"Tycho. Only recently did one of your kinsmen die, granting you the role of the 'One Who Shall Lead.' The Lunar Sword is unlike the other two. It may only be held by one race. Lunataks. Because the race bears nobility and honour, yet also shows the corrupt nature of the universe, your people are perfect. But you thirst for knowledge about your 'empire.' I can tell you that there is a changeling named Darius who is acting on your behalf. He will relinquish the seat of power to you whenever you return. There is a way to return. On Third Earth is a hidden cave. If you speak the name of your destination in it, you will be taken there."
 

* * *
 

The words of the powerful entity known as Jonathan the all-seeing, still echoed in Tycho's mind as he lay in bed. He had been told that he had inherited the mantle of the 'One Who Shall Lead' at random, and that this title, along with it's other sister titles: Lion-O 'The One of Good,' Mumm-Ra 'The One of Evil,' Aker 'The Gatherer,' were passed on to people when the previous bearer died. It did, however, have certain perks. The Lunar Blade resting in his hand, for one thing. It belonged to that title. He had also been given a glimpse at a way home. "I can see that I will get no sleep tonight," he thought, rolling out of bed. With that, he made for the small closet the Lunataks called a library.
 

* * *
 

He found Psikaris sitting in the room, no larger than a few metres. Most of the books had been stolen off of minor races during some slave raid. "Can't sleep?" he asked. He knew she'd been through something deep and personal, but she hadn't mentioned it to him, or to anyone else. Except Psychro. He seemed to know about it.

"Nope. I figured no one else would be here so I came," Psikaris replied.

"Do you want me to leave then?" Tycho asked.

"Yes," Psikaris said, as politely as she could. She had been crying, was trying to hold the tears back.
 

The Lunar Blade seemed to flash, but only to Tycho. His hand touched the hilt and he was besieged by a flood of images and emotions.
 

Alluro calling to Psikaris, asking her to sleep with him. The joy, hope and utter passion in their eventual union.
 

Alluro asking Psikaris, Chilla and Cheetalia to sleep with him. The desperation to make Alluro forget the others and disappointment when he refused.
 

Psychro coming to her and telling her that Alluro had used an invention to manipulate her into sleeping with him. The unbridled hate and gut wrenching pain as Psikaris' heart was split in two.
 

"My god, Psikaris. I'm so sorry," Tycho said, kneeling in front of her chair. Through tear soaked eyes she looked at him curiously. "What do you mean?" she asked.

"I saw what happened between you and that bastard Alluro," Tycho said, "I knew you had mental powers but I didn't think they extended to that."

"They don't, and yet, you know what happened. Maybe it's because your grand father was a Psi-Race. Maybe there's some residual effect," Psikaris said, her edict mind trying to force the gloomy thoughts away in favour of this new mystery.

"The Lunar Blade! It flashed. I touched it. I saw the events and felt your emotions," Tycho said, pulling his hand away from touching it again.

"Amazing! I'll have to look through these old books, the few we saved from the Moons of Plundarr, to see if it mentions any of that," Psikaris said, "anything to get my mind onto something else."

"If you're looking for something to do, I may have just the thing. I was told that there is a cave on Third Earth that might be able to send us home. I'd like to try and find it. You suppose any legends might have sprouted up around it?" Tycho asked.

"It's worth a shot. Let's start looking. Our nights were ruined anyway," Psikaris said.
 

* * *
 

Luna stood in the kitchen of Skytomb, fixing up some of her famous Villain Sandwiches for herself and her crew to eat. It had long been decided that basic jobs like cooking and control room duty would be spread out amongst everyone. Herself included. It would be less strenuous on the Lunataks if they had more people, she realized with a sigh. "Luna okay?" Amok asked, concerned.

"Yes Amok. I just wish we had more people here. That's all," she replied, slapping a thin piece of turkey onto Psychro's small bun. She had Amok stand back, the job complete, and looked at her work. Four small sandwiches, one for each crew member, a bowl of candy for Amok, and a massive sub for Luna. "Excellent. Ring the dinner bell. If anyone doesn't come, their food is yours," Luna said. Amok gurgled with glee, rang the bell and set out the food.
 

* * *
 

Later Psychro walked into the library to find Psikaris asleep, her head resting on a large book. Someone had draped a blanket over her. Tycho sat in the other corner, reading a book on Berbil history. "Don't wake her. She hasn't slept all night," Tycho whispered. Psychro walked closer. "Thanks for putting her to sleep. I've seen her like this before. If you're not careful she'll go days without sleep and then drop somewhere," Psychro said.

"I just got her interested in something else. It allowed her mind to relax. That's all," Tycho said. On a whim he held the Lunar Blade and focussed on Psychro.
 

* * *
 

"Well hello there Alluro. Nice to see you again," Psychro said, backhanding the hypnotist. Alluro stumbled back, tripped over a stool and landed on his bed. The same bed he'd defiled Psikaris in. "You'll never touch her again! Never!" Psychro shouted, pouncing on Alluro and raining his fists down onto the hapless man's face.
 

* * *
 

Psikaris sat in a field, the wind whipping through her hair. Psychro stood protectively behind her, watching the horizon for even the slightest hint of danger. "Psikaris? Are you okay? If you need anything," Psychro said. She looked up at him, love in her eyes.

"I'm fine, brother. Don't worry," she replied.
 

* * *
 

Tycho felt Psychro's hand on his shoulder. "You okay?" he asked.

"Yeah. I'm fine. Just tired, I guess," Tycho replied.

"I'll get you another blanket," Psychro said, "I left your lunches on the table," and then he was gone.
 

* * *
 

Tug Mug looked over at Psychro at the dinner table. "I thought Psikarees was on dinner duty," he said.

"She was. I took her place. She's more tired than she's letting on," Psychro said. "She's been in that library sleeping since early this morning."

"That's all well and good, but you're not taking her night watch, you look tired yourself," Luna said. After a pause she explained. "Don't think me compassionate. I can't afford you falling asleep when you're supposed to be on duty. It's bad enough that all Tug Mug does in there is eat donuts and sleep. I don't need two of you doing that." Tug Mug seemed about to complain, looked at Amok and thought better of it. The doors hissed open and Tycho entered. "I'm on patrol tonight, right?" he asked.

"Of course you are," Luna replied tersely.

"Good. Does it matter where I go on patrol? I want to check on what the warrior maidens and Berbils are doing," Tycho said.

"So eef you strike out weeth thee Maidens you can try thee Berbils?" Tug Mug asked.

"No, fool. We haven't seen hide nor hair of the inferior races for some time. And with the Cats down a leader I want to see how the others are taking it," Tycho said.

"It sounds reasonable. Very well. Just don't spend all night there. I want Dark Side patrolled too," Luna said.

"As you wish, my queen," Tycho replied, heading immediately for the hangar.
 

* * *
 

It still seemed odd to see Chilla's Ice Runner still sitting in the hangar. She had defected to Mystan's band of Lunataks and hadn't had time to grab it. He fired up the engines and roared out of the mouth of Skytomb.
 

* * *
 

"There's a single Lunatak heading toward the Tree Top Kingdom," Bengali reported over the com frequency, "he seems to be carrying the flag of peace."

"Sounds odd. What do you think we should do about it?" Tygra asked, flinching at the instinctive question. He was the new Lord of the Thundercats. Lion-O had died on the same quest that Tycho had been on. In his place they had a being who was half man, half squid and the rightful bearer of the Sword of Omens. Aqualor.

"I advise that we take him out, find out what he's really after," Panthro said.

"If he's got a flag of peace it means then we should respect that," Cheetara said.

"I agree with Cheetara. We can't just attack Tycho if he's coming in peace," Tygra said apologetically.

"But we can't just let him waltz into our neighbours' homes without doing something," Wily Kit said.

"What would Lion-O do? Snarf, snarf," Snarf mused in the corner.

"I think he'd want us to check it out. Panthro. I want you to go meet him, find out what he wants and keep an eye on him. Wily Kit, Wily Kat. I want you two to stay here in the control room in case Panthro radios in. The rest of you can do as you please," Tygra said, after some thought.
 

* * *
 

In the halls Cheetara stepped lightly on Snarf's tail as he shuffled down toward his room. "That was inconsiderate of you," Cheetara said.

"What was?" Snarf asked, pulling his tail away and checking it for damage.

"You shouldn't have mentioned Lion-O's name in front of Tygra. It's bothering all of us, but Tygra more than most. The last thing he needs to worry about is trying to fill Lion-O's boots," Cheetara said.

"I know, snarf, snarf, it's just that I miss him so much," Snarf replied.

"I understand that. The two of you were very close. But we must each be stronger. That's the way Lion-O would want it, and he would also want you not to burden Tygra. Understand?" she asked, stroking him lightly.

"Yeah, I guess so," Snarf replied.
 

* * *
 

Tycho landed outside the Warrior Maiden village, smiling as a dozen bows were drawn taut. "I am here merely as a visitor. Is this how you treat your guests?" Tycho asked, stopping.

"It is when our guests are Lunataks," Willa replied.

"I see. So you're racist," Tycho said.

"That's not what I meant, and you know it. You yourself have raided our village countless times," Willa said.

"And can a man not change his way? I have come seeking to educate myself, to pore through some of your texts and learn from your elders. Is such a thing as learning forbidden to my kind?" Tycho asked, placing his hand against his forehead melodramatically.

"You bet it is," Panthro said as the Thundertank rumbled up.

"You'll note I have no weapons. I have come asking only to learn of these kind people's legends, and then I will leave. Nothing more. I will hurt no one and neither take nor damage anything. You have my word," Tycho said.

"We know what your word is worth, you miserable Lunatak," Panthro growled.

"Come, Panthro. It is late. Surely letting young Tycho hear some stories isn't going to cause any harm. You may stay too and listen if you like," Willa said.

"I think I will," Panthro said.
 

* * *
 

Tycho listened to a handful of stories, mostly how old the forest was, how the animals got their names and the like, but there was one story in particular that caught his attention.
 

* * *
 

When the world was still young, a brave huntsman named Gilgliam travelled all over the countryside in search of the elusive golden stag. It was foretold that the hunter who placed his hands upon that stag's antlers would be given great wisdom. He followed that stag through frozen wastes and scorching deserts until he found himself at a set of jagged peaks near where the Cave of Time is today. There the stag turned and stopped, unable or unwilling to go further. As his hands touched those golden horns, the stag took off, carrying him with it. Faster and faster it ran, aiming for the Cave of Time itself. Gilgliam tried to let go but found his hands stuck fast. The stag rushed through the magical cave and the brave huntsman begged it to let him go home. Then, like magic, he was home. And he had gained wisdom indeed. For he had spent ten years following that stag and learned much in his hunt.
 

* * *
 

Tycho nearly cackled with glee and so was quite relieved when, two stories later, Willa politely dismissed him from her village. "Your courtesy tonight was most welcome. I hope, nay, I pray that I shall be able to repay you in kind," he said, waving farewell.

"The mere fact that you were able to show that your people can do good as well as evil is more than enough repayment," Willa said, as she and Panthro watched him fade into the distance.
 

* * *
 

"I've found it! The Berbils tell of a similar story, only theirs involves a farmer who loses one of his seeds. It rolls through the Cave of Time and he foolishly chases it. The seed rolls to the back and becomes first a tiny sapling, and then a lush candy fruit tree. When he nears the back, an old bear now, chasing an old gnarled tree, regrets having left home and finds himself back where he started, with his old tree. They claim it stands still. One of the few trees not destroyed in a Mutant raid," Psikaris said, holding up a thick maroon tome.

"The Cave of Time. That's an awkward place for this transportation cave to be," Tycho mused.

"Not necessarily. In the story told to you by the Warrior Maidens they make no mention of him aging in the cave. Maybe there was something about this stag that protected him," Psikaris said.

"Or maybe it's just a simple case of some detail being lost in history. These are, after all, legends. While they may hold some kernel of truth, we must look at them with a critical eye," Tycho said.

"For the time being let's assume these are more or less true. The stag protected Gilgliam, so what's to stop it from protecting us?" Psikaris asked.

"Nothing I suppose. So long as there is a stag," Tycho replied.
 

The Lunar Blade sang out, forcing Tycho to draw it. "Look at the blade. An image is forming," Psikaris said. The two leaned closer and saw a brilliant stag the colour of smelted gold, standing proudly beside the Cave of Time. It tossed its head, almost inviting them to come. "Let's go," Psikaris said, leading the way down to the hangar.