While watching Tygra's flashback episode for the first time, I came to a horrifying realization: "Oh God…they made ThunderCats into TWILIGHT!" As always: I own NOTHING!

ThunderCats: Sword of Kings

Chapter X: Aftermath

"Let me see if I can understand this, Captain Cabrae," King Claudus almost snarled. He was in the throne room with Lion-O and Tygra sitting by his side, in front of them was General Grune and a quivering cougar that was the Captain of the City Guard. "Do you mean to tell me that you and your men were unable to even keep up with this…this machine?"

"Y-Y-Your M-Majesty," Captain Cabrae stammered, "you must understand. It turned down the alley, and it was gone by the time we got there. It was as if it just disappeared into thin air."

Lion-O knew that the Captain's excuse would not go over well with his father. It would be considered a miracle if the cat was still leading the City Guard by the end of the day.

Claudus growled. "You are dismissed, Captain."

The Guard Captain bowed before quickly walking out of the room while he still had his job. Claudus stood up from his throne and began pacing back and forth, a snarl emerging from his throat.

"This is a nightmare," the king growled. "The palace has been attacked, most of our men have been slaughtered, and the Sword of Omens was stolen from our own armory."

Lion-O and Tygra could agree with that. Both princes knew that the sword was not only a powerful weapon, but a cultural treasure. All Thunderians grew up hearing the story of Leo wielding the Sword of Omens to overthrow Mumm-Ra and establish their great Kingdom of Thundera, the envy of all Third Earth. So far, no one but those at the Royal Palace knew the sword had been stolen, and Claudus had the means to ensure it was kept that way. If others knew of the theft, there would only be chaos and anarchy.

"Have we learned anything from the captured soldier?" Claudus asked. He was referring to the one that stunned Lion-O with the strange device.

"No, Your Majesty," Grune the Destroyer answered. "He has refused to utter even one word. We know nothing on who he answers to, or on how he got a hold of Technology."

Claudus sighed. "For now, keep him in the dungeon until we decide what to do with him." He sat back down on the Throne of Thundera and motioned for one of the palace guards. "Send in Jaga and his Cleric."

The guard bowed before leaving the throne room. Everyone was silent as he returned with Jaga and Cheetara in tow. Cheetara did not wear her Cleric garb, sporting her brown top and pants instead. They both bowed as they neared the throne.

"Step forward, Cleric," Claudus said.

Cheetara looked to Jaga, who only nodded. She nervously took a few steps toward the dais of Thundera's royalty. To Lion-O, it didn't seem to be in Cheetara's nature to be this nervous. It almost seemed like a condemned prisoner awaiting the executioner's axe.

Claudus stared hard at the cheetah. "When you became a Cleric," he said, "you took an oath to protect the royal family, did you not?"

Lion-O tensed a bit. "I did, Your Majesty," Cheetara said, her eyes meeting with the king's.

"When my son was returned to us," Claudus continued, "he was placed in your care as your charge, am I correct?"

Lion-O didn't like where his father seemed to be taking this conversation. "He was, Your Majesty," Cheetara answered.

"And during the palace attack," Claudus went on, "where you not incapacitated, leaving my son, your charge, vulnerable?"

Lion-O definitely did not like where this was going. A shared look with Tygra told him he was thinking the same thing. Their father was angry, and he was looking for blood.

Cheetara only continued to meet her king's glare head on. "I was, Your Majesty."

"Do you have anything to say in your defense," Claudus asked, "anything to say to excuse your failure?"

Cheetara swallowed hard. "No, Your Majesty, I do not. I swore an oath, and I failed to uphold it. I offer no excuse for what happened."

"I see then," Claudus nodded. "So be it. As of this day, you are hereby dismissed from the Clericy."

Lion-O was on his feet in an instant. "Father, no! You can't!"

"I'm sorry, son," Claudus said firmly, "but this must be done."

"But it wasn't her fault," Lion-O said.

Grune snarled. "You should stay out of matters that have already been dealt with, boy."

Lion-O sneered at the General. "And you should learn to only speak when spoken to."

Grune clenched his fists. "You've got quite the mouth, Your Highness," he said sarcastically. "How would you like to be punched in it?"

Lion-O laughed. "You wanna know something, Grune?" he asked amused. "I've seen guys as big as you fight in the arena. They liked to think they were invincible, that they could beat anyone. They didn't last ten seconds. What was that saying? 'The bigger they are, the harder they fall.'"

"What's your point, boy?" Grune asked annoyed.

"My point is that they tended to stroke their egos," Lion-O said, "just as you probably tend to stroke something else entirely."

Everyone in the throne room stared in shock at the prince's brashness. No one has ever said anything like that to Grune. As for the general himself, he looked as if he was about to pop a blood vessel.

A roar emerged from Grune's throat. "Now you listen here, you little sh—"

"Grune," Claudus called out before he could say more, "perhaps it would be in your best interest if you were to leave for now."

Grune just stood where he was for a moment. "As you wish, Your Majesty." As he left, the General gave a look to Lion-O that said "This isn't over."

The lion prince turned to his father when the Destroyer left. "Father," he said, "I ask that you give Cheetara another chance."

"There are no second chances for something like this, Lion-O," Claudus informed him.

"I ask you to reconsider, father," Lion-O said. "I trust Cheetara with my life, and you should too."

Claudus looked to his son, then to Cheetara herself. "Very well," he sighed. "My son has placed a lot of faith in you, young lady. I will give you a second chance. But I must warn you, to fail in upholding your oath a second time is not an option. Are we clear on this, Cleric?"

Cheetara looked to Lion-O before meeting the king's gaze. "I understand, Your Majesty."

Ignoring all royal etiquette, Lion-O walked out of the throne room without asking to be excused. The prince just wandered the halls as he heard a voice calling out to him.

"Lion-O!" Cheetara ran to catch up to him. "You didn't have to do all that."

Lion-O turned to the Cleric. "What are you talking about?"

"I mean," Cheetara began, "you didn't have to stand up for me like that. I knew that I would be dismissed from the Clerics; I would have lived with that. You didn't have to defend me like you did. I mean, what you said to General Grune—"

"Listen, Cheetara," Lion-O interrupted, "my father was making a mistake. You're still a great Cleric. If those soldiers hadn't used their Technology, you would have been able to beat them."

"That's not the point, Lion-O," Cheetara exclaimed. "The point is that I couldn't protect you."

"The duty of the Clerics is to protect the royal family from all known threats," Lion-O informed her. "Technology is an unknown threat. So to me, you didn't fail any oath."

Cheetara couldn't argue with that, it was all so logical. She watched as Lion-O walked away, all the while she stood rooted to the ground.

"Can I ask you something, Cheetara?" WilyKat asked. He, his sister, and Cheetara where in the Wileys' bedroom the following night.

"Of course," Cheetara said.

Kat looked to his sister for a moment. "We heard about what Lion-O said to General Grune. What did he mean when he said that Grune stro—"

"It means," Cheetara interrupted, "that's a conversation to have when you're older. Now come on, it's getting late. You two need your sleep."

She quickly made sure that both twins were dressed in their bed clothes before tucking them in. The only light in the room was a candle on the night stand between the two beds. As she tucked them in, Cheetara began to hum a melodious tune.

"What're you humming?" WilyKit asked.

The Cleric turned to her. "It was a lullaby my mother used to sing to me before…" She never finished that sentence. Cheetara could only remember the lizards…and the fires.

"Do you know the words?" WilyKat piped up from the other bed.

That snapped the cheetah from her memories. "No," Cheetara said, "but I always loved the tune. May I still hum it?"

Both Wileys nodded as she continued the lullaby. By the time Cheetara was done, WilyKat was fast asleep while Kit's eyelids were becoming heavy.

"Cheetara?" she yawned.

"Yes, WilyKit?"

"You love Lion-O, don't you?"

Cheetara's whole body froze at that. "Why would you say that?"

WilyKit yawned again. "Because he stood up to his father for you," she said. "He did that because he loves you too."

Cheetara did nothing but pat the girl's head. "Go to sleep, Kit."

WilyKit closed her eyes to sleep as Cheetara left the room and silently closed the door. The Cleric simply stared ahead as she began her silent walk back to the Sanctuary. WilyKit's words echoed through her mind.

"He did that because he loves you too."

Cheetara wanted to believe that. She didn't know if it was true, or if WilyKit was imagining things. But none of it mattered.

"Even if it was true," she whispered, "it wouldn't be allowed."