Song/s: This Is War by 30 Seconds to Mars

Chapter 38: This Is War Part II

"I trussst you bring helpful news, Ocelon?"

I scowl heavily at the Mutant leader as he talks down on me, my ears laying flat against my head. Who the hell does he think he is, a Plun-Darrian talking down upon a Thunderian – a superior race? I adjust my robe around me as I sneer at the reptile, remembering Lion-O's tales of the amount of times that he's battled against the lizard. The overgrown cub wasn't kidding, the scar left by the Claw Shield is nasty and cuts through a good portion of Slithe's face.

"Keep ssstaring and you'll losssse your damn eyesss!"

I bear my fangs then, growling at him.

"Petty threats don't scare me, lizard."

The other Mutants around us burst into uproarious laughter then, and Servalis' ears lay flat against his head as I look at my friend. Slithe gets up, filling his tankard with some foul-smelling alcoholic concoction as he places a photograph of the Thunderian Royal Family in front of me. I glare as I see the smiling faces of our current King and Queen, hating the lion and cheetah with my entire being. That pair should never have been allowed to marry – Cheetara made Claudus' younger son soft in the head, and he can barely make any good decisions by himself.

"Why are we even trusting them? They could have been sent by Lion-O!"

Slithe turns around and glares at Vultureman before turning back to me.

"I doubt thessse two are loyal to their sssupposssed King becaussse they have ssslipped cocoa powder into the family'sss food for tonight, and poor little Lion-O will go into anaphylaxisss when he eatsss it…The whelp deserves to sssuffer after taking Jackalman hossstage…"

Monkian hoots excitedly, pounding the table with his fists.

"And then we attack whilst he's down! Hoo, hoo! I want the pleasure of smashing Lion-O's head in!" he growls, before smacking his mace into the photo, breaking the table. Slithe immediately slaps the ape Mutant, making him take a few steps back as he gives a strangled cry of surprise.

"No, you buffoon! The one who getsss to crush that cub'sss ssskull isss me, yesss?"

"Forgive me for interrupting," I say as I stand up, my tail lashing wildly, "But there's been an interesting…development…with their forces. The High Elders have agreed to give their best soldiers and weapons, Prince Leo is giving his best Ferral warriors and their allies from Third Earth have already travelled here to fight along with forces from Plun-Darr."

"That isss manageable. I've beaten Lion-O to a bloody pulp before, yesss? What could he possibly do to prevent me from killing hisss friendsss and family in front of him? He isss a weakling."

"Yes, Slithe, he really is but today I learned that the King has a trick up his sleeve which he hopes to take your army by surprise with…" I say, sliding a phot that I snuck of Lion-O in the armour while on fire, "It's called the Armour of Omens and it possesses the ability to fuse its powers with those of the Sword."

"Why doesss Lion-O look like he isss on fire?"

"That's because, Slithe, the Armour channels a Barbary lion's fire powers and turns them into a protective enchantment. It doesn't help that Lion-O's mother was an extremely powerful sorceress."

"Ssshe wasss? That may be an isssue…"

Slithe paces back and forth, his arms behind his back as he looks at the photo on the table. He picks it up, studying it closely as he hisses.

"We all know how much the cub lovesss Cheetara. Perhapsss our chancesss of victory lie with her…"

"You wouldn't be so lucky, Mutant. That damn cheetah never leaves the Lair without a personal guard, and when she eventually does, she'll always have Lion-O by her side. He has had multiple cardiac problems within the past two years and has almost died from a heart attack last year. He's strong-willed but it would seem that his body is trying to give up on itself…"

I take a file out of the bag that I brought with me and slide it across the table to Slithe who picks it up.

"Thessse are Lion-O'sss medical recordsss…How did you get thessse?"

"Well, I have an informant who works in the Medbay in the Lair and they managed to sneak me this fully up-to-date copy of his medical records. Despite always losing every battle in the past, you guys sure have managed to severely injure him in the past."

Slithe's eyes go wide as he reads it.

"The cub hasss anxiety, PTSSSD, depresssion and isss ssshowing sssymptoms of heart failure?"

"And we can make everything a lot worse for him if we kill his wife," Servalis says as Slithe looks at him, "Barbary lions are one of the very few species of Thunderian that mates for life. If we murder Cheetara, then he will die a slow and painful death from the heartbreak, or he'd be forced to die at his own hands when he realises that he can't go on without her. Once he's out of the way, we take out Katzeran and enslave Lola."

"I will admit, hisss daughter isss very attractive for a Thundercub…" Slithe hisses, and then he turns to the other Mutants. "Lion-O'sss daughter isss mine for the picking, yesss?"

I watch the reptile as he plans out what to do with Lion-O's kids, and I can't help but feel the disgust welling up inside of me at what he wants to do with the King's daughter. I mean, the girl is still a cub, it's so wrong, even if she's the daughter of the man who I hate the most. It's sick, perverted, and it's illegal through all the known galaxy, but since when are Mutants known for following the laws?

"Slithe, she's a cub!"

The reptile looks at me and I shudder with disgust at the look in his eyes.

"That doessssn't matter, Ocelon. It isssn't like her preciousss Daddy would be able to sssave her from usss…"

"That is if you actually manage to defeat Lion-O in the first place. His powers are strong."

"Yesss, but if what I sssee here isss any indication, he hasss many thingsss wrong with him, yesss? It would be to easssy to finally finisssh him off for good thisss time."

"He has a strong personal guard who I believe he is promoting to also be his advisor, and it's rare that he ever goes anywhere without this guard of his. A snow leopard whose son is fully trained to be Katzeran's personal guard."

"I sssee…That isss a problem…"

"Az'takvis, Saturnus and Kesari tried to take the snow leopards out back when that brutal attack on the Barbary Village was carried out but both of them survived the gunshot wounds. It's a shame that Lion-O didn't die of his wounds on that day…It would have made everything that much easier."

"My Army will crusssh him during thisss battle…He wantsss to lure usss to New Thundera? Well then, we ssshall go there!"

-(Border)-

"Lion-O, come on, this isn't like you."

I look up at Cheetara as she places a bowl of game pie and potatoes in front of me. The food smells absolutely delicious but for some reason, I can't bring myself to eat it despite how hungry I am. I push the chunks of meat around with my fork, my head resting on my free hand as Katzeran ravenously begins to stuff his face with the pie. Lola looks apprehensive about it though.

"I know, 'Tara, but I'm worried. We have forces that would give us the upper hand but I can't help but feel like I won't be able to do this."

"Lion-O, stop doubting yourself," the cheetah says as she comes behind me and drapes her arms around my shoulders, her head beside mine, "If anybody will be able to do it, it's you. Think of all the successful battles that you've led us into against the Mutants – we've won every single one."

"I know, but the stakes are so high with this one…It feels too dangerous."

"It'll be fine," she purrs as she sits in her seat beside me, her hand grasping mine, "You will lead us to victory my King."

I sigh and scoop up a mouthful of the pie, but before I can eat it, Lola speeds round the table and takes the fork and bowl from me.

"Lola? What's gotten into you?"

The cub backs away, shaking her head.

"You can't eat it Daddy, it'll kill you!"

I look at Cheetara then over the rims of my glasses, and my wife looks at our daughter.

"Lola, don't be ridiculous. How could it-"

"Somebody in the kitchen put cocoa powder into the gravy! I don't know how but it sounded like voices in my head, telling me that Dad was in danger and that he could die if he ate it!"

"Yeah, it does taste slightly chocolatey now that she's said it."

Cheetara looks at me worriedly, knowing that I very nearly ate something that would have thrown me into a life-threatening allergic reaction. I know that Katzeran has already developed his Sixth Sense and that it's fairly strong because he has more cheetah in him, but I never imagined for one moment that Lola, being mostly lion, would develop it enough to sense when things are wrong, and so strongly too. Somebody working in the kitchen in the Lair really doesn't like me.

"This isn't good…There's somebody out there that wants you gone, Dad."

I turn to my son then.

"You're right Katz, only there's a lot of people out there who want me gone. Entire Clans do..."

Before I can get any further, I hear the Sword of Omens roaring loudly and it sounds worryingly urgent too. I get out of my seat and race at full-speed to the Sword Chamber, lifting the weapon off the stand it rests on before holding it to my face.

"Sword of Omens, give me Sight Beyond Sight!"

What I see when the vision hits me makes my fur crawl and my blood boil; I see Ocelon and Servalis, two most prominent lower Elders, talking and making agreements with Slithe and his band of good-for-nothing cronies.

"What is it Dad?"

I lower the Sword and look at my son, fighting to keep my anger under control as it threatens to rise beyond the breaking point, which it nearly does several times before I calm myself fully.

"It would appear, Katz," I begin, a heavy growl forming deep in my chest, "That I have been betrayed by the Elders of the Servals and the Ocelots. That pair have gone to Slithe and spilled everything about our plans and developments to the Mutants, which means that we are well and truly screwed if we can't think of something else and quickly because the Mutants are travelling to New Thundera as we speak and by the Gods, they have an entire fleet headed this way."

"I told you that you shouldn't trust them! I told you that they were both nothing but trouble!"

"I know," I say as we run alongside each other towards the Control Room, "I should have trusted your intuition but I thought that it could be worth actually trusting those two but I won't make the same mistake again!"

WilyKat looks up from where he's sat in the seat in front of the control panel then, shocked when myself and Katzeran burst in whilst the young wildcat is running a scan.

"Lion-O? Katzeran? What's going on?"

"No time to explain, Kat. Sound the alarm!"

"Wha-"

"The Mutants are on their way!" Katzeran yells, and WilyKat slams his fist on the alarm, which I hear sounding throughout the Lair as my wife quickly joins us, tailed by Orion. My heart pounds in my chest then as I have to sit down to calm my heartrate, seeing stars momentarily.

"Gods of Thundera, are you alright Dad?"

I nod, taking the glass of water offered by my son as the kitten looks worried.

Soon the other Thundercats, my brother and his Ferrals, and our friends from Third Earth are gathered in the Control Room as I sit up in my seat.

"Our plans have been revealed to the Mutants by a pair of turncoats, my friends. The Mutants are on their way here as we speak. We need to prepare ourselves for this I'm afraid…The Battle is tomorrow."

A mix of voices happens then as everyone talks among themselves, sounding worried as I sit up with a hand on my chest as Cheetara kneels down in front of me, a worried look on her face.

"Lion-O, I'm worried about you and your heart…This wasn't supposed to happen for another few weeks yet because we're still readying the forces."

I gaze down at my wife, my chest heaving slightly as I catch my breath from running all the way here from the Sword Chamber. She's right, our troops aren't fully ready just yet but they're going to have to try their damn hardest. I get to my feet then as the cheetah goes to help me, but I manage it by myself, thankfully.

"Prepare yourselves, my friends. We leave tonight."

The room rapidly empties as everybody leaves to prepare themselves, and I turn to go and pack what I know I'm going to need when a voice stops me in my tracks.

"Lion-O, what do you want me and my sister to do?"

I turn to look at WilyKat as he stands up and my eyes automatically go to the heavy cast on his leg.

"I need you both here because I can't think of anybody better to help the ThunderGuard protect the Lair."

The young cat nods and goes back to his position, scanning the New Thunderian Airspace as my son and wife accompany me back to the Royal Suite.

"Dad, are you sure that you can do this? We all saw how dizzy you got back there."

"I'll be fine, Katz. It was just because of the fact that I had been running on an empty stomach, that's all…"

…

So many thoughts fight inside my mind as I study everything inside the Royal Tent. The Armour of Omens stands in the corner as Katzeran adjusts the covers on his bed, his face clearly displaying his displeasure at the thought of having to sleep in something other than his luxurious double bed back home. Feelings of guilt wash over me then, thinking about Lola who we had to make the difficult thing of leaving her at home with Snarf and the Wily twins. How she'd cried, fearing that was the last time that she would ever see me, 'Tara and Katz again. I sit down on the bed that I'll be sharing with Cheetara, thinking about everything that the morning will bring as I sip from my cup of hot pine tea.

"I know that you're worried, but it's going to be fine. Our army combined with everything else that's been provided to us means that we're going to have enough firepower to beat their asses from here to kingdom come." Cheetara says as she sits down beside me, her hand on my thigh as she looks at me. I can't quash the feelings welling up inside of me though, I know that this battle is going to have casualties on both sides.

"Come on," the cheetah pulls me to my feet then as I look at her, confused, "Our friends are waiting for us outside."

I follow her outside and we sit in front of the huge campfire that's been made as I look around at all of my friends. Everybody is eagerly talking about tomorrow. Am I the only one who is worried about it? Cheetara grasps my hand then and nuzzles close to me, and I finally relax.

"You've built a mighty Kingdom, my friend."

I look up at Snowman as he stares into the fire, petting Snowmeow who purrs, gnawing on a huge bone. The Snowman goes to polishing his weapons as I watch, amazed by the detailed carvings along the handle of the battle axe.

"It's taken many years, Snowman, but we've managed it. It's always been one of my dreams since we learned that the planet had reformed, but my biggest has always been to help every Thunderian out among the stars – the ones who haven't returned yet. We still have ships of refugees returning every day. But I know that we can do it. I might be only two years away from my forties but I know deep within my heart that myself and my friends will bring everybody home so that they can be finally safe."

He nods in understanding, and I turn to watch Katzeran as he sits sharpening the sword that he bought with him before picking up his bow and also polishing the metal, concentrating closely and brushing his braided mane away when it falls into his face as Bräiden and Jøhba laugh at him.

"Your son has grown up well and I can tell that he is going to be a very powerful, kind-hearted King once his time comes."

I don't respond but instead get to my feet and walk to the edge of the river beyond the encampment. Sitting on the muddy embankment, I stare at myself in the water, regarding my reflection with a slight glare. I'm not as strong as I was in my prime and my mane is starting to show more golden streaks as I run a hand through it, revelling in the peace and quiet.

"Jaga, I could really use some wise words right now…" I mumble, picking up a small stone and tossing it into the water, and the ghostly jaguar appears by my side.

"You're troubled, Lion-O."

"At least somebody noticed," I murmur, resting my elbows on my knees, "I'm worried about tomorrow. I know that everything is most likely going to be fine, I just can't help worrying that something bad is going to happen."

"Lion-O…"

I watch Jaga as he kneels down beside me, before turning my attention back to the river.

"Your fears are not irrational if that's what you're thinking. It's natural to feel fear about the unknown and this battle tomorrow definitely falls into that category. Everything in your life has prepared you for this moment."

I groan heavily, running a hand through my thick mane.

"This might be my last time into the fray…"

Jaga looks at me then, confusion seemingly sweeping across his face as my eyes meet his.

"It's no secret Jaga, my time in this existence is borrowed. The pains are happening a bit more often and it hurts just that bit more than usual. Pumyra says that I'm in the very early stages of heart failure and that every male in my family has had it."

"Even if this is the last battle that you lead your friends into, it will be memorable once you claim your victory."

His words linger in my mind long after the jaguar disappears, and as I walk back towards the camp, it feels like a weight has been lifted off of my shoulders. I re-join my friends as they tell stories around the fire, huddled close together as the chill of a cold night sets in and, for once in my life, I'm glad to be a Barbary lion. I feel Cheetara shivering so I pull her onto my lap as she snuggles into my fur, purring happily. I take the offered mug of hot tea and sip it as I watch Katz practising trying to set fire to the tips of his arrows, which he manages with a small fireball as I chuckle.

"You might want to enchant those fireballs to explode when they hit their targets." I say, and he immediately gets to work on trying that as Cheetara laughs, taking a sip from her own hot drink. The sound of her laughter is like music to my ears, and I find myself staring deep into her beautiful eyes as I lovingly nuzzle her. She's no longer in heat but I can still smell myself on her fur, and the memory of that night thrills me to the very core.

"If you would please forgive me," I begin as I get up, carrying my mate in my arms, "It's getting late and myself and Cheetara would like to turn in early to get some rest."

I carry the cheetah to the tent and lay her down on the bed and just as I'm about to strip myself, she places a hand on my chest.

"Lion-O, take it easy, ok? You scared me earlier because of your reaction to running from our suite to the Control Room."

"I'm okay, love," I purr whilst I peel my shirt off, uncovering the multiple scars that adorn my torso as Cheetara places a hand on the one above my heart, "I promise you that but this is going to be my last big battle – I can't do it anymore after tomorrow."

"In that case," she says as she pushes me onto my side of the bed, "Not tonight, Lion-O. You need to rest enough for tomorrow."

"But I-"

"Woah, down boy. Down." She says, placing a hand on my chest again when I go to straddle her, "We have plenty of time to do that back at the Lair after we win this war. I mean," she leans in close, her lips brushing my ear, "We'll go all night if you can take it, big boy…"

I gulp then but get ready for bed, curling next to the cheetah as she wriggles into my arms.

"I'll take you up on that offer…" I mumble, settling myself down on the pillows as Katzeran walks in to go to bed. He strips and blows the lantern out, getting himself comfy as I cuddle my wife close. The sounds of nature around us is soothing and I can't help but relax. Cheetara was right, getting to sleep as soon as possible was definitely the best thing for me.

…

Early The Next Morning

"I see that you managed to get it on without too much difficulty then."

I look at Leo as he hurries towards me, keeping low to the ground as I lay on my belly, watching over the valley below us. The camp is situated in such a way that the Mutants would never notice it, which helps considering how everything went with the turncoats.

"Yeah, but the black all-in-one I have on is pinching in places…I've never felt so powerful."

My brother laughs as he lays down beside me, taking out his binoculars as we watch the valley floor below us.

"They've sent their scouts ahead I see."

"It sure would look so," I say as I take the helmet off, cursing as it catches in my mane which is braided in the traditional way of the Barbaries, adorned with red and black beads, "I don't know why you braided my mane Leo; it was fine the way it was. Either way, that doesn't matter now because we need to try and stay low so that they don't notice us."

Leo looks at me then as he realises what I'm saying.

"Lion-O, are you crazy? You want to get closer? They could see us and then our cover would be blown! We stay here and watch them. Besides, look."

He points to the distance and that's when I see what appears to be Ratar-O's old ship, the Rat Star, skimming the tops of the trees before landing beside the scout ship, and Leo has to grab my arm to stop me from getting closer. I stay where I am and watch as Slithe exits the Rat Star, dressed in full dark grey armour with a black cape that has the coat of arms of his family on it. Ha! Who would have ever guessed that Slithe came from a Plun-Darrian noble background?

The reptile converses with the scouts then, and that's when multiple Mutants of different types walk out of the wooded area at the western edge of the valley as my eyes go wide. Damn, that's a lot of Mutants. I turn to my brother than and he looks just as shocked as me for a second before composing himself.

"It's now or never, my Lord," the older lion says as we get up and hurry back towards our waiting army, "You call it when you are ready."

I nod and climb onto my horse with Orion's help, slipping the helmet back on as the Sword growls, and my son looks down at me from the cliff above as he pulls his own helmet on, giving me the traditional salute.

"Katz," I yell into the communicator on my arm, "Rain down hell on them!"

At that moment, I hear my son's roar and I watch as a volley of arrows descends upon the waiting Mutant horde as their screams echo throughout the valley, a green fire starting up as the Mutants start to panic. I turn to face my brother and wife. This is it; I raise the Sword above my head.

"THUNDERCATS HO!"

The pounding of hooves and feet upon the dry hard ground is deafening as we charge over the hill and towards the waiting Mutant army, ploughing into their ranks as the shrill sounds of metal against metal and screams of exertion fill the air. I've never known anything like it. My horse rears as I roar then, feeling my powers surge as I urge the equine forwards through the crowd. The Sword cuts through multitudes of Mutants like butter, spraying me with blood and other fluids as I leap from my mount, charging through the masses.

I unleash a roar then, swinging my weapon in a vicious arc with a burst of sapphire energy which cuts through tens of the grotesque creatures in front of me before I feel a hard impact on my back, knocking me down to my knees before I send a quick volley of fireballs out, scorching the earth and setting fire to fur and feathers as I get to my feet, slipping my hand into the Claw Shield.

"Hello, cub."

I turn and see Slithe advancing on me, his huge battle axe slung over his shoulder as he snarls.

"Slithe…"

"None other!"

The blue fire covers me as our blades lock, brought face-to-face with one of my oldest enemies as the memories of our last fight come to mind. The humiliation. The defeat. The faces of my friends when they realised that their Lord had lost to a rogue Mutant warlord. With a heavy growl, I force those memories down. Not here, not now!

"You won't win this time Slithe!" I scream, withdrawing the Sword and swinging it across in an attack that he blocks with his shield, "I won't allow it! Thundercats NEVER surrender!"

The Mutant hisses, swinging at me with his tail, but this time, I'm prepared for it. I block it with the barbed gauntlet on my arm, shredding skin and tearing flesh as the reptilian howls with rage. Before he can register anything else, I use a rock behind me as leverage and launch myself towards him, only to be thrown over him into the grass as I feel his club hit me in the back.

"You are weak, Thundercat! Your Kingdom will fall after thisss battle, yesss?"

"Not if I can help it! I won't admit defeat! Not now, not ever!"

Our blades lock again as I growl at him, sucker punching him in the gut with the Claw Shield and sending him sprawling onto his back as I charge once more, only to be knocked aside by a hard strike on the side of the head.

"So, you're the Lord of Thundera, eh? Not much to look at! Nyeheheh!"

I look up at the Jackalman that stands above me, preparing to take my head from my shoulders before he's thrown back by a spear.

"LION-O! BEHIND YOU!"

I turn and manage to block an attack in time from a brutishly strong Monkian, my feet slipping in the mire when it suddenly grabs me by the arm and slams me down into the hard mud, leaving me breathless as I watch my wife kick the Mutant in the jaw before helping me up.

"You need to be careful love!"

She strikes down a pair of approaching Plun-Darrian snakes as I manage to take out another Jackalman who tried to get too close to her, but I can feel the sweat drenching my body already. Damn, this shit is hard work! I see Tygra wipe out a bunch of simians like nothing, but he doesn't see the snake approaching him at a rapid pace.

"Tygra!"

I jump in the way, bringing the Claw Shield up to block the killing bite, the flames that cover the armour jumping to the snake who shrieks, striking again as I throw a hard punch with the Claw Shield and the serpent drops, senseless. I take in my surroundings, seeing a bunch of snow cats and our troops destroying a swarm of the Mutant ones, and then I see something that I have always dreaded most.

"BRÄIDEN!"

My brother's scream cuts the air as we both run at full speed towards my oldest nephew who is trying his best to break free from the pair of hulking Monkians who are tearing at his armour. The young cat's screams of fear are ear piercing as he tries to reach for his sword.

"HOLD ON SON! WE'RE COMING!"

I hear the panic in Leo's voice as we fight our way through the thick horde towards the panicking younger lion, and that's when we hear Bräiden's scream of agony as one of the apes bites deep into his arm and leg, tearing away flesh as Leo screams, sending out a wall of black fire as he charges at full speed, sword drawn fully.

"DAD! HELP ME! PLEA-"

I break through the wall of Mutants, just in time to see my nephew meet his painful end as the other Mutant tears the young cat's trachea out of his neck as Leo unleashes an animalistic roar that sounds like nothing that I've ever heard. The brutish Mutant that did it doesn't have any time to react before my brother is upon him.

"Hoo! Hoo! Get him off! Aaaaagh!"

I watch as my twin tears into the Monkian's face with his claws, shredding skin and fur as I attack the other, gutting it like a fish with the Sword before watching as my brother does the same to the Mutant as it did to his son.

"Leo, I-"

I have to cut myself off then and fend off the Mutants who try to get to my brother as he cradles his son's body, sobbing with heartbreak and rage. I see a green blur speed down the side of the valley, cutting through the battlefield before approaching us as Katzeran skids to a halt, leaving deep wounds in the earth beneath his feet. He sees his cousin then and his face falls.

"Katz, get Leo and Bräiden's body out of here!"

My son speeds off again with Leo and Bräiden as I turn back to the battle but, as I take a step forwards, I go really weak and dizzy, dropping down onto my side as my chest heaves. What the hell is going on with me? Through blurred eyes, I look down at my arm and see the fang sticking out of where it managed to pierce the area between the metal plating. I pull it from my arm, feeling the sharp barbs pulling at my skin as I fight back the tears. I eventually pry it loose, at which point my knees give way and I fall to the ground.

-(Border)-

I turn around when I hear a commotion behind me, and the first thing I see is Lion-O collapse in an undignified heap as I feel my heart drop, along with his pain through our mated bond. Panic rises through my entire being as I run towards my husband, reaching him just before the wretched Mutant intending to finish him off does.

"Don't you dare touch him!" I scream, taking the Jackalman's legs out from underneath it with my staff, and when I reach the lion's side, I see the large serpentine fang clutched in his hand, along with the gap in the armour on his arm. Shit!

I curse to the very gods themselves as I check his pulse – thready and weak but I can still feel it. Damn! I try not to think about the venom that is now coursing through my husband's veins as I struggle to pick him up. "Panthro!"

The panther turns around and sees me, racing towards me.

"Oh, Gods of Thundera, what happened to him?"

"He got bitten on the arm by a Mutant snake!" I cry, trying to lift the lion, "We have to get him to Pumyra!"

The panther effortlessly picks our stricken King up as we run up the path towards the camp, and I pull the flap of the tent open before running inside.

"Pumyra! Quick, it's Lion-O!"

She looks up from where she's treating a young soldier, and one of the medics takes over as she joins me whilst Panthro carries the lion to a free bed, pulling the helmet and chest plate off.

"Okay, what's wrong with him?"

"He's been bitten by one of the serpent Mutants…"

Pumyra looks grave as she unstraps the gauntlets, sliding them off to reveal a puncture wound on the inside of his elbow which is slightly green around the edges. I swallow the bile rising in my throat then before stroking my husband's cheek, worried for his life.

"Pumigar, grab me some antiseptic solution, bandages, gauze and the antivenin for the Plun-Darrian cobra and make it fast!"

The male puma runs to grab the supplies and brings them back in under a couple of minutes, and I watch closely as Pumyra treats Lion-O's wound. I still have intense feelings of doubt in my mind. What if it's too late for him? How are we supposed to win this with our leader struck out?

I sit by the lion's side for what feels like hours. People come and go as I wait for him to regain consciousness, and I can't help the horrific thoughts that race around in my head. I stroke my mate's cheek, brushing a stray strand of his crimson mane from his face as I sigh. I doubt that we will be able to win the battle without him…

"Cheetara!"

He wakes and sits up like a shot then, making me jump and nearly fall over.

"Oh, shit, where am I? What happened? Why am I-"

"Hey, take it easy," I say as I grasp his uninjured arm, making him look into my eyes, "You're in the medical tent because you were bitten by a Plun-Darrian Snakeman but it's okay, Panthro carried you here and we gave you the antivenom."

"Leo…Bräiden…The battle…"

"It's going well but our forces are struggling, we're going to have to fall back."

"Not on my watch."

I quickly hold his hand as he swings his legs off the bed but he manages to brush me off, pulling the chest plate and gauntlets of the Armour of Omens back on before grabbing the Sword.

"Lion-O, just where the hell do you think you're going?"

He stops when I seize hold of his arm, turning to look at me as he slips the helmet over his head.

"Our people, our friends are dying out there and I have to put a stop to it!"

"Lion-O, you were bitten by a Mutant and it poisoned you!"

He pulls away, storming out of the tent with a confidence I haven't seen from the lion in years. As worried as I am, I'm also very impressed that he's on his feet so soon.

"That doesn't matter. I'm the King of New Thundera, Lord of the Thundercats and I won't sit by whilst our people die! I'm the son of a Barbary sorceress and the direct descendant of the King who saved Thundera itself! It's about time that I showed those damn Mutants exactly why I have the title that I do!"

With that, he tears the Sword from the Claw Shield with a guttural roar and I have to turn away as he runs back into the fray, leaving a blazing trail of scorching blue flames behind him.

"Katz, with me!"

With that, both myself and my son race after my mate, struggling to keep up with him as he cuts a path through the enemy forces.

-(Border)-

The screams of multiple Mutants echo in my ears as I tear through them with the Sword, feeling the ancient powers from the Armour fuelling my every move as I run as fast as my legs can possibly carry me. The stench of blood assaults my senses, but I ignore it and carry on. I've never felt like this before. So energised. So powerful. So strong.

I come to a small cliff overhanging the ground ten feet below me as I watch the carnage in front of me, my heart sinking. Cheetara was right, our forces are being overwhelmed by the sheer brute strength and numbers of the Mutants. My grip on the handle of the Sword tightens, and I feel what I could only describe as an electric shock then as I look down at the weapon, and to my surprise the blade is glowing blue with swirling black flames. That's it!

"Sword of Omens, give me Power Beyond Power!"

I feel the immediate surge hit me like a tidal wave, shocking me into action as I look down at myself to find my very veins now glowing blue as I grin. Here goes nothing. I take a couple of steps back as I hear my son shout for me, before taking a running leap over the edge.

"Dad!"

I hold the Sword aloft with both hands, and with a roar, I land upon the hard earth.

"HOOOOO!"

I plunge the blade deep into the earth and watch in awe as the dried mud shatters in all directions as the pulse of raw primal energy surges out as an incredibly powerful shockwave across the battlefield in all directions, felling many of the Mutants within my eyesight. I keep hold of the handle, gritting my teeth and screwing my eyes shut as I feel the Sword drawing from me, robbing me of my now dwindling strength as I'm brought to my knees, the dull pain in my chest rising to an inferno as I collapse into the burning grass, my vision blurring as I gasp for breath, my ears ringing from the sound of the powerful explosion. How…How the hell…

I cough violently, struggling to draw enough breath into my body as I feel a pair of hands slip under my back.

"Lion-O, can you hear me?"

I've never been able to draw that much power from anything before, and I watch with eyes half-open as the woodland where the Mutants had been waiting burns with the intensity of the sun itself.

"He's still awake but he won't respond to me!"

Hearing the panic in Cheetara's voice, I muster up what little energy I have left and stroke her cheek with my thumb.

"Darìonae t'yull ca'rrn…"

…

"It was a very impressive victory; I've never seen anything quite like it."

"You say that the shockwave came from the Sword itself?"

"Dad sent out this massively powerful shockwave that tore through the hordes of Mutants like butter, didn't you? Dad?"

I feel my son tap me on the shoulder, bringing me to my senses as I turn to see Katzeran looking at me worriedly. I shrug the kitten off and watch as he walks back into the Grand Hall as I stand on the balcony in the cool autumn night air. I can hear the crickets chirping and I sigh, relaxing as I feel the soothing breeze blow through my mane. My chest still hurts from the battle earlier today, and I sip from my glass of whiskey as I watch the stars.

I don't know how I did what I did out there but it worked. The valley is permanently going to bear the scars of my powers, and the troops clearing the place up reported that they were still able to sense the energy. But nothing is going to be the same again. I absent-mindedly rub the area where the snake bit me, feeling the edge of the wound under my fingertips. I can still somewhat feel the pain but it's a lot less than it was earlier.

"You're being awfully quiet tonight, my Lord."

I turn to look behind me when I hear a familiar voice and watch as Merah, Tygra's wife and mate, approaches me. Sighing as the tigress stands not too far from me, I gaze back up at the inky black sky. I don't know how to answer the tigress as hers and my friend's cubs both race towards her and grab at her legs.

"I'm okay, Merah. It's just been a bit of a long day with the battle and all." I explain whilst turning my attention back to the amber liquid in the glass that I'm holding as I take a sip, savouring the strong fiery taste as it burns my mouth and throat.

"Cheetara is very worried about you, I heard that you collapsed twice during the battle…"

"Yes, I did, but I recovered quickly from it. Where is she anyway?"

"I believe that Her Majesty returned to the Royal Suite earlier. But Sire, please be careful with her, she's a little bit upset and from the way that you're walking, I would say that you've gone slightly past your limit with the alcohol."

With that, I leave through the party as I get stared at, but I ignore it as I head through the corridors. Merah wasn't kidding, my head feels fuzzy and I'm not exactly walking in a straight line. I make it to the door of my family's suite regardless and I walk in, sensing that my wife is in there somewhere. I take in my current surroundings, seeing that the lights aren't on in the living room but they are in the kitchenette. Going through the door, I see Cheetara sat at the small table in the corner, the single light on above her illuminating the area around her. She doesn't even look at me.

"Sit down, Lion-O."

I gulp as I approach the table before taking my seat across from her but she still won't look at me and I know that I'm in trouble. I sit in my seat and my mate finally looks at me, but I can see the expression on her face as clear as day itself - she's bitterly disappointed, and I know that feeling is aimed at me in particular.

"You're disappointed…I know why but does it matter? 'Tara, we won the battle!"

She sighs, taking a sip from her glass of rosé wine as she looks at me, and I feel myself shrink back.

"During which you showed off a crass display of pure recklessness."

"H-How? I did what I had to in order to save our asses!"

"Lion-O, you were bitten by a Serpent Mutant! It poisonedyou to the point that we thought you weren't going to wake up! The very second you woke up, you went charging straight out to return to the battle when you should have been resting!"

She sees my glass then and her face changes again.

"What the hell do you think you're doing?" she yells as she takes the glass from me, "You know that you aren't supposed to drink on your meds! What's gotten into you recently?" She brings her face close to mine as I stare her down, "You're drunk too! Lion-O, you know what Pumyra told you!"

"First thing's first, I'm not drunk, I'm tipsy. Secondly, I wasn't going to just sit aside and let our friends die!"

"Lion-O, do you even realise how much danger you put yourself into? That little trick of yours could have killed you!"

"If it would have killed me then at least I would have died knowing that I won us a war!"

I get to my feet then and begin to walk away, only to feel her hand close around my arm.

"Lion-O, don't you dare walk away from me!"

I wrench my arm away with a growl, and storm out of the Suite before she can say anything else. We've been fighting far too much recently and I absolutely hate everything about it. I don't stop until I'm at the border of the forest on the edge of the garden, before pushing myself on despite struggling to stay in a straight line.

"It your smartest decision, Thundercat…"

I turn around when I hear the voice and nearly jump out of my skin when I see the one being before me that I was least expecting.

"Mumm-Ra!"

The ancient demon priest cackles before going to grab me but I don't give him the chance as I keep running in the direction that I had been headed in with my heart practically in my throat. Why am I panicking so much? I can hear his maniacal laughter following me as I run, not even considering stopping despite the darkness combined with the alcohol.

"You can't run away from it forever, cub!"

I keep pushing myself on but questions seep into my mind. Run away from what?

I stop suddenly, only just managing to stop myself from tumbling over the edge of the ravine and into the river below. I feel a hand grasp the back of my shirt before hauling me back as I see Mumm-Ra in his ever-living form. I go to rake my claws through his hand but it just…phases right through? How in the hell did he just do that?

"Save the shocked expression for another day, Lion-O! I want-"

"You just saved my life? Why not just let me go back then?"

"Because I want you to hear this before you die…"

I back away slightly, not liking this as Mumm-Ra's eyes flash. Why isn't he trying to kill me? I reach down for the Sword, it doesn't react to my touch, no matter how much I try to command its powers. What the hell is going on here? I feel the fear rising in my throat as the Ancient Egyptian mummy circles me, and I keep turning to face him in order to prevent him from taking me by surprise.

"Imagine being the son of the most powerful sorceress that Thundera has ever known but not understanding a thing about the prophecy…"

"How do you know about that?" I snap, and I suddenly feel some kind of invisible force snake its way around me and squeeze tight, immobilizing me as I roar in shock and pain.

"Silence!" Mumm-Ra shouts, and I immediately find that I can't speak, "Your birth was ordained by the Gods themselves, whelp. You've always been destined to walk amongst the living, which you have done multiple times in the thousands of years that have passed by. Every time that you have, you have changed the world around you – sometimes good, sometimes bad – and I've watched you every time. You are every bit as old as me, perhaps older…Which is why I have to destroy you."

I wriggle as best as I can as I try to scream, tears streaming down my cheeks. This is impossible, I'm literally just a Kashi Barbary lion in his late thirties, not some ever-living being.

"You see, you've been reincarnated multiple times but you never remember any of your past lives. Sure enough, you have had multiple visions brought on by using your so-called 'magic' but those weren't visions, cub; those were memories – your memories of the first life that you lived in Ancient Thundera."

With that, I watch in awe as the scenery changes to that of the Barbary Village, but then I notice the surroundings – we're in the Delta Ruins before they were destroyed. But why?

"Your name may have been lost through time to other beings, but the people of your Clan see you as a literal deity."

He drags me by my mane into one of the huts where I see a lioness in the throes of a painful labour. Within minutes, a young lion cub is born and I watch in disbelief as the little one cries as he's washed.

"This is the evening that you came into existence for the first time. The Gods of your senseless religion saw something special within you that could be used to defeat your tyrannical uncle, and even after you did so, you came back so many times to protect your Clan."

The scenery changes again before my very eyes, and that's when I notice that we're in Mumm-Ra's Pyramid but something seems different. I look around as best as I can, and see lionesses in scant clothing tending to a very familiar male Barbary.

"Some wine, Lord Satos?"

My heart drops when my ancestor turns and I see Mumm-Ra's symbol on the clasp of the cloak draped around his shoulders. No. No! This can't be true! Satos was a Thundercat! He created the Thundercats to protect Thundera against evil! I watch with disgust as the lionesses fawn over him, the bile rising in my throat when I realise that it's a harem and some of the lionesses look to merely be kittens.

"I would like to congratulate you on your victory, Satos."

"Speak for yourself, Mumm-Ra, you would've died had I not pulled your ass outta there when I did."

The spectre of the mummy growls.

"I know that you've betrayed me, Satos. The Ancient Spirits of Evil have warned me that you are planning to overthrow me and become the supreme ruler of the known Universe."

My heart drops when I hear this. It can't be true; this is everything against what the Thundercats stand for. I feel helpless, standing there and watching as the pair argue before Satos leaves and Mumm-Ra, well, the one from the memory, flies into a horrific rage.

The vision fades and I find myself back in the forest. I take a deep breath to still my heart, but then I notice Mumm-Ra in front of me.

"You might not believe what you saw but everything is true and happened in your past. Do you recognise this place, cub?"

I look around at the ravine. It seems familiar, but I don't see how?

"This is where I killed you all those years ago, so I wouldn't be shocked if you don't remember. Satos is neither your distant great grandparent nor your ancestor."

"What the hell are you getting at? Stop playing these mind games and just do whatever you want! You obviously chased me here for a reason!"

"Well…"

I look Mumm-Ra in the eyes, just as he charges and punches me, sending me reeling and over the edge of the ravine. My hand automatically goes to the horrific wound on my waist as I see the bottom of the ravine coming closer as my life flashes before my eyes – Kitawny and our litter, the many bittersweet years we had and the way she'd screamed as I plunged the knife into her back. The adult children of ours and how they'd looked at me when I'd killed their mother and then slaughtered them mercilessly but I'd never been able to find my eldest son.

The impact with the ground is forceful and I feel the hundreds of bones break, agony unlike I've ever felt as I gasp for breath, grasping hold of the tree branch to steady myself. Mumm-Ra leers at me, seeing the fear on my face.

"You are Satos. And this is where I killed you."

"No…That's impossible…"

"For thousands of years, you have been reincarnated into many different bodies but that ends here!"

I react just in time to escape the dagger that he tries to plunge into my gut, running on all-fours back in the direction of the Lair. I refuse to believe anything that I've just heard. Mumm-Ra is my oldest enemy – he's been trying to kill me and the other Thundercats ever since we crashed on Third Earth so many years ago. Everything which he ever tells anybody is a lie, even the Mutants to a certain point. I keep going until my legs give way, and when I fall on my front, I see just where it is that I've ended up.

"L-Leo…"

My older brother hears me and comes running to my side, and that's when I black out completely.

To Be Continued…

A/N: Ok, due to how spoiler-intense this is, it's at the end. I know that was unexpected but there's a reason why this has happened the way that it has and that will be explained in detail throughout the next chapters and stories within the trilogy. I also want to thank people for sticking with this for so long, even with my writing being the way it was all those years ago. So, thank you, each and every one of you. You're all amazing people :)