Sorry! I am REALLY busy with all this schoolwork and to top those off, my computer is SOOOOOOOO super slow! So I hope that you all can forgive me! And my mom won't EVER get off the phone! I just don't have enough patience to sit here the whole day waiting for the computer to load ONE PAGE! Sorry. I just wish I had a much faster computer. Then I'll probably update every 3 days! If you are confused about anything here, then feel free to ask in your review! Enjoy!
Finally Found Cure! Now What?
It was as black as pure ebony, the candle flame shining like a ball of light in the middle of nothingness. Anzu shivered as she looked around. There were shelves and shelves of scrolls, all in hieroglyphics. 'It's a good thing that my father's friend was a scribe. Or else I won't be able to read these." She thought as she looked over a scroll. After looking at scroll after scroll after scroll, she started to get frustrated and sighed. It would take forever to look through all these scrolls. She looked at the sections.
"Lung Ailments…Brain Removal," she cringed after reading that, she hated touching brains, "Hair Potions…Ah! Abnormal Heart Beats!" she read down the scrolls in that section but then froze as she suddenly heard a soft noise, like a person moving his foot ever so gently across the floor. 'Oh no!'
"I told you we would get in! No one ever says no to Marik!"
"Yes master."
'Oh! Great!' Anzu grabbed 2 random scrolls from the Abnormal Heart Beats section and then furtively tried to sneak out.
"Wait! I thought I heard something!" Marik whispered. Anzu gasped slightly and moved quicker. She rushed too quickly and made a small noise as she tripped over an ancient scroll titled, "Uses of Pig's feet." Marik immediately grew quiet as a mouse and caught a glimpse of Anzu's panicky bright blue eyes as she hurried out the door. However, he didn't do anything.
Back in her room'Oh Ra, that was close!" she gasped as she tried to slow down her rapid heart rate. As she got herself calmed down, she read through the two scrolls that she 'borrowed' from the Forbidden Library. The first one wasn't much help, she groaned when she read through the second one. What?! How come the cure isn't in the ancient scriptures?!
She flopped down on her bed and started to think. 'Hmmmmm, this doesn't make much sense. The disease is unknown by the best doctors and healers in the country! And nonetheless the cure wasn't mentioned in the ancient scriptures! Egypt is truly doomed! 'Ugh!' she sighed. But then she thought of something. 'Wait! Since the heartbeats are abnormal, that must mean that it must have been some kind of food!' she sat up suddenly. 'Yes! It must be! But which food?' she lay back down and thought deeply. 'It must be…..'
The Next Morning"My Pharaohs, you are back early!" a servant stuttered as he opened the huge iron gates leading into the palace.
Atem and Seto looked horrible. Their clothes were torn and their faces flustered. Their hair were untidy and their spirits down from not being able to find Hotano. The guards, soldiers and servants that traveled with them looked worst. As they walked into the grand hall, a 15-year-old boy who looked remarkably similar to Atem walked towards them and ran to Atem.
"Big brother!" Yugi cried as he ran to Atem and crushed him in a 'hug'. Atem cringed and groaned. But then as Yugi let go, Atem hugged him in a crushing grip.
"Oh Ra!" Atem cried. "You've grown big and strong Yugi!"
"That's right!" Yugi showed him his arm and flexed it. "Check it out!"
Atem smirked and grabbed his head and gave him a big brother to little brother noogie!
"I haven't seen you for a long time Yugi!"
Yugi nodded. "Ever since you became pharaoh, they have been making me study and study for when I will become pharaoh."
Atem shook his head sadly; "They're planning my death already."
Yugi was about to say something when suddenly the queen came rushing over to them.
"Atem! My darling!" Yugi rolled his eyes while she tried to smother poor Atem in kisses.
"Ah! Stop it Nefertine!" but when he saw her hurt face, he felt sympathy. "I –", he tried to bring himself to say it, "Missed – you – too!" He put on a fake strained smile. Nefertine smiled and thought to herself. 'Ha! I knew he loved me best!'
Atem tried to run away, but Nefertine grabbed his arm. "Please, why don't you kiss me?"
Atem shuddered terribly at the thought and stuttered, "Um, I have to go to my – uh – room!" and ran at high speed past her.
HallwayAnzu ran excitingly down the torch lit hallway as she carried the 2 scrolls from the Forbidden Library. 'I found the cure! I found the cure!' she chanted over and over inside her head. But as her long white dress started to get caught with her reed sandals, she tripped, and someone caught her.
She gasped as she lost her balance and fell, right into the arms of Pharaoh Atem! She stared, confused as the cold stone floor did not make contact with her body, and then looked up shyly at her savior. As she got up frantically stammering apologies to the Pharaoh of the North, a dark shadow listened attentively to their conversation.
"I'm sooo sorry! I'm so sorry!" Anzu said frightened at what she had done. Atem tried to calm her down and said, "It's all right! You didn't do anything wrong!" he smiled. He gently led her up by the hand and smirked at her beet red cheeks. He remembered the first time they meet. How she saved him from dying. And then he felt guilty at how they didn't listen to her. Hotano was her father! How could she not know if he was dead or not?!
As he helped her pick up the scrolls, he asked curiously, "What was the hurry?" Suddenly Anzu looked excited again. "Oh! The cure!" she jumped up and down, the sparkles in her blue eyes dancing lively, "I found the cure! I found the cure!" The person in the shadow gasped silently. 'So, she finally proved herself.'
Atem was shocked. 'This little girl with only 5 years of experience found the cure for the 'Unknown Death'?'
"By the power of Ra! How – "
"It's a long story. But basically, it's the water!"
"The water?"
"Yes! When the storm came and flooded all of Egypt, it carried millions and millions of deadly substances with it and they all ran into the mother Nile. Not even the poor pheasants and farmers were used to the water and so they fell sick too!"
All at once, Atem's face was full of understanding. "I see."
The shadowed figure grinned mischievously and nodded. 'Naïve girl. You should know never to disobey me…' the person thought as she furtively sneaked out.
"So basically, that was what caused the disease."
"I see, but what about the cure?"
"That took me a long time to figure out too. You mix ground Pig's feet, king cobra poison, fresh water from the Nile and mashed lily flowers and then rub it on their chest, where their heart is!"
Atem looked enormously relieved, like a huge boulder has just been lifted off his shoulders. 'Anzu is so amazing. She's just like her father. I never should have doubted her.' He smiled at her shining face, innocent and pure. No wonder Seto fell in love with her.
"So, shouldn't we go tell everyone?"
Atem snapped out of his daydream. "Oh yes! Right!"
They both ran down the long corridor to the main throne room, Atem holding the scrolls this time.
Throne RoomThe brightly furnished grand throne room stood tall and proud as Nefertine announced 'her' discovery aloud.
"…. and so, that is how our people got sick."
Murmurs spread like wildfire across the room at how the queen found out this amazing discovery.
"Unbelievable! What a fantastic queen we have! I locked myself in my room for a week and haven't been able to figure it out!"
"No kidding! It was not even in the ancient scriptures!"
Anzu and Atem rushed into the room, both overjoyed at Anzu's success, but stopped short when they saw all the people in the room. "What's going on?" Atem demanded as Anzu stood quietly behind him, bewildered at what was going on.
A priest spun around and answered, "My Pharaoh! You should be proud! The queen had just saved all of Egypt!"
"What?!" Atem exclaimed. "How?!"
"Why, she found the cure for the 'Unknown Disease'!"
"What?!" Atem knew something fishy was going on. Last time he checked, Nefertine didn't know zip about healing, let alone find the cure for a disease that was not even in the ancient scriptures! Anzu's eyes immediately showed disappointed and Atem saw that from the corner of his eye.
"Anzu," he started as she lifted her perfect head up, "Don't be discouraged. I know that you found the cure, not Nefertine."
Anzu smiled warmly at him. 'Wow. He acts just like Seto. Speaking of which, where is he?'
No sooner had she thought that, the Pharaoh of the South came squeezing through the crowd. "Anzu!"
At the sound of her master, she turned around and smiled weakly at him. "My Pharaoh," she answered while inching away from Atem.
Seto walked over to her and hugged her lovingly. "I missed you. I'm sorry that I didn't listen to you. It's all my fault."
"No, don't say that. It's all right. I forgive you."
Atem smiled at the loving pharaoh and his feelings toward the beautiful healer. 'They are destined to be together.' But for some reason, his heart told him otherwise.
Finally, Seto let go. "Well, let's go home. The queen just found the cure for the 'Unknown Disease.' We best be on our way."
Anzu looked up sadly at her pharaoh and protested, "But Seto, I – "
"No!" Atem shouted. Startled, Anzu and Seto looked at him.
"I mean, please stay. I – ask you to stay longer."
Anzu happily looked up into Seto's dark, empty blue eyes, silently pleading with him using her saddest puppy eyes. Seto took a small glance at her cute and sweet puppy eyes and knew that he couldn't resist them.
"All right, we'll stay some more."
Anzu smiled excitingly again and hugged Seto tightly while jumping up and down. Seto and Atem chuckled at her childish excitement and both felt a soft flutter in their hearts when they both witnessed her beautiful and heartwarming smile.
MorningThe sun shined bright on the clear blue sky, which indicated another dry sunny day. As it shone its rays inside the royal bedroom, the Pharaoh slowly lifted his eyelids and squinted at the blinding light. He groaned and turned over to his side, staring at the person sleeping next to him. 'Great, I have to get up now.' He thought as he slowly got up and put on his robe, crown and cape.
As he picked up a small jar of incense from the dresser, he looked over at his head wife, Nefertine who was still sleeping and got angry. He remembered what she had done yesterday. She can't even read! How could she have found out?
He poured some of the incense into a small hand bowl and held it out of the large window above all of Egypt. The small particles floated out of the bowl and scattered into the winds.
"I see that you are up, my dear," a voice behind him said.
Nefertine got out of bed and walked over to Atem. "Aren't you proud of me?"
"I am taking Lady Anzu to the Festival today."
Nefertine was annoyed. "What! Why? What's so important about her?"
Atem put down the bowl and looked angrily at Nefertine. "It was her who found the cure! Not you! She deserves to be praised!" he thundered as he marched out the room, his violet cape flying behind him.
Seto's roomAnzu timidly pushed open the door, carrying a tray of milk, bread and fruit. She peeked inside and saw Seto burning incense to Ra. As she walked in and placed the tray gently onto the table and turned to leave, he spoke.
"Wait!"
She spun around and waited.
After all the incense got scattered into the winds, he walked over to her and smiled.
"Well? How about a little morning music?"
He asked, then walking over and sitting on his bed.
Anzu nodded obediently and walked over to her golden harp on the other side of the room. As she lifted her fingers to play, Seto watched her intentionally, not even blinking. The lovely music filled the room, caressing Seto's tense nerves and loosing his muscles. Seto sighed contentedly but then suddenly, there was a knock on the door. Anzu stopped abruptly.
"Pharaoh of the South and Lady Anzu, the Pharaoh would like to speak to you."
Throne roomAnzu and Seto walked into the huge throne room, with Atem sitting in the middle of it.
"Pharaoh Seto and Lady Anzu," the servant bowed as he announced their arrival.
"Thank you," Atem nodded at the servant.
"So Seto, Anzu," he addressed them. "Are you staying for the Festival tonight?"
"I have to go back, but if Anzu wants, she may stay," Seto answered. He looked at Anzu and frowned at her happy face.
"So you don't mind if I take her to the Festival with me?"
Seto twitched at those words, but then he thought of Anzu. "If that is okay with her."
Anzu nodded a 'yes' and Atem smiled and waved a hand at his closet guard. He whispered something to him and then waved him away. He then stood up and said, "We would be delighted that you come back as soon as possible."
Seto nodded and went out. Anzu looked after him and wondered why he left so quickly.
At the Festival "Do we have to go in front of everybody?" Anzu asked as Atem led her up a platform and turned to face everybody.She grew even more nervous as people started to point and whisper at them. 'Do they think I'm his wife?" she thought, blushing redder then a rose. Atem gave her a reassuring squeeze as she held tight onto his hand for comfort. She relaxed.
"Great citizens of Egypt! I welcome you all tonight to honor our great and mighty god Horus!" everyone shouted and cheered as the musicians started playing and dancers dancing. Atem led her down the platform and they walked over to a dining table.
As they sat down, Atem noticed that Anzu looked very nervous and frightened.
"What's the matter my Lady?"
Anzu nervously smiled at him and shook her head.
"Nothing. It's just that, it feels weird without Seto."
"I see."
But he was itching to ask this one question. One question that had been nagging him ever since he first saw her portrilint face. "Where did you get your lovely blue eyes and your silky peach skin? No mortal Egyptian has blue eyes such as yours."
Anzu blushed a deep crimson as she shyly replied. "And no mortal Egyptian has such handsome purple eyes, such as yours."
Atem smirked and said. "I'll tell you why after you tell me."
"Seto has blue eyes!"
"He has dark blue."
"Still!"
"Your shade of blue is rare, and all Egyptians have tan skin."
"I – ugh!" She playfully shook her head in frustration. She sighed while Atem smirked and waited for an answer.
Suddenly, a person came running over and waved his hand as a greeting.
"Hey! Remember me?!"
Anzu gasped. "Joey?"
"Yup, the one and only!" the blond head smirked. He bowed to Atem.
"My pharaoh."
Atem waved his hand.
"Please, no formalities. You may stand."
Joey stood up and sat on the other side of Anzu. "Oh! By the way Anzu. Thanks for finding the cure! I knew that you could do it!"
Anzu was about to say thank you, but then, "Thank – hey! How did you know that it was me?!"
Joey smiled and said. "I could tell that that hallow headed queen couldn't even read! How was she supposed to figure it out?"
Anzu smiled and hugged him gratefully. "Thanks Joey. You're one of the few people who actually believe me!" Joey smiled and hugged her back. She was like a sister to him, and what kind of brother doesn't believe in his sister?
However, Atem seemed pretty jealous at him. His face grew from light pink to light red to scarlet. 'Why do I feel so angry?'
"Well," Atem cleared his throat, "Anzu was going to tell us about her heritage."
"Really?" Joey said excitingly and pulled away, "Well?! Let's hear it!" Joey exclaimed.
Anzu shot a glare at Atem, but thanks to her big blue eyes, Atem thought she looked cute and winked. She growled underneath her breath but decided to tell. "Okay. Um, where to start? I'm part Greek."
"Greek?" Joey repeated, surprised.
"Yes, from my mom's side of the family. My dad was a full-blooded Egyptian; my mom was a full-blooded Greek. You can say that I'm a mix. My mom said that I was the most important of the family who connected the two different countries together. The only bad thing was I had to learn both languages. I miss Greece, I grew up there. But when my mother died of a lung disease, my father and I moved to Southern Egypt, where I meet Seto. The interesting thing was, he disguised himself as a pheasant and tried to run away from home. I gave him refuge, but they eventually found him. But his father, the pharaoh was grateful and so they took us in as healers.
But, a few years after we lived in Egypt, his friends assassinated my father. They betrayed him, because they were jealous of his skills," at this point, crystal shiny tears rolled down Anzu's cheeks as she told the story of her father. "And now I'm an orphan. I depend on Seto, who cares about me enough to give me shelter, clothes and food to keep me alive. The least I can do is serve him."
Atem shook his head solemnly. 'Poor Anzu. She went through all this pain and pressure. And yet she still keeps a positive mind but her spirit is broken and Seto has not fully repaired it.' He sighed and spoke softly.
"I'm sorry. I – didn't know…"
Anzu sniffled and said quietly, "It's okay."
Atem looked down for a moment and then reached into his pocket. He took out a golden necklace with the eye of Horus on it. He handed it to Anzu.
"Here. Whenever you want someone to obey you, just show this to them and they will obey." Anzu stared at the necklace and accepted it. "Thank you." Joey looked annoyed. 'Like she's going to order me around!'
"My pharaoh!" A servant rushed over to their side and bowed on the floor. "The games are about to begin!"
Atem nodded and waved him away. He turned to Anzu and wiped away her tears with his hand. Anzu suprisingly looked at him but invited his warm touch and smiled. "Thank you," she whispered.
"Would you liked to rest? For you are welcome to come watch," he asked softly. He led her up by the hand and held it, rubbing her soft silky skin, not wanting to let go. "Would you come?" he asked, though inside, he knew that he would not except a 'no' for an answer.
Anzu looked worried. "The shadow duels?"
"Yes. Is there something wrong?" Atem asked.
Anzu looked down. She heard of shadow duels, how many men died playing it. She saw Seto play it, and every time he did, her heart filled with fear and worry. 'Should I go? Where would I sleep?'
"Um," Anzu couldn't decide. Even if she didn't go watch the games, she didn't have a place to sleep. Before, she slept in the stable, with Mercy.
"You could sleep in my bed," Atem offered. "I won't be sleeping much anyway."
Anzu was shocked and shook her head. "Oh! No! That's all right! I could sleep in the stables again!"
"The stables!" Atem exclaimed. "Seto didn't let you sleep with him?"
Anzu blushed furiously at that statement. "No!" she said a little too quickly. Atem raised an eyebrow. "I mean, I - didn't want - to."
Joey snickered.
"Oh," Atem understood as he glared at Joey. "Well, I won't let you sleep in the stables. You're sleeping in my room and that's final!" And with a swish of his cape, he was off.
"But – " Anzu sighed as she watched him and Joey walk off to indulge in the games. She shook her head. 'So stubborn, like Seto.'
With no choice left, she headed toward the palace. When she passed some bushes, she heard a faint sound. She stopped. Her first instinct was to run, but then she heard a small cry, like an injured animal. Curiously, she parted the bush and saw a little furry baby kitten, cute as can be, crouched in a ball. Pitifully, it turned its beautiful head toward her and looked at her with big sad emerald eyes. "Meow!" it said, barely above a whisper.
Anzu gasped softly as she saw it's leg had a big cut in it and blood was dripping out. She crouched down and gently picked it up in her hands and carried it into the palace.
Inside Atem's RoomAfter Anzu cleaned and bandaged the little kitten's leg, it purred loudly and fell asleep on her lap. Anzu smiled and decided to name her "Fluffy". She got the name from the kitten's fluffy brown fur that was super soft to the touch. As she looked out the balcony, she saw Atem playing against a priest. Everytime one of his monsters died the chanters that were chanting a spell to release the monster got struck by lighting and died. She shivered. That was what she hated about shadow duels. Joey was sitting in the sidelines, rooting for him.
She picked up Fluffy into her arms, and walked over to the bed and touched the cover with her index finger. 'Should I?'
She lifted her finger and sighed. Suddenly, a loud scream came from outside and she rushed over to the balcony to see what was going on. She gasped as the whole field was filled with red, hot fire. It was pure chaos as she watched guards and soldiers tried to calm then down. Anzu gently placed Fluffy on the bed, despite it's "meow!" and rushed out the door.
As she desperately tried to open the front door, she discovered something that froze her heart. The door wouldn't open! Despite the noise and chaos the servants and slaves were making, she rushed to a window but that wouldn't open. That can only mean on thing, someone had stolen the sacred god! All of Northern Egypt is cursed!
Well? Review! Oh yeah! Also, me and CuringAngel (You can check out her profile in my favorite author's list) are going to create a story together! It's going to be set in ancient Egypt and you can guess what the couples are going to be, right? - Keep an eye out for it! The starting title is 'Lotus Petals' but she wants to change it. And also, it'll be in her profile, but both of us gets credit, okay?
ShiningFriendshipII