(Eight years later)
"Happy Birthday!" Mana cheers, jumping onto her friend's back.
"Thank you Mana," Gabrielle smiles.
"Sixteen years old, you are now at marrying age," Mahad teases.
"S-shut it!" Gabrielle blushes.
Mana and Mahad laugh, both know about her crush on the Prince. It became obvious three years before when she accidently let it out to Isis and the two overheard. The only ones who do not know are Priest Seto and Prince Atem.
"So, what are your plans for this special day?" Mana asks.
"I am not sure, Maria and I were thinking of spending the day together since we hardly get to," Gabrielle says. "She is busy being a guard while I am studying to be a Magi."
"Alright, but keep tonight free," Mahad says. "Mana and I want to make you dinner."
"Alright, I will see you later," Gabrielle smiles as she walks off.
"Happy Birthday Maria," Shada says.
"Thank you Shada," Maria smiles.
"Where are you off to?"
"Gabi and I want to spend some time together today since we are unable to see each other much as of late."
"Alright, but return before dark. Isis and I want to do something special for you."
"Of course, see you later."
Shada watches as Maria walks off and out of the palace, he smiles, it is time to get things ready.
"Alana! Get the supplies and decorate the dining hall!" Shada orders.
"Yes sir."
"They both are gone?" Seto asks.
"Yes, they went off to the Nile," Shada tells him.
"Good, we need to get things together," Seto says, walking away.
Today, Atem has planned a celebration for Gabrielle and Maria's sixteenth birthday. The two have never been big on celebrating due to their dark memories of their birth and abandonment. But Atem wants to change that, currently Atem is in a meeting with his advisers about his coronation and taking a bride. Atem sighs, since his father has passed away they have been on him about marrying a princess from a different kingdom, but he wants to be with someone who is kind yet can help the kingdom.
"You are eighteen my Pharaoh, you need to find a wife," his uncle says. "It has been too long since the kingdom has had a Queen."
"I am aware uncle," Atem sighs. "It has been since my birth when we last had a Queen. However, I do not want just any princess to be my Queen. Father said mother was strong yet kind, that is what I want in my Queen."
"Shall we have a ball?" Isis asks.
"Fine, set one for the next moon."
They all nod and Seto enters, he gives a firm nod that everything for the celebration is in place. Atem smiles and they head off to the dining room to get the last things together. Unaware to any of them, twelve men are watching them all waiting for the right moment to strike.
Meanwhile, Gabrielle and Maria are walking near the Nile both smiling.
"The last eight years have been perfect," Maria smiles. "We have a home and friends."
"The Gods certainly have been smiling down on us," Gabrielle says.
"They have, we have been worshipping them for as long as we could remember. Even though we are here."
"We also worship the Gods here. Now look at us, you are the Captain of the Guard and I am becoming on of the best Magi there are."
"Wonder how our mothers are doing," Maria says. "We haven't seen them since they sent us away when the war began."
"I am sure they are fine, they are strong," Gabrielle says. "I have always wonder who our actual parents were."
"Who knows."
The two decide to spar like they used to, Maria successfully gets Gabrielle into the river when the water is splashed onto her.
"Hey!" Maria laughs.
"What? You pushed me into the water," Gabrielle laughs, climbing out.
"It's almost dark, we should return to the palace."
The twins walk back to the palace and are met by Mana and Isis, both shocked to see them soaking wet. They pull the girls to their rooms and make them change into nice clothing.
"Why are you dragging us?" Gabrielle asks as they head to the dining room.
"You will see!" Mana sings.
The doors soon open and the girls are surprised to see the room decorated.
"Happy Birthday!" Everyone says.
The girls walk in, both shocked to see everyone they know there. They smile as Atem walks up.
"Happy Birthday, Gabrielle, Maria," Atem smiles.
"Thank you so much, my pharaoh," Gabrielle says, bowing to him.
Atem smiles more as he hears her giggle, Maria smirks she knows they like each other. But the smirk soon fades, he could never marry here because of their statues. She may have better luck with Priest Seto.
"Happy birthday Maria, Gabrielle," Seto says.
"Thank you Priest Seto," Maria smiles.
"Come, we must celebrate," Atem says.
They all gather to have a wonderful feast and they dance well into the night. Gabrielle and Maria are very happy and thankful for their friends, to thank him, Maria dances with Seto and kisses his cheek. Seto turns bright red in the face, did she just? He shakes his head and pulls her close.
"Seto?" Maria questions.
"You know you shouldn't kiss the High Priest," Seto says.
"I uh.."
"He must kiss you first," Seto says making her look at him in shock.
He smirks and kisses her, Gabrielle watches as her sister relaxes and kisses her love back. She smiles sadly and leaves the room, she takes a deep breath in the cold night air. She begins to lightly hum to herself when she senses something. She turns and catches an arrow before it could hit her, she look at the arrowhead and sees that there is poison on it.
"Guards!" Gabrielle yells.
Suddenly a man attacks her, she barely dodges the attack and his the man with a spell. But someone else hits the back of her head, knocking her out. They grab her and leave the scene.
"Sister!?" Maria calls. "Where are you!?"
"Something wrong Maria?" Mahad asks.
"Gabrielle came out here for air and hasn't returned in about 10 minutes."
"Ma'am!" A guard comes running.
"What is it?" Maria asks, getting into her serious mode.
"We hear Miss Gabrielle call for help when we were ambushed by some men, when we arrived to her location she was already gone."
"What!?" Maria yells. "Mahad, go and inform Atem and Seto, Now!"
"Right away!" Mahad runs back into the dining room, the doors slamming.
"Mahad, is something wrong?" Mana inquires.
"Gabrielle was taken by some men, we have unknown location or motivation," Mahad informs.
The room falls silent as Atem's face pales, he feels his heart stop. Gabrielle was taken?
"Where are the guards?" Atem demands.
"They are currently searching the area for any sign of Gabrielle."
"This is not good my Pharaoh," His uncle says. "She is a powerful magician. Her powers are too great."
"We will find her," Atem says. "Have every guard on search, Mahad you and Mana try to search for her magic."
"Yes my pharaoh," Mahad and Mana say.
(Atem's POV)
I walk into my room and remove my shirt and jewelry. I sigh as I go to the balcony, why would they take Gabrielle? I know she is powerful with her magic, but no one knows about that than me, Mahad, Maria, Mana and my uncle. I look up to the moon, I feel the tears threatening to spill from my eyes, why am I feeling this way? Why does it feel like my heart is going to break into a million pieces.
"Gabrielle, please, be okay..." I whisper out into the air. "Wherever you are, please be safe."
Why does it have to be on this day? She already hated her birthday enough, and now this? She will never want to celebrate the day of her birth again. I hope she will not do anything too drastic, I know how she can get with her emotion and this cannot be good. I feel the tears fall down my face, why am I crying? Why am I so worried? She is my friend, but it feels like I could die right now if I do not find her.
Am I in Love?