"Remember here?"

WilyKat lifted his head, diverting from flying his space board to follow his sister's voice.

Slowing the speed to a crawl, he hovered next to her as the dark tower came into view.

He shuddered involuntarily. "Robber Baron Carnor. I got the inside view, remember?"

She laughed, gently shoved his arm. "And Lion-o and I got the guided tour. That wasn't much better."

The two stood there for a time before WilyKat jotted down a few notes in the digital pad Panthro had lent him.

With Mumm ra banished by the Ancient Spirirs of Evil, they would be returning home to New Thundera soon. But they had some loose ends to tie up first. He and Kit had volunteered to complete a simple journal detailing the major places they'd encountered on Third Earth, both for their histories and to leave for others.

They'd been at it the past three days and every time they thought they were done, something like this would happen. Traveling to and fro brought up so many memories.

"And we saved the Wollo here." Kit paused, resting her palm on a tree. It had been well over two years since that time but the tree still bore the gargoyle's mark if one knew to look for it.

"Somethin' wrong?"

Her brother had never been good at lying or covering concern and she was grateful for it. Turning to face him, she smiled.

"I guess it feels weird to be leaving this all behind. I mean, this became our home. And all our friends…"

Kat knew his sister and knew fear when he heard it. But he certainly wasn't about to argue because she spoke truth. Third Earth had become like home, almost more so than Thundera had been.

They'd been eleven when they left the planet (and had just celebrated their thirteenth birthday here) but had lost their parents years before. The nobles on Thundera had become guardians but it was only here that it went from guardians to family.

Was it wrong to think some of that was embedded in this place? Their old adventures, meeting friends for the first time, the excitement of exploring a place for the first time.

"Yeah. I hope we leave them ways to contact us. I'd hate to not ever hear from them again!" Kat hopped back on his board. "Why don't we go visit some of them before we head back? We can finish the journaling in the next few days. They wanted to rebuild the Tower if Omens for surveillance so we have time!"

Warmth spread over WikyKit's face. "Good idea. Why don't we stop in on the Unicorn Keepers? We haven't visited them in a while!"

WilyKat waited for her to jump on her own board then said, "Maybe we can bring Snarf home some apples."

His sister laughed. "So he can make applesauce?"

"Maaaybe…"

"That seems kinda mean," she gave him a side grin. "I mean, showing up and basically saying 'here, I brought you more work!'"

The male kitten laughed with her. "Well, if we offer some free labor with it. Besides, I think everyone needs a treat right now."

Well, no argument there. "Maybe a stop for some stuffed candy fruit too?"

"Perfect."

OOO

Mumm ra drifted amid the darkness of oblivion, each breath being an eternity of fire and rock. His decayed body writhed under the old wounds of mummification, the pain brought anew by his Masters' wrath.

Yet, he managed to think. To plan, to consider.

He had little options left and it was entirely possible that the Ancient Ones would not even consider his plea. He'd failed, after all, when they'd granted him more power than he ever imagined one being could possess.

But, thousands of years had taught the old mummy patience, resilience and cunning.

As egotistical as he could be, the Ancient Ones were old gods. Their egos were ten times that of his and they possessed the power to back up such claims.

Humility was his key.

Amid his pain, Mumm Ra cried out, "Ancient Spirits of Evil, your servant beseeches you for an audience!"

"You have failed us, Mumm Ra." The voices rumbled, seeped through his skin like water. "We have given you chance after chance and yet you fail. Suffer for your incompetence!"

Pain. Sharp and blinding.

He tried to push through it.

"Yes! Yes, I have failed you. Because I forgot my purpose. I am the servant, you are the master. I let my pride consume me."

Mumm Ra hated such levels of groveling but it was the only thing he had left to try.

"But if you will grant me one final chance, I will call upon a linking spell."

The voices went quiet. Thinking.

"I subject myself to its price."

The burning pain stopped.

"A linking spell. You have not cast one of those since First Earth." The voices were intrigued. "Are you willing to be powerless for a lifetime, Mumm Ra?"

"Yes. Yes, Ancient Ones. Grant me this chance and I will wipe the Thundercats from time and space." He swallowed, waited. "Will you grant me this chance?"

Everything was silent. Then, a cool burning and when Mumm Ra could see again, his home surrounded him once more. The same dreary, cold stone. His bubbling cauldron. And by his feet, in a flash of fire, Ma Mutt yelped.

"Make your spell count, Mumm Ra. We do not fuel useless incarnations. Choose wisely or forfeit your own, immortal life."