Untold Stories
Once more, the heroes returned to the palace to recuperate after their battle. Freya insisted that Lynx-O needed the rest the most, given what a terrible ordeal he went through. He nearly lost his hearing from those sonic blasts. The old lynx kept insisting that he was fine, but he relented so his friends would be at ease. He had been through many ordeals in his life and he was old. Despite all of that, Lynx-O was thankful to still be alive.
Once more, the queen felt helpless. Seeing her friends look so tired and in pain made her wish there was something she could to help them. Alas, there was nothing she could do except provide housing and have the royal physicians look after her friends. And it was because she was at her most vulnerable right now that made her an easy target to her enemies. Yet, it caused her to wonder, why hadn't she been targeted yet? True, staying at home here in her world has kept her safe from the mutants, Mumm-Ra, and the Lunataks. But what about Bakura? Why hasn't he attacked yet? Surely he knows she is the heiress of the Great Goddess Millennia as well as the queen of Egypt. What's he waiting for?
She looked down at the piece of jewelry on the index finger on her right hand. It was a gold ring with a light blue crystal. Luna had a Crystal Ring too, but her ring was silver and the crystal on it was a dark blue. Thinking about Bakura made Mystery think about Luna too and worry about her. The queen hoped she was staying safe and that Bakura wasn't using cruel tactics on her to get information. Mystery knew that Luna was strong and could handle herself, but even so, she still worried and the fact that she worried meant that she cared.
Her thoughts were interrupted as she heard Lion-O's voice. "Queen Mystery," he said softly.
She turned around and gave him her attention. "Hello, Lion-O. Is everything all right?"
"Yes," he answered. "I just wanted to check on you before going to sleep."
"Thank you, but I am all right," she insisted. "Standing out here in the night air, looking at the sky as well as the city, I often do it before I retire to bed." They both look up and see the moon. It was waning. "When I look at the moon and see how it waxes and wanes, I think of light and darkness working together in harmony. That's what it looks like to me."
"I never thought of it that way," said Lion-O.
Mystery faces her friend. "Lion-O, you are familiar with the stories of the battles between the Great Goddess and the Dark Lord, correct?" Seeing him nod, she tells him, "There is actually another story that many people have ignored because they did not believe it to be true. I almost did not believe it myself until the Great Goddess told me."
"What's that?" Lion-O asked.
She slowly inhales to compose herself. "The truth is, Lion-O, Millennia and Cobalt were once friends before they became enemies."
The lion was shocked to hear that. A Goddess of light and purity having once been friends with a Lord of darkness and evil sounded hard to believe. "That can't be true."
"I thought the same thing myself," Mystery admitted. "But the Great Goddess told me of how she and Cobalt started out as rivals, yet they were also enchanted by each other, helping each other using their magic to balance good and evil in the world." It actually wasn't hard to imagine, despite how far fetched it sounded. They say that natural opposites like light and darkness as well as good and evil cannot exist without each other. However, it's because of these differences that pride can end up being wounded even by Gods and Goddesses. People assumed that it was this matter that caused the Great Goddess and the Dark Lord to let their differences get the better of them and leave a negative impact on their friendship and turn them into enemies. No one really knows what caused this because the legend is told differently in all other parts of the world. But Mystery believed that this legend was true.
"It seems to be because Millennia and Cobalt were once friends, many followers of both the Great Goddess and the Dark Lord try to find ways to be friends with each other," Mystery figured.
"You once mentioned that Millennia's followers have tried teaching followers of Cobalt to use their abilities in dark power for good," Lion-O recalled.
"Yes, and in turn, followers of Cobalt have found ways to convince followers of Millennia to use their abilities for evil purposes," Mystery added. "Needless to say, it has brought disgrace to the Great Goddess and the Dark Lord." She looks at him directly and continues, "There is another legend, Lion-O, about two warriors called the Knights of Light and Darkness." These Knights were said to be neither with nor against the deities they served, only that they believed in a common cause of working together to restore and sustain the balances of light and darkness.
Here in Egypt, it is said that many eons ago, two magicians met and fell in love. One was a follower of Millennia and the other served the Dark Lord Cobalt. The two magicians knew of each others' clans and the deities they served, but despite that, they insisted on seeing each other whenever there was an opportunity. One day, both of their clans were at war with each other. The magicians intervened, stopping their people from causing great bloodshed. And because the two magicians loved each other – though they knew their love meant disgracing their clans – but they did not care about the danger they would face, a great power was released. The magician from the clan that served the Dark Lord discovered a power hidden within her. It was a bird made from a divine fire with the powers of both light and darkness. According to legend, its flames would shine through any darkness and its dark fires contained pure power as well. The Firebird blazed through the battlefield, attacking and injuring everyone involved.
Finally, the clans saw how much the two magicians loved each other. The magicians were willing to risk their own lives to save their peoples' rivals all because of the love they had for each other. They also realized that it was their love that resulted in the synergy which released the Firebird that was dormant within the one with dark power. The clans realized how foolish and insensible their feud was and came to an agreement that their people could live in harmony and that the love between the magicians was true. Some people still struggled to get along, but others managed to become friends. As for the two magicians, they came to be known as the Knights of Light and Darkness.
"For some reason, the Firebird lives inside the Dark Knight," Mystery was saying, "but the Dark Knight can only release it when he or she becomes one with the Light Knight."
This was a lot for Lion-O to take in. Of course, he had to remember that this was a legend and that it was told differently everywhere else. "I actually remember hearing something like this back on Thundera," he confessed. "It was similar to what you told me just now. These Knights of Light and Darkness are warriors who are neither with nor against Millennia or Cobalt, yet they believe in a common cause of protecting the balances of light and darkness because they believe they can be friends with each other."
Mystery was glad that the people of Thundera knew of this legend as well. "When I think about that legend, I think to myself, maybe it would be nice if Millennials and Cobaltites could be friends with each other just like Millennia and Cobalt used to. I also think about Luna because of that too."
"Luna?" the lion asked.
"Yes," the queen answered. "She was born from a clan that followed the Dark Lord while I serve the Great Goddess, and we found a way to be friends with each other."
Lion-O still wasn't sure if Luna really could be considered a friend. He didn't want to forget what Jaga said about her a long time ago about not being who she said she was. However, he did not want to be disrespectful of the queen's judgement either. "I understand your point," he simply said.
"I know everyone else does not trust Luna and I understand why," Mystery was saying, "but everything I just shared with you, it makes my heart tell me that she is my friend."
"Queen Mystery, I have no intention or arguing with you," Lion-O was saying. "And I respect everything you told me tonight as well as what you told me regarding Luna's past."
"I suppose that should be enough to ask from you," she interrupted. "I will not force you or any of the others to trust Luna or ignore whatever instincts you have concerning her. But please, do not bear any grudges against her."
"I don't know Luna as well as you do," Lion-O was saying. "But I will give her a chance," he promised.
"That will suffice," the queen said approvingly. She got back to the previous topic. "You know, Lion-O, when I was young and learned of the legend of the Light and Dark Knights, I thought to myself, I think I would have preferred to be the Light Knight."
Lion-O blinked in astonishment at that.
"I know I committed myself to serving the Great Goddess and fulfilling her wishes when I bonded with the Millennium Star," continued Mystery. "I also knew it meant fighting the heir of Cobalt once I would meet him, but that was one thing I did not want to look forward to. As you know, I don't like to fight, but I will put myself out to protect the ones I love. Of course, I knew there was no turning back." She looks at him and says, "Now I'm not complaining and I don't have any regrets, and I do want to fulfill Millennia's wishes of bringing peace and prosperity. But what I also want is to do it without there needing to be any violence."
It wasn't hard for Lion-O to understand. This means that once Mystery and Bakura meet, they'll be forced to battle each other. And she would rather try to resolve this peacefully than kill or be killed. He wondered, what if Millennia wanted the same thing? What if she wanted Mystery to try to be friends with the heir of Cobalt instead of fight him?
That wasn't the only thing to think about. There was also the matter of Mystery's unborn child. The baby would be born into this same destiny in which Mystery must face. Mystery said this out loud and confessed how terrifying it was just thinking about it; her child inheriting Millennia's power and continuing the legacy of the Great Goddess.
At that moment, Lion-O realized something, but it was of little importance right now, given the matter of the subject. Being understanding of Mystery's feelings was more important. "Queen Mystery, I don't know what will happen, but I promise, I will do everything in my power to protect you and your family."
It seemed to be too much to ask. Mystery also feared that Lion-O was expecting too much of himself for this. But she appreciated that he was willing to be here and that he thought her and her family's safety was important to him. Mystery wrapped her arms around him and hugged him. Lion-O hugged her gently, not wanting to be too hard on her. As they hugged, the lion felt the baby's movements, causing him to lightly laugh.
The queen lightly laughed as well. "Did you feel that just now?"
"I certainly did," he replied. "Would it be all right if I…?" She nods in approval. So Lion-O gently places the palm of his hand against her abdomen. He felt the baby moving inside of her and promised himself he would protect it.