Episode 1: The Doom Gaze of Ta-She
Part 4
Lion-O noticed Panthro's nunchucks and Tygra's whip sitting in Ta-She's lap. She playfully dangled Tygra's pistol by the trigger at the end of her finger, swaying her long, black-tipped tail.
"How did I end up here?" He asked inwardly. It hurt to think straight. He almost felt as if he were in a dream only he remembered enough to know he wasn't that lucky.
Ta-She stood. She held onto the gun, but left the nunchucks and whip behind. She revealed herself to be quite tall, shying Panthro's height by an inch. Panthro snarled at her as she approached them. She ignored his warning then reached out to stoke both Tygra and Lion-O's cheek gently. "You look so stiff." She frowned. "Relax; tell me about yourselves."
"Don't say anything." Lion-O told himself, but her eyes dug into his skull, uprooting thoughts. "I'm Lion-O, lord of the Thundercats." He droned.
"I'm his older brother, Tygra, last of the tiger clan." Tygra added. They exchanged apologetic glances.
"I'm Panthro and I hate this pla- wait, I can talk now!" He tried to move, but his brain seemed disconnected from his extremities.
Ta-She exhaled a good laugh at their expense. "You may speak until I grow tired of hearing your voices." She informed them, inspecting the gun. "Oooh, this looks fun." She smiled at Panthro, taking aim for his left foot. "I can feel you resisting. You can try all you want, but no male has the will power to escape my Doom Gaze."
Panthro yowled in pain as the blast shot through his foot. It cauterized instantly and bled very little, but hurt like a bitch. Infuriated, he took a swing at Ta-She, unable to step towards her, but he managed to land a punch with his arm's extension mechanism.
Ta-She doubled over, holding her bruised face "GUARDS!"
The younger males cried out for the general as the crocodiles swarmed him in seconds. They tossed him off the side of the boat into the dark abyss. Panthro's cries faded, but soon they echoed up above and rapidly began to sound closer until he landed on the deck exactly in the scorch mark he stood on a minute ago.
"Even if you can resist my Doom Gaze, reality within the Time Warp Prison shapes to my thoughts. There is no escape." Ta- She inspected her face in a mirror, dismissing her bloody lip as a minor injury. Still upset enough, she tossed the mirror to the floor, shattering it. She scowled at Panthro, scratching him across the face the moment he stood again. "I don't like this one! He's too old and clunky!"
"Screw you, lady." Panthro spat, wincing at the pain of trying to put pressure on his injured foot.
She hissed at him, giving him a death glare directly into his eyes. "Shut up and ROW until I can think of a better use for you!" She ordered, pointing to the many rows of crocodiles pushing the ship along monotonously.
Panthro begrudgingly did as ordered, helpless to do otherwise.
"Leave him alone!" Tygra shouted in his elder's defense, baring his teeth.
Ta-She glanced over her shoulder at him. "A sign of life from you finally?" She turned her attention to the young tiger, grabbing his face for a closer look into his eyes. Tygra resisted at first, but Ta-She forced his eyes to open. "How sweet, this one is in love. You're worried about her aren't you?" She cooed motherly. "Don't worry. She will be here to rot with you for all eternity soon enough. Perhaps if Mumm-Ra lets him live I'll take your baby brother with me back to your reality. I'll teach him to love." She threw herself on Lion-O's chest. "I like young boys."
Lion-O would have given anything to be able to push her away that moment. He cringed as she ruffled his mane and kissed his cheek. "Stop! Mumm-Ra sent us here so you could take the power stones for him with your Doom Gaze." He presumed aloud.
"Indeed he did." Ta-She confirmed, taking a step back before outstretching her hand to him. "And you WILL give them to me.
"No!"
"YES! How you managed to steal them from Mumm-Ra in the first place is beyond me, but it doesn't matter. He ordered my troops and I to ravage five lunar civilizations and reach into a dying sun for the will stone. I shudder to think what later generals had to do for the other three. He will stop at nothing until all four are his again. Look at this Hell he banished me to and I was LOYAL to him!" She cried, motioning to the vast nothingness around the boat dramatically. "Have enough brains in your head to know when you're beaten."
She continued to hold her hand out to him. It took all his strength, but he resisted the urge to remove his claw shield. "The war just began!" He continued to protest. Talking seemed to help him concentrate or distract her perhaps. He couldn't tell for certain, but Lion-O was willing to wager after a couple of million years trapped here, Ta -She was desperate for conversation. "Animals have an opportunity to finally live in peace. My ancestors liberated the power stones and reduced Mumm-Ra to a husk-"
"That was then. Now he has regenerated and offered me freedom. Enough, handsome; GIVE ME the sword and gauntlet…"
Meanwhile, atop the highest peak on the Anguish Mountain range…
Mumm-Ra continued to recite his eerie mantra, focusing his power onto the Time Warp Prison.
Pumyra watched as bandages slithered away from Mumm-Ra's body and cocooned Cheetara completely up to her neck. He suspended the still-unconscious cheetah in midair, allowing her head to tilt listlessly backwards. Pumyra took the mixture of hair, blood and dying breath and forced the potion down Cheetara's throat.
As the puma suspected, the effects of the tranquilizer did not last long due to her hyperactive metabolism. Cheetara choked a little when she swallowed. Her eyes blinked away the grogginess. Her limbs felt as if they weighed a ton. By the time she realized she was ninety-percent mummified Mumm-Ra wrapped her head entirely before she could call out.
Cheetara squirmed, her voice muffled under the bandages. To add insult to injury Pumyra held up Cheetara's staff under her nose. "You won't need this," then tossed it as far as she could off the mountain side.
Cheetara glared at the puma, vowing for payback inwardly.
"It is complete!" Mumm-Ra announced. "You must stay behind, my beloved. I will return shortly."
"What are your orders now, lord Mumm-Ra?"
"One of my minions has failed to report in since Grune's death. Find Lynxanna. Remind her that her loyalties are to ME not Grune. Make haste; this will not take long."
Pumyra nodded. "Yes, my lord, at once." With that, she began to jump down the mountain to begin her search.
Mumm-Ra turned towards Cheetara. "Are you afraid, my dear?" He asked as everything around them seemed to drown in shadow.
She knew Mumm-Ra had taken her away from Third Earth somehow, but she kept calm. Cheetara shook her head no.
Mumm-Ra smiled. "Perhaps not now. It takes a thousand years or so for the insanity to set in." He looked upward for Ta-She's ship but could spot no trace of it. Cheetara's eyes darted about, trying to spot what exactly the mummy was looking for then she felt herself being dragged off. She squirmed desperately. The wrappings appeared ancient and brittle, but the bindings wouldn't break. For now she was trapped. Struggling further would do nothing for her besides exhaust energy. Her only option was to wait and hope.
Lion-O studied Ta-She closely. His angry expression softened with sympathy for a moment. "How can you turn your back on your own species when we have a fighting chance?"
"Do NOT compare yourself to Ta-She!" She snapped. "I was one of Mumm-Ra's first cats; his favorite general to a superior army feared in many solar systems! Your people are a bunch of feral beasts he lost track of." Her tail swished behind her as she thought. "Even if you are telling me the truth, even if Mumm-Ra is in a weakened state now and you three have the means to defeat him it will only be a temporary victory. So long as evil exists, Mumm-Ra lives. When you live a million years you will come to accept that truth."
"I'm not lying to you! If you help him get the power and spirit stones he won't use them to grant you freedom. You know that deep down. Mumm-Ra will let you rot another million years here while he continues his conquests starting with my planet. Cooperating with him now means misery and death for everyone later. Can you really sit back and let all that happen?"
"She only cares about herself, Lion-O. You're wasting your breath." Tygra sneered.
"SILENCE!" Growing frustrated, she snatched the sword of omens and claw shield away from Lion-O. She pulled the sword from its sheath and held up the hilt to eye level to inspect the war stone. It growled at her. Startled, she immediately concealed it.
"NO!" Lion-O paled a bit as he watched Ta-She take his sword away and flaunt it like a bully taking candy from a smaller cub. He hated himself for letting go. He could feel Tygra and Panthro's disappointed stares burning a hole in the back of his head. He could feel his father's disappoint all the way from the afterlife. The Time Warp prison truly felt like Hell that moment.
"Wretched things these power stones …" Ta-She stated coldly. "I remember the day I handed Mumm-Ra the will stone. He looked sooo pleased. He offered me a reward ANY reward." She laughed. "A demi-god should know to choose his words more wisely. I asked for eternal youth, irresistible beauty and to be a queen; a queen worshiped by all males and who would rule by his side!" She snickered under her breath. "…So Mumm-Ra enchanted me with the will stone. He granted me immortality and the power of the Doom Gaze. The Time Warp Prison-" She motioned to the emptiness around her, "is a dead pocket dimension that runs parallel between life and death. Mumm-Ra abandoned me here and called it my domain. My powers work at peak intensity in the Time Warp, but serve me no purpose. He cursed me to rule a barren kingdom with only this ship as my means of transport and only these STUPID, UGLY REPTILES TO COMMAND!" She shrieked, slashing her claws across the cheek of the closest guard. He and he others stopped to stare at her a moment, but she held up her claw again. "KEEP ROWING!"
They continued onward immediately. Tygra raised a brow at her. "So you literally rule beside Mumm-Ra? Wow, he screwed you over!" He chuckled. Lion-O couldn't help but smirk himself.
Ta-She flashed him a death glare. "You think a millennia spent in limbo is funny?"
Tygra's expression hardened. "Yes because you're a terrible person who uses black magic to make up for the fact no man could ever love you because you're a terrible person! You obviously deserve to be here, so rot here alone; let us go!"
Lion-O grimaced, punching his brother inwardly. Often there are times, such as now, when he wondered if his own mouth gets them into more trouble or Tygra's mouth?
She pointed to the crocodiles. "You're cute so I put up with you for a minute, but you're not that cute. I'm tired of your voice too, cub. Go row with the others I don't like." She motioned towards Panthro. "Join him. That's it, good boy." She ever so lightly placed her hand on Lion-O's shoulder and led him over to her throne while Tygra sat beside Panthro and began to row, cursing sexist expletives under his breath. "Wait here for Mumm-Ra with me. Don't speak. Ta-She's has a headache."
Ta-She sat in her usual position then snapped her fingers. Somehow that forced Lion-O to kneel on the floor and rest his head on her lap. Ta-She stroked his mane as she tucked the sword of Omens and clawshield safely under her seat.
"So close to me…But I can't reach it..." The young lord lamented inwardly.
Not soon later a bolt of lightning lit up the sky. Mumm-Ra appeared on deck. Ta-She smirked, amused by his withered appearance. "Greetings, Lord Mumm-Ra. Where is the heroine that is supposed to take my place?"
"Cheetara!" Tygra watched helplessly as Mumm-Ra dragged her wriggling mummified body before his feet.
Mumm-Ra looked at Lion-O then to the others. "I see you pacified the Thundercats, but where are the power and spirit stones?"
Ta -She stood, holding up the sword and claw shield. "Too easy, my Lord. I upheld my end of the bargain-" She placed them in Mumm-Ra's gnarled hands. "Now uphold yours; set me free."
Excited, Mumm-Ra immediately pulled the sword from its sheath, but his expression of joy immediately hardened to an angry scowl. "Did you really think you could fool me?" His hands engulfed in black flames revealing the sword of omens and claw shield to be in fact Panthro's nunchucks and Tygra's whip. He tossed them aside as if they were trash.
"Only for minute or so." She confessed before pressing her claws deep into her eyes. She yowled in pain, doubling over to catch the blood in her palms. Her guards turned to dust and the ship slowed to a halt.
"What have you done?!" Mumm-Ra cried, shocked.
"She freed us from her Doom Gaze!" Lion-O stood on Ta-She's throne, holding his sword high. "Thundercats, HOOO!"
Released from Ta-She's mental grip, Tygra immediately ran to Cheeara's aid, ripping open the bandages. "What happened?"
Once her hands were free Cheetara assisted him. "My body feels like rubber. Pumyra drugged me. I'm not sure how well I can run." She warned him.
"My head is foggy too. Ta- She hypnotized us, but it's okay, I got you covered…"
Mumm-Ra managed to slip away from Panthro's left hook and a slash to the torso from the sword of omens. He cackled, drifting out of reach in a blink of an eye. "You forget were you are, boy! There is no light in the Time Warp!" An eerie wind began to howl and a crack of thunder shook the dimension. Mumm-Ra outstretched his arms to the black sky. "Ancient Spirits of Evil, transform this decayed form to MUMM-RA the EVER LIVING!"
As Mumm-Ra took on his true form, Cheetara took the opportunity to retrieve and return Panthro and Tygra's weapons. "Made it!" She stumbled a bit as she skidded to a halt and offered Tygra his whip. "My head is spinning."
"We'll take care of Mumm-Ra. Look after her." He motioned to Ta-She, still doubled over and bleeding. The couple parted ways, eager to help any way possible.
Mumm-Ra spewed an energy beam from his jowls. Panthro and Lion-O dove out its path, but the energy burned through the main sail. It fell with a crash, taking out most of the back end of the boat, causing it to tilt.
Once Lion-O regained his balance he leapt for Mumm-Ra with intent to lob off his head. Mumm-Ra blocked his swing with the sword of Plun-Darr, knocking him backwards. "I will fish the power stones from a pile of your ashes!" He threatened, swinging his own blade.
"Not in this dimension!" Their swords sparked as the blades clashed. "Not any!"
Mumm-Ra fumbled his defense as he felt something wrap around his foot.
Invisible, Tygra tried to yank Mumm-Ra's foot out from under him with his whip. Annoyed, Mumm-Ra kicked his foot loose, taking Tygra for a drag.
As he turned his attention back to Lion-O, Panthro sucker punched him in the face. "NOW, KID!" He cried as the demon recoiled upon the impact.
Lion-O charged for Mumm-Ra, keeping the sword of omens raised. He held the eye of Thundera against Mumm-Ra's heart (or where one should be). "HOOOOOO!"
Red energy swelled from the eye. It engulfed everything in a blinding light, deafening all sound.
As the eye dimmed, Mumm-Ra reverted back to his withered form. A gaping hole was left in his chest exposing burnt rotting flesh. He dropped to his knees, unable to continue the fight.
Lion-O lowered his sword. The Thundercats circled him, itching to pound him into dust should he try anything else.
"Damned cats…" He choked. "You have always been more trouble than you're worth. All of you will pay for this…" He vowed before taking the form of a raven and flying off into oblivion.
Lion-O, Panthro and Tygra cheered for their victory until Cheetara interrupted with a cough. She helped a bandaged up Ta-She walk over to Lion-O, wobbling herself. "How do we get out of here?" She asked.
Tygra allowed Cheetara to lean on him. He looked around; no exits. "Good question."
"The spell that sent you here is already starting to weaken. The Time Warp will pass you by eventually."
"Are you going to be alright?" Lion-O asked.
Ta-She nodded, flashing him a dismissive hand gesture. "I'm fine. My eyes will heal and the Doom Gaze will return. I will rot here alone with only my own thoughts to entertain me. That's my punishment. Nothing has changed really."
"We didn't expect you to help us back there. Um…Thanks…" Panthro shifted uncomfortably. "But what made you change your mind?"
"Spiting Mumm-Ra felt orgasmic. How dare that bastard ask for Ta-She's help after cursed me!" She grinned. "I wanted to prove to him he never broke me. Besides, Lion-O has an honest face." She reached out to feel his cheek. "You're right; playing by his rules has never paid off for me. Maybe if you defeat that monster some day you can use the will stone to set me free."
Lion-O nodded. "I will, you have my word… provided I find it before Mumm-Ra does."
"Good Luck." Ta -She let go.
Lion-O blinked. When he opened his eyes again he found himself standing firmly on dry, rocky ground. The blue afternoon sky drifted above as normal and in the distance were trees and plains. "Where are we?"
"At the base of the Mountain range it looks like." Panthro answered, holding his palm over his eyes to shade them as he looked up. "Great, we have to climb up again and find the tank."
Tygra shrugged. "Beats being trapped in the Time Warp."
"Or in Ta-She's Doom Gaze." Panthro concurred.
"How do you always manage to attract the crazy ones?" Tygra teased his younger brother.
"If it makes you feel any better kid, I only attract the crazy ones too. Hence why I will always be single." Panthro joked, though the younger cats weren't sure by how much.
Tygra flicked Lion-O's ear. "You aren't really going to free her are you?"
"Yes, someday if I can. Ta-She was a terrible person, but I think she's learned her lesson. She deserves a second chance."
Tygra groaned. "Why?" He asked the gods above. "First you lead us into the Time Warp then-"
"You two wondered into the cave first!" Lion-O reminded him.
"Only because you stood frozen at the entrance with the sword in your face for ten minutes! We were trying to see what you were drooling over, then…" Tygra trailed off. His memory seemed hazy.
Lion-O raised a confused brow. "I did? No I didn't…Did I? None of this feels like it actually happened." He rubbed his forehead. "Still can't think straight."
Panthro sighed. He sat on a large flat rock to get off his foot. "I could have popped her twice for…" He grumbled under his breath as he inspected the wound."No way!" They heard Cheetara gasp a few yards away.
She walked up to them holding her staff. "I found it wedged over there." She pointed to a few large rocks scattered at the base of the mountain. "Pumyra took it from me when I was knocked out." She looked to her feet. "I'm sorry everyone. I volunteered for lookout and I then let my guard down. It's my fault you walked into Mumm-ra's trap."
Lion-O patted her on the back. "You didn't let us down, I did. I let a pretty face and nice rack talk me into letting go of the sword of omens… Don't give me a "how typical look." It was her Doom Gaze! "
Cheetara nodded. "Sure."
"It was the Doom Gaze! We were all trapped in it, tell her!" He looked to Tygra for help, but his brother snickered, allowing him to dangle on is hook.
"No no, too late. You already took the blame."
"Hey now-" Panthro motioned for them to stop. "Obviously Mumm-Ra has more than one way of following us. We use our heads more from now on. No need for anyone to beat themselves up. Personally I think we should never discuss what happened in the Time Warp Prison again."
"No objections here." Lion-O sighed. "We'll rest here as long as we can afford."
Cheetara frowned, watching the setting sun. "We can't afford long. I hope the kittens are doing better than we are."
"Me too." Lion-O watched the horizon a moment. A beam of sunlight bounced off the spirit stone and hit his eye. He held the claw shield up for a better look at it. An idea began to take shape in his head." If the will stone can free Ta-She from Mumm-Ra's enchantment then maybe…"