Touring the Palace

As Lion-O was showing his new friends around the palace, they all began asking one another questions. Joseph was the first. "So, Lion-O, is everyone here in Thundera a cat? Not that I have anything against cats. I like cats. In fact, cats are sacred to us back home in Egypt. Oh, but I'm sure you probably already knew that."

Lion-O grinned in amusement. "You're right, Joseph. We are all cats. And I did know that you and your people worship cats along with other animals." He looks at the Egyptian prince. "Your name is Atem, right? And you're a prince too, right?"

"Yes, Lion-O," the Egyptian prince answers.

"I guess your life is like mine," the young Thunderian assumed. "You have to have a lot of lessons for everything all so they can prepare you for when you get to become the new ruler, you can't go anywhere on your own, and you've always got to have someone watching over you." He stops and says, "I don't mean to complain. I mean, I know it's not all bad. Not all of my lessons are boring, but being safe all the time can be boring."

Atem softly chuckled. Like Lion-O, he was being given the best education so he would be prepared for when he would become pharaoh. And he also had some lessons he liked and disliked. The Egyptian prince wasn't a bad student, of course, but like everyone else, he thought some of his lessons were interesting and others were boring. "I know how you feel, Lion-O. And there are times when you need your space and don't want people waiting on you all the time. However, my friends have made my life a lot more exciting lately. When we don't have lessons or work, we get to go out and do heroic deeds for our kingdom. We fight criminals, rescue the endangered, stop troublesome monsters, all while keeping the kingdom safe."

"Ooh, sounds exciting," said Lion-O. "I wish I could do stuff like that. I've heard a lot about Egypt too and I wish I could see it."

Atem and his friends smiled while giving each other unsure looks.

Lion-O looked at his guests. "Is that another reason why you call yourselves the Children of Millennia?"

"I guess you could say that," Kisara answered shyly.

"Kisara, are you and Mystery twins?" the Thunderian prince asked.

Kisara chuckled bashfully. "Oh, no, we're not related," she said. "A lot of people think that because we look alike. But Freya's the only one who's related to me. We're cousins, you see."

"Believe it or not, Lion-O, my appearance was how I got my name," Mystery confessed.

"Really?" Lion-O asked.

"Yes," she answered. "When I was born, my parents thought it was strange that I would be born with white hair and blue eyes because they weren't common traits."

Atem smiles and holds her hand. "And as time passed, Mystery began to stand out more and more, showing everyone that she was special." His words caused her to blush.

"Until I met Mystery, I thought I was the only girl with blue eyes and white hair," said Kisara. "Then she introduced me to all of her friends and I was astonished to see that everyone was different in their own way. Everyone had hair and eyes in many different colors. But they taught me that it's not about what someone looks like on the outside, but who they are on the inside."

Snarf looks at her and says, "Well, you know what they say: you should never judge a book by its cover."

Lion-O chuckled. "Well, Kisara, I think you and Freya and Mystery and Mana all have very pretty eyes." He looks at Atem and says, "I like your eyes too, Atem, and your hair. I think you have a cool hairstyle and I like the many different colors."

"Oh, um, thank you," Atem shyly replied.

"You know what," Snarf was saying, "you kids are okay."

"Does that mean you like us, Snarf?" Jirachi asked.

"It sure does, little guy," he replied.

"That's wonderful," Jirachi said happily. "And we like you too." The rest of the monsters chatter in agreement.

Lion-O looked at the monsters in curiosity. "You said your companions were called Magical Creatures?"

"Yes," Mahad answered. "There are hundreds back home and they all come in different sizes and shapes and have unique powers and abilities." He explained that some of them looked like ordinary animals and some looked like plants and rocks. Some had awesome strength and some had psychic powers and many others could control the elements of nature, such as fire, water, ice, wind, electricity, etc. and that they all made good and loyal companions.

Lion-O and Snarf continued to show their new friends around the palace, bringing them to the royal treasury, the weapon room, fields for combat training, stations for building vehicles, the library, the banquet hall, the gardens, and the guest rooms. The children were fascinated with all that they were seeing. They even received friendly smiles and waves from some of the people they passed.

A few hours later, everyone began to assemble in the banquet hall. The table was filled with trays of various kinds of food. There were bowls of soup, roasted fowl and beef, grilled fish, loaves of bread, and other kinds of delicacies that the children had never seen before.

Claudus spoke up. "My Thunderians, let us kindly welcome the Children of Millennia, whom we honor here tonight." And everyone began to applaud.

Atem and his friends appreciated all of this, but they were also humbled. It was more than any of them deserved. "Please, Your Majesty, that's not necessary. My friends and I have done nothing worthy of honor."

Lion-O looked at Atem in confusion. "How can you say that? You guys are heroes."

"But we've done nothing to prove our heroism," said Kisara.

Jaga knew right away that these children weren't being modest. But he offered a few kind words. "We may not have seen you children perform any actions according to your words, but we have not seen anything contrary to what you have told us either. All the same, you children are our guests and we would very much like to learn more about you."

"Tell us how you came to Thundera," Lion-O asked.

"It may be too far fetched for you to take in," Mystery warned. "But I will do my best to explain." To answer Lion-O's question, she first had to explain about the Pure Valley and how she and her friends had been visiting the secret place. Then Atem told them about how they found a door to Thundera located just past a grove in the Valley and when they passed through, they came here.

Jaga knew they were telling the truth. He had also heard of the Pure Valley and how it had been sealed away. But he never imagined that there would be a door to this world for the Children of Millennia to pass through. Still, Jaga knew that this was no coincidence. No, these children were fated to come here.

Lion-O was astonished as ever. It made him wish he could see the Pure Valley and all of its wonders. Atem and his friends didn't want to say anything to excite him. They couldn't make any promises to take him with them. You never know if a promise like that is one you'll be able to keep.

As the feast continued, Atem and his friends told Claudus and the other nobles more about themselves and their home. They even talked about the amulets around their necks and how they were given to them by the Great Goddess. In turn, the Thunderians began telling the children more about Thundera. Claudus also apologized to the children for his soldiers' behavior earlier.

When the subject was brought up, Mahad said he remembered the soldiers thinking he and his friends were mutants. Claudus explained that sometimes Thundera would be attacked by vicious creatures from Plun-Darr, another planet far away from here. Mutants would sometimes terrorize the Thunderians and plunder around for loot and treasure. There was more to it than that, but Jaga decided it would be wise to tell the children at a later time.

After dinner, the Children of Millennia were shown to the guest quarters. There was a room large enough for them to fit in and there were beds for everyone. Lion-O decided to see his new friends before going to bed. "I wanted to thank all of you guys for today. I had a lot of fun meeting you and getting to know you."

"We had fun too," said Mana. "Thanks for spending time with us and showing us around."

"Will you be staying here in Thundera for a while?" the lion-like boy asked.

The children hadn't thought of it. "We're not sure," Mahad said. "It's not that I don't like it here. Believe me, I think this place is nice. But I don't think we should stay here for too long."

"Maybe for a few days," Atem replied. "Don't forget, we have our own families back home."

Lion-O understood. "Well, I hope you understand that you guys are our guests and our home is your home too. You can go anywhere you want to and if you need anything, please let me or anyone else know."

"Thank you, Lion-O," said Mahad. "We do appreciate it." Once more, Lion-O thanked everyone and said 'good night' and went to his own room.

Atem faces his friends. "I want to thank every one of you too, for being here with me. It really means a lot to me."

"We're a team," said Joseph. "We stick together. And it's what friends do." And his amulet begins glowing.

"Besides, your father would never forgive me if anything were to happen to you or anyone else," said Mahad. "I'm responsible for keeping everyone safe." And his amulet starts glowing as well.

"We would never let you take any kind of journey alone," said Seto. "You're too important to all of us. Not because you're our prince or the leader of this group, but because you're our friend and we care about you."

Kisara nods in agreement. "But do you really think it's all right for us to stay here for a few days? I know time stands still for us back home whenever we go to the Pure Valley, but is it the same for us while we're here?"

"I guess we'll have to wait and see," Atem replied.

"Well, I like it here," Mana said. "I like Lion-O too. He was really nice." She giggles and adds, "And Snarf was pretty funny too." All of her friends agreed.

Mystery sat next to Atem. "I would do anything for you, my prince. You know that, don't you?"

He did know. That was because he knew that it was because she loved him with all of her heart. And if it were the other way around and she wanted to go somewhere, he would want to be by her side because he loved her too. He would do the same for any of his friends; because he cared about every one of them. "That's why it means a lot to me," he said.

She smiles and nods in response, then kisses his cheek. They all bid each other 'good night' and settle into their beds.