Neferure (episode)

## Neferure

**Neferure** is the eighteenth episode of the second season, and the forty-fourth episode overall.

## Summary

Théti and Papyrus learn about the mask of Neferure (Théti‘s late mother).

## Plot

In the Valley of the Queens, a grave robber named Kohum, is digging for his desired treasure. A red flash suddenly strikes the rocks, cauing it to cave in and frighten the robber. Aker triumphs danger impending from the return of the mask of Neferure.

In a vision, a sarcophagus and a boomerang-like weapon, the Amat, are seen followed by a young lady, who resembles Théti, in a mask. Ratoufer is awoken up from the meditation and alarmed by the premonition. Meanwhile, Kohum makes his way in a tomb and takes the mask of Neferure.

The next day, Ratoufer speaks with Mesimonptu about the vision and both decide to go investigate in the tomb, avoiding telling Théti about the mask or her mother. Théti hears the conversation and demands what secret they had discussed. Both Ratoufer and Mesimonptu make an attempt to hide it from her and leave, claiming they have important business. Théti is reminded of her mother, but she lapses into sullenness at the thought.

Papyrus just finishes his fishing business and is greeted by Théti. Papyrus proceeds to make payment of the fish he has caught, but Théti asks to talk with him. Papyrus, however, has an appointment with Tiya, causing jealousy from Théti. Papyrus asks what is wrong and she starts to cry, down about her mother. Théti dismisses the conversation and walks off, leaving Papyrus in shock.

Ratoufer and Mesimonptu are at the tomb and witness a symbol of Seth on Neferure's sarcophagus, where the face should be. Ratoufer then deems the case serious and decides to tell Papyrus the secret.

Papyrus exchanges the fish for a bag of money. The money is swiped by Shepsi and Papyrus proceeds to catch him. He is lead to Tiya, meeting her conveniently. Papyrus is planning to give Théti a gift and is asked by Tiya to explain what is going on between him and her. Tiya playfully insists that Théti is jealous of her but suggests that he gets her a gift from a merchant named Snepu. Papyrus deems it absurd to purchase a stolen item from him but Tiya refutes by claiming he is an honest merchant.

Snepu and Kohum are looking over the stolen items that Kohum has looted. Kohum displays the gold mask of Neferure, striking shock to Snepu. Papyrus and Tiya step into the shop, whereas Kohum makes an effort to hide the mask from the two. While Snepu greets Tiya, Papyrus notices a perfect gift for Théti, which is a pendant of Isis. Shepsi climbs on a stool and trips, causing Kohum to do the same and drop the mask accidentally. Tiya picks it up and scolds Shepsi for not being careful, until the notices the mask and is brought to shock.

Kohum quickly swipes the mask from her, shoving her to Papyrus, and making his getaway. Papyrus and Tiya follow him to retrieve the item, with Snepu commenting he knew no good would come from the mask. Meanwhile Papyrus and Tiya part ways as a plan. Kohum is met with a dead end of pots and proceeds to climb the heap. His weight could not be supported, causing the pots to fall over. Papyrus picks up the mask and notices its similarity with Théti's face. Kohum breaks a pot over Papyrus's head, knocking him out, and takes the mask from him.

Papyrus wakes up in the merchant's shop. He questions Tiya's whereabouts and his Snepu's familiarity with the gold mask. Snepu immediately denies any involvement with the latter, but Papyrus goes to look for Théti, forgetting his present for her. Snepu, paranoid begins to murmur forebodings.

Tiya arrives at Kohum's place and proceeds to search for the mask he has hidden, assigning Shepsi to be a lookout. She searches in certain places she believes he would hide. Shepsi alarms at Kohum's coming, allowing Tiya to make her attempt to escape. She is suddenly caught by Kohum and is pulled back in. Tiya demands where the mask is, he insists that she calms down and informs that he has sold it to Théti herself.

Théti looks at the mask and comments on the resemblance to her face, until she looks at the back and notices it belongs to Neferure, her mother. Théti again lapses into sullenness. Aker calls on Seth to trigger the cursed mask, causing it to glow red. Théti, under its influence, wears it. She screams as she tries to take it off then collapses.

Papyrus knocks on her door, calling for her, and is greeted by Ratoufer. They inform each other of the mask, making sure they are aware of the situation. As they walk to the palace's pond before Ratoufer tells Papyrus the story of Neferure. Meanwhile, Tiya and Snepu converse over Kohum and the mask. The pendant of Isis begins to glow, causing curiosity among them.

Ratoufer goes in detail of the story and tells Papyrus about it.

When Théti was just a baby, Pharaoh was very much in love with her. In praise of her beauty, he commissioned a gold mask from the finest goldsmith in all of Egypt. Seth, however, took advantage of this and sought to kill Merenre through his wife. Similar to Théti, she was under the curse's influence and wears it on her face before collapsing after the effect. Neferure is then seen walking through the corridors of the palace to find her target, with the Amat in one hand.

She proceeds to end Merenre from the back and swings the weapon. Merenre realizes and turns, holding their baby. Neferure quickly realizes he has their daughter in his hands and reverses the curse herself. The weapon does not harm Merenre or Théti, but it swings back to Neferure, killing her instead. Neferure is dropped dead, her spirit flying out from her body. Merenre is devastated and mourns over her death.

Ratoufer adds that Neferure's body is buried in the Valley of the Queens, but uncertain of what has happened to her soul. He informs that he and Merenre decided to suppress the truth and say she was carried off by a fatal illness. The cursed weapon lies in the very pond of the palace. Ratoufer pleads that Papyrus looks out for Théti while he sets off to look for Tiya to find the mask.

Papyrus proceeds to return to calling for Théti from the door, and is met up with Isis. She informs to him that Neferure's soul is trapped in Seth's world, but only she can stop the trap Seth has plunged through Théti. Isis leads him to the respective place. Aker curses at Isis for foiling his plot, and further escalates the plan to take its effect.

Tiya runs up to Ratoufer and shows him the glowing pendant, giving an advantage to Ratoufer so he can act. They witness a red streak from the sky to the palace and strikes Théti's room. Théti gains her consciousness but is under the influence of Seth, with mask glowing red.

Papyrus is brought to a place of large crystal prisms and is helped by Isis by following her. She stops at a specific prism and encourages Papyrus to make a move. Papyrus gets out his sword and hits it, causing it and all the crystals around to shatter into large shards, with Papyrus hoping he would not get injured by the effect. Everything clears out and he sees Neferure's trapped soul.

Ratoufer notices Théti is already going to retrieve the used weapon from the pond by calling on Seth. He hopes Papyrus makes it in time to stop the plot.

Papyrus, armed with his sword, proceeds to free Neferure. He strikes the crystal with the sword, causing it to shift down. Neferure urges him to strike harder. Papyrus does so, but his sword breaks in two due to the mass of the crystal. He loses faith, unable to save the queen with his sword severed.

Théti is walking through the corridors, holding the weapon. Behind Merenre, she declares his death hour. Merenre initially believed it was his wife, but soon realizes it's Théti fallen into the trap.

Ratoufer communicates with Papyrus through the pendant and encourages him never to give up. Papyrus's sword is mended by Ratoufer's magic, allowing him to use it finally free Neferure. Her and Papyrus make it to the palace via hand-holding.

Théti is about to strike Merenre. However, Merenre begs for her to resist Seth's magic and return to herself. This has no effect on her and aims the weapon at him. Neferure's soul appears between the two and saves Merenre from getting killed. Théti has come back to herself, realizing her mother, father, and Papyrus, and takes off the cursed mask. The mask vanishes.

Neferure and Théti share a reunion with each other and thanks Papyrus for her accomplishment. Merenre tries to speak with Neferure, but she needs to continue on in her afterlife. She vanishes into the skies.

Merenre apologizes to Théti for having kept the story from her and is encouraged to tell both her and Papyrus more about Neferure. Love has defeated the plots of evil.

## Characters

**Main**

* Papyrus
* Théti
* Ratoufer
* Neferure
* Aker
* Seth

**Major**

* Tiya
* Shepsi
* Kohum
* Pharaoh Merenre

**Minor**

* Mesimonptu
* Isis
* Fish seller