Thundercats Fanfiction Project (Ch 2, Episode 4)

In this episode, the heir is spared. Jaga shields Lion‑O from ruin, the Eye awakens in thunder and flame, and covenant fire delivers them from death. Yet unseen horrors linger in the palace halls, and grief shadows the path to exile…

The Heir Is Spared

Book 1 – Exile and Vigil – Chapter 2, Episode 4

At last Jaga reached Lion‑O’s chambers—his heart heavy with grief for Claudus’ fall and the horrors he had encountered on his path, crimes of war too dreadful to name. He pressed forward with dread for the boy, but relief washed over him when he found Lion‑O alive.

Lion‑O clung to Snarf on the bed as the walls shook. Snarf—toddler‑sized, soft‑furred, and of a gentle race beloved by Thunderan nobles as caretakers for their children—held the boy tightly, trembling with him.

Jaga’s voice cut through the fear. “Prince Lion‑O, come with me. Your father sent me for you. Come now—we must reach the ship.”

Lion‑O’s eyes brimmed with tears. “Where are my dad and my mom?”

Jaga answered only, “Your father told me to bring you to the royal ship—to them.”

He did not lie… but with Mutants scouting the halls, he chose not to reveal the danger or the truth he carried.

“Let’s go, Lion‑O,” Snarf whispered. “Jaga will take us to your parents.”

Lion‑O rose, comforted by Snarf’s words—words that only burdened the knight further. With Snarf close behind, they fled with Jaga.

Before turning down the hall, Jaga stopped. Hesitation flickered in his eyes. He removed his cloak.

“I must now cover you,” he said. “For evil and terror lie ahead. Do not look until I have taken you safely to the other side.”

Snarf and Lion‑O did not understand, but they trusted him. “His cloak will protect us from any spell,” Snarf whispered, though inwardly he wondered whether Jaga himself would need protection.

Jaga covered them both and guided them carefully across the hall. They could not see where they went, stumbling over debris and broken things in their path.

“Do not look back,” Jaga said as he removed the cloak and placed it upon himself, “lest your hearts be destroyed.”

He spoke in riddles, never telling them that as they crossed, they had passed over the marred and lifeless body of Lion‑O’s mother, Queen Leona.

Farther ahead, Mutants were blocking their way—WilyKit and WilyKat bound and dragged like captives, their arms tied. Jaga realized he did not have the strength to fight so many, weakened as he was from battle. Yet the band of Mutants stood between them and the royal ship.

He slipped on the Claw Shield and unsheathed the Sword of Omens. The blade lay silent, small and light in his hands.

The Mutants aimed their weapons. “Put it down, or the boy and the pet die,” they snarled. They did not realize what he held.

Jaga closed his eyes. “Great Spirit of the Eye, help us in our time of need.”

The jewel awakened.

The Spirit opened the Eye, and red light blazed. In an instant, the sword grew as thunder cracked and lightning struck. Mutants fell. Their shots were deflected by the sword’s power. The WilyKittens stood unharmed.

Strength surged through Jaga’s limbs—not merely restoring him, but filling him with a force beyond his years. His breath steadied. His arms no longer trembled. For a moment he felt as though the Spirit itself bore him up, guiding his blade and shielding his heart.

Snarf and Lion‑O clung to each other in fear and awe.

Jaga freed the children quickly. WilyKat seized the Book of Omens from a fallen Reptilian. The sacred text was undamaged, its seal unbroken—untouched even by the Eye’s fury.

Meanwhile, on the opposite end of the palace, Jagara appeared in a distant corridor, guided by whispers and feelings she had followed since childhood. They led her—not toward the royal ship, but toward another Thunderan vessel preparing to depart. Priests aboard suddenly spotted her in the smoke‑lit hall, startled to find her there, and called out to her.

A nearby ship was torn apart by Mutant fire, but Thunderan fighters swooped in, destroying the attackers and saving the vessel. Jagara teleported again, chasing the whispers that guided her. She understood now: she was being led on a different path, one she had not chosen.

She did not resist.

***

“So the heir was spared—the Spirit preserved his life, and the knight shielded his eyes. The kittens were freed, and the Book remained sealed. Yet Jagara was guided along another path, drawn by voices unseen. Behind them lay horror unspoken, and before them, the long road to exile.”

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Disclaimer

This work is a piece of fan fiction inspired by the ThunderCats franchise. All characters, settings, and original concepts from ThunderCats are the property of their respective rights holders. I do not own the rights to ThunderCats, nor do I claim any affiliation with its owners. This story is a transformative retelling created for creative expression and audience engagement, not as a commercial product.

AI Collaboration Statement

In creating this work, I made use of Microsoft Copilot, a tool that helped inscribe my vision into narrative form. I remain the visionary and architect of this saga, shaping its mythic framework, themes, and direction. Copilot served as the writer, giving voice to my design. I then revised and refined its drafts, making further changes to ensure the saga reflects my vision in full. This stands as a creative collaboration in honor of the original ThunderCats universe.