone to that bloodthirsty horde."
"I ran because I learned my next fight was a death match," Panthro said.
"So?" Dobo question, "it wouldn't have been your first."
"It was going to be between you and me," the cat declared.
Dobo's eyes widen slightly but he didn't back down, "You were afraid you couldn't beat me?"
Panthro's eyes narrowed, "No I was afraid I'd have to." The dogs eyes widen at the cat's declaration.
Down at the arena Lion-O kept getting beat over and over again. Aideen clenched to the rail as she hoped he would stay down, but another part wanted him to continue fighting, to stand up. Please! Please, enough! she thought as tears streamed down her face. Soon enough, Lion-O stood up again with difficulties. He clenched to his side as Pumyra threw more pebbles at them.
"Why do you keep getting up?!" she question in frustration.
"I said I'd stand by you.." he stated the let out a groan. "And I intend to."
Pumyra looked at him with wide eyes. She debated whether to continue or ended this match and stand next to her king. The crowed stayed quite as they waited for the cats next move. Aideen clenched hands as hard as she could as she waited for what would happen next. Finally, after a few seconds later Pumyra let go of the pebble and looked towards them."I will not kill my kind, Dobo!"
"And I won't hurt a fellow cat," Lion-O stated as he looked toward Dobo. Aideen turn to the tall dog as she waited for his response.
Dobo looked down at the two, "The penalty for forfeiting is death," he said. Both of them nodded accepting the consequences. Isha turn to Aideen who had her eyes closed she to put a comforting hand on her but the girl shrugged it of. They heard the crowed shout to 'let them live' over and over again. Dobo turn to Panthro, "it seemed loyalty is not only a trait of the dog." He turn back to the two cat in the arena, "You have earn my respect! You leave this arena as free cat's."
Aideen looked down at the cats catching Lion-O's eyes in the process. She looked at him before turning around and begging to walk way. She ignored the calling of the others as she walked away from the arena. She stoop as she looked up at the cold sky as she closed her eyes. She was happy that Lion-O was fine, a bit bruise up, but fine. She let out a sigh as she open her eyes. Feeling something wet she touched her cheek as a single tear slid down her face.
"I've been crying to much," she told herself as she clenched her hand. Opening it she looked at her cover palm. She felt weak. She didn't know anything about this world or where she had come from. It frustrated her.
"Hm, you've always hated that," a voices said from behind her. She turn to watch Sharrod make his way towards her. She looked away from him making him frown. "What's wrong?"
"Many things," she simply answer.
"You want to talk about it?" he question with a worried expression. He then bumped her shoulder making her look at him. He smiled down at her, "Just think of me as.. your brother but not like Zane or Xander or even Ian. I'm far more cooler than them."
She let out a weak laugh,"Why do I feel like I'm going to find a couple more 'brothers' along my journey?"
"Well, there are four more than just me," the dog replied as he touched his chin in thought. "I think there was that fox, lizard, wolf, and that mystery guy that never showed his face."
She rolled her eyes, "My brother sure quips odd people along his side."
He touched his chest, "well now I feel offended. Beside what about your other three friends?" he question her.
Aideen sight as she lower her eyes. At seeing her do that he instantly regret having said that. Before he said anything the girl lifter her eyes with determination. She turn to him, "tell me about the place I lived in. About my father and any other family I had, or have. I want to to everything that i have forgotten."
He looked at her as he crossed his arms, "And in exchange you'll tell me how your's and your brother's life have been?" She bit her lip not knowing what to say. After giving much thought she was about to answer him when he raised his hand. "What has happen if your life?" he added. She looked to the side let out a sigh and nodded.
"I don't think you'll like what you'll hear," she warned.
"I already know I won't," he replied making her look at him with a confused look. "Your expression, Aideen. Your eyes have change their no longer full of the light you used to have as a kid. They are hard and closed from expression. I know you sens you were small. I saw you practically all day. Truest me the moment I saw you I knew something bad had happen in your life." He put a hand on her shoulder and smile down at her, "but I wont judge you. I just want to know what you and your sibling have been doing."
Aideen smiled up at him and let out a laugh. "You really are persistent and know what to say in order to get someone to tell you something don't ya?"
He shrugged, "what can I say I'm very observant. Not as sneaky as Zorro but definitely observant and alerted." She let out another laugh as she rolled her eyes. He pointed towards a small food cafe. "We can talk and catch up there. If you have time."
She thought about going to the others and cheeking up on lion-O but she knew he would be talking to Pumyra and considering she got an odd feeling from her... she didn't want to meet her yet. So with a nod she followed Sharrod wanting to know more of the world she forgot. Perhaps that way she could find out who she was and what she was born to do.
Lion-O looked to the side as he wounder were Aideen was. He had seen her turn her back to him when he was looking at her. The though of her being anger him crossed his mind but he shook that away. He would apologized to her once he saw her. He didn't want her to worry about him and would promise her that he would think before he acted. Now the thing was to find her and talk to her. He pushed his thought away as Pumyra began to bandage his arm. After the fight the Pumyra began to treat his wounds while the other's looked for Aideen.
"Maybe you know how to act like a king after all," the female cat admitted.
Lion-O looked at her as he remeber what she had said before. "You said you were among other cat slave. Where?" he asked.
"A mining operation. There," she said as she pointed towards the horizon. A tall black mountain stood far away from where they were but could still be seen by them, "in mount Plun-Darr."
He looked at then turn to the others as they made their way towards him. He looked at Isha as she had a worried look. "Have you found Aideen?" he asked.
Isha glared his way as she let out a huff. "No," she replied before throwing her hands in the air. "Where could she be. This is your fault!" she pointed at him.
He let out a sigh, "I know," he said with guilt.
"I can't be-" she began before stopping. She looked at him with a frown, "Wait, what?"
He gave a nod, "I know. I shouldn't have acted like and made her worry." He turn ready to leave and look for his friend. "I'll look for her while you get ready to leave. We have to free the other cats from being slaves." With that he turn and began to walk away.
Isha looked at him in surprise. She turn to Tygra who also looked at him with surprise both said a look before the older girl followed after him. Missing the look Pumyra gave them as they left.
Hope you like it. Thanks to all who review, followed or favorite this story. I love reading all of your comments.
I don't know how I feel about this chapter. I may add or take something later.. maybe.. I don't know yet. Oh, and I'm working on my other stories.
English is not my native language. Sorry for any mistakes that I made.
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