It's Good to be the King

The Great Swamp. Homeland to the lizards, and it has been under the steel hand of the Empire since the dark times. But ever since Mumm-ra's return and the raise of his Dominion, things had begun to change more and more. The lizards began to raise their sword against the cats, yet again.

Lion-O, who acts as the stand-in King while his father is back in the homeland, and Ko'va Slithe returning from the Shifting Sands, both declare themselves the rightful rulers of this land neither will yield to each other.

The Great Swamps was once again engulfed in the chaos of war.

The Great Swamp's midlands - the only area that was stable enough for farmland - near the border of Medica and Korava, looked bleakly peaceful. Only the disposed remains of lizards and cat alike lay within the fields. Burnt ciders of former farm houses scattered in the wind as Lion-O and his ThunderCats moved the rendezvous area.

The way he had it figured, if he ever came back here it would be the death of him. His right leg creaked and tensed just at the sight of this land. They were getting close.

They had to go through a small refugee encampment, built for Empire loyalists. This was supposed to be a place of refuge, where these lizards could rest and be healed by their allies. But instead they faced thievery, rape, and prejudice from the same cats who swore to protect them.

"Oh wow," Lion-O's young Sergeant Major, WilyKat, said as he rode alongside him. "Things are worse here than I imagined, your highness." They passed through a row a pikes, each displaying a head of a Mumm-ra supporter. "To think that Medica, once the crown jewel of the Great Swamp's midland, would be turned into this... pitiful state. It'll be a while until we change it back into the paradise it once was."

"WilyKat, don't speak like we are the lord and savior of this land." Lion-O said. "The ones who reduced this prosperous state is us." He then turned his head to the side. "What is that?"

WilyKat looked to where Lion-O was looking. Several companies of the White Tigers were setting up a base of operation, and enjoying the many spoils of battle. "Those are troops you ordered to pull back."

"No, that's not what I meant. What are they doing?"

"Uh... they are pillaging sir," WilyKat said. "And looking for good girls to spend the night with or sell as slaves."

"That is outlawed." Lion-O said abruptly. No hesitation or hint of emotion. "I want those soldiers to demoted three ranks. If any refuse, then they are to be beheaded and strung up on their own pikes along the road as punishment and example."

"Sire, that is kind of harsh. I mean, taking spoils of wars is as old as war itself. To have that outlawed is..."

"We cannot go around acting like the greater of two evils. If we do, then this war will never end." Lion-O said. "I shall say it again, demote them. If they refuse, kill them."

WilyKat was hesitant at first, but followed his commander's order. "Yes, sire."

As WilyKat ordered his soldiers, Lion-O looked over to the camouflaged tents; seeing an old friend and his staff planning out the next campaign.

"I am honored that you made the journey all the way out here, your highness." General of the armies, Panthro, gave a small nod to Lion-O. That was as far as he was going to bow.

"Panthro," Lion-O pounded his fist with Panthro's large metallic fists. "It is good to see you again. I'm actually shocked to see you're still drawing breath."

"Grune keeps trying, I can tell you that much. How is your leg feeling, any nostalgia?"

"Any time I breathe or look around," Lion-O chuckled. "How are the arrangements?"

"It is all ready, sire." Panthro said. "We are still waiting for Tygra's word. But I don't think this is going to work as you plan. Might scare them a bit, but not completely surrender."

"No, no." Lion-O said. "Since I'm here to inspect the battle, I should make sure that my plan works."

"Haj-Ei of Medica is a timid lizard," Panthro said. "You should not worry about him."

"A man's character and value as a pawn are two completely different things." Lion-O said. "I shall go and decide for myself. And also, there is another reason why I came all the way out here."

"Speaking of which..."

There was a low, growing rumbling noise coming across the midland like thunder rolling. This was then followed by someone yelling out, "LIIOONN-OOOO!"

Tygra was charging leagues ahead of his lieutenants, and did not care one way or another that he was about to address his commander and chief... or how many innocent civilians were in his way. Either way, he was **.

"Tygra must first be calmed down," Lion said as he dismounted from his ride. "He and his men can be quite the baggage."

"Agreed." Panthro sighed.

Tygra jumped off his ride and allowed it to keep charging through the camps. He had better things to do.

"You little shithead!" he spat at his adoptive brother. "How 'bout I greet you with my fists."

"Tygra, you looked like hammered **." Lion-O said, quite calmly when compared to his brother.

"WHY YOU... YOU... GAHHARAL!" He could not put his frustration and tension into words. Just a loud roar. "I hate being stopped in the middle of the fight! I hate it even more then retreating!"

His own lieutenants had now caught up to him, and were keeping their captain from attack the stand-in king.

"Medica has called for a truce." Lion-O explained. "The outcome of our battle here has already been decided."

"YOU IDIOT!" Tygra yelled. "A battle is something that will not... no should not end, not until the enemy commander's head has been taken! A little more and would have had Haj-Ei's head!"

"Don't be concerned over such petty matters. Haj-Ei is merely the lord of Medica. You must open your eyes. There is someone much greater that you have to defeat."

"I don't care about that! I just want to finish what I started!"

"In the East, Grune's son, Graves, has shown signs of suspicious movements." Panthro explained. "Your assistance is needed for the upcoming battle in the eastern front. Tygra, your overwhelming prowess in battle is needed elsewhere."

"I decide who and where I fight my battles, you gods-damned greyskin!" Tygra then turned back to his brother. "Lion-O! You haven't forgotten, what I said back then, have you? What you're gonna do from now on, and who you're gonna become. I'm gonna see with my two eyes. You still haven't accomplished anything. A greenhorn that hasn't even become the emperor of Thundera yet."

His temper seemed to cool a bit, but he still chastised Lion-O.

"You can't keep avoiding your battles, little brother. The road that lies ahead of us can only be crossed in iron, bullets and a whole lot of blood." He then noticed that his men where still holding on to him. So he started to throw them off. "Just how long are you gonna hold onto me for? Get off!"

As he started to walk away, Tygra said, "I'll go easy on you today and walk away. But I'll warn you little brother, do something like this again and there will not be a second time."

"You have to admit, you brother has gotten quite brash as of lately." Panthra whispered to Lion-O. "His impudence might get him in trouble."

"No, he gave me some good advice." Lion-O said. "He is a man that has nothing to hide. "How pleasant would life be if we could live like him." Panthro was just at a lost for words. "Hey, Tygra! Is there anything you want me to tell Cheetara?"

"No. Just that I'll be home as soon father croaks."

"That's rather dark." Lion-O remounted his animal and took off. "Let's go visit Haj-Ei, shall we?"

The inside of Haj-Ei's helm glowed like the sun in mid day. Mountains of gold ignots. Flawless cut diamonds, rubies, sapphires, emeralds, garnets, and amethysts embedded into expert artisan made jewelry. Chests over flowing with coins. Deeds to land. Ivory tusks of great fallen beasts. Headdresses decorated with the Ebony weapons and glass-smithed armor from days of old. Fine rugs and clothes imported from half way from across the world. And most importantly, barrels filled with aged, spiced liquor; one of the lizard's luxurious exports.

All of this laid at the feet of Lion-O, Panthro and WilyKat. Panthro was unimpressed. Lion-O kept his gaze focused straight ahead. WilyKat could not help but look down. Kaj-Ei and his kin stood next to it.

"This is all I have." Haj-Ei said, clearly not proud of what he has to do to guarantee peace. "This should be worth around eighty-thousand pounds of gold. This is my offering. This shall be all yours if you agree to pull your troops from Medica. This should not be a bad deal at all."

"In other words, a danegeld, Haj-Ei."

"What is your reply, Lion-O?"

Lion-O picked up a jewel encrusted necklace. A silver laced amulet this several strands of diamond, rubies and emeralds. The main jewel was a blood red diamond, crafted into a fang. Lion slip it into his pocket.

"This is much too cheap." the lion said with a twisted smile. He then climbed up the small hill of fortune and glitter until he stood dead center, and all eyes were on him. "Let me get this straight. You wish for me to accept this payment and quietly leave Medica. Is that right, Haj-Ei?"

"Yes. But it's eighty thousand pounds!" Haj-Ei explained. "There's no way this would be enough for a danegeld!"

"It's still not enough." Lion-O said. "You would realize that if you only thought about what you were doing." Lion-O looked down on the lizard with the kind of cold look that would freeze moving water. "In essence, you have asked me, the king of Thundera, to leave land that already belongs to him. And yet you still think this meager amount excuses you to commit an act of such disrespect to the king himself?"

Haj-Ei was at a lost of words with so much hatred and resentment towards his former leader.

"I am your king!" Lion-O said. "And your king has come personally to this land to quell the rebellion."

"Silence!" Haj-Ei's eldest son, Kam-Ei, spoke what his father was truly thinking. "Our true king is lord Slithi of the Great Marsh, not you!"

"Quiet!" Haj-Ei hissed.

"But father!"

"I said quiet! Now is not the time for such talk!"

"Certainly, you have pointed that out, already," Lion-O spoke in the lizard's native tongue. "There is another man calling himself the rulers of the Great Marsh. But what of him? Was it he who allowed you to make this offer?"

Both Haj-Ei and Kam-Ei glared at Lion-O. "No, but even if he knew, I'm sure our Ko'va would understand my clans actions."

"Hm... how generous he is..." Lion-O chuckled a bit. "Slithi would actually allow one of his governors to withdraw from the battle for the sake of their territory?"

"I forgot how malicious Lion-O can be during these talks." WilyKat thought and backed away. His body armor was weighted more with riches.

Panthro just chuckled a bit, which was a rare sight in itself. It is said that whenever Panthro laughs, Mumm-ra looses twenty battles.

"Chaos can only come from having multiple kings." Lion-O stepped off his small island of riches, and addressed them in the more common language. "And thus, one must die. Slithi, is nothing more than a coward who abandoned his people and throne during the last campaign. Don't you think it is foolish to entrust the Great Marsh with that sort of man?"

"Are you... asking me... to betray my lord?"

"You have already betrayed Slithi. This small summit has already shown that." Lion-O said. "I merely wish to employ your clan's special talents. I would like to assassinate Slithi. As of shadow assassins and his most trusted retainer, I'm sure you would know of several good methods to achieve that."

"You wish me to rob me of my money, land, and now my loyalty and pride? You damn silverspoon!"

"In return Medica shall become apart of the Empire once again, will receive full pardons for supporting Mumm-ra's Dominion, and be granted to all privileges as Empire civilians." Lion-O looked the lizard dead center in the eye. Showing no fear of the very real danger he was putting himself into. "Think of this as the price for Slithi's head."

"I REFUSE!" Haj-Ei snapped, showing a full set of razor sharp teeth. "The negotiations are over as well! I vow to fight you cats and personally use your pelt as a rug!"

Lion-O looked back at Panthro, "Panthro, didn't you say that this lizard was a coward?"

"Yes, I did."

"He seems to have quite the backbone, then."

"Your hieghness," Panthro smiled a bit, "How about we test how determined he truly is?"

Lion-O sighed, turned on his heel, and then walked out of the great hall.

"Haj-Ei, follow me," Lion-O said. "I have something to show you."

It was close to the evening hours, and the sun was just setting over the far and ever stretching horizon. Lion-O's ThunderCats were all busy messing with a pyre of pitch covered logs and hay.

"Are the preparations complete?" Lion-O asked.

"Yes, your highness." the soldiers all cleared off the pyre and disposed of the wool clothing they used to build it.

"Light up!"

A puma with a flamethower shot an ever burning stream of fire ate the pyre. It soon exploded as a towering inferno into the night sky.

"A signal fire?" Haj-Ei asked. "This is what you dragged me out here for? What is the meaning of this, Lion-O?"

"Father! Look over there!" Kam-Ei pointed to the east, towards Korava , where several towers of smoke and flames could be seen. But that was not the only state that had Lion-O's signal, it was also seen in Axton, Lilium, Saul, Helstorm, Stormkeep, and even the capital of Blackrose. In short, all of the Great Marsh was on fire.

"Lion-O! What is the purpose of this signal!"

"It is to simply show you what will happen if you attempt to fight me." Lion-O said, still keeping up his cold demeanor. Not even his leg showed signs of weakness. "Think very carefully, Haj-Ei. The whole of the Great Marshcould have been in flames at this very instant." Haj-Ei and his clan were dumbfounded and in a state of terror. "Do you understand now? If I wanted to, I've could have burnt the entire Great Marsh down with ease."

Haj-Ei's knees gave out, and he collapsed. His sons were there to catch him, but not save him from the Thunderian's piercing eyes.

"For the price of Slithi's head, we can be one once more. Is this not a good deal?"

A week after the meeting, Ko'va Slithi died of 'illness.' After Slithi's death, his son Sli-ki suceeded the throne. He tried to wage another front against the Empire. Three days later, he too died caused by an 'illness.'

In a bar just out side of Blackrose, Tygra did not have the festive attitude as much as the rest of his men.

"Ha, an illness they say," WilyKat said, slightly drunk from his first taste of lizard beer. "This invasion, that took ten long months, has been settled in less then two weeks." He started to look over the ebony knife he took from Haj-Ei and started to twirl it effortly in his hands. "Congress and the king had finally recognized Lion-O as the official Emperor. The coronation will be held as soon as the war is finished."

"'Nuff about Lion-O already!" Tygra snapped. "You're making the beer taste bad!"

Incidentally, Haj-Ei of Medica tried to betray Lion-O shortly after the victory. So he and his entire clan died caused by an illness.

The ship ride back to the homelands was a long and rather boring one. Fortunately, Lion-O was not alone. A certain cleric was with him, and he was giving her some much needed company... while also giving her some much needed love.

Cheetara slept on her stomach, her right arm tucked under her pillow, her left hand curled against her chest. Lion-O watched her for a moment, seated beside her of the edge of his built-for-a-king sized bed. They were both naked and smelled of sex. If that was not enough, the waves caused the ship to rock that would lull the most hardened warrior to sleep within seconds. It felt like a dream quite honestly. But even with this peace atmosphere and fine company, Lion-O still felt troubled with himself. As if part of him died when he ordered all of those subjects to be killed. It seemed that his childhood ideals had no place on a battlefield.

Still, he couldn't help but reach out and touch her, the tips of his fingers barely grazing her fair cheek, her neck, her body set a glow. Cheetara stirred a bit, drawing in a little breath, and Lion-O was quick to retract his hand for fear of her waking. Still she slept. He heaved a quiet sigh of relief, and pulled himself up off of the bed... cautiously. After taking one last look at the resting cleric, he turned on his heel, his back to the bed and made an attempt to get his clothes and leave as silently as he could.

"What troubles you, Lion-O?" Cheetara whispered.

Cheetara's voice, soft and concerned, was enough to slow him down. He stopped, his heart skipping erratically in his chest, and turned back around to see Cheetara sitting upright, the blankets bunched around her hips, one arm propping her up, the other resting across her stomach. Her blond, spotted hair fell in waves down to her shoulders, her eyes, barely open, looked glazed, as if she was in a dream or under some powerful drug. She looked so beautiful.

Lion-O sighed again, audibly, and fell back onto his bed with a soft thump. He leaned forward and ran his hands over his face.

"There are too many things I can't control, Cheetara," he said, still not able to face her. "I don't know what to do right now. I feel like something inside me died out there. As if I finally saw the evils I grew up with. And for the first time... in a long time...I just don't know what to do."

At last, he tipped his chin over his shoulder to look at Cheetara, who had not moved since he sat down. She met his gaze dead on, for a moment or two, then exhaled noisily through her nose and lifted her left hand to weave her fingers briefly through his hair, smoothing the wild mane.

"Do you always need to know exactly what to do?" She asked with a lazy chuckle in her tone. "Would it be the end of the universe if, for once, you acted on a whim rather than some organized and dramatic plan?"

She said with a gentle smile. Although she understood Lion-O's concerns, she sometimes wished he was not so dramatic about his negotiations. But that was Lion-O, quick and decisive, while also being mischievous and theatrical, and she quickly decided that she wouldn't want him any other way.

Lion-O didn't respond, but the hint of a good-humored grin graced his features. Cheetara pushed herself up and tucked her legs under her so that she sat comfortably closer to him. She wanted to reach out and touch him, but something stopped her.

Instead, she began to study his face. The vague uneasiness that fogged his bold gaze...the unwelcome frown that pulled at his face...even his fur looked sickly. Cheetara suddenly felt very sad. And in that instant, she made up her mind that it was her responsibility to look after him—to get his impish ways set again, the unpredictable spark back in his eye. If he had gone through the trouble of coming to see her in the middle of the night, there must have been something she could do.

His eyes were fixed on some distant point, a thousand miles away.

"I felt like I could change the future. Tygra and I could create future of ever lasting peace... Now..." he trailed off, unable to figure out just what he wanted to say. "I saw him today... and I barely recognized him. It was as if that fire he had when we were young was completely gone..." He laughed bitterly and threw his hands up in a broad gesture that seemed to signal his reluctant acceptance of his helplessness.

Now he was growing more hysterical than depressed. His break down was obvious. Cheetara remained silent. Somehow she knew that Lion-O wasn't really looking for solutions or opinions as much as someone that would listen to what he really wanted to say; completely uncensored. And he had found that in her. There was no need to hold anything back around Cheetara.

Still, she sat there, quiet, and contemplated her next move. Finally, she began to lift her hand to reach out to him, a slow, subtle movement. But Lion-O, not seeing her intentions, suddenly sucked in a sharp breath and spoke "I'm sorry for waking you. I'm sure you want me gone; you're just too polite to say so. So I understand."

He lifted to his feet. Cheetara felt the bed rise where he was sitting, and for some reason, the loss of that warmth next to her made her have that empty feeling again. She acted on impulse, "Lion-O. Wait."

She clambered onto her knees so fast that she nearly toppled over the edge of the bed. Lion-O turned just in time to catch her by the arm and help her back up. Even once she was comfortably situated, he didn't let go of her. He released her arm at last, savoring the feel of her fur. She took his hand in hers and held it tight. Perhaps, she thought, if she clutched him tightly enough, he wouldn't leave.

"Don't go," she said, barely above a whisper. Those two words made Lion-O's chest tighten up. More pain than anything he had felt on the battlefield. Her reaction that night left him confused, but happy. He shook his head in disbelief.

"Cheetara, you don't have to pretend-"

"If I was pretending, do you think I would have taken it this far?" she asked, seeming to be in the borderlands of annoyed, frustrated and desperate. "Lion-O... you mean everything to me."

She smiled up at him comfortingly while she absentmindedly traced little patterns on the back of his hand. Lion-O couldn't help but match her grin. He knew she was telling the truth.

"I have watched you grow from a hotheaded warrior, to the leader we all need. But in my honest opinion..." she brought his hand to her face and placed a kiss on his knuckles, "A little distraction wouldn't hurt."

Then both of his hands cupped her face, pulling her into the kiss. Deeper and deeper, until their tongues melded as they explored each other's mouth. A soft whimper formed in Cheetara's throat. Her hands unlocked themselves from around Lion-O's arms and slid up his shoulders and over his chest, clutching at his fur to keep herself close.

After what seemed like a trip to oblivion and back, she felt his hands slip away, his fingers teasing her flesh as they ran down the length of her milky neck. They finally broke the kiss, though slowly, and neither was eager to move. Or maybe they didn't know what to do next. Cheetara was first to break the heavy silence.

Cheetara moved up to meet him, wrapping her arms around his neck once more and pulling him down onto the bed with a fiery kiss. That feeling—that intimate contact—nearly overwhelmed them both. Lion-O found himself in no particular hurry, instead taking his sweet time in appreciating the softness of her fur, her chest pressed against his. His hands immediately went for her hips, blazing a trail over her stomach and supple thighs.

Cheetara gave a breathy moan as she felt Lion-O's wandering hands pull her legs around him. She ran her fingers down his back and he buried his face in the crook of her neck, lavishing in the soft, sensitive flesh. She let the sensations flood through her senses for a moment, savoring every moment of the warmth of him and the feel of his lips on her body. But then she thought of something.

"Lion-O..." she moaned.

"Mm?" He responded, but didn't stop pressing kisses to her neck. He began moving toward her collarbone, placing a little bite there that elicited goose bumps all over her body. The bites were not big enough to be a mate marking, but he was giving her the idea.

She gasped a little and spoke again. "I think I know just what you need…"

At last she caught his attention. He stopped and lifted his head, using his quivering arms to keep himself held up above her. His eyes flickered over her face, pleased to see her cheeks colored a rosy pink.

"And what's that?" He asked.

Cheetara surprised him by rolling over onto her left side, pushing him onto his back and with her moving on top. She straddled his hips and leaned down to kiss him, quashing any protests he might have had. She broke the kiss and pressing her lips to his ear, whispered:

"Let me distract you…"

She kissed his neck, her tongue briefly tasting the bitterness of his sweaty, heated body. Acting like a hormone driven vixen, she began to move down, pressing a small kiss to the center of his chest. As she continued to move down his taut abdomen, her lips teasing increasingly sensitive senses, Lion-O suddenly became aware of her intent and his breath caught in his throat. Cheetara felt his muscles contract beneath her lips—and she was also certain she heard him gasp—as she ran her tongue down his navel.

Lion-O finally found his voice, and choked out, "Tara-"

Moments before he felt her lips, warm, soft, supple and plump, brush the head of his **. His voice was gone again, without any mercy.

Cheetara did not hesitate, feeling as though she had teased him enough, and welcomed his length into her mouth. Lion-O's lips fell open as a strangled moan escaped him, his head pressed back into the pillows that decorated the king's bed.

Pleased by his reaction, Cheetara continued, letting her tongue work its dark magic. One of Lion-O's hands clenched the sheets tightly, while the other went to her, his fingers running through her hair and brushing loose locks out of the way.

She felt his hips buck beneath her as she was relentless on her assault. The tip of her tongue ran along the underside of his rigid length and he was nearly undone. Desperate to put an end to the most pleasurable torment he'd ever endured, he managed to utter her name again and begged her to stop, his hand untangling itself from her hair.

Cheetara looked up at her with seductive, predator eyes, and felt good inside. She was hesitant, at first, but stopped and released him from the onslaught. She lifted her head and licked her lips, her eyes locked onto her lover. She watched his chest heave with every labored breath, his red mane a bit disheveled.

She smiled and then took complete advantage of Lion-O's weakened state. She took in all of Lion-O, to the point where she was at the base and he could feel the back of Cheetara's throat. She started to suck harder and take in more of him, use both her tongue and teeth along the length. Lion-O was fighting a losing battle, trying harder and harder with every passing moment to fight off the impending climax. With both hands, Lion-O grabbed Cheetara's head and forced her down as far as he could; he even bucked his hips up for an extra measure.

Lion-O let out a roar as he climaxed. To act as pay-back for their first night together, Cheetara did not slow or forcefully pull away like he expected to. She continued sucking on him hard, taking out every drop and massaging the underside of his ** with her tongue.

When she finally pulled out, several streams of ** shot out and covered Cheetara's face and breasts. Some even got in her hair. Cheetara, intoxicated by the scent of his bodily fluids and breathless from her ministrations, had a certain glow to her. It was something that Lion-O could not describe, but just the mere sight of her made him hard again.

After taking in a deep breath of life giving air, she rolled off the bed and stretched. She purposely posed herself so that Lion-O could get a view of her perfect breasts and well shaped ass. She walked off to the private baths and said, "Come along my king. Let's get cleaned up before we dock."

There was nary a sign of resistance on Lion-O's part.

---

Author's Notes

Hello people, if you made it past the summary and first chapter, you can kind of tell that I do not like Tygra. He just reminds me too much of Scar the Lion King. Minus the fascism.

I chose to make Lion-O a little less passive. I figure that if he is going to be King, and then Emperor, he might as well know how to... um... negotiate.

Now if you excuses me, I have to go mop up Fuuko...

Later.