To Save the Future

Part Four

Panthero put the last of the bandages over his injured body. He begins to fix his workplace when a buzzing noise was coming from the portal. He knew Lord Lion-O and Tamar were returning. The portal opened and Lord Lion-O stepped out first followed by Tamar. The panther stood back in fear of the mighty Lion-O. After the two stepped out, the portal didn’t close as expected. Was someone else stepping out?

His question was answered when Lion-O and Cheetara stepped out. After them, were WilyKit and WilyKat, Bengali and Pumyra, Tygra and lastly Panthro.

"Tamar, Lord Lion-O, what are the Thundercats from the past doing here?"

"You were right, Panthero. I couldn't do this alone, and I've finally got my father to see the truth," Tamar explained.

Panthero looked at the younger Thundercats and his eyes rested on Panthro. Panthro walked to him.

"Are you my son?"

Panthero looked at Tamar. She nods, telling him to go ahead. "Yes, I am your son."

Panthro smiled proudly, looking at his son. He was a little shorter than his father but he was built like him.

"You built this machine?" Panthro asked.

"Yes," he answered quietly.

"That's amazing. I always wanted to build a time machine. Did my future self help you build it?"

Panthero looked down. "No, my father and I don't see things eye-to-eye."

Panthro frowned. "But why?"

"Panthro," Tamar called. "I'm sorry, but no one must know too much about their future. We must go to Cat's Lair to revive Cheetara and bring the other Thundercats together."

"Yes, I know, but we can start with my future self, right? This is my home, isn’t it?"

"Very well, if that's what you wish. Panthero, where is Duke Panthro?" Tamar asked.

"Duke Panthro?" The past Thundercats said surprised.

"Yes. Duke Panthro. After the Thundercats split apart, the Thundercats received the role of Duke when they created their own lair and ruled their clan," Tamar explained.

"Ah, uh, well, let's meet Duke Panthro," Panthro grumbled uncomfortably.

*****

Duke Panthro sat at his throne. The panther aged over the years. He had wrinkles around his eyes and face, but like all Thunderians he still kept his physique in fine fit form. He wondered if it was safe to let Lord Lion-O be with his son alone. Lord Lion-O told him it concerned Tamar and Duke Panthro didn't want his son associating with the Lord of the Thundercats daughter. He felt that she was trouble, like her father.

The doors opened and Panthero, Tamar, Lord Lion-O, and the past Thundercats stepped in. He nearly jumped out of his seat when he saw them especially his younger self.

"What's going on?" Duke Panthro demanded.

Panthero spoke, "Father, Thundera is in trouble. Mumm-Ra is more powerful than ever and will attack at any moment. I built a time machine for Tamar so she could go back in time and get the Sword of Omens, but she needed the other Thundercats help."

Duke Panthero shouted at his son. "I told you to stay away from her! She's Lion-O's daughter!" He noticed how beaten up Panthero was. "And how did you get beat up like that?!"

Panthero looked down, "I got into a scuffle with Lord Lion-O."

Duke Panthro shook his head disgusted at his son. "You deserved it. I told you stay away from Lion-O's kids and the other Thundercats' brats."

Panthro had enough of this. He couldn't believe his older self was reacting this way. "How can you talk to your son like that?! He did it to help Thundera! If you weren't my older self, I'll kick you sorry tail right now!"

“Don’t let that stop you!” Duke Panthro challenged his younger self. “I may be old, but I can still beat up anyone that challenges me, including you.”

Panthro growled angrily. He was about to take up his older self challenge when Pumyra and Bengali held him back.

"Calm down, Panthro," Pumyra said.

Panthro glared at his older self and pulled himself from the other ThunderCats. "Now I can see why Panthero doesn't get along with my future self."

Cheetara stepped forward. "Aren't you listening to what your son is saying? Mumm-Ra is preparing to strike and all that you can do is argue with your son about helping my daughter."

"Cheetara?" Duke Panthro stared at her as if she was a ghost. "You're...."

"No, I'm my past self. I'm here with the past Thundercats to help. We all came back to reunite the Thundercats. Will you help us? We need you, Duke Panthro." Cheetara pleaded with the old panther.

The older, blue panther lean in his chair and smile. He looked at the older Lion-O. "She's still the same, truly the heart of the Thundercats," Duke Panthro commented.

"Yes, she is," Lord Lion-O commented.

"If Mumm-Ra's planning anything, you can count on me to help stop him."

"I think we should split up in getting the other Thundercats," Tamar suggested. "Tygra, Cheetara and I will see Duke Tygra, Panthero and the Thunderkittens should go talk to Duke WilyKat and Duchess WilyKit, the rest should go back to Cat's Lair and talk to Bengali, Pumyra and Dante."

*****

At Duke Tygra's Lair, the older Tygra worked in his lab. He really cared for that more than ruling the tigers. Tyla, Tygra's daughter and only child, entered the room. She had the same coloring as her father and was just as tall as he. She knocks on the door quietly.

"Father, you have guests."

"Who is it?"

Tyla tried to find the rights words to say it. She was also surprised to see the guests. "Tamar, your younger self and Cheetara."

"Cheetara?" he froze. The name almost hunted him. Ever since he failed her when he couldn't revive her, he was haunted by her image, her voice; memories of the way she walked, talked, carried herself. Even looking at her daughter, was a nightmare for him sometimes because she was so much like her mother.

"Father?" Tyla called again.

Tygra stopped staring at his beaker he was experimenting with, which seemed like hours. Through the beaker, he pictured her smiling face.

"How can Cheetara be here?" He asked talking to the beaker.

"It's actually the younger Cheetara. They are in the Council Room. Shall I excuse them?"

"No!" the older tiger was stern and looked at his daughter. "I will see them. See Cheetara."

As the older tiger got up, Tyla stood in front of her father. "Are you sure you can do this, father? See Cheetara?"

"I can handle it, Tyla, don't worry."

The tiger left with his daughter to go to the Council Room. He slowly opens the door. Cheetara turns around to see the older tiger. Age went well with him. Tygra couldn't help himself. He immediately hugged Cheetara.

"Cheetara? How can this be? How can you be here?" He asked stroking her hair.

"I'm the Cheetara from the past. Tamar got Tygra, the rest of the Thundercats from the past, and myself here. We need to stop Mumm-Ra. According to Tamar, he is far more powerful than before. We need you to come back and rejoin the rest of the Thundercats."

The old tiger pulled back to just stare at her. Seeing her, made him realized how much he missed the beautiful cheetah. Though he knew he could not have her, he knew that he would always love her, even after moving on to marry and having a child of his own.

Cheetara eyed Duke Tygra curiously. "Duke Tygra, are you all right?"

"Yes, I am, but please just call me Tygra. I don't like--"

"Being call by a high rank," Cheetara finished his words. "After all these years, you are still the same."

"You always knew me, Cheetara," the old tiger spoke softly.

“Cheetara,” Tyla called. The cheetah looked at the young tiger. “I have come up with a way to revive Cheetara's older self. Tamar told me she explained it to you. Are you willing to do it?"

"Yes, I just hope I'm able to."

"You can. You can do anything," the older Tygra said proudly. "And I will rejoin the Thundercats. Tyla has told me about the visions Dante has been having. You bore talented children, Cheetara."

"I see that I did with Tamar. I would like to see my future son, and talk to him. I know he feels confused with his powers. I hope to put him at ease with questions he may want to ask."

"Always thinking of others," the older tiger commented.

Tamar decided to interrupt, "We should be getting home, Cheetara. We need to bring mother, um your older self out of her coma."

"Why don't you women go ahead? I'd like to have a word with my younger self." Duke Tygra voiced.

The women nodded and left. Tyla glanced at her father before she stepped out. She knew what her father would be talking to Tygra about.

Now they were alone, Duke Tygra sat across from his younger self on the round table.

"Speak, Tygra. I know you want to ask it."

Tygra gazed at his future self with somber eyes. "How did you get over her?"

"I didn't. As you know, I love Cheetara with all my heart. It was my mistake never telling Cheetara how I felt about her. I was going to on her wedding day to Lion-O, but didn't. It wouldn't have been right. She didn't love me the way I wanted her to, and telling her how I felt would ruin my relationship with her and Lion-O. And I couldn't do that. They are my closest friends.” Tygra nodded in agreement. The older Tygra continued. “It wouldn't have worked anyway. She always loved Lion-O. She saw me only as a friend.”

The young tiger lowered his head.

The older tiger placed a supportive hand on his younger self. "Don't worry, Tygra. You will find another love and marry. The sad news is that you won't love her like you love Cheetara. She wasn’t right for you anyway and abandons you. Don't worry, Tygra, your daughter, Tyla, whom you will raise alone, is very beautiful and bright. She will understand your feelings for Cheetara, give you a new meaning of life and happiness. You will be happy Tygra, even if you don't have Cheetara."

"I see. It was for the best. We better get going.” Tygra said standing up. I have one more question. No one ever knew or found out?"

"Besides, Tyla, no. You hide your feelings very well, Tygra. You know that."

*****

WilyKit and WilyKat whistled as they looked over their majestic lair. The lair's head was in the shape of two wildcats: a male and female.

"Wow. We're going to live here in the future?" WilyKit asked.

“Why the two heads? Isn’t that freakish?” WilyKat asked.

“You two couldn’t decide whose head should be on the lair. The two decide that both their heads would be on it.” Panthero explained.

“Typical.” WilyKit said.

"Let's go meet your future self," Panthero said.

The Thunderkittens and the blue panther entered the vast lair. Panthero has always been on good terms with the adult Thunderkittens and was always welcomed. He led the young Thundercats to the game room of their future home. Upon opening the door, the twins saw their older selves playing a game of pool. Though leaders of their kind, the WilyKats always preferred playing than ruling. They looked up, jaws dropped at two special people in their door.

The twins were taking in at their younger selves too. The two pairs of twins walked to each other to get a better look at each other. The adult twins were a taller than their younger selves, no more than eight or nine inches. Their hairstyles were the same, but their uniforms were different though. They wore a full leotard outfit like the adult Thundercats and the color of the suits were similar to their uniforms when they were younger.

"Wow. I look cool," WilyKit commented.

"Yeah, and I like that goatee I got," WilyKat added looking at his adult self.

"You would," the older and younger WilyKit responded together.

"What are you doing here?" Duke WilyKat asked.

Panthero explained the situation. The adult WilyKats nodded understanding. It looked they were going to fight as well and put their differences with the other ThunderCats aside.

"I should have known Mumm-Ra was brewing something," WilyKit muttered under her breath. “He has been quiet for too long.”

"It may have been a long time, but it is time for a reunion, and it’s time to stop Mumm-Ra once and for all." WilyKat said.

*****

Cheetara looked nervous as she, Tamar and Tyla landed their vehicle in front of Cat's Lair. Cheetara was quiet on the way to the new Cat's Lair. When she saw her home in the future, she was taken back by the makeover it has taken. She knew things had changed but she wasn't expecting this. After the shock settled in, the cheetah was looking very uneasy as she, her daughter and Tygra's daughter made their way up the steps to Cat's Lair.

"What's wrong, Cheetara?" Tyla asked.

"I'm nervous meeting Dante. I wonder how he is going to react seeing me. I am, after all his future mother."

"Don't worry, Cheetara. Everything will be all right. After father told him what's happening, I bet he can't wait to see you." Tamar said.

They opened the doors to the mighty lair. Although the outside of the lair has changed, the inside looked the same, except no pictures of the former Thundercats were up. The three heard footsteps coming from the top of the steps. Cheetara looked up and saw a young man walking down. It amazed her that he looked just like Lion-O at twenty-five, but he had his mother’s coloring: her blonde hair, brown eyes and brown tear lines. When he got to the bottom of the steps, he just stared at Cheetara. Cheetara stared at him, too. She knew he was her son.

"Dante," Cheetara said stepping up to the young man.

Dante threw his arms around Cheetara. "Mother, I've missed you. Father told me everything that has happened."

"Don't worry. I'm here. Your father's here. The other Thundercats are here. We're going to take care of Mumm-Ra once and for all."

"There are so many things I want to say to you."

"I know, but I'm not sure I'm the one you want to talk to."

Dante pulled back. "Why do you say that?"

"Because I'm not your mother. Not yet, anyway. I'm here to bring your mother back, and I will do my best to do that. Then we can rid ourselves of Mumm-Ra once and for all."

“I understand. You are right. Let me show you around though.”

Dante showed Cheetara around. He felt that was okay after he and his sister did some talking before she left in case she did bring the ThunderCats back with her. The only way for that special plan to work was to bring back their mother. It had to be an hour after Dante met with Cheetara when the older and younger Thundercats met with each other at Cat's Lair. They were surprise to see how the others looked. After all their time apart, they realized how much they missed each other. They were the best of friends and a tragic incident split them apart.

After the short reunion, both Lion-Os, Cheetara, Tamar, Dante and Tyla went to see the older Cheetara. She was hooked up to machines checking her heartbeat, brain waves and a respirator. Aside from the medical equipment, Cheetara looked like she was sleeping. A yellow glow surrounded her body. Cheetara stared at her older self. She didn't look much older than her younger self. Maybe the coma slowed her aging. The cheetah hoped she could help.

"Tamar, Cheetara, the only way this could work is if you two channel your telekinetic powers to Lady Cheetara. Tamar, Cheetara, stand on the opposite side of Lady Cheetara." Tyla instructed.

Cheetara and Tamar did what Tyla told them. Lion-O stood near Cheetara in case she collapses and Lord Lion-O stood by his daughter. Dante stood by the door.

"I'm not sure if I can do this. I want to help my older self, but I have never summoned my telekinetic powers before. It only came out one time in a desperate attempt to save my friends." Cheetara explained.

"Then use that need, the desire to help others, to help your future self. Concentrate. Believe in yourself," Tyla told Cheetara.

Cheetara nodded. "Okay. I'll do my best."

"Good. Summon your powers and raise a hand over the queen," Tyla instructed.

Tamar quickly summoned her power. A yellow glow surrounded her body. She raised a hand over her mother. Cheetara closed her eyes and concentrated. It took a little longer than Tamar but she began to have that same glow around her body. She raised a hand over her older self. Cheetara’s hand touches Tamar's. A force field of telekinetic power surrounded the three cheetahs.

Cheetara began to weaken. She never summoned her powers before and it was turning into a strain for the cheetah. Tyla notices Cheetara losing her concentration.

"Come on, Cheetara. Hold on." Tyla looks at the monitors. She saw that Lady Cheetara's brain waves were becoming more active. Her heart rate was increasing. "Keep doing it, you two. She's coming around."

Cheetara continued on. She had to do this. She had to help herself, but she was weakening. She never held her power this long before. Cheetara’s knees began to buckle slightly and she was feeling lightheaded. She couldn’t hold on. She wasn’t going to make it. In her last amount of strength, Cheetara gave it everything she had and collapsed. Lion-O caught her. Dante went to Cheetara’s side as well. Tamar stopped using her powers. She looked at the fallen cheetah.

"Is she all right?"

Lion-O looked back at Tamar keeping his arms around Cheetara. "I think she'll be all right. Just a fainting spell."

"I'm sorry," Cheetara apologized. "I did the best I could to hold on. I'm sorry."

"It's all right, Cheetara. We know you did your best." Dante told her.

Tyla looked at the monitors and back at Lady Cheetara. She gasped. "By Jaga, we did it. She's awakening. Queen Cheetara is awakening."

Lord Lion-O and Tamar looked over at the Cheetara on the bed. Lion-O and Dante helped Cheetara up to see it too. The golden aura around Lady Cheetara faded, her fingers begin to move slightly and she opened her eyes.

Go to Part Five

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