Welcome to Thundera

The Children of Millennia took a moment to take in their surroundings. The sky was a clear blue with hardly any clouds. The ground below their feet was also firm, but there wasn't any grass or trees. "Where are we?" Mana asked, looking around.

"I'm not sure," Mystery answered. "The Great Goddess wasn't specific on where we would be ending up.

Kisara pointed ahead. "I can see a town up ahead. Maybe the locals can tell us what this place is."

"We might as well go and ask," said Joseph. "We're not doing much just standing around." So they all start walking.

As Freya looked around, she began to softly whimper. Kisara held her hand. "It's all right, Freya," she assured her cousin. "There's nothing to be afraid of."

"We'll be fine as long as well stay together," said Atem.

They all suddenly heard a strange sound, meaning something or someone was nearby. Looking ahead, Mystery thought she saw something flash by. "Did you see that?"

"I did," Atem answered.

"Me too," said Jirachi. "Let's check it out."

"Leave it alone," Joseph cried. Everyone looked at him. He smiles nervously and holds Mana close. "It's scaring Mana."

"No, it's not," the younger girl argued.

"Everyone just be quiet," Seto ordered. He could sense something was nearby. It gave him the feeling that their group was being watched.

They had just barely made it to the town when suddenly, Kirara tensed up, her back arched and her fur puffed up as she growled. Sakuya was also giving off a warning growl. "What's wrong, Kirara and Sakuya?" Kisara asked.

Suddenly, a large saber tooth cat with grey fur appeared, scaring most of the group members. Mystery, however, remained calm. She figured that if she could communicate with the monsters and animals back home, then she might be able to communicate with the creatures of this world too. "Calm down," she ordered. "We are not enemies."

The saber tooth cat growled at her. Suddenly, soldiers sprang out from behind the gates and began surrounding the children and their partners. "What's this bunch?" one of them asked.

"Could they be mutants?"

"They don't look like any I've seen," another soldier replied. He looked at the monsters accompanying the children. "I've never seen creatures like these before either."

Kisara held Freya close as her cousin continued to whimper. "Please don't hurt us," the elder cousin pleaded.

"We're harmless," Joseph said, holding up his hands. "We come in peace."

The soldiers began talking to each other. "Do you think this could be a mutant trick?"

"They don't look like mutants," the same soldier said again. "Maybe they just got lost." He looks at the children. "All of you come with us to the palace," he ordered. "We'll see if we can straighten this out."

The children obeyed and followed. They also agreed to keep quiet until they would see whoever was in charge. While walking, they noticed that the folks looked like humans with cat-like features. Some of them had fur-like skin that was plain, some spotted, and some with stripes. Their ears were also long and pointed and they had clawed hands and feet.

They walked to the palace gates and came to the throne room, receiving even more curious stares. Sitting on a throne was the man they assumed was the king. No one said anything, however. The children didn't want to cause more trouble for themselves.

"We found them just outside the gate, sir," one of the soldiers reported.

The king rises from his throne. "I am Claudus – Lord of Thundera."

Thundera, Atem wondered. That must be the name of this country.

"Who are you children and why have you come here?"

Atem steps forward. "Your Majesty, I am Atem – prince of Egypt," he began.

"Egypt," Claudus interrupted. "The name of that country is not unfamiliar to me. I have learned of its history and heard many stories about that land. I also know that your country is one where you and your people worship many Gods and Goddesses."

"Yes, Your Highness," Atem replied. "One of them is the Great Goddess Millennia. She is the one who sent us here."

Claudus had heard many stories about Millennia and how she would bring peace and protect all that was good. He also knew of her battles with the Dark Lord Cobalt and how they were both turned into Stars.

This time, Mystery speaks up. "We are the Children of Millennia. We were chosen by the Great Goddess herself to fulfill her wishes of bringing peace and protecting all that is good."

"Most valiant and admirable," said another voice. It came from another man named Jaga. He was a brave warrior and a wise nobleman. In his possession was a mystical blade called the Sword of Omens – a weapon with incredible powers. "What you young ones stand for is similar to what we people of Thundera stand for; our code – the Code of Thundera: justice, truth, honor, and loyalty. I presume that your Great Goddess sent you here to not only learn from us, but to teach us your ways. We appear to have common causes and we might be able to benefit from each other."

"Yes, sir," Mystery answered. "My friends and I believe in the same thing. That is why we are here."

Claudus was in agreement. He had known Jaga for many years and his judgement was never wrong. He trusted Jaga's judgement on these visitors and agreed that they stood for all that was good. "Children of Millennia, I welcome you as our honored guests." The children were happy to hear that. Even the other royals and nobles began to be more welcoming, greeting them with friendly smiles. "To commemorate your welcome, we shall have a feast in your honor. Until then, you will need someone to guide you around the palace. Lion-O," he called.

A young boy with cream colored fur-like skin and fiery red hair and brown cat eyes appeared. Atem looked at him and figured he and this boy were about the same age.

"This is my son Lion-O," Claudus introduced. "He will serve as your guide."

Mystery began babbling. "Why, I'm honored – I mean, humbled, I mean," she clears her throat and asks shyly, "You would not mind?"

"It will be my pleasure," Lion-O said gladly. "It's not often I get to meet visitors from another world.

Suddenly, a small red creature with clawed hands and feet and white whiskers all over his face appeared, startling Joseph. "Whoa, what's this?" the blonde asked.

"My companion Snarf," Lion-O answered. "Sorry if he scared you. But don't worry, he's harmless."

Seto looked at Snarf. "What is he? He looks like a dragon with cat features."

Snarf huffed and asked, "What, have you kids never seen a Snarf before?"

"Uh, no," Joseph answered. "What is a Snarf?"

"Maybe he's like me," Jirachi figured. "The name he goes by is also the name of what he is. It's the same with me and the other Magical Creatures." They all nod and mutter in agreement. Jirachi smiles at Snarf and says, "So your name is Snarf and you're also a Snarf. My name is Jirachi and I'm also a Jirachi." He introduces the other monsters. "This is Riolu, Ralts, Kirlia, Bagon, and Trapinch. And that's Sakuya; she's an Umbreon. And Kirara is a two-tailed nekomata."

Snarf looked at them all in curiosity. He didn't think these monsters were scary. He looked at the children. "Well, I guess you all seem harmless enough. But just to make sure, I'm going to keep my eye on you."

Lion-O rolled his eyes. He appreciated that Snarf was always looking out for him, but the creature did tend to get too overprotective at times, much to the lion-like prince's annoyance. The Children of Millennia knew that feeling. Their own companions would sometimes act the same way.

As Claudus watched the Children of Millennia and their Magical Creatures leave and follow his son, he said to Jaga, "I do not deny that these children are who they say they are, but I want you to find out everything you can about them."

"As you wish," Jaga answered. He would observe the children using his own ingenuity and a little bit of help from the Eye of Thundera.