V.E.: Ahh, it's always good to get work in before the due date. Now then, what's on next on the schedule?

(Pulls out her journal, skimming the page until she comes to the sentence NOTE TO SELF: UPDATE PRINCESS OF EGYPT NEXT IF NO ONESHOT.)

V.E.: Well, I tried to write another oneshot, but that's probably going to get finished after this chapter. Inspiration, it comes and goes.

I'm really thankful to you all for being patient with me. I've been wanting to do a chapter with Kisara and Aknamkamon since the beginning, but I couldn't really picture a good scene for them to really have until I was some ways into this little project. I guess the problem is going to be what I am doing after this chapter.

Ah well, I'll worry about that when I come to it.

Quote: "Every story, new or ancient; Bagatelle or work of art; All are tales of human failing; All are tales of love at heart."- "Every Story is a Love Story", Aida (I highlyrecommend the Broadway soundtrack.)


"And so because giantess would not weep, Hel kept Baldur in the underworld because it did not fulfill the promise. It is said that he will only reemerge at the time of Ragnarok where he and his brother will be reconciled and they will rule the new earth together with Thor's sons."

Shimon nodded, scribbling down more notes on his piece of papyrus that already had the majority of the space taken up.

"I see, I see. And what happened to Loki?"

Kisara winced at the mention of the trickster god, petting the purring Neftis that was in her lap.

"Well, that's even longer story so I don't think we have time for it tonight, but several of the storytellers that visited our village said that the giantess may have been Loki in disguise."

Shimon scratched the final notes out before looking to where the young princess was seated on the bed.

"Interesting. I must say Princess Kisara, your homeland's gods are quite unusual."

She smiled in understanding.

"Now you know how I felt when Nephthys began teaching about the Egyptian gods."

Shimon echoed that understanding in his own smile. As a teacher, he had found in Kisara an incredibly apt pupil that was a delight to have conversation with. Once, while Atem had been making up some late work, the two had started chatting and Kisara had mentioned the gods and customs of her homeland. Shimon, being quite scholarly, had been intrigued by what little she had told him and visited her once in a while to get some more information.

While she knew that there was a slim chance that people would someday read what Shimon had recorded, there was a part of the white haired princess that was pleased that some record of her homeland existed in this country. Even if Egypt was her present and future, her past belonged in the North with her Amma and the snow.

Who knows, perhaps in the future someone from around here will travel to those lands and the first time they'll have heard about it will have been from those records.

With that, she suddenly remembered her brother and when she had seen him last, asking Shimon.

"Oh by the way, how did Atem's race with Lord Seto go?"

The old vizier's eyes had both a look of exasperation and fondness as he answered.

"It was a tie; I must say the young prince is quite persistent in badgering our new Sacred Guardian."

Kisara bit back a small giggle. Ever since the extremely close race, Atem had taken around to challenging Seto whenever the two had a spare moment between their regular duties. These challenges ranged from chariot races to senet games to an archery contest. She wouldn't be surprised if the next thing Atem proposed was a duel between their Kas, which she had heard the pharaoh was starting to instruct him in. Far from being annoyed, the priest, after the initial surprise, seemed to relish in the challenge and more often than not, the result ended up being extremely close.

"Well, with everything usually coming so easy to him, he's finally found someone that can give him a challenge. I only hope this changes him for the better."

Shimon was still for a moment before nodding, his eyes rather unfocused.

"Yes, I suppose you're right."

The white haired princess looked at the old man in concern.

"Is there something wrong?"

He shook his head, his face showing his age as he responded.

"A symptom of getting older, my dear. Whenever I look at those two competing, I get the uttermost feeling that I've seen something like that before, but then my memory fails me. Honestly, maybe I should consider retiring after all. It's not like this place would miss me all that much."

She spoke softly.

"I'd miss you, and I'm pretty sure Atem and the Pharaoh would too."

That caused a great laugh from the old man, cheering him up.

"Well, maybe I'll stay a little longer. Gods know, even when they're grown up I worry about those boys and now I've got you and the young prince as well."

Kisara's head tilted in interest, noting the fondness in the old man's voice.

"You do?"

"Of course, I practically raised those two. Before I was vizier, I wasn't just a magician of the Court, I was also their tutor. Queen Theoris was so busy running the kingdom, so she put me in charge of her sons' well beings. You'd hardly believe they're the same people, they've matured so well. Those two are the closest things I have to sons."

"You don't have any other family?"

That question prompted a flash of…. something in the old man's purple eyes, almost as if they were about to well up with tears in a few seconds. Kisara wasn't sure what it was, but she felt that it would have been rude to ask further.

Finally, after several moments of silence, the vizier spoke again, his eyes clear and voice tender with remembrances of the past.

"No…. I guess you could say I choose duty over my own heart a long time ago."

She subconsciously gulped, lowering her gaze.

"I'm sorry."

The vizier waved his hand as if to wave off her worries, his eyes back to their usual shine.

"Don't worry about it my dear, that's all in the past. Besides, I've got you and your brother to be concerned for now too."

Her voice took on a sound of being hurt.

"I'm not that bad, am I?"

That prompted a laugh off the old man.

"Actually, compared to those two you and your brother are actually pretty…"

Before the old man could finish what he was about to say, a very familiar voice interrupted him.

"Compared to who Shimon?"

The conversation stopped dead in its tracks as both the vizier and the light haired princess turned to Pharaoh Aknamkamon standing there with a very amused expression.

Shimon looked rather apologetic.

"Pharaoh…I did not…"

"I know, I should have knocked, but you two were talking so intently I couldn't help but listen. Anyway Shimon, do you think you could give me some time alone with my daughter?"

The vizier got up, bowing his head to the pharaoh then to the princess.

"Of course, pharaoh. Until next time, princess."

Kisara smiled, a little bit nervous but she wanted to see the vizier off calmly.

"Good night, Vizier Shimon."

With that, the old man stood up straight, taking his notes with him as he walked in the direction of the door. The old man closed the door behind him, leaving the two royals alone.

Awkward was the best way to describe the situation in Kisara's mind. Admittedly, Pharaoh Aknamkamon had paid her more attention over the years of living in the palace and gods knows he tried his best to make her feel comfortable, but unlike with Atem that awkwardness lingered when Kisara was alone with him. There was a part of her that would never forget that this person was a king, considered by his people to be a god. Under normal circumstances, someone like her would have never been in the same room as him.

Finally, the silence was broken as the king looked around the room at the wall, smiling at the scene of the Nile's banks.

"The last time I was in this room was when my mother was Queen. Even as a child, coming here was a rare occurrence."

That prompted curiosity that overrode some of the tension.

"Did you not get along with your mother that well?"

"Oh no, far from it, but as a person she was a queen first and foremost and she would only show her motherly side rarely. Especially to me since I was the Crown Prince. I think she was softer on Aknadin though. It's too bad she passed on before Atem was born."

That last sentence brought an incredibly soft expression to his face before he turned his attention back on Kisara.

"Do you mind if I sit down? It's been a long day."

Kisara nodded, her cat finally getting out of the princess' lap to go on one of the pillows and sleep.

"Of course."

With that, Aknamkamon found himself sitting in the seat that had been formerly occupied by his Grand Vizier. He seemed older, as if letting some of the masks he had to constantly wear off for this moment.

Kisara rose slowly, speaking up.

"You…. look tired."

He sighed deeply.

"I'm just getting older, that's all. Enough about me, I hear from Nephthys you've become quite accomplished on the harp. Do you mind playing something for me?"

Kisara bowed her head.

"Of…course. Just let me get it."

The pale princess walked over to where her harp and the accompanying chair was. It took a little effort, bringing the harp over and then the chair, but they were by no means the heaviest things she had ever carried. The chair and the harp were positioned close yet not too far from the pharaoh by the time she was done. She sat in her chair and turned to her adoptive father.

"Any requests?"

"Not particularly, just play whatever comes to mind."

She nodded, leaning forward and positioning her fingers. She closed her eyes and finally began plucking the strings, playing a little melody she had thought up earlier that week. It was a short tune compared to others she had come up with, yet it made her feel both happy and sad in the others didn't. As she played, she simply focused on the music, letting the melody flow out through her fingers. Playing the harp gave her a sense of peace, no pretenses, no fake smiles; just her and the music washing over her.

She played on, with her eyes closed not noticing the look in the Aknamkamon's eyes, filled with so many emotions yet none of them dominated the king's gaze. The thoughts racing through his mind were not shown upon his face.

Finally, her fingers stopped playing and she opened her eyes to see the pharaoh's gaze.

"Well, what do you think?"

For a moment, the pharaoh didn't seem like he was going to answer. Then that moment passed and he spoke.

"I've never heard that one before."

"I made it up."

He nodded, his expression undecipherable.

"I see. And what were you thinking about when you did that?"

Kisara smiled sadly.

"How things always change, even if you leave them alone. Not for the better, not for the worst, they're just different."

That prompted a smile on the pharaoh.

"I suppose you're right. Still…it's somewhat nostalgic…"

Kisara kept her attention on the pharaoh, waiting for him to finish his thoughts and sure enough he eventually sat up and spoke calmly.

"It brings back up some old tales. I don't suppose you'd mind listening to an old man telling a story."

Her eyes widened with some surprise, before returning to their normal gaze and nodded.

"I'd love to. What's it about?"

Aknamkamon leaned back into the chair a little, his eyes becoming misty with memories as he spoke calmly.

"Well…. I suppose you could call it a love story, though whether it's a happy one or a sad one will depend on your own conclusions at the end. Now, where to begin…ah yes.

"A long time ago, there was a very young Crown Prince. He was born with every privilege that you could imagine though his life was far from carefree. His father was neither a good king nor a good father. He witnessed many acts of the king's cruelty and madness alongside his younger twin brother, but neither of the princes felt they could stop it. Finally, his Queen and the mother of the princes took charge. With the backing of the nobles and priests, the Queen found a way to put the king under 'house arrest', consigning him to the royal harem where he eventually met his end. Foul play was suspected, but nothing was ever proven. The royal harem was soon demolished after his burial, to which only the bare minimum was done for a pharaoh.

"From there, the Queen took charge as regent and ruled Kemet like it's true pharaoh. She never dawned the twin crowns or false beard, but it was clear that she put the well-being of her kingdom first like any good ruler should. All these events left a mark upon the two princes and they swore never to be like their father. And that is the time where this story truly starts."

Kisara repeated the words, slightly confused.

"Where it truly starts?"

Pharaoh Aknamkamon nodded.

"It was after these events that the two princes went out hunting, outside of the palace. It was common for the two compete with each other. Both princes were rash and stubborn, each wanting to bring home the bigger game. To that end, they separated and promised to meet up again before sunset with their kills.

"The eldest prince rode up and down the Nile for hours, searching for game. He managed to down a couple of birds, but nothing substantial. Finally, he spotted the biggest water fowl he had ever seen. He positioned his bow, readying for his arrow to fly. But just as he was about to make his shot, another arrow was sent flying."

The pharaoh's right hand went to where his left shoulder was, as if remembering pain.

"And that arrow hit its target, right in the Crown Prince's left shoulder."

Kisara's eyes widened slightly.

"What? Who shot it?"

The pharaoh's purple eyes hardened.

"An assassin, who had been following the prince for some time and waiting for him to wander far enough that there were no nearby guards to shout out for help. The force of the arrow sent the Crown Prince off his horse and into the Nile. Due to the shock and pain of the arrow, the prince couldn't swim. He was certain that he was about to face Anubis and his scales in any moment. His last thoughts were of his mother and brother before it all turned to black."

As the pharaoh seemed to pause to take a breath, Kisara smiled knowingly.

"The Crown Prince didn't die there, did he?"

That prompted a rather sly smile off the Pharaoh.

"How did you know that?"

"I get the feeling I know who he is."

The slyness subsided on Aknamkamon's face, but the smile didn't falter for one minute.

"Alright, but I'm the one telling the story, so bear with me. When the Crown Prince came to, he was not at the bottom of the Nile or looking at Anubis as his heart was about to be weighed. He was on the banks of the Nile, laid on his back with the place the arrow had hit him bandaged up and said arrow laying right by his side. Not too far away, the assassin was knocked out and his hands were tied behind his back. But that wasn't what the Crown Prince noticed.

"Instead, what he saw was the most beautiful girl he had ever seen leaning over him, tightening the bandages over his wound."

The pharaoh leaned back in his chair, his eyes misty from the memories.

"At first, he thought his eyes were playing tricks on him. Then he thought a goddess himself must have come to save him, for how else could he explain her appearance? She may have looked slightly younger than himself with a slim figure, tanned skin with no blemish, long thin fingers, an angular face that was utterly straining, blood red eyes that shone brighter than any jewel. But the most striking thing of all was the golden bangs that glinted with the setting sun.

"It was then that the girl seemed to notice that the person she was tending to was awake and her eyes met his. The Crown Prince then noticed the rest of the girl's appearance. Her dress was very modest; like something he would expect a peasant to wear. The only other thing she had besides her clothes was a stone pendant hanging from a leather cord, worn like a necklace. There seemed to have been something inscribed on that stone, but the Prince couldn't tell what it was at that moment.

"Then there were the shouts of several guards, they had gone searching the Crown Prince when the horse had returned to them without it's rider. That started the girl into action, but just as she about to get up and leave, the Crown Prince grabbed her stone pendant. She stopped, trying to get the young man to give up her necklace before he met her eyes again.

"'Don't go,' over and over he told her. He was losing consciousness again, but he clung on because he thought she would disappear if he let go. For a moment, the girl seemed torn between fleeing what was coming and staying for her necklace. Then she slipped the cord of her neck, leaving the pendant behind as she fled. The prince tried to sit up and go after, but it was at that point that his strength fled him and he collapsed into the darkness once more."

Aknamkamon then took his hand off his left shoulder then, his eyes less misty as he went on.

"The next time he woke up was in his room back at the palace, his twin brother and tutor standing over him with worry and relief. The guards had found only him and assassin lying there, with the assassin being unusually vague about how he had gotten knocked out.

"He wondered whether the girl he had seen might have been an illusion or something, but then he felt something clenched in his hand. He opened it to find the stone pendant from before, letting him know that whatever he saw had most definitely been real. It was then he saw what had been inscribed on the stone, which left him only more puzzled."

Kisara asked in interest.

"What was it?"

"A series of hieroglyphics which spelled out the word 'Atsu.'"

That also puzzled the young princess.

"Atsu? Doesn't that mean…"

Aknamkamon cleared his throat, getting up from the chair.

"But that is a mystery that would solved much later on. I think that's a good place to stop for now."

Kisara felt confused at the sudden change in mood as the Pharaoh explained.

"Don't worry, I have every intention of telling you the full story, but I'm getting old. There's only so much I can take at a time. I'll tell you more next time."

Just as he was about to head for the door, Kisara spoke which stopped him.

"Why are you telling me this story? I mean, is this about…?"

That prompted a small smile off the girl's hanging question.

"Maybe it's because it's you, the only person who has no tie to this story."

That just stunned the white haired girl as the pharaoh walked towards the door.

"I'll see you again soon, Kisara."

She could only watch in confusion as the king shut the door behind him, leaving her alone with just her thoughts and Neftis.


Pharaoh Aknamkamon chuckled to himself, the image of Kisara fresh in his mind.

Honestly, that girl pieces things together so quickly. Then again, Shimon did say she was brilliant. Coming from him, that's more than just a compliment.

"So did you two have a good chat?"

The Pharaoh stopped, his smile not fading as he knew who was right behind him.

"I guess it would depend on what you mean by 'chat.'"

Vizier Shimon walked up, his expression unusually somber.

"You told her 'the story' then, didn't you?"

"Only the beginning. I tried not to use any names, but I think she put together quite a bit from what little I told her."

Shimon's eyes widened as he asked his king.

"Are you worried she'll tell someone? I mean, if the prince…."

Aknamkamon shook his head.

"No, I think if anything that girl knows when to keep a secret. Have you forgotten whose pupil she used to be?"

Shimon had to give his king that, Nephthys certainly knew the meaning of the word 'secret.'

"Still, I'm surprised you're sharing that story with her. This wouldn't have anything to do with that 'plan' of yours, would it?"

The pharaoh shook his head.

"No, nothing of the sort. Of all the things I intended to trust to her back then, this wasn't one of them."

The old man looked at his kind questioningly.

"Then why did you…?"

"Perhaps it's the fact that even though they're as different as the sun and moon, there's something similar about those two. Hey Shimon, what do you think she would have thought of Kisara?"

Shimon spoke frankly.

"Kisara's a quiet, polite, and thoughtful young lady. She probably would have run that day instead of only thinking about it if you-know-who had been there. She had quite the intimidating presence."

"And her?"

The old man smiled fondly.

"She would have loved her instantly. She also would have added, 'knife throwing' and 'self-defense' to Kisara's lesson list."

Aknamkamon chuckled in amusement.

"That she would have."

But that fond comment soon turned his mind in darker directions as he fell silent. Shimon seemed to notice this also and did not push, also adopting a sad yet fond expression at the memory of who they were talking about.

Just Aknamkamon was about to round the corner and find his way back to his own quarters, his mind sighed.

That girl did save the Crown Prince's life. However, one has to wonder if she would have done it if she knew who he was and what was to follow. Would she still have saved him or would she have ended his life right then and there?

What will you think, Kisara?


V.E.: (Sighing) This isn't my best, but considering I've got a lot of work form this semester coming up, I'm glad to just get done what I can. Seriously don't expect much after this update for a long while.

I'm pretty sure most of you can put some things together with the story, but that is far from the full story. In fact, there is a part of the story that Aknamkamon isn't aware of, but we'll just have to wait for him to find out.

Also in regards to the song, I was thinking of 'Everything Stays' form Adventure Time. Haven't watched the show, but the song is short and sweet.

Anyway, please make sure to review! I hope to see you all next time.