Castle Plundaar, home to the evil mutants, was dimly lit that morning. Jackalman's room, normally ablaze with light was dark, as its owner was not present. He was, in fact, languishing in the dungeons. A grumpy Ape guard stood outside the cell playing a game of dice with another Jackal. "I win again," the Jackal chuckled.

"You cheated. Let's play again," the Ape replied.

Jackalman sighed. What had he done to deserve this? Apart from sucking the energy out of three of his companions, one of whom was his leader. "Oh well," he thought, "it could be worse. I drained Mumm-Ra too. He could be after me."

"Eureka! I've done it!" Vultureman shouted with glee from another section of the Castle. He dashed through the halls, seeking Slythe. He found him standing with Monkian in the control room. "What isss it Vultureman?" Slythe asked.

"I've got a new invention that will defeat the Thundercats once and for all," Vultureman said.

"Another invention? Hoo, hoo. Let's hope this one works better than the last one!" Monkian said.

"All right, so my particle polarizer didn't work. How was I supposed to know that I'd made it solar powered?" Vultureman asked.

"What have you invented thisss time?" Slythe said, cutting off Monkian's reply.

"I call it my transform-o-tron," Vultureman said proudly.

"And what doesss it do?" Slythe asked.

"It transforms any person into an animal named by the holder of the transform-o-tron," Vultureman said.

"Excellent. Bring up Jackalman ssso we can tessst it out, yesss?" Slythe said.

"Let go of me! I don't know why you're taking me this way but it can't be good!" Jackalman said, struggling fiercely against his guards.

"You're jussst in time for the party, Jackalman. Vultureman, fire when ready," Slythe said.

"Jackalman, you've always been something of a chicken so we'll make you one. Chicken!" Vultureman said, pointing his weapon at Jackalman.

Jackalman felt the guards on either side of him let go of him. He tried to get away but his wings kept getting in the way. Wings? Jackalman looked at himself and realized that he had, as Vultureman had said, been turned into a chicken.

"Hmm. I'm getting quite hungry. It's been some time since we had chicken . . . " Monkian said, licking his lips.

"Yesss, it hasss. Maybe we ssshould invite Jackalman to dinner!" Slythe said.

Jackalman tried to beg forgiveness but nothing came out except for a pitiful squawk. The former mutant decided that it might be prudent to make a run for it.

Luckily the guards in the hall thought nothing of the chicken running by, in Castle Plundaar anything could happen, so Jackalman safely made it outdoors. He needed help, and fast. But who would help him? Especially after he'd tried to kill everybody. The Thundercats would probably take pity on him, but they wouldn't know it was him. Mumm-Ra? He'd recognize that magic had been involved, but he might return him to Slythe. It was his only hope though. He began walking to Mumm-Ra's pyramid.

The pyramid was dark within and Jackalman's clawed toes clicked loudly against the stone floor. Soon the mutant, turned chicken, had arrived where he would expect Mumm-Ra to be. "Ba-Gawk?" he asked.

"Jackalman!" a rumbling voice said.

"Who's there?" Jackalman asked, looking around.

"We are the Ancient Spirits of Evil," the voice thundered.

"Where's Mumm-Ra?" Jackalman asked.

"A foul sorcerer has imprisoned him, but his spells are wearing thin without his presence. You must help us release him," the Ancient Spirits said.

"But how can I help? I'm just a mutant, er, chicken," Jackalman said.

"We will impart upon you some of our power, as we have done in the past for many others. Stand by the pool and hold still," the Spirits replied.

Jackalman wandered over to the pool and stood as still as he could. He still wasn't completely used to this new body. "Ancient Spirits of Evil, transform this feathered form to Chicken-Ra, the ever living," Jackalman said, feeling the words coming to him. Beams of energy shot from the eyes of the statues surrounding the pool. Jackalman grew larger and gained muscles. His beak gaped in awe. "I'm really powerful!" Jackalman said, looking down a much greater distance at his feet.

"That is correct, now open the sarcophagus. You have the power!" the Spirits of Evil intoned.

Jackalman felt very proud of himself as he stepped over to the sarcophagus of Mumm-Ra. He placed his wings on either side of the lid and began to pull with all his might. The spells in place strained against him, refusing to relinquish their hold. But they could not hold out forever. The lid popped off, sending Jackalman tumbling backwards. Mumm-Ra, still in his disheveled state, hobbled out and cast an angry glare about the room. "Whomever has freed Mumm-Ra shall be greatly rewarded by being given the head of Lion-O!" Mumm-Ra growled.

"Then I shall gladly take that head," Jackalman said.

"Who are you?" Mumm-Ra demanded, surprised to see a giant chicken in his pyramid.

"I am Chicken-Ra, the ever living! The Ancient Spirits of Evil granted me powers so that I might help you," Jackalman said, trying to sound tough.

"Jackalman? Is that you?" Mumm-Ra asked, concealing a chuckle, "Can it be that Jackalman has been humbled by being turned into a giant chicken? I don't know if I should help you or offer you some corn."

"Look. Vultureman has a new invention that can turn anyone into any animal. It would be the perfect weapon to use on the Thundercats, nyah, ha, ha!" Jackalman said.

"You present me with an intriguing proposition. But if you are to help me defeat the Thundercats I cannot have you masquerading as a chicken, no. I shall transform you back into the miserable cur you used to be," Mumm-Ra said. He raised his hands, calling on the energy from the Ancient Spirits of Evil and transformed Chicken-Ra into an enhanced Jackal-Ra.

"Come on. Let's get a move on. We must get to Cat's Lair before Jackalman has a chance to prey on their pity," Vultureman said.

"You're right Vultureman, asss much asss I hate to admit it. On to Cat'sss Lair!" Slythe said. The three remaining lead mutants hopped on their respective vehicles and sped off toward the home of their arch enemies: The Thundercats!

Lion-O sighed. The battle against Mumm-Ra had been difficult, even though he had won in the end. There were so many unanswered questions about the two men who had visited them. Who were Doctor Strange and Spiderman? It didn't matter. They'd gone back home in the end. "Lion-O!" his communicator chirped, it was Cheetara.

"What is it?" he asked.

"The mutants. They're heading this way!" Cheetara replied.

"I'll call the others, meet me by the front door," Lion-O said, drawing his sword. Then he said "Thunder, thunder, thunder, Thundercats, ho!" Instantly the sword extended to its full length and emitted a large red and black Thundercat insignia.

From the garage Panthro looked through the open window and saw the Thundercat signal. He dropped his tools and grabbed his nunchuks.

The Thunderkittens, Wily Kit and Wily Kat, were speeding down the halls playing a game of tag when through a bedroom window they saw the signal. They continued speeding through the halls, but not for play.

Tygra was asleep in his bedroom and was not wakened by the call from Lion-O. Snarf, wandering by his room, saw the signal and woke the elder Thundercat.

"So, mutants, you are quite bold to intrude upon Cat's Lair!" Lion-O said.

"That'sss becaussse we know we can beat you thisss time," Slythe said.

"Hmm, the lord of the Thundercats can be transformed into a penguin!" Vultureman said, aiming the transform-o-tron at Lion-O.

Tygra was stunned to realize that, though Lion-O had been standing next to him, there was a penguin decked in a miniature version of Lion-O's outfit, complete with a penguin sized Sword of Omens. "What the! Be careful Thunderians. The mutants have a new weapon," he cautioned.

"Tygra likes to blend in with his scenery. Maybe a chameleon would do for him!" Vultureman said, blasting Tygra.

Panthro, Cheetara and the Thunderkittens would have to move fast if they wanted to avoid ending up like their companions. They began running toward the mutants.

"Wily Kit and Wily Kat are much too fast. Maybe turtles would be better," Vultureman said, watching with glee as the two speeding youngsters shrunk and turned into turtles on little green surf boards.

"That looks like fun," Mumm-Ra said from behind the group, Jackal-Ra at his side.

"Yes, now finish off Panthro and Cheetara before they get a chance to attack," Jackal-Ra said.

Panthro had already crossed the distance, though and had struck Monkian in the chest. A quick swing of his nunchuks laid out Slythe. "Two down, three to go," Panthro said. Cheetara was already moving for Mumm-Ra, figuring him to be the greatest threat once Panthro had taken care of Vultureman.

"Not so fast Panther. I think you'd look much better as a rat," Vultureman said, pointing his device at Panthro moments before the Thundercat's fist connected.

As Cheetara sped forward, she heard her friend go down and knew that she was the only one left. She dodged a blast of energy from Mumm-Ra and another from Jackal-Ra. Where had Jackalman gained such power?

"And for Cheetara? Maybe an otter," Vultureman said.

Cheetara had timed everything perfectly. The moment the words had been said she jumped over the blast from Vultureman's transform-o-tron, allowing it to hit both Jackal-Ra and Mumm-Ra.

"Caw! What have you done?" Vultureman asked, looking at the weapon in his hands. He became even more stunned a few seconds later when it disappeared. The animals around his feet that had been the Thundercats, along with Cheetara, could be seen heading back into Cat's Lair. "No! Come back with that. I'm the only one who knows how to use it!" Vultureman cawed.

Cheetara sat at the conference table, a rat looking at the device with her. Although their speech had been altered by the device, the intelligence of the Thundercats had not been diminished. Panthro used a nearby console to input suggestions to Cheetara.

The device looked simple enough. A small microphone built into a jumble of wires and other parts. At the center was some kind of stone. "You're right Panthro. Every time Vultureman said the name of an animal we were transformed. Maybe we can turn you back," Cheetara said.

Lion-O waddled over to investigate. "Don't worry," she said, patting his head lightly, "We'll have you back to normal in no time. Who wants to go first?" Cheetara asked. She looked around until she saw Lion-O's upraised flipper. "All right, let's see if I've got this right. Lion-O!" Cheetara said. The machine made a noise, as though it were about to work, and then stopped. Cheetara glanced over at the computer monitor as she heard frantic typing. "Try saying Thundercat?" she read aloud.

Panthro's eyes widened as he realized that Cheetara had the device pointing at him. He began to grow, swiftly. The keyboard he had been sitting on cracked as Panthro's full weight came upon it. "Dang blast it! Now we'll have to make a new keyboard," Panthro said, hopping off the table.

"At least we know it works. Let's try the others," Cheetara said.

Soon all the Thundercats had returned to their normal sizes and appearances. Lion-O took the transform-o-tron and turned to his companions. "Let's go teach those mutants a lesson in manners," Lion-O said.

Vultureman looked at the two otters that were scuttling angrily around his feet. "I'm sorry Mumm-Ra, how was I supposed to know Cheetara would jump?" he asked the otters. One of them, Mumm-Ra bit his toe firmly. He might not have his supreme powers but he could still inflict pain.

"Vultureman. Has anyone ever told you what a pig you are?" came a voice from behind. Vultureman had known fear, had encountered it often in fact, and he met it once more. He felt his body trembling as his skin turned pink. His beak shrunk and turned into a snout and his hands turned in to hoofs. "And Slythe and Monkian? They're also pigs," Lion-O added, aiming the device at first one mutant and then the other. The three little pigs and two otters promptly fled in terror.

"Well, I'm glad that's over with," Tygra said.

"You mean that you didn't enjoy being a chameleon?" Cheetara asked with a chuckle.

"Not really. I couldn't get used to the eyes," Tygra replied, a broad grin spreading across his face.

"At least you got a chameleon. I was turned into a rat!" Panthro exclaimed.

"I think this device has caused enough trouble," Lion-O said, smashing the transform-o-tron against the floor. "Now at least we'll only have to deal with pigs and otters," he added.

Three days passed and the mutants were still grumbling about being transformed, cursing Vultureman for inventing the contraption, when they felt a strange sensation pass over them. "It's wearing off!" Vultureman said.

"For once I'm glad an invention of yours didn't do what it was supposed to, hoo, hoo," Monkian said.

"Jussst thossse Thundercatsss wait until we get our revenge!" Slythe added.

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