Follow Your Star

Queen Mystery wouldn't spend all of her time confined in the palace sitting on her throne. She would go out and get exercise once in a while. She especially needed it in the state she was in. Being pregnant was certainly a lot of hard work. Not only was she eating more, she was also being more active. Her ways of getting exercise included going to the Pure Valley to climb the hills and swim in the lakes and ponds for one to two hours.

That was what the queen was doing right now. She was swimming in a pond while receiving helpful guidance from Cheetara, such as stroking and taking time to catch her breath. While swimming from one side of the pond to the other, Mystery waved her arms forward and kicked her legs back and forth.

"You're looking good, Queen Mystery," said Cheetara.

Mystery stopped to catch her breath. "How long has it been, Cheetara?"

"You've been swimming for about an hour," she answered. "Do you want to stop and rest?"

"Yes," the queen answered. Freya and Kisara helped her out of the pond and dressed her. Mystery wasn't entirely helpless and could still dress herself, but she appreciated the help. Besides, the cousins were doing their duty. "Thank you, girls."

"Not at all," Kisara insisted. "It's our job. And even if it wasn't, we'd still be here for you."

"And that is what I appreciate the most," said Mystery.

"I bet you're hungry after your workout," Cheetara figured. "Let's gather some food from the Secret Garden and have a picnic." Her friends like the sound of that and they agreed. The queen was craving sweet fruit like bananas, nectarines, strawberries, grapes, and pineapples. Her friends helped to pick them.

Once done, they found a nice spot near an oak tree and spread out a placemat on the ground. Cheetara opened up her picnic basket and brought out a loaf of bread and some bottles of milk and a little bit of dried meat. They all sat down and began happily eating. Freya spotted Lynx-O. "Ho, Grandfather," she called.

Lynx-O heard her voice. "Ho, Freya," he returned.

She walked over to him and said, "I'm having a short picnic with Cheetara, Kisara, and the queen. Would you like to join us?"

"Why, certainly," he replied. He held Freya's hand in his and they rejoined the others. "I was just helping Joseph and Panthro in the Thundrillium mines. They're taking a supply to Cats' Lair right now, but they'll be back soon."

"We'll save some food for them, if they desire," said Freya.

Mystery smiled. It made her happy to see everyone getting along like this. She thought to herself, this is the way things should be; friends and loved ones being together during times of peace. But it can't always be like this. After all, she and her friends have obligations and responsibilities that they cannot ignore. Still, it never hurts to take a short period of rest and recreation.

In another part of the Secret Garden, Mahad and Mana were looking for some special nuts. They were called Faerie Walnuts and had the power to restore a mage's magical energy. They always came here to gather some for the other magicians back at the palace and they would always keep a fresh supply for themselves back in Cats' Lair.

Pumyra was helping them. "Mana, Mahad, I think I found some," she said.

"Let me see, Pumyra," Mahad said, walking over to the tree where she was standing. He looked up and saw the large walnuts hanging from the bright green tree. "Pumyra, you've done it. Those are the Faerie Walnuts I need." He looked to his partner. "Gallade, cut them down with Leaf Blade." Gallade obeyed and his blade-like arms glowed a bright green color and he severed the walnuts from the branches.

"So these Faerie Walnuts can restore a mage's magic energy?" Pumyra asked.

"By a little bit, yes," said Mahad. "Think of it as an emergency provision for magicians who don't have any magic potions or are away from civilization." He put the Faerie Walnuts in a few bags. One supply would go to the storehouse in the palace and another would go to Cats' Lair.

"Can I go be with the ThunderKittens now, Master?" Mana asked. "I promised them we'd have a picnic together after I finished helping you." Since the ThunderKittens were no longer grounded after their misadventure in the outskirts, they were allowed to spend time with their friends again. Mana was also allowed to spend time with the ThunderKittens again after being punished for her own mishap back at Cats' Lair. Right now, Wilykit and Wilykat were playing with Jirachi, Snarf, and Snarfer.

"Of course, Mana," he permitted. Mana cheered and ran off.

Pumyra smiled. "Mana is one cheerful girl."

"She does represent joy," Mahad reminded her. "And it's one of the many things I admire about her." Mahad had known Mana ever since she was little and had also always looked after her since then. Her childlike ways took some time getting used to, but when Mahad did start getting used to it, he found it adorable. He also appreciated that Mana was always eager to please him and always loved seeing him look happy. Mana meant so much to Mahad and he knew even when he was young that he loved her unconditionally just like she loved him.

Yet despite their feelings for each other, it is forbidden for a master to have a courtship with his student. Mana knows as much too and that's one of the reasons she hopes to be a full-fledged magician someday; so her love for Mahad can be complete.

Pumyra found it to be a heartwarming tale. "You know, Mahad, Mana is very fortunate to have you as a teacher." And she reminds him of how Mana had always looked up to him and sought his support and protection. "She's even more fortunate to have you to care for her the way you do and I think that's one of the many things she loves about you."

Mahad said nothing. He just blushed. Then he saw Bengali sitting by himself. "Pumyra, would you excuse me?"

"Oh, don't worry about me, Mahad," she insisted. "I actually think I'm going to go join Mana and the ThunderKittens. But I'll see you later." So the two of them went their separate ways.

Mahad walked over to Bengali. As he got closer, the mage noticed the white tiger's vacant expression. "Bengali, is something wrong?"

He looked at his friend. "No. Why do you ask?"

"For a moment, I thought you looked unhappy."

Bengali apologized. He had a serious nature, given he was a tiger. "I guess when it comes to things being quiet and peaceful, it can suddenly get a little boring." He looked at the mage again. "Don't get me wrong, Mahad. I like it here and I like spending time with you and the others. But once in a while, I need a bit of excitement."

Mahad chuckled in understanding. "I recall Lion-O saying safe is boring, and I can't say he's wrong. When you've lived the life of a hero for a long time just as my friends and I have, you find triumph in your victory and pleasure with things being peaceful for a while until you want to be a hero again so you don't feel like you're out of a job." And they both laughed.

Mahad cleared his throat. "Of course, it's not just a job. It's our destinies. It's part of who we are and what we must do." He remembered how Tygra said the same thing to Lion-O during the Anointment Trials. "As you know, Bengali, I have a duty and obligation to serve and protect the pharaoh and queen. And as one of the Children of Millennia, it is also my destiny to serve the Great Goddess and fulfill her wishes of protecting all that is good and peaceful."

The white tiger nodded in understanding. "Seto said the same thing, but he also said he had his own personal reasons. He said everything he was, he owed to Atem and Mystery because they helped him to be who he is today. He told me how Mystery saved his life and how the royal family took him in and how he and Atem hit it off right away as though they had always been best friends." He looks at Mahad again. "Do you feel the same way, Mahad?"

"Yes, Bengali," he answered. "The pharaoh and queen have been there for me more than I have been there for them; especially when we were young. But I don't just put myself out for them because it's my duty. It's also because they are my most cherished friends as well as my most faithful leaders."

"Though you and Seto say it's your duty to protect Atem and Mystery, the greater reason is because of the love you guys have for them," said Bengali.

"Yes," Mahad said again. "And truthfully, it's hard to put your responsibilities first because love will always come first; especially when it comes to helping and protecting someone you care about."

Bengali understood exactly what he meant. He didn't put himself out for his friends and comrades just because he was a ThunderCat. It was also because he loved every one of them. And each of the Children of Millennia also had a place in the white tiger's heart.

He looked and saw Atem sitting in the hot spring with Lion-O. "Mahad, I'll be back." He left the mage alone and went to the hot spring. "Hi, guys."

The pharaoh was the first to notice him. "Hello, Bengali. Why don't you come in?"

"Thanks, but I think I'll just sit down." He seated himself and dipped his feet in the warm water. "It sure is nice here," he admitted.

Lion-O agreed. "It's even more nice that we can come here and spend time together with all of our friends."

"It makes up for not having adventures together," said Atem.

"I know how it is for you, Atem," the lion was saying. "You and Mystery have your duties as pharaoh and queen and you have to rule all of Egypt. And that's not for the faint of heart. Still, you have all of us to help you when you need it."

"Besides, with your wife's condition, it's just as understandable," Bengali added. "At least this is a safe place for her to come to."

Atem looked at his wife and saw her happily eating and chatting with the others. "That doesn't mean I don't have to worry about her. I know she's not entirely helpless and she can still do things even in her current state, but even so, I still feel as though I need to protect her."

"Maybe we should go to her," Lion-O suggested. "It's probably time to be getting her home anyway." So they left the hot spring and went over to the picnic site. Rather than have their own picnic, Mana and the ThunderKittens decided to join Mystery and her group after gathering their own share of rations.

Mana had just finished playing a melody on her lyre and all of her friends applauded. "That was lovely, Mana," said Pumyra.

Mystery got an idea. "How about we end things with a story?" Everyone agreed. "All right, what should I tell you?"

That was when Atem, Bengali, and Lion-O appeared. "Why don't we tell them how we first came here to the Pure Valley?" her husband suggested. "Pumyra and Bengali haven't heard that one yet and neither has Lynx-O."

"I am curious about that, actually," the puma woman admitted.

"Yeah, how did you first come across this beautiful place?" Bengali asked.

"You said the Great Goddess brought you here," Lion-O recalled. "How, exactly?"

Mystery began the story, saying it all started with a recurring dream she had about seeing the Pure Valley and being called to go out and find it. When she told her friends about her dream, she consulted with King Aknamkanon and he figured that the Great Goddess was telling Mystery to go out and find that hidden paradise.

After getting the king's approval, Mystery rounded up all of her friends and she prayed to the Great Goddess for guidance. It seemed as though her prayers were heard because she heard Millennia's voice guiding her, telling her were to go. Mystery and her friends followed Millennia's directions and came to a path obscured by darkness and they walked through and found themselves in the Pure Valley.

"My friends followed me," Mystery was saying, "while I was following Millennia's instructions."

"Sounds more like you were following your Star," Lion-O joked. "After all, the Millennium Star is the imprisoned form of the Great Goddess herself."

Kisara smiled and asked, "It does seem that way, doesn't it?"

"I'd say so," Lynx-O agreed.

"Now that's a concept," said Mystery. "As followers of the Great Goddess Millennia, we're following the Millennium Star – figuratively and literally." And they all agreed. Mystery suddenly felt an urge to sing. She nodded to Mana and the young mage began playing her lyre.

You can reach for the stars and know that in your heart

You have the strength deep inside. So let it be your guide

You can fly past the moon and race all afternoon

Don't be afraid to make a choice. Raise your voice

Together, she and Kisara and Freya and Mana sing, Just follow your star

Spread your wings and be free

Wherever you are, it's right where you should be

So listen to your heart and believe in what you dream

And follow, follow your star

Mana takes her turn and sings, There's a time when you know

How to find your destiny

And with each turn in the road

It's clear for you to see

So push through all your days, don't let your spirit fade

Throw away all your doubts, oh, sing out loud

And she and her friends repeat the chorus.

"It certainly did happen that way," Atem suddenly said. "We followed the Millennium Star to come here and it was the same Star that brought us to your world to meet all of you."

"And I guess we've been following the same Star by following you to your world," Lion-O added. "And by coming to each other's worlds, we really have been where we're all meant to be."

Wilykat remembered. "Hey, Joseph once called us ThunderCats of Millennia."

"If we've been following the Millennium Star just as you guys have, then it must be true," said Wilykit.

"Well, we have been fulfilling Millennia's wishes in our own way while also carrying out the Code of Thundera," Lion-O pointed out. "Yeah, I guess we really are ThunderCats of Millennia."

"What's really important is that we're all working together to protect all that we believe in," Atem was saying, "whether it be fulfilling Millennia's wishes or carrying out the Code of Thundera." All of his friends agreed and they were going to make sure it would stay that way by continuing to be the friends and allies they were.