Note: Yahoo! I'm starting to make some progress with "For the Love of Geb and Nut"! Now I get to upload chapter 3! Now you will get to witness the beginning of Atem and Past Anzu's love story! So without further ado, Enjoy!
BTW, when you see this-- ///////////-- it means that there is a part of the story that is in flashback mode, which is much different from the usual bold lettering I use in other stories. Why? Because in this story, Atem's emerging memories are a very huge part of this story!
Chapter 3: Memory of a First Meeting
It was already nighttime in the Offering Fields when Atem stepped out into the royal gardens. The flowers, trees and fruits all seemed to glow with a soft light, lighting up the night along with the stars in the navy blue sky. Atem marveled at the sight, which he could only describe as breathtakingly beautiful. "This is even more beautiful than the gardens of the mortal realm." He said to himself. Even so, he did not linger long in his trance. "I can't stay long though." he reminded himself. "She is waiting for me." He looked around, until finally he saw what he was looking for… a walkway made of polished limestone leading outside. The sides of the path were lined with pink lotus blossoms, each with a small glowing ball in the center. The glow was as bright as a candle flame, lighting up the walkway as if to guide him. He followed this lengthy path, looking around the garden as he did so. Yet as he stepped closer and closer to the pillars that marked the boundary, he could feel his heart beating faster and faster, and his cheeks turning warm and red. Finally he went past the pillars and saw that the path was leading to another garden close to his palace. A cluster of palm trees surrounded this garden, and from a distance, he could hear the rush of what sounds like a waterfall. "This must be the fountain that Ra was talking about!" Atem said to himself. Keeping within the path, the young Pharaoh of Games rushed toward the garden, but eventually slowed his pace as he approached the palm trees. By then, his heart was beating so quickly with excitement that he had to stop in order to compose himself. He took several deep breaths. Then, as soon as he felt calm enough, he went through the palm trees into the garden beyond. Atem couldn't help but gasp at what he saw. In the center was a large pool of crystal clear water, an oasis larger than even the largest pool in his royal garden. Light blue lotus blossoms were floating on the watery surface, and a waterfall was indeed flowing from atop a natural hill. Because it was night, fireflies were floating everywhere he looked. There was no doubt in his mind that the fountain oasis outdid his royal garden in tranquility. But all of this could not compare to the most beautiful sight of all.
Namely, the enchanting Nubian woman who bore a strong resemblance to Anzu Mazaki.
She was standing in the water, which reached below her knees and soaked the hem of her long dress. Her sandals were put to the side, and she was staring upward at the stars, her back facing toward the young Pharaoh. He must admit, she was heavenly… just like the angel she is. Just as he started to step toward her, however, she turned around to face him, as if she had somehow sensed his presence. And she smiled at him. "Hello again." she said.
That did it. Once again, Atem's cheeks were turning as red as a beet, and his heart started pounding with joy, though he still had yet to understand why. "H-hello." He managed to stutter.
The Nubian woman simply sat down on the side, patting her hand on the smooth stone. "Please." She said, "Come sit by me." The young Pharaoh said nothing, staring only at the young woman. Slowly, he stepped towards her. The pool became more inviting as he came closer, until finally, when he reached the Nubian woman, he could resist it no longer. He took off his shoes and placed them to the side, close to the young woman's sandals. Then, as he sat down close to her, he dipped his feet into the water. It was cool to the touch, and very soothing. The air all around the two of them was filled with the scent of the pool's lotus blossoms, and Atem breathed in deeply to take it in, even though he no longer had a need to actually breathe. The Nubian woman took hold of his hand. "Beautiful, isn't it?"
"Yes… it is." Atem said, blushing at the sight of her.
The Nubian woman giggled a bit, before she said, "So Atem, did you drink it?"
"Drink what?" Atem asked.
"Why, the myrrh, silly!" she replied.
"Oh! Yes, I drank the myrrh!" Atem said, "It'll be a while before I can recall all of my lost memories, though."
"Take your time, then." The Nubian woman said kindly, "Start at the beginning, when you came to the banquet at Nubia."
Atem looked down at the lotus blossoms floating on the water by his feet. "All right, the beginning…" There was a smile on his face, as though he was entering a daydream, and the Nubian woman leaned forward to listen. "When Isis told me of her vision, I immediately became curious about the country of Nubia, even though I knew that it was enemy territory. So I had asked Shada and Mahado to accompany me in my journey. We had to wear plain robes over our royal garb to hide our Egyptian identities. I still remember the first time I saw the palace of Nubia. It was night time, and the skies were clear and bright…"
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"Is this the palace of Nubia?" Prince Atem asked the two priests as they got off their horses and tied the bridles to a nearby tree. "It looks just like what you would find in Egypt!"
"Yes my prince." Shada said, "I have often heard that this country has adopted many aspects of Egypt's culture, due in part to the Medjay that patrol the streets."
"It's ironic, isn't it?" Mahado said sullenly, clutching his Millennium Ring from underneath his cloak, "Nubia has often looked upon us with favor, and yet we remain such bitter enemies…"
"Well, let's put all of those thoughts aside." Atem suggested, "Let's go in and explore."
"As you wish." Mahado replied. The threesome passed through the entrance. Since they were wearing plain peasant robes over their royal clothes, the Nubian guards paid them no heed and just let them pass.
"These men guarding the entrance," Atem whispered to Shada, "Their skin is much darker than ours… Their noses are wider, and their lips are fuller… they remind me of the Medjay. Is that what a Nubian looks like? Fascinating…"
"Fascinating or not, you mustn't let your guard down." Shada whispered back. "Like the people in our kingdom, the Nubians possess their own Ka monsters, and some of them are as powerful as the gods of Egypt." Atem nodded and they moved onward. Everywhere he looked, the Prince was in awe, for there were wall paintings depicting scenes of Nubian kings from the past. But what he saw ahead of him captured his fancy. The banquet was in full swing, with tables piled with several platters filled with fruits, meats and other delicacies. The room was filled with music, and acrobatic dancing girls leaped and flipped to the delight of a large audience. And upon the throne sat the King of Nubia himself, a muscular man with graying, tightly braided hair. And he was enjoying the banquet just as much as his guests. Atem was amused by the spectacle himself, as it made him feel close to home. But he was just as eager to continue his exploration of the palace. He was especially curious about the corridors nearby.
I wonder what could be found in those halls… Atem thought to himself, Guess there's only one way to find out. So without Mahado and Shada looking, the Prince sneaked away toward one of the corridors. He had barely gotten out of sight, though, when Shada glanced over and saw him. With a gasp of shock, he shook Mahado on the shoulder to get his attention. "Mahado!" He quietly said to his fellow priest, "The Prince is sneaking into corridors without us!"
"What?!" Mahado gasped.
"Go follow him!" Shada said, "Bring him back here before he risks exposing himself to the enemy!"
"Of course!" Mahado replied, and he rushed toward Atem in a flash, unseen by all the Nubian guests. Atem had turned a corner, so when Mahado reached the end of the hall, the Prince was nowhere to be seen, much to the priest's frustration. "Ugh! Prince Atem, where are you?!"
Meanwhile, Atem was looking around the halls, marveling at the decorations. Amazing. he thought, In all my life, I never imagined that my culture could be such a great influence… his expression became a bitter frown. But still, Nubia is the enemy of Egypt. Even though the Medjay had brought many benefits to my kingdom, the other inhabitants this country in general are not to be trusted. Suddenly, there was a noise ringing into the Prince's ears. Startled at first, he looked around. There was no one around, but the noise still echoed in the hall. Curious, he decided to follow the strange noise. He listened carefully as he did so, making sure that he did not lose track of it. Eventually, the noise became louder and louder, and it turned out to be quite pleasant. He followed, until finally, he reached a large opening, covered by satin curtains. This made him even more curious than before, because whoever or whatever was behind that curtain was the source of the noise. Slowly, he reached out and took hold of the curtain…
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Atem paused in his story. He clutched his forehead in frustration. "I still don't know what happened next…"
"Take your time Atem. Don't rush." The Nubian woman said. "Since you drank the myrrh, there is no doubt that those memories will return to you… just be patient." Atem just rubbed his forehead. Suddenly, he lifted his hand away, and in eyes widened as if in inspiration. "Atem?" the Nubian woman asked, "What is it? Is something--"
"Wait!" Atem interrupted, and after a small moment of silence, he started to smile. "I… I'm starting to remember!"
The Nubian woman let out a gasp of joy, "Are you really?"
"Yes!" Atem gasped, "The noise I heard… it was the laughter of women! They drew me toward that curtain door!"
"Well what did you see when you pulled it back?" she asked.
Atem paused, before finally, he said, "I saw…"
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Slowly, the Prince pulled back the curtain. And as the light spilled into the darkness, Atem was amazed at what he saw. There, right in front of him, were large groups of young Nubian girls ranging from twelve to eighteen, many of whom were very lovely, and from what Atem could tell, they all seemed to be the best of friends. They were helping each other put on makeup, combing and braiding each other's hair, chatting almost nonstop to each other, all having a good time preparing to join the other guests at the banquet. For some reason, Atem found this spectacle quite delightful. Perhaps it reminded him even more of Egypt. After looking over the women some more, he was about to move on when suddenly something soft and fuzzy rubbed gently against his leg. That something let out a soft meow, and he looked down. It was a small white cat, looking as pretty as it can be. It was wearing a collar of gold, ruby and sapphire, and it purred as it rubbed against Atem's left leg. Now, in Egypt (and to an extent, Nubia), cats are revered and worshipped, and just about everyone loves cats. And Atem was no exception. He smiled at the feline, bending down to pet it. The cat happily accepted the Prince's stroking, then rushed away toward the girls. Atem stood up, but did not move from his spot. Instead, he watched the cat run, until it finally let out a cute meow and rubbed against the leg of one woman in particular, one who Atem saw had a beautiful skirt reaching her ankles, and had golden sandals adorned on her lovely feet. That was when she spoke, and in the sweetest voice he had ever heard. "Oh, there you are Benu!" A pair of slender arms reached out and picked up the cat. Atem's eyes followed, and what he saw took his breath away. This Nubian woman was the most beautiful creature he had ever seen! In fact, she looked just like a goddess! From the jewelry she was wearing, there's no doubt that she came from a high status family, but it was not the material wealth that caught his eye. The woman had a thin build, and her red hair, reaching to her shoulder blades and made up of several small clusters of braids, cascaded around her lovely face as she brought her cat up and placed it on her lap. Eyes as blue as the daytime sky danced with joy, and she smiled as the cat stretched its paws out toward her. She let out a joyful giggle, and said, "Bet you're hungry, aren't you?" As if in reply, the cat snuggled against her, earning another joyful giggle from the woman. For Atem, the cat was no longer the focal point. Somehow, he just could not take his eyes off of that woman. Soon another woman called to her.
"Princess! Princess, come quick!"
Princess?! Atem thought in astonishment as the woman looked up in response. She's a princess?! "What is it? What's wrong?" the Nubian Princess asked in concern, standing up from her seat.
"Oh, Princess," the other woman said, "It's my son! I need you to help my son!" Soon a little boy, no older than three, limped into view. He was crying, no doubt from pain. His right knee was covered in a bandage, but it didn't stop the small trickle of blood. "He was running outside the palace when he fell down and scraped his knee." The mother explained. "I dressed the wound, but I don't have any medicine to treat it further than that." The Nubian Princess knelt down to his height, and examined the boy's knee. Carefully, she removed the bandage.
"Oh, did you hurt yourself?" she asked sincerely. With a small whimper, the little boy nodded. The Nubian Princess smiled at him. "Well don't worry. It's nothing I couldn't fix." She then pulled a chest out from under her seat, and took out some clean dressing and a paste made from medicinal herbs. She applied the paste onto the boy's knee, then carefully wrapped the dressing over it. "There!" she said once the bandage was secured, "Does that feel better now?"
"Yeah!" the boy said, and he started to smile.
"What do you say?" The mother asked her son.
"Thank you…" he replied shyly.
"You're welcome!" replied the Nubian Princess as she reached out to tickle his ribs, earning a giggle from the child.
All the while, Atem was watching this sweet scene, and indeed, he was amazed. Not only is this Princess of Nubia beautiful in figure and face, she also possesses a kind heart, and a gentle soul. His cheeks started turning a deep red, and his heart started beating fast, as if it were dancing with joy. And in spite of himself, he smiled at the Princess. "Prince Atem!" Mahado's voice called out, rudely interrupting the Prince's reverie. He turned his head to the right, and sure enough, there was Mahado, rushing toward him with a frustrated look on his face. "Prince Atem! I've been looking all over for you! Stop being a pervert over there and get back to the main hall, right now!"
"A-all right Mahado!" Atem said, "I'm coming!" Now, when he spoke those words, he made sure that it was loud enough for the priest to hear him, but quiet enough so that the Nubian women would not be alerted of his presence. And indeed, as Atem made his hasty departure, all the girls continued their activities without even knowing that he was there.
All, that is, except one.
Apparently, the Prince of Egypt wasn't as quiet as he thought he was, for of all the girls in the whole room, only the Princess heard his voice. She looked up in astonishment, and in an instant, she caught a glimpse of the handsome young man at the door, the hood on his cloak flying off his head as he left. In an instant, he was gone… but already, she was spellbound. "What is it Princess?" the mother asked in curiosity.
"Oh, nothing." The Nubian Princess quickly replied. But even as she went back to playing with the little boy, her mind was filled with the fleeting image of that young man. Oh, he's so handsome! She thought, Who is he? I wonder if I can see him again…
Meanwhile, Atem had met up with Priest Mahado, pulling his hood up before the enemy could identify him. "Good." Mahado said, "Now let's go." Atem nodded, and together they made their way back to the dining hall. But no matter how hard he tried, he could not get the Nubian Princess out of his mind. His heart was beating so fast that he put his hand on his heart and took some deep breaths in an attempt to calm it down. And suddenly, it dawned on him. He now knows exactly what was happening to him.
He has fallen in love with the Nubian Princess… and it was love at first sight.
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Atem stared at the Nubian woman in front of him, and his eyes widened in amazement as he finally recognized her. "It was you!" he said, "You're the princess I saw behind that curtain door! And you… you are the one who captured my heart!"
The Nubian Princess smiled at Atem and took hold of his hand, tears of joy streaming down he eyes. "Yes! Yes! You finally remember! You're starting to remember me again!"
"You know… looking back now, you are just as beautiful 3000 years ago as you are today!" Atem said, feeling his own joyful tears building in his eyes.
"Do you remember my name yet?" asked the Princess.
"No, not yet." Atem admitted. "But I will soon enough."
"And it makes me so happy." The Nubian Princess said, "Because on that day, you captured my heart as well."
Note: I'm using some historical reference in this story so that it would make some more sense in the timeline. The Medjay are Nubian mercenaries who are hired to be the Ancient Egypt equivalent of a police force. They're especially on guard for tomb robbers... I think that the Thief Bakura used his Ka to slay some of the Medjay before he even entered Akhenamkhanen's tomb... Anyway, yes, Anzu's past self is indeed that of a Nubian Princess! So what is the true name of the Past Anzu in this tale? You'll find out in the next chapter of this story, but I'll give you a little hint. It's not Teana; I chose to give her a different name in this story. This IS based on the manga, after all. Until next time!