Part 15

Lion-O and Cheetara stood at the alter in shock and disbelief as Leela walked towards them. Everyone couldn't believe that this woman was claiming to be Lion-O's wife. Leela ignored the stares as she walked towards the engaged couple. Despite the shock of the woman, they had to admit she was very beautiful with her long red curly hair, sparkling green eyes, which matched the green dress she was wearing that met her knee-high red boots. She only stop a few inches from Lion-O and Cheetara.

"Who are you?" Lion-O asked.

"I'm your wife, well, actually your fiancée, Leela." Leela answered.

"How can that be? I have never met you before."

"We have. You were just to young to remember." Leela responded.

"But-" Lion-O stopped when Tygra laid a hand on his shoulder.

"Lion-O, this is a private matter and should not be discussed in front of all these people. I suggest we move this to the counsel room." Tygra whispered.

"You're right, Tygra. Excuse me, everyone, but we will have to defer this for a short time. A representative will be back in 20 minutes." Lion-O told the guest and all the Thundercats and Leela followed Lion-O and Cheetara to the counsel room.

"Explain yourself, Leela." Lion-O said sitting in a chair at the counsel table. Everyone else was sitting down as well except for Cheetara who stood behind Lion-O with her hand resting on the back of his seat. She felt she would be sitting uncomfortable in the small chairs because of the size and extravagance of her dress.

"I am Leela. My family and your family were good friends. It was tradition that the Lord of the Thundercats be engaged by birth to his wife." Leela explained.

"What?" Lion-O said shocked.

"Yes. Your father, Claudus, was engaged to my aunt, but she died when she was a little girl and so Claudus was free to marry whoever he wanted. Your father made an agreement that his son would marry a member of my family. I was born five years before you, and I was the only descendent, so we became engaged." She explained.

"I can't believe this." Lion-O said in disbelief.

Leela continued. "I was then raised to be your wife, learning how to act royal, be diplomatic, and a devoted wife and mother. This isn't a first, Lion-O. It has been this way since the 3rd Lord of the Thundercats."

"Why?"

"The second Lord of the Thundercats wasn't happy with his son choice of a wife. It turned out she was a spy for the mutants. When that was discovered, an arranged marriage was made for each Lord of the Thundercats by birth."

"But why an arranged marriage. How can I marry someone I do not love?"

"We were to meet when you turned 18. That was when our courtship was to began. I am sorry to explain it to you this way. I meant no harm."

"Then why did you come here?" Panthro asked coldly.

"I only wanted what is mine. My rightful place in this world." Leela answered Panthro's question.

"Even though it means splitting two people who really love each other apart?" Panthro asked angrily.

"Panthro, please try to calm down." WilyKit said, but Panthro refused.

"Did you all know about this?" Lion-O asked the Thundercats.

"Well, we knew that the Thundercat Lords have an arranged marriage, but we didn't who your fiancé was, and when we came to 3rd Earth, we thought we were the only ones around and didn't think anything else about it." Tygra said speaking for the rest of the Thundercats.,

"Still, why wasn't I notified. I am the Lord of the Thundercats. This is my life. Was I suppose to wait until Cheetara and I had a child before I found out about this arranged marriage?" Lion-O asked his friends as he began to lose his temper.

"You had to find out certain things when the time was right. You didn't know about the Anointment Trials or Ceremony until it was time. It was just a matter of time." Tygra said simply.

"What I wanna is, why did you wait until Lion-O and Cheetara's wedding to bring this shock to us?" Panthro asked.

I arrived on Thundera a couple of days ago and didn't find out about your wedding until yesterday, and I couldn't get out here until this morning." Leela explained.

"You shouldn't have come." Panthro said coldly.

"But I knew I would regret it for the rest of my life. I am the rightful Queen of Thundera. The rightful wife of Lion-O."

"Now just wait a-"

"Cheetara." Tygra cut her off. Tygra looked back down at the Book of Omens. "I'm sorry to say this but Leela is suppose to be Lion-O's wife. They were engaged by Lion-O's birth just as Leela said. The book says that the Lord of the Thundercats are engaged by birth to their wife. They are suppose to be married."

An image of Jaga appeared before Lion-O.

"Jaga!' Lion-O said.

"Tygra is right, Lion-O. Leela is the woman you are suppose to marry. Leela is the real and same girl you were engaged to as a newborn. She is your true fiancée." He said and vanished.

"No! Jaga, wait!" Lion-O called out.

Cheetara placed her hand on Lion-O's shoulder. "Lion-O, what did Jaga say?"

The counsel door open and Snarf and Snarfer entered. "Lion-O, 20 minutes are up. What do you want me to say to the guest?"

All eyes were on Lion-O. He sighed and looked back up at Cheetara who's eyes were as sad as his. "Tell them...the wedding is postponed until further notice."

Snarf's ears fallen. "I understand. Come on, Snarfer."

Tygra waited until Snarf and his nephew left before speaking. "What are we going to do now?"

"I don't know, Tygra. How can I marry someone I don't-" He stopped himself.

"I know what you were going to say, but you must know that the other lords and ladies did fall in love with each other." Leela said.

"Could everyone leave the room, please? I like to talk to Lion-O alone." Cheetara requested.

Everyone complied with Cheetara's request and left the room. Cheetara turned Lion-O's chair around to face her.

"We have to talk."

Part 16

The Thundercats, except Tygra, entered the throne room. All the guest were gone and the extra hand were stacking chairs and cleaning up the room. The Thundercats each got a chair and sat in a circle, thinking about what happened in the counsel room earlier. Snarf and Snarfer joined them.

"Snarf. What's happening? Why aren't you in the counsel room, and where's Tygra and Leela?" Snarf asked.

"Lion-O and Cheetara are talking in the counsel room and Tygra is showing Leela to her guest room." Panthro answered calmly and got up angrily. "Dang Blasted! How could something like this have happened?!"

Tygra and Leela were laughing victoriously at the success of their plan in Leela's guest room. "Yes! Finally things are going my way!" He said happily. "I think the Jaga hologram did the trick."

"Tygra, I can't thank you enough for all you've done." Leela said.

"You have already thanked me; by showing up on time and handling Panthro's tough interrogations. However, you must remember not to let anyone know that I found you." Tygra told Leela.

"No problem, Tygra. I won't let anyone know our secret, but you better go before the others get suspicious."

Tygra nodded in agreement and left.

Lion-O rose from his seat and took Cheetara's hand. "Cheetara, I'm sorry our wedding day turned out like this."

"I know you are. None of us expected this to happen. I guess we have to face the truth. We cannot get married." She started to cry.

"Cheetara, no! I know things look bad now, but-"

"But nothing, Lion-O." Cheetara cut him off as tears begin to fall. "We have to end this. I can't marry you because you were promised to someone else before I was promised to you. You have to marry Leela." She said, almost choking on her words.

"I know what you mean, Panthro." WilyKit agreed. "Lion-O and Cheetara were so happy. They didn't deserve anything like this."

"I just thought of something. How did Leela get pass our security?" Bengali asked.

"That's a good question, but she probably have a good answer, and anyway, what does it matter? She's Lion-O's fiancée. According to the Book of Omens, they are suppose to be married." WilyKit said.

"I wonder what Lion-O and Cheetara are doing now." Pumyra said.

"I believe the end has come to their relationship." Lynx-O gave an educated guess to what may be happening.

"Snarfer. You don't think they're breaking up, do you?" Snarfer asked.

"I don't think anyone of us knows for sure." WilyKat said.

Tygra fell back on his bed and sigh happily. "Oh, what a glorious day this has been, and last night it was perfect." He said and rolled on his side, thinking about last night.

Leela was sitting on the couch with Tygra after she invited him in. "So, Leela, I researched and discovered that you were engaged to Lion-O when he was a baby. What I can't understand is why haven't you confronted Lion-O about it?" Tygra asked.

"I just got back to Thundera after spending years in space a few days ago. I was going to see him when I get things settled." Leela answered.

"You do know he is getting married tomorrow?"

Leela jumped out of her seat. "What?! You mean to tell me that Lion-O is getting married tomorrow. I've got to stop the wedding, but how can I get in. Security is definitely going to be tight."

Tygra stood up and placed a hand on her shoulder. "Leave everything to me."

The flashback ended and Tygra had a very satisfied smug look on his face.

"Marry Leela?" Lion-O was stunned. "I can't marry someone I don't love. I love you. I want to marry you." Lion-O said as he placed his arm on her bare shoulders.

"I know, Lion-O, and I want that too, but the other Thundercat Lords fell in love with their arranged wife. You will too." Cheetara saying putting on her bravest face.

"I will never love her, and even if I did, I couldn't love her like I love you."

"Lion-O, when I became a Thundercat, one of the most important things your father and Jaga told me was that there will be times where I will become emotionally involved in a situation. I cannot let my emotions cloud my judgment. We have to face the facts, Lion-O. We cannot get married. We cannot break laws that have ruled and shaped our planet and us for thousands of years."

"It's a stupid law." Lion-O said.

"And it's a law we must follow." Cheetara said and begin crying. "I can't believe this is happening."

"No matter what, Cheetara. I will always love you."

"You will always have my heart, Lion-O." Cheetara cried.

Lion-O brushed the tears from Cheetara's eyes and gave his love and one last passionate kiss good-bye. He held her close to him for a long time before finally releasing her and leaving the room, heading for the throne room where they figured the others were at. When they entered the throne room, everyone including Tygra were sitting and talking. The voices stopped when they entered.

"Where's Leela?" Lion-O asked.

"She's in the guest room." Tygra answered.

"Could you get her for me?" Lion-O requested.

As they waited for Tygra to return with Leela, Panthro looked at Lion-O and then Cheetara. Both of their eyes were sad and it seem a part of each other was taken away. The looks on their face told Panthro that the news wasn't good. When Tygra and Leela entered, Cheetara looked at Lion-O who looked down at her. It was almost as if they were telling each other something before they went ahead and looked at everyone else.

Lion-O took a deep breath before speaking. "Cheetara and I decided to call off our wedding so I can go ahead with my first engagement."

The Thundercats looked shocked at first before murmuring among themselves. Tygra faked his dismal and surprised look, but was laughing with delight on the inside. Leela, of course, smiled wickedly.

Part 17

A week later, the wedding of Lion-O and Leela took place. It was a small, private ceremony held in the throne room. Only half the guest from the failed wedding were able to attend or more accurately wanted to attend. Tygra was still the best man as he stood by Lion-O who wore a black formal suit and cape. Pumyra was Leela's bridemaid, by choice. Leela's gown was long and lavishing white gown, but wasn't as extravagant as Cheetara's. The Thundercats sat on the front row, including Cheetara, who despite the advice of her friends attended. She was holding Panthro's hand during the ceremony for comfort.

"Do you Lord Lion-O take this woman to be your wife?" The minister asked.

There was a pause. Leela nudged Lion-O with her elbow. "I do." Lion-O finally answered, and Cheetara squeezed Panthro's hand a little hard.

Panthro looked at Cheetara. There weren't any tears because she was fighting them. He also noticed she was looking kind pale as if she was about to faint. When he looked back up, the rings were already exchanged.

"You may now kiss the bride." The minister said.

Lion-O leaned over to give Leela a quick kiss but Leela held him longer for a deeper kiss. Cheetara squeezed Panthro's hand a little harder. So hard that he winced a little. When Leela finally let go of Lion-O, he was looking a little disturbed.

"I now present to you Lord Lion-O and Lady Leela." The minister introduced to the audience.

There were congratulatory claps from everyone except the Thundercats, who didn't clap at all. The wedding reception was held in the ballroom. Lion-O and Leela were sitting in their throne chairs receiving congratulations from guest. However, there were people gossiping about how Lion-O and Cheetara should be married if not for Leela. Panthro, Tygra, WilyKit, and WilyKat, were talking to the guest, Snarf, Snarfer, and Lynx-O were sitting at a table, talking among themselves, Bengali and Pumyra were dancing and Cheetara was at buffet table loading her plate with food she knew she was not going to eat.

"Cheetara?" A voice said.

Cheetara turned and saw a man and woman. They both had lion features and looked as if they were married. She didn't know who they were and looked at them curiously. "Yes?"

"I like to say that what you did was a noble thing." The male said.

"Yes, I don't think I could've done what you did." The woman said as she squeezed her husband tighter.

"Well, I only did what I had to do." She said flatly and smiled.

"Come on, honey." The man said as he put his arm around his wife and left.

Cheetara faked smile soon turn into a frown after they left. She rolled her eyes annoyed, wondering how many more people were going to do this. A sympathetic hand laid on her shoulder.

"How are you doing?" Tygra asked.

"If one more person play sympathy with me or say what I did was an honorable thing, I swear I'm going to scream." Cheetara answered through clenched teeth.

"I'm sorry, Cheetara. It's just that-"

"No, Tygra, I should apologize. I'm just a little stressed that's all."

"I can understand, so how about you let me take your mind off your problem?"

"And how can you do that?" Cheetara asked.

Tygra took her plate and laid it on the table. "I think I can still sweep you of your feet on the dance floor. I was able to do that when we dated." He took her hand and escorted her to the dance floor.

"How's Cheetara doing?" Lion-O asked as he and Panthro walked to the Snarfs table.

"Well, she's putting up a strong front, but she's doing terrible on the inside. I'm worried that the longer she bury her feelings the more powerful it will come out when she finally snaps, which will happen if she doesn't confide in anybody." He said concerned. "So how are you doing?"

"Terrible." He said. "Hi, guys." Lion-O said as he greeted the Snarfs and Lynx-O.

Leela suddenly grabbed Lion-O's arm out of no where. "Honey, how about a dance? We haven't danced in two hours." She pouted.

Lion-O didn't want to dance with her but with some press around he knew he had better. "Uh.. all right." He said and led her to the dance floor.

Cheetara saw Lion-O and Leela danced once they were on the dance floor. She couldn't see Lion-O's face, but she certainly saw Leela's looking so smug and extremely happy. She thought of what she wanted to do with the woman that took her fiancé, and thought that she had better leave if she didn't want to act on it and embarrass herself and the Thundercats. She broke from Tygra's arms halfway through the song that was playing.

"Thanks for the dance Tygra, but it's getting stuffy in here. I'm going to get some air." She told him and left the room.

Leela saw Cheetara leaving and smiled. Tygra saw her smiling and smiled back and left the room, following Cheetara. Lion-O was able to catch a glimpse of Cheetara leaving followed by Tygra. Cheetara stood in lair's mouth just observing New Thundera and feeling the gentle night breeze on her face. It has been a hard day for her and it was turning into an even harder night. However, she knew she had to remain strong.

"You sure you don't want to talk about it?" Tygra asked coming from the dark.

Cheetara turned around to meet Tygra's soft sympathetic eyes. "I really don't want to talk about it, Tygra. I rather be alone right now. Go back to the party."

"All right, but you know you can always come to me." He smiled and left.

Cheetara smiled back and looked back at the planet. How can I go on? Nothing will ever be the same again. However, I must remain strong and avoid- Her thoughts were cut off when a black cape covered her shoulders. She turned around in surprise at the person standing before her. "Lion-O."

Part 18

Leela looked around the ballroom. For the past ten minutes her husband wasn't there, and she wasn't liking his disappearance one bit, especially after she noticed Cheetara wasn't in the room. She looked for the Thundercats and saw them at a table. "Has anyone seen my husband?" She asked.

"No, we haven't. He probably wanted some space." Panthro answered.

"And what do you mean by that?" Leela asked a little upset.

"You have been hovering over him all night." Panthro replied.

"Are you trying to get smart with your queen?"

"Trying? I am." Panthro said smartly.

"Shouldn't you be with your wife?" Cheetara asked and turned her back on him.

"I told her I had to go to the bathroom. That's one place she can't follow me to. She's been holding on to me all night. I can't be alone with my friends for five minutes without her grabbing me and shoveling me somewhere else." He complained.

Cheetara laughed. "You've only been married for a few hours and she has already got you on a short leash."

"Hey!" Lion-O said offended and smiled as he whispered in her ear, "I rather be stuck to your short leash."

"Lion-O," she said as she turned around and pushed him away for her. "We can't do this. You're married now."

"That still doesn't change how I feel." He said.

"I know, but in time you will." She tried to assure him.

"I really doubt that."

"I think your bathroom time is up." Cheetara said as she took off his black cape and put it back on his shoulders. "Thank you. It was a little chilly. Now go." She told him.

Leela was obviously coming upset. "You had better recognize who I am, Panthro. Now you know where my husband is so spill it."

"I'm right behind you." Lion-O said flatly as he walked to her.

Leela whirled around and threw her arms his neck and hugged him. "There you are, honey. I thought you had abandoned me."

"No, I really don't want to do that." He said and rolled his eyes.

She pulled back to look at him. "It's time to throw the garter and bouquet."

Tygra went to the front of the room to get the microphone. "Everyone, may I have your attention please. It's time for the garter to be thrown, so all single men come to the floor."

Lion-O sat Leela in her throne chair and she pulled up her dress and crossed her legs while the single men were gathering to the floor. Bengali and WilyKat were having a hard time getting Panthro to the floor. "Come on Panthro." Kat said.

"I said no." Panthro said firmly.

"You may get lucky." Bengali said and finally he and Kat were able to pull Panthro out of the chair.

Bengali, WilyKat, and Panthro went to the center of the room. Tygra was also in the crowd too, hoping to catch the garter so he and Cheetara would be next in line. Bengali had their hands raised in the air while Panthro had one offensive finger up in the air, not caring. Lion-O pulled the garter off Leela and tossed it in the air. Surprisingly, it fell onto Panthro's finger.

"What the.." He was stunned as he held the garter in his hands. Bengali and WilyKat were holding back a laugh but Panthro silenced them when he gave them a stern look saying he would kicked their butts if they laughed.

WilyKit on the other hand laughed her head off. "That look on your face was priceless. Too bad Cheetara wasn't here to see it. That would've definitely lift her spirits. I gotta go. Pumyra's calling single women to catch the bouquet." She said and joined the crowd of single women hoping to catch the bouquet and be the next in line to marry.

As Leela toss the bouquet back, Cheetara walks back in the room. Single women joyfully jumps in the air in order to catch the bouquet. Cheetara not paying attention looks up and caught a glimpse of something flying towards her. She catches the object not knowing what it was until taking a second look at it.

"A bouquet of flowers?" She said surprised. "As if this night isn't hard on me as it is." She muttered under her breath.

"Nice catch, Cheetara. You must be next." Leela told her. Now you must realize that Lion-O will never be yours again.

Cheetara forced a fake smile and sat back at the table with the rest of the Thundercats. She sat there quietly for the next thirty minutes watching the party die down and people leaving. After Lion-O said good night to everyone else, he and Leela walked to the Thundercats table. It was obvious he was not happy.

"We just want to wish everyone a goodnight." Lion-O said and looked at Cheetara sadly but Cheetara did her best to avoid his eyes.

"I know I will." Leela said squeezing onto Lion-O. "Even though we're not going on a honeymoon."Leela said and looked up at Lion-O. "Let's go, honey."

Lion-O rolled his eyes at the nickname Leela gave him and left with her. Cheetara waited until they left before deciding to call it a night herself. "Well, I'm out of here. Goodnight, everyone."

She said and immediately left the table.

"She looks so sad. I wish their was something we could do for her." Pumyra said.

"I'll talk to her." Tygra said and left.

Panthro waited for Tygra to leave before speaking. "Is it me or was Tygra a little over joyous tonight."

"He was the best man, Panthro, and like us was putting a strong front." WilyKat said.

"You maybe right, but...." He shook his head ignoring his thought.

When Cheetara got back in her room, she dropped the bouquet of flowers in her wastebasket. That was the last thing she wanted to see. She sat on her bed and saw a picture of her and Lion-O on the night stand. She picked it up and stared at the once happy couple that was in the picture. In the picture, Lion-O and Cheetara arms were wrapped around each other and they were smiling. She reached out and touched Lion-O's face tenderly and began crying. A knock came to her door.

"Who is it?" She asked still staring in the picture.

"It's Tygra. May I come in?"

She thought for a minute and finally. "It's open, Tygra."

Tygra came in and sat on the bed beside her. He put his arm around her. "Come on, Cheetara. You got to let it out sometime. Cry on me. Let me help heal you." He said soothingly as he rubbed her arms gently.

Cheetara finally decided that she couldn't hold it in anymore. She buried her head in Tygra's chest and began crying. Tygra smelled Cheetara's hair and rested his chin on her head, smiling like he was on top of the world. Oh, yes, Cheetara, you see me as a comforting friend now, but soon you will see me as much more.

Parts 19-22: Tygra makes a pass at Cheetara. Tygra deceives Lion-O. The mutants causes trouble for the Thundercats.