Mystery's Big Surprise

The first few weeks of summer started out smoothly for the new royal leaders. Atem and Mystery attended every royal meeting to discuss issues the kingdom had to manage such as agriculture, architecture, human and monster population, criminal activity, wealth, and many other things. The royal temples would also be inspected and scrolls would be looked through. After all, just because two of Millennia's children were ruling the kingdom, didn't mean that everything would be perfect and under control. Great responsibilities had to be managed, but as promised, Atem and Mystery would keep calm and be themselves no matter what had to be done.

Another royal meeting had come into order. It was something Mystery was accustomed to since it was like the meetings the great beasts of legend held at Council Rock. Even Atem was used to it because he would often take part in some of the meetings his father had. "Good morning, sacred guardians," Mystery greeted. "Once again, we welcome every one of you."

"Thank you, Queen Mystery," Seto told her. He clears his throat and takes a scroll. "The other day, I sent Lady Freya to the temples to oversee them. She returned with this report claiming to have found a nest of insect-based monsters taking refuge below one." Since Seto remembered that Freya loved going to the temples and making sure everything was in order, he decided to give her a job to manage them.

"If I may," Isis interrupted, "Both Lady Kisara and Lady Freya claimed to have found a sort of hidden chamber below a temple and met a beast of legend several years back."

Mahad faces her and explains, "Yes, but that temple was used as a sanctuary of a sort. Those divine beasts remained there waiting for the ones they deemed chosen of their power. This time, these beasts have claimed that underground chamber as their territory."

"That temple is still a part of sacred ground," Atem told them. "We can't have any intruders claiming it as their territory. The chamber will have to be cleared out."

Mystery speaks up and adds, "Also, if this underground chamber is directly below the temple, the temple itself could sink deeper into the sand and cause a cave-in. We may have to..." but she stops herself as a wave of nausea suddenly hits her.

Atem faces her and asks, "Are you all right?" Mystery doesn't answer. She covers her mouth, stands from her seat, and runs out of the room. Feeling sick and needing to let it out, she does so at the first jar she sees. Hearing her groaning, Atem rises from his seat and comes to her aid. Seeing her on her knees and close to the jar, he kneels beside her. "Mystery, what's wrong?" He asks again.

She wipes her lips. "Forgive me for running like that, but I had to. But I know not what it is. I have never felt this way before. I mean, I was well this morning, but now-" she stops herself and feels it coming up again. She leans closer to the jar and does it again.

"Just take it easy," Atem tells her as he rubs her back.

Mystery places her hand over her mouth and groans. She tried to recall everything she ate recently, but she knew that she didn't eat anything she disliked. She also knew that she didn't eat so much that she would get a stomachache. She also said she woke up feeling healthy. Her head didn't hurt, her throat wasn't sore, her skin didn't itch, and her sinuses weren't congested. It didn't make sense to her why she suddenly felt so nauseous.

After explaining that to her husband, Atem sends for Mahad and Isis to escort Mystery to the hospital wing of the palace. It was quite reasonable because Isis was a healer and Mahad still knew some things about some illnesses and what remedies were needed to treat whatever condition. While Mystery was being taken care of, Atem decided to continue the meeting as planned.

Isis decided to examine Mystery and asked for Mahad to stay by the door in case she would need anything. Mystery told Isis how confused she was about suddenly feeling sick when she seemed so well. With many ailments being ruled out, Isis asked Mystery about personal matters since it related to her stomach acting up. Mystery confessed that she had been feeling more hungry than usual and that she had been feeling a little moody. The queen also mentioned realizing feeling tender in some areas. Isis started to wonder if these ailments had to do with her personal schedule, but then realized that the queen wouldn't be feeling so nauseous.

Finally, Isis was able to understand the meaning behind it all. "Well, Queen Mystery, I bear you news I think you may find delightful."

"Delightful?" echoed Mystery.

"Yes, my queen. I've gathered the results and it pleases me to tell you that you're not sick at all. In fact, you're with child."

At first, Mystery's reaction makes her look like she's shocked, but she slowly manages to smile. Even though she said she didn't seem ready and had just started to become accustomed to being queen, she was delighted to hear she was carrying her first child. Grateful and excited, she wraps her arms around Isis to hug her and thank her. A second later, she calms down. "Forgive me, I am just so happy to hear such wonderful news."

Isis chuckles as well. She was used to getting this sort of reaction from many other mothers-to-be. She clears her throat and tells the queen what she needs to do to ensure her own health and the health of the child she was carrying. Mystery would be feeling very hungry and would also need to rest and exercise more. At the same time, under no circumstances would the queen be allowed to cast magic. Doing so takes energy and performing even the simplest spell could harm her child. Even if the mystic properties of the Millennium Star would protect Mystery, she still had to be cautious. Of course, she would still be feeling a little down for the next few days. That was when Isis told Mahad to tell Joseph what kinds of things the queen would need to eat.

With news of the queen's condition being passed to many of the royals, Mystery started to wonder how Atem would take the news. So she told Isis and Mahad to keep quiet and let her tell the king personally. With that being settled, Mystery left to search for Atem.

The royal meeting had been adjourned shortly before Mystery's examination and everyone returned to the throne room. Mystery found Atem sitting in his chair and asked to have a personal conversation with him. The pharaoh wanted to hear the results of his wife's examination, but saw that she was too excited and really wanted him to come with her, so he followed her to the palace courtyard. "Mystery, what is it?" Atem asked as he was following her. "Just tell me."

Finally, she stops under the tree where they confessed their feelings for each other. Mystery figured it would be the best place to tell him. She turned to face him and held his hands in hers. "All right. Are you ready to hear this?" she asked. She moves closer to Atem and whispers the news.

After hearing what she just said, it made sense to Atem why his wife was feeling so strange lately and why she was so excited right now. He barely managed to smile when he asked, "Really? We're going to-?"

"Yes," Mystery softly squealed. But as excited as she was, she had to consider her husband's feelings. She didn't know what to think based upon his reaction, so she said, "My king, I know you and I are already just getting used to being leaders and we may not be ready for this. But I am so happy about it. But are you-? Do you think-?" She takes a deep breath and tries again. "Please tell me what you think of this. And please be honest."

Atem knew he had to do so for her. Honestly, he was just as delighted as Mystery was about the news. He admitted he was nervous because Mystery was right about getting used to the things they had only just started. Other than that, this was going to be their first child. Neither Atem nor Mystery knew much about children. They had often interacted with the orphans and spent time with them to help them become accustomed to the ways of the palace, but this would be different. But Atem didn't want the sense of nervousness to get in his way. "Mystery, my love," he was saying, "Personally, this makes me very happy and I cannot wait to see our child. Rather, our daughter. Parenting will be new to us just as being king and queen already are, but know that you and I are in this together. And everyone we love will be beside us to support us."

It made Mystery happy to hear Atem say that. Her eyes shined as tears of happiness began to fill them and her amulet also began to glow. But then she remembered something else. "But it is bad news as much as it is good news."

"What do you mean?"

"The existence of the heir of Cobalt still remains a mystery. But we let the Egyptian people know of my existence as heiress of Millennia on the day of our marriage and coronation. What if he knows about it? Also, once he finds out we are - well, you know, expecting, it will put our kingdom in danger."

Atem saw that Mystery was right to be worried. Now that Mystery's first secret was out, it would be a matter of time before her new one would be known also. There would be no telling what would happen once the heir of Cobalt would hear of the news. "That's true. And everyone here will be worried as well."

"Still," Mystery says and puts her hand against her abdomen, "I really want this." As worried as she was about meeting her rival, she really did want the child she was carrying. She also knew that her husband wanted the same thing.

To make her feel better, Atem smiles and takes her hand. "Until the time comes, we should keep quiet about this. Let's put our fears behind for now until we really do meet the enemy."

Mystery smiles in agreement and wraps her arms around Atem to hug him. Of course, when they said they would keep quiet, they meant to the public. The royals along with their servants and monsters would be the only ones to know.