Full summary: A series of ficlets about young Tygra and Lion-o's adventures in Thundera, full of enough sugary sweetness to make you puke rainbows and glitter. Set technically in the 2011 series 'verse, but since so little is known about Thundera and the princes' childhoods anyway, I will take as many liberties as I want. Also, these ficlets are based on the idea that, after they defeat Mumm Ra and restore peace and whatnot to Thundera, Tygra and Lion-o will get together (I blame the bell ringing line). However, the story is set in a time when they consider each other family and nothing more, so if you're against the pairing or whatever, it seriously doesn't affect the story whatsoever. Promise. Also these ficlets will jump around in time, but will probably not go any further than Lion-o's early teens. Tygra is four years older than Lion-o here.
Disclaimer: Thundercats belongs to Cartoon Network and I own a total of 0% of it.
Also, as a side-note! I'd like to give credit to the Ask-Tygra blog on Tumblr for being the inspiration for the previous chapter. They drew a cute little picture of Tygra saving Lion-o from a tree when they were kids, and I thought, you know what this picture needs? SOME FANFICTION TO GO WITH IT.
Anyway, enjoy!
Chapter Two: First Words
Tygra would never admit it to anyone, but he loved his little brother. When Claudus would make him watch Lion-o, he'd put up the same arguments, pout, cross his arms, and pretend to be annoyed; but on the inside, he'd be thrilled to spend more time with the tiny prince. At the age of six, Tygra loved to demonstrate his advanced reading skills to anyone who would listen, and Lion-o was alwayswilling to listen.
He would balance the two-year-old on his lap and open a big book before him, feeling the small tufts of bright red mane tickle his chin as he read. The books were always tales of adventures, sometimes with gods and great monsters, sometimes with famous thundercats, and always filled with colorful pictures for Lion-o to look at. The baby would listen with rapt attention as Tygra read, touching the pictures with his little paws in wonder. Tygra knew he probably didn't understand a word he was saying, but he still made for a great audience.
When Lion-o would start getting restless, Tygra would put the book away and play games with him. He loved to make him laugh, or get that look of honest bewilderment that only babies get; and although Lion-o's vocabulary was limited to baby babble and gurgling noises, Tygra would carry him around the palace, pointing to things and saying their names. Most of all, he would point to himself and say, "Tygra. Tygra," over and over.
One day, after his private lessons, Tygra entered Lion-o's playroom with a sour look on his face and sat down with his back against the wall, glaring at nothing. He had been having a bad day, first getting in trouble in the morning for wandering off the palace grounds without supervision, then with his teacher for calling him a stupid-head; the old cat had made him write "I shall not disrespect my elders" fifty times in his notebook, which turned to seventy times when Tygra had asked him how to spell "disrespect," even though he had been completely serious. He really hadn't known how to spell it.
He buried his head in his arms moodily. Lion-o, who had been playing with blocks under the watchful eye of a maid, switched his eyes to Tygra.
"Bah!" he gibbered, giving his big brother an inquisitive look.
Tygra ignored him, not really in the mood to play.
"Guh... bubbah..." Lion-o mumbled to himself, shifting.
Curious, Tygra glanced at him. The toddler had stood up and was waddling toward him, still making babbling noises. Tygra remembered it was he who had taught Lion-o to walk, just a few months ago. Now he practically needed a leash just so the servants wouldn't lose him.
Lion-o stopped at his side and petted Tygra's hair fretfully.
"It's okay, little brother," Tygra told him, some of his frustration replaced with affection. "I'm just having kind of a bad day." Crisscrossing his legs, he gently pulled the toddler into his lap. Lion-o kept petting his head and ears, smiling now in his infectious way.
"Buh?" Lion-o asked, tugging on his ears.
"Yeah. Thanks, Lion-o," Tygra said, taking his little hands in his own. "You always know what to say."
"Tygra!"
Tygra blinked, staring at his brother in shock.
"Tygra!" Lion-o exclaimed again, giggling and waving their hands around. Across the room, the maid gasped and ran from the room to get Claudus.
"Yeah, that's me!" Tygra said, a delighted grin spreading across his face.
"Tygra! Tygra, Tygra!" Lion-o chanted happily.
A warm feeling bubbled up in Tygra's chest.
"That's it, Lion-o," he said adoringly, hugging his brother tightly. "That's my little prince."
Lion-o purred softly, his little paws curling in Tygra's hair.