Read the Intro [+]

The Fight

Lion-O leapt through the glowing portal to follow the strange, blonde man, but when he came through the other side, the stranger was gone without a trace… along with Cheetara. What’s more, this land was unfamiliar… Lion-O was no longer in Third Earth. The sky was a strange, pinkish hue, and even the pull of gravity felt different.

It had been but a moment ago that he had been hunting down the blonde brute. He had appeared without warning, capturing the ThunderCats in bizarre traps, one by one in the Cat’s Lair, before picking up Cheetara and fleeing towards the Forest of Silence.

Lion-O noticed a castle in the distance. He began running towards it, clutching the sword of omens in his fist. “If only I had been there…” he thought to himself. Lion-O had been out on a walk in the forest when the attack occurred. If he had not been returning to the Lair as He-Man left, he may not have even seen the direction he fled. He may not have heard Cheetara’s plea for help.

He-Man had been out on a walk as well, this day, when something caught his keen eye. A strange, feline-looking man was charging toward Castle Greyskull, sword in hand. He-Man urgently charged out to intercept him.

Illustration by MiKO

As He-Man approached him, he called out. “Ho there, Cat Man. I cannot allow you to approach Castle Grayskull so armed. Are you friend or foe? You look like you could be a spawn of Beastman..”

To Lion-O’s ears, the words sounded senseless and threatening. “You may have gotten the drop on the other ThunderCats, but not I! If I find that you have harmed Cheetara, I will destroy you. HOOOOOO!” as he cried out, the Sword of Omens extended to its full length. Lion-O swung the sword, sending out blasts of energy towards his opponent, and He-Man barely had time to draw forth his Power Sword to deflect the volley. He-Man charged forth, and the duel began. The two mighty swords rang as they clashed together, time and time again.

Such a display of swordsmanship is seldom seen – where He-Man overpowered with brute strength, Lion-O dodged and outmaneuvered. As easily as the Sword of Omens blasted energy at He-Man, the Power Sword just as easily dispelled it. For hours they fought, but He-Man is tireless, and invulnerable. Each swing of his sword had the power to shatter stone, and eventually he wore down his opponent. As Lion-O collapsed, He-Man sheathed his sword, and held out his hand.

“You fought nobly, and well. I seek no enmity from you.”

Lion-O looked up at He-Man in confusion. “Who is this man, who would kidnap a ThunderCat, and then holds out his hand in peace? Something is amiss… ” he thought to himself. He held up the sword of omens, reverted to its normal length, to his eyes and spoke the phrase “Sword of Omens, give me Sight Beyond Sight!”. As he looked up at He-Man, he saw clearly the hex placed upon him by Mumm-Ra. Looking further, he saw a strange man with a yellow skull face, holding Cheetara.

“I have been a fool,” Lion-O said, and He-Man looked in surprise, suddenly understanding. The Eye of Thundera had removed the hex. “We have been tricked into fighting one another by a creature known as Mumm-Ra. I see another at his side, a man with a yellow skull for a face.”

“Skeletor.” He-Man replied. He pulled Lion-O to his feet. “I know not this Mumm-Ra, but where Skeletor is, trouble is sure to follow. Let us fight them together, friend!”

The Outcome

Victory – He-Man. These two are matched in skill, and their swords counter-balance each other. However, He-Man is the most powerful man in the universe, and eventually he will over-power Lion-O.

Bonus Round – Who has the more flambouyant outfit?

He-Man’s blonde bob, combined with furry boots and panties and a belted chest-piece, vs Lion-O’s red, flowing mane combined with blue singlet with bared midriff and booties.

I’m gonna have to give this to Lion-O. But both are trumped by Prince Adam’s outfit.