Episode 6: Revenge of the Rats

Part 2:

The next morning, 03:00 hours, somewhere between the west swamps and the Black Pyramid

Roughly 2500 feet below ground…

While the ThunderCats quietly discussed strategy in Ro-Bear Bill's workshop far below their feet, millions of rodents scurried about in a complex network of architecture, streets and tunnels spanning throughout their home city.

In the center of the rodent metropolis stood an elegant, yet intimidating and well-guarded, fortress - the Ratstar, Ratilla the Terrible's vision and Ratar-O the Deadly's current home.

In a highly-decorated arsenal/ museum a young rat in uniform stared up at a pair of red-and-blue duel sais enchanted with Ratilla's blood. His paws were muddy and the long thin braid down his back was starting to unravel. It had been a long, treacherous evening; one that could have gone smoother had he been able to wield the rat's eyes. Behind an antique glass cabinet the Rat's eyes gazed down at him spitefully, depreciatively…

With a shaky, anxious hand, he reached out for the sais. The sound of heavy footsteps startled the rat. He jumped, exhaling the thinnest squeak as a deep, stern voice asked from behind him, "What are you doing up so early, colonel?"

The young rat pup immediately turned around and stood in attention. "I-" He attempted to answer but his prepubescent voice cracked. He paused to clear his throat. "I was leading patrol duty tonight, sir." He answered his warlord in a more mature, assertive tone. "I just punched out a few minutes ago. What are you doing up so early?"

Ratar-O frowned. Apparently, he didn't deem his underling's question worthy of an answer.

"How is your back?"

"Don't patronize me."

The smaller rat lowered his head apologetically. "Forgive me, sir."

"Since when are you scheduled for moonlight recon, Vyrmin? " Ratar-O abandoned his title for his birth name; something he only did when displeased with him.

"Shortly after you left to manage the excavation at Mt. Plun-Darr," He informed him.

"Has the overtime impacted your studies?"

"Negative, sir; summer holiday," the young rat reminded him.

Rartar-O's left eye twitched in annoyance. "I denied you permission to surface at night and forbade you from going within a hundred meters of Mt. Plun-Darr."

"CASTLE Plun-Darr, sir."

"Do NOT correct me!" Ratar-O snapped. "I am your lord, your commander, and your elder. Understood?"

"Clearly, sir."

"Good!" Ratar-O snapped. "You cannot lie to me, colonel. You are a terrible liar." His irate expression briefly softened to that of an expression of puzzlement. "What kind of rat is 'bad' at lying?"

The colonel shrugged. "I-I don't know, sir."

"Several of my officers confirmed repeatedly seeing you and your inferiors scouting the grounds of Castle Plun-Darr-" He continued, just as irate if not more so than before. "If I catch you in enemy territory without clearance again I will have you incarcerated-"

"But sir, Mumm-"

Ratar-O's heavy tail thumped against the floor in anger, shaking the furniture and decorative weapons. "Silence," he ordered, raising his fists to the smaller rat. "I will not tolerate insolence from the likes of you-"

"Or anyone else. You've made that clear too, sir." Colonel Vyrmin muttered begrudgingly under his breath in reference to his former servant and old family friend, Mordax. The pup had still not forgiven the warlord for driving the loyal old mouse to dishonor then allowing him to be snatched away by lizards hours after.

The two rodents locked venomous stares for a moment. Ratar-O caught a glimpse of the Rat's Eyes display in the corner of his peripheral. He then took a brief look at the colonel and sighed. "Despite my better judgment, I'm going easy on you. Had any other officer ignored my command, I would've ordered them flanked already."

Colonel Vyrmin exhaled a frustrated growl. "Why did you bother promoting me to colonel if you're just going to micromanage me?"

"By micromanaging you I'm macro-managing MY troops."

The colonel stood tall, puffing out his fuzzy pale chest. "I am a trained soldier, a warrior, and a son of Ratilla.* You know I can handle myself out there," he stated proudly.

Ratar-O shook his head. "You may be a soldier and the next son of Ratilla, but that does not make you a warrior."

"Then what does?!"

Ratar-O scowled at him. Snapping his fingers he pointed a threatening finger at the pup's nose. "NEVER raise your voice to me again. Until you TAKE Ratilla's throne, I am the acting lord of the rats, and you will obey my orders WITHOUT question or protest."

Colonel Vyrmin nodded yes, frowning. "Ratilla would have rallied his troops and chased the lizards out of our lands by now."

"Nice try, but I have nothing to prove to you."

"You're letting fear and shame get the best of you. The lion didn't beat you at Mt. Plun-Darr, his sword did."

"This is for your own good. End of discussion." Ratar-O flashed him a dirty look, clenching his fists at his sides. "You're dismissed, soldier. I expect to see you in front and alert on the field at the morning drills." He turned for the door.

Colonel Vyrmin followed behind him, tugging on the tails of his tunic. "Wait. We're not through here," he refused.

Ratar-O swatted him away. "Why are you so argumentative all of a sudden? If this rebellious streak is a phase you're going through, get through it in three days by 12:00 hours," he warned.

Colonel Vyrmin's whiskered twitched nervously. "Why?"

"I arranged for your first wedding to be held that day."

The pup's eyes widened with dread. He shook his head in protest. "No."

"When you climb the next rank, you will need a mate and an heir to secure Ratilla's bloodline."

"Sir, no…"

"YES," Ratar-O insisted. "Show some gratitude. She's young, she's cute, and her father owns the largest grain farm on the continent. You'll like her."

"Do you even know her name?!" Vyrmin shuddered. "It doesn't matter. I can't attend the wedding. I'm...I- I have plans."

"You can, you will, and you better. I have already canceled all of your previous appointments, and you are suspended from guard duty without pay. Until further notice, you are banished from the surface. In the meantime, you'll be too busy grooming and attending rehearsals."

"No no no no."

Ratar-O nodded, almost laughing. "Oh, yes."

"You screwed me, sir," the colonel lamented.

"Stop being dramatic," Ratar-O rolled his eyes.

"Why would you do this to your own flesh and blood?"

Ratar-O passed him. "Let that teach you what happens when you try to go over my head."

The pup pouted, stomping his tiny foot. "You can't suspend me and you can't force me to marry a stranger without warning."

"Yes, in fact, I can. I'm the bloody warlord. I can do whatever, whenever I please."

"This is lame!"

Ratar-O shrugged dismissively. "Well, this is your heritage. Stop fighting it and accept it with dignity."

"You…you fat miserable bastard! I hate you!" Vyrmin spat without thinking.

Ratar-O turned around instantly. He looked shocked and hurt at first, but any real emotions the old rat was capable of were quickly replaced with anger. The two rats challenged each other with an intense stare. "Is that how it is?"

The disgruntled colonel nodded. "Affirmative, sir."

"Then let's settle this." Ratar-O stomped past him then removed the Rat's eyes from their display. They hissed as he twirled them in his fingertips. "Meet me in the gymnasium in five minutes, colonel. Limber up."

Vyrmin stomped off in the opposite direction. "Yes, sir…"

Minutes later the two rats met in the center of a hardwood ring. The servants went about their early morning routines, attempting to watch the two descendants of Ratilla spar as nonchalantly as possible.

Lord Ratar-O regularly home-coached young Vyrmin in close hand to hand and melee combat, but this particular session seemed particularly heated. Deep down, Vyrmin knew he had no intentions of taking his birthright (that morning), but he was determined to overpower his warlord in the ring and force him to take him seriously for once!

The young colonel armed with a pair of normal, non-enchanted sais, attacked first. He struck with skill, precision and incredible speed (well, in rodent terms). Ratar-O huffed and puffed as he blocked Vyrmin's repetitive strikes.

Ratar-O firmly kept his ground. Despite his age and mass, he managed to use his own superior skill and years of experience to dodge his younger, more agile opponent blow for blow. The few instances Vyrmin managed to make contact, Ratar-O simply absorbed the hit, giving no real indication he felt anything. Their sais would clash and Ratar-O effortlessly deflected them. Ratar-O barely yet bothered to strike. He preferred to let the pup wear himself out, saving his strength for one swift and devastating hit.

The elder's indifference insulted Vyrmin. Enraged by his lack of progress, Vyrmin lunged for his opponent. As he jumped to make a jab for Ratar-O's torso the warlord, with all his weight, charged at him. With a smooth open palmed push, he twirled his rat's eye blade in towards his forearm, jabbing Vyrmin across the jaw with the butt of the handle. The impact knocked the pup several feet outside the ring,

Ratar-O sighed, shaking his head in disappointment as his heir bounced across the hard floor. "How many times must I tell you? Take large opponents out at the knees. Trust me - the bigger they are, they harder they fall."

Snarling, Vyrmin picked himself and his sais back up then jumped back into the fight. Bruised and slightly battered, but not yet bested, he attempted to strike Ratar-O again. Reacting quickly, Ratar-O drove his knee into the pup's diaphragm with enough force to knock him several feet upward. Ratar-O landed a solid punch across Vyrmin's face in midair, launching him outside the ring again.

Round two: Ratar-O one, Vyrmin zero.

"This is why you shouldn't stay out all night." Ratar-O reset his footing as his opponent picked himself up off the hard gym floor once again, groaning in pain. "Were this not practice you would be dead by now. Get your head in the fight, colonel. Enough pussy footing," he half ordered, half taunted.

Vyrmin entered the ring for one last desperate attack. The metallic clang of the sais clashing echoed to the ceiling.

"You should -huff- consider yourself lucky you're an only pup," Ratar-O began in between strikes, blocks and maintaining his breath. "I had to challenge- huff- both your uncle Rattimus and- huff- your grandmother, lady Ratasia –huff- for my throne and the Rat's eyes. It was –huff- the hardest thing I ever had to do. I don't-huff- intend to relinquish my power –huff- easily."

Ratar-O's stamina was failing him. In a desperate attempt to gain some ground, Vyrmin dropped to the floor and slipped under Ratar-O's legs as he charged. With all his strength he struck Ratar-O's in the side with one sais then in his injured lower back with the other. Ratar-O hissed in pain, arching forward a bit, but to Vyrmin's dismay, did not fall forward. While the old rat appeared weakened, Vyrmin drew his sais. With one lucky parry and a quick twist of his wrist; he knocked the blue-eyed sais from Ratar-O's grip.

Vyrmin attempted to deliver a final blow to his chest, but something inside of the pup made him hesitate and lose momentum. Instantly sensing his reluctance and weakness the red Rat's Eye awoke. Swelling with energy, the blade emitted a huge mystic pulse, protecting its favored wielder.

Vyrmin was flung out of the ring for a third and final time; skin and fur partially singed. He still twitched in pain as the Rat's Eye's dark energies continued to attack him internally. He pulled himself to his hands and knees, but his strength leaked out of him and he collapsed. Ratar-O leered over him, giving him a "tisk tisk" as he spun both rat's eyes in his fingertips before slipping them back in their sheath. "This always hurts me much more than it does you…"

He snatched Vyrmin up by the nape of his neck and stood him on his feet. "You're a bright lad, an excellent soldier, and I know you're not afraid to get your hands dirty. But you are obviously NOT ready to take my place as lord of Ratilla's empire and therefore you are NOT entitled to even question much less disobey me. I will deal with the threat of Mumm-Ra and his so-called army on my terms. Understood, colonel?"

Vyrmin frowned, deeply disappointed and frustrated with both himself and the situation. "Affirmative, sir."

The elder rat winced in pain, rubbing his back. "Wash up. Breakfast should be ready soon. I don't know about you, but I have an appetite." With that, Ratar-O left the pup to stew in his defeat.

After the large duel doors slammed shut behind him. Vyrmin winged his sais across the gymnasium, exhaling a frustrated snarl. The force sent him falling backwards on his behind. He sat in the middle of the ring for a long while, burying his face in his palms.

Shortly afterward, in the showers…

The Rat's Star's private bath was the largest and well-maintained in all the rodent empire; a masterpiece of tile and plumbing. Vyrmin soaked, allowing the steam from the underground hot springs the showers were built around to relax his aching muscles. A familiar young chipmunk female in traditional rat-female garb raced over with an armful of fresh towels and uniform.

"Cornel," She lowered her head and respectfully offered Ratilla's descendant a towel. She kept her eyes on her feet, blushing slightly as Vyrmin covered himself.

"Thank you, Jenyo." He always thanked the recently hired laundry maid from Dog City. Normally, Ratar-O wouldn't hire a second class species of rodent to serve in his home fortress, especially a former street urchin, but he was not around to protests Vyrmin's decision when the position opened. "Did you hear about the stupid wedding?"

"Yes, the whole staff is whispering about it." She confessed, looking anxious.

Vyrmin winced, embarrassed. "Aw, jeez, already?"

"What are we going to do? What's going to happen to Gusto?" She started to tear up.

Vyrmin took her by the hands to comfort her. "I enlisted him. I led him to the castle. It's my responsibility to bring him and the other captives home. Ratar-O suspended me, so I can't lead a pack in. I'll have to sneak up to the surface and infiltrate the castle alone tonight." He whispered, scanning his surroundings for intruding ears.

"You can't go alone."

"I have no choice. The old rat cut me off. It's now or never."

Jenyo paused. "I'll go with you. Gusto's my husband." *

"No." He protested. "I won't risk getting you hurt or killed."

"I'm good at breaking and entering. It's how I used to survive." Jenyo argued. "And when lord Ratar-O notices you missing-"

"Don't worry about me. I'll take care of everything. Just think about Gusto."

Still holding hands, the two young rodents tenderly locked eyes for a brief moment. They could feel magnetism between each other, though didn't outwardly acknowledge it. Their tiny noses inched closer together.

"Colonel?" Ratar-O's domineering voice echoed through the showers.

Vyrmin and Jenyo parted instantly, both blushing.

Ratar-O spotted his heir. "Ah, there you are. You missed breakfast. That's not healthy. You better have enough energy to keep up out there." He scolded.

"Yes, sir." Vyrmin internally wished for death that moment. "The one time in his life he acts like a "father" it has to be in front of a female." He lamented inwardly.

Ratar-O noticed Jenyo for the first time. "Young lady," He addressed her, eyeing her rather suspiciously.

"Lord Ratar-O" She greeted him in return, curtsying and keeping sure to stay behind Vyrmin.

"Do you think it's appropriate for you both to be in here?" He motioned to the pups.

Jenyo's eyes widened nervously. "No, sir." She blushed, embarrassed. "Forgive me, I was just leaving." She squeaked then raced off, keeping her eyes to her feet.

Ratar-O eyed Vyrmin disapprovingly as he reached into his pants pocket. He pulled out a small leather bound notebook and scrawled a quick dash on one of the sheets.

"Sir, what is that?" Vyrmin asked, scrambling to dress.

"A game I play." The elder rat explained. "I tally the number of times I catch you and that little chipmunk peasant whispering to each other."

Vyrmin shifted uncomfortably. "Why?"

Ratar-O slammed the notebook shut in his palm then slipped it back in his pocket. The slightest trace of a grin formed on his face. "I think it's cute." His expression sobered. "But keep in mind; she's poor and a lesser species. You're promised to someone respectable." With that, he marched off, swatting Vyrmin in the back of the head with his tail as he passed him. "Don't be late."

Meanwhile…

On the surface; shortly after sunrise…

Just outside the rocky Giantor territory Cheetara and Lynx-O perched themselves in the tallest tree in the area. Cheetara silently balanced on the outer branches to survey their surroundings while Lynx-O kept his back against the trunk of the tree and listened intently. Fog from the swamps started to rise and creep across the forest floor; a bad omen.

"Lion-O and Tygra should be on the merchant roads by now." Lynx-O announced in the hopes of breaking the tension in the air. "They will circle the hoofed towns and meet up with us here by moons rise. Then you and I circle Ratar-O's swamplands while they wait here for us. We base our next move on our collected intel."

"This process is a little slow for my liking, but the plan is sound." Cheetara stated.

"The young lord was hoping to go straight for Castle Plun-Darr, but monitoring local species for enemy activity is more crucial to the operation at this point. We must keep tabs on both Mumm-Ra's and Ratar-O's troops before we consider penetrating the walls of Plun-Darr."

"Agreed, but Lion-O is very ambitious and impatient."

"Do you think you or I should have joined him on the first recon mission?" The lynx inquired.

"From personal experience back in Thundera, I don't have much faith in Lion-O's ability to blend with the public." She confessed, half smirking. Cheetara is rarely negative, but most often realistic. "And Tygra likes to push his buttons."

Lynx-O nodded. "They both realize how serious this is. They will find a way to work as a unit." He assured her.

"Hope you're right." Cheetara kept vigilant.

Meanwhile…

Hours later, several miles up a winding road…

The sun was low in the sky casting long shadows across the dusty plain. Dressed in ratty cloaks and peasant rags (sewn together by kit the night before) in place of their armor Lion-O and Tygra walked a steady pace along the side of the longest merchant road on the continent.

"You should have left Snarf behind. He's too easy to recognize." Tygra warned his younger brother.

Lion-O dismissed him, patting the old messenger bag draped over his shoulder. "He's fine in there; barely noticeable."

Snarf poked his nose out of the bag. He blew raspberries at Tygra before burying himself inside once again. Lion-O smiled facetiously at Tygra.

Tygra flashed him an annoyed look. "The fact a lion and a tiger are traveling together already raises enough flags without carrying around a rare, exotic pet from Thundera."

"No one is going to recognize us like this." Lion-O assured him. "Just keep your hood up and act natural."

"I'm still not entirely convinced this is a good idea." The tiger confessed.

"Then why did you insist we do this?"

"Because I didn't want you to stick me with Lynx-O on the first recon." Tygra admitted.

"You really don't like him."

"No, I don't but It's not a matter of like. I don't trust him." Tygra clarified.

"Father trusted him in his court for years."

"Father trusted Grune."

"True."

"I never trusted him, not even as a cub in Cat's Lair."

"He was always on duty in Thundera. We barely ever spoke to him." Lion-O reminded him. "What's to trust or distrust at this point?"

"Exactly. Let's not get into this while we're out in the open."

"What are you so paranoid about? You have your whip, and I still have the sword and claw shield." Lion-O motioned to his hip, under his cloak.

Tygra swatted him across the back of his head. "Tell the rest of third earth!" He scolded with a low hiss.

Lion-O reminded him, half chuckling. "There's no one around to hear or recognize us for miles."

Just as Tygra was about to say something in response there came a rumbling under their feet. The heavy clamor of wheels and multiple insectoid feet trotting over the ground bombarded the air. They looked back and spotted Ponzi's big snake oil wagon being pulled by a massive caterpillar. The toms choked on the dust as it passed them.

Ponzi spotted the Thundercats and yanked on the reins. "Whoa, girl, stop!" The caterpillar screeched to a halt immediately, nearly causing Ponzi to topple forward in his seat. He looked back at the cats, straightening his hat. "Ho, Lion-O! Tygra! Bless my soul, I thought you rolled out of these parts over a season ago."

Tygra flashed Lion-O an irritated glance. "Ho, Ponzi." Lion-O greeted the Wallow with less enthusiasm.

"Hop on; I'll give you a lift." Ponzi offered, scooting over.

Lion-O and Tygra accepted the offer and climbed aboard. With a quick crack of the reins his caterpillar started to pull. Within minutes the giant insect built momentum and they barreled down the road at full speed.

"Appreciate the ride. We've been walking since early morning. How is your business? Doing well?" Lion-O asked, making small talk.

"Business is booming." The old wallow most likely exaggerated. "I've been refining a few formulas. Perfected that love potion if you ever want to take another shot at that cute puma again."

Tygra snickered as he recalled.

Lion-O blushed. "Thanks, but I'll have to pass. Pumyra went her separate ways from the team." He kept the story short and vague more for his sake than Ponzi's.

"That's a shame. You know what?" Ponzi tossed Lion-O a small vile. "Take it; on the house. Test it out on another female whenever you get the chance. You cubs are young. You should be performing!"

The cats shifted uncomfortably. "Um.—sure. Thank you." Lion-O slipped it in his messenger bag to be polite.

"What happened to Lucy?" Tygra asked, motioning to his mega caterpillar. "Did she degenerate somehow?"

"No, no." Ponzi laughed. "This is Layla, Lucy's daughter. Broke her a few weeks ago. I started breeding Lucy after she metamorphosed. It's quite a project, but it will be very profitable in the long run." He cracked the reins, signaling for Layla to scurry faster. "I came across a few papers." He tossed a few onto Lion-O's lap.

Lion-O and Tygra glanced at a front page article concerning the anarchy/devastation in Dog City. They went pale. They didn't have to read past the headline to know Mumm-Ra played a role in this somehow. "Mind if we keep this one?" Lion-O asked.

"Nope. Read about Avista a while back. Layla ate my copy though. Congrats on the aerial victory, gentlemen. The birds are still in rough shape, but not like Dog City. That mutt factory finally went to Hell…Literally. Avista seems promising though. Berbils are still making repairs over there. After I hit the bazaar I thought about taking a trip and push some merchandise on the birds before they take off in the skies again." He flashed a worried look at the cats. "How hot on your trail is Mumm-Ra exactly? Is my neck at risk with you two on board?"

"We're passing through quickly." Lion-O assured him. "Tygra and I are on our way to-"

Tygra instinctively gave Lion-O a hard Charlie horse to the leg before he gave away too much information. Ponzi was a pleasant wallow, but not the most honest or trustworthy.

An ache shot through his left thigh followed by numbness. "We're just stocking up on supplies before we head north." Lion-O rephrased his thoughts, rubbing his throbbing thigh.

Ponzi nodded. "I'll drop you cubs off in a few miles then."

Later…

They reached the hoofed towns in record time. Along the merchant road many different Craftsmen, artisans, vendors and purveyors of a wide array of species gathered. Lion-O, Tygra and Snarf struggled to observe the crowd while still keeping their heads and gazes low. Ponzi searched out a prime location to park. He wished the cats luck before sending them on their way and setting up shop.

Lion-O glanced back to make sure Ponzi wasn't looking before dumping the love potion he had given him earlier into a display of flowers. Their pedals bloomed, turning rainbow colors for a split second before withering. "We made good time, thanks to Ponzi." He said quietly to his brother.

"But he knows we're here. That makes him a loose end." Tygra pinched the bridge of his nose in an attempt to sooth an oncoming headache.

"Well, the damage is done now. Let's peruse the scene a little."

"This place is crawling with rodents." Tygra noted.

"I think they're civilians, but that means Ratar-O's guard isn't far." Lion-O reasoned.

Snarf poked his head out, scratching at the lip of the bag. "Nyarrrf!" He whined repeatedly, pointing his nose.

"I'll buy you some berries later. Stay down." Lion-O whispered, gently pushing Snarf back down. He motioned for Tygra to follow. "This way-"

They weaved their way through the crowd, casually pretending to browse the shops to blend in. The brothers stayed close, and on their toes. Hours passed. It felt as if there was no end to the bazaar. They had yet to hear any mention of Castle Plun-Darr or Mumm-Ra's forces. They passed several rows of food vendors. The collected smell of so many dishes cooking at once drifted in the air, making it impossible not to drift towards the scents.

Tygra looked over his shoulder. Lion-O was blocks behind him in line at an otter vendor's kiosk. He flashed Lion-O a scolding look as he pushed his way through the crowd with a steaming skewered fish in each hand. "What? I'm hungry." Lion-O asked defensively as he took a bite out of one of the fishes. He offered Tygra the other fish. "Fish on a stick?"

Tygra swatted his hand out of his face and reached into his pockets for a fist full of change then stomped off. He passed several more food kiosks, trinket stands and glass blowers before randomly approaching a rodent tobacco stand.

"Cigarettes! Cigarettes!" A female mouse in a provocative red dress continuously shouted to potential buyers, displaying an open decorative carton. Next to her a taller female rat in a similar dress held up a slightly larger carton of cigars. "King size! King Size!" She called out in a surprisingly squeakier voice than the mouse.

Tygra approached the rat. "I'll take a king size." He said as he stuffed his change down the front of the rat's dress then snatched a cigar.

Lion-O caught up with him. "What are you doing?"

"If you're going to waste time I'm going to waste time." Tygra knelt down, allowing the rat to light the end of his cigar.

"Refueling isn't wasting time. Quit being a jerk." Lion-O scolded him.

"That's right; I'm being a jerk." Tygra took a few puffs off his cigar then choked a little, making a sour face. "This taste like garbage. Why am I surprised?" He spat before flicking the still burning cigar at the rat vendor's face, burning her cheek.

A brief moment of shocked passed. The vendor buried her face in her palms and started to cry. Lion-O, Snarf and the mouse vendor stared at Tygra in bewilderment as he casually walked off as if nothing happened.

Lion-O caught up with Tygra once again, infuriated. "What is wrong with you?!" He grabbed him by the shoulder, forcing him to halt. "Do you know how much gold and jewelry I had to tip that lady with to make her stop crying?" He asked in a low growl.

"From the forever bag?"

"The kittens lent it to me. I'm glad they did now."

"Don't use the bag; it will draw attention." Tygra jerked his shoulder free.

"You caused a scene!" Lion-so argued. "Why would you do that to a person?"

"Rodents aren't people, Lion-O." Tygra stated firmly.

"That's horrible."

"They didn't consider us people; I don't consider them people."

"She never hurt you or any of the refugees. She probably has thirty pups she's trying to feed-"

"Who aren't people either. You've been to Mt. Plun-Darr. You met warlord Ratar-O."

"I won't judge an entire species based on the actions of one tyrant."

"Nyyarrrf! Nyrf!"

"I fed you already. Not now." Lion-O scolded Snarf before stuffing him into hiding once again. He ran his fingers through his mane, frustrated. "We need to sneak off the road and head back through swamps." He urged.

"Might as well. We've accomplished absolutely nothing all day."

"Might as well because someone's going to call the rodent guard on us thanks to you." Lion-O glared at Tygra, heated as they scurried behind the markets, avoiding the crowds. "This is why we never played together as cubs. I really hope Cheetara knows she fell for an asshole."

"You keep screwing around, but I'm the-"

Snark clawed his way onto Lion-O's shoulder. He outstretched his claws, guiding Lion-O and Tygra's heads to turn with a not so gentle scratch.

Tygra noticed something out of the corner of his eye. "I am an asshole." He mentally kicked himself.

"What?"

Tygra motioned for Lion-O to keep moving/ looking forward. "I think that mouse has been following us."

Lion-O glanced to the side as nonchalantly as possible. He spotted several male mice and shorter rats spread out through the gaps between sale displays and kiosks. "Which one?"

"The fat, ugly one."

"…"

"The one with the sais."

Lion-O briefly locked eyes with the rodent.

Tygra instinctively reached for his whip. Using the cover of a silk vendor's tent he cracked the whip and made himself invisible. "Head for the trees. I'm right behind you."

Lion-O slipped off-road for the most part unnoticed by the crowd. He and the invisible Tygra made a quick break for the trees. The air and soil beneath their feet started to feel cooler and moist. The swamp was yards ahead.

"Halt!" A high pitched young male's voice barked from behind.

Lion-O stopped. He'd been expecting this any minute now.

"Put your hands up."

Lion-O turned, but kept his arms lowered. The little brown mouse he locked eyes with at the bazaar stood a few feet in front of him, sais in hand. "I'm colonel Vyrmin, commanding officer of the southwest patrol. You're trespassing on rodent lands, cat." The rodent informed him.

"I'm Lion-O, lord of the Thunder-"

"You're not a lord of anything." The colonel snapped, whiskers twitching in annoyance. "You have no land and no army."

"I wield the sword of omens and command a pride of cats worth a thousand of your rodents." Lion-O drew his sword. "You're brave for a mouse, but a little too full of yourself."

The colonel didn't flinch. "I don't fear Jaga's sword." He looked around. "Where is the other one?"

"Which other one?"

"I'm not stupid. He leaves footprints-" Colonel Vyrmin's ear twitched. He stepped aside just a moment before Tygra cracked his whip. He instinctively tangled the chord in his sais. It disrupted Tygra's invisibility.

With a quick twist of his wrists Tygra looped the chord around Vyrmin's wrist as well, locking them in a stand still. "Stand down, Tygra." Lion-O instructed.

"What? No, knock him out before he calls in a swarm!"

"Just trust me." Lion-O urged.

Tygra reluctantly pulled back his whip and stood by Lion-O's side.

"We don't mean any harm and I wish no ill will to your warlord." Lion-O assured the rodent, lowering his sword.

"You're both guilty for crimes against Ratilla's empire. You disgraced my species." Vyrmin stepped forward, guard and sais up. "It's my duty and privilege to drag you back underground for punishment."

"Just you?" Tygra chuckled, not feeling the least bit threatened. "So where are the rest of your soldiers, colonel?"

"I don't need a swarm to subdue you punks!"

"I heard it again!" Lion-O exclaimed, pointing down at Vyrmin.

The colonel cocked his head up at him. "Heard what?"

"The crack." Lion-O explained. He turned to Tygra. "You hear it too, right?"

"Rodents tend to have squeaky voices."

"But you didn't "squeak"; your voice cracked." Lion-O observed.

"He's not a mouse at all. He's a rat."Tygra couldn't help but smirk. "How old are you?"

"I'm seventeen." The cats didn't appear to buy it. Vyrmin's ears drooped. "I'm twelve." He confessed.

The cats laughed. "You're not a colonel. You just wanted to see the eye of Thundera for yourself." Lion-O slipped his weapon back in its clawshield. "I remember being young and curious. I used to pretend to fly aerial tech ships over Thundera. That's adorable, pup, but this isn't a toy. Scurry home underground and pretend duel with your brothers."

Insulted, the young rat pointed the tip of his right sais up at Lion-O's nose. "I crippled dozens of cats your size before my sixth birthday and I slaughtered dozens more by my ninth. One more word and I add you and your squire to my repertoire."

Tygra stepped forward. He leaned over, arms folded across his chest. "Oh yeah? How do you plan to do that from down there?"

Without warning, Vyrmin leapt straight into the air, driving the butt of his left sais into the bridge of Tygra's nose. Clinging to Tygra's shirt he twirled his sais prong downward.

Just before Vyrmin was about to spear Tygra in the chest Lion-O punched him square across the muzzle, knocking him off.

Tygra held his bloody broken nose and watched as Lion-O lunged past him and redrew his sword.

Vyrmin blocked and deflected Lion-o's first strike. Snarf leapt out of the bag and bit Vyrmin in the tail. The pup squeaked out in pain before kicking the creature off him.

Lion-O swung with strength, but it was awkward fighting someone less than half his height. "DON'T touch, Snarf!" He roared, nearly taking Vyrmin's head off. Vyrmin dropped and rolled out of the way just in time. He quickly bounced upright, regaining his footing.

Before Lion-O could fully draw his sword back Vyrmin struck him in the left knee with all his might.

Lion-O couldn't help but drop. Vyrmin struck him again in the right hip on the way down. Snarling in pain and rage he jabbed Vyrmin across the face, claw shield over his fist for added punishment.

Vyrmin rolled across the muddy grass, bouncing. He clawed at the soil to stop. He stood, still armed, though he staggered and his lips and gums were bloody. He was possibly concussed. Lion-O pulled himself to his feet and regained his footing. A few yards behind Vyrmin, Tygra stood, his hand partially covering a hateful scowl. In his other hand he drew back his whip. He and Tygra rushed at the rodent.

Just as the three animals were about to clash laser cannon fire and a chorus of terrified screams in the background forced them to halt.

In the distance they could see the bazaar go up in flames and people scattering in terror. Some kind of air craft zoomed towards them, firing. The animals dove to the ground to avoid the blasts.

"That's Addicus. He's piloting some kind of modified sky cutter!" Tygra exclaimed as they stood.

"You fought that monkian before?" Vyrmin asked, checking his tail to make sure it had not been blasted off.

"A few times."Lion-O confirmed.

"I've seen him inside the castle."

Lion-O raised a brow at him. "Castle Plun-Darr? Have you been there?"

"Yes, he and the rest of Mumm-Ra's pariah army have been infesting our swamps since he unearthed the sword of Plun-Darr." The colonel gave Lion-O a sarcastic thumbs up. "Why has he stopped attacking?"

"Apparently he hasn't mastered the controls." Tygra guessed. His eyes widened suddenly. "He's turning around!" He warned.

Addicus turned abruptly, diving lower as he increased speed. The front of the wings glowed red hot as the laser cannons charged. "Hoo-hoo- Stand tall, Thundercats; I'm going to mow you like a blade of grass." He chuckled to himself, amused. Duel laser disks ignited, sawing down everything in their path. Lion-O and Tygra jumped off to the side avoiding both the laser fire and the low flying sky cutter.

Vyrmin held his ground in the center of the blasts. He scrunched down low and jumped, hurling himself on the nose of the sky cutter. Addicus cried out, startled.

The monkian gained altitude in an attempt to shake the distracting rodent. The cats stared up the sky in both shock and awe as he clawed his way up the air craft. "That little guy is out of his mind." Lion-O remarked.

Vyrmin bit Addicus in the arm, causing him to lose his hold on the controls. Primal ape grunts and screeching echoed overhead as the sky cutter spiraled towards the interior of the swamp.

Lion-O started to run towards the sky-cutter's trail. "Wait!" Tygra called to him. "What are you doing?"

"I'm going to help the colonel. I have to, he knows a way inside." Lion-O explained.

Tygra pulled him back. "He would never help us. Let him fend for himself. Lynx-O and Cheetara are waiting for us."

Lion-O yanked his arm free. "He lost all concern for us once Addicus showed up. That means the rats consider Mumm-Ra their bigger enemy."

Tygra flashed him a confused look. "That doesn't make them allies."

"He's just a boy. He'll get himself killed."

Tygra took his hand away from his face to show Lion-O his bloodied, broken nose. "I can live with that."

"I can't." Lion-O turned and marched onward in search of the rodent.

"You're abandoning your fellow Thundercats for a rotten little sewer rat?"

Lion-O ignored him.

At a loss Tygra looked down at Snarf. "Stop him!" Tygra begged.

"Nyarf…." Snarf shrugged then reluctantly followed Lion-O.

Tygra shook his head in disbelief. "Have your way, my king! If you get yourself killed, I'm keeping the sword!" He warned before parting ways.

a/n: My younger sister and I had a discussion a while back on how much we struggle to write fighting scenes in a way "which does not make it sound like Ben Stein is narrating the fight." I hope this does not feel like the case throughout this chapter. Special thanks to Heart of demons for bata reading parts of this.

So much going on here. So much head cannon surrounding the rats. Ratar-O was probably my favorite mutant in the 80's cartoon so I was ecstatic to see him (and other rodents) in the 2011 show.

*In my head cannon Jenyo and Gusto are a couple (a platonic couple mind you; they're just close and rely on one another.) Also in my head cannon the legal age one can marry in the rodent empire is 10, a cultural shock for Thunderians and most other species. The age to join Ratilla's army is 7.

*A Tex Avery reference in the bazaar. To be clear, Tygra does not smoke tobacco in my head cannon; catnip maybe (har har ;] ), but not tobacco. He was simply wanted to spite Lion-O by wasting money on something lol.

If I could somehow magically make Vyrmin a cannon character I would cast Tara Strong to voice him ^^.

Lion-O and Tygra have reverted back to their bickering kittenhood for a bit here. Don't worry, their relapse is temporary. Next chapter we get a tour of castle Plun-Darr. Thanks for reading.