A Princess Born of the Millennium Star

As time passed and the seasons changed, both parties of the opposing deities began arranging their plans of attack. Neither one knew what the other would be up to, so it would be a surprise. Also, depending on who would make the first move, some plans would have to be changed.

It was starting to become much warmer now. Grass was growing, trees were blossoming and crops would start growing. Spring was definitely on its way. Even the sky was clear and had little clouds. Mystery placed her hand on her belly and began rubbing it. The baby would be due in a few days and the thought of it was making her anxious in both good and bad ways. This was going to be her first child and she would make a lot of mistakes. But she was promised she wouldn't have to be alone. She starts to feel better until something else comes into mind.

Atem finds her standing on the balcony and gazing at the sky. He approaches her and asks, "Are you all right?"

Mystery decides to be honest and say, "I'm scared."

"Of what?"

She faces him and explains, "For several months now, I have been excited to have a child. I was most happy to hear she would also be yours. But now with so much going on and knowing that the heir of Cobalt is somewhere out there, what if he knows about this and will come after us?"

"Mystery, please," Atem begged, "try not to think about these things."

"But there is more. What if I never get to hear her cry, see her smile, or even hold her? What if she ends up without a mother? I could never stand to let that happen after promising you that you and I would be in this together." Tears start to fall from her eyes. She was afraid of dying after childbirth and leaving her baby. That was a common fear many mothers shared, but it was serious for Mystery because she remembered that Atem never met his own mother and that Kirakishou and Barasuishou lost their mother after they were born.

Atem takes Mystery's hand and dries her tears. "I promise that won't happen."

Mystery takes a deep breath and tells him, "I don't want it to. And when she does arrive and I am still here, what will I do then?"

"Not you; we," Atem reminded. "We'll take whatever comes our way together. I know this is new and scary as well as exciting. I'm nervous as well, but I just know you and I will both be good parents. Also, I would never take for granted or abandon this precious gift."

Mystery smiles and hugs her husband to thank him for saying that. She really needed his comfort and support.

Atem smiles and rubs her back as he holds her. "Why don't you get some rest," he insisted. He noticed that Mystery had been looking and feeling a little tired. Perhaps it was from worrying so much. Mystery accepted his suggestion and went to their royal chamber to prepare herself for bed. A lot of the royal servants and beasts would be preparing themselves for bed anyway since it was a bit of a slow day today.

Mystery removed her gold and jewelry, took her shoes off, changed into her nightdress, and tied her hair back. She got down on her knees and prayed to the Egyptian Gods, asking them to protect her and all the people she loved. As usual, she also asked for blessings and forgiveness. Mystery finished praying, but she didn't climb into bed. She felt things becoming tight inside and started groaning. It didn't seem like a problem at first and lasted for a few short seconds. Finally, Mystery sat on the bed, but before she could lie down, the pain started again and wasn't letting up.

When Mystery finally realized what it was, she got on her feet and called for Kisara and Freya. They had been by Mystery's side for the past few days attending to her and keeping her well. The two cousins heard her and went to her aid. They found her and saw her holding herself. "Please help me," she groaned. "The time has come."

Both Kisara and Freya couldn't believe what they had just heard. There was no time to be still or amazed, however. The girls helped Mystery to stand and escorted her to the birthing room. Mana found them and asked what was going on. When Kisara and Freya told her that the queen was in labor, she insisted on helping them. When they finally got inside, Mystery got on the bed and Mana sat by her holding her hand and cleaning off the sweat she was giving off. Kisara and Freya felt scared. They had helped Isis many times over the past few months with other women in labor and insisted that they would help the queen on their own. But now they were having second thoughts. Kisara shook her head to bring herself back to her senses. She promised her friend that she would be here for her and she wasn't about to go back on her promise. Kisara helped Freya to come to her senses as well and told her and Mana to come back with warm water and herbal liquid. The girls left the room and even told their guardian beasts to guard the door while they would be helping Mystery.

Atem was walking through the halls until his Millennium Puzzle started glowing. For it to be doing so meant that the Great Goddess was trying to tell him something. He started to worry about Mystery and went looking for her. He wasn't the only one looking for her. Jirachi was also worried about his friend and wanted to make sure she was all right. The Millennium Puzzle guided them to where Mystery was, but their path was blocked. Kirara altered her size to become a big cat. She wasn't doing it to threaten her leaders, but to tell them to stay back. Atem and Jirachi heard Mystery's cries and demanded Kirara to get out of their way until they saw Mana and Freya coming. Freya came back with the medicinal liquid and Mana was carrying a bucket of warm water. The girls apologized and told their leaders that no one could see the queen right now.

Sakuya barked not to push them back, but to get their attention. "Please forgive us," she apologized. "But we implore you not to enter. Her majesty is in labor."

Jirachi was the only one who could understand what she just said, so he passed the message on to Atem. When Atem received the message, he turned around and went back to the balcony. There was nothing he could do now but pray and wait.

He wasn't the only one doing so. When the rest of the Millennium Items started shining, the sacred guardians gathered around before the statues of the Egyptian Gods and started praying for not only the queen's health, but also the child's.

The Millennium Items weren't the only things reacting to the situation. Far away in the outskirts, the Cobalt Star also began resonating. Bakura and Max had a strong feeling about what it meant, so they sent their own subjects to the palace. The Cobalt Star would alert them, but not show them what was happening. That was why Suiguintoh went to the palace with Zoroark to find out if the mother and child would be healthy or sick. If they were healthy, things would be in Bakura's favor. If either of them were sick, it would ruin their plans.

Back at the palace, tensions were mounting. Jirachi heard Mystery's cries again had enough. "Oh, I can't bear it anymore," he complained. "I'm going in."

Kirlia held out her arms to contain him. "No, my prince. The birthing room is restricted to all males; humans and monsters, friends and family. We've got to have faith in our friends and in the Great Goddess Millennia." Jirachi couldn't stand waiting around, but he saw that she was right. So he closed his eyes and began praying.

Finally, after waiting for what seemed like hours, Mystery's cries weren't the only cries being heard. Listening from the other side, Jirachi, Kirara, Sakuya, and Kirlia all heard wailing. "It's her," said Jirachi. "She's here." Finally, he passed through his friends and went through the door to see his new sister. When he stepped inside, however, the room was lit up by a pure angelic light. It was blinding at first, but when the light started becoming dim, what looked like a celestial maiden came into view.

"Great Goddess Millennia," Mystery said in awe, "is that you?"

The shining maiden nodded and took the infant in her arms. "Mystery, my child, you have done well to bring into this world a new princess of Egypt and my new heiress." The Great Goddess returned to her form as a star and gave off a light more brilliant than the previous one. The light stretched across the kingdom and brightened the city; waking everybody and making them wonder what sort of work of the Egyptian Gods this is.

The light finally dies down and the Millennium Star enters the heart of the princess. As if by the hands of the Great Goddess, already the child was cleaned and wrapped up in a white blanket. Mystery sits up and smiles as she cradles her new daughter. The baby slowly opens her eyes and looks at her mother.

Mana, Freya, and Kisara approach Mystery to look at the child. "Look at her," said Freya. "I've never seen anything so beautiful in my life."

"She looks just like her mommy," said Mana. "She even has her eyes." The princess really did have the same blue eyes as her mother; a blue that shined like sapphire and carried a look of innocence. Her skin was also very pale. Children were usually born pale, but the princess' skin tone was as pale as her mother's. As for her hair, it was light blonde like Atem's bangs and covered most of her head.

Mystery leaned her head and softly kissed her daughter's forehead. "My daughter, Emily."

Everyone was confused. "Emily?"

"Yes," said Mystery. "That is her name."

Mana's confusion disappears as she smiles. "I've never heard a name like that before. It almost sounds like Millennia."

"That's what it means," said Atem's voice. They see him by the doorway and watch him approach the bed. "It means 'little Millennia'. Long ago, when we found out for sure that we were going to have a daughter, we wanted to give her a name to honor the Great Goddess; a name that was different and unique because that was what our child would be."

"Just like her parents," Mystery added, remembering the story of her birth from her own parents.

Kisara smiles as well. "It's a beautiful name. It suits her perfectly."

Atem is pleased to hear that. He turns his gaze to meet his own child. Although she didn't share much of his physical appearance, he still knew that she was his. It also seemed like she knew who her father was because she smiled right at him. Atem's smile brightens up and he tells her how happy he is to finally meet her.

Jirachi, who had been waiting patiently, climbs on the bed and introduces himself as well. "It's nice to finally meet you, my princess," he says softy and holds out his hand. The princess stretches her arm out and reaches for Jirachi's hand. As she tries to grasp it, Jirachi moves closer to let her hug him instead. Everyone finds it precious to see them already bonding. "I love you too, baby sister," Jirachi whispers and kisses her. He separates himself from her and decides to go tell his friends. The girls decide to do the same with the others who were still waiting.

Freya sees Joseph in the hall and happily runs up to him. He catches her in his arms and they both kiss. "How is the queen," he asks her.

"She and the princess are both doing well," she tells him. "Oh, Joseph, she's so beautiful."

"Can you tell me what she looks like?"

Freya shakes her head. "Wait until tomorrow. We want it to be a surprise."

Joseph agreed that he could wait until tomorrow. After bringing a new child into the world, the queen was tired and needed to rest. "Meanwhile, I guess we'd better tell the royal guard to get word out to the public that the princess is born." Freya nods and tells him to be on his way. Joseph tells the captain and his men while Jirachi tells the royal beasts.

While the message gets passed around, Suiguintoh decides to return to her masters who are still waiting. Zoroark takes on the form of a horse and gives her a ride back to the outskirts. Finally, when they return home, they find Bakura and Max standing in front of their house. "It's true, Master."

"I knew it!" Bakura cheers. He looks up at the sky and sees the clouds reveal the soon-to-be full moon. The others follow his gaze. "I've waited forever for this day. The princess will help me make my dreams come true." Max didn't seem as thrilled. Personally, she didn't care about Bakura's personal goals. All she really wanted was to face off against a real opponent. She hoped that the queen wouldn't disappoint her in giving her a challenge.

Back at the palace, the sacred guardians and their friends rejoiced as they heard the happy news about the queen and their new princess. Seto and Mahad jumped and tightly hugged each other; feeling blessed for their friends. Mana startled Mahad by jumping up on him and wrapping herself around him. Mahad still picked her up and hugged her. Isis couldn't help but shed tears of joy for the pharaoh and queen. At the same time, she was proud of her students for managing without her and being there for a friend who needed them most. Aknadin and Shimon were looking forward to seeing the new child and Joseph kept going on about his excitement to the two remaining courtiers Karim and Shada.

Thinking about how much he loved his family and how devoted he was to them, Seto decided that there was something he needed to share with his fellow guardians. He cleared his throat to get everybody's attention. They still remained with their cheerful ways. Seto tried again by clapping his hands. He was still ignored. Finally, he took a deep breath, placed his fingers close to his teeth, and let out a mighty whistle. That got everybody's attention.

Seto clears his throat. "My friends, I am just as happy as the rest of you to hear that our queen has birthed a healthy child, but hear my words, the true heir of the Dark Lord Cobalt is still somewhere out there. Whether or not he knows of tonight's event is at this moment unclear, but we cannot be ignorant of the matter. The pharaoh and queen cannot raise the new princess alone. We must protect her from that evil fiend and teach her all she needs to know. The Great Goddess Millennia and the pharaoh and queen have done more for me in the past and now I can repay them by being a true guardian to their child and a true follower of Millennia. They are my family and I will do everything I must to ensure their health, safety, and happiness. Are you with me?"

Mahad speaks up and says, "I second that. But this is not just about being loyal to Millennia. We are all children of the Great Goddess and part of the same family. Still, it is time we repaid our Great Goddess for all that she has done for us and all that she has given us by protecting and serving the royal family." Then his amulet starts glowing.

"So be it," said Isis. "We shall stand by this vow to the very end."

"For our Great Goddess Millennia and for the royal Egyptian family," the royals cheered. With the vow being made and everything being settled, they all headed for their chambers.

Joseph walks with Seto and tells him, "You can whistle really loud, you know that?"

Seto removes his hat and chuckles. "How else could I get everybody's attention?"

"But that was really moving of you," Joseph complemented. "I know I'm not a sacred guardian yet and I don't know if I'll ever become one, but I can keep to that vow too. I mean, we're all Children of Millennia. She's everybody's Great Goddess and the royal family is our family too."

Seto nods and pats Joseph's shoulder. "Thank you, my friend. Let's get some sleep. We have a big day tomorrow."

"And don't snore so much," Mana teased.

"I don't snore," Joseph argued.

"You keep most of us awake at night," Mahad told him, remembering the adventures they went on together and the many times they camped outside. Joseph had kept his friends awake most nights not only because he snored, but also because he talked in his sleep.

"Admit it," Seto teased. "You do snore. Not to mention you talk in your sleep and you still wet your pants when you get scared."

Joseph was about to lose it. "Whoa, whoa, whoa, Seto, I do not do that. I'm a grown man."

"But you still never act your age," Seto told him.

Joseph scoffed and headed for his chambers. "And you never admit you're wrong," he grumbled. Seto heard him and figured that was his way of saying 'good night'. Joseph did have a lot of embarrassing moments when he was growing up. A few years back when Seto started working as a sacred guardian, Joseph got such a terrible stomachache, he ended up throwing up in one of Seto's hats. Seto was so mad, he gave Joseph a whole season of hard labor. Also, Mana made Joseph laugh so hard at lunch one day, he accidently snorted his drink all over himself. He was used to getting into trouble and having misadventures, but he learned to control himself and have fewer accidents.

Mystery was tired and ready for bed. So were her husband and new daughter. She closed her eyes, took a deep breath, and began humming Millennia's lullaby. Tonight was the happiest night of her life. She had just become a mother and was blessed with the child she brought into the world. At that moment, Mystery knew that many wonderful things were coming her way. It was like she forgot all of her worries and thought everything was going to be all right. And just as she and Atem promised, they would love and protect their daughter and stay together no matter what.