Hey everybody! I don't have much to say this time since I already said what I wanted to in Mistletoe Kiss. Thanks again for the awesome support. I actually have a few original story ideas that I can hopefully publish later in my life, but I want to finish my work on fanfiction first before that. I think I have about two more stories. Anyway, this chapter is your New Year's Eve and Day gift. Now, you all can finally know what is going on with Zahra. You're welcome and have a great new year! Here's to 2015!
Yuugi woke up from her well-rested nap from hearing Atem cuddling Zahra. Her eyelids flickered open a few times before her vision became clear. The room was brightly lit, indicating it was late afternoon. Her amethyst orbs fell on Atem who was quietly playing with Zahra.
He noticed his wife's awakening and smiled at her. "Good afternoon, Aibou. Did you sleep well? Zahra and I didn't wake you up, did we?"
Yuugi smiled back and sat up on the bed. "No, you two didn't disturb my slumber. I slept well," she replied while straightening her tricolored hair.
Seeing her mother awake, Zahra cooed and held out her tiny arms to Yuugi. Atem handed her to his wife. The pale-skinned queen smiled down at her newborn daughter with adoring eyes.
"Hello, my little flower bud. Did you miss Mama?"
Zahra responded by giggling.
"So, how did your journey to Atlantis go," she asked Atem. "Dartz is… you know?"
Atem nodded. "Yes, and so are his advisors. We shouldn't have any problems anymore, and because their king is dead, Atlantis is part of our country now." He reached into his pouch and pulled out Yuugi's diamond choker. "By the way, here's your choker back. I kept my promise."
"And I'm glad you did," Yuugi said as she gave it to Zahra to play with.
"What about you? I know we wrote each other letters, but I want to know personally."
"I'm all right," Yuugi casually responded. She didn't want to tell Atem about her visions. He just came back from a two month journey, his mind constantly on Yuugi when she was pregnant. She didn't want to put another burden on his mind so soon after two major problems passed.
At that moment, Isis entered the room. She reverently bowed her head. "Hello, Your Majesties. It's good to see you both. I'm just here to check on Yuugi and the baby."
She quickly checked over the porcelain queen with practiced ease and checked her off as okay. She then took Zahra in her arms and did a thorough body examination. The whole time Isis was conducting the exam, Yuugi gripped Atem's hand tightly, praying to the gods that nothing was wrong with their daughter.
Isis handed Zahra back to Yuugi after her examination. The priestess smiled. "Good news, you two. Your daughter is perfectly healthy. Because she was born a month early, she will have some difficulties during early development, physically and mentally, but as she grows older, she should be fine and grow like the average person."
Yuugi and Atem sighed in relief at the miracle. "Thank you, Isis," Atem said.
"Of course. I will return tomorrow to check on you and your daughter again, Yuugi."
After staying in the healing chamber for a few days, Isis allowed Yuugi and Zahra to return to Yuugi and Atem's bedchamber. As soon as word got out that Zahra was perfectly fine, Mana, Dalila, and Jou came to visit. As soon as their eyes laid on her, they were completely taken over by her cuteness and beauty.
"She's adorable, Yuugi," Mana complimented as the ladies sat on the bed. "She's about as cute as you."
Yuugi smiled. "Thank you, Mana," she thanked as Zahra played with her finger.
"But you know what's the best part," the magician-in-training continued, not waiting for an answer, "it's that I'm now an auntie."
"And it also means that I'm now a grandmother," said Dalila, a gentle smile stretching across her elderly face. She held out her arms. "May I hold her, Yuugi?"
"Of course." Yuugi gave her daughter to her new grandmother. Dalila made baby noises at Zahra while the baby smiled cutely and stared at her with curiosity.
While the girls fawned over the new addition to the family, Atem and Jou sat off to the side. Atem watched the women with a small grin. He was glad he made it home and destroyed the recent threat so that he could see his favorite people and they could have the opportunity to have a future.
"Look at you, grinning like there's no tomorrow," Jou joked, nudging Atem softly. "I haven't seen you this happy ever since we left for Atlantis."
"I have a right to, Jou," Atem responded. "I'm just happy to return to my people and my Aibou, and as a bonus, my newborn daughter."
"Speaking of which, are you unhappy that Yuugi didn't bear you a son? I mean, I can obviously see that you're ecstatic having a girl, but aren't you worried about not having a secure heir for the throne?"
"It's all right, Jounouchi. Zahra can still be queen without marrying a prince, just like Yuugi before she married me."
"Oh, right. I guess that's true."
"Okay, everyone," Yuugi announced as she took Zahra from Dalila. "I'm sorry, but you'll have to leave. It is time for Zahra's nap."
Everybody said quiet goodbyes then left the room. Atem stood up and walked to Yuugi.
"May I put her to bed, Yuugi," Atem offered.
"Sure. I actually need some rest myself."
Atem was handed an already drowsy Zahra. She snuggled against her father's chest as she was gently rocked side to side. When she fell asleep, Atem entered the next room, Zahra's baby room, and placed her in her crib.
He kissed her on the forehead. "Sleep well, my little angel."
As he left the room, Atem didn't notice a shadow disappearing from a corner.
The palace seemed overcrowded about two weeks later after Zahra's birth once Atem's council and the rest of his army returned to Egypt. The town next to the palace cheered loudly for their safe return home and for their victory of conquering Atlantis. Atem and Yuugi, carrying Zahra, greeted them and welcomed them home. Upon seeing the princess, the council members were completely smitten with their future ruler. Even the Egyptian rulers' animals were entranced by their daughter's beauty. Zahra giggled heartedly and unafraid when Layla and Ari nuzzled her despite their sharp canine teeth. She was unafraid of Peter and Timaeus as well. She just lightly patted their noses and laughed when they licked her hand. Atem ordered his messengers to spread the news and send out invitations about Zahra's coronation. Within a month, the king and queen got letters back saying which royals were coming and which were not.
Finally, the big day had arrived: Zahra's coronation. Everybody living within Egypt's borders gathered at the front of the palace. The audience was mixed with tan and white people, of both young and old, and high and low class. The atmosphere was filled with excitement as they couldn't wait to lay their eyes on the princess.
Their attention shifted to the doors of the palace as they saw their pharaoh and his queen and daughter walk out, their council trailing behind them and standing on both sides of them. Atem wore a beige shirt and kilt with a crimson sash tied around his waist. Gold armlets and anklets wrapped his arms and ankles. His winged Eye of Horus crown and the rings on his fingers gleamed under the sun. His red cape billowed behind him.
Yuugi wore a one strap white dress that showed off her curves with lilac coloring the hem of the dress. Silver bracelets hung loosely on her wrists. A white lotus flower rested on her head along with her sliver tiara. Black kohl outlined her amethyst jewels. Zahra only wore a simple white dress, no crown adorning her head yet.
Atem signaled to the crowd to quiet down. Once they were silent, the tan pharaoh began his speech. "My fellow citizens of Egypt and visiting royalties," Atem proclaimed loudly, "I am glad that you all could come today. This is a momentous occasion, my wife, Queen Yuugi, giving birth to our daughter and your future ruler, Zahra. Today, she will be coronated as your princess. I only hope that we, as her parents, raise her kindly and strictly so that she may one day become a great ruler like us when it comes our time to join our predecessors in the afterlife."
Atem nodded at Seth and Shimon to step forward, Seth holding a pillow that contained Zahra's crown, a circlet studded with rubies and amethysts, gemstones that reflected her bi-chromatic eyes. Shimon took the circlet in his hands and placed it gently on top of Zahra's head. The infant didn't fuss at all, as if already a disciplined princess and knew not to disrespect her parents.
Atem gently took Zahra into his hands and raised her up to the sky for the whole audience to see her wearing the symbol of royalty. At once, the entire Egyptian population kneeled before their newly crowned princess.
Atem gave Zahra back to Yuugi and turned back to the crowd. "Furthermore, in honor of Princess Zahra's coronation, we will be hosting a big feast for everyone!"
The crowd cheered loudly at the news. Most of the people stayed outside to eat and party, banquet tables already set up filled with food and tubes of wine. Visiting royalties dined and danced inside the palace throne room. Atem and Yuugi sat on their thrones as the royals came up one by one, bringing presents for Zahra and congratulating them on Zahra's birth and coronation. The celebration lasted the whole day and half the night. Everyone returned to their homes when the moon was positioned in the middle of the sky.
Atem returned to his room after escorting the last guest out. He didn't see Yuugi in their bedchamber, so he quickly dressed out of his royal raiment and took off his jewelry and put on a kilt, leaving his chest bare.
He entered Zahra's room and his heart filled with warmth at the cute sight. Yuugi, already in her dressing gown, was holding Zahra close to her heart, gently swaying back and forth as she sang a lullaby. Atem recognized the tune; Yuugi used to hum it to herself when they were kids. Layla and Ari sat close to Zahra's crib, already snoozing no doubt by Yuugi's lullaby. Atem sat on a rocking chair as he listened and waited for Yuugi to put Zahra to bed.
The pale queen gently set her daughter down in her crib and covered her with a thin sheet. She kissed her cheek and turned around to see Atem sitting on the rocking chair. He stood up and they walked to the other, meeting halfway. They looked into each other's eyes with love and affection, wrapped in each other's arms and shared a long kiss that was both passionate and simple. No words were exchanged between them, their actions spoke for them. After coming up for much needed oxygen, they went to bed.
Yuugi was having a nice, dreamless sleep until her subconscious decided to show her the vision. She saw her daughter sleeping peacefully but a shadowy figure appeared next to her crib. An evil aura radiated from it, the same feeling she recognized from her former stepfather. She saw the dark figure reaching out to touch Zahra, and that's when Yuugi jolted awake.
"Zahra," Yuugi whispered.
She bolted out of bed, ignoring Atem's call, and burst into Zahra's room. Just like in her visions, the shadowy figure was about to touch Zahra.
Yuugi's protective instincts kicked in. "Get away from her!" she yelled.
Her yelling woke up Zahra, causing her to cry loudly and wake up the tigers. The shadow turned into a misshapen ball, constantly shifting, and moved away from the crib but still lingered in the room. As soon as the shadow moved away, Yuugi ran to Zahra's crib and picked her up, clutching her against her chest. Ari and Layla stood at her side, growling at the evil presence.
"It's good to see you again, daughter," the shadow spoke darkly. Its voice was raspy and deep, almost unrecognizable, but Yuugi recognized it immediately. She trembled, scared to the bone, but stood firm and continued to listen.
"I bet you're surprised that I'm not fully dead." He chuckled. "Well, little one," he said mockingly, "I am here to stay, and I will haunt you and your family, your entire lineage for all eternity."
On that note, the shadow disappeared, the freezing room suddenly warming up.
Yuugi stood there frozen, rapidly breathing until Zahra's cries registered in her brain. She rocked her, quieting her down, whispering reassurances to her.
Atem burst into the room and ran to Yuugi's side. "Yuugi, what happened," he demanded, frantically looking around the room for any danger.
Yuugi turned to him. "You mean you didn't see anything," she asked incredulously.
"No. I only got here a few seconds later."
"Really? It felt like much longer to me," she mumbled to herself.
"Aibou, please tell me what happened," Atem asked again while stroking Zahra's cheek, who was now whimpering a little.
"I saw my stepfather. Or his shadow. I'm not sure which, but he was here. He tried to attack Zahra."
"Nuru?" Dartz's words reverberated through his head. Old demons will return and make your life misery. A shiver ran through his body but he hid it.
"If that really was Nuru, I will have to ask Mahad if he will be able to exorcise him." He put his hand on Yuugi's back. "Come on. Let's get back to bed."
"Can Zahra sleep with us? I don't feel comfortable leaving her alone for the rest of the night."
"Of course."
The king and queen went back to bed, now with their daughter sleeping in between them tranquilly.
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