Long ago, in Ancient Egypt...

There lived a kingdom that flourished with bountiful crops, rivers full of fish, and people helping each other. Never was a kingdom so cheerful and in harmony.

Then out of nowhere, a shadow fell across the land. The Pharaoh's wife fell ill and died while giving birth to her child...a son. The kingdom mourned from the loss of their queen with the Pharaoh. Yet, as time passed the Prince grew and became his father's most valued treasure; more so than any of the riches in the Treasure Room. Sadly, the gentle man passed away while helping a neighboring kingdom stop a war.

Therefore, his son took the throne at the age of 19. The Prince-now Pharaoh- had no time to weep or mourn for his father, and he was unable to ever have a moment alone. He believed that his heart would never heal from the pain of losing his parents, for everyday his chest felt heavier. Nor did he think, that his uncle would become cruel and smother the kindness from his heart with each passing day. Making him hollow unable to EVER feel those emotions again. Even when his uncle passed into the next life...the Pharaoh still remained cold.

Until Fate dealt her hand...

The Pharaoh relaxed his face, and let the servant apply Kohl to his eyes as another hooked a cape to his bejeweled collar. Now finished, they stepped back and bowed as their monarch looked himself over in the bronze mirror. Giving a nod of approval, he went to the Throne Room where his priests were waiting to begin council.

All was going as usual; speaking of the harvest and the needs of the people, among other things. Even through the Pharaoh was only half-listening.

Suddenly, a strong wind blew into the room and made the doors open with a bang. Revealing a person in a dirty cloak and holding something to his/her chest. The guards stood on either side, as they brought the beggar to the throne.

"Who are you?" The king ordered.

"Noble Pharaoh," Said the stranger, a woman. Her feeble voice was quivering from the cold. "Please, I ask you if would grant me shelter for the night?"

He said nothing.

"I can pay you, Great Pharaoh." She held up what she had been holding. "This is all I have."

A Rose.

But just any rose, this one was blue as Lapis Lazuli.

A soft chuckle, came from the king. Before loudly laughing. "A flower? You, a beggar, offer me a common Dessert Weed?!"

A few of the priests chuckled with him, while the others nervously shifted. There was something about the beggar woman that seemed familiar...

"Do not be deceived, my lord." She said. "For true beauty is found within."

He stopped laughing, and scowled before getting up and walking towards the woman. "I don't care...about inner beauty, or anything else related to that matter." Standing before her, he saw how truly small she was while kneeling. "Now, for the final time...LEAVE."

She didn't move.

"Guards! Throw her out this instant!"

The men reached for the elderly woman; but were thrown back as a bright light radiated from her. She grew taller, skin became a shade of pale blue, a dress of white covered her body and golden armor adorned her head, arms, and chest. Lastly, gold wings spread from her back.

Everyone in the room fell to their knees in both panic and fear. For now they knew who the beggar woman was...

Horakhty; the Creator of Light.

The Pharaoh sank to his knees in terror, as she stared down on him with an icy glare. "F-Forgive me! Please Lady Horakhty, I-I didn't know-!"

"Enough." Her voice bounced off the walls of the room. "I have seen that your heart is no longer kind, as I have heard from many. So much so, that you are deceived by it. I came to test you, Pharaoh...and you failed." The rose still in one hand, she raised the other and rays of light burst forth. The Pharaoh doubled over in pain; his blood felt like it was burning. It only got worse as he felt his skin itch, nails and teeth agonizingly stretch, ears became pointed.

"I lay this spell upon your house, and all who dwell here!"

All over the palace, the staff and guard's screams could be heard as they too changed. Becoming one with the Ka, Spirit, that lay within their soul. The same happened to the Priests, who passed out after their transformation.

The Pharaoh panted, as his transformation slowly ended. His fine clothes were now rags, sandals were now in shreds, jewelry shattered and broken on the ground. Now a creature from the darkness; fanged, clawed handed, and vile as the abyss. He still had the ability to control the beings from the Stone Tablets that had no person attached to it.

Horakhty lowered her hand, and looked at the Pharaoh with sad eyes. She held out the rose, which hovered in her palm. "This Blue Rose shall bloom for many years...you have until the last petal falls to break the curse."

"How can I break it?" He asked, voice hoarse from pain.

"You must learn to love another, and earn her love in return." Came the Goddess's answer. She made a glass dome cover it, and placed it in front of the Pharaoh. Then held out a mirror; craved of gold and crystal. "This mirror will show you anything you wish to see in the world. Take heed...for it is a world you are no longer a part of."

With that, the Creator Of Light vanished.

Many years passed, and soon the Pharaoh began to lose hope. For could ever love a monster such as him.

The tale of the palace became nothing more than a myth. And the Palace remained hidden in a tangle of Jungle that had rose up over night after that day...hiding it from ever being found by anyone.

Until one fateful day...