What to do?
After lunch, the Children of Millennia regrouped and returned to the guest room. Everyone began sharing their own adventures, talking about who they met and what they did. It turned out everyone met a Thunderian noble and they were actually called ThunderCats – protectors of Thundera who had the honor of carrying out the Code of Thundera. Mana told them all how she met Wilykat and Wilykit and spent the day playing with them and showing off her magic powers. Mahad and Seto told them about Tygra and that he was an architect. Joseph told them about Panthro and how he was brilliant in technology as well as a skilled fighter. Kisara and Freya told them about Cheetara and were amazed with her beauty and wisdom.
It sounded like everyone made some interesting new friends. But they all had to remember that they were only staying her temporarily and had to get back to Egypt. They decided that they would spend one more night here and then return home.
The next morning, the Children of Millennia went to say 'goodbye' to Lion-O. "You're going home already?" the Thunderian prince asked.
"We have to," said Mahad. "As you know, we have obligations and responsibilities as royals and as Children of Millennia. Our place is in our kingdom."
"Besides, everyone back home is probably worried about us," Kisara added.
Lion-O understood. "But you'll come back, right?"
"We will try to," Mystery promised.
"We like it here and we like you and all of the other friends we made," said Mana. "So of course, we'll come back."
"Good," said Lion-O. "Uh, what I mean is, I'm glad to hear that. You guys are our friends, so you're welcome to come back whenever you want to."
"Thank you, Lion-O," Atem said. He and Lion-O hold their hands out and gently grasp each other's hand. "And please give our thanks to your father for welcoming us. And someday, Lion-O, I hope we can make you feel welcome in our world as you've made us feel welcome in yours."
"Maybe someday, we'll take you with us to see the Pure Valley too," said Mana.
"That would be grand," the Thunderian prince replied. "Get home safely."
After their goodbyes are said, the Children of Millennia leave the palace and wave 'goodbye' to Lion-O and Snarf. They wave back, watching them off.
The Great Goddess said that the principles from back home apply here in Thundera as well. This means that the children should be able to enter Pure Valley by walking through the darkness of any alley or closed space or by swimming towards a light on the surface of any body of water. They come to an alley obscured by darkness and walk through until they come out of a cave. It worked. They were back in Pure Valley.
"That was a fun adventure," said Joseph.
Freya agreed. "Thundera is certainly a great place and the Thunderians are great people."
"I really like Lion-O," said Mana. "I hope we can go back and see him again."
"For now, we should return home and let everyone know how we are and where we've been," said Atem.
"Wait a minute," Joseph interrupted. "Do you think we should tell your father about Thundera?"
"We have to," said Mystery. "If we don't and he finds out, he'll be furious." She was right. Nothing good ever came from keeping a secret; especially from the pharaoh. She also remembered how upset she was with her mother and father when she found out that she was the heiress of Millennia and they never told her about it until her birthday several weeks ago. "Besides, he'll also ask us about your weapons and where you got them. That means you will have to tell him that they were given to you by the Great Goddess."
Atem agreed. "There's no point in hiding anything from my father. It may sound ridiculous to him at first, but he'll know it's true."
All of his friends understood his point. They would tell King Aknamkanon about their adventure and accept whatever consequences would come from it. They found the door leading back to their world and passed through, winding up in the palace courtyard. "All right, let's go," Atem declared.
They came to the throne room and saw King Aknamkanon. "Ah, children, welcome home. I know you left just a few minutes ago, but I also know you've been in the Pure Valley for much longer than that."
"Actually, Father, we have something to tell you," Atem began. "While we were in the Valley, the Great Goddess came before us."
This amazed him. "Did she really?"
"Yes," his son answered. "She is able to temporarily appear in her true form in her world."
"What caused her to appear before you?"
Atem nods at his friends. They all reach back and show the pharaoh the weapons and tools they were given. "She gave us these special tools so we could protect ourselves from danger."
King Aknamkanon looked at the various weapons, wondering why the Great Goddess would bequeath them to his son and his friends. Without hesitation, Atem began telling his father about how he and his friends were called upon by the Great Goddess and that she gave them the challenge of having an adventure in another world. He told him of the door to the world of Thundera and what he and his friends did and who they met and what they learned.
This was so much for the king of Egypt to take in. Hearing about a door to another world appearing in Pure Valley, being told to go there by the Great Goddess, a world where the inhabitants are cat-like people, and how they also stand for what is good. Yet the pharaoh could not find it in him to doubt his son. He had a feeling he was telling the truth. Yet one question, one simple word still echoed in his mind: why? Why was this happening? Why would the Great Goddess have something like this in store for his son and the rest of the children?
His thoughts were interrupted when Mystery spoke up. "The Thunderians have kindly welcomed us as friends and guests and they know of how we want to fulfill the wishes of the Great Goddess. In many ways, our causes are not different."
"The Code of Thundera: justice, truth, honor, and loyalty," said Atem. "The Thunderians believe in protecting all that is good just as we do."
"We've also made some wonderful new friends," said Kisara. "With your permission, Pharaoh, I would certainly like to see them again."
"As would I," said Freya.
"Please, Father," Atem pleaded.
"Enough," King Aknamkanon snapped, holding up his hand to silence them. "Forgive me, I do not mean to be cross with all of you. I just need time."
Atem understood, seeing that this was a lot for his father to take in. "Come," he said to his friends. "Let us head back to our rooms." They all agree and head upstairs.
The pharaoh was faithful to Millennia as well as all of the other Gods of Egypt. But he still could not help but question her plans in all of this; sending his son and the rest of the Children of Millennia in another world. And though the children were insisting that they had friends and had not been in any danger in any way, he was still concerned for their safety. It's one thing for all of them to be looking out for each other and helping each other when they're being heroes here in their own world. Doing all of that in another world is another thing. All the pharaoh really wanted was for his son and his friends to be safe.
Still, King Aknamkanon had to accept that this was happening for a reason. The Great Goddess wanted her chosen children to go to this new world for a reason. As such, he knew he should not deny letting that purpose be fulfilled. However, he decided it would be best not to bring up this matter with the members of his royal court. Going to this different world with an army of soldiers would more than likely give the Thunderians the wrong impression that the Egyptians were causing an invasion. He certainly didn't want that; especially when the Children of Millennia want the Thunderians to trust them. As such, the pharaoh decided to leave this matter in the hands of Atem and his friends. For that matter, he would allow the Children of Millennia to return to Thundera to fulfill whatever purpose the Great Goddess had for them.
Mystery sat on her bed, swaying her legs back and forth with Jirachi sitting next to her. "Is the pharaoh mad at us?" he asked her.
"I don't think so," she replied. "He's probably just a bit overwhelmed about everything we told him."
"But we were telling the truth," he protested.
"I know, and we did the right thing by telling him," she was saying. "But now, we're just going to have to accept how he takes it, even if it means never being allowed to return to Thundera."
Jirachi didn't like the sound of that. "Never go back to Thundera? Oh, no," he groaned. Just when he decided he liked it there and all of his new friends.
The others were pondering over the same thing. "I still think we should have kept this a secret."
"No, Joseph, that would have only made it worse," Kisara said, pointing out what Mystery established earlier. "But I guess it doesn't matter anymore. The pharaoh is cross with us enough as it is."
Mana tried to stay positive. "He just needs a little bit of time to think about all of this. But I really hope he'll let us go back to Thundera."
Joseph shrugged and figured, "I guess we'll just have to wait and see what happens."
"For now, I think it's important that we return to our regular lives here," said Mahad. Just as he established earlier, he and his friends have obligations and responsibilities here in Egypt that can't be ignored. This means that they have to return to their schooling as well as helping around the palace. However, he and his friends would still continue to do hero work as well, so that was some consolation.
Sometime later, Atem rounded up all of his friends, telling them that his father wanted to see everybody. They all hurried to the throne room to see the pharaoh.
Once more, King Aknamkanon apologized to the children for being so cross. "I hope you will all forgive me, my children. I was so overwhelmed with the story of your adventure and I let it get the better of me."
"We understand," said Kisara. "We knew it would be a lot to take in. But, Pharaoh, are you angry with us for all of this?"
"No, dear one," he answered. "If anything, I am glad you all made the choice to tell me instead of keep this a secret from me. And though it was indeed much for me to take in, I have been meditating on the matter. I still do not understand why the Great Goddess would want to send you, her children, to another world. However, I have come to accept that she has given you a new purpose and this is part of it."
"You have always been faithful to the Great Goddess Millennia, Father," Atem was saying, "and you've never questioned her about anything."
"And I won't begin to do so now," the king said.
Jirachi smiled and asked, "Does this mean you'll let us go back to Thundera?"
The pharaoh was silent for a moment, then he gently smiled and said, "You may return if it means serving the Great Goddess." All of the children laughed and cheered. King Aknamknaon wasn't finished, however. "For the moment, however, I want you all to keep your adventures to yourselves, but only confide in me." He was asking of this not just for the safety of his own people, but for the people of Thundera as well. The pharaoh still wanted his people to be able to go to the Pure Valley, but he didn't think anyone else was ready to know of the door to Thundera yet. For now, he wanted this to be his and the children's secret.