The Eye of Thundera

Thundera was safe, but not for long. Jaga knew that the mutants would return. Jaga also decided that it was now time to speak to the Children of Millennia. He told them all to follow him. The children followed, hoping they weren't in any trouble. Jaga brought them all to a private chamber. "Since you first arrived in Thundera, I had been asked to carefully observe you children. I never doubted you were who you said you were, but I also knew there was more to you than meets the eye."

The children remained silent, unsure of how to respond.

"However, I know you also have questions," continued Jaga. "But in order for me to answer your questions, I must first tell you of the Eye of Thundera – the source of the ThunderCats' power." He shows the children the Sword of Omens. On the hilt is a red circle with a black shape, making it look like a cat's eye. "Using the Eye of Thundera, I was able to discover your hidden truths." Jaga looks at Mystery and speaks to her directly. "Mystery, the Eye of Thundera tells me that you possess the Millennium Star. That is how you have your magic powers. But though the Millennium Star is a force of good, there is much you can still lose as well as gain. Being endowed with the powers of the Great Goddess is both a blessing and a curse."

Mystery nodded in understanding. "Yes, Jaga," she answered. "I knew there would be a price to pay once I would bond with the Millennium Star; sacrifices to make. Committing myself to serving the Great Goddess meant having to be willing to make sacrifices. But even so, I still made the choice to bond with the Millennium Star."

"The Eye of Thundera is to us ThunderCats what the Millennium Star is to you children," Jaga was saying. "It protects us and gives us power just as the Millennium Star does for you. I also know, Mystery, that the Millennium Star is also your heart and soul. As long as the two of you are bonded, you will depend on each other in order to survive." He looks at the two cousins and speaks to them directly. "Kisara, Freya, I also know of your true powers; the great White and Black Dragons that live inside your souls. In many ways, you girls are not so different from Mystery. You cannot live without your Dragons because they are a part of you and your Dragons must live within your souls in order to survive."

He speaks to the older cousin directly. "In addition, Kisara, I believe your amulet helps you to control your power. The light inside of you is powerful and many evil men have sought to claim it only to face destruction. But your pure feelings for those you love help you to call upon your true power and use it to protect your friends and family."

"Yes, Jaga," Kisara replied, knowing he was right. "That does happen to me. When someone I love is in danger, I suddenly don't feel so afraid of my power. I instead come to the point where I know I must use that power to help them. That's because I know it's not about me; rather, it's about them. My friends, my little cousin, they're all too important to me."

Jaga nodded, then looked at Freya. "And Freya, while there is dark power within you, you use that power for good instead of evil. Much like your elder cousin, you fear your power, yet you are willing to invoke it in order to save the ones you love."

Freya looked down, refusing to make eye contact with Jaga. "Being reminded that I have dark power inside of me sometimes makes me wonder if I really should be in service to the Great Goddess."

"The Great Goddess made no mistake in choosing you, Freya," Jaga reminded her. "Having dark power does not make you entirely evil. For eons, many of Millennia's followers have tried to help people blessed with dark power to use their powers of darkness for good. In addition, look at your own amulet."

She did look. "It helps me with my power like Kisara's amulet does for her."

"Yes, Freya," Jaga replied. "Furthermore, you have learned to find hope even in times of darkness. The same hope within you also helps you to control your power." He looks at the rest of the children. "You were all chosen not just for your abilities as magicians or heroes, but for what you have to give from your hearts. I'm sure you've discussed this before with each other back home in your world."

"Yes, Jaga," Atem answered. "When we all first received our amulets and saw what each one meant, we wondered why we were chosen to wield them personally. But as time passed and we continued helping each other, we came to realize that the themes of our elements were also our own personal strengths and gifts to help each other."

Jaga was pleased with his response. "In all the time you've spent here in our world, I've been able to see you children for who you really are and more. However, it grieves me to inform you that your time here with us will have to end."

"What do you mean?" Joseph asked. "Are we being banished from Thundera?"

"In a manner of speaking, yes," Jaga replied. "But please understand, children, it's not a question of choice. The Eye of Thundera has warned me that our world will soon face destruction; a cataclysmic event which cannot be prevented. As such, you must all return home to your world."

None of the children liked the sound of that. "Thundera will be destroyed?" Mystery asked. "But does that mean you and everyone else here will be…" she stopped herself, not wanting to finish. It was too horrible to even think about.

"Do not worry, Mystery," Jaga assured her. "We will have time to escape before we are destroyed. However, there is nothing more you and your friends can do for us here. We don't want you to witness the fall of our world, let alone be a part of it. You've all served your purpose here and you are needed back in your kingdom, where you belong. As you said, you have obligations and responsibilities that you cannot ignore. Egypt needs you more than you may even realize."

The children knew that Jaga was right. They did say those same words themselves when they first arrived in Thundera. And they were needed back home in Egypt more than they were needed here in Thundera.

There was no telling when this cataclysm would occur and there was no sense in waiting to find out. The children decided it was best to leave Thundera and return home immediately. But first, they had to say 'goodbye' to all of their friends. Jaga explained the situation to the ThunderCats and told them all that it was for the best for the Children of Millennia to leave and return to Egypt.

Mystery sniffled and said, "I will never forget you, Lion-O."

"And I won't forget you," he returned, "all of you."

"Me neither," said Snarf. "You all turned out to be a really nice bunch of kids and monsters."

Kisara and Freya hugged Cheetara as they cried. "We'll miss you, Cheetara," they sobbed.

"Oh, girls," she said, hugging them. "I'm going to miss you too."

Freya sniffles and dries her eyes. "I truly hope that someday, we'll all get to see each other again." And her amulet starts glowing.

"I do too," the cheetah woman said sincerely. Noticing the glow of Freya's amulet, she tells her, "Hold on to that hope, Freya, and don't ever give up." The younger cousin nods in response.

"I know it wasn't for as long as I would have liked, but thanks for taking me as your student, Panthro," said Joseph.

The panther ruffled his head. "And thank you for being my helper. I had a lot of fun with you, kid. But now you got more important things to think about," he leans down and whispers in his ear, "like looking out for your girl."

Joseph looked at Freya. Panthro gave him a gentle shove and the blonde stumbled over to her, causing the both of them to blush and sheepishly laugh.

"Many thanks for having us as your students, Tygra," Mahad said gratefully.

Seto was just as grateful. "The knowledge you shared with us here will surely be helpful to us back home."

Tygra chuckled and ruffled their heads. "And thank you both for all the great times you brought here. Now you boys make sure you and the rest of your friends get home safely."

"We will," they both promised.

Wilykat and Wilykit cried as they were hugging Mana. "Oh, Mana, we're going to miss you," Wilykat sobbed.

"And we'll miss Ralts too," his sister added. She gave Mana's partner a gentle hug and kiss.

"And we'll miss you both," Mana returned. "Things won't be as fun anymore without you, but I hope we'll get to see you again someday." She looks at the others. "I hope we'll get to see everybody again."

The Magical Creatures cried as they all surrounded Snarf and hugged him. "I'm not going to cry," Snarf whimpered to himself. "I'm not going to cry."

The two princes looked at each other. "I am so happy and grateful that I got to meet and become friends with all of you," Lion-O said truthfully. "I'm also glad I got to see your world."

"Likewise," Atem returned. "We are grateful to all of you for letting us be a part of your world. But now it is time for us to separate. But though we will be worlds apart, we will always be friends."

The Thunderian prince nodded and smiled. "And we can both carry out the Code of Thundera in our worlds."

Together, they grasp hands and say, "Justice, truth, honor, loyalty." It was true. Though they were princes of two different worlds, the Code of Thundera applied to the both of them and would take them far. Once more, the Children of Millennia and the ThunderCats bid each other 'goodbye', hoping to one day meet again.