"It was supposedly made by Isis,who gave it to the winning Princess to guard with her life. We later found out that it was an Ancient Atlantean invention, given to Egypt as a gift." Liz/Nefertiri explained. "Atlantis existed?" Max asked, eyes wide. "Yes ... until it was sunk and the people escaped, forgot their heritage. They were our allies."Nefertiri/Liz said sadly. Abruptly, she got up and walked to the palace door. "Party time" she flashed him a catlike grin.Max got up and walked with her to the banquet.
Max pointed to some bald priest. "Whose he?" he asked. "That was Kivarmenre-Father's vizier and the High Priest of Osiris. That's Kivar"she said glaring at him.
Max was shocked. "Kivar?!" "Yes, but he doesn't remember a thing in this lifetime. He died right after you.But he was reborn....."Nefertiri/Liz growled angrily. "Is that Nikolas?" Max pointed to another priest. "Yes. His name is Nikintonius. Kivar's assistant. He had a major crush on Vilandra, but Vilandra told him off."she explained as they sat next the throne. "This is my father, Jefthmose. Jeff too was reincarnated" she said softly. Max didn't say anything for the Pharaoh stood up.
"Friends, Family, loyal subjects and allies, the Banquet has begun! I have three announcements to make! One- My son Prince Horus is engaged to the Princess Vilandra of Cyprus! Two, my adopted daughter Sphinx is engaged to Lord Rathraamun, Prince Zandor of Cyprus's trusted second-in-command! Three, Lady Ava-su-amun is marrying the son of our beloved Medjai leader-Kyleth Valentiy!
At this banquet, my daughter the Princess Nefertiri will fight Lady Anck-renamen for the hand of Prince Zandor of Cyprus and for the title of Guardian of the Phoenix bracelet!" he boomed. The crowd was silent. Vilandra and Horus were sitting in the front row, as well as Zandor, Kyleth, James, Sphinx, Rathraamun and Ava-su-amen. A loud gong sounded throughout the room.
Max gasped as Nefertiri walked out from the right and Anck-renamen from the left.
They wore protective gold masks, a linen skirt and some sort of belly shirt.
They circled each other warily,swords at the ready.Suddenly, Anck-renamen attacked.
But Nefertiri was too quick for her. She flipped in the air and landed behind her. She lunged like an enraged lioness.The only sound in the room was the clashing of swords as the two teen girls fought with a skill that outmatched Egypt's best soldiers.
Max could tell that Anck-reamen was tiring.He also saw when she tried to use her power to knock Nefertiri down. But the catlike Princess didn't fall. Pretending to strike, she jumped on the ledge of the wall and flipped back and forth, confusing Anck-renamen. Finally, she attacked her and pushed Anck-renamen to the ground. Anck-renamen grinned evily."You've improved, Princess Nefertiri" Nefertiri relaxed her combative stance and helped Anck-renamen up. "Excellent! Excellent! Who better to guard Prince Zandor and the bracelet of the Phoenix then my daughter Nefertiri? And who else to guard me then my new daughter, Anck-renamen?" the Pharaoh exclaimed. *Daughter? Anck-renamen's going to be my sister?!*Nefertiri thought. She noticed that when Anck-renamen passed Kivarmenre, they looked at each other with love in their eyes. *Best watch out* Nefertiri thought as she walked slowly toward Zan, suddenly feeling shy. "Hello" she said softly.
Zan whirled around. She didn't say anything else, just ran into his arms.
"I knew you would win" Zan and Max said at the same time. Liz/Nefertiri shot him an amused look. "I'm.. I'm starting to remember now"Max told her. Liz/Nefertiri smiled. "Good, follow me"
Meanwhile-
"Hello?" Anck-renamen called out near the deserted temple. "I am here, my Queen" Kivarmenre bowed. "I assume the memory revival worked?" Anck-reamen said. "Yes, Queen Althena. And Nikintonius is here, we must brainwash him into thinking he was.. on our side."Kivarmenre smiled coldly. "Good. Bring him here!" she demanded. "Yes, my dearest" he said and motioned for the guards to bring a gagged Nikintonius into the deserted temple garden. "Well, well , well. What do we have here? If I recall this is Nikolas, Zan and Rath's most trusted general. Are you ready to come over to our side?"Anck-reamen grinned evily. Nikintonius's eyes blazed with anger as Anck-reamen undid the gag and chained him. "You may brainwash me and use me as a tool but I swear I will fight you until you die. I hope you get the punishment you deserve-eternal suffering! O ye Gods, hear me now. Let the Princess Nefertiri use the power of the Phoenix bracelet to defeat the usupers of Egypt and Antar!" he snarled. "Why, that's Nikolas, the Skin! You mean to tell me he was brainwashed?!" Max cried. Nefertiri/Liz looked on sadly. "Yes. Though he may still be freed, one day" she looked away.
Anck-renamen started her mindwarp on Nikintonius. "You see Max, the present Max-the one who thought Tess was pregnant-was mindwarped by her. There was no baby. And Alex... he's stuck in another dimension. He could've used the Granolith to save Horus-uh Alex but noo your idiotic past self gave the Granolith to that mindwarping, lying gerbil!"Nefertiri/Liz snarled. Max didn't say anything, he knew Liz/Nefertiri was right.
"We must find the Phoenix bracelet before it's too late. We only have two months bfore that dimension collapses."she said.
Back at the party, Nefertiri and the others were busy planning their weddings. "I have an idea-why don't we all get married at once?" Sphinx suggested. "Does anyone disagree?" Kyleth asked. No one responded so he continued "Let us talk to his Majesty and my father" "Okay" they said and walked toward the throne. "Father... we have an idea. May we all get married at the same ceremony?"Nefertiri asked. Liz/Nefertiri and Max had walked in unnoticed of course by their former selves. "We.. we got married, didn't we" Max murmured. Nefertiri/Liz nodded.
The Pharoah and the Medjai leader seemed a bit startled at first, but agreed."My daughter, follow me" Jefthmose said after the others went home or were asleep.
He lit two toarches and showed her the seceret passage where the Phoenix Bracelet was kept. Nefertiri walked as if in a dream. "This is the combination: 3-5-9-9" Jefthmose allowed Nefertiri to open the combination. He pointed to a silver chest with carvings of a phoenix on it. He handed her the key and let her open it. A silver bracelet with a picture of a phoenix on it lay there. The phoenix's eyes were made out of pure blue stones.It's body was made out of red, orange, yellow and gold gems and carved to perfection-you could actually see the individual feathers. It emitted a silver glow when Nefertiri touched it. "You are the chosen one, the Daughter of Isis-the one who will be able to guard and if necessary, use the bracelet for the good of Egypt" Jefthmose's voice was low,admiring.
*Daughter of Isis. The Chosen One* Nefertiri thought to herself. It was late and she was deliriously happy. She sat up suddenly. She thought she saw a figure standing in the shadows. Before she could call her gaurds, the figure stepped into the light. Anck-renamen.She lifted a sword and stabbed Nefertiri. Before she fell into unconciousness,she whispered "I love you Zandor."