A/N: What's up people? I'm back! Sorry for my inactiveness, my recent addiction to setokaiba. com has got me tied up. :P (Anyone that loves to duel, I recommend to you, JOIN IT! Online dueling, and it's FREE! Or, you can just hang out on the forum if you love Yu-Gi-Oh, over 30,000 members already! And there's only one man working on it, that is impressive.
Yugi didn't know what to do, he felt so awkward. He just stood, there, and shifted his body, clearing his throat nervously.
Rini could sense the tension in the room, so she stepped closer and pushed Yugi forward.
"Yugi!" Atem cried, running over and giving him a hug.
"It's good to see you pharaoh," Yugi sighed, "I…I thought you wouldn't recognize me…"
"How could I forget my other half?" Atem looked up and saw Rini and Diana. He was confused.
"Um…"
"Hi! I'm Rini!" she said, and turned to her small gray cat. "And this is my friend, Diana."
"Hello your majesty," the cat said shyly, bowing her head to the pharaoh.
Atem blinked "That cat…it can talk! Yugi how did you get here, where are the others, who is this…?"
But his questions were unanswered for they were interrupted by a bunch of guards, who were dragging people in.
"Sorry to interrupt dear pharaoh," one of them said, "but we have intruders who were trespassing." The guards threw the alleged intruders onto the ground.
"Dis isn't right, I deserve a lawyer!"
"Joey!" Atem gasped, and he looked at each of the faces closely. "Tea! Duke! Tristan! Kaiba!"
"We know our names, genius," Kaiba scoffed.
"Pharaoh!" Tea cried, who wanted to run and give him a hug, but couldn't for she her wrists were tied.
"Release them immediately!" the mighty king barked.
"Yes sir," the guards stumbled, untying all of them.
"Phew," Mina sighed, rubbing her wrists, "those guys sure know how to make tight knots!"
"Ouch!" Serena whined, "I think I got a bruise from it!"
Atem's eyes went wide. He quickly went down the steps and caught Serena's chin, staring deeply into her eyes.
Could she be…?
Ok…this…is awkward.
"Hey buddy," Darien said heatedly.
Atem let go of Serena. "My apologies. I mistook her for another." He stood up and turned to everyone. "Please, let us go to the banquet hall, I have many questions to ask you."
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"So pharaoh, you actually remember us?" Joey said, stuffing his mouth with tilapia.
"Yes I do Joey, and I don't believe you've changed a bit. Although I don't know…everybody."
"Oh right," Yugi blushed, he then introduced all the others.
Everyone mumbled some sort of greeting, except Darien, who was still miffed about Atem's confrontation with Serena.
"Yes, well," Atem said, placing his elbows on the table and resting his head on his hands, "I am still a bit baffled as to how you got here. Care to explain?"
"Well mate," Valon began, placing his fork down. "Hotaru and I got directions from an old man in another village…"
"Wait a minute," Tea interrupted, confused, "I know that the pharaoh would still be able to recognize us when we came here, but I didn't know that other people could see us. Remember last time? We were invisible to the villagers."
A few others nodded in agreement.
"But remember Tea," Ishizu explained, "Sailor Pluto actually transported us back in time, where as with the Millennium Items, our spirits were brought here."
"Sailor Pluto?" Atem asked.
"I am Sailor Pluto, the Guardian of Time," Trista said, raising her hand.
Atem looked at each of the new faces, his brow furrowing.
"We are the Sailor Scouts," Serena explained, "protectors of love and justice and all that other good stuff!"
The pharaoh rested his eyes on Serena a moment longer than he had the others. This made Darien quite uneasy, and just as he was about to say something, Atem looked away.
"Atem I would love to sit here and catch up," Yugi sighed, shaking his head. He then turned to the pharaoh, his eyes serious. "But the world is in serious danger right now."
"How so?"
"An evil spirit, Amunet, has been released in our world," Yugi told him, "she says that you rejected her, and now she wants revenge."
"What?! Yugi, that's impossible!"
"Yeah? Tell dat to da freaky bride we saw," Joey mumbled.
"No I believe it is your turn to explain, my dear pharaoh," Marik said.
Atem sighed and shook his head. "I believe that this story begins far before I had met Amunet. There is someone who can explain this better than I can." The pharaoh snapped his fingers and called one of the servants to him.
The servant bent on one knee and said, "What is your desire my dear pharaoh?"
"I need you to call forth Priest Seto and his acquaintance here."
"Yes my pharaoh." The servant complied, dipping his head before he ran to fulfill Atem's request.
An awkward silence fell across the room, as they waited for the servant to return.
Bakura cleared his throat and slowly took a drink of water out of his golden grail.
Duke began to drum his fingers on the table, which annoyed Raye beyond her wildest imagination.
Everybody stopped as they saw the servant return, along with the two people Atem had requested.
Mina gasped and dropped her fork, which made a shattering sound as it fell to the ground.
In front of Priest Seto was the girl Mina had seen before. Although she looked exactly like…Mina!
Mokuba looked back and forth at the two look-alikes, and grinned.
"Whoa," he said, "I did NOT see that coming."
Yes, the girl looked quite like Mina, although her blonde hair was a bit lighter and a tad shorter. She still had the same shining blue eyes, although there was a hint of silver in them.
She was breathtaking, even as her face was streaked with tears, she still looked beautiful.
Priest Seto, who was standing behind her, had his hand protectively on her shoulder, comforting her at the same time.
"My friends," Atem said, standing up, "this…is Jamila."
The blonde beauty gave a slight bow and nodded her head.
"Jamila," Atem began clearing his throat, "These friends would like to know what…happened."
She quickly glanced up, her eyes wide with fear.
"My pharaoh," Priest Seto seethed, his teeth clenching.
The pharaoh put up a hand. "I believe it is Jamila's decision whether or not she would like to share this with us or not."
Serenity, who was standing behind Joey watching quietly, could feel this girl's pain. That poor girl, she thought, she looks like she's lost her best friend…
"It's okay," Serenity smiled, placing her hand on Jamila's shoulder, "you don't have to tell us if you don't want to."
The girl's eyes immediately filled with tears, as she smiled. "Such a sweet girl…" she said, gently placing her hand on Serenity's face. She turned to the others. "No, I shall tell you all, come, sit down please."
Jamila gathered her many white ruffles and plopped on the ground, urging the others to gather around her.
"My twin sister and I, Dalila, which means gentle in our language…"
"And Jamila means beautiful," Atem interrupted.
Jamila nodded, then continued. "After Zorc had destroyed our village, we roamed through the vast deserts, trying to find another place to live…" And so, Jamila's tale began to pain a picture in their minds, and their eyes went wide with wonder as they began to listen to her tale…
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(Begin Flashback)
"Come here sister," a girl with a meatball styled hair said, "What about here? Maybe there's some food here…"
After their village had been destroyed by Zorc's wrath, it was hard to live life normally, seeing the ruins and the ones that hadn't survived. They went from village to village, trying to find a place they could call home, but it seems that Zorc could not leave but one place to peace, he had to ruin the lives of good people, which sent one of the two sisters seething.
"Look around Dalila!" Jamila cried, throwing her hands up, "Does it look like there'd be food here?!"
The village looked live every other village, destroyed and shattered. Homes were torn down, blankets and toys were strewn across the ground, and there was a thick feeling of dread in the air.
"What if…" Jamila sighed, leaning against a broken stone, "what if we are not the only ones left in our village, but the last ones left in all of Egypt? We're all alone, there are no other survivors…!"
SLAP!
She gasped. And gently placed her fingers on her cheek, it was burning, and she could feel a trickle of blood. Her sister had just slapped her. Dalila. Her own flesh and blood.
"I…I am so sorry…" Dalila stumbled, staring at her hand as though it were a foreign object. "I didn't mean to do it sister, but, we mustn't think like that…"
Jamila nodded. Her sister was right. How could she think such things? This is a time to be positive…to make things right…
"Jamila…" Dalila breathed, turning away from her sister, "look…"
Jamila turned around and saw about twenty small children huddle together, as young as four to as old as twelve, although they all had the same look of fear in their eyes…
Standing in the front was a small boy and a little girl, they looked more relieved than afraid.
The boy stepped forward, his arms outstretched, as though he thought they were going to harm the children in some way.
Dalila hesitantly stepped forward, and it look like the boy was about to pounce.
Jamila stood frozen with fear, a twelve-year-old boy intimidated her. A very scary twelve-year-old boy.
"Stay back!" The boy spat.
"It's all right," Dalila said softly, "We are not going to hurt you…"
The little girl, who had been hiding behind the older boy, peered out and saw Dalila's soft blue eyes. She didn't know why, but for some reason, she felt as though she could trust them…
"Amna!" the boy shouted. "What are you doing?!"
The girl whose name was Amna, ran towards Dalila and stopped just a few feet in front of her.
She placed her small hand on her lip, unsure of what to do next.
So Dalila squatted down and stretched out her arm, closing the distance between them, and brushed her fingers over the small girl's rough skin.
Amna closed her eyes and relished the moment, how long had it been since she had last seen her mother? Amna could not remember.
She let out a soft cry and jumped into Dalila's open arms, burying herself into the soft white cotton.
"There, there, it's okay…" Dalila said soothingly, stroking her hair.
Jamila was shocked at how her sister had won the heart of this young girl so easily. She looked at the other children, their eyes no longer had fear in them, but longing. And Jamila knew what they longed for. She knelt down and slowly held out her arms wide open, as the boy had done, although this was for a different reason.
At first, the children were confused, but they slowly smiled as they all ran to Jamila and smothered her with their hugs. Jamila laughed and fell back, surprised at the weight of the many children. She also wondered how long it had been for them since their last hug, but she quickly put that thought out of her mind.
Jamila looked up to see one more standing, it was the same boy who refused to trust them before, and he still looked hard and cold, but with less reason.
"Come here," Jamila said.
He shook his head.
"Come on Ali!" the other children cried, urging him to come over.
Ali took a couple of steps until he was standing before Jamila. He would not hug her. He couldn't. So he held out his hand.
"My name is Ali," he said.
Jamila smiled and shook his hand. "It's nice to meet you. Ali."
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There were 17 children in total, including Ali and Amna, it took the twins a while for them to remember all of the names. There was Monifa, Ahmed, Yousef, Adam, Aisha, Tut, Hapset, Amir, Rom, Iris, Cloe and Cleo, Femi, Seth, and Ramsies. And then there was Ali and Amna.
"First thing's first," Dalila said, standing up and straightening her dress, "we need to find some food. You all look like you haven't eaten in days!"
The children's' stomachs growled in response.
"I think that's a good idea," Jamila agreed, nodding her head, "but we don't have any money. How are we going to get food?"
"Hmm…" Dalila twisted one of her silver strands around and around, thinking. She then lifted her head and her sparkling blue eyes lit up with excitement. "There," she said, pointing.
Jamila and the others looked in the direction Dalila was pointing.
"Are you crazy?!" Jamila cried, grabbing her sister by the shoulders. She then lowered her voice, "You're suggesting we go to the pharaoh's palace and take food?"
"Why not?" Dalila snapped, shrugging her sister's hands off. "Isn't he supposed to help and protect people?"
"Sister, you don't understand…"
"Fine then," Dalila replied, "we'll go to one of the villages."
"And…?"
"And just take the food."
"You mean steal it?!"
"It's only considered that way when you're intentions and wrong. But we're feeding starving children Jamila, what else do you expect us to do?"
Jamila sighed. She knew her sister was right. She didn't like it…but this is what they had to do. She turned to the children, whose faces seemed paler then they had before.
"Y-you're not going to leave us, are you?" Amna asked, her lip quivering.
"Goodness no!" Jamila exclaimed. "It's just…Dalila and I are going to a nearby village, to bring food, water, and some clothing. It'll only be for a few short hours…"
"I knew it," Ali snorted. The other children turned to him. "I knew they would leave us the minute they got here. Don't you see? They're not going to come back. They don't care about us…"
"Now wait just a minute!" Dalila snapped. Ali's eyes went wide with fear. "We are NOT going to leave you. When my sister says that we are going to a village to bring back the essentials, you better believe that's what we are going to do! You can believe what you like. Just know that we WILL come back."
Amna smiled and nodded her head.
"Whatever." Ali muttered, turning away from them and walking back to the small hut.
"Until we come back," Dalila addressed the others, "you must stay hidden at all costs. Understood?"
The children nodded their heads, they were still unsure about these new strangers, but they were more afraid of Dalila's wrath if they didn't follow her instructions.
"Ali?"
"What?!"
"Do you understand?"
"Yes, yes, I got it. Just go."
Jamila hugged each of them (including Ali, against his will), before saying goodbye. "Okay. We're leaving now. Stay safe!"
"Bye!" All of them (except Ali), shouted, waving.
"Let's go Jamila," Dalila said, who had already began walking.
Jamila took one last look at the children before running to catch up with her sister, she couldn't get their forlorn faces out of her mind…
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Three months had passed since Dalila and Jamila had met what is now their family. The 17 children and two sisters were sitting on the ground, in a small hut, which they had rebuilt so they could live in it, and they were just finishing supper.
Amna couldn't keep quiet the whole time, she talked all through the meal about the pet lizard she named Mohammed and how it bit Ali's big toe.
Ali rolled his eyes and finished the last big of the lamb he had. He looked up and noticed something peculiar. Usually when Amna was telling about her day, Jamila and Dalila would laugh and smile, or at least respond in some way. But tonight, their expressions were forlorn and they looked very tired.
They are probably tired from today's trip…Ali thought. They had just come back from another raid, bringing dates, bread, and some meat. Although today they brought home less than usual. But the children didn't complain. Ali was quite sure that this was the reason for their strange behavior, but he still wanted to make sure, although he was embarrassed to ask. Ali still showed a somewhat attitude toward the two sisters, and treated them as strangers.
Fortunately for him, Amna had noticed the way they were acting, and asked the question that was on all of the kids' minds.
"Jamila? Dalila? What's wrong?"
Dalila immediately got up in a fit of anger, and stormed out of the hut.
"Oh dear…" Jamila sighed, getting up and following her.
"Dalila, what was that?" Jamila hissed, crossing her arms.
Her sister, who had her back turned from her twin, turned around, her blue eyes turned to stone.
"You know exactly what that was sister," Dalila seethed. "What do you want me to do? Lie to the children and tell them that everything is just fine? That nothing is wrong? What will they think the next time we leave and come back empty handed? What will we tell them then? Answer me!"
But Jamila couldn't. She sighed and lowered her head, ashamed.
Both she and Dalila looked up, startled, as they heard a rustle and saw Ali peer out from behind the curtain.
He stepped forward; his expression was the same as always, although his eyes held something else.
"You have no idea, how grateful I am, as are the others, for your kindness. It was as though the mighty god Ra himself sent two angels down to us."
"Ali…"
"Please. Let me finish. I didn't begin just to gravel at your feet. Whatever happens, good or bad, you must tell us. Agreed?"
Dalila and Jamila looked at each other before nodding their heads slowly.
"So…" Ali said, leaning back and crossing his arms. "Start talking."
Jamila turned away, leaving Dalila to tell the story.
"Okay," Dalila said. "We'll tell you."
The children gathered around, eager to listen.
Dalila started by telling how they went to the village that wasn't hit by Zorc, there were only a few left…
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(Begin Flashback)
The sisters hid behind a fruit cart, and began grabbing everything in sight, peaches, apples, mangoes, bread, anything!
Jamila groped around for anything else, but al she felt was rough wood. This was odd.
"Quick, put everything in before anyone sees!" Dalila whispered, opening an old burlap sack. Jamila quickly dumped all of the food in it and closed the bag.
The two stood up, and put their cloaks over their heads, to look like all the other villagers.
"What's going on?" Jamila asked, looking around.
Kart owners were loading up all of their belongings onto camels, into sacks, crates and any other type of container.
"Excuse me," Dalila tapped on a nearby peasant's shoulder, a young woman with two small children clutching her skirts.
The woman turned around, frightened.
"Yes?" she asked.
"I'm sorry to bother you," Dalila began, "but…do you know what's going on?"
"Princess Amunet wants to tear down this village so she can set up a statue in light of herself." The young woman whispered. "It's for the upcoming wedding."
"Upcoming wedding?"
"Do not tell anyone, but Amunet has had an arranged marriage to the Pharaoh Atem since before they were even born! And she is now approaching her 16th birthday…so the father thinks she should be married now."
"Oh…"
"Yes, but…"
"Mama, I wanna go…" One of the kids whined, pulling her skirts harder.
"Ah, I better get going before my children damage my clothes any further." The woman smiled, and then turned to her child. "Yes Ickra, we are leaving! Papa has already packed up!"
Jamila gasped as she had just realized that the sweet woman's home, and her husband's job, was being taken away, as many of the other villagers.
That Amunet must be a spoiled brat, taking the homes and jobs of all these good people! Dalila thought heatedly.
While Dalila was thinking about rage and destruction, Jamila turned away, her head turned up to the sun.
How are we supposed to feed the children now?
(End Flashback)
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"Where are we going to get food now?" Aisha asked.
"From the pharaoh's palace," Dalila said, her voice full of confidence.
Jamila turned to her sister. What is she thinking?!
"We'll go tomorrow, right Jamila?"
Jamila nodded, without even thinking. Maybe Dalila knows what she is doing…
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"Dalila! You have no idea what you are doing!" Jamila hissed.
The two had left at dawn, before the children woke up, so that they would have time to bring everything they needed, without the children going hungry.
"Just trust me sis," Dalila whispered. She peered over at the broken wall they were hiding behind, and took a look at the palace.
"How many guards does the man need?!"
"He's a king Dalila, what did you expect?"
"I expected this to be a little less difficult. Hmm…maybe we can go from the back?"
"What? That's the worst idea…Dalila! Wait up!" Jamila yelled, running to catch up with her.
"What are you doing?" Jamila panted when she had finally caught up.
Dalila was feeling the stone wall with her hand. "There's always a secret door beloved sister."
"Now that's just…" Jamila and Dalila froze as they saw Dalila's hand press into the palace, one of the stones gave way.
Dalila stepped back and watched as the wall slid open, revealing a secret door.
"Dear sweet Ra…" Jamila breathed.
"See? What'd I tell ya?" Dalila winked.
When they were inside, they saw nothing but corridors and hallways.
"This," Jamila said, "is not going to be easy."
"You got that right. Dalila sighed, leaning against one of the walls. She gasped as it slipped under her, and she was falling through the opening hole.
"Dalila!" Jamila shouted, pounding on the wall, which had no closed, as hard as stone.
"Here! I thought I heard something!"
Oh no! Jamila thought, as she saw the shadows of two guards.
She leaned against the wall, closed her eyes, held her breath, and pushed against the wall as far as she could, and felt herself being thrown into another room.
"Oof! Get off of me!" Dalila shouted in a muffled voice.
"Oops, sorry…" Jamila got off her sister and looked around. She was staring into a sea of darkness, she couldn't even see her two hands in front of her face.
"Where are we?' Dalila asked, standing up. She began to feel the walls, until she found what she was looking for.
Jamila grasped the wooden cone and felt inside for some charcoal. She struck it and lit the torch, as the whole room filled up with light.
"Sheesh, could ya turn it down a bit?" Dalila said, covering her eyes.
"Wow…" Jamila breathed.
Dalila's eyes went wide with shock as they realized where they were. Around them were cartons, boxes, containers, and barrels of food! Filled with rice, wheat, fruit, vegetables, fish, and many other types of food!
"This is perfect!" Dalila exclaimed, as she began grabbing everything in sight.
"Dalila…are you sure we should take this?"
Dalila turned to her sister. "You're right," she said, putting the rice back. "We should only be taking things that don't need to be cooked!" she reached for the fruit when…
"You won't be taking anything!"
Dalila gasped. "Let go of me!" she shouted.
Jamila lifted the torch and saw a tall muscular person holding Dalila's arm.
He must have been one of the guards… Jamila thought.
There was another man standing behind him though. He looked like royalty, wearing a blue tunic and white skirt, gold bangles running up his arms. Jamila suddenly felt very embarrassed wearing her peasant clothes.
She then looked up at his face. He was dark and beautiful, with the most amazing blue eyes, and tufts of brown hair were sticking out of his crown-like hat.
"You have trespassed onto the pharaoh's land and for that you shall be punished!" He held out a golden rod inches away from Dalila's face.
"No!" Jamila shouted, running in front of her sister. "Do not punish her! Punish me!"
"You shall also be punished! You both are thieves!" Priest Seto shouted. He then lowered his Millennium Rod and looked closely at Jamila. Those eyes…where have I seen them before? …Kisara.
Jamila relaxed a little bit as she saw the priest's expression change.
He pointed to the guard. "You! Take the one with the strange hair to the pharaoh! I'll deal with this one."
"Sister!" Dalila shouted, as the guard dragged her out of the chambers.
"Dalila!" She turned to the priest. "What are you going to do with her?"
"I am not going to do anything. It is up to the pharaoh to decide what her fate is."
"But you don't understand…"
He held up his hand. "Come. I want to show you something."
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"Let go of me! I can walk myself…!" the guard threw Dalila on the hard marble floor. She looked around the room, it was brightly lit, and the floors and walls were painted gold, it looked so real…
I have to get out of here… Dalila thought worriedly. I have to find Jamila and get back to the children!
"Wait here." One of the guards mumbled, as he left the room.
He's just going to leave me here? What a fool! Here's my chance!
Dalila got up and, without even thinking, began to run toward the nearest exit, when she collided with another person.
"Oof!" she fell back on the floor. Dalila rubbed her forehead, she knew there was going to be a bruise there tomorrow.
"Hey…you okay?"
Dalila looked up to see a girl a little younger than her with midnight blue eyes and long brown hair, she held a wand in her hand, as if she were some kind of magician!
"Yes, I'm okay…" Dalila said quickly, pulling herself up. Maybe I can still escape…
"You there!"
Dalila turned around to see the guard.
"Well, it was nice meeting you!" Dalila said to the girl, running away again.
But the guard ran after her, chasing her all around the room.
What is with this guy?! Dalila thought, before she bumped into another person.
The guard stopped in his tracks and the brown haired girl gasped, unsure of what was going to happen next.
This time when Dalila looked up she saw a man. He had tri-colored hair, beautiful amethyst eyes, and was wearing the finest clothes.
This…must be the pharaoh… Dalila thought, as he held out his hand to her.
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"Look, you don't understand, you must let my sister and I go…" Jamila argued, as she followed the priest to where he was going.
Priest Seto turned his head and said, "It is not my decision on what to do with you, but the pharaoh's…"
"Then where are we going?!"
"Here." The man stopped. Jamila looked at him, but he refused to look at her, instead, just stared straight ahead.
Jamila followed his gaze to a stone tablet carved into it was the form of a powerful dragon.
"W-w-what's this?" she whispered, as she took a few steps forward until she was standing directly in front of it.
"This," he replied, "is the mighty Blue-Eyes White Dragon." He turned to her. "Touch it."
"What?"
"Touch the stone."
Jamila turned back to the stone, she thought the man was crazy, but slowly, she placed her right hand on the stone, on the face of the Blue-Eyes White Dragon.
She gasped as she felt the whole tablet shake and she pulled her hand away. It immediately stopped.
Jamila saw Seto staring at her, and she quickly averted her eyes.
He held up his hand, motioning for her to do the same. Jamila slowly held up her hand, and they both moved their hands forward until their fingers brushed.
Jamila blushed and looked into the priest's bright blue eyes, which had now gone soft. She froze as a wave of images played through her mind, a pale peasant girl, an evil man, the priest himself, and finally, the all powerful dragon, white lightning shooting out of it's mouth.
Jamila gasped and pulled away once more, falling to the ground.
"It would seem," the priest began, "that Kisara has chosen you to hold a piece of the spirit of the Blue-Eyes White Dragon, as she had given to me."
"K-kisara?" Jamila trembled. She began shivering as tremors shot up through her whole body, Priest Seto placed his hand on her shoulder but she shrugged it off as she tore away from him and began running back into the palace.
I must find Dalila… she thought, panting, I must get out of here!
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"What's the matter? Do you think I'll bite?" the pharaoh chuckled, as Dalila sat on the ground, frozen.
"Oh…um…" Dalila blushed, and took his hand as he pulled her up.
The guard stopped as he panted. "Sorry my dear pharaoh," he panted, "this mere peasant…she just…"
"I am not a mere peasant!" Dalila cried.
"How dare you speak like that in front of the king…!" the guard yelled, as he came forward to slap her.
"THAT'S ENOUGH!!!" the pharaoh roared, stopping him. "Go! Before I have you banished from this kingdom!"
"But, sir…"
"GO!"
The guard left, mumbling unintelligible words.
Dalila studied the pharaoh's face. Why…he's not a cruel king at all! He's kind and gentle…
The pharaoh caught her staring at him and smiled. Dalila looked away.
"So…what is your name?"
"What's yours?" Dalila snapped.
He let out a laugh, it was beautiful, and smiled again. "My name…is Atem."
"Oh. I'm Dalila."
"Dalila," he said slowly, rolling it over his tongue, "such a beautiful name! It means gentle, right?"
Dalila shrugged. "I don't know."
There was an awkward silence afterward, at least until Dalila saw Jamila bursting through the doors, a long stick in her hand.
"Jamila, what's…?" Dalila asked, standing up.
Jamila stood in front of Dalila and held the stick to Atem's throat. "I swear on the all powerful god Ra, if you did any harm to my sister, ANY! I will cut your body and it will be buried with the rest of the kings!"
Atem smiled and lowered the stick, saying, "Any sister that shows that much love and protection gains my respect." Jamila lowered the weapon herself. "I have done, and will do no harm, to your lovely sister."
Jamila looked back and forth between Atem and her sister, confused.
"Sister, it's okay." Dalila whispered. "Everything's fine."
"Although I would," Atem interrupted, "like to know what you are doing here."
The two sisters gasped as they realized why they were truly here, they had forgotten their purpose.
"Oh, my dear king!" Dalila cried, throwing herself in his arms. "There are children! Starving, living in one of the villages destroyed by Zorc! We came here because, well…we were all out of food!"
At that moment, another guard, who had bruises on his face (most likely put there by Jamila), came in and whispered something into the pharaoh's ear. The guard then left, leaving Atem frozen, Dalila still in his arms.
Dalila looked up at him. "Pharaoh?"
"Hmm? Uh…yes." He said, clearing his throat. "We will tend to the children later. Servant!" he motioned for him to come forward. "Take these two to the finest room in the palace, I have some business to attend to…."
"What?!" Jamila gasped.
"But, the children! If you leave them, they'll die!" Dalila cried.
"Please," Atem said, turning away, "just take them away…"
Another guard came in and the two picked up Dalila and Jamila, and they were taken away.
"I take it back!" Dalila screamed, pounding on the back of the guard, "You are a cruel king, you are not kind nor gentle!"
Pharaoh Atem shut his eyes and turned away, and didn't open them until he heard the doors slam shut.
He then sat on one of the golden steps, his head in his hands, thinking, My sweet Dalila, you don't understand, for if I had let you go…Amunet would have surely caught you…
(End Flashback)
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Pharaoh Atem has his head in his hands now, shaking his head, still looking back upon that day.
Everyone's eyes went wide as they saw that he had tears in his eyes.
"Pharaoh…?" Yugi choked, placing his hand on his.
"I'm fine. Really I am." Atem said, wiping his tears away.
"And that," Jamila finished sadly, "is what happened."
"How did you meet Amunet pharaoh?" Tea asked with disgust.
"Ah, now that I remember well!" Atem sighed, shaking his head. "It all began…before I was born! Two separate kingdoms, that wants to become united for power…
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(Begin Flashback)
"My king," one of the servants said.
The king was playing with his newborn son, Atem, when he was interrupted.
"King Tutunkahman of Cairo wishes to know whether the binding contract between Princess Amunet and the future king is still fair?"
"Hmm? Yes, yes, very well, if it will protect my people to converge our two armies into one, than my son shall be honored to fulfill such a duty."
"Yes sir," the servant bowed, and then stalked off.
The pharaoh turned back to his son, held him in his arms and said, "My son. The future king. ATEM!"
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"ATEM!!!"
"Yes, Mana?" young Atem asked.
The small brown-haired girl came running toward him, panting. "Do you want to watch me practice my spells? I think I have this one…"
The future kind shook his head. "Sorry Mana, but I can't, my etiquette classes start soon."
Mana rolled her eyes and leaned back against one of the stone pillars, crossing her arms. "Why do you need to take those classes anyway? You're a very nice boy!"
"It's not only that. Father would like me to take these classes to impress the king of Cairo, and Amunet.
"What do you need to impress her for?"
"…she's my future bride."
Mana jumped. "Wha-?! Young pharaoh, you're barely of 13, how could you even think about marriage!?"
"I am to have an arranged marriage. It was binding before I was even born."
"Well that's just dumb, you should marry who you want!"
"It's not my decision Mana, besides, because of this marriage, both our kingdoms will be united to protect us against any attacks."
"So you're doing this for power?"
"I'm doing this to protect my people!" Atem roared. He froze. He had ever yelled at Mana before, she was his closest friend.
Tears ran down Mana's face. "You're making the biggest mistake of your life! You will regret this one day!" she cried, running away.
Atem turned away, shaking. She's just a silly girl…Atem told himself. She doesn't know what she's talking about!
"Young pharaoh!"
Atem looked up at one of the windows of the kingdom, Moneisha, his etiquette teacher, was calling for him.
"I'll be right there!" Atem called back. His instructor went back inside.
Is it true? He asked himself, turning his head up to the sun. Am I really making the biggest mistake of my life?
6 years later…
"You called for me Father?" Atem asked, walking into the room that held the king's throne.
The king couldn't help but smile. His son had grown so much over the past few years! His voice was deeper, his skin, darker, before he was lanky and now he was lean and fit, not to mention bright, a perfect fit to be king!
"My son," he began, standing up, "There is little time left before your eighteenth birthday, do you know what happens then?"
Atem nodded, he and his father went over this many times. "It is the day that I shall be married to Princess Amunet."
The king nodded. "That is correct. Follow me." He turned away and began walking, his son following close behind. The king stopped before a set of two large golden doors, he pushed them open and they opened slowly.
Atem waited until his father went inside, but the king did not move. As Atem was about to say something, his father interrupted.
"You go in. I shall see you soon. My son." He said, as he walked off.
The young man was a little confused, but he walked into the room as the two doors shut behind him.
He gasped and turned. How strange…he thought, I have never seen this room before…he took a few steps forward and looked around, there were feathers all over the room, except, in the middle of the room, sat a young girl, sitting in a golden chair, a white cloth covering his whole face, all he could see were a pair of pretty blue eyes.
"Excuse me…?"
"My pharaoh," she began, her voice as smooth as silk, she stood up and walked close to him, her eyes holding many mysteries.
"I am…" she said, removing her scarf, a tumble of red curls falling out, "…Amunet."
"What!?" Atem gasped.
"Yes pharaoh!" She exclaimed, running over and grabbing his arms, staring deeply into his eyes. "You and I are to be married soon! We shall rule this together with such vigor and force and put those filthy peasants in their place!"
"Up until now, Atem had been entranced by her beauty, but he quickly snapped out of it, staring directly at her, he said firmly, "No."
"What?!" Amunet hissed, squeezing Atem's arms tighter, her nails digging into his skin, her eyes now an icy blue. "You can't mean that!"
"I do. I sense cruelty in your heart and I refuse to be betrothed to somebody who shall treat my people so unkindly.
"B-but…I…"
"Please." Atem said, closing his eyes, and pulling Amunet's arms off. "Let me show you…"
"No!" Amunet cried, pulling away, storming off.
"Beware pharaoh," she said quietly, turning to him. "one day, I shall have my vengeance." She gracefully left, leaving Atem baffled.
She must be joking…he then chuckled, leaving to go find his father.
(End Flashback)
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"I really thought she was joking…" Atem said sadly, lowering his head.
"'Tis not your fault, pharaoh." Priest Seto assured him.
"Doh! Wait a minute!" Serena cried, quickly standing up, practically knocking over the table. Fortunately, all the dishes had already been cleared.
"Nyaahh!" Joey cried, "What're ya tryin' ta do? Give me a heart attack?!"
"Serena, what's wrong?" Darien whispered, slightly embarrassed.
But Serena ignored him, turning to Atem.
"You said Dalila looked like me, right?"
He nodded, dazed. "Yes…but her eyes were much brighter blue, and her hair was as silver as the moon…"
"Snap out of it pharaoh!" Yugi yelled, shaking him.
Serena rolled her eyes. "Sorry if I don't fit your taste, your highness," she said dryly. "But…I saw her!"
"You did!?" Atem gasped, immediately getting up.
"Where!?" Jamila cried.
"Remember Darien? She was running somewhere!"
"Oh no," Jamila said sadly, "She must have gone back to protect the children!"
"Then we must go there!" Atem roared. "Seto…"
"What?" Kaiba snapped.
Atem sighed. "Priest Seto. Gather the horses and bring them to us."
"But pharaoh, should I tell the counsel to come with us?"
The pharaoh pondered on this. "No," he said finally, "Tell them to stay here in case Amunet decides to come back. I need them to protect my people."
"Of course." And he went off.
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Atem and the others burst through the gates of the palace, riding on their horses.
"Yaa!" Atem cried, slapping the reigns, riding off. I'm coming Amunet, he thought with confidence, and I shall protect you Dalila…no matter what it takes.
A/N: Yep, the story is just beginning to unfold, we are getting to the climax of it! So, what'd ya think? Hate it? Love it? Any more questions about setokaiba .com, please feel free to email me about them, and I will be happy to answer your questions. (For any of you that decides to join, my name is Grace there.) Hope more females join, because there are only a few there! XD
