Sorcerer and Sorceress
Part
Four: Universal Battle
Chapter
One: Sharing the Same Tears
Kit had not left the panther’s side and she had not stopped crying for the past five hours. Her brother had taken it upon himself to cook and then to guard the Lair. They were the only ones left. Alone.
Kit
burst into fresh tears. She buried her face deep into her small palms and
let the tears of pain flow forth. She dropped to the ground and buried her
face into the adult’s sheets. By Jaga, this had to be a nightmare! She
wasn’t brave enough without Pantro or the others.
Mostly, Pantro Kit, she told herself. Why didn’t I see it before?
Why couldn’t see his love? Why didn’t I tell him that he was like
my father before? When I could have? Why? Why? Why? Why did this Celeano
have to come back? Why? Why did she kill their friends? It was them, she
wanted.
Protection. She suddenly realized. They would protect us to their
last breath. They would and they did. Tears spilled down her cheeks again.
Burying her face back into the sheets, she ignored the fact that Celeano
could be watching.
She left us alive so she could see us suffer, Kit realized with such
hate, she felt that something in her would explode any moment, any time.
She hated that witch. Oh how she hated her. By Jaga, she would suffer for
this.
A small broken voice caught her attention. Turning, she saw her brother
come through. His eyes were red and puffy from crying so much. It took a
lot to make them cry but their friends’ deaths had done
it.
“Kit?” he asked gently and tugged her to her feet. She nodded.
He wanted her to come and eat. She leaned against him as he led her out.
The tears flowed down his cheeks as he held her. The salty drops caressed
her red mane and dampened her already wet cheeks as his tears mixed with
hers.
Sharing the same tears, he realized. The same tears, the same
pain.
He shook the tears from his cheeks and brushed his temple with the
back of his hand, wiping away the waters. He didn’t cry much. Even when
their mother died, he’d shoved aside his own pain to ease his
sister’s.
As the twins walked along the hallway, the moon shone in through the
window. He glanced at it and saw it, so lovely and bright. Tears spilled
down his face again. He looked down and pulled his sister even closer to
him. She didn’t resist but hugged him back.
The kittens walked hand-in-hand into the dining chamber. They liked
this room. It helped ease their pain slightly. Kit saw that her brother had
fixed her something. She’d expected that she’d be on her own for
tonight. She guessed wrong, obviously.
“Kat?” she started to ask. He shook his head then gestured
for her to eat. She nodded. Then, gradually began to eat. But in reality,
her stomach was already churning from the smells alone.
Kit took a tiny nibble of bread but she was distracted. Her friends,
all but her brother, were gone, dead. Everyone she cared about. Everyone
who cared about her was gone. Just like her mother. Killed by the same
person.
Suddenly, anger welled up in her. She clenched her fists together.
Then she spoke to her brother.
“Kat? Where do you think she is?”
“Celeano?”
“Yeah.”
“Probably some alternate dimension. That’s why whenever
we saw her, her powers weakened. They’re probably strongest in that
special place. That’s why she only attacked us once and sent servants
the rest of the time. And that’s probably where she’s planning
to battle us. On her own turf.”
Kit nodded in agreement.
The twins let this information sink in. The rest of the night they
spent in silence. It was a sound rarely if never heard in the Lair. The place
had always sounded so light and happy. The sounds of happiness and joy usually
vibrated throughout the walls.
The kittens missed the sounds. Tygra’s words, Cheetara’s
laughing, Lion-o’s leadership voice, Snarf’s worries and even
Pantro’s reprimanding. The whole home sounded empty. No, the Lair, it
wasn’t a home anymore. Without love, it was empty and
dead.
For the twins, it was torture. Everywhere they went they were reminded
of the Thundercats. The missing sounds of pots and pans in the morning, the
sound of Pantro tinkering in the workshop, Tygra fidgeting with blueprints,
Lion-o practicing swordplay, or Cheetara out for her morning
run.
Kit lay down in her bed, late into the night. So late it became morning.
Her brother came over to her in the morning and sighed. She stared back at
him with red eyes. Her skin hung in bags underneath her eyes. Only when the
sun rose, did she feel safe. Celeano hated the sun. While it wouldn’t
stop her, she would avoid it at all costs.
It was when she saw the golden sun, she knew it was ending. It had
finally come down to it. They’d been running. It was time. Celeano’s
time was up. They’d had it! It would end one way or another. And
soon.
Kit ran through the forest, her mane ruffling behind her. The winds were cold and made her cheeks chapped and dry. Her lips soon chapped too and then they cracked and began to bleed. She wiped the blood away as she ran but they always bled again.
Tears began to stream from her eyes and they made her cracked cheeks
sting. Salt water trickled into her mouth and she brushed away the trail
with her palm. Her fingers hurt and her feet were beginning
to.
But as she ran past the last shrub, she tripped and fell flat on her
face. She got her chin level and felt her mouth drop. Her eyes fell on four
sets of boots. She got to her knees and looked up. Cheetara, Lion-o, Tygra,
and Pantro looked right back at her.
The cheetah dropped to her knees beside her. Kit felt the tears well
up in her eyes. The cheetah put a hand to the kitten’s trembling
cheek. Then, she spoke and her
voice echoed.
“Kit? Is this it? You’re giving
up?”
“I don’t have anything left! You were what gave us strength
and bravery! Now you’re gone and we’re broken. We have nothing
left!”
Cheetara shook her head, slowly but when she spoke her voice burned
like fire yet it was kind.
“Kit we aren’t gone, hardly.” She looked deep into
the child’s amber eyes. “We’re right here.” She put a
hand to the child’s chest, over her heart. Kit touched the adult’s
hand and clutched her fingers tightly. The child felt the tears choke up
her throat and sorrow winch at her heart and soul.
Kit nodded slightly, still staring at the cheetah’s gentle fingers.
Cheetara smiled and put a hand to the kitten’s hair. She lifted a strand
and let it graze through her fingers. Then, gradually, she let it fall down
into the cub’s eyes.
WilyKit looked up and Cheetara felt her own heart shatter at the
kitten’s heart-broken features. She pulled the kitten to her and let
the child weep softly almost silently into her soul’s
shoulder.
Kit knew she was dreaming. But it wasn’t a dream she wanted to
wake up from. The cheetah’s touch was just as soft as it had been in
the real world. Her delicate yellow fur grazed the kitten’s own light
coat and she cried again.
A stronger hand fell on her shoulder and smoothed her red mane. A
masculine hand. She looked from the corner of her eye and caught a glimpse
of orange and black fur.
Tygra knelt by her and she fell into his arms. He smiled down at her
and smoothed her hair. She clutched him tightly and she felt him left her
up into his arms. She wrapped her younger arms around his neck and let him
cradle her.
“Kit?” Tygra spoke deeply and his voice was severely kind.
Kit longed to hear it besides when she was asleep. He hugged her close to
his chest and waited for her to look up at him. When she did, he
continued.
“Kit, we aren’t going to leave you and your brother. Not
now. We’ve been with you for so long. For good times and also through
the bad times. We aren’t leaving you.”
“But you’re dead! Now we’re alone!” Kit wailed
and clutched him tightly.
Tygra smiled at her. “Maybe but if you ever need us, just think
of us. That’s how close we are, a memory. A memory away
Kit.”
She forced a small smile and nodded. He hugged her again. Then she
spoke but there was heartbreak in her voice.
“Right. You guys were always there for me. Why should death change
that? Aside from the fact, your soul leaves your body and all that.
I’ll…I’ll always treasure that. Treasure you all. Friendship
doesn’t come every month or day. Loyalty like this is scarce. And I
will treasure it. I will.”
Tygra nodded at the child again. He hugged her again and she buried
her face into his shoulder. He put a hand into her hair. Pantro gave her
fine mane a slight ruffle before taking her from the tiger. Kit clutched
him tightest of all the adults. He squeezed her back. She was close to tears
but refused to let herself cry again.
Gradually, his strong arms fell from her and Lion-o caressed her hair.
But then the arms weakened and became her twin’s shaking her
slightly.
But Tygra’s words still rang out in her ears, “Only a memory
away Kit.”
“Kat?”
“Yeah?”
“How long has it been?”
“Two minutes since you last asked me. Relax
okay?”
Kit sighed. Her brother had suddenly taken it upon himself to take
care of his sister. He always had been protective of his ‘little
sister.’ Though he was only older than her by about three minutes, give
or take a minute or two, he always took it upon himself to keep her out of
danger and pain if he could.
It had been a day since the dream and she’d told Kat about it.
He’d had a similar one. But they both knew that the dreams only gave
a little comfort. The time was flying by. It had been only two days since
they’d last seen Celeano. They didn’t know what to
do.
Kit’s cry had been in pure anger. They were no leaders. They
were followers. Lion-o had told them that one day they’d have to make
decisions and responsibility for themselves. They’d only made choices
that caused trouble lately. But they never dreamed that it would this soon.
Lion-o made the important ones for the Thundercats but the adults chose things
on their own sometimes. Kit and Kat weren’t ready for
this.
The height of Kat’s decisions was to take care of his sister.
That was something he’d always done. Kit was helping him with dinner
at the point. They just managed to make a stew without burning down the whole
kitchen.
Kat carried the bowls to the table and Kit brought over some candyfruit.
They each took one and took a big bite. But as soon as they had a voice message
flashed over the communicator.
Kat picked it up, “Yes?”
“WilyKat? It’s Willa. We had a feeling something was wrong
over there. Is everyone okay?”
“No, Willa. Kit and I are the only ones left. The others are
dead.”
“All of them?”
“All…all of them, Willa.”
“Are you two okay? I’m so sorry. You can come over here
for a while if you need to.”
“Thanks Willa, but I think we’ll be
okay.”
“Alright, but…”
“It’s okay Willa.”
“Okay, but remember we’re here if you need us
okay?”
“Okay, thanks.”
“We’ll see you around, Kat.”
Kat hung up. It was nice to have someone who cared though. Not everyone
they had who cared was gone. It gave them a burst of hope. The kittens smiled
but then their smiles faded.
They missed them so! They wanted the adults. Before, they liked being
alone because they could do anything they wanted but now they wanted the
adults again. The adults could always cheer them up. They always comforted
them.
“Hey Kit?” Kat said suddenly.
“Yeah?”
“Remember the first time that we took Pantro spaceboard
riding?”
The two suddenly burst out laughing. The story was hysterical. He’d
gotten on Kit’s board but upon taking off, he promptly fallen off onto
his rear. Kit had said, “Can make, just not ride em
huh?”
Then as suddenly as they’d been happy they were sad again. Unlike
other people where memories helped ease the pain of a lost one, their memories
tore at their hearts. No one was left to laugh with them.
Kit looked outside. The moon shone bright. She stood
up.
“Kat, look at the moon.”
‘Yeah so?”
“You know as well as I do that tonight’s the night. I’m
sick of running and I mean it.”
Kat nodded. He’d been trying to avoid it for a while. But he
realized now. Tonight was the night. It had finally come. The twins got up
and stepped into the moonlight. The view from the Lair’s front was giving
them courage.
“Maybe we all die,” Kit said slowly. “But only we’ll
die with honor.”
Then together, as they slowly began to disappear, they whispered, “Celeano? You’re going down.”
The land was barren. No trees, no grass, no land period really. The sky was solid black and it was freezing cold. Kit grabbed her brother tightly and he held her close for warmth. Then suddenly, he darted behind a hidden section. Out of line of sight. He gestured to her, “Quiet,” and put a finger to his lips. She glanced out into the barren landscape. Then, she saw her.
Everything was black but she seemed to have an evil glow around her.
It was Celeano. Kit looked down. The ground, so to speak, was just as black
as the sky. So dark in fact, there seemed to be no barrier between the sky
and land. It was as if they were in space yet they could feel solids under
their feet.
Kit looked to her brother. “Kat? It’s
time.”
He nodded and concentrated. Mighty Katen, COME
FORTH!
Kit concentrated. Mighty Kita, COME FORTH!
Kat changed first. A fierce pattern of light formed around his feet.
Like snakes, they cut into his skin. They didn’t hurt but made his muscles
expand. Black boots formed over his small feet. The light traveled to his
head. Two circles, intertwined, circled his head, his mane. When they parted,
his mane was swept to one side. The light evaporated into his skin and traveled
through his torso to his legs. As it shot through his bloodstream, the muscles
he had, multiplied then grew. His fur became slick like
leather.
The magic came back out as flames from his chest and legs. The pants
and top formed like lightning. Then in a puff of smoke, the transformation
was complete. WilyKat was Bearer of Innocence, and Sorcerer of
Thundera.
The flames embraced Kit’s feet making them shrink as the purple
shoes reappeared. This time, the transformation occurred from the feet up.
Her slick sparkly skirt of a light purple appeared over her sleek legs. The
silvery glitter began to flicker on and off in the light from her brother’s
transformation. Her breasts grew and enlarged, becoming more curved. The
dark purple shirt formed and merged with her skirt. With red flames, the
magic turned her hands to a snowy white and the pink sash connected from
her fingers to her skirt again.
The flames coated her lips and when they traveled up again they left
her lips a blood red. Her eyelashes turned coal-black and waved into curls.
Finally, the flames touched her mane causing it to fall in ruffles to her
waist. The transformation was complete. WilyKit, Bearer of Innocence and
Sorceress of Thundera was present.
They looked at one another and glared at the Sorceress. Then they
jumped out into plain sight. Celeano jumped a tad at the surprise, and then
curled her lip. She tossed aside her hair and laughed.
“So we finally meet kitties.”
Kit scowled. “Yes, and it’ll be the last time you dark
witch.”
Kat joined his sister. They stared at the Sorceress. It had come.
The time was here. Their time for running was over. They would stand firm
and they would fight. They would fight to their last
breath.
The three stood facing each other off. Then, Celeano laughed again.
It was laugh that chilled the twins to their bones. They both gulped and
took a defensive stance by natural instinct. The sorceress mocked them with
a faked terrified look on her face.
“You two overestimate yourselves.”
Then, her power exploded outward. The twins easily dodged. To their
shock, their added forms melted away but thankfully they weren’t naked
like before. Instead their Thundercat uniforms reappeared. They
gulped.
“Uh oh!” Celeano said with fake concern. “Looks like
I’ve got you two outmatched.”
With those words, she unleashed her power once again. The agile kittens
dodged again. They were scared. But they weren’t giving up. Not
yet.
But then snakes formed from the streams of magic. The twins yelped
in shock. One black serpent coiled and wrapped itself around WilyKat’s
neck. He frantically pried at it, trying to free himself. But the creature
was tightening its grip making it hard for him to concentrate. Too hard,
couldn’t use his powers. Needed air.
Kit meanwhile was busy fighting the snakes but also flames from Celeano.
She saw her brother. His face was blue and his body was starting to convulse.
Anger filled her. She whirled around and her eyes burned solid
yellow.
“NO! You demon, I’m not losing my brother to you
too!”
With that, Kit raised her eyes and realized that in the other form
she was just prettier. In this form, she could use the power just as well.
And right now, she was totally ticked and someone was gonna feel her
anger.
She lifted her hands and pointed the palms straight at the
Sorceress.
“FREEZE!”
From her fingertips burst a wind of immense cold. The sorceress screamed,
first in surprise, then in pain. The wind was cold, so cold. Frost appeared
on her hair ends. Her eyelashes soon had a coating of slick
snow.
The fierce power of the blast had made her lose her footing too. While
she was trying to regain her balance, Kit whirled around to face her brother.
She pointed a single finger and shouted, “Burn!” from her hands
came a stream of fire. The snake around her brother’s neck screeched
in pain before giving up it’s life as the Thunderian sorcery burned
straight through it, bone, muscle, and blood.
Her brother began to choke and gag trying desperately to get back
his strength. Kit tore to his side.
“You okay?”
“Yeah, don’t worry.” He paused and his eyes focused
behind her, “Never mind. Worry.”
Kit turned around. Celeano stepped forward. Her hair suddenly rose
up and became a solid flame as the rest of her body took on a hellish glow.
The twins gulped but once again took their defense
stances.
She spoke again, “So,” her voice was deep and sounded like
a snake hiss. They knew then, they were listening to the voice of evil itself.
“You wanna play rough?”
Her power increased and that’s when the battle really
began…
Chapter
Five: Par-Boiled
“Heads up, Kit!”
Kit ducked as flame of power burst by her. Using her inbred agility,
she easily dodged. This succeeded in ticking Celeano off still further than
she was. She spat in frustration and fired another beam of fire at
Kit.
Using her spin attack technique, Kit avoided being fried like a fish
but did get a few scorches on her side. When she came to a rest, she hissed
with pain, and put a hand to the wound.
When she withdrew her fingertips, they were dotted with blood. She
winced and wiped the edges of her fingers on her small skirt. Her side still
throbbed with the pain but she ignored the agony and fought her way to her
feet.
The witch shot another stream of power at her. Kit tried to dodge
but the ground chose then to shake and tremble. Her knees buckled and she
took the full force of the blast in her chest. Tumbling back, her front aflame,
she cried in rage and in pain.
Instinctively, she began to toss and turn, struggling to put out the
flames. Then suddenly, from nowhere a huge wave of drenched her over, immediately
soaking the flames and cleansing her body. She sat up and was still clearing
her thoughts when a hand clutched her by the belt and tugged her away out
of the Sorceress’s magic’s range.
When she could finally see without white dots clouding her vision,
he eyes fell on her brother staring at her with concern. She smiled and rung
out her mane.
“Don’t ask,” she said fiercely, pointing a finger at
her twin. “I’m fine. Been drier but I’m alive and not a roasted
lunch for Celeano so I’m not about to
complain.”
Her brother smiled and nodded back. Then, he sighed. He was dead tired
and the battle had just started. They’d only been at it for five minutes
but it felt like days. He suddenly had a desperate urge to leave, grab something
to drink and just throw himself down on his bed.
His feet hurt. His head hurt. The side that a side attack by Celeano
had fried hurt. His neck hurt. Whatever that snake was had left a red ring
in his thin coat of fur. Also, his sibling’s magic that had freed him
had also burnt a section of his flesh. But as his sister had said, he
wasn’t Celeano’s lunch so he wasn’t gonna
complain.
Kit was fading in strength too. Unlike Pantro, she’d never had
a knack for courage and strength. She was just as brave as any other
Thunderkitten but she was also scared. And with good reason. This woman was
far more experienced in magic then she and her brother were. No way they
could beat this woman. Absolutely no way. They’d need a miracle to escape
alive.
Kat sat on the ground exhausted. Celeano had stopped for now but
she’d be back. Kat knew it in his soul. And she could appear anywhere,
anytime. Also, she could call on the ground and those blasted snakes of
hers.
Great, he thought miserably. I can die of snakebite; strangulation,
burns, freeze, or I can just wait until she just destroys our air or something.
Wonderful. I knew I should have stayed in bed.
Kit dared to look out to where the sorceress was. She was gone. Kit
felt her heart leap into her throat. Taking a cautious step outward, her
foot fell on warm ground. The black mist was still there but she did feel
a slight comfort as the moist ground made it’s presence known to
her.
Suddenly, a fierce and strong hand clamped over her lips and the other
bent her arms, holding them immobile. Any stronger a grip and her bones would
crack and fracture. She moaned silently in pain. She tried desperately to
free her lips so she could warn Kat but the fierce and strong clamp prevented
her from doing so.
“Looking for me, sweet pea?” a cruel voice
hissed.
Kit fought the panic as she recognized that awful voice. She struggled
desperately against the Sorceress’s grip but without success. Her eyes
clouded over with tears and then her heart stopped with an agonizing fear
that chilled her to her bones. The dark one turned her body. And Kit was
staring straight into the cold unfeeling eyes.
“Are you scared, little one?” she
hissed.
Kit nodded. The Sorceress laughed and Kit narrowed her eyes in anger.
That laugh was too familiar.
She remembered that day when she first heard it, so long ago. Her
mother, young and powerful, torn from life by this evil parasite. Kit felt
the rage bubble up in her again. She was getting used to it.
Her heart was beating like a drum in her chest. She felt like a
hummingbird; her heart was so swiftly beating. She just wanted to go home.
To forget this stupid battle. To go home and be able to hug her friends and
to practice her training like a normal kitten. Just NORMAL
life.
But there was no one to go home to. They were all dead. Her heart
burned with anger again. She looked up and saw Celeano. She had sparks forming
on the ends of her fingers. Without even thinking about, Kit concentrated
and felt her heart and lungs coated with a protective magical
shield.
She closed her eyes. Celeano’s hands traced down her neck and
then the Sorceress put a single palm to her forehead. “Nighty, night,
kitten. It’s past your bedtime.”
“WilyKit!” Kit opened her eyes. Her brother rushed out toward
her. In her twelve years,
she’d never seen that boy run so swiftly.
But he wasn’t fast enough.
Celeano put her fingertips against Kit’s forehead and the child
felt a surge of evil energy enter her body. Her body began to twitch in
pain. She tumbled from
Celeano’s grasp and rolled toward her brother’s feet. He dropped
beside her and lifted her form up into his arms. She felt the pain circulate
through her blood like lightning.
The red liquid in
her veins, capillaries and arteries, began to bubble and boil. She cringed
and howled now that her mouth was free to scream. The pupils of her eyes
expanded and she took in her brother’s concerned features. She was about
to yell to him to run to safety temporarily but realized that he’d already
done that.
“That’s it, run, little worms. Run away, run
away.”
“Kit?” her brother, asked desperately. He was at least two
miles away but still had his sister cradled in his arms. He knew that it
would only be a few minutes before Celeano came after
them.
“I’m okay,” she stammered. She was in pain but the
magic had diverted the Sorceress’s own magic so she hadn’t died.
“Par-boiled but alive. I’m alive.”
Kit clutched her twin tightly for balance and gradually got to her
feet. The kittens stared at each other. Of all the people this could have
happened to, why them and why now? They didn’t want to die. Not that
anyone they knew of wanted to but if they’d been older, perhaps they
may have been better prepared for this.
But they were only twelve and far too young to cope with this kind
of stuff. Kit’s leg was bleeding. A vessel had popped deep in it and
was now gushing out blood. Her brother was tired and sweaty. He had run for
what felt like forever. And now the witch was following
them.
Did she never give up?
Her fine black hair flew out behind her in long strands. Her deep
eyes were burning an evil red and seemed to see through everything. Kit looked
at her arm, at her wrist. She didn’t have a watch but she guessed it
was about three. In the morning. No wonder she was so dead
tired.
By Jaga, she wanted nothing more at that moment than to pull the covers
up around her and discover that she was in her own bed. That she wasn’t
a sorceress but a normal little girl. Well, not little but a normal teenage
girl. A normal Thunderian. A female that trained with her friends. A Thundercat
that had friends that were alive. With the complete deal. A reflection, a
pulse, and an ability to talk in normal time.
“Kit? Kat?” a sweet tender voice called.
They turned and froze with shock. A Thunderian woman, her spirit anyway,
was standing by them. Her hair was long and ruffled, and red as blood. Her
face was delicate and the lips soft. Her dress was solid white and spewed
out from her like a cloud. She smiled at them.
“Mother?” they both asked.
She nodded. Then, before she could say anything the evil voice cut
through again.
“Kitra? You stay out of this!”
The sorceress ignored Celeano as she approached and suddenly rose
high above her children’s’ heads. She disappeared and as her children
turned back to the battle, she spoke in their minds.
“Kit! Look out!” Kat shouted to his sister. She dodged the
sorceress’s dark magic and heard her mother in her head
again.
‘Kit, Kat, carry on, child. Don’t lose faith now. Look how
far you’ve come. Any others would have given up long ago. You have not.
Hold out and trust in your heart. It will guide
you.’
Then, as suddenly as she had come, she was gone. The twins looked
at each other. This caused a fatal mistake. Celeano fired her magic again.
This time, she nailed them both to the ground and she didn’t realize
her grip.
Kit lay on the ground beside her twin, flat and in severe pain. She
could practically hear her soul screaming. The pain was agonizing. She pushed
her head back and screamed with pain. Suddenly, a hand clasped her own. She
turned her head, slowly and felt the side of it begin to
burn.
Kat stared back at his sister. So it came down to this. Together,
locked under the witch’s power, slowly frying to death. Burning away
like a damp puddle of water, on a hot day.
“Kit,” he was stammering. The pain was terrible. He could
feel his bones shaking and slowly beginning to melt under his fur. The agony
was almost unbearable. He clasped his sibling’s hand tighter. She looked
at him, tears in her eyes. They dried before they even left her tear
glands.
“Yeah?”
“Why us?”
“I wish I knew.”
“The others.”
“Yeah,”
“I…I guess we won’t be alone much
longer.”
“Yeah, but Kat?”
“We,” she stopped to scream in pain. “We were never
alone.”
He stared at her. She suddenly narrowed her eyes again. Pure anger
was there. Hatred. He felt it himself in his own heart. He didn’t want
to die this way, with hate in his heart. He wanted to die as an honorable
person as someone who knew right from wrongs not one who hated and
hated.
His mind traveled back to before. The days with the Thundercats came
back to him. His dear friends. When they’d screwed up, they’d been
there. When they got scared, they’d been there. When they were sick,
they’d been there. True friends. Truly a treasure. And that helped his
thoughts. He’d had the greatest treasure of anyone he
knew.
Loyalty.
“So,” Celeano sneered as she watched the final throws of
death set in. “You’re as easily killed as your mother
was.”
Then, she laughed.
The twins closed their eyes. Then suddenly, simultaneously, their
eyes flew open. And both their eyes burned with anger. No, not anger. Hate.
Hate at this witch.
This monster that’d killed first their mother, then their friends.
This monster had destroyed all of their loved ones. And they were just gonna
accept this? Together, the twins repeated a statement that was so cold; Celeano
actually stared at them in shock.
“You won the lives of all our family,” they hissed together.
“You aren’t winning this one!”
And then, they truly fought back…
A huge wave of power erupted from the kittens’ fingertips. They slid from the sorceress. She recovered from her shock and attacked again. This time they didn’t run. Instead, they stared at her power. As it neared them, they raised their hands. It did a U-turn.
Celeano shrieked as her own magic grazed her side. It split the skin
and blood spilled forth. She trembled in rage. Then, she fired a wave of
fire at them. Kit spread her arms wide so that they formed an
arch.
The wave of flames neared her. But this time, it was WilyKit that
got in the final word. She concentrated and the flames stopped in midair
seemed confused. Kit spoke again,
“Flames of Guilt destroy the being from which you came forth
from!”
The flames whirled around and attacked Celeano. She ducked as they
flew past her. She hissed in agitation.
“You’re clever tiny one.” She caught a small speak
of flame in her hands. As she tossed her fingertips about, she sneered.
“But not clever enough. Do you think I’ve survived this long to
be defeated by a pair of cubs?”
She let the flame fly forth. It multiplied and became a meteor shower
of fire. Kat stepped forth by his twin sister and raised his hands as she
had, in an arch. His eyes closed.
“Don’t know,” he countered her sarcastically. “Is
that a trick question?”
He didn’t wait for her to answer but
commanded.
“Waters of
Innocence, extinguish these fires of regret.”
Almost immediately, the ground trembled. Celeano quivered and clutched
at the solids there was. A crack appeared in the earth that she was standing
on and expanded until it became as wide as the River of Despair. From that
small gash in the ground, came water. Tons of it, gallons. It rose in a solid
wall and it began to spin in spirals around them both. All flames she fired
immediately perished.
The waters fell back down then rose in a huge wave. This immediately,
crashed upon the Sorceress. She fought her way back to her feet and released
a huge blast of icy winds upon the twins.
As she did so, he eyes turned from red to an icy blue. Her hair went
from black to blue and the ice she was flinging became sharp daggers. The
twins held their hands up in xs over their chests. The wind was whipping
their mane behind them and the ends were beginning to crust over with frozen
water.
Celeano laughed again.
“Kit?” Kat said through chattering
teeth.
“Yeah?”
“Remind next time to fight someone with a decent sense of
humor.”
Jerking her hair off of her frozen neck she managed a small giggle.
They’d lost their offensive position but at least weren’t helpless
on the ground anymore.
Kat suddenly had an idea. Lifting his hands he spoke in a low voice,
“I call upon the ancient forces of Thundera. Thunderian Lightning come
forth!”
A huge clap of thunder was heard. Then from nowhere, bolts of lightning
circled WilyKat and when he held out his frozen hands, the bolts jerked forward
and he smiled. The Dark One screamed with pain as the bolts of energy rushed
throughout her. Her skin felt like fire and she swore she saw the Thundercats
in the air behind him, arms crossed a broad smile on each
face.
Celeano cursed the
cub then increased the winter storm. Kit trembled and held out shaking arms.
A small ball formed in her palms. Then she saw the daggers
approaching.
“D..don’t eve..en t..t..think about it, you witch,”
she said with trembling teeth. “White Light
Flash!”
A huge burst of
light blew up in from of them. The twins squeezed their eyes shut. Kit grinned
broadly as she heard the Sorceress howl, “My
eyes!”
The twins felt a surge of pleasure ripple through them. They loved
letting out their anger and hate. Suddenly the winds ceased. The twins rubbed
their arms to try and warm them off. But Celeano wasn’t out of tricks
yet.
“Sleep!” she suddenly screeched. A burst of green mist exploded
from her hands and surrounded the kittens. “Sleep you two. It’s
way past your bedtime.”
Kat turned his sister. She’d slumped to her knees and was fighting
down a yawn, unsuccessfully. He dropped by her and found his own eyes dropping
slowly. His eyelids felt heavy like lead.
“Kat,” she stammered. “Can’t stay awake, so
tired.”
“No Kit, please. You have to stay awake
please.”
“Leave her be, cub,” a soft voice said. Celeano approached
them, her voice changed to a sweet motherly tone. “Sleep, it’s
so late. You must be tired. Sleep, little one.
Sleep.”
“No,” he moaned. “I…I
can’t.”
“Yes, little kitten, sleep,”
“No,”
“Yes!” she suddenly screeched all anger. “SLEEP! It’s
way past your bedtime.”
Kat leapt up. He jerked his arms apart. A swift wind erupted from
his chest, blowing the wind back at her. She ducked. Kit stirred and climbed
to her feet.
The twins chorused together, “We decide our bedtime, thank
you.”
“Twin funnels of Thundera, come forth!”
Twin tornadoes appeared behind them. The sorceress fell back. The
winds were so fierce. She struggled to find foothold but found it nearly
impossible.
She flew back. Putting her arms up in front of her and tried desperately
to stop the winds. She screeched in fear, as the winds became flames. Her
hair singed, turned crispy. Red splotches covered her face. “Blasted
CHILDREN!”
She concentrated and felt the joy as the flames burst back and burned
the twins too. They screamed and tumbled to their knees. Getting to their
feet, they stared as the Sorceress gathered her powers together. In a single
burst she knocked them down.
“All right,” Kit hissed as she and her brother climbed to
their feet. Her brother joined in.
“That’s it!”
Celeano’s beams of power rushed forth. The kittens’ rushed
forth. The two powers met and then…. Heaven and hell truly
collided.
The twins didn’t budge. Celeano didn’t budge.
The magic held in a steady stream, battling against each other. There
was a huge flash of yellow light where the two forces of sorcery
met. The kittens were
afraid. But Celeano was not.
She seemed to be nothing but courage and evil.
Kit’s hands were beginning to sting. The magic she was ejecting
from them only lasted so long. Had she been older, perhaps she could have
hung out longer. If only she weren’t twelve. If only she were older,
older.
Kit fell to her knees. Her brother was still standing but she could
clearly see that he was weakening. His knees trembled. She swore that she
saw him start to cry. They were putting absolutely everything they had, into
this battle.
But they were losing.
Kit thought back. She was going to die remembering better times. Her
young memory began to wonder, remembering the moments; she’d had with
the Thundercats. All the times, good and bad came rushing back at her in
an extreme well of remembrance.
She saw the good times first.
*
* *
‘Kit ran along the Lair’s corridors as a five year old cub.
Thundera was her home then. Her mother had just perished. Pantro was ahead
of her and she screeched.
“Catch me, Panthy, Catch me.”
He smiled and knelt down. Grabbing her around her ribcage, he swung
her up and around. Kit gestured back down. Jolting around the corner came
WilyKat, her twin. Grabbing him as well, the panther spun around holding
them tightly.
Kit climbed up onto her guardian’s shoulder while her brother
clung to his chest. He put a hand up and grabbed her around her waist. Swinging
her around, she shrieked with delight.’
*
* *
She
couldn’t remember ever being afraid of him dropping
her.
WilyKit felt the
tears well up in her eyes and she fought the urge to burst into tears. She
dared a look to her brother. He had sunk to his knees too. She could tell
by the look on his face that he was remembering too.
And so he
was.
*
* *
‘“WilyKat,
what are you doing?” Tygra laughed as he came into the kittens’
room. The child, only eleven, was hanging off the edge of his bed, completely
upside down. His face was beat red. It was raining outside and the Thundercats
had only recently arrived on Third Earth.
The tiger’s sudden entrance startled the child. He tumbled and
fell off the bed onto the floor on his back. He laughed despite himself and
got up, swaying a little. He sat down on his bed and laughed
again.
“Oh, I was waiting for Kit.”
“I’m over here.”
The two males turned and saw the female by the door about to burst
from humor. She giggled and rushed in. Knocking her twin off, she pinned
him to the ground. He giggled himself and gently shoved the kitten-girl
off.
“Don’t you two make a pretty pair?” Tygra chuckled
as he came over. The kittens took on a fake furious look and attacked the
architect. He easily stopped their playful swats. Then, he told them, “Look
you two. Time to eat. Come on.”
Anxious at the promise of being fed, the twins tore from that room,
like it was filled with poisonous snakes. Shaking his head, the designer
filed after them. As he walked down the steps, he could only think, “Only
kittens.”
*
* *
“AHHHH!”
Kat screamed. The pain was
agonizing. A sharp burning sensation
entered his right shoulder and stayed there like a lurking Mutant. Like the
burning sun, it scorched its way through flesh and fur and penetrated the
muscle and blood.
He slumped and clutched the wound. Looking up, he saw the beam slice
through the air, headed directly for him. He bowed his head and waited for
the magic to pierce and slice apart his body before his beating heart
stopped.
But the magic never reached his body. From his sister’s hands
sprung a protective shield. She raised her hands and kept the Magician’s
magic at bay until her sibling climbed to his feet. Then all at once their
magic was meeting the Dark One’s again. In the prime of the battle the
sad memories rose to the surface.
*
* *
Kit heard screams from the council room. Ducking her head in, she
nearly screamed. NO! Tygra was dead. Lion-o was dead. Snarf was dead! No!
NO! NO! But as she opened her mouth to do so, a stronger but young hand clamped
over her lips.
“SHHH!” Kat hissed in her ear. She nodded. But then, her
eyes filled with fear. Celeano was turning. Had she heard them? Please No!
She silently prayed. Please NO!
But it was true. Celeano turned and she saw them. They ran. She sneered.
“Oh yes, kitties run. Run, run until you
die…”
The Thunderkittens
burst through the control room’s doors. Their hearts were pounding,
throats dry, and hearts heavy. Only Pantro was left now. They stopped. They
could run anymore. Their hearts were gonna blow up. Blood was rushing through
their veins. They finally collapsed. They just wanted to die. Let them die.
Let the fear be over.
Celeano rushed in. “You miserable brats,” she crowed, and
there was actual anger in her icy voice. “You know how to run down my
energy don’t you? I was going to save you for tomorrow but now’s
as good as any time.”
With that she waved her arm. Magic spewed from her fingertips. The
kittens gave in. Bowing their heads, they waited for the magic to tear their
bodies apart. But it never did.
“NO!”
Everyone in that room even Celeano turned with surprise to the source.
Pantro leapt forward and threw himself in front of the
kittens.
“PANTRO! NO! IT’LL KILL YOU!”
But it was too late. The magic beams struck him hard. Pain beyond
imaging began to ripple through his skin and muscles. Celeano turned to the
twins. Her eyes burned with hate but also exhaustion.
“I’d rather destroy you two separately. Yes, let you suffer from sorrow. For these few hours. I’ll be back. With that she vanished. When she could have killed them she left, her power had seemed weakened. Like them, she must have to recover after using it. She’d used too much. She didn’t have the strength to attack them again.
‘Pantro?” Kit begged pulling the panther up into her arms. He was weak. A strange feeling for him. His heart was slowing. He was dying. And he knew it. But as he looked at Kit, there was no fear in his eyes. Only love. It was time to tell them. Something he should have told them a long time ago. But he’d been too stubborn to. If he could get this out in these last few seconds, he could die without regret.
“Kat, Kit,”
he whispered softly. The twins clutched his hands desperately. “It’s
the sun. You told us it was the symbol of innocence. It’s high noon.
That’s why she left.” The kittens shrugged. They just pulled as
close to the Thundercat as they dared.
“Pantro?” Kat said softly. “You’ll be
okay.”
The adult shook his head but smiled. “No Kat.
No.”
Kit clutched his hand tightly. “Yes you will. You must Pantro!
We’re naked without you! You’re not only our teacher and friend
you’re our father! You’re our courage! All our strength!”
Kit was crying now.
“Kit,” he said softly. “Listen to me. Be strong. Just
don’t…forget. I…I love you. I always have and I always will.
I never told you. I never thought I could love someone as much as I love
you. Kit, Kat. Be strong. I’ll … be …watching. You’ll
make it. You’re not Thunderkittens. You’re
Thundercats.”
“PANTRO! NO!” Kit lifted the Thundercat’s body up. He fell a dead weight in her arms.
*
* *
Tears filled the twins eyes but they remembered the panther’s
words. The kittens felt the evil of Celeano’s magic against them. Then,
they realized that there was a way out in his words.
“Pantro,” They whispered together. “Cheetara, Lion-o,
Tygra, Bengali, Pumyra, Lynx-o, Snarf, Snarfer, you said you loved us. We
ask you. Lend us your love and strength now.
Please.”
At first, when the twins had decided to confront this Sorceress,
they’d had a brief hope of beating her. But they knew it was probably
impossible. But now as they stood facing this monster, face-to-face, they
felt an added strength enter their arms. Courage entered their souls. They
knew then that the adults were there beside them. Lending them the courage
their young hearts needed.
As they stood her off, Kit spoke.
“It’s not a chance of this happening. This witch, we WILL
defeat! She WILL go down! She WILL pay! She will!”
“Do you blasted cubs never give up?” Celeano demanded as still more of her power poured forward at them. They stood their ground. Kit looked to her brother.
“Kat?”
“Yeah?”
“I…I’m not afraid but we can’t keep this up forever.
In fact, we can’t it up much longer. I’m gonna pass
out.”
“I know Kit. But we can’t do anything right now. We’re
evenly matched!”
“Not quite cub!” the sorceress spat and shoved more magic
forward. The kittens slid back a bit. “See? You’re no match for
me.”
“Then why has it taken you so long to force us backward?”
Kit spat back. She summoned more power from inside her. She didn’t have
much left. Then, suddenly it hit her. A way out.
“WilyKat!”
He turned to face her but kept his magic pointed at Celeano. They
slid back still more. He stared at her face and knew that she had an idea.
He forced more power at Celeano to hopefully leave her at bay. Then, he
questioned his sister.
“What sis?”
“Innocence! That’s our way out!”
“Huh?”
“Call upon the Powers of Innocence. ALL OF
THEM!”
“Kit! We can’t do that! If we do that, all innocence will
leave the whole universe to come to us. People will destroy each
other!”
“Kat!” she hissed. From agitation and the agonizing pain
that Celeano’s magic was beginning to circulate through her arms.
“One, I didn’t know that you knew how to do that. And two: if we
don’t more people will destroy each other if we end up
dead!”
The kitten paused. He didn’t know how he knew how to do that.
It had just popped into his head. Most likely his mother again. But Kit was
right. They had to beat this witch! Had TO!
He turned to the Dark One. She hissed and summoned more power at them.
They slid back easily, almost a yard and nearly over. Kit was right. They
had no choice. He closed his eyes. And both of them lowered their arms. Celeano
took this to her advantage and shot a beam of magic forth. But it never hit
them.
Instead, she stepped back. They were changing again but differently.
Not to Kita or Katen. No they remained themselves, no added muscles or beauty.
But their clothing and attitude and power did shift.
Jolting down from her miniskirt, Kit’s dress spilled down to
her ankles before bleaching snow white. Her mane flowed in a wide flame over
her head. A faint golden glow surrounded her as she raised her arms to heaven.
Then, it grew brighter until she looked like a small sun.
Her brother’s uniform remained the same but it too was bleached
white. A similar glow surround him only blue instead of yellow. They both
looked like glowing light bulbs in the barren black landscape. Raising their
arms as far as they could, the twins surprised themselves by knowing exactly
what to do.
They said a single word, contemporaneously, and their young voices
echoed through the whole universe like a bird’s song breaking the deadly
quiet of the night.
“Innocence,”
From all over the universe, in every dimension, in every world. It
happened. The first time, the kittens did it.
Time froze.
Then the suns of billions and billions of planets turned to huge walls
of flame. Then, they became a single mist and flew to the twins’ summon.
Celeano, lost in shock, actually halted her power to stare open-mouthed as
every speck innocence flew to the twins grasp.
They turned to Celeano as they felt the forces of innocence swirl
around them in blue and white spirals. Like the rays from the sun, the rays
of innocence curled around them. Then, they spoke again. Again their voices
echoed throughout the universe.
“Powers of Innocence, Forces of Goodness, the Bearers of Innocence,
command thee. Attack and destroy this demon beast of guilt and wrong!
NOW!”
The twins shoved their hands forward. From the centers and from around
them came beams of innocence. They spun in a circle for a few seconds as
all the innocence in the universe, entered the blast. All of it. Every single
speck of it.
The Dark One backed up.
“No!” she suddenly screeched in what seemed to be anger.
Yet it wasn’t.
“No! You’re only cubs! This can’t be happening! It
can’t!”
And yet it was. And she knew it was. For the first time in her life,
it happened.
She was afraid.
The beams shot forth in a curled pattern. Celeano tried to dodge but
one cannot avoid the guilt and evil of their past forever. And she’d
been running from it far too long. The twins’ magic sensed it and followed
her. The magic hit her. And as it did, the twins put every ounce of their
power into it. All of their power. Combined with every ounce of
innocence.