Everyone bowed their heads in the presences of the Ancient Spirits of Good. The four ethereal ladies waved their hands asking for them to stand. They looked at the royal couple and bowed to them. The look of gratitude on their faces said it all. They were very proud of the two of them.
"Well done young Champion. It appears that we chose well when we tuned the Stones of Power to you. You have done not only our people a great service, but you have done the universe a favor by finally putting an end to the destruction and death the Evil Ones caused. Thank you from all of us," Isis intoned to Lion-O. The young lord managed to look very humble accepting such praise from her.
"Many thanks to you as well young Priestess and Queen for all that you have done. Not many could stay so vitreous when darkness lurked inside their very soul. You have done justice to your bloodline. Never think for a moment that you were not meant to be alive now enjoying the happiness you have found," Hebe implored to Ocelata, who blushed at hearing those words.
"My Mistress, is the war truly over? Have the Ancient Spirits of Evil and the betrayer Mumm-Ra finally been defeated? Is the universe truly safe from their maliciousness?" Pumyra questioned in a concerned voice. Out of the corner of her eyes she saw everyone else tensing. They were also wondering the same thing.
"Be at peace our liaison. Thanks to the Lion-O and Ocelata, the Ancient Spirits of Evil and their evil Champion Mumm-Ra have been sent to a place where they can no longer harm anyone. They will never return and with their destruction, much of their harm has come undone, though the price paid for it was quite high. Many lives and worlds have been lost and it will take eons before everything is the way it was, perhaps never returning to that way again," Rhiannon explained to everyone assembled.
"All that remains is a few loose ends that must be tied before the two of you are returned to Third Earth. Lion-O, you use the powers of the Animala Moonstone to bring back those who had past on. Ocelata, you may not have called your ancestress soul, but that doesn't change the fact that the two you have broken one of the most sacred rules of the universe. Those who have died must return to the world of the dead," Amaterasu explained patiently.
"Do we have to? I mean Ocelata was able to return to the living. Why not my father or Jaga? Now that the Book of Omens is gone, Jaga has no place to anchor his soul to our world. He would ascend to the world of the departed."
"Lion-O, there is nothing to fear about death. Your trials showed you that. While it's true that sometimes there are ways to return to the living, those are not an option for us because our spirits have fully departed and belong to the realm of the dead. As much as I enjoyed being the Keeper of the Book of Omens, I am looking forward to my everlasting rest," Jaga told him.
"I wish things were different as well my son. I have watched you from here growing into a strong and smart leader. You have done what no Lord of the Thundercats has been able to do for centuries, to see beyond our own misguided superiority issues and united the people for a common goal. I am very proud of you Lion-O. I see now what Jaga has always known. That you would be a king unlike any other; one who would show our people a new way to live. You don't need me or Jaga to guide you anymore. All you need is your friends and wife to stand by your side. Never doubt yourself my son, for you are going to be a far greater king then I ever was," Claudius told his son. He gave him a heartfelt hug patting him on the shoulders.
"I do am ready to return to my rest with my family and friends. I only returned because the Diadem infused with the power of the Animala Moonstone called me here to help my descendent in time of need. Pumyra, will you be joining me?" Oceta asked, her eidolon form leaving Ocelata's body to hover next to her friend. "You only became the Liaison in order to get justice for me and help the Ancient Spirits of Good win the fight to preserve the universe. Now that the universe is safe will you ascend again with me?"
"I made a vow to serve my Mistress until they no longer needed me and it us up to them to release me from that vow. If they feel that I have done my job I will join you, but there is something I want to know first. Its true the Book of Omens, a gift from my Mistresses is lost, but the remaining Items and Animala Moonstone still exist. We have seen both the blessings and the curses of having such gifts on the lower planes of exsistance. I question allowing even the Champion and his Queen to keep such gifts with them. Lion-O, Ocelata, can you ensure that these precious gifts will never be misused? Are you willing to make the hard choices to ensure that the powers are never abuse or fighting breaks out once more over them?" Pumyra questioned them.
Lion-O looked at the Sword of Omens admiring the Animala Moonstone. His Claw Shield had a brilliant sheen dazzling the crowd. Next to him Ocelata had taken off the Diadem of Prophecy examining the precious Item that had helped her come into her role. Both Items had been forged from otherworldly ore helping to channel great power. They had promised once victory was claimed to share the powers with every tribe. To use the Stones gifts once more to bring about a new era of culture, science, and peace, but was it right to continue to use such powers knowing what they had caused?
"This gift were meant to be used for the best intention by fostering peace and cooperation, just like the Book was meant to preserve our past and help shape our future, but as we've seen there are some mysterious that should never be questioned. The uncertainty of the future is what makes it so exciting. If we knew what was to come we may never work to create the future we want? Having the power to purify hearts, to keep evil at bay and getting glimpses of what to come is a great tool when used right. But there are still those who would force others to follow their will not caring about the consequences. As much as I love my Diadem, I can't in good conscious take the risk that one day in far future its power might be misused. Ancient Spirits of Good, will you take back this Item and keep it safe?"
"Of course young ocelot, we'll ensure that no in our realm misuses the powers of this Item now that its back home," Isis told her as she gently took the Item and cradling it in her hands.
"What of you Lion-O? The Sword of Omens has been a part of your family's legacy for centuries. Now that the Eye of Thundera is gone; it's been replaced by a much more powerful Stone. The Animala Moonstone has all the powers of the original four magnified to a tremendous degree. It even has the ability to make dreams a reality. That is awesome power and one that must be used carefully. Are you sure that you can use it responsibly?" Hebe questioned him.
"Your world has been devastated greatly by the war. Even with our powers many lives have been lost, your planet ravaged and it could take a long time to recover. With so much uncertainty having your Sword and Shield might help keep the tribes allied with one another. Now that the danger has passed many old grudges might come up again and undo all your hard work. Using the Animala Moonstone's gifts might be just what you need to survive," Rhiannon pointed out, but Lion-O shook his head.
Lion-O shrunk the Sword of Omens placing it back inside the Claw Shield. Without hesitation he removed it and gave it Amaterasu. "The Sword has been part of my legacy for a long time, but the time has come to create a new one. No one, not even me, should have such power to alter reality. If we are to rebuild our world and create the future we want, then we'll do it without your help. Our worlds must never cross paths again. As much as we've helped each other we've also caused problems for one another. You tried to keep your war from spilling out to us. You hoped your gifts would protect us and for a time they did. In exchange you learned so much about our universe from us, but it can't be this way any longer. I, we, need to make our own future."
"Agreed, we promised the other tribes we share our power, but if there is no Stones or Items, then we'll have to keep the Alliance going through diplomacy and hard work. It's the natural order of things. Still, we can't return without some kind of symbol to show our victory. A symbol to help rally the Alliance around this new reality," Ocelata pointed out. "I know that we can be a symbol, but we need something a little more tangible, to help keep the tribes united."
"There is something! Hold on a second," Pumyra told them. She flitted up to Amaterasu and whispered something in her ear. The Ancient Spirit of Good nodded and cupped her hands. Two balls of manna started forming and inside were the outlines of items. When the manna dissolved she handed the items to Pumyra who presented them to the royal cats.
"You're giving us copies of the Items we've returned?" Ocelata asked confused. Why would they do something like that? That's when she noticed the diadem in her hand wasn't made of the same supernatural ore. It looked to be made of bronze with a few rainbow gems dotting it. As she placed the relic on her head she could sense a strong power emanating from it, it was different then the one she was use to. It felt as if one of her emotions was building up inside her and she couldn't wait to share it with others.
Lion-O's relics also resembled the Items he gave back. The sword was beautiful made of a strong alloy with symbols decorating the grip, its blade medium length and had a sparkling orange citrine on the hilt which bore a cat's eye. The shield was a bit larger, more bronze then gold and the tips were made out of steel. When he put them on he felt his courage and confidence levels sore. The gem sparkled indicating it had some kind of power. "I don't understand. What are these relics?"
"These ancient relics were the inspiration behind the Items of Peace/Power. The leaders of the Cat tribe had these items sent to the Sanctuary of Peace to be blessed so they could survive through the ages. Upon my death I managed to retrieve them before they were lost. The Diadem of Hope, was used to increase hope its wearer and allow them to inspire it in others. The Sword of Courage and Shield of Confidence ensured that the Cat leader would never go into battle without the emotions needed to win. The Gem of Unity inside the hilt helped keep the tribes united during conflict. These relics can be used as the symbols you need to keep the Alliance strong for the near future," Pumyra explained to them.
"Thank you, we promise to use them wisely. I believe its time for us to return to our world. Though the future is uncertain I'm willing to work towards an ever lasting peace no matter how long it takes. In order for us to truly take control our worlds must never meet again. I hope that your own future is as bright as ours is right Lion-O? Lion-O?" Ocelata spoke out loud, puzzled why he hadn't responded.
She turned her head and saw her husband saying his final goodbyes to his father and Jaga. Both Thundercats spirits were reassuring him that everything would be alright. That he had nothing to worry about and that he be the great king the Thundercats had ever had. Once he finally let go he took Ocelata's hand and beckoned for the Ancient Spirits of Good to return them home.
The female Spirits merged their powers together to first open a pathway to the realm of the departed. All the restored spirits went through the white gates happy to at rest once more. The last one was Pumyra, restored to her original form from when she died. With one last smile she entered her eternal resting place after finally achieving justice. The world rippled around them as the Spirit Realm was restored to its former glory. The last thing the couple saw before being returned home was the Ancient Spirits of Good smiling faces of gratitude.
Third Earth had been forever changed by the war raged there. Though the Ancient Spirits of Good had managed to halt and partially undo the destruction by their counterparts, the world was still scarred. Many lives had been lost on both sides, some with lasting injuries that would change their lives. The territories and homes of many Alliance members were in a state of ruin. The El Darians were doing all they could to keep the manna from disappearing. Yet a sense of triumph and freedom was felt by all.
Dobo and a few others had managed to capture the Generals and other members of the Dark Army. Thankfully the high security maximum prison had been undamaged during the fight. With the Weasels help the cells would become escape proof. Meanwhile the Berbils, Rats, and Vultures were working to salvage as much tech to repurpose for rebuilding efforts. Other Alliance members were helping with recovery efforts and helping heal the injured. Some were creating temporary camps for the tribes to live in until their homes could be fixed.
In one of the camps several people were tending to the wounded including Cheetara. She was using the gems to help tend to the some of the less serious injuries. Meanwhile the twins were using their gifts to help comfort those who had been traumatized by the war while Snarf ran around delivering supplies. Tygra and Panthro were not far off coordinating efforts with other Alliance leaders and compiling reports on the aftermath of the war.
"According to the latest reports coming in the Fishmen and Elephants lost nearly a third of their people during the fighting. Many of our new members suffered critical injuries do to the lack of coordinated training, but their leaders assure me they're going to live if they have anything to say about. I'm doing my best to send aid where it's most needed, but with half our fleet disabled its going to take some time. Hopefully we can stretch our remaining supplies to help tide us over until we can make the environment habitable again," Panthro informed Tygra after getting the new numbers in from Sugar. Those who could fly or glide were being used to send messages or bring aid while the communication was done.
"According to the Spellbinder Counsel and the Seven Seas assembly all traces of the monsters and enchanted creatures has vanished. It appears that whatever force summoned them has completely been eradicated. There are still few pockets of resistance, but they should be dealt with swiftly. I think it's a miracle that the Alliance didn't lose more then what we did. We can still rebuild and many of us made it through. Though I have to wonder if we can keep the Alliance going without Lion-O and Ocelata," Tygra admitted.
"Still no word if they're alive? Witnesses saw them enter the Black Pyramid and watched it vanish before their very eyes. The moment it was gone the air felt so much lighter and cleaner. I have do doubts that Mumm-Ra and his masters are gone. Do you think they lost their lives in the final battle?" Cheetara asked coming over.
"No they're alive! We would have felt something if they had passed. I don't know where they are, but something tells me that Lion-O and Ocelata are alive!" WilyKat exclaimed.
"They've both survived impossible odds before. They even came back from the dead. If we have faith they'll return to us safe and sound," WilyKit insisted. As soon as she finished speaking everyone watched as beam of blue white light shot down from the sky just outside the ruins of Thundera. The air was charged with feelings of goodness, kindness, hope and confidence. The Thundercats didn't hesitate to jump into the Thundertank and head to the source of the light.
Upon arriving at the remains of their once proud city they were treated with the welcoming sight of seeing their loved ones walking towards them. They all jumped out of the Thundertank racing over to hug team with tears of joy steaming down their cheeks. Everyone had questions, but the couple promised to answer them when the time was more appropriate. Right now the concern was helping restore Third Earth.
About two weeks later the Alliance had managed to work together so everyone was in reasonable health. Homes and lands had been partially restored and environment was starting recover showing signs of new life. The planets manna was also getting stronger healing planet from the inside out. Those who could had assembled in the makeshift courtyard just outside the Thundercat Palace awaiting the couple to speak.
Rumors and speculation about the final battle had been running rampant. Many were wondering why Lion-O and Ocelata hadn't used the Items and Stones of Power to help sped up the recovery efforts. Most of the tribes still had worries that Mumm-Ra and his Masters weren't really gone and that they would return.
At last Lion-O and Ocelata appeared on a repaired balcony overlooking the crowd with the Thundercats standing guard over them. Master Chem had cast another spell so everyone could see and hear what the Champion had to say. Once the noise died down Lion-O took a deep breath and started to speak.
"I welcome everyone to what will one day become the New Thundera. I know that you all have many questions and I will try my best to answer them. Please don't interrupt until I have finished speaking. Many of you have asked for details about the final fight, to have some assurance that the evil that has plagued us will never return. I promise the words I speak are the truth of what happened."
"In the final battle my wife and I managed to take out Mumm-Ra's personal guard, but he had laid a trap for us capturing me and using his dark magic attempted to corrupt Ocelata, but she resisted with all her might refusing to allow his Masters free reign in our world. In a desperate attempt to win they transported the two of us to the Spirit Realm. Joined by Liaison Pumyra, her strike team and the spirit of Jaga the Wise we fought against the Ancient Spirits of Evil and Mumm-Ra the Ever Living. Both Champion and Master had their powers increased and for awhile we struggled. It seemed that all hope was lost, until we figured out what the final line in Ocelata's prophecy meant."
"I'll take it from her beloved. The prophecy spoke of combining the four Stones of Power as one to form the Animala Moonstone. This Stone of Power not only possessed all the powers of the other four Stones, but could make dreams a reality. When tuned to the Items of Power their full potential unlocked. Lion-O fought with courage and great confidence against immeasurable odds when the four Ancient Spirits of Evil merged as one beast. With the help of the Spirit army he raised he managed to go inside the belly of the beast and use the Animala Moonstone to vaporize them once and for all. While this was going on I was being aided by the spirit of my ancestress and Liaison Pumyra. Together we placed virtues inside Mumm-Ra, his black heart couldn't handle all the good inside of him and his soul descended into hell. He will never bother us again!"
Cheers went up and everybody was shouting in joy and relief. Finally the plague that had lasted a millennium was gone, but what had happened to this Animala Moonstone? Why was the couple holding/wearing relics that resembled, but weren't their Items of Power? Another hush fell over the crowd, this time in shock and anger that the Champion and his wife had made a choice for all of them. They chose to give back the gifts to the Ancient Spirits of Good, gifts they had promised to use to aid the Alliance. Many members started shouting threats and chaos threatened to break out destroying everything they worked for.
Lion-O brought up the Sword of Courage whispering to the Gem of Unity. A crisp glow washed over the crowd, dispersing their anger and rage, replacing it with feelings of community, friendship, and love. Replacing the sword Lion-O once again spoke. "Your anger is justifiable. We promised to use the powers we'd been gifted with to help the tribes of Third Earth prosper. To aid us in becoming equals and help all of us achieve our dreams. I was tempted to ignore the past and keep the gifts we'd been given. After all, the Ancient Spirits of Good had made no move to take them back by force. We could have returned home, learned from our past and prevented the misuse of the Items and Stone."
"Then why didn't you? What gave you the right to make a choice that affected all us? If what you say is true about the Animala Moonstone we could have wished our world back to normal, perhaps save those who lost their lives. Why did you give them back?" Crysta shouted from the middle of the crowd. The Amazonian leader had lost many in the fight and was filled with anger.
"Because no one should have that much power; as much as we try to learn from the past so we don't repeat it, there will always be those who will misuse the powers. Even a person with the best intentions can cause more harm then good in a person wishing to create chaos. When I wore the Diadem of Prophecy I can tell you it was an awesome responsibility. I had the power to keep evil from infecting others, to purify those tainted by darkness and see glimpses of the future. It was an amazing power, but it took every ounce of self control not to misuse it. I didn't want to live in a world were every day I struggle to make sure no one suffered because I didn't use my gift correctly or vice versa. The same thing applied to Lion-O and his connection with the Stones and Items. We know we promised you to use the powers to help everyone and maybe we were wrong to give them back, but we'll never know. Still can't you understand why we chose to ensure no one was ever harmed again by these powerful objects?" Ocelata questioned the crowd.
The crowd was still grumbling unhappily and many were too caught up in the moment to really see the big picture, but then Anet trumpeted causing everyone to look at the large elephant.
"Thank you my friends. I understand how you feel. For generations we Elephants protected the Spirit Stone and used its powers to help us reach enlightenment. The people of Artica were able to make use of the Mind Stone's elemental abilities to create their city while at the same time increasing their intelligence. We have also seen many tribes benefit from use of the Body Stone for both physical and tech potential. The Thundercats have also used the Heart Stone for generations to help aid their ruler. I am not dismissing the uses each stone had nor saying it was wrong to use the Items of Power to channel their incredible gifts, but look at how unbalanced we became because of them? So many times using these gifts created chaos and harm for those who used them. These gifts made us complacent, arrogant, dare I say manipulative. Our Alliance managed to win our war by using the bonds we formed and our own special talents. If we are to create a future where we live in peace and harmony we must do so without outside aid. It us up to us to find balance and trust in this new world. Are we that willing to return to our old ways because of the loss of a few stones and items? Are we not better then that?"
"Anet speaks the truth and fear not; we have recovered ancient relics that are ancestors used as symbols for our tribes to look towards. These relics have their own special powers; they inspire hope, courage, and confidence in all people. It is unwise to know to much about our future, the best we can do is live our lives the best we can so we may shape our own future according to how we live and work together. I know I have asked for your allegiance before, now I ask you for you to have faith in not only me, but everyone you see. Together we will thrive as one united world. Are you with me?" Lion-O questioned the tribes scanning each of them with a critical eye.
At first no one said anything, the silence was deafening. Then slowly the Berbils began clapping and cheering. Others soon joined in and within minutes everyone was chanting and praising the glory of the Alliance and expressing their faith in Lion-O and his friends. They had kept their promise to rid their world of evil. Working together there was nothing they couldn't do. As Tygra and Cheetara officially coroneted their royals the rest of the Cats let out cheers and expressed their happiness. Many were calling for a celebration and soon a party was underway.
All night the tribes celebrated with music and dance. Everyone contributed something to the feast. Friendships were formed between those once bitter rivals. Both humanoids and animals challenged each other in friendly competition. Families were reunited with loved ones, including the Thunderkittens with their mom. She was very angry with them for running off, but was pleasantly surprised by the treasure they brought back and their new found talents. She was also amazed by the fact they had become members of the royal court. It appeared that the future was going to be a bright one indeed. As the night wore on Lion-O and Ocelata enjoyed some time to themselves; happily cuddling and discussing the possibilities for the future. As they gazed upon the stars and moon they felt renewed hope for the unknown future.
One Year Later
In the year since the defeat of Mumm-Ra the Ever Living and his masters; life on Third Earth had changed for the better. Though the planet still had scars from the battle, new life had sprung from the battlefield. Trees and flowers were budding and all the planets territories had been repaired. New oasis had sprung up in the desert, the mountain ranges were no longer filled with rubble, and all the water sources had been scrubbed clean. The villages had been repaired and relationships between the tribes had improved greatly with new distribution of lands for everyone to use.
The humanoid El Darians and Amazonians numbers had increased as well. They no longer felt threatened or overwhelmed by the sheer number of animal tribes. Working together they help heal the ley lines evenly distributing the manna throughout the planet. They had also been helpful in keeping in line tribes of monsters that had survived the final fight.
What was most exciting was not the rebuilt New Thundera, but the ruins of Animala City had been restored to their former glory. Families from all the different tribes lived and worked there rediscovering lost arts and sciences. In the restored temple the representatives from each tribe of the Animal/Humanoid Alliance Council met to discuss current events and projects to help further understanding and trust with one another.
A meeting was taking place right now to discuss the possibility of creating a memorial to honor all those who had fallen. It would also act as reminder so that future generations would never repeat the mistakes that had nearly destroyed the tribes long ago.
"I agree that a memorial is the perfect idea with the one year anniversary upon us. A collective project with all the members working together will help benefit us all by reminding us what we went through. As you know tensions are still a bit high among some of the tribes. By creating a common goal hopefully those tensions will vanish. The questions that remain are what kind of memorial should we create and where should it be put?" Trellia squeaked. The flying dolphin was in a portable tank and through a translator on the side was able to talk with the other members of the Alliance Council.
"The memorial should reflect everyone who took part in a battle. A statue or work of art wouldn't be able to fully capture all the individuals who helped out. Perhaps a tower or obelisk with a dedication on it would help? I'm sure that all the tribes would be happy to contribute some story or helpful quote on it as living reminder of what happened," the Drifter suggested to the group.
Other members gave their own suggestions about what the obelisk should be made of and how these dedications should be engraved on it. There was still some discussion about where it should be built. The people of Artica still had difficulty traveling through freshwater and many of the bird people preferred the sky to the land. It was then the head of the Council made is opinion known.
"All of these ideas are fantastic. I believe that a special obelisk with a museum in its base would be perfect. We could construct a court yard of sorts with mementos from all the tribe and some beautiful flora and fauna would make it a living reminder. Why not construct it on the cliffs overlooking the ocean? It would be close to the sea and we could travel to it by land. By making it a few miles high and constructing some perches the birds and gliders would have places to rest while they visited. Is everyone in favor of this?" Tygra asked the group.
He had taken over the responsibility of leading the Council and being the Cats representative after Lion-O became to busy with his duties as King. Tygra was happy in his new position of power and enjoyed working with other tribes to create a better future. After a vote everyone agreed on his suggestion. Plans for the memorial would begin tomorrow. For now, Tygra needed to get back to his wife at the Cleric training ground. He wanted to see how she and one other person were doing before the anniversary dinner later that night.
Cheetara was busy training the next generation of Clerics. These clerics were not only responsible for the safety of all the tribal leaders, but preserving the culture and history of the Alliance. As Head Cleric, Cheetara had her hands full training the new recruits in combat. She was grateful that Mink had agreed to be her second in command. The female weasel was an excellent teacher to the recruits teaching them valuable history lessons and how to preserve cultural artifacts. She also came in handy for one other particular duty.
Cheetara had just finished her training session with a new recruit. A young Amazonian girl named Prisma. She was a strong fighter and had good memory for facts. The only thing she truly lacked was patience. Cheetara was teaching her how to wait for the right moment before advancing on the training course. "Watch the blades swing back and forth. Timing is everything. When you see the gap between the swings go for it."
"Right Mistress Cheetara. One, two, three okay I'm going, no not enough of a gap, now!" Prisma jumped through the gap and rolled under the swinging blades before doing a hand spring landing safely on the other side. "I did it! I really did it!"
"Yes, you do Prisma. Congratulations. Why don't you go get something to eat and take a break? I have something personal to attend to." Cheetara watched her student scamper off before turning to Mink who was approaching her with a squirming bundle. "How was he today? Not to fussy?"
Mink gently handed over a nine month old tiger cub, which had Cheetara's eyes, to his mother. "Javan was wonderful today. He's actually starting to eat solid foods and took his nap today without a fuss. I guess he's excited about tonight huh?"
"Of course he is! Javan loves parties don't you my son?" Tygra said as he entered the room. Cheetara smiled kissing both her men. Javan waved his tiny little fists eager to be held by his parents. The little family was incredibly happy and looking forward to tonight's banquet.
School was just getting out in New Thundera. Children of all ages and species were gathered in small groups talking about today's lessons. Many of these children were showing early signs of abilities long thought lost to their species. With the exchange of species, the long term goal was to recover as many lost talents as possible.
"Today's lesson was amazing! Didn't you have fun learning all about space travel and the galaxy?" WilyKit asked her twin through their bond.
"Totally sis! My favorite part was when Robobear Bella used the hologram projector to make it appear as if we were in outer space!" WilyKat responded.
The twins' powers had grown exponentially since they first discovered them. Not only could they telepathically send messages to another and share images, their individual skills had become much stronger. WilyKat's ESP was very high level and he could now sense things that could happen to other people. WilyKit could act as a medium between spirits and her empathy was a great tool when it came to helping people.
"Are you two doing that mind reading trick again? Mama told you two to stop doing that so often!" whined their younger sister WilyTabby. Her twin brother WilyTom nodded his head in agreement. The younger twins hadn't inherited their sibling's talents, but they did enjoy their new lives in the city.
"Come on Mama, wants us to take a bath before the banquet tonight!" WilyTabby said, already rushing off to their new home.
"Yeah and stepdaddy promised to tell us one of his stories if we were good!" WilyTom bounced up and down. The four kittens hurried home. Their lives had changed greatly in the past year.
With the money and food the older twin's brought back from El Dara in combination with their role as observers/listeners to the royal couple the family had managed to move to New Thundera. Their mother, WilyFelina had personally put in charge of managing the agricultural development for the Cat Tribe. A few months ago their mother had remarried and who she remarried to was a surprise.
"Mama! We had the best day at school! We learned all about the stars and planets!"
"Look I drew a picture for you! Do you like it?"
"I love your picture very much. It's so pretty. Now why don't you four hop into the tub and get clean? We have to be at the palace in hour and half for the banquet. We don't want to keep King Lion-O and Queen Ocelata waiting now do we?"
"Ah they won't care if were a few minutes late! Besides we could always send a telepathic message to Ocelata if were late."
"Maybe, but wouldn't it just be easier if you did what your mother asked?" Panthro asked, entering the cozy apartment. He gave his wife a kiss on the cheek and ruffled the kids' fur. Panthro was the new General of the Cat Army and was coordinating security/relief efforts with other tribes. It was a hard job, but he was happy to have found some balance in his life.
"You just want to make sure you get the best helping of meat don't you."
"Hey, no back talking or no story tonight. Hurry up and get dressed in your new clothes already. I swear I thought those two would mature a bit more, but if anything they seem more cunning then ever."
"They've always been like that and I think they're enjoying their chance to just be kids again. Come on handsome we have to get ready as well."
A short time later the old gang had gathered in the dinning hall for a formal meal to celebrate the one year anniversary since the defeat of evil. Sitting on some comfy pillows was Snarf with his mate and three little kits. Snarf had discovered her living in the rubble and after a brief courtship they had three adorable kits. Unfortunately they had a knack for getting into trouble.
As the feast was placed on the table the kittens jumped on the table heading straight for the main course. Panthro tried to grab them, but his arms just knocked over some of the wine. Snarf let out a screech as his kits took a tumble towards the ground only to be rescued by Cheetara. "I think your kits need a little more discipline Snarf?"
"Meow Snarf!"
The doors to the dinning hall opened and in walked the King and Queen. Their clothing was mostly the same save for the white cloaks they wore and the small crown on Lion-O's head. His Sword and Shield were clipped to his belt. Ocelata's Diadem was sparkling in the candle light. Both of them were looking at each other lovingly. Each of them held a six month old cub in their arms.
"I apologize for our tardiness. The little ones didn't want to get dressed up. Did you not like your new dress Panthera? I made it myself," Ocelata cooed the little baby. She looked like her mother with tufts of tawny hair with spots and stripes on her little arms and legs. A tiny ball of fluff made up her tail. Her eyes and nose though belonged to her father.
Lion-O gently placed his infant son in his high chair and adjusted his light blue tunic so it fit more comfortably. Claudius red mane had barely started to form and his skin was slightly darker then his dad. He shared his mother's facial features and never stopped smiling.
"It seems your son has inherited your positive outlook on life brother. Javan is more of a thinker. He's content to watch the world around him before doing anything," Tygra remarked.
"We'll have to set up a play date when your cubs are a little older. I think Javan would play a little too roughly with them," Cheetara added.
"Can we baby sit them sometime? They're so cute!" WilyKit purred.
"Yeah and we can teach them everything we know! Those cubs will soon be walking and talking," WilyKat meowed.
"Always looking out for others aren't you two?" WilyFelina remarked ruffling their fur.
"Maybe when the cubs are a little older you two can help out. Don't want you guys to lose them on your first day," Panthro joked, not noticing Snarf having a panic attack remembering his early days as Lion-O's babysitter.
"Enough talking about the children, let's enjoy this wonderful meal. A toast to all of us! In one year we have come so far. We have managed to keep the Alliance together and have started to reclaim much of what we lost. I intend to ensure the following years are just as beatitude as this year," Lion-O toasted.
"To the future, unknown as it, we welcome it with joy. I pray that we all remain friends until our dying days. That all our dreams and hopes come true," Ocelata proclaimed. The others agreed and soon everyone was eating the feast, joking about and having a good time.
Later that night, the young parents had just put their squirming, giggling bundles of fluff in their crib. The little prince and princess yawned a bit before cuddling each other and going to sleep. With a small gesture of love the parents retired to bed for a little cuddling of their own.
"It's been such an amazing year. Sometimes I wonder if I'll wake up as a spirit again to discover this is a dream. So much has happened to all of us. If you were to have told me when I was growing up, that one day I would marry the Lord of the Thundercats, become his multitalented queen and mother to two beautiful cubs, I would have said you were crazy."
"If someone told me that I would actually succeed my father and become a king not only to my people, but a champion for all of Third Earth, I have thought they were joking. I do know this for certain. This is our present and our children are the future. We have everything we could ever want. No matter what happens I'm glad I have you by my side," Lion-O whispered. The two gently kissed each other, pulling the covers over them so they could enjoy the night.
No one was certain what the future held or if the Alliance would remain strong for all time, but as the three moons circled the planet it didn't matter. The past that had divided them was no more. In the present all was well on Third Earth. For now everything was as it should be and the future held many possibilities.
And so the trilogy comes to an end. I have brought the characters as far as I could and I hope that one day the inspiration for this story will continue. I have loved writing these stories and I hope that someday I will have fan art for it. Thank you for reading all three stories. Feel free to read my other fanfics and if your adventures buy a copy of my novel, "Battle for the Stars." I'm sure you like it. Until then; goodbye my faithful readers.