Make Room

It seemed to be another typical day at Cats' Lair. The house chores were done and so was the maintenance check. Wilykit and Wilykat wanted to have fun, but weren't sure how. For now, they decided to ask their comrades if they needed help with anything.

They stepped inside Lion-O's room and saw him packing a few supplies. "Hey, Lion-O," they said.

"Hi, Kat and Kit," he returned. "I'm off to the palace to check up on Atem and Mystery. Do you guys want to come along? I'm sure they would be happy to see you."

Their smiles brightened up. "We would like that very much," said Wilykat.

Wilykit agreed. "It's been a while since we last saw them and we've been wondering how they were."

"Come on then," he said. "I'm sure Mana and the others will be happy to see you too." Before heading off to the palace, Lion-O informed the rest of the ThunderCats where he and the ThunderKittens were going. "We're heading off to the palace to pay a short visit to Atem and Mystery to see how they're doing."

"Okay," Tygra replied. "Say 'hi' to them for us and let them know that we're all excited."

"With only one month left, it's hard not to be," said Panthro.

Lion-O chuckled. "I'll let them know. We'll be back in a bit." So they stepped outside and went to the hidden cave behind Cats' Lair and entered the Pure Valley. Wilykit and Wilykat raced to the door to the Egyptian kingdom and the brother won. They waited for Lion-O before going through the door. Once he caught up, they all passed through and came to the throne room together.

"Lion-O, ThunderKittens, welcome," Atem greeted.

The lion and the two siblings got down and kneeled. "Thank you, Pharaoh and Queen."

"Please rise," Atem said. "That's really not necessary. You are our friends, after all."

Wilykat got up and dusted himself. "We know, but we should still be respectful in your home."

"We just wanted to check on you and see how you were doing," said Wilykit.

"Well, that's much appreciated," said Mystery. "We're doing very well."

The ThunderKittens softly gasped and smiled. They couldn't believe that they only had one month left. Lion-O felt the same way. He then cleared his throat. "Wilykat, Wilykit, why don't you two go and play while I talk to the pharaoh and queen," he suggested.

"Is that all right, Pharaoh and Queen?" Wilykit asked.

"It certainly is," said Atem. "This is your home too, after all."

The ThunderKittens bowed. "Thank you, Pharaoh and Queen." And they left the throne room. Kisara and Freya weren't going to be able to have time for them since they were Mystery's handmaids. And Mahad was out training Mana with more magic lessons. As for Joseph and Seto, they were already out making their rounds in the kingdom. At least they had the company of the Magical Creatures.

Wilykat and Wilykit were in their room playing with Kirara and Sakuya. Wilykit suddenly spoke up. "Hey, Wilykat, I just got an idea."

"What is it, Wilykit?" he asked.

"Well, we ThunderCats and Children of Millennia agreed to share each other's homes, right?" she began. "And we all have our own rooms in each other's homes too, right?"

"Yeah, so?" her brother asked.

"Well, I was thinking, since Atem and Mystery are going to start staying with us at Cats' Lair again soon, we should surprise them," she said.

"How, Wilykit?"

"We've still got some spare rooms at Cats' Lair," she was saying. "We should make a room for the baby; like a nursery."

Wilykat liked the sound of that. "That's a great idea. We can tell the others about it when we get home."

A few minutes later, Lion-O came to the room. "Wilykat, Wilykit, time to go."

"Okay, Lion-O," they replied. Wilykit gave Kirara one last kiss before setting her down and Wilykat did the same to Sakuya. They also said 'goodbye' to Atem and Mystery and promised to come back soon.

When they returned home, the ThunderKittens shared their idea with their comrades. "You want to build a nursery here at Cats' Lair?" Lion-O asked.

"For the baby," Wilykat said. "For when Atem and Mystery decide to bring him or her with them whenever they come visit."

"We did open our home to them and they've done the same for us," Wilykit was saying. "And we do have plenty of rooms."

The lion wasn't too sure. "I understand your points," he was saying, "but I don't think it would be ideal to have a nursery here. It's not safe with Mumm-Ra and the mutants and the Lunataks around. And besides, we have our duties as ThunderCats."

The ThunderKittens were dismayed. It seemed a little hard for the others to decide what to do. Lion-O was right about the danger, but the ThunderKittens also brought up a good point about Atem and Mystery staying here in their second home.

Then again, maybe it wouldn't be hard at all. "I think Wilykit and Wilykat have the right idea," said Panthro. "With the Children of Millennia always staying here with us, the baby will need its own room too."

"While it is true that we do have dangerous enemies, we do have some days when we don't have to worry about them," said Cheetara. "I think we should build a nursery."

"It might be fun having the baby here at Cats' Lair," Tygra figured.

"Please, Lion-O," Wilykat pleaded.

"Please," his sister begged, smiling as she was stretching the word.

"Well, all right," he replied, convinced. "Let's do it." And they all cheered.

The first thing to do was to pick an ideal room. Lion-O suggested that it should be one that's next to Atem and Mystery's room. His comrades agreed. Next, they had to decorate the room and get furniture. Tygra also figured that a few modifications should be built. He went to his room and started working on the details.

The ThunderKittens figured that if it was going to be a nursery, then the walls should have artwork to make it look so. Wilykit wanted one wall to have the images of cats while Wilykat wanted one wall to have an image of the Pure Valley. Lion-O had a better idea. The walls would have the layout of the Egyptian kingdom with the palace and the pyramids and the Nile River. He also suggested that the ceiling should be painted dark blue with glittered spots to look like stars. Wilykit liked the idea and also suggested that the Millennium Star should be added too so the baby can always look up at it. Lion-O liked that idea as well.

The lion then figured, maybe he should let the other ThunderCats know about their project and ask them if they want to help out. He decided to call them at the Tower of Omens.

Bengali's image appeared on the screen. "Tower of Omens here. How goes it?"

"It's nice and quiet here," said Lion-O. "How are things where you stand?"

"Nothing exciting here," the white tiger replied.

"Well, we're working on a project here at Cats' Lair and we were wondering if you wanted to help."

"A project," Pumyra asked. "What kind?"

"We're working on a special surprise for Atem and Mystery," said Wilykat.

"We're going to build a nursery for the baby," his sister clarified.

The puma woman was thrilled to hear that. "That does sound like fun. Sit tight and I'll be over to help out."

"Count me in too," said Bengali.

"If it's for the pharaoh and queen, I certainly don't want to be left out," said Lynx-O. "We'll be over in fifteen minutes." And they disconnected the call.

"While we're working on the interior decorating, why don't you two head to the nearby villages and see if you can find some furniture," Lion-O suggested to the ThunderKittens.

"Okay," they replied. They got their space boards ready and decided to stop at the Berbil village first.

Wilykat held a list in his hand of ideal furniture. "Let's see, for furniture, we'll need a small bed, like a cradle," he began. "Then we'll need a rocking chair. We'll also need a dresser for clothes and blankets."

"We should probably get other things too like toys," Wilykit suggested. "But we'll have to get a few things at a time until the others can help out. So we'll start with the small things."

"Good idea," her brother replied. They landed their space boards in the middle of the Berbil village. "You know, I still think the baby is going to be a boy."

"Yeah, well, I still think it's going to be a girl," his sister argued.

Wilykat got an idea. "I'll make you a bet. If I'm right and it's a boy, then you have to do my share of house chores for a week."

Wilykit accepted. "But if I'm right and it's a girl, then you have to give me your share of desserts for a week."

"You're on," Wilykat agreed. "But I won't lose."

"I won't lose," Wilykit bragged, and they both shook hands. With that being settled, they began asking the Berbils for some of the items on their list.

Just outside the village, Jackalman was close by. He wondered what the ThunderKittens were doing. "Hmm, those ThunderKittens look like they're collecting stuff." He pulled out a pair of binoculars and saw them receiving toys from the Berbils. He snorted at the sight. "Typical brat behavior," he sneered. "When you're young, you can never have too many toys." Still, he was curious. Keeping a safe distance, he discreetly followed the ThunderKittens back to Cats' Lair.

Not too long after Wilykit and Wilykat returned, Bengali, Pumyra, and Lynx-O arrived as well. "We're here to help," said the puma woman.

"Tell us what to do," said the white tiger.

Lion-O looked at the ThunderKittens first. "First, were you two able to find some nice furniture?"

"We certainly were," said Wilykat. "You should come back with us to the Berbil village and take a look at it."

"And if it's good, we can bring it back for the nursery," said Wilykit.

Jackalman was surprised to hear that. "A nursery," he asked.

"Okay," Lion-O replied. "Pumyra, why don't you come with me and the ThunderKittens and we can take a look? Bengali and Lynx-O, you can go on inside and wait for directions from the others." So they all went their separate ways.

"A nursery at Cats' Lair," Jackalman whispered to himself. "I wonder what Slithe will say about that." He began making his way to Castle Plun-Darr.

He returned to his home and found Slithe and Monkian playing cards. The reptilian mutant was the first to notice him. "Where have you been? Spying on the ThunderCats, I hope."

"Yes, Slithe," Jackalman replied. "And I discovered something I found unusual."

"What is it," he asked.

"The ThunderCats are building a nursery at Cats' Lair," the jackal mutant answered.

Both the reptile and the ape-like mutant were baffled at that. "A nursery," Monkian repeated.

"I overheard them mention that it's a surprise for Atem and Mystery," Jackalman added.

"The pharaoh and queen," Monkian asked. "We haven't seen those two for months. I thought it was because they were too busy running their kingdom."

"I thought so too, given their position," Jackalman was saying. "But now in light of what I saw and heard as well as considering the fact that we haven't seen Atem or Mystery in so long, it can only mean–"

"They're having a baby, yes," Slithe hissed. He had to admit, it did sound plausible.

Monkian hooted. "That explains so many things." He looked at the reptilian mutant. "What should we do about this, Slithe?"

Jackalman agreed. "Should we tell Mumm-Ra about this?"

"No," Slithe answered. "Surely he would not be threatened by a little baby, yes," he hissed. "Why should we concern him? I'm sure we can handle the little runt ourselves."

Monkian agreed. "And if the ThunderCats are building a nursery, that means the pharaoh and queen will bring the baby with them. And when they do," he hooted excitedly and finished, "we'll use him against his parents and the ThunderCats too."

"What makes you so sure the baby will be a boy?" Jackalman asked him. "Maybe it'll be a girl."

"Who cares about that stuff?" Slithe snapped. "We'll just wait for now and let the ThunderCats have their fun in building their nursery. And when the pharaoh and queen do come with the baby, as Monkian was saying, that's when we'll attack, yes." And the mutants cheered and howled, settling their agreement.