Disclaimer: I do own Thundercats. I do own Snow Lepress and her mother.
A/N: Welcome to the third chapter of my first Thundercats fanfic, Coming of Age, where Snow and Lion-O will come in contact with a band of pirates called the Berserkers who are hunting unicorns and catch Snarf instead. So without further ado, here goes. Enjoy!
'Hey, look,' said a young Snow Lepress as she and Lion-O snuck out of the capital and headed towards a nearby forest. She had come to a stop as soon as they were surrounded by foliage and bent down to pick up a hurt baby bird.
'What is it?' inquired Lion-O as he stood beside her.
'A baby bird,' she replied. 'I think it hurt its wing. It must have fallen out of its nest. Poor thing.'
Lion-O frowned. 'Do you think there's something we can do to help it?'
'I'm not sure,' Snow admitted. 'But maybe we can make a little splint out of some of the twigs lying around then help it get back to its nest. It has to be somewhere around here.'
He nodded. 'Sounds good. I'll get the twigs. You stay here and keep an eye on it.'
'Thanks, lion cub,' she murmured with a small smile.
Lion-O smiled back before heading off in search of twigs while Snow crossed her legs and sat down on the ground, cradling the baby bird in her spotted paws.
'Don't worry,' she told it soothingly. 'Lion-O will be back before you know it. He's never let me down. He's the greatest cat in all of Thundera and my best friend.'
~ Coming of Age ~
Snow Lepress and Lion-O had been taking a peaceful stroll through the woods when they heard a cry for help and found a unicorn trapped in the branches of a tree that was trying to eat it.
"This doesn't look like a very fair fight," noted Lion-O as he drew the Sword of Omens.
"Then let us even the odds," suggested Snow, reaching for her tonfas. They charged the tree which attempted to ensnare them as well.
The Thundercats knocked and hacked the branches away; freeing the unicorn before getting caught themselves. Suddenly a giant crow came down, took Lion-O's sword, and flew away with it clasped in its beak.
"The sword!" cried Snow as she struggled to free herself. "My arms are pinned. I can't move."
"Easy, little lepress," urged Lion-O, donning his claw shield and breaking his way out. He then freed Snow and caught her before she could hit the ground. "Are you alright?"
She nodded. "Yes, but what about the sword?"
"I'll retrieve it," he assured her. "Why don't you look after the unicorn?"
"You mean like when we found that baby bird?" she murmured, smiling at the memory.
Lion-O grinned. "Exactly. Now, do not worry, I will return shortly."
The leader of the Thundercats then disappeared leaving Snow to check on the unicorn who was understandably shaken from its ordeal.
"Easy there," the young lepress whispered calmly. "I won't hurt you."
The unicorn became still and allowed Snow to approach it. The beautiful creature then bestowed upon her a ring which hung from its horn.
Snow took it in her hands, marveling at its loveliness before placing it on her finger as Lion-O reappeared with the Sword of Omens in hand.
"See? I told you there was nothing to worry about," he said with shining eyes that never failed to send a shiver through Snow's body.
"I never doubted you for a second," she replied as the eye suddenly began to glow.
"The Eye of Thundera!" exclaimed Lion-O, raising the weapon. "A Thundercat's in danger. Sword of Omens give me sight beyond sight!"
"Who is it?" inquired Snow.
"Another unicorn and Snarf captured," he informed her. "We've got to locate that beach I saw."
The two Thundercats sheathed their weapons and set out to find the beach but discovered a herd of unicorns and their two caretakers instead. One of the caretakers was male and the other was female. Bothe wore robes and carried staffs topped with crescents.
"Stay back," ordered the man.
"Or we shall put a spell on you," finished the female.
"Wait, there is one more unicorn and she is safe," Lion-O informed them.
"How do you know this?" the woman demanded.
"I am Lion-O, Lord of the Thundercats. This is my comrade Snow Lepress," he answered. "We mean you no harm. We came upon your unicorn in the forest and freed her from a tree monster.
"Behold for yourselves," Lion-O continued as he unsheathed his sword and held the eye up to them. "Sword of Omens, give me sight beyond sight."
The Eye displayed the unicorn safe and sound.
"He either speaks the truth or he is a magician," muttered the man as Lion-O sheathed the sword.
"I am no magician," he assured them.
"We seek a nearby beach and our companion, the Snarf who has been captured," Snow explained as one of the unicorns became excited. "What is it?"
"The little one has seen your Snarf," said the female, stroking the baby unicorn's mane. "Apparently he came to her aid. How can we help you?"
"Unicorn! Unicorn!" shouted a new voice causing the Thundercats to turn to see a man with long white hair, a goatee, and sporting a Viking hat enter the glade with a band of pirates, one of which was carrying Snarf.
"Snarf!" cried Lion-O and Snow as they unsheathed their weapons.
"Oh, so you know each other," noted the leader, glancing at Snarf before returning his attention to them. "Bad, bad, bad! Your so-called Snarf will fall to the hammerhand of Hammerhand if you use those weapons of yours."
"You might want to look again," Snow advised him, smirking as Snarf broke free and headed over to them. "Way to go, Snarf."
"Hammer away!" said Snarf as he stood behind Lion-O. "The Snarf is ready!"
"These children and their dog are no match for Hammerhand!" the Berserker declared as he grabbed a shield and banged on it with his hand.
Snow stared at Lion-O. "You heard him, lion cub. We're clearly no match for him."
"Guess we'll just need reinforcements then, huh?" replied Lion-O with a smirk of his own, raising the Sword of Omens. "Ho!"
"Take care of your flock," Snow told the caretakers. "We'll handle Hammerhand."
"You are no match for the Sword of Omens," Lion-O declared as an all-out fight began.
Snow was taking out one of Hammerhand's men when she saw the sword knocked out of Lion-O's hand into the water. The young lepress quickly dispatched her opponent and hurried over to her friend's side as Hammerhand demanded what Lion-O was going to do now. "He will do as any great leader does when he finds himself in trouble. Rely on his friends which is why you now have to deal with me."
"Snow," murmured Lion-O as he stared at her back. "Are you sure about this?"
"I can't keep depending on you now, can I?" she pointed out, returning his gaze with a wink. "Go get the sword. I'll hold him off."
"Thank you, little Lepress," he said, clasping her shoulder with his hand. "Be careful."
"I will," Snow promised as Lion-O dove into the water. The Thundercat turned her attention back to Hammerhand. "Now where were we?"
"You got spunk, girl. I'll give you that," Hammerhand replied, striding towards her. "But you're still no match for me!"
Hammerhand raised his metal arm and brought it down on Snow's head but the lepress blocked the blow with her tonfas and spun around the pirate, nailing him in the back.
"Still think I can't take you on?" she demanded.
"Your cockiness will be the end of you," the pirate declared as he recovered and rounded on her again. The young lepress moved to evade but Hammerhand, anticipating her movements, rammed his metal fist into her right thigh causing Snow to cry out in pain.
"Snow Lepress!" cried Snarf as he attempted to run to her aid but was captured once again by Hammerhand and his band of Berserkers.
"Snarf, no," muttered Snow as she struggled to her feet in vain.
Hammerhand laughed and returned to his ship with Snarf and the unicorns in tow.
"Snow!" yelled a concerned voice she would have recognized anywhere. Lion-O hovered over her with worried orange eyes. "What happened?"
"I got hammered in my right thigh," she explained.
"Can you walk?" he inquired.
I shook my head. "Don't worry about me. You have to go after Snarf and the unicorns."
"I can't leave you," he argued.
Snow smiled slightly. "Lion-O, you're the lord of the Thundercats. You can't waste time on a lowly warrior like me, not when there are more important things demanding your attention."
Lion-O stared at her like she was crazy. "Is that how you think I view you? As a lowly warrior who is not worthy of someone's concern? Snow, you're my best friend. We've known each other since we were cubs and ever since we arrived here fully grown, I've…"
"You've what?" inquired Snow as her heart rate increased. "You've what, Lion-O?"
Lion-O took a deep breath and touched her cheek with his paw. "I've found myself falling in love with you, little lepress. That's why I will not leave you when you are injured."
"Such is the wonder when youth comes of age," noted the male caretaker sagely causing the two Thundercats to glance at him questioningly. He smiled apologetically. "My apologies."
"Lion-O," murmured Snow making him return his attention to her. The young lepress's cheeks were flushed slightly. "Are you certain about this? I'm not exactly worthy of a prince, let alone the Lord of the Thundercats."
"Those rules are ancient and have always been in dire need of revision," he replied. "As far as I'm concerned, love is all that's needed in a relationship and I love you."
Snow smiled as her blush increased. "I love you too, lion cub."
Lion-O smiled back before leaning down and bringing his lips to hers.
"Now go," she urged him after they broke apart. "Snarf needs you."
"But-," he began.
"Do not worry," the female caretaker assured him. "I'll take care of her."
"See? I'll be fine," said Snow.
Lion-O nodded. "I'll be back before you know it. I promise."
"He's quite the young lion," noted the woman as she knelt down in front of the lepress.
"Yes, he is," Snow agreed, watching Lion-O go. "I only wish I could help him."
"Oh you'll be able to," the woman informed her.
"What do you mean?" she asked as the caretaker placed her hands over Snow's leg and a strange energy emitted from her fingers. The pain in her leg abated and the Thundercat discovered she could stand. "What did you do?"
"I used my magic and the power of the ring our unicorn bestowed upon you to heal your wound," she explained. "No one has ever worn that ring before. Clearly the unicorn deemed you worthy and gave you the tool that will aid you on your journey."
"How will it do that?" inquired Snow as the ring suddenly began to glow and emit a light that stretched out over the water.
"That beam will lead you to the one you care about most," the woman told her. "Now Go."
"Thank you so much," said Snow. "I promise we will rescue your flock and return them to you. I swear it by the Code of Thundera!"
With that the Thundercat hurried to the beach where she found a boat which she used to reach Hammerhand's boat and climbed aboard.
"You again!" growled Hammerhand as he stood in front of Lion-O who was surrounded by Berserkers but took the time to look behind him.
"Snow, but how?" he murmured in amazement.
"Tell you later," she replied as the ship began to leak and sink resulting in Hammerhand's men abandoning ship. Snow hurried to Lion-O's side. "We need to get Snarf and the unicorns off of this boat now."
"Right," he agreed before they all jumped off the ship and attempted to swim to shore but were caught in a whirlpool that threatened to pull them under.
I can't breathe, noted Snow as the heavy water sucked away her strength. That's when the ring on her finger started to glow and returned her strength to her. The lepress then swam to Lion-O and Snarf and dragged them to the surface.
"Thanks, Snow," said Lion-O as they clambered back onto deck with Hammerhead lying in wait.
"You two again?" he growled before charging them resulting in another fight. "I'll hammer ya into the deck like two rusty nails, you brats!"
Lion-O headed for the mast, pulling Snow with him. The Lord of the Thundercats then raised his sword and calls the other Thundercats. Meanwhile Snarf and one of the unicorns fell overboard.
"Hang on, Snarf! We're coming!" called Lion-O as they dove in after him and grabbed Snarf.
"Now what?" asked Snow just as Panthro and Cheetara appeared in the Thundertank.
"Need a lift?" inquired Panthro.
"Are we glad to see you guys!" said Snow as they climbed aboard.
"Panthro, the baby unicorn in the water, hurry!" Lion-O told him as they snatched up the baby while the Berserkers shot at them and Cheetara returned fire.
Panthro then used the Thundertank to cause a massive whirlpool around the ship, destroying it.
"It worked, Panthro," noted Lion-O. "They're gone."
"Good riddance," murmured Snow.
Snow and Lion-O then returned the unicorns to their caretakers.
"Thank you," the man said gratefully.
"You're most welcome," replied Lion-O, smiling as he watched Snow return the ring to its owner who bowed its head. The Lord of the Thundercats then walked over to her. "You really do have a way with them."
"Yeah," she agreed, leaning into his side as he wrapped his arm around her.
"Ready to go home?" he asked her after a few comfortable moments of silence.
"Not just yet," she said, looking up at him meaningfully.
Lion-O grinned and kissed her.
Such is the wonder when youth comes of age indeed, thought Snow Lepress as she sank into pure bliss.
A/N: And there you have it! Until next time, read review and show the love!