Chapter One:
One evening on New ThunDera, Lord Lion-O took Cheetara out on a date in the Gardens of New ThunDera. Lion-O was wanting to ask Cheetara to be his mate for life. The two had been dating for almost six months and Lion-O had wanted to make the relationship permanent. He had gotten the clearance to date Cheetara from the elders who were beginning to realize that new blood in the royal line would probably be a good thing. Looking at Cheetara now, Lion-O could see the question in her eyes.
"What's on your mind?" he asked gently as he pulled her close.
"Not much. Just how time has flown by," Cheetara answered with a soft smile. "Why are we here?" The two had grown close over the last few months and Cheetara was enjoying the time she spent with Lion-O. Their love had grown over the last few weeks and she had a feeling that Lion-O wanted to make the relationship permanent. Lion-O smiled and took her hands in his.
"I have only one question Cheetara," Lion-O began as she smiled softly. "Will you do me the honor of becoming my mate and joining with me in the mating ceremony?" he asked softly as Cheetara gasped. She nodded and their lips met in a passionate kiss.
"Thanks for making this the best day of my life!" Cheetara said as they broke apart. Lion-O smiled and hugged her tighter.
It was a beautiful day on New ThunDera and Lord Lion-O was preparing for the mating ceremony that would unite him with Cheetara. It had been a long time coming, he thought as he slipped the deep blue tunic over his head and let it fall to just below his waist. He had already put on the black pants and a gold-link belt was lying ready on the bed beside him.
"I'm just glad she agreed to be my mate," Lion-O murmured as he studied himself in the mirror. That had been a surprise in itself, because Lion-O had had no idea what Cheetara had been thinking that night he'd asked her to join with him. Their love had blossomed in the weeks prior to him popping the question itself. But when he looked into her brown eyes, he knew that she wanted him. In more ways than one, he thought as a slow smile crept across his face. They could hardly keep away from each other during the two months it took to get the mating ceremony preparations ready.
About then, Tygra and Tillen arrived to make sure that Lion-O was dressed and ready to go.
"I think this royal ceremony has been long in coming for all of us Lord Lion-O," Tillen said gravely. "With Mumm-Ra fully gone, we can concentrate on other matters now," he added as Tygra nodded.
"Having Lioness-A return was a bit unexpected, but it has been wonderful to have her back among us," Tygra remarked as he helped Lion-O get the belt in place. Lion-O smiled. Lioness-A was his twin sister and she had fallen in love with Tygra and the two were to mate next year after the hubbub surrounding Lion-O's mating ceremony settled down. She had returned with her guardian to New ThunDera after it had reformed and had been reunited with her brother soon after. The pair had been separated since they were seven years old.
A pair of drums announced that the ceremony was about to begin.
"We'd better go," said Tillen. "It's almost time for the ceremony." The three left the bedchamber and headed for the Great Hall where the ceremony was to take place. Once there, they found the Thunderkittens, Bengali and Panthro waiting for them along with Jagara. Lion-O moved to stand in place even as the drums sounded again.
"Won't be long now," he said softly as Tillen, standing with him smiled.
Over in another part of the lair, Cheetara was also getting ready. As she dressed, she thought back to when Lion-O had asked her to be his mate. That had surprised her, but she found that she loved him more than life itself and so she had said yes. Looking into his golden eyes then Cheetara had found them full of love and something else. He wanted her as much as she wanted him. She smiled as she thought back over the past two months. She and Lion-O had tried to be together alone as much as they could before the big day and now that it was actually here, Cheetara was happy.
Cheetara quickly slipped into a deep red gown with gold trim and soft soled slippers of a deep red. The gold link belt was resting on her bed. This was her clan's mating attire. Lioness-A and Pumyra were on hand to give her a hand.
"This is a time for a new beginning my lady," Pumyra said softly as Lioness-A smiled. She stepped back after making sure the belt was ready and in place.
"Yes it is my friend," Cheetara answered and smiled softly as Pumyra and Lioness-A both hugged her.
"Lion-O can't wait to see you. You made him a happy lion," Lioness-A added as Cheetara smiled again. She was ready for the bonding ceremony that would unite her with Lion-O.
Drums sounded then from somewhere nearby, and everyone turned as Lynx-O came into the room.
"We need to go," he said as Cheetara nodded. She took the lynx's hand and everyone filed from the room and went to the Great Hall for the ceremony.
After the ceremony found everyone in the Grand Ballroom watching Lion-O dance with his new mate. Both now wore matching blue headbands and were staring into each other's eyes. They also wore gold circlets signifying their crowning as king and queen of New ThunDera. Lion-O would still hold the title of Lord of the Thundercats until an heir was born and then he would pass the title on to his heir who would become king on his own once Lion-O passed on. It was a fair arrangement and all the nobles had liked the idea. Lioness-A had received the title of duchess, which was the same title her father's younger sister had held. Lioness-A sighed as she watched her brother and Cheetara.
"Penny for your thoughts?" said a voice in her ear. She turned and found Tygra standing behind her.
"They look so happy together and I can feel Lion-O's happiness brimming over," Lioness-A said softly as Tygra slipped his arms around her waist and pulled her to him.
"We will be there soon enough, my love," the tiger said as she sighed. The music changed then, allowing more couples to drift onto the floor. Tygra took the lioness's hand and escorted her onto the floor as Lioness-A sighed in contentment.
After the reception, Lion-O and Cheetara left for Third Earth and a brief honeymoon there.
Late one morning about a day or so after Lion-O and Cheetara had returned from their honeymoon on Third Earth found Lioness-A in the dining room poring over a cup of coffee. Her mind wandered off as she thought about her brother and his new mate. The honeymoon was uneventful, but Lioness-A had had her hands full once the pair had returned and it was in large part due to the twin bond she shared with Lion-O.
"You woke up late," a voice commented, causing Lioness-A to jump. She turned and saw Tygra smiling at her. "You were still asleep when I left the room this morning," the tiger added.
"Yeah. I didn't sleep too well last night," Lioness-A replied as he sat next to her. "I felt everything that Lion-O and Cheetara were doing," she said and sighed as she rubbed her temples.
"That bad huh?"
"You can say that," Lioness-A murmured. "It was only after Mom came and told me how to block the feelings that I was able to get some sleep finally. But that was at about two in the morning," she added as Lion-O and Cheetara strolled into the dining room, hand in hand as usual. Lion-O blinked when he saw his twin sitting at the table.
"Busy night?" Lioness-A asked blandly and was rewarded to see him and Cheetara blush. "Y'know, Lion-O, I could use a bit of a warning next time," she added mildly as Tygra chuckled. "It kinda caught me off guard the first time you two did it after you got back," she added as Lion-O blushed even redder.
"Sorry," Lion-O said sheepishly as Lioness-A chuckled throatily. Snarf came in then with a tray set for him and Cheetara. "Are you okay now though?" he asked after Snarf had left. She nodded.
"Mom told me how to block those sensations out. It was easy to ignore while you were on your honeymoon, but since you're here, it's harder. I'd rather wait until my mating to experience that first hand if you don't mind," Lioness-A added as her brother nodded. Tygra blinked and blushed slightly when she looked at him.
"We'll be careful next time," Lion-O promised as she left the dining room to get ready for her day. Tygra excused himself and followed as the newlyweds smiled.
The rest of the day passed peacefully by without any more mishaps.
A royal tour about a week after the ceremony had allowed the Thunderian people a chance to meet their new queen and everyone had loved her. The elders grudgingly accepted her after a threat from Lion-O made them reconsider their views on mixed clan marriages. New ThunDera was still new and not all of the clans had returned yet.
It was a quiet day on New ThunDera and in the library of Cat's Lair, Lioness-A was searching for a book. The book had been written by her mother back when she had first become queen. Lioness-A's grandmother, Queen Althana, had told Claudana all she had needed to know and Claudana had written it all down in a book. She had left it in the lair library for Lioness-A to find when the time came for her to need it. Now it was time for the young lioness to find the book for her sister-in-law Cheetara. Lion-O had mated the cheetah a month before and the cheetah was needing a little help with some of the clan elders' mates, most of whom had opposed her becoming queen over a lioness.
"There it is," Lioness-A murmured, finally spotting the book between two thick volumes of Thunderian history. "Finally found it, though how it got there is a mystery."
"Find something you were missing?" asked a voice behind her, causing the lioness to jump. She turned around and found Pumyra smiling at her.
"A book that my mother wrote for Lion-O's mate that tells how to cope with being queen. She did it without knowing who he would mate. I figured that Cheetara could use the help," Lioness-A replied.
"She could probably use a good bit of it," Pumyra agreed and added, "She's been having problems lately with some of the elders' mates. For some reason they don't like her that much. Who wrote it again?"
"My mother did after talking with my grandmother, Queen Althana before she died," came the answer. "She told me about it last night and told me to find it and give the book to Cheetara. She knows those elders' mates are causing Cheetara trouble."
"I guess that's your next stop then," Pumyra observed as Lioness-A smiled. The lioness left the library and headed for the elevator and the fourth floor, which held the suites for all the mated Thundercats. Lion-O and Cheetara had moved there after their mating ceremony a month earlier. Most of the single chambers were on the third floor. The second floor held the council room, dining room and kitchen along with various workshops and the infirmary. Lion-O's office was also on the second floor. The first floor held the Great Hall and the main foyer and the Throne Room which was used for audiences with Lion-O on delegated days.
Lioness-A exited the elevator at the fourth floor and took a right hand turn. At the end of the long corridor was the suite that Lion-O had chosen to bring his mate home to. She palmed the doorpad, allowing a chime to sound within the suite. Cheetara answered the door and upon seeing Lioness-A smiled.
"Lioness-A! What brings you by here?" Cheetara asked. "I was just getting ready to go meet Lion-O in his office so we could go to dinner together."
"Glad I caught you and this won't take a moment of your time," Lioness-A said as she entered the spacious suite. Each one of the suites had three spacious bedrooms, a large foyer and a very large bathroom. Lioness-A blinked at the size of the foyer. It had been decorated with items that Cheetara had found on the royal tour from a week or so earlier. "Tygra and I have a lot to look forward to when we go through the mating ceremony ourselves next year," Lioness-A observed as the cheetah smiled.
"So what did you bring me?" Cheetara asked.
"I found something in the lair library that may help you with your problems of learning to be queen," Lioness-A said as she gave Cheetara the thin volume.
"What is this?" Cheetara asked, turning the book over. Seeing the author's name, her eyes widened. "Your mother wrote this?"
"After a long talk with my grandmother," Lioness-A answered. "She came and told me about the book last night and told me where to find it. And she also told me to tell you that she really likes you," the lioness added as Cheetara blushed.
"Thanks. That makes me feel special," Cheetara observed as Lioness-A smiled.
"Mom thinks you're good for Lion-O," Lioness-A said, "and she really wants you to read that book that I gave you. She knows it'll help ease the anxiety you feel about your position. And it gives great advice on how to handle those annoying elders' wives that are bothering you."
"I'll read it this evening after dinner then," Cheetara promised, laying the book on the coffee table in front of the sofa. Lioness-A smiled and the two left together.
Later that evening found Cheetara back in the royal suite looking through the book. She had changed out of her uniform and was now wearing a short nightrobe of dark green. Lion-O liked the color on her. He was seated nearby reading a letter from one of the lion elders. He glanced up to see Cheetara gazing at him, a thoughtful look on her face.
"What's on your mind love?" Lion-O asked as he got up from the chair and moved to sit beside her. Laying the letter on the table, Lion-O pulled Cheetara close and hugged her.
"This book that your sister brought by earlier today," Cheetara replied and gestured to the book lying on the table. She added, "It's from your mother." Lion-O blinked a moment and picked the book up to glance through it. Seeing the title and author, he smiled and laid the book back on the table.
"I think it was nice of Lioness-A to find the book for you and I would read it through and see what it says. You might find something that would work for you," Lion-O murmured gently as Cheetara sighed. Lion-O could see something was bothering his mate then as he gazed into her eyes. "What is it love?" he asked gently.
"I just don't know if I can be the queen that ThunDera wants," Cheetara whispered softly. Lion-O smiled.
"You'll do fine baby. I have every faith in you. I knew that when I married you that you would be a great queen and so far, you've done well," Lion-O whispered in her hair. Lifting Cheetara's chin, he kissed her gently.
"Thank you for believing in me and I love you," Cheetara whispered when they broke apart. Lion-O smiled and hugged her tightly.
"I love you too," he whispered back before Cheetara's lips met his in a passionate kiss. There was nothing more said as the two slipped their clothes off. Cheetara moaned when Lion-O slipped her nightwrap off and began exploring her lower body with his fingers. Lion-O leaned forward on the sofa and kissed Cheetara deeper as he pushed her down onto the sofa. Cheetara slipped his tunic off and broke off the kiss long enough for Lion-O to pull it over his head.
"Oh wow," Lion-O growled as he backed off. Cheetara pouted and ran her fingers through the fur on his chest.
"What is it?" she asked coyly before Lion-O kissed her again, deeper than before.
"Let's finish this in the bedroom before it goes too far here," Lion-O whispered huskily as he broke off the kiss. Cheetara pouted again but smiled as he picked her up to carry her to their bedroom.
"I love you baby," Lion-O whispered once they were in their room and in bed.
"And I love you," Cheetara whispered back as he kissed her deeply. There was no more talking for the rest of the night.