Two days have passed and the four Mutants practiced their 'Fire', 'Ice' & 'Lightning' spells. Exodes came and began the test...

Exodes: I've now come to see how far you've done in your studying. Slythe, I want you to cast, 'Fire2'.

Slythe closed his eyes, folded his hands and began focusing. After 10 seconds of preparation, Slythe quickly opened his eyes and shouted "FIRE2!!!". He sent a fireball that burned several trees.

Exodes: Very good Slythe. Monkian, I want you to cast 'Ice'.

Monkian closed his eyes, folded his hands and began focusing. After 5 seconds of preparation, Monkian quickly opened his eyes and shouted "ICE!". He sent a snowstorm that put out the flames that was made by Slythe's "Fire2" spell.

Exodes: I'm impressed. Jackalman, I want you to cast 'Lightning3'. Don't be discouraged if you fail. No one always gets it right all the time."

Jackalman closed his eyes, folded his hands and began focusing. He continued his chanted for 30 seconds... just then, he shouts "Lightning3!!!" A violent lightning bolt hit the ground and make an explosion that was heard for miles away.

Exodes: "I see you've been studying well. I congratulate you all. Vultureman, this is for extra credit. I want you to cast 'Bio'."
Vultureman: "Cawww... what the hell is that?"
Exodes: "It's an attack spell that used viruses for attack. It's strong and it leaves the enemy poisoned afterwards. Look, there's a target. I want you to use 'Bio' on that chocobo."
Vultureman: "If you wish..."

Vultureman folded his hands, closed his eyes and focused. After about 20 seconds of concentration he shouted "BIO!". Millions of tiny viruses attacked the chocobo and left it sick and near death. The chocobo ran away as fast as it could.

Exodes: "You've done well. You've passed this first part of the Black Magic test. Now there are other spells you must learn in the Black Magic set. There's 'Venom' and it's stronger version 'Bio', both are attacks based on poison. There is also the 'Drain Life' spell, which takes the life force of one living thing, and gives it to you. Be sure not to use it on the undead or it will backfire on you. The 'Quake' spell is pretty self-explanatory. It just an earthquake. There is no protection from the 'Quake' spell except the 'Float' spell. The 'Flare' spell is a very hard... and it's the most powerful of all the Black Magic spells. It unleashes an inferno on an enemy and it cuts for all magical defenses. It doesn't matter if your opponent has 'Magic Wall', 'Safe' or 'Shell'... 'Flare' will make its mark no matter what. Last but not least, there's 'Dispel'. This spell will remove any special enchantments your opponent may have cast on him or herself. It doesn't matter if the enemy has 'Magic Wall', 'Safe', 'Shell', 'Float', 'Fast'... it doesn't matter. Dispel remove it all."
Slythe: "But are there any spells that will send the enemy to death instantly, yes?"
Exodes: "There are some... for instance, 'Death' is pretty self-explanatory. 'X-Zone' sends the enemy to the Astral Plane, killing it instantly. But it never works all the time."

Exodes gives the four Mutants another book on Black Magic each.

Exodes: "I want you to study the spells of 'Bio', 'Venom', 'Dispel' & 'Flare'. When you master these spells, you can move one to Jikuu Magic. I will be back tomorrow. Also remember this. You're magic power will grow as long as you continue to use magic. The more you practice, the stronger you become."

Exodes left the scene so the others can practice for their second Black Magic test.

Vultureman: "This is getting monotonous. How long to we have to learn this stuff?"
Monkian: "Hoo-hoo.. think about it. If we learn enough magic, then we may have enough power to defeat the ThunderCats once and for all."
Slythe: "We also have to exterminate this child, this child of Thunderian royalty & Angeleese warriorhood as he calls it... who could he be talking about anyway?
Jackalman: "It bet you 1000 Plundarian Dinars that he's talking about Lion-O when he says 'Thunderian royalty'. Who else could it be?"
Slythe: "You're right. He's the only known 'Thunderian royalty' we all know of, but what about 'Angeleese warriorhood'?
Vultureman: "I think I know... the mother could be from the distant planet of Angelus."
Monkian: "What the hell is Angelus?"
Vultureman: "I've heard stories about a planet where men and women can wield sword and master magic, called 'Black Paladins'. I heard a rumor that Mumm-Ra came from that planet. This woman from Angelus must've came to New Thundera and married Lion-O."
Jackalman: "Well, we'll cross that bridge when we get to it... let's practice our spells. Nya-ha-ha."

The four Mutants began practicing.

Slythe: "'VENOM!' ... hmm... Nothing happened.
Vultureman: "..... 'FLARE!"

Vultureman made a raging inferno with his 'Flare' spell.

Vultureman: "I did it! I've actually did the 'Flare' spell!
Monkian: "Vultureman, that's good... but look!"
Vultureman: "HOLY SHIT!"

Vultureman's 'Flare' spell caused a forest fire. They were all in a panic.

Slythe: "You're birdbrain! You made a forest fire!"
Jackalman: "I know what can be done to fix this..."
Slythe: "You do know how to put the flames out, yesss?"

Jackalman closed his eyes, put his hands together and began focusing. After about 20 seconds of concentration he quickly opened his eyes and shouted "ICE3!!!" Immediately, a tremendous blizzard came down from the heavens and put out the fire, but it made the immediate are feel like winter.

Slythe: "You put out the fire, but now it's so cold out here!"
Jackalman: "You'll thaw out soon enough."

The next day, Exodes came to test the four Mutants. He tested them all and it turns out that they indeed master all the magic spells of Black Magic, big and small. And now... onto the Jikuu Magic lesson...

Exodes: "I'm very impressed that the four of you were able to master all of the Black Magic spells. Not one of my pupils ever mastered all the Black Magic spells. I commend you all. Next is your lesson on Jikuu Magic."
Vultureman: "Caww.. what does 'Jikuu' mean anyway?"
Exodes: "Vultureman, 'Jikuu' really means 'Time And Space'. 'Ji' means time, 'Kuu' means space. Jikuu Magic affects time and space."
Monkian: "Can you make yourself faster with that stuff?"
Exodes: "You can do more that than! I lot more."
Monkian: "Hoo-hoo... what is there?"
Exodes: "With Jikuu magic, you can make yourself go faster or slower, makes comets rain from the sky, even cut your opponent's life force in half, or even one quarter as well. I will show you all right now."

While Exodes was talking he was going up in the air. The four mutants were astonished.

Slythe: "Amazing! How did you do that?"
Exodes: "That is the 'Float' spell. With it, traps will not affect you and you will be immune to the 'Quake' spell. 'Fast' & 'Slow' are pretty much self explanatory. If you can cast 'Demi' on your opponent, the enemy's life force is cut in half. 'Quarter' is much stronger, it can leave the opponent with just 1/4 of its own life force. Keep in mind that doesn't always work. The 'Comet' spell sends just a comet from the heavens to the enemy, but 'Meteo', the strongest of all 'Jikuu' spells can send a huge meteor shower to the enemy, causing some serious damage."
Jackalman: "Are there any magic spells that affect magic and physical attacks, as in protection of some sort?"
Exodes: "Just the 'Safe' and 'Shell' spells. 'Safe' protects you from physical attacks and 'Shell' protects you from magical attacks, however they're not very effective, but it's nice to know that the option is always open. Take these."

Exodes passes the four mutants books on Jikuu Magic. I want you to study these spells carefully. Be sure not to backfire. I will come back in three days. Then, I will test you, then I will teach you on your final lessons, Summoner's & Blue Magic."

Three days has passed. The four mutants studied their Jikuu Magic spells. Exodes came and tested them. Miraculously, they all passed. However, only Vultureman could master the 'Meteo' and the 'Quarter' spell.

100 miles away, the sickly chocobo made its way to a house. A young man came by and found the sick chocobo.

Butz: "Boco?! Boco, where are you?"
Boco: "WARK!"
Butz: "BOCO! WHAT HAPPENED TO YOU?"
Boco: "WARK! WARK!"
Butz: "Poor thing! Someone or something poisoned you. Don't worry, I'll make you feel better."

Butz concentrated and chanted an "Antidote" spell and cured Boco of his ailment.

Butz: "Poor thing. Who did this to you?"
Boco: "WARK! WARK! WARK!"
Butz: "Who?"
Boco: "WARK! WARK! WARK!"
Butz: "Exodes? Can't be! He's dead!"
Boco: "WARK! WARK!"
Butz: "So he's returned. I better go find the others. Boco, can you take me to Tycoon Castle?"
Boco: "WARK!"
Butz: "Good. Please take me there."
Boco: "WARK!"

Butz got on Boco's back and raced toward Tycoon Castle, so he can inform his friends.

Meanwhile, back on New Thundera, Hystalin is playing with her baby in the nursery. Cheetara, Pumyra (who came visiting) & Ailura are with her.

Hystalin: "How are you by little night flower?"
Nocti: "Goo goo..."
Hystalin: "You little angel. I love you so much."
Cheetara: "I still cannot get over it. The first child of New Thundera."
Pumyra: "She's so adorable!"
Ailura: "My my... my little niece is so cute!"
Pumyra: "Can I burp her Hyst?"
Hystalin: "I don't see why not..."

Pumyra carried baby Nocti and began patting gently on the baby's back until it burped.

Ailura: "So, when are you going to do it?"
Hystalin: "When she's a year old."
Cheetara: "Do what?"
Hystalin: "Well, it's Angeleese tradition to baptize the baby in the Pool of Radiance in New Angelus. Babies have been baptized in the Pool of Radiance for generations in my family."
Pumyra: "Are you going to tell him?"
Hystalin: "Of course, when Nocti's a year old."
Cheetara: "He's an understanding man. I know for sure he'll have no problems with it."
Hystalin: "Perhaps, but I hate keeping secrets."

Meanwhile, back on Planet R...

Exodes: "I'm proud of my little class. You've all mastered White Magic, Black Magic & Jikuu Magic. Now come your final lesson... Summoner's Magic & Blue Magic."
Jackalman: "Is there a difference between the two?"
Exodes: "Yes. Summoner's Magic is the act of using magic to summon monsters to attack the enemy. To do that, you must raise victorious against the enemy and must gain its life essence in the form of an esper. Blue Magic is magic learned by other monsters. To learn blue magic, you must be hit with your enemy's special technique. There is no set rules in either Summoner's Magic or Blue Magic... so therefore is it the most difficult to learn. I will send Ifrit here to help you. If you can win against him in a fight, he'll be your servant. I will send him here tomorrow."

Meanwhile, in Tycoon Castle, Butz arrive to inform the queen. Luckily, Princess Cara from another kingdom was visiting and Faris (Princess Sarisa) was in her room trying to talk her way from getting the chancellor to stop making her wear dresses.

Butz: "Queen Leena! Queen Leena!"
Queen Leena: "My friend, it's so good to see you again. What news do you bring here?"
Butz: "Queen Leena, I have bad tidings to bring."
Queen Leena: "Oh?"
Butz: "Exodes is still alive!"
Queen Leena: "What? Impossible! He's dead!"
Butz: "I know it's hard to believe, but it's true! My chocobo, Boco found him teaching four monsters magic, when he got hit with a "Bio" spell. He came to me very sickly when he told me. Lucky for him that I cured him."

Faris walked into the throne room complaining as usual.

Faris: "I swear, I wish you would stop making wear such... (gasp!) BUTZ!"
Butz: "Hello Faris."

Faris runs to Butz, but trips on her high heels and falls in his arms.

Butz: "Faris, are you okay?"
Faris: "It's nothing, I just slipped. So, what's new big guy?"
Butz: "Exodes is alive."
Faris: "NO WAY!"
Butz: "Way."
Faris: "How did this happen?"
Butz: "I don't know, but we should stop that monster at all costs."

Just then, Cara and her moogle walks in the throne room.

Faris: "Hi Cara! How are you?"
Cara: "Ok. What's up guys? How's everything?"
Queen Leena: "We're all fine. Butz came to visit."
Cara: "Hi Butz!"
Butz: "Hi Cara. I see you brought your moogle with you."
Moogle: "KUPO!"
Cara: "What is it?"
Moogle: "KUPO! KUPO!"
Cara: "Who?"
Moogle: "KUPO! KUPO! KUPO!"
Cara: "It can't be! Are you sure?"
Moogle: "KUPO!"
Cara: "Thank you so much little moogle."
Moogle: "THANKUPO!"
Cara: "Queen Leena, the rumors about the return of Exodes is true. Moogle has confirmed it."
Queen Leena: "So he has returned to as again..."
Cara: "Grandpa hasn't yet been avenged!"
Butz: "Don't worry Cara, we will avenge Galuf for sure."
Faris: "Does anyone know where Exodes is anyway?"
Moogle: "KUPO! KUPO! KUPO! KUPO!"
Cara:  "My moogle says that Exodes is in a forest south of Lix, teaching four mutants the five bases of Magic. It seems that he has given up this world and has decided to go after another planet... called New Thundera."
Queen Leena: "What does he want in that place?"
Moogle: "KUPO! KUPO!"
Cara: " It seems that he's going to take after that planet and to kill the 'Nina De Milagro'."
Faris: "We must go after that monster."
Queen Leena: "But we don't know where New Thundera is anyway. We must find Bahamut and ask him for his assistance."
Butz: "Very well..."

The next day, in the forest south of Lix...

Slythe: "Where is this Ifrit?"
Monkian: "Don't you mean, 'Who is Ifrit'?"
Slythe: "Perhaps. What could we be expecting with this guy?"
Vultureman: "Whoever he is, whatever he is, we have to beat that guy to move foreword, don't we?"
Jackalman: "Yeah, I cannot help it... what if we lose?"
Slythe: "Then we'll never face the ThunderCats with our new gifts, so we'd better remember our magic. One of us has to cast 'Libra' on him so we might know his strengths and weaknesses. Then when we find his weakness, we'll all exploit it until he falls. That sounds like a good plan, yesss?"
Monkian: "What if he make us near death?"
Slythe: "Then use either 'Keal' or 'Keal2'. What else?"
Vultureman: "Caww... I managed to master 'Arise' & 'Keal4', should the need for those arrive. So it's best to be ready for him, when he gets here."

A few minutes later...

Vultureman: "Do you hear something?"
Slythe: "It sounds like an earthquake."
Jackalman: "Do you think it..."
Monkian: "Hoo-hoo... IT IS! LOOK!"

The turn to they're side and find a horned demon consumed in fire.

Ifrit: "I am Ifrit. Exodes sent me here to test you four. Let's see if you're learned well..."

Then the fight begins. Monkian was the first to start. He chanted a 'Libra' spell on Ifrit and found that his weakness is 'Ice' attacks. Then everyone tried to exploit Ifrit's weakness. Slythe & Jackalman chanted 'Ice2' on Ifrit and Vultureman chanted 'Ice3'. The attack did serious damage to Ifrit. Ifrit then counterattacked with fire spells. Slythe chanted 'Keal3' heal his comrades, and the others continued to chant 'Ice' spells. Ifrit fell.

Ifrit: "You four have learned well. I will give you my life essence."

Ifrit shrunk into a crystal orb with a small fire inside. Exodes came.

Exodes: "You've all been very successful in your battle. That orb is the life essence known in this world as 'Espers'. Take it and Ifrit's Esper will be yours to control."

Slythe grabbed the esper and instantly, he became stronger.

Exodes: "You're learned all I can teach you. Now I will send you four to New Thundera to...
Butz: "NOT SO FAST!"
Exodes: "Huh?"

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