WORLD CLEAVER

 

                The party that stood in a quiet forest was an unusual one to say the least.  Their leader was a man reviled by his teammates, and an enemy by half.  In addition they had the paragons of good and evil being forced to work together, and helping them was the student of a powerful, godlike being.  Tycho, Lion-O, Mumm-Ra, and Aker.

 

                The quartet had been summoned together by Aker’s master, Jonathan the all-seeing.  They discovered that they each bore a mantle that was passed on through the ages, since almost the beginning of time.  Their purpose was to destroy a weapon whose barest touch could cause a world to fall apart.  It was called the World Cleaver.  Tycho, Lion-O and Mumm-Ra were to defeat the wielder, give their weapons to Aker, for him to destroy the axe.

 

                The planet they had been sent to was composed mostly of water, but with many sizable islands serving as cities.  They were on one of the smaller ones, a strangely uninhabited one.  “Well?  Now what?” Mumm-Ra demanded.

“It’s easy.  We find the guy carrying the World Cleaver and kill him,” Tycho said, gripping the Lunar Blade tightly in his hands.

“We were just told to defeat him.  Maybe we can talk him into giving us the weapon,” Lion-O said.

“Right.  ‘Please sir.  We want to destroy the most powerful weapon in the universe.  Would you mind?’” Mumm-Ra chuckled.

“It’s all well and good to say we’ll kill him, but the question is how do we find him?” Aker asked, cutting off any further argument from Lion-O.

“Easy.  The Lunar Blade will finish him in no time,” Tycho snickered.

“And you’ll be dead instantly.  We can’t allow that,” Lion-O said.

“But what if his purpose in all this is to sacrifice himself to buy the rest of us a chance to kill him?” Mumm-Ra asked.

 

* * *

 

                “Aker,” a voice said.

The young Lion turned and saw the ghostly image of a man.  “Who are you?” he asked.

“I’m Jaga.  Listen to Tycho.  He has been destined as leader,” Jaga said, before vanishing once more.

 

* * *

 

                “Tycho.  My master claimed that you’d be the one leading us.  What does your heart tell you we should do?  If you’re destined to lead, you must know deep down the right plan,” Aker said, making a note to ask Lion-O about Jaga.

“Aker is correct.  The fates do not distribute their mantles lightly.  If they chose you they must have planted the knowledge within you,” Mumm-Ra said.

“I think I’m going to have to agree with you all on this one.  It makes perfect sense to me,” Lion-O grudgingly admitted.

“Very well then.  This is what we’re going to do,” Tycho began.

 

* * *

 

                Lion-O and Aker were busy constructing a raft while Mumm-Ra, carrying Tycho, flew around in search of the materials they would need.  “Lion-O.  Something’s troubling you.  Tell me about it,” Aker said.

“It’s this whole thing.  I don’t like being forced into working with Mumm-Ra.  Every fibre of my being is screaming at me, telling me how wrong it is for us to be working together,” Lion-O replied.

“I know exactly how you feel.  It’s got me more nervous than a long-tailed cat in a room full of rocking chairs, but there’s also a certain rightness to the whole situation.  I look at Tycho and feel ‘yes, he should be leading us, for now,’” Aker replied.

“I know.  You’re right, of course you’re right.  But I don’t have to like it,” Lion-O said.

 

* * *

 

                “Ho there!” came a pleasant sounding voice from the ocean.  Mumm-Ra turned and saw a strange creature whose top half was human, but the lower half was a mass of tentacles, making him seem half squid.  He walked easily across the waters and moved closer.  “Who are you?” the man went on.

“I am Mumm-Ra, the ever living!” the demon priest responded.

“Nice to meet you Mr. Living.  My name is Aqualor, from the kingdom of the Mer.  May I ask what you and your friends are doing on our peaceful little planet?” he asked.

“We have come seeking the one who carries a weapon called ‘the World Cleaver.’  Do you know where we might find him?” Tycho asked.

“But of course.  Everyone in the kingdom of Mer knows of the World Cleaver and its master, Tlit,” Aqualor said.

“Ah, good.  Then would you mind showing us?” Tycho asked.

“But of course.  I live only to serve.  But first, let us collect your friends,” Aqualor said.

 

* * *

 

                Tycho, Lion-O, Mumm-Ra and Aker stood on the raft as Aqualor towed them out into the sea.  He told them of Tlit and of the world in general.

 

* * *

 

                “On this planet there are two basic types of people.  There are the Mer, who live beneath the seas, and there are the Terre, who live on the islands.  There aren’t many islands though, so interbreeding has created the Terre-Mer, ones who are able to survive on both land and in the water.  Tlit is one of the rare exceptions.  He is a pure blood Terre.  He lived on one of the smaller islands on this world and lived his entire life in the stony countryside in which his parents dwelled.  The stories say that one day in those mountains he came across an axe laying on the ground.  When he picked it up, he felt a rush of power and knew his destiny.  With this axe he has flown to the nearby stars, something our people have yet to manage, and he boasts that he has destroyed other worlds with but one swing.  It’s my opinion that these stories are exaggerated, for no weapon could do such things.  No matter how powerful it is.  Tlit built up a lot of power and took the throne from our king.  Now he sits high and mighty.  Arrogant and pompous.  We would be much better off without him,” Aqualor said.

 

                “I’m afraid the stories are true.  The weapon he bears is very powerful.  It has destroyed many worlds with but one stroke.  I’ve never actually seen it happen before, but I know it’s possible,” Aker said.

 

* * *

 

                “I have,” a voice said, for Tycho alone to hear.

“What?” asked the stunned Lunatak.

“I have seen the power of the World Cleaver,” the voice said.  The voice was neither deep nor light.  It was a quiet whisper within his mind.

“Who are you?” Tycho demanded mentally.

“Look down at your blade, and gather the others around, and I will show you,” the voice insisted.

 

* * *

 

                Though the others wondered what Tycho was doing, they all moved closer as he drew the sword and held it out.  The blade shimmered and soon the cold hard steel was replaced by the image of a peaceful planet, covered with dense jungles and strange deserts.  A strange looking man in tattered black robes stood on it looking at ten horses.  He shook his head and brought an axe down into the ground.  The planet shuddered and split apart, shattering into thousands of pieces.  The horses and the rest of the life on the planet were wiped out.  The man soared up through the sky, seemingly laughing, and flew off to another planet.

 

* * *

 

                “Great Jaga!” Lion-O gasped.

“By the Ancient Spirits of Evil,” Mumm-Ra added.

“Lunar gods save us all,” Tycho said.

“That was Tlit.  He must be defeated.  Such evil cannot be allowed to continue,” Aqualor said.

“I agree.  Now more than ever, I agree,” Aker said.  With that said Aqualor began towing them faster.

“You’re welcome,” the voice of the Lunar Blade whispered.

 

* * *

 

                Within a few short hours a large city loomed before the group.  Most of the buildings of import were along the coast, with both land and sea entrances.  But in the heart of the island was a citadel made of stone.  “That’s Tlit’s castle,” Aqualor said, stating the obvious.

“Then that’s where he shall die,” Mumm-Ra growled, clenching his hands tightly around the Sword of Plundarr.

 

* * *

 

                To say that the four visitors from Third Earth looked out of place was an understatement.  Most of the people looked similar to Aqualor, though there were some wholly humanoid or wholly squid.  In no time at all a group of twenty mixed breed soldiers came down and surrounded them.  “By the authority of his royal majesty Tlit of Illiarag you are ordered to surrender yourselves to his imperial will.  Follow us,” the lead soldier said, as the rest formed a diamond around them.

 

* * *

 

                As they got closer and closer they realized that the palace was not grey stone as they had originally thought, but a dirty pale blue flecked with reds and yellows.  There were no windows to the fortress and the one small door barely allowed the hulking form of Mumm-Ra to enter.  They filed down several long hall ways, past murals of great battles, and the portraits of the former rulers.  At the end there was a scene of Tlit destroying a world with his axe, and an almost life-sized portrait of the man.  The doors to the throne room were ivory, and easily swung open to admit the Third Earthen people.

 

* * *

 

                Tlit appeared exactly as he had in the sword’s vision.  He wore tattered black robes and had a short black beard.  His red eyes seemed unfocused as he looked about the room.  Resting on his knees, as he sat on a ruby throne, was the World Cleaver.

 

                “Ah, so these are the visitors I’d heard so much about.  You are obviously not from this world, which leads me to believe that you have come begging for mercy before I destroy yours,” Tlit said, his voice sounding like a Snarf going through a blender.

“No.  Recognize these?” Tycho asked, drawing the Lunar Blade.  Mumm-Ra and Lion-O drew their respective swords.

 

* * *

 

                Aker knew his role at once.  There were twenty guards in the room that needed to be taken care of.  Fortunately Aqualor seemed to have the same idea.  The Dagger of Omens and a weapon that shot black acid, were produced in instants and the pair began picking off guards at random.

 

* * *

 

                “Those swords.  They look familiar.  Nonetheless, if you are wanting a fight, you’ve come to the right place.  This axe can destroy a planet.  Just think what it can do to you!” Tlit said, charging forward from his throne.

“Don’t let that thing hit you!” Tycho shouted quickly to his teammates.

“I have no intention of doing so,” Mumm-Ra snarled.

 

                Tlit’s reflexes were astounding.  He dove between three opponents with not a single scratch and landed neatly behind them.  In the blink of an eye he was swinging with all his might.

 

* * *

 

                Aker fired his dagger, burrowing through a guard’s eye and glanced over at the main fight.  He was just in time to see the end of Lion-O.  With his body still turning to meet Tlit the World Cleaver chopped right through him like a hot knife through butter.  “No!” Aker cried blasting yet another guard.  He and Aqualor were now done with the guards, the remaining deciding to flee, so Aker was witness to another incident.  Aqualor lurched to the side and braced himself against the wall.  “Sword of Omens.  Come to my hand!” he said, and the sword obeyed, readily.  Instinctively Aker knew that a new “Hero of Light” had been chosen.

 

* * *

 

                Mumm-Ra swung the Sword of Plundarr around knocking the World Cleaver wide.  Each of the combatants knew that it was only a matter of time before Tlit lost.  Tycho moved in quickly, his sword biting hard through Tlit’s non-sword arm.  He howled in rage and hacked at the Lunar Blade with all his might, sending it hurling across the room.  “Ho!” Aqualor shouted, hitting Tlit in the head.  Mumm-Ra easily finished the job, driving his own sword through Tlit’s chest.

 

* * *

 

                Aker knelt next to Lion-O’s body, cut in half.  “How could this happen?  He was so brave and true.  He can’t really be dead,” Aker wept.

“Aker.  There will be time for grieving later.  There is yet one more task to be done here,” the calming voice of Jaga said.

“You’re right, Jaga.  Friends.  I must now ask for your swords, that this thing may be finished, once and for all,” Aker said.  Aqualor moved first, handing Aker the Sword of Omens.  Next Mumm-Ra, though suspicious, handed over the Sword of Plundarr.  Lastly, because he had to retrieve it, Tycho gave Aker the Lunar Blade.

 

                The three swords glowed, filling the room with blinding light and joyous song, but more importantly, filling Aker with power.  The young Lion realized that there was now only one sword in his hands, the Sword of Good and Evil.  “With this one weapon I could destroy the Lunataks, the Mutants, Mumm-Ra and all evil everywhere,” he whispered to himself.  He shook his head.  “No.  I won’t submit to the temptations of this weapon.  If I use it for such a purpose then I am no better than Tlit,” he growled.  Steadfastly he walked to the World Cleaver and raised the Sword of Good and Evil.  In one swift stroke the axe was destroyed.

 

* * *

                Some time later Aker woke to find Aqualor and Jonathan standing over him.  “What happened?” he asked.

“Once you destroyed the axe you were thrown aside, the sword you carried split into the three swords once more,” Aqualor explained.

“I have already sent your unwilling companions on their way, and soon will do the same for the two of you,” Jonathan said, “Aqualor will be living with the Thundercats now.  As the bearer of the Sword of Omens, it is only right.”  The squid-man nodded, and then Jonathan was gone.  His grassy home replaced by Cat’s Lair.

 

                The rest of the Thundercats emerged in almost no time. “What happened to Lion-O?” Panthro asked.

“It’s a long story.  One I’m sure that the new Lord of the Thundercats will need to assist me on,” Aker said, turning to Aqualor.

 

* * *

 

                “Lion-O.  Your death was not in vain.  You sacrificed yourself that your friends might live. We cared for you and now must try to live without you.  You will be greatly missed, snarf, snarf,” Lion-O’s long time companion, Snarf, said at the funeral.

“Friends.  Let us all raise our voices in honour of Lion-O!” Aqualor said.

“Thundercats, ho!” they all shouted.  A beam erupted from the Sword of Omens and engulfed the pyre in flames.

 

 

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