Cosmic Alliance
(The Prequel of "Roads to Destiny")
By: Jules
Chapter 1: Births, Deaths, and Destinies
'I always hear that life is too short, that we must take the bad parts of life with the good. I was told that our lives are like a written book. Much has been decided for us already and we have little control over it. Very few know what is in store for them in the start of these dark times. But every now and then, a miracle occurs. This miracle happens in the times of ancient Egypt where a war against darkness was at its peek.'
"She's beautiful. Much like her mother." Two figures stood in the room. On one side was a woman. She had long dark bluish purple hair that blew around her sapphire blue eyes. Small angel-like wings lay on her back elegantly. She wore a beautiful white gown with ribbons that went up and around her neck in a tiny bow. Her name was Priestess Illana. On the other side was a young man. He had dark brown hair and eyes with longer angelic wings on his back then his wife. He wore long white clothes covered by a purple robe that had a lining of gold. He went by the name of Priest Vazu. Both were crowded around a young infant that had just been born. It had been Vazu that spoke of the infant. Vazu wrapped his arms around Illana and gently embraced her. "It already shows that Naru is taking on your traits." He pointed out as a little ball of light lay in the palm of the child, Naru's hand as the two smiled.
Several weeks past since the Naru's birth. During that time, two of her parent's best friends visited often. Their names were Priest Zuberi and Priestess Safiya. Zuberi was a well respected priest of the great Pharaoh Akunumkanon. He had light brown hair and stern green eyes. Normally he wore a black robe with a red overcoat. His wife, Safiya, was a beautiful young priestess. She had long brown hair with silver highlights in it and soft blue eyes. She wore a long white dress with flowers all around it. Out of all of the Priestesses of the kingdom, Safiya was the most powerful, understanding, and kind of them all, and so she and Illana were best friends.
About a month after Naru's own birth, Zuberi and Safiya were expecting a child of their own. To take precautions in these dark times, the Pharaoh suggested to them that the child be born inside the Shadow Realm. It was a dark and mysterious place, but it was safe for the most part. Shortly after their departure, a pair of dark priests attacked the palace.
Screams were heard as blasts of magic rained down on the palace. Vazu ran through the halls to Illana who was holding Naru tightly in her arms across the gardens which had turned dark. Their world was covered in the blanket of the Shadow Realm. "Illana, get inside quickly! You need to keep watch over Naru!" He yelled. Illana turned at saw the Pharaoh on the grounds fighting the priests.
"Vazu, look!" Illana yelled and pointed to the Blue Eyes White Dragon. It was the protector of Zuberi and Safiya whom sat on its back. There in Safiya's arms lay the innocent baby girl. Juliana was the name Safiya had told Illana the baby would be named.
"Illana, wait here and stay out of sight no matter what happens!" He ran towards Zuberi and the Pharaoh. Zuberi was getting attacked by one of the dark priests and his shield was falling. 'C'mon… hold on just a little more, Zuberi. I'm coming.' But it was too late, the shield fell and the beam of dark energies hit Zuberi head on.
"ZUBERI!!" cried Safiya as the white dragon flew up to try to protect Safiya and the child.
"No!" yelled Vazu as Illana ran out into the open still holding Naru whom was looking on curiously while Vazu reached Zuberi at last. And then… time stopped. The dark priest turned and struck down the white dragon causing Safiya and her daughter to fall. It was as if a slow motion spell had been cast on the whole royal court. Safiya landed on the ground hard with Juliana on top of her. Safiya's hand loosened and fell to the ground. Neither Zuberi nor Safiya survived the attacks done to them.
"Safiya!" Illana ran towards her body as well as Juliana's but suddenly a blinding pink light shrouded the entire area as Illana stopped. Naru put her hand over her eyes to try to see past the light as it began to clear as someone yelled. The dark priests disappeared in a trace of black smoke. But they weren't the only ones that vanished. Safiya and Zuberi's daughter was no where to be found. Illana ran the rest of the way to Safiya's body and knelt down to her crying. "Safiya… my friend…" Naru reached out to try to take Safiya's hand but it was too late. Nothing she could do could save her parent's best friends and their bodies started to disappear in glimmering lights. A tear came to Naru's eyes as her hand went through Safiya's body as it finished disappearing with Zuberi's. "She… she can't be gone… No!" Naru crawled out of her arms to where Safiya lay moments before. Illana jumped up and ran to Vazu crying. "Vazu… no…"
Vazu wrapped his arms around Illana. "Juliana… the day of her birth being the day of her death… that's too young for her! No! I should have helped them!" Illana cried.
"There was nothing you could have done for them, Illana," Akunumkanon said to her. "You and Naru would have been killed too." He looked down in grief himself and muttered in Egyptian that they will never be forgotten and so shall it be done.
Six and a half years after that horrific day became longer and harder then ever. Illana and all those close to Zuberi and Safiya found it difficult to live on but they knew they must find a way. It would have been what the two wanted them to do. And so, Naru's parents had believed that it was time Naru had began her journey to become a future Priestess like her mother.
"I'm headed off to meet Pharaoh Akunumkanon this morning," Vazu announced while the three ate their breakfast that morning.
"Can I come with you daddy?" Naru asked him in a soft and cute voice.
"Not at this time, Naru," Illana said quickly. Naru sighed sadly and looked down at the breakfast quite disappointed. "It's not safe enough for you out there, yet."
"Aww! I never get to go anywhere!" Naru stood up and walked over to the balcony of her room that was connected to her parent's room. She gazed over the city below and all its wonders. Not far below were children running around outside. So much she had wished to be among them instead of remaining cooped up in either her or her parent's room. It was not the palace that concerned Illana of Naru being inside, but she knew her daughter well and she very well knew that the first chance she would get, Naru would run out of the palace and join the other children. She would be unprotected there and Illana would not afford giving Naru's protection up. You would certainly be able to say that Illana was almost over-protective of her daughter.
Illana looked at Naru and was about ready to walk to the balcony as well to pull her in, but Vazu held his hand in front of Illana to stop her. "Illana, she can't stay in here forever."
Illana shook her head. "Naru is just not ready for the outside world yet, Vazu. I couldn't bear what happened to Safiya and Zuberi's daughter to happen to ours."
Vazu placed his hands on Illana's shoulders as Illana held his hands close to her own. "A palace room is no place for a child. It's time she is given the chance to live free." Illana looked over her shoulder at Vazu pleading with him. He smiled and held her close. "Let her come with me. That way she will be safe, you can refrain yourself from being worried, and she can be like a normal child."
"Well… I do have to see Priestess Sehka today. And… it would be very lonely for her if we both left her…," Illana mumbled and sighed.
"Have no fear, Illana. It will be good for our daughter to meet Pharaoh Akunumkanon, Prince Atem, and Prince Sethos since in the future she shall be trained to protect them."
"Very well then. I shall be on my way to see Sehka, then. Keep her safe, Vazu." She muttered and walked out of the room and vanished from sight.
Vazu walked over to Naru and kneeled down to be her height smiling as he did so. "Naru, how would you like to meet a very good friend of mine?"