Path to Brünnhilde's Rock, Northern Face of Death Mountain, Rhineland, Hyrule, X-iverse.  Stardate 1 066 947.95; June 11, 3012.

On his steed, the Wanderer was riding up the path that would lead first to Erda's cave, then to the brink of the fire-wall that surrounded Brünnhilde's rock, and finally to Brünnhilde herself.  Before he reached Erda's cave, though, he saw two figures in the distance in front of him.  Recognising them, he had his steed slow down and stop.  He dismounted and saw that Ludwig and Larry were waiting for him.  "Hail, dark turtles," the Wanderer greeted.

            "Greetings, Wanderer," said Ludwig.  "You may be pleased to know that Siegfried managed to get the Ring and the Tarnhelm, though you must not show your love to him."  He smiled quite despicably.  "I love seeing people in agony."

            "What I want the most is the end," the Wanderer said.  "The end of this life.  That will be heralded by the breaking of my spear."

            "But I know you know we're quite evil, my brother and I.  We will use the Ring for conquest of more than that petty Alberich could imagine.  You wish you could stop us, but you neither may nor can.  It is neither permissible nor possible, dear god."

            "Tell me, how much longer will it be?"

            "Mere days, Wanderer.  Mere days before your grandson is murdered and I gain the Ring."

            "In the time of my youth, I would have tried to kill you.  Now, I know it is useless, for you are more powerful than I.  You have true immortality, while mine is dependent on eating golden apples daily."

            "In case you run into people identifying themselves as Wilykit, Wilykat, Kevin, Thomas, Kelly, Wily-johanna, or Wily-johannes, you need not fear them.  They are friends to you, but they will not alter the course of events concerning Siegfried and Brünnhilde.  They intend to let the Ring be returned to the depths of the Rhine."

            "You should, too, wicked one.  I felt the Ring's terrible might.  It is powerful but nearly uncontrollable for the one who seeks to unlock every ounce of its power."

            "And you think that I would be so stupid?  You greatly underestimate my powers of self-control.  Well, Wanderer, we've kept you here for a bit longer than I had intended.  And remember this:  in months or years from now, I shall resurrect all of you and purge all your wrongdoings here, when you have died."  He snapped his fingers, and he and Larry disappeared.

            The Wanderer remounted his horse and continued up to Erda's cave.  Clouds had darkened the sky and were releasing a moderate amount of rain, and lightning streaked across the sky, accompanied by heavy thunder.  When he got near the cave, he dismounted and strode determinedly to the mouth of the cave.  The Wanderer called, "Waken, Wala {vah-lah}!  Wala, awaken!  Slumberer, I wake you from your long sleep.  I summon you.  Arise, arise!  From your misty cave, from the depths of darkness, arise!  Erda!  Erda!  Eternal woman!  From your hollow home, rise to the heights!  I sing you a waking song so that you will waken.  From your brooding sleep I rouse you.  Omniscient, immemorially wise woman!  Erda!  Erda!  Eternal woman!"  At this point, the seven good guys emerged from a warp nearby.  Johanna and Johannes quickly and quietly neared the cave and kept hidden.  "Waken, awaken, you Wala!  Awaken!"

            Light gathered at the cave.  A bluish gleam illuminated the figure of Erda rising very slowly out of the depths of the cave.  She appeared to be covered in frost, her hair and clothing giving off an icy shimmer.  She said in her deep alto voice, "The summons of your song is strong, the lure of its magic mighty.  I have wakened from my sleep of wisdom.  Who has dispelled my slumber?"

            "I am the awakener, and I used spells to rouse from afar what sleep held fast.  I have roamed the world, wandering widely in quest of knowledge, to win world-old wisdom.  None is wiser than you.  You know what the depths hide, what links mountain and valley, air and water.  Wherever life exists, your breath stirs.  Wherever brains brood, your mind is involved.  Everything, it is said, is known to you.  And so, in quest of knowledge, I have woken you from sleep."

            "My sleep is dreaming, my dreaming meditation, my meditation mastery of wisdom.  But while I sleep, the Norns are awake, and they weave the rope of history and zealously spin what I know.  Why not ask the Norns?"

            "The Norns spin subservient to the world, able to alter or deflect nothing.  But from your wisdom, I would be glad to learn how to hold back a rolling wheel."

            "My mind grows misty with the deeds of men.  Even I, with all my wisdom, was once overcome by a conqueror.  I bore a wish-maiden to Wotan.  He bade her bring him heroes from the battlefield.  She is brave and also wise.  Why do you wake me, and not seek enlightenment from Erda and Wotan's child?"

            "You mean the Valkyrie, the maid Brünnhilde?  She flouted the father of the storms, when in his might he had mastered himself.  What the controller of combats longed to do but restrained himself against his will, all too confidently the defiant girl - Brünnhilde in the brunt of battle - dared to accomplish for herself.  The father of conflicts punished the maid.  In her eyes he pressed sleep.  On the fell above, she is fast asleep. The consecrated woman will waken only when a man woos her for his wife.  How would it help to question her?"

            "I have become confused since I awoke.  Wildly and awry the world revolves!  The Valkyrie, Wala's child, suffered the fetters of sleep while her omniscient mother slept?  Does he who taught defiance now punish defiance?  Is he who is responsible for the deed now wrathful when it is done?  Does he who defends the right and preserves vows now banish right and rule by perjury?  Let me descend again, and let sleep seal up my wisdom!"

            "I will not let you go, for magic lends me might.  Omniscient, you once thrust the thorn of anxiety into Wotan's bold heart.  Your knowledge filled him with fear of a hostile end so that fear fettered his spirit.  Since you are the world's wisest woman, tell me now:  how can the god conquer his cares?"

            "You are not what you call yourself!  Why did you come, wild and stubborn, and disturb the Wala's sleep?"

            "You are not what you believe yourself to be!  The earth-mother's wisdom is drawing to an end.  Your wisdom will wither before my will.  Do you know what is Wotan's will?  To you, unwise one, I address these words so that you then may sleep carefree forever.  Fear of the gods' downfall doesn't grieve me, since now I wish it so!  What I once resolved in despair, in the wild anguish of dissension, now I will freely perform, gladly and gaily.  Though in fury and loathing I flung the world to the Nibelung's envy, I now leave my heritage to the valiant Volsung.  He whom I choose, though he does not know me, the bravest of human youths, whom I have never advised, has gained the Nibelung's Ring.  Rejoicing in love, innocent of envy, his nobility will quell Alberich's curse, for fear remains foreign to him.  Brünnhilde, whom you bore me, will awaken to the hero.  On waking, the child of your wisdom will do the deed that will redeem the world.  So now, sleep on, close your eyes.  In dream, behold my downfall!  Whatever now befalls, to the ever-young the god gladly yields.  Descend then, Erda, mother of fear, of timeless sorrow!  Away, away to endless sleep!"  Erda's eyes had already closed, and she had started to descend.  She now disappeared entirely, the cave again in darkness.  The storm now over, the sunlight of middle afternoon broke over the mountain.

            Johanna and Johannes turned and saw, further down the mountain, Siegfried approaching up the path.  "There's Siegfried," Johanna said.  "Let's go."  They took a path that would let them approach Siegfried from behind.

            The Wanderer turned to the main path and saw Siegfried running up the path, following a bird.  "I see Siegfried coming," he said.

            The bird fluttered into the area.  However, it suddenly faltered, fluttered from side to side in alarm, and rapidly flew off, to the east.  Siegfried entered the area, having seen the bird's alarm and departure.  "My little bird has flown away!" he said.  "It prettily pointed out my path with fluttering flight and sweet song, but now it is running far away!  I would do best to find the rock for myself.  I'll continue further on the way my guide showed me."

            "Siegfried!" called Johanna.  She and Johannes approached.  "Do you mind if we come along with you?"

            "Yes, come with me, Johanna and Johannes.  Maybe you can show me. . ."

            The Wanderer called, "Which way, young ones, does your path lead?"

            "Ah!  Someone spoke.  Perhaps he'll show us the way."  He turned to the Wanderer.  "I am seeking a rock on this mountain surrounded by fire.  There sleeps a woman whom I wish to wake."

            "Who told you to seek this rock?  Who made you yearn for this woman?"

            "A little woodbird told me.  It gave me good news."

            "A little bird chatters much, but no human can understand it.  How could you make sense of its song?"

            "That was the effect of the blood of a savage dragon, which I killed at Neidhöhle.  Scarcely had its fiery wetness stung my tongue before I understood the bird's speech."

            "If you slew this giant, who induced you to face the fearful dragon?"

            "Mime, a false, lying dwarf, led me, wishing to teach me fear.  But the dragon itself incited me to the sword-stroke that slew it by opening its gaping jaws to swallow me."

            "Who made the sword so sharp and solid that it felled so strong a foe?"

            "I forged it myself, since the smith couldn't.  Else, I'd be swordless."

            "But who made the sturdy splinters from which you forged yourself the sword?"

            "How should I know?  I only know that the fragments would have been useless had I not forged the sword afresh."

            "Ha, ha, ha, ha!" laughed the Wanderer loudly at this statement of the obvious.  "I think so, too!  Ha, ha, ha!"

            Siegfried was growing more and more impatient.  "Why do you laugh at me?  Old man, finish and don't keep me chatting here any longer!  If you can show me the way, say so.  If you can't, hold your tongue!"

            "Patience, my lad!  If I seem old to you, then you should show me some respect."

            "That doesn't sound bad!  All my life, an old man has always stood in my way.  Now, I've swept him aside.  If you obstinately persist in obstructing me, watch out, I say, that you don't fare like Mime!  But what do you look like?  Why do you want to wear so big a hat?  Why does it hang over your face like that?"

            "That is the Wanderer's way when he walks against the wind."

            "But under it an eye is missing!  Doubtless someone struck out when you stubbornly barred his way?  Now, take yourself off, or you might easily lose the other, too."

            "I see, my son, that you know little, but you do know how to get your way.  With the eye that is missing from its mate, you yourself are looking at the one that remains to me for sight."

            "Ha, ha, ha, ha!  You make me laugh!  But listen, I can't chat here any longer.  Quickly, show me the way, then be off on yours, too.  There's nothing else I need you for, so speak, or I'll chase you off!"

            "If you but knew me, insolent youth, you would spare me your insults.  Your threats sorely distress me, who am so close to you.  I have always loved your radiant race, but my raging fury also gives you cause for fear.  You whom I love so, glorious hero, do not rouse my wrath today.  It would ruin both you and me!"

            "Do you stay dumb, obstinate dolt?  Give way, then, for that way, I know, leads to the sleeping woman.  My bird told me so before it flew away in haste just now."

            "It flew from you to save itself!  It learned that the lord of the ravens was here.  Woe be to it if they catch it!  You shall not take the way it showed!"

            "Ho, ho!  You forbid me?  Who are you, then, that seek to restrain me?"

            "Fear the guardian of the rock!  My might holds the sleeping maid enclosed.  He who wakes her, he who wins her, must first deprive me of my power forever!  A sea of fire flows around the woman, glowing flames lick all around the rock.  He who yearns for her as bride must front the fiery fury.  Look up to the height!  Do you see the fiery light?  The glow is growing, the splendour spreading.  Scorching smoke, flickering flames billow down, burning and crackling, and a sea of light illuminates your head.  Soon, the raging fire will devour and consume you.  Go back, then, rash boy!"

            Siegfried drew Nothung.  "Go back yourself, old braggart!  I must go there, to the burning heart of the blaze, to Brünnhilde!"

            The Wanderer barred the path with his spear-shaft.  "If you do not fear the fire, then my spear shall bar your way!  My hand still holds the symbol of sovereignty.  This shaft once shattered the sword you bear.  Once again, then, let it break on the eternal spear!"

            "My father's foe!  Have I found you here?  How glorious that revenge is in my grasp!  Flourish your spear.  Nothung will smash it to pieces!"  Not knowing that the spear held all the treaties of the Rhineland carved on its shaft, that it held the entire basis of the order of this world, Siegfried rose Nothung and with one blow cut the spear in two.  A lightning flash leapt up from it in the direction of the mountaintop, where, from this moment onwards, the once dull light began to flicker and glow with increasingly brighter flames.  A thunderclap had accompanied the lightning flash and died away quickly.  This was all quite visible, despite the bright afternoon sun.  The pieces of the spear fell at the Wanderer's feet, and he quietly picked them up.

            "Forward then," the Wanderer quietly told Siegfried.  "I cannot stop you."  He disappeared suddenly.

            "With his spear in splinters, has the coward escaped me?  Now, Johanna and Johannes, let's continue."  They went up the path to the fire-wall.  "Ah, wondrous glow!  Gleaming radiance!  The road now lies open to me.  We will bathe in the fire.  In the fire, I'll find my bride!  Ho, ho!  Ha, hi!  Now I can win a dear companion!"  He put his horn to his lips and plunged into the billowing fire, accompanied by Johanna and Johannes.  They made their way up the mountain.  The flames burned bright, then gradually began to turn into an ever finer cloud.

            The five others had been watching from hiding.  They now came out.  "Well, Siegfried has smashed Wotan's spear," said Wilykit.  "I saw where the god zipped off to, also.  Follow me."  She led Wilykat, Kevin, Thomas, and Kelly around to a boulder next to the path.  The Wanderer was behind it.  "Wotan, lord of the gods, I am Wilykit, Lord of the Thunder Cats.  Please stay a moment and speak with us.  We shan't keep you very long."

            The Wanderer turned and saw them.  "The dark Prince Ludwig has spoken to me about you.  To save our world, you will attempt what I will be unable to do."

            "He will certainly attempt to keep us from stopping him, but do not worry.  Johanna and Johannes, who have accompanied Siegfried all his life, will accompany him to the Gibichung palace and witness his unknowing betrayal and his death at the hands of the evil Hagen, Alberich's wicked son."

            "I must thank you.  I would not be permitted to help you, even if I were able to.  I must return to Valhalla and await my end."

            "Does Ludwig plan anything after you are incinerated?"

            "Some time hence, he claims he would resurrect my kind as well as the Volsungen, the Nibelungen, and the giants."

            "All right.  What happens to Waltraute {vahl-trahw-tuh} after she sees Brünnhilde?"

            "She will not be punished because she will try to get Brünnhilde, her sister, to throw the Ring back to the Rhinemaidens, though unsuccessfully.  Now, I shall return to Valhalla and tell what has transpired.  Farewell."  He mounted his horse and rode off along another path, which led to the highest peak of Death Mountain that lay in the Rhineland, on which stood Valhalla. . . ironically, directly behind the Tower of Hera, which was on the highest spot of Death Mountain that was in Hyrule, and in whose place stood Ganon's Tower in the Dark World.

            From a boulder next to Erda's cave, Ludwig and Larry came out.  "Howdy, guys," Ludwig greeted.

            "Well, if it's not Ludwig and Larry," Kevin said.  "You seem to be spending an inordinate amount of time in the same time zone as we, you two little twerps!"

            "Ha, ha!  This is a time for us to celebrate, Kevin!" Ludwig said.  "Siegfried has plunged the Rhineland into chaos by destroying Wotan's spear.  No written treaties remain."

            "You accentuate the negative," Wilykit said.  "You also speak of something that neither of us has influenced.  Siegfried will continue as he has until Hagen plunges the spear into his back.  Brünnhilde will throw the Ring to the Rhinemaidens, and my children will keep your agent, whoever it is, from gaining the Ring for you."

            "Kit Astutus vân Wily vôn Crusher, you can seem so stupid.  Johanna and Johannes Wily vân Crusher - whom Wesley, in a nonconformist manner, wanted to carry your name in front rather than his - may be strong, but they have absolutely no battle experience.  It is a very lucky thing for the universes, though, that the Eye of Thundera and the Sword of Omens both only operate for unevil intentions.  If I could just make the Sword perform my wishes blindly, I would be utterly unbeatable."

            "We need no weapons to deal even with you," Wilykit said.  "Wilykat, Kevin, and I collectively have more power than you alone."

            "Yes, but I have my own weapons.  We already have two Triforces.  That Ring will make us unstoppable."

            "No, Ludwig.  That is a delusion you must overcome.  All those items may render you extremely much power, but they will not render you absolute power, and since you cannot subjugate the Thunder Cats' Sword, we will always have one powerful object that you can never destroy.  My daughter has forged it too strong to be broken again with that meagre jolt of electricity that the Triforce gave you.  It will take more power than two Triforces can give you to destroy it again.  She managed to strengthen the steel to the hardness of a Thunderian super-diamond, and the sword cannot be melted while it's alive."

            "There's always a way, where there's a will, Wilykit," Ludwig said.

            "Good luck finding it.  Where are you headed now?"

            "We were thinking. . ."  MotherBrain's hologram appeared in front of them.

            "Greetings, all," MotherBrain greeted.  "I trust Siegfried has broken Wotan's spear?"

            "Oh, God!" exclaimed Kelly, revolted at MotherBrain's appearance and turning away.  Thomas supported her.  "Oh, yuck."

            "Ha, ha!  What's wrong, Captain N?" MotherBrain asked.  "Is your daughter overcome by my incredible beauty?  Ha, ha, ha!"

            "Incredible is right," countered Kevin.  "No one on this side would believe it."

            Kelly sighed and hugged Thomas.  If she had been going to throw up due to MotherBrain's ugliness, then he had kept her from doing it.  "Thanks, brother."

            Thomas returned the hug, then turned to MotherBrain.  "I regret to inform you that you transcend all definition of ugliness, MotherBrain," he said boldly in a very logical voice.

            "That is not a very intelligent thing to say, Thomas," Ludwig said.  "If your father weren't around here to stop me, I'd probably do grievous harm to you for making that slanderous statement about MotherBrain."

            "That which is true is not slander, no matter how much harm it inflicts upon the parties at hand, Prince Ludwig," stated Thomas with Vulcan serenity.

            "Don't you ever get rid of that blasted Vulcan attitude?" Larry asked.  "Very few people would make that sort of statement at common mezzo-forte volume.  Many would do it at a very pianissimo volume, threateningly, while others would shout it fortissimo."

            "I only drop it when it doesn't prove advantageous to my adversaries," Thomas said, his arms crossed calmly.  "Or maybe if anyone made the unwise decision to threaten my twin."

            "Now," said Ludwig to MotherBrain, "I see you've managed to get that holo-transmitter to work well enough to project your image all the way out here.  What do you wish to speak with me about?"

            "Maybe," said Wilykit snidely, "it's about a plan that she has discussed with S-s-slithe and Luna."

            MotherBrain looked at her with growing contempt.  "How did you know this?"

            "The Eye of Thundera showed me not long ago."

            "Is that so?  Well, then, Ludwig, I inform you that S-s-slithe, Luna, and I have discussed a plan to seriously cripple the N-Team and leave those seven the only ones loose."

            "Good," Ludwig said.  "Effect it when ready."

            "Yes, my terrible stepson.  Where are your little brats, Wilykit?"

            "My children are accompanying Siegfried to Brünnhilde, and they will accompany him to the Gibichung palace.  Their task is to prevent intervention from your evil group, which includes preventing your agent from taking the Ring from the Rhinemaidens after Brünnhilde has thrown it to them."

            "The little heel-nippers shall not succeed," Ludwig promised.

            "We'll see.  Now, go spy on Wotan or Alberich or someone else.  Just don't hang out around us."

            "No problem, Wilykit.  Larry, let's go find Wotan."

            "Certainly," Larry said.

            "See you all later," said MotherBrain.  She disappeared.

            "See you later, 'friends,' " Ludwig told the N-Teamsters.  He snapped his fingers, and he and Larry disappeared.

            "Oh, good riddance!" snapped Kelly.  "Father, I'm so sorry.  When I looked at her. . . oh, your descriptions and her appearance combined to. . . uck."

            "No, I'm sorry," Kevin said.  "Sorry I've let her stay loose this long!  Thomas, I'm proud of you.  I'm tired of them mouthing us off with such serenity.  Now you're returning the favour."

            "Thank you, Father," Thomas said.  "My anger built up within me, though not uncontrollably, when I saw the way Larry looked at Kelly.  I knew exactly what that vulgar turtle wanted."

            "Oh, he's that way, just like a darned Ferengi," Wilykit said.  "At least he still approves of letting the woman keep on clothing."

            "What?  What did he want, Thomas?" asked Kelly, concerned.

            "You don't need to know at the moment, Kelly," said Thomas, hugging her with brotherly warmth in a fashion completely un-Vulcan.  He loved her quite a lot, like Thunderian brothers loved their twin sisters.  "You've been upset already.  This would probably shock you."

            Kelly sighed and returned the hug.  "You're probably right.  Oh, Thomas, why am I so emotional?  I feel so out of control of my feelings at the moment.  I'm very lucky to have you as my brother."

            Kevin softly put his right hand on her left shoulder.  "It's okay, Kelly," he said softly very high in his heldentenor voice without straining a bit.  "We'll both see that you get through this."

            "Oh, I love you both," Kelly said.  "I only hope that the guy I fall in love with some day will be as sweet as you two."  She looked at Wilykat.  "Sorry; as you three.  Wilykat's sweet, too.  And Wilykit's been the closest thing to a mother Thomas and I have had, though she's constantly made sure we don't come to believe she's our real mother."

            "Well, since I'm not, I feel it wise," Wilykit said.

            "Yeah."

            "Well," Kevin said.  "I hear some jubilant shouting up there."

            "So do I," said Wilykit.  "Probably Siegfried and Brünnhilde."

            * * *

            Earlier, up the mountain, Siegfried had seen Grane {grah-nuh}, Brünnhilde's horse, and then Brünnhilde herself.  He knew not that this was truly a woman until, in effort to make her comfortable, he removed her helmet and used his sword to cut the chain-links of the Valkyrie armour to remove the armour.  Seeing Brünnhilde in a soft, feminine garment, he started to his feet, startled and amazed.  The abrupt recognition that the figure lying in front of him was not a man threw Siegfried into a turmoil of astonishment, in which his first reaction was to invoke his mother.  He had never before felt the emotion that overcame him when he saw the unknown woman, but from Mime's description, he knew it was fear.  Approaching the sleeping woman again, he was overcome by more tender feelings and could not take his eyes from her.  He bent lower, some unclear impulse driving him to waken her with a kiss.  He sank over the sleeping figure, as if swooning in death, and, with his eyes closed, pressed his lips to her mouth.

            Brünnhilde opened her eyes, and Siegfried jumped to his feet.  Brünnhilde sat up slowly and raised her arms in reverent celebration of her return to sensual perception of the earth and sky.  Rejoicing, the pair hailed the sun, the daylight, the gods, Siegfried's mother, and the earth.

            Both remained lost in radiant delight, gazing at each other; but fear and melancholy cast a shadow on Brünnhilde's delight, as Siegfried had broken her armour, and his love would eliminate the freedom that she had known as a Valkyrie.  He had embraced her fiercely, but she jumped up, resisted him with the strength of fear, and ran to the other side of the plateau.  However, Siegfried's wooing and his recovery of his former fearlessness were combining to overpower her resistance without force.

            Siegfried cried, "Awaken, Brünnhilde!  Waken, oh maid!  Laugh and live, sweetest delight!  Be mine!"

            "Oh, Siegfried!" replied Brünnhilde.  "I have always been yours."

            "If you have always been, be so now!"

            "I will be yours forever."

            "What you will be, be today!  If my arms enfold you and hold you tight, if my breast beats wildly against yours, if our eyes kindle and we breathe each other's breath, eye to eye, mouth to mouth, then you are to me what fearfully you were and will be.  Then gone would be the burning doubt whether Brünnhilde is now mine!"

            "Whether I am now yours?  Divine peace now floods my being, and purest light blazes in the glow.  The wisdom of heaven flees from me, chased away by the joy of love!  Whether I am now yours?  Siegfried, Siegfried, do you not see me?  As my eyes devour you, are you not blinded?  As my arms enfold you, do you not catch fire from me?  As my blood surges like a sea towards you, do you not feel its raging fire?  Siegfried, do you not fear as before, do you no longer fear this wild, passionate woman?"

            "Ah!  As our bloodstreams set each other ablaze, as our glowing eyes scorch one another, as our arms passionately clasp each other, my daring and courage return to me; and fear! ha! fear, which I've never learned!  Fear, which you only now just taught me; that fear!  I think that I, the idiot, have quite stupidly forgotten it already!"

            "Oh, childish hero!  Oh, magnificent boy!  You silly store of doughty deeds!  Laughing, I must love you.  Laughing, I will bear my blindness.  Laughing, let us perish!"

            "Laughing, you awake in rapture to me!"

            "Farewell, Valhalla's glittering world!  May your proud fortress fall to dust!"

            "Brünnhilde lives, Brünnhilde laughs!"

            "Farewell, resplendent pomp of the gods!"

            "Hail to the day that gleams about us!  Hail to the sun that shines upon us!"

            "May your end be blissful, immortal race!"

            "Hail to the light that chases away the night!"

            "May you Norns snap your rope of prophecies!"

            "Hail to the world where Brünnhilde lives!"

            "Dusk of the gods, let your darkness descend!  Night of annihilation, let your mist fall!"

            "She is awake, she is alive.  She smiles at me."

            "Siegfried's star now shines upon me!"

            "Brightly shines Brünnhilde's star upon me.  She is forever mine, always mine, my inheritance, my own, my one and all!"

            "He is forever mine, always mine, my inheritance, my own, my one and all.  Radiant love, laughing death!"

            "Radiant love, laughing death!" cried Siegfried simultaneously with her.

            "Radiant love, laughing death;. . ." she cried.

            "Radiant love, laughing death;. . ." he cried.

            Loudly, they finished together, ". . .radiant love, laughing death!"  Brünnhilde sank in Siegfried's arms, and they kissed passionately.

            Johanna and Johannes watched from nearby.  "Gee, you and Thomas sure didn't react like that," Johannes said quietly.

            "I'm sure it won't take long when we're around each other for some length of time," Johanna said.  "It probably won't be this turbulent.  He's got a lot more emotional restraint than Siegfried."

            Siegfried and Brünnhilde stopped kissing.  "Brünnhilde," said Siegfried, "these two grew up with me, Johanna and Johannes."  They got up.  "They demonstrated true kindness to me, while Mime, the false dwarf, only showed false kindness for his own evil intentions."

            "Greetings, Johanna and Johannes," Brünnhilde said.

            "Greetings, Brünnhilde," said Johanna.  "As long as we are around, we will be your friends."

            "Siegfried, we met our mother after the woodbird flew to guide you here," Johannes said.  "For tonight, we will go to her home in these woods with her; but tomorrow morning, we shall return."

            "Certainly, Johannes," Siegfried said.

            Brünnhilde said, "I need to rest and think before I can go on adventures, but Siegfried will go.  We will marry tonight, and I'm sure he will willingly agree to be my husband and be ever faithful to me.  Right now, let me say that I think it best for you to go visit the Gibichungen when you go tomorrow morning.  It's north along the Rhine quite a ways.  If you search for it slowly, as you should at first, you'll find it after a few days.  Ordinarily, it's probably about half a day from here."

            "Thank you, Brünnhilde," Johanna said.  "Until tomorrow morning, then."  She and Johannes waved good-bye to Siegfried and Brünnhilde, who waved back.  She and her brother then descended back towards Erda's cave.

            "Will I see fireworks like that coming from you and Thomas?" Johannes asked, interested.

            "All right, Johannes," said Johanna.  "I think that's enough."

            "All right.  But you love him, don't you?"

            "Johannes!"

            "Okay, okay!  Gee, whiz.  You're getting like Siegfried."

            "You're imagining things."

            "Oh, sure.  That's just a few microdecibels away from the volume he habitually used with Mime."

            "Shut up!"

            "Come on, admit it."

            She turned to him, fury in her face.  "I told you to shut up, Johannes!!" she shouted powerfully in the centre of her normal soprano register.

            Johannes gulped.  She was very serious about this.  "Okay, okay.  I'm sorry, Johanna.  -Sigh.-"

            Her eyes grew wide when she saw she had scared the wits out of him.  She hugged him.  "No, I am sorry.  I shouldn't have yelled at you.  I don't understand why I was being so mean to my own brother."

            Johannes returned the hug.  "I seem to recall that a vast quantity of arguing is natural from around this age to about twenty-eight years of age in Thunderian twins.  I seem to recall also that it's something that Mother and Uncle excelled at."

            "Great.  We'll probably be even better at it, blast it."

            "Shucks."  After they had released each other, they went through the now-faint edge of the wall of fire and approached the area with Erda's cave, where the other five were waiting.  "Siegfried and Brünnhilde are now madly in love," Johannes reported.  "We told them we'd return in the morning."

            "All right," Wilykit said.  "Ludwig and Larry were watching the events here from near Erda's cave.  They came and talked to us.  During that, MotherBrain appeared and thoroughly grossed out poor Kelly with her appearance.  Kind Thomas, though, supported her and kept her from losing what she had eaten some time ago.  MotherBrain appeared to tell Ludwig that she and the Plundarrians had a plan to cripple the N-Team, and he told her to enact it.  This is the plan I saw Luna, S-s-slithe, and the brain discussing."

            "I assume they've moved on," Johanna said.

            "They warped away, yes.  They were going to spy on Wotan, though I think they ought to leave him alone.  Shall we go home, now?"

            "Sure, Mother.  We have no desire to go back to Mime's cramped cave."

            "All right."  She snapped her fingers, and all seven of them were warped there.

            * * *

            Wilykit, Wilykat, and Kevin's Cave, Rhineland.

            Johanna looked around the spacious room that was for her and Johannes.  "When we return to Thundera," said Wilykit, "your room will be even larger.  This is, by our standards, a small room."

            "It's better than what we had," Johanna replied.  She sat down on her bed, and her mother sat down to her right.  "Mother. . . I'm totally in love with Thomas Keene."

            Wilykit smiled.  "I'm not surprised.  He's not bad-looking at all, and he has quite a beautiful heart.  I can tell you that he is a wonderful young man."

            "But what should I do?"

            "First tell me, what do you want to do?"

            "I want to seize him in my arms and kiss him with passion hotter than a blue dwarf star!  Please forgive me, but that's what I feel."

            Wilykit smiled.  "I know that feeling.  Johanna, before you go after him, I'd best tell you certain important things.  First of all, you absolutely must retain complete control over yourself in the beginning because Thunderians are quite a bit stronger than humans.  If you released all your passionate feelings through physical means, you could very well cause him serious injury."

            "Hm.  I never thought of that."

            "And yet, if you're a Thunderian, particularly a Wilykat, who's in love with a human, you must think of that.  If I hadn't controlled myself, I'd probably have killed Wesley before we even made love.  You must remain in control, or you could hurt Thomas.  After a while, you pretty much learn human tolerances.  You'll probably break a couple of weak bones, like I did, but that's not surprising or unacceptable, because the damage is easily repaired.  It would be easy on us if we could just let go of our restraint, but we can't.  Although Thomas is a good bit stronger than your father.  I am constantly amazed by his success in his training."

            Johannes came in.  "Gee, this is sure more pleasant than Mime's old cave," he said.  "Mother, we emerged from you just like Siegfried emerged from Sieglinde, right?"

            "Yes, but I suffered very little pain.  Unlike Sieglinde, very fortunately."

            "How were we conceived in your womb, Mom?" Johanna asked.  "Now, we know how we got there.  We were conceived within your body by the union of your eggs and Father's sperm."

            "We know also," Johannes said, "you telling us before about the fact that children grow from a single cell, whose material was contributed by both a mother and a father, to infants in nine to ten months, in Thunderians, and that the mother releases the infant at childbirth."

            "Good," said Wilykit.  "You're asking then, how eggs and sperm come together?"

            "Yes, Mom," Johanna said.

            "First, you must love someone like I love Wesley or like Johanna loves Thomas, and that love must be reciprocated.  The emotional and mental part of that love must build up and mature for a while, at the very least a few days, - but, to be safer, for at least a month, hopefully half a year to two years - and then the physical portion can come in.  A certain physical interaction, which I will tell you about later, is what we do that conceives children naturally.  A boy and a girl who love each other this way who have committed themselves to love each other then do some very physical actions.  Making love, or having sexual intercourse, gives the male sperm passage to the female egg.  Making love, of course, is not only for that purpose, though many biologists would have us think that.  It provides us with intense physical pleasure for a few seconds, and so, when we intend not to produce young, we can use medical devices to prevent the male sperm from leaving the body during the lovemaking or to keep the female egg from accepting any sperm."

            "What is done in lovemaking?" Johanna asked.

            "You can look it up.  See this computer terminal?"  She indicated the terminal sitting on the table between the two beds.  "You can call up any reference you require with diagrams.  For anatomical purposes, you can just show each other your reproductive organs.  That is perfectly acceptable to Thunderians.  Most humans just don't consider it thoroughly appropriate, but Kevin does.  Nonetheless, you should remain clothed around most humans.  During lovemaking, of course, it's necessary to expose that area, but. . . the computer will tell you everything."

            "Thank you, Mom," Johanna said.  "We remember how to read."

            "Yes," said Johannes.

            "Well, then, I have something to discuss with Wilykat," Wilykit said.  "See you later."  She left the room.  She saw her children going towards the computer terminal as she left.  "Ah, boy," she said quietly to herself, smiling.  She went to the living room.

            * * *

            Kevin had explained the process of lovemaking to his children a few months ago.  His discussion had been more thorough and direct, but he was just as careful as Wilykit to stress that it should only be done with one certain person.  He had shown the reproductive anatomy directly with a computer terminal, and all three - he, Thomas, and Kelly - had been decidedly indecent during the discussion so he could better indicate certain parts of the anatomy.  He explained what was involved physically, what the organs were and what they did, in lovemaking, while also emphasising the mental, emotional, and psychological impact.  He also explained that it was important to take measures to prevent creation of young if the lovemaking were to be done just for pleasure.

            Right now, the three of them were in Thomas and Kelly's room, thoroughly decent, and Kevin was explaining other matters to Thomas.  "So, Father," asked Thomas, "you believe I ought to wait, right?"

            "Yes, Thomas.  It's perfectly all right to touch affectionately if she feels like it and you do, but sex can wait.  At this stage, a short kiss is enough to blow your mind.  If you've never excited that region of your body before, it could probably overload you.  I recommend hand-holding and short-term kissing for right now.  And I'd like you to try to be sure you love her before you even do much of that.  Love her intellectually and emotionally before you try to love her physically."

            "You know, Father, that I've always desired to have that tendency."

            "Yes, son.  Knowing you, I doubted that this discussion was needed, but just to be safe, I wanted to have it.  Well, let's go out to the living room.  Wilykat has to talk to us about something."  They left the room.

            * * *

            Wilykat was sitting in the living room, doing some programming on his computer terminal.  He was beginning the preliminary programming for that game he had spoken to Kevin about.  The logical part of his mind was capable of creating extremely intricate puzzles, and the emotional side was capable of such torturous distortions to create even more puzzles from what existed.  As he worked, his mind began conceiving a music score that might suit the game quite well.  When Wilykit entered, Wilykat saved his progress and shut off the computer terminal.  "What are you working on, brother?" Wilykit asked.

            "Oh, something you may find interesting, 'Kit."  Kevin, Thomas, and Kelly entered the room.  "Ah, you're here."

            "What's on your mind, Wilykat?" Kevin asked.

            "I've been wondering about MotherBrain," Wilykat said.  "I just don't want her to pick on our pals."

            Wilykit said, "I know you're concerned, Wilykat."

            "Indeed, I am, and deeply so.  Wilykit, don't we consider Tygra our father?"

            "Well, of course!"

            "Then shouldn't we do something about this?  At least to tell them?  If we consider Tygra our father and the Tygra-twins our sisters, then we ought to warn them somehow.  Do you not agree?"

            "-Sigh.-  Now that you put it like that, I must consider your suggestion.  Darn it.  Maybe. . . maybe we could use our telepathy, brother, to give Cheetara, Troi, the Steeltwins, Zelda, and others an exceptionally suspicious feeling."

            Wilykat smiled at his sister's cunning.  "Suspicious enough, perhaps, to watch the Brain-Team more carefully and to be on guard more?"

            "Yes, my dear Wilykat."

            "Not bad, sister!"

            "What if they need more convincing?" Kevin asked.

            "Hm.  I may know someone who can help," said Wilykit.  "Jaga!  I request your assistance."

            Blue light shone in the room, and Jaga appeared to Wilykit and Wilykat.  "Greetings, Wilytwins," Jaga said.  "I heard your call."

            "Have you witnessed what has transpired?"

            "Yes, good Wilykit.  You were right about your daughter's strength in forging the Sword that I created.  Your history knowledge is excellent.  What assistance do you require?"

            "I assume you know of MotherBrain, Luna, and S-s-slithe's recently concocted plan to smash the N-Team."

            "Yes."

            "Well, 'Kat and I shall send a telepathic message to arouse the suspicions of empathic and telepathic N-Team members, as well as some others, in hopes that they will be quite alert to the Brain-Team's activities.  If it doesn't work, I'd like you to tell Lion-O about the villains' plot.  I realise that your connection to him is considerably weaker now, but please do it."

            "I will, Wilykit.  I understand and approve of your motives.  Ludwig should not be allowed to get that Ring.  I saw the terrible things Alberich did with it, and Ludwig would only unlock the power to a far greater potential."

            "Thank you much, Jaga."  Jaga wrapped his cloak around himself and vanished.  "Jaga will do it."

            "That's fortunate," said Kevin.

            "Well, 'Kit, let's transmit our signal," Wilykat said.

            "Yes, Wilykat."  They both closed their eyes and concentrated.

            * * *

            Command Centre, Hawkhaven, Limbo, Milky Way Galaxy, Q-niverse.

            Tygra and his daughter Chatonne were speaking with Steelheart and Steelwill in the Command Centre of Hawkhaven.  "So," asked Tygra, "you think this affair concerning that dreaded Ring will end soon?"

            "Call it a hunch," Steelheart said.  "I believe I'm right, but I could well be mistaken."

            Chatonne said, "Leading the Thunder Cats is a bit stressful, but Gatinha and I have managed."

            "You two do pretty well," said Tygra.  "Wilykit and Wilykat should be proud when they get back."

            Steelheart's expression changed slightly.  "Something's wrong," she said.

            "Yeah," agreed Steelwill.  "But. . . but what?"

            "I feel it, too," Chatonne said.  "Maybe Mom feels it, Dad."

            "Maybe," agreed Tygra.  He tapped his communicator.  "Tygra to Cheetara."

            "Cheetara here, Tygra," Cheetara responded.  "What is it, dear?"

            "Chatonne and the Steeltwins just felt an odd feeling that something's wrong.  Do you sense it?"

            "Why, yes.  Yes, I do.  What could it mean?"

            "I'm not sure, but I'm sure it's no mere coincidence that four people simultaneously feel that something's wrong.  Thank you, Cheetara."

            "Love you, Tygra."

            "I love you, too.  Talk to you later."  He tapped his communicator.  "Hm.  Maybe Jaga just might visit Lion-O about this.  I'm having a weird feeling, too, now."

            "Maybe certain others feel this," Steelheart said.  She tapped her communicator.  "Steelheart to Counsellor Troi."

            "Troi here, Commander," said Troi.  "Might you be calling to ask if I am having some weird feeling?"

            "Yes, in fact.  Five other people, including me, I know have the feeling.  You do, of course."

            "Yes.  I doubt that it is mere coincidence."

            "Not likely.  I wonder if someone's trying to get us on our guard."

            "That person would be trusting us to figure this out."

            "Wilykit and Wilykat!" exclaimed Tygra.

            "Hm!  Thank you, Counsellor.  Talk to you later," said Steelheart.

            "Any time, Commander," Troi said.  "Talk to you later."

            Steelheart tapped her communicator.  "What might Wilykit and Wilykat be warning us about, Tygra?"

            "Somehow, I believe the Sword of Omens has been reforged," said Tygra.  "I just have that feeling.  Suppose, then, that Wilykit found out something with the Eye of Thundera, something that our enemies could be plotting."

            "You seem very certain, Tygra."

            "I know, what I'm saying makes little logical sense."

            "Well, that wasn't to mean, however, that I do not believe you.  It makes sense to me.  Would you call Lion-O?"

            "Sure," Tygra said.  "I know what you're getting at."  He tapped his communicator.  "Lion-O, this is Tygra."

            "Hello, Tygra," greeted Lion-O.  "Is all well?"

            "I'm not sure, friend.  Has Jaga visited you?"

            "No.  What's going on?"

            "A few telepaths in the N-Team feel something's wrong.  We're speculating that Wilykit and Wilykat are trying to warn us of something.  I think her daughter's repaired the Sword and that Wilykit has seen some villainous activity through the Eye."

            "Well, then, I'll let you know if I hear from Jaga."

            "Thank you, Lion-O.  Talk to you later."

            "All right, Tygra."  Tygra tapped his communicator.

            Steelheart called, "Quicksilver."

            Quicksilver rose from his terminal and went over to Steelheart.  "Yes, Steelheart?"

            "Colonel, could you send Tally-Hawk out to Brim*Star?  I have this odd feeling something's going on."

            "Yes, Commander."  He tapped some buttons on his wrist-remote, which controlled Tally-Hawk.  Tally-Hawk flew out of the hangar, below, and out to Brim*Star.

            "Thank you, Quick," Steelheart said.  "I dislike being uneasy about anything."

            "If you'll come to my terminal, Commander, I'll show you what Tally-Hawk sees when he sees it."  Steelheart, Will, Tygra, and Chatonne gathered at Quicksilver's terminal, where Quicksilver was showing what Tally-Hawk was seeing.  The stars indicated that he was on his way to Brim*Star.

            * * *

            Control Room, Brim*Star, Limbo.

            Mon*Star paced his control room in front of his lofty throne.  "When will Mumm-ra seize that blasted Ring?" the Planet Master demanded impatiently.  "I hate waiting!"

            "Boss!" exclaimed Yes-Man.  "The Plundarrian Bird-of-Prey Jägare {yeh-gah-ráy}, Lord S-s-slithe's ship and the flagship of the Plundarrian Military, has decloaked above Brim*Star.  Yes, yes!"  Something beeped on the control panel.  "Ooh!  They request permission to beam into this room, boss."

            "Send the permission up to them."

            "Certainly, boss."  Yes-Man did as Mon*Star had commanded.

            "Is that Reptilian crazy?  Those Silver Hawks will vehemently express their disapproval of it being up there."

            Malcolm Frink entered.  "Ha, ha, I've done it, Mon*Star!"  he laughed.  "I have the specifications for the Sound Smasher and all the other musical instrument weapons employed by the N-Team.  I have given them to Hardware for analysis."

            "Good work, Malcolm," said Mon*Star.  MotherBrain, S-s-slithe, and Luna and Amok beamed down.  "Welcome to Brim*Star, my comrades."

            "Thank you, Planet Mas-s-ster," S-s-slithe said.

            "But why did you bring that ship?  The Silver Hawks may take pot-shots."

            "Hee, hee!  We will not be here that long," MotherBrain said.

            Yes-Man saw something alarming on the monitors.  "Ah, boss. . ."

            "Not now, Yes-Man!" snapped Mon*Star.

            "Boss, every time I try to tell you something important and you tell me to shut up, those Silver Hawks succeed in something!" snapped Yes-Man with uncharacteristic boldness.  "Tally-Hawk is on sensors!"

            "Oh, he is, yes-s-s?" S-s-slithe.  "Heh!  Leave that to me!  Yes-s-s!"  He tapped a comm-key on his bracelet.  "General S-s-slithe to Admiral Monkian.  Do you read me, ol' pal?"

            "I read you, S-s-slithe," Monkian replied.

            "You detect Tally-Hawk, yes-s-s?"

            "Hoo, hoo!  Yes, S-s-slithe."

            "Capture the tin parrot and shut his-s-s eyes, yes-s-s?  We can't afford him overhearing what we're telling Mon*Star."

            "Sure thing, boss.  Hoo, hoo!"  S-s-slithe cut the comm-link.

            On the screen, everyone saw a massive net emerge from the Jägare, swoop up Tally-Hawk, and draw him into the ship.  "Ha, ha!  Now where were we?  Ah, yes-s-s!  Mon*S-s-star, you should know that Luna, MotherBrain, and I have devised a plan to cripple the N-Team.  It will be a simultaneous strike on all parts of the N-Team, yes-s-s."

            "This interests me," Mon*Star said, his Star*Eye shining.

            "The whole Brain-Team shall synchronise the assault," MotherBrain said.  "We shall bring the unsuspecting N-Team to its knees so that, when Ludwig gains der Ring des Nibelungen in a few days, we shall only have to deal with Wilykit, Wilykat, Johanna, Johannes, Captain N, and Thomas and Kelly Keene."

            "Oh, I like it!" said Mon*Star.  "What if the N-Team is prepared?"

            "Then my powers shall crush them!"  To demonstrate, she used an invisible jolt of energy to smack Yes-Man in the head and knock him on the floor.

            "Yike!" exclaimed Yes-Man.  He got back up.

            "Very well, MotherBrain," Mon*Star said.  "We'll prepare to assault the Silver Hawks with everything we can muster."

            "S-s-superb," S-s-slithe said.

            Luna said, "Malcolm, your services will be required on Earth 20 362."

            "Very well," Malcolm said.  "I shall inform Sandra and Kilokahn that we are to attack the Syber-Squad on your signal.  I have some digital legions waiting for them!  Hmm, hmm!"

            "One stipulation, though," MotherBrain said.  "No N-Team member is to be permanently damaged."

            "Very well," Mon*Star and Malcolm agreed simultaneously.

            "Excellent," Luna said.  "We shall now return to the Jägare and zip over to Darkwing's Earth to confer with the Fearsome Ten."

            "And," added S-s-slithe, "we shall take proper care of Tally-Hawk, yes-s-s!  Ha, ha!"

            "Go ahead," Mon*Star said.  "You caught that rotten bird unfairly and unsquarely."

            * * *

            Command Centre, Hawkhaven, Limbo.

            The Silver Hawks, Tygra, and Chatonne saw the whole conversation.  "Luckily, Tally-Hawk could see through the walls and the hull of the Jägare, and the computer can read lips and provide the appropriate voices," Quicksilver said.  "I assume going after Tally-Hawk would let them know we're on to them."

            "Definitely," Steelheart said.  "We'll rescue him later.  I don't think they'll permanently injure him.  The whole team should know to be prepared, including the X-Men in the X-iverse.  Tygra and Chatonne, you two inform the Thunder Cats.  Will, you tell the Justice Ducks.  Quicksilver, go inform the N-Team Base and the Mario-Team.  I'll go tell the Enterprise-Team after I've told all the Hawks."

            "Yes, Steelheart," Quicksilver, Steelwill, Tygra, and Chatonne said in unison.  They all left.  Steelheart then told all the other Silver Hawks about the evil ones' plot.

            * * *

            Wilykit, Wilykat, and Kevin's Cave, Rhineland, Hyrule, X-iverse.

            In the basement, Wilykit was finishing her task of forging the Master Sword.  She finished sealing the blade, which she had repaired thoroughly, into the hilt.

            "Nice job, 'Kit," Wilykat said.

            "Thanks, bro," said Wilykit.  "Now, it is quite strong again."

            "I'm glad."  Wilykit struck the anvil and split it in two, and the pieces fell to the floor in a loud crash.  "Ooh!  Very good."

            "Thanks, 'Kat.  I wonder if it still blasts beams."  She pointed the sword absently at her brother as she examined it.  As she was thinking, the sword shot a beam directly at Wilykat!  It did not harm his body, but it burned off the chest area of the clothing he had on.  "Oops."

            "-Sigh.-  Luckily, that wasn't my usual outfit," Wilykat said.  "Wilykit, next time, be more careful with that thing before you shoot at a non-Q!"

            Wilykit smiled, embarrassed.  "Sorry, bro.  I was thinking, but. . . I wasn't. . . thinking, exactly."  She hooked the sword by the hilt in her belt, then went over to him.  "Are you okay?"

            "Sure am." Wilykit looked in his eyes. . . unintentionally for too long.  He frowned in reply.  "Don't."

            "What?" she asked innocently.

            "And don't try to deceive me, either.  Don't think I can't see what you want by your eyes alone."

            "All right.  Can you blame anyone for at least being attracted to you?"

            "No.  That matters little to me.  I just don't want you to act on those feelings."

            "Now, you are lying.  As you know, Wilykat, in Thunderian society, it's perfectly acceptable for male-female twins to have the same sort of physical relationship as a husband and wife would, and a Thunderian can even have both at the same time. . . a female with her brother and with her husband.  You knew it even before I did."

            "Sure, I did.  Let's just. . . let's just not do it right now, okay?  I don't feel comfortable with that sort of relationship.  I haven't even made love with Jayna yet."

            "You're just really tense about this."  As she moved closer to him, he involuntarily backed away.  He made a small yelp when he bumped into the wall.  "Are you scared?"

            "Wh-who, me?  Scared?"  He kept as close to the wall as possible as she neared him.

            When their faces were only millimetres apart, Wilykit whispered, "Good."  When she pressed her lips against his, he fought back for a few seconds.  Then, he relaxed, put his arms around her, and returned the kiss.  When they stopped, Wilykit said, "It was much better when you stopped fighting it."

            "I know.  Why don't we finish this later?  We'll have all night to ourselves."

            "Sure.  Or maybe. . ."

            "Not now, okay?" he whispered.

            "All right."  Hugging closely, they kissed again.

            When they heard steps coming down the stairs, they stopped and quietly returned to their original positions.  Kevin and Thomas entered the room.  "Hello, guys," Kevin said.

            "What happened, Wilykat?" asked Thomas, concern on his face, as he saw the burnt shirt.

            "Oh, I got a bit careless with the Master Sword," Wilykit said as if she could hit herself in the head for her stupidity.  "While not paying any attention to where I was pointing it, I was wondering how to get it to shoot beams, and then it shot a beam at him."

            "I wasn't hurt," said Wilykat, "but this shirt is ruined."

            Kevin said, "Wilykit, I'd be a bit more careful with that thing.  It's not exactly the Sword of Omens.  You could really have hurt a non-Q."

            "Yes, I know, Kevin," she said.

            "Don't worry about this occurrence," said Wilykat.  "You harmed nothing, save a replicated shirt."

            "Oh, well.  -Sigh.-  What matters is no one was hurt by my stupid accident.  Well, I guess it's about time for dinner."

            "I'll go get my regular clothes on," Wilykat said.  "Then, I'll prepare the food."

            "Certainly, bro."

            * * *

            Mumm-ra's Pyramid, Rhineland.

            Ludwig and Larry arrived in the tomb chamber, where Mumm-ra was waiting for them.  "Greetings, evil leaders," Mumm-ra said.  "You wished to see me?"

            "Yes," Ludwig said.  "MotherBrain, Luna, and S-s-slithe have devised a plan to take out the N-Team members who are in the Q-niverse.  This is absolutely perfect because now, Wilykit will refuse to leave until after her offspring have their opportunity to keep you from getting the Ring."

            "Ha!  They will not prevent me from doing that."

            "I know that, Mumm-ra.  Now, let's see.  What about Agahnim?"

            "He is in the Light World, and he's laying the foundations for the disasters that will eventually cause the king to ask all over for help.  Agahnim will trick the king by quelling the disasters and making everyone think that he is benevolent."

            "Excellent.  Too bad the Ganon of this universe is no longer around to torment this world's Link."

            "Indeed."

            "Well, we shall leave things in your capable hands, Mumm-ra.  We are going to help MotherBrain."

            "Very well, Ludwig.  I shall be either here or at Ganon's Tower until Brünnhilde attempts to return the Ring to the Rhinemaidens, except that tomorrow morning, I shall spy on the Norns and then on Siegfried's departure from Brünnhilde.  At the time that she attempts to return the Ring to the Rhinemaidens, of course, I shall strike as planned."

            "Great.  See you later, my evil comrade."  Ludwig snapped his fingers, and he and Larry disappeared.

            Mumm-ra commanded, "Ancient Spirits of Evil, grant me the form of Ganon, the Prince of Darkness!"  He was transformed into the evil Ganon.  "Hee, hee!  Ma-mutt!"  Ma-mutt came out of the sarcophagus.  "My dear doggie, I want you to spy on Wilykit's little brats for the next few days."  The mutt yipped and nodded.  It turned into a forest bird and flew off.  Then, Mumm-ra snapped his fingers and teleported himself to Ganon's Tower.

            * * *

            Wilykit, Wilykat, and Kevin's Cave, Rhineland.

            Later, after dinner, Johanna was reading some history with great fascination on a computer terminal while sitting in the living room.  Thomas came into the room.  They looked at each other for several seconds.  Then, with a smile, Johanna said, "Hello, Thomas."

            "If it is possible, my emotions are driven even more strongly to you now than before," Thomas said quite logically, though his eyes betrayed his true mood.  It might be noted that he allowed them to do so, because although his feelings were more powerful than anything he had ever felt before, he still could control them if he needed to.

            "You must be very strong to retain the logic in your voice even when you're so powerfully attracted to me."

            "I don't recall ever losing control before.."  He went slowly over to her.  "I do, however, feel some fear at losing my control."

            "Do you ever consciously release your control?"

            "Not very often.  Most of the time, when I want to show my feelings, I usually just show them in my appearance, very rarely in the way I speak, except for seeping a little bit in."

            Johanna got up and moved over to him.  "Would you lose control if I touched you?"

            "No, I believe not."  Johanna took his right hand in her hands.  As he put his left hand on her right hand, she felt a staggering amount of emotional warmth from him.  "I can't say that I feel out of control."

            "Oh, God, I mustn't have any control at all compared to you," she said very subjectively, her voice greatly contrasting Thomas's voice.  "It's nearly impossible for me to resist these strong, flooding feelings."

            Thomas's tone remained thoroughly objective.  The only subjectivity was the slight decrease of volume and a tender edge on the very extent of his voice, but Johanna could pick up even this slight nuance of difference.  "In several days, you won't have to resist them.  After you have returned the Ring to the Rhinemaidens, we shall be able to spend quite a bit of time together.  I may even speak to you in an entirely subjective tone."

            "Thomas, I love you."

            Now he spoke with a bit more tenderness, though his voice was still predominantly logical in tone.  He was carefully shading his voice.  "I love you, too, Johanna."  He kissed her on the left cheek, and then she kissed him on his left cheek.  "Oh, boy," he said thoroughly objectively now.  "Dad said the feeling would be strong.  He did not reveal the half of it."

            "Ha, ha!  It feels great."

            "Yes."  He smiled warmly at her.  "I would not mind feeling it again."

            "Oh, Thomas!"  They hugged each other.  "Do you think your control would be in danger if we kissed. . . you know, for real?"

            "No.  Shall we see?"  He pressed his lips affectionately against hers, and they kissed for a couple of seconds.

            Whey they had finished, she said, "Ooh, that feels great."

            "Yes, it does," he said, once more in an objective tone.

            "How am I supposed to know how it made you feel?  You're being thoroughly objective now."

            "Trust me, you don't want me to act emotionally until we're ready to perform that certain action.  Wilykit told my father that I had emotions much more powerful than those of other humans, and their reaction was to teach me such logical control that it was unparalleled in humans and unnecessary for most.  Many firstborn males in my family have had that problem, and that control was sort of passed down from generation to generation.  My grandfather was not entirely successful with my father, for my father has instants where his control is completely thrown aside, but Wilykit and my father succeeded almost too well with me.  But if I let down my control, my feelings will drive me to something we shouldn't do now.  I do feel them, and I can gauge from their intensity what would happen if I let them loose."

            "All right, Thomas."  In a more caring manner, she hugged him a little tighter.  He could easily tell the big difference in the feelings she was expressing even by the slight change of nuances in the way she was holding him.  When they looked in each other's eyes, they saw how much they truly cared for each other already.

            Thomas allowed some tenderness into his voice.  "I can see we care for each other quite a bit."

            "Yes," she said, now trying to control her feelings.  It was very difficult for her to do.  They released each other.  "Oh, God.  It's getting much harder for me to control my feelings."

            "Well, that's natural.  The only thing that would have the possibility of totally snapping my control would be if someone severely threatened my sister or intentionally caused her great harm."

            "If someone did that to my brother, I'd do a bit more than lose control."

            "Also, I would never hesitate to protect my father."

            "That's very loyal of you, Thomas.  My mom says Kevin is one of the bravest, most intelligent people she knows."

            "Yes, and she's right.  I think heroic feelings have a tendency to come naturally to my family.  I feel it in him, my sister, and me when he tells of the good things that he's done."  He smiled.  "Your mother's told us of some things that she and Wilykat have done, too."

            "There seem to be some feelings that you express readily."

            "I have absolutely no problem controlling my feelings of tenderness or those of amusement, basically anything that causes me to smile in good humour, so I usually let many of those sorts of feelings manifest themselves.  My concern is repressing those feelings that could cause me to do something I shouldn't."  He smiled.  "Like fussing at my spying sister, for example."

            Kelly entered the room from hiding.  "Drat it, Thomas!  How do you always know?"

            "I'm not sure, but why would I tell you even if I knew how I know?  Tell me, why were you spying on me?"

            "-Sigh.-  I was trying to make sure you were all right, little brother.  After all, I am your big sister."

            "So," Johanna said, "Thomas isn't. . . but I was thinking he was the heir to the throne."

            "Was that the primary reason for your interest in me?" asked Thomas.  He knew it was not, but he wanted to see her reaction.

            "No way!  I do love you, Thomas, really.  I just. . . thought. . ."

            "You thought he was older because he acts more serious," Kelly said.  "Don't worry about that.  Sometimes, I think he should have come out first, but then I think about the qualities I have that both he and Father have told me about, and I believe that I properly came out first."

            "Of course, I'm heir after her, until she bears a legitimate child," said Thomas.

            "You don't have mad feelings for Johannes, do you?" Johanna asked Kelly.

            "Not in the sense of what you and Thomas have, but I do like him.  I think the four of us could be very good friends."

            Johanna smiled.  "Well, I agree with that."  She then made a stern expression.  "Hm.  A brother of mine ought to come out in the open rather than hiding."

            Johannes came out.  "Shucks, Johanna.  What fun is it to watch you and Thomas when you know I'm here?"

            "Espionage for pleasure isn't very nice, Johannes."

            "I saw the way you kissed him.  I could swear you nearly. . ."

            "All right!  Be quiet before I lose my temper, Wily-johannes!"

            "Oh, okay."

            Thomas said, "Johannes, it isn't very smart to irritate people intentionally."

            "No, I guess not.  So, what now, guys."

            Johanna said, "I guess I'd better keep some space between Thomas and myself before I do lose control until he and I are ready to spend time together."

            "I tend to agree," said Thomas.  "I'm going to bed, Kelly.  You do what you want and come whenever you want to."

            "Sure, Thomas."  Thomas went into his and Kelly's room."

            "Oh, gosh, he looks gorgeous," Johanna said quietly, nearly gawking.

            Smiling, Kelly quietly said to her, "Wait until you see him thoroughly unclothed.  First time I did, I felt certain feelings, which I repressed immediately.  They were entirely physical in nature."

            "Do you have the control that Kevin and Wilykit taught him?"

            "Not as much, but I picked up a little.  For some reason, firstborn male Keenes have terribly powerful emotions, and those feelings must be controlled.  Fortunately, most Keenes also have a powerful capacity to control feelings logically and objectively.  My emotions are only three fourths as powerful as his, and his are four times as powerful as normal human emotions.  The trait is repressive in females, but my mother had strong emotions, so I guess I inherited quite a bit of the powerful Keene emotions.  However, I have more instinctive control than he does.  Most of his is learned, though he rarely has to use all his control, just about a third of it most of the time."  She smiled.  "But he never restrains his sweetness.  He's always nice to me, even when I do something that would really annoy any other brother."

            Johannes said, "Then woe in the most extreme would be to the person who thoroughly cracked all his control and aroused his wrath.  The most patient man, when finally roused to anger, exhibits the most terrible display of anger."

            "Physically, we're pretty strong, also some genetic tendency," said Kelly.

            "So, you've seen him unclothed?"

            "The three of us - my father, my brother, and I - occasionally see each other thoroughly naked, and Thomas and I see each other like that almost every day now.  There's nothing wrong with it, according to Father.  Nothing has come of it."

            Johanna said, "Then Mom was right about that."  She yawned.  "Oh, gosh.  Bro, I'm going to bed.  You can come along when you're ready."

            "Sure, Johanna," Johannes said.  Johanna left to her and Johannes's bedroom.  "Well, in a way I'm glad you don't love me like that because I wouldn't share it, Kelly."

            "So, we're friends.  That makes me happy enough, Johannes.  I love everyone that's been here, but you and Johanna are new to me."

            "Well, everyone here's practically new to us.  We remember facts and people, but we don't thoroughly recall the experiences.  However, the moment Mother hugged me, I instantly recognised that it was really she.  And we'll have to wait a few more days to really get to know all of you.  In my opinion, you look more. . . more feminine than Brünnhilde.  She was pretty in a warrior sort of way, but there's something I like better about the way you look."

            "Thank you, Johannes.  I don't get the impression you hand out compliments all the time."

            "No.  I seem to recall another twinned pair of children who are our age."

            "Heinrich and Liselotte, Link and Zelda's kids?"

            "Yeah!  I wonder if maybe we'll like them in. . . a certain way."

            "Possibly, Johannes."

            In his robe, Kevin came out from his bedroom.  "Oh, hi!" he greeted.  "Are you just talking, or has something new developed?"

            "We're just talking, Daddy," said Kelly.  "We'll just be friends.  Very close, maybe, but we don't have what Thomas and Johanna have."

            "That's thoroughly all right, Kelly.  What are those two up to, now that you mention them?"

            "They're not together, if that's what you mean," Johannes said.  "Captain N. . ."

            "You can call me Kevin."

            "Kevin, how well did you know Johanna's and my father?"

            "I wish I could have known him a lot better, but he's a very good person.  I could call up a picture of Wesley Crusher on the computer terminal if you'd like."

            "Sure."  Kevin went over to the table and held a button on the computer terminal.  "Computer, show a recent image of Wesley Crusher."  An image of Wesley Crusher appeared on the terminal.  He was smiling pleasantly for the picture.

            Johannes and Kelly looked at the picture.  Kelly said, "Golly, this team sure has a lot of handsome guys."

            Kevin smiled at her.  "Including your dear father?"

            Kelly smiled back, her arms crossed.  "Why, you're the handsomest guy I ever saw.  It's a wonder you and Mother didn't have Thomas and me earlier."

            "Ha, ha!  We first made love quite a long time after we met.  However, Wesley and Wilykit were rather crazy about each other.  It took one fifteen-minute conversation for them to lay the foundations, so to speak, and the job was very thorough.  That Lana and I didn't react so strongly is partly because of my reserve.  I fell completely in love with her the second I first saw her, but I waited to make sure it was really serious.  She made the first real move to a relationship.  I think she was nervous to start it.  When she asked if I wanted to go out, I was utterly perplexed.  Actually, we almost made love the same day, but we were interrupted by MotherBrain's foul goons."

            "Ugh," Kelly said.  "Well, if I were she and met someone as handsome and yet as sweet and kind as any of the four guys here and if I felt strong attraction, I'd probably make the first move very quickly."

            "Well, I guess I was also waiting for Lana to be ready.  For some time, she was not ready to express her feelings of love to me, and I'm not the type to force those feelings out of anyone."

            "Well, my father is very good-looking," Johannes said.  "I think I can see what first drew Mother to him.  If I were a girl, I'd probably be attracted to him, too."

            "You have a little of him in you," Kelly said.  "You look more like your uncle, but you still look a little like your father."

            "Something concerns me, Kelly," said Kevin.  "Will you get sick if you see MotherBrain in person again?"

            "I doubt it, Father.  The first instance of her appearance just struck such surprise and revulsion because I hadn't seen her in person before, even her animated hologram.  I don't think I will react that extremely again."

            "At least you didn't react that way when you saw Mumm-ra the first time."

            "He's ugly, but I don't think he's as ugly as she is."

            "Ah."

            Johannes said, "Well, I'm going to bed.  Good night, guys."

            "Good night, Johannes," Kelly said.

            "Good night," said Kevin.  Johannes went into his and Johanna's room.