Disclaimer: I technically only own Relafetiri, Tereatira, and Kefamuk. But if I have the rights to the name's "Osun" and "Anix". If I owned anything else I wouldn't be writing this for this wonderful website, I'd be making a Hollywood script. (I wish!)

A/N: This is my first Mummy fic. It takes place in Ancient Egypt. I know there's probably a lot of ones kinda like this but this story is a prologue to a fic I'm working of that is a sequel to "The Mummy Returns". Basically, Nefretiri is 16 at the beginning. Osun is 18. Imhotep is 18; Anck-su-namun would also be 16. Later in this chapter, Nefretiri and Anck-su-namun are 19 and Osun and Imhotep are 21. Osun is like Rick's past self and Anix is Alex's past self. Relafetiri is one year younger than Anix. Anyway, please read and review.

The Beginning of the End

Hiding the Truth

"Well Father, I'm ready to go," said Nefretiri after putting her luggage on her ship.

"Daughter, I hope you have fun on your vacation. And I also hope you get well. You must rest! And of course, I shall miss you," the Pharaoh said as he gave his daughter a hug.

"Father, I will only be gone for a few years. You don't have to worry. The Medjai will protect me from all harm."

"Of course, I trust the Medjai completely. I hope the sea isn't to rough. Good bye, daughter." The Pharaoh walked away towards the Palace.

Nefretiri boarded the ship. She was spending some time at her island palace. Her father and the greater portion of the Court and Kingdom thought that it was to recover from a minor case of influenza. It was actually much worse. The Princess was pregnant. She was carrying the child of a Medjai named Osun. This was unheard of for royalty and although nothing could happen to her if her father and his council found out, they would banish Osun and kill the child once it was born. That she could not allow. After all, she was in love with the lighter-complexion-than-most-Egyptians Medjai. Nefretiri smiled as she went below deck to get some rest. She just hoped her plan would work.

Meanwhile, back at the Palace, a marriage ceremony was taking place. Imhotep, the high priest, was marrying Tereatira. She was the lovely daughter of the Pharaoh's chief scribe. She herself was a singer in the royal court. She was very gifted in this aspect. Although neither of them was technically royal the marriage was still a huge proceeding.

Back on the boat, after two weeks at sea they had finally reached the island. The Princess walked onto the deck of the ship. She had only brought her most trusted handmaidens and guards with her. Of course Osun was there. It was all part of a very well thought out plan. The baby was due in six months. Until then, Kefamuk, one of the Princess' best friends and handmaidens who had a resemblance to the Princess, would pretend to be Osun's pregnant wife. Unfortunately, Kefamuk was terminally ill. The doctors said that she should live long enough to "have her child." Yet it was impossible to tell. She knew she would die within the year.

"I am just so happy I can be of use to your Majesty, even in my final months," Kefamuk had said when Nefretiri had asked for her help. Most of the servants already at the palace did not know the Princess or hadn't even seen her since she was very young. To make sure that no one noticed when Nefretiri started to show, she was going to have a relapse of "influenza". She would be confided to her rooms. Kefamuk, who was already very ill, would also stay in those rooms. When Nefretiri began labor, she would pretend to be Kefamuk and Kefamuk would pretend to be her. They would call a doctor who had never treated either to help with the labor. Nefretiri hoped their plan would work.

A year later…

Avery small boat pulled into the port of the capital carrying the body of Kefamuk. On board the ship were Osun, Nefretiri and their 6-month-old son. Of course, everyone thought that the boy was the son of the deceased. The ceremony was short. Considering it was "common knowledge" that Kefamuk was the wife of a Medjai, all the Medjai were present; even the few who knew that she wasn't. Of course, after the ceremony, the Medjai returned to the palace to guard the Pharaoh. The Princess, Osun and the boy, Anix, went back to the Island Palace.

The announcement of this death was extremely saddening. However, at the palace, a mere 7 months later, Imhotep's wife gave birth to a beautiful baby girl. They named her Relafetiri. She immediately became the center of attention, being one of those likable children that everyone wants to see and say "Aww, how cute."

Anix grew up quite quickly. He inherited Osun's strength and courage and Nefretiri's intelligence and curiosity. He loved both his parents. When it came time for them to return to the capital they had to explain the situation. Amazingly, Anix understood perfectly. He was never to call his mom "Mother", "Mom", "Mommy," etc. He was only to call her "Princess", "Your Highness," and more names like that. He would only be staying in the palace for a little while before he began his training as a Medjai.

Unfortunately, conditions at the palace were not too happy on the day of their return. The night before, Imhotep's beloved wife had been killed. He was now left alone to raise his two-year-old daughter.

She was only 21, thought Imhotep. It wasn't her time yet. Why did they do it? She just went to get some water.

Flashback

"I'm gonna go get some water to make dinner. Be right back!" Imhotep heard his wife say as she went out the door. He looked out the window at the river. It was a clear stretch of about 850 yards to the river. It was a slope and slightly rocky. Imhotep smiled as he saw his very beautiful wife walking slowly toward the river. It was sunset. As his wife kneeled by the river to get the water, Imhotep saw a shadow approach her. At first he didn't think anything of it, thinking it was just one of the other women at the palace. We went back to his work.

A second later, he heard a blood-curdling scream. Tereatira, thought Imhotep as he quickly stood up. He handed Relafetiri to her nanny.

"Please! Watch her!" Then he ran out of the palace towards the river. There were two men there. At the sight of Imhotep, they ran away. Instead of following them, He knelt by his wife. He picked her up and took her inside. Halfway there he ran into his daughter.

"Imy, whas wong wit Tere?" She was only two and she never called her parents "Mom" and "Dad".

"I'm sorry," the nanny was saying, "she just looked out the window and ran."

"Fine," said Imhotep, but he just kept walking. He took his wife into their room, and put her down on the couch. Her eyelids fluttered open. "Imhotep.." she said weakly. "…please take care of Rela…"

"No, please don't go." Imhotep said. Two hours later, she died in her husband's arms.

End Flashback

Luckily, the Medjai had caught and executed the two men who were the culprits.

The next day, when the Princess and her group returned, they had to immediately go to the ceremony. It obviously hurt Imhotep immensely to have to say the proceedings as his wife was prepared for the afterlife.

Many people were there including the Pharaoh, Nefretiri, Osun, Anix, Relafetiri, many Medjai and a mysterious girl who looked like she was the same age as Nefretiri. Her name, someone told the Princess, was Anck-su-namun. She had just arrived from a city up north. She was very beautiful.

After the ceremony, Nefretiri was called to see the Pharaoh. Anck-su-namun and Imhotep were there with the Pharaoh

"In light of the attack on the late Tereatira, I have brought Anck-su-namun here to teach you to fight. I do not want my daughter to end up dead at such a young age. Now," he said. "Where is the boy, the one your handmaiden left in your care?" As if on cue, Osun brought the three-year-old into the room. "Ah, I see he takes after his father in complexion. Osun, I take it you will be teaching him the ways of the Medjai?"

"Yes, your Majesty," said Osun.

"Good," the Pharaoh looked at the boy. "Young child, I suspect you have become very attached to my daughter since your mom's demise."

"Yes, Pharaoh," said Anix.

"And I can tell you, Nefretiri, have become attached to this child as well."

"Yes father," said Nefretiri, wondering what he was getting at.

"Well, if you Osun, consent, I would like the boy to be raised as one of the Pharaoh's grandchildren. After all, Kefamuk was like a daughter to me. Daughter," he turned to the princess, "I expect you will allow the boy to call you "mother". After all, I know you have been acting as one by watching out for him. No child should grow up with out having a mother." The Pharaoh smiled.

"Yes, Father," said Nefretiri, stunned. Suddenly, they all heard the footsteps of someone running down the hall. As the person who was running entered, they saw that it was Relafetiri's nanny.

"Your Majesty! The child! She's missing. I can locate her nowhere. Please help!" The lady was obviously distressed. So was Imhotep for that matter.

"My lord, if I may look for the girl, please?" asked Anck-su-namun.

"Of course, go ahead," said the Pharaoh with a smile.

"Thank you," she said. Then she began her search for the lost child. When she got to the room where Tereatira had spent her last moments, she heard faint crying and quiet singing. She opened the door and went in. Sure enough sitting by the window was the little girl.

"Relafetiri, everyone was so worried about you."

"I miss her so much," said the girl.

"That's ok. At least you still have your father, he will make sure you're taken care of."

"I heard what Pharaoh said. He said that no one should grow up without a mom but I don't have one." And Relafetiri began to cry again.

"Shh, it's ok," said Anck-su-namun, hugging the young girl.

"Could you pretend to be my mommy?"

"Well," said Anck-su-namun, touched by the child's request. "I think that would be great if the pharaoh consents, Relafetiri."

"Could you call me Rela? That's what my mom used to call me. And can I call you Anu? See I used to call my mom Tere."

"Ok," said Anck-su-namun, laughing. "Rela let's go ask the Pharaoh if it's alright, ok?"

"Ok!" and Rela jumped to her feet and half dragged "Anu" to the throne room. Of course the Pharaoh was happy to give his consent.

TBC…

A/N: the next chapter is gonna be A LOT shorter. It's still important though so please come back and read it!! And PLEASE review.