This story takes places several years after the Return!
Lion-O impatiently paced around his private chambers in the Cat's Lair. His wedding day was here! He should be excited. Thundera would soon have a queen and within a year hopefully an heir, the elders would be pleased. They had been pressing him for the past year to take a mate and continue the royal bloodline.
He looked at his reflection in the mirror for the hundredth time. His white tunic and boots were crisp and spotless. He gently rubbed his newly trimmed beard. Lions were one of the few species of cat that grew facial hair. In the days of Old Thundera, a full beard was a sign of strength among lions. He adjusted the crown on his head wanting to throw it across the room. He hated the trappings of monarchy. All of New Thundera would be watching, the pomp and splendor of the feline races would be on display today. There were more pressing matters to attend, he thought to himself. The new Thundercat recruits, mutual defense treaties, where the Mutants were hiding...he went over a hundred other things he would rather be doing today. He began pacing again.
"The anxious groom", a familiar voice said startling Lion-O. He quickly turned around to see his friend and chief advisor, Tygra dressed in the the gleaming white dress armor of the Thunderan Honor Guard, of which the tiger commanded.
Lion-O forced a smile and walked over to his friend and grasped forearms. "My mind is elsewhere today, old friend."
"Yes, on your lovely bride were is should be. Anxious to begin the honeymoon, I see", Tygra said grinning mischievously, playfully nudging Lion-O in the arm.
Lion-O raised an eyebrow and thought of his soon-to-be mate, Princess Amnextria. She was of a noble Lion clan thought survived the destruction of old Thundera. When the beacon went out to recall the refugees of the old dying planet, Amnextria's house was one of the first to arrive. She was beautiful by any standard. Long hair the color of honey and deep blue eyes that one could get lost in. Outwardly she was every bit the queen New Thundera needed. Strong, noble and warrior who was battle tested. Lion-O was physically attracted to her but there was little else between them. She was stunning but cold and rigid. She lacked compassion and Lion-O doubted if he would ever love her.
Tygra gave Lion-O a curious look. "Please don't tell me we have to have that talk. You do know what to do on your honeymoon, don't you?", the tiger playfully teased.
Lion-O laughed out loud. He was Lord of the Thundercats, his lovers during the days of restoring New Thundera were certainly not lacking. There was the lynx female, a member of the Honor Guard, his first time. She, he would never forget. She taught him many things. There was the petite ocelot, very agile and limber. The snow leopard healer...
Tygra smacked him upside the head gently, "Not the time to be thinking of your past conquests, Lion-O."
Lion-O rubbed the side of his head and readjusted his crown. Tygra always had a way of telling what his was thinking. Among his many mystic powers, Lion-O thought his tiger friend was telepathic as well.
"You can take as many concubines as you wish but Amnextria will be your queen", Tygra stated.
As Lord of the Thundercats and leader of New Thundera, he would have as many concubines as he wished but only a pure bred lion could be his queen. He didn't like it, but the conservative council of nobles insisted on it. "You are right my friend", he said taking a deep breathing and walking toward the door. "Let's not keep my queen waiting."
The weather was perfect. It was as if the Great Mother Bastet had personally blessed this day. Lion-O walked out of the Cat's Lair and gazed toward the clearing where his wedding would take place. He slowed his pace slightly and Tygra quickly grabbed his arm which forced him forward.
"Too late to back out now", the tiger said as he turned and shouted orders to the Honor Guard gathering around Lion-O. They were thirty in number. The guards, who represented at least one member of every cat species native to Thundera, were dressing in the same white armor as Tygra. Sleek, polished long swords hung from the side of each guard. Red cloaks whipped about as the occasional breeze blew. A trumpet sounded and the wedding procession began. The guards formed two lines, fifteen in each line and marched out, Tygra falling in step right behind them.
Twelve Thunderan maidens fell in step behind Tygra. All beautiful and dressed in silver breastplate armor, their midriffs bare. Each wore a kilt of deep red. Each maiden was noble-born. They moved with a practiced grace and stealth carrying a long bow, the weapon of a hunter. The Huntresses of Bastet, they served in the Cat's Lair. It was an old Thunderan tradition that the maiden daughters of the nobles served the Lord of the Thundercats for one year. Most began their duty at the age of sixteen, just before adulthood, to be selected a huntress was a great honor among the female cats of Thundera. This duty was to teach them humility as well as the continuation of the military skills most Thunderans learned. Along with providing food for staff and Royal Family of the Cat's Lair, they would serve the new queen as her personal guard.
Lion-O adjusted his cloak and fell in behind the huntresses. His long silver-gray cloak was held by six young Thunderan males, three on each side. These males were no more than cubs, six years old. Each was dressed in polished silver armor. Panthro's young son was one of their number. Lion-O glanced back and winked at young Hothi. He turned his attention toward the procession and walked behind the huntresses. Admiring the graceful sway of the hips of the young females in front of him, he quickly chided himself. They were maidens and would remain so along as they served in the Cat's Lair as was custom.
Several snarfs trotted behind the young males. It was tradition among the old noble families of Thundera to have snarfs as tutors and nannies. Lion-O without looking knew Snarf was beaming proudy as he walked in the procession. His tail held high as moved along the street. He could not imagine this day without Snarf being present. It was one of the few things that brought him joy on this day. Why did I agree to this, he thought. Did my father give in the the pressure of the council?
The citizens of new Thundera lined the streets. Flowers of every hue soon littered the ground. They cheered and shouted as Lion-O passed by. He smiled and waved as he walked along the path to the clearing. The nobles and leaders of new Thundera were seated around the glade. His procession stopped. The maiden huntresses and honor guard parted with praticed precision. Each kneeled as Lion-O strode down the path. Tygra was the only member of the procession who did not kneel. As Lion-O walked forward, Tygra bowed his head and matched Lion-O's pace. As his closet friend, he would stand beside Lion-O as he took his queen.
The two cats reached the entrance to the forest glade and waited. "Mabye she changed her mind", Lion-O whispered. Tygra tried to hold his composure as another trumpet blew.
"No such luck", he replied as Amnextria's bridal procession began. The noble lions of the Goldenmane clan were a proud and powerful family and they let every cat know it. Amnextria's procession made Lion-O's appear small and paltry. Tygra tried to hide his distaste. What kind of female tried to outshow her husband on their wedding day, he thought.
Sixty huge muscular lion guards marched forward, each dressed in resplendant gold armor. Rich purple cloaks flowed behind each lion. They also carried wicked and deadly looking battle axes. Next came thirty female attendants, mostly lionesses but a few leopards. Several leopard houses swore loyalty to House Goldenmane hundreds of years ago. With the loss of the home planet, the traditions of old were all many had to remember. Each female was dressed in full battle armor like their male counterparts. They all carried scythes. A group of ten young lionesses walked behing the attendants, each throwing flower petals on the ground.
The great procession parted and Lion-O held his breath, such was the beauty of Amnextria. Her long hair was pulled back and styled, flowers woven in her braids. Her gown was a pure snowy white, her train trailed several feet behind her, held up by twelve young lion males. Her father, Trion escorted her toward Lion-O. Neither smiled or exuded any warmth. They paid little heed to the crowd the cheered even louder as she passed.
Tygra tried to hide his growing displeasure at House Goldenmane's display. All the honor guard were lions, not a single other species of cat. And they held their axes in their hands. Lion-O's honor guard sheathed their weapons. It was if they were marching off to battle! This was a wedding not a war. Tygra's remorse for pressuring Lion-O to marry was growing. The old customs of Thundera were archaic. Lion-O should be allowed to choose his own mate whether she was pure bred lion or not. The survivors of Thundera had lost so much, it was Tygra's hope that the wedding of the Lord of the Thundercats would ease some of their grief. Their beliefs, their traditions were all many Thunderans had left. Lion-O's sacrifice only cemeted Tygra's faith in the young lion's honor and character. His acceptance of his duty meant that he had truly grown into his role as a leader.
Lion-O held out his hand. Lord Trion stepped forward and placed his daughter's hand in Lion-o's bowing deeply. The Huntresses formed a line on one side and Amnextria's attendants formed a line on the other. The couple walked into the forest glade, flanked on both sides by the female attendants. Their friends and family were seated in places of honor around the clearing. All rose as the future queen and the Lord of the Thundercats walked toward the altar, which was no more than a stone arch with carved images of all the cats of Thundera. Lion-O had not a single member of his blood family there but those he called friend could not of been closer in his heart.
Panthro looked upon him with a father's love. He wore the armor of a general which was polished so brightly that were he to stand in the sun, he would have blinded most of the wedding guests. The Lord High General of the Thundercats. Next to him stood his wife, Dokhana, a jaguar who was a strong in spirit as Panthro. Next to Panthro was Cheetara. If Lion-O was granted his deepest wish, it would Cheetara walking beside him today, but fate chose otherwise. After her horrific treatment by the mutants, Tygra helped her heal both body and mind. Their friendship developed into a deep and lasting bond of love. Their twin sons, stood next to Cheetara. Those two would be a handful for both their parents. Cheetara would always be the unattainable.
Wily Kit was next to Cheetara's sons. He wore his Thundercat uniform proudly but there was always a darkness in his eyes that Lion-O feared would never go away. His sister Wily Kat stood next to her brother. Her rounded belly betraying her condition. Her mate, the ever valiant Bobcat had his arm around her. She and her brother suffered unspeakable horrors at the hands of Mumm-ra. Kat unlike her brother had began the process of healing, no doubt with the help of Bobcat. Tears of happiness ran down her cheek as she smiled at Lion-O.
Pumyra and Lynx-O rounded out his closet friends. Bengali's death during Lion-O's absent had taken it's toll on the puma female. She refused all advances from any male. She swore to take no other mate. She instead was consumed with her duty. She lead an elite team of Thundercats whose only assignment was searching out and destroying the Mutants. She peronally asked Lion-O for this assignment which he granted. It was his hope that she would find some peace in her duties. Lion-O had long questioned his judgement, Pumyra was not the same, but who was after the horrors of Mumm-ra and the Mutants' reign of terror. She was ever vigilant and it was only her loyalty to Lion-O that brought her here today. Lynx-O was simply the wisest cat Lion-O had ever known. Lion-O had come to rely on the lynx's wisdom.
Lion-O dutifully continued down the aisle with his soon-to-be queen. He gaze fell upon the one of Amnextria's attendants. A beautiful leopard. Her hair was long, the color of gold. Her eyes were a stunning green color like two sparkling emeralds. The spots along her head and neck seem to enhance her beauty. Lion-O was immediately drawn to her. . He fought the urge to stop and speak with the female. Her eyes briefly met his. There was no hardness in her eyes like Amnextria's. There was only kindness. She quickly turned her eyes from Lion-O. Something passed between them in that brief moment. Lion-O had never known such desire for one female not even Cheetara.
Tygra often chided him for having the morals of an alley cat in heat. On Third Earth, there was only Cheetara, Wily Kat and later Pumyra. The return of the Thunderans brought him many new opportunities and he seized them with gusto. True, he had his share of lovers but there was only a physical attraction. This leopard was different. He couldn't explain why but he felt it deep within. Was this love at first sight? Panthro told him often that the moment he first saw Dokhana, he knew she was the one. Marriage was not a common thing on Thundera, many only chose mates for a season. His friends were different Tygra and Cheetara were devoted to each other. Neither had taken any other lovers. Panthro was equally devoted to his wife. Among royalty it was different. Marriage deepen ties to other houses. Lions were the only species that allowed males to take more than one wife. It was one of the reason they were among the strongest of the cats.
Lion-O walked past the leopard, her image ever emblazened in his mind. The Great Matriarch stood before him. She, an ancient white tiger, was the High Priestess of Bastet, the great mother cat revered by all Thunderans. She would preside over this wedding. The old female tiger was on the Council of Elders that advised Lion-O. Her beatiful voice lead the gathered Thunderans in singing an ancient hymn, one asking Bastet to bestow her blessing on the new couple. All joined in the song.
Lion-O was at war with his heart. He wanted to stop this wedding, to run away with the leopard female. Was he being foolish, all this from one glance. His duty was to Thundera. His personal feelings must be placed aside. Duty above all else! He closed his eyes and tried in vain to erase the image of the leopard as the Great Matriarch begin the wedding service.