YGO – YGO

Mert-Re had decided not to challenge Zahur to a duel until nighttime. It was around noon and everyone was inside, because being outside in the desert at noon in the middle of summer is not the best idea. Victoria was with Mert-Re, and they were practicing their archery. Victoria was currently shooting arrows at a target and Mert-Re was standing behind her, just watching.

Mert-Re finally spoke up and said something. "Victoria… there's something you should know."

Victoria put down the bow and turned to face her. "What?"

"It's about… the Pharaoh."

"And Zahur? I know, I know, Zahur is the Roman prince who is also an assassin to kill the Pharaoh, and that's why you're challenging him to a duel tonight." Victoria said as she picked the bow and an arrow back up.

"That's not it."

"Then, what is it?" Victoria asked as she pulled back the bow.

"…The Pharaoh asked me to bear his child."

When Victoria heard those words leave Mert-Re's mouth, her arm jerked upward and the arrow went right into the ceiling. Victoria turned around sharply and yelled, "What?!"

"Okay, okay. I see that it upset you." Mert-Re said as she placed her hands up in defense.

"Upset?! I am far from upset! I am pissed off!!" Victoria yelled as she threw the bow against the wall, hard, making it snap. "What the hell did you say to him?! I mean, what was your answer?!"

"…I don't want to tell you, you'd just get more pissed off." Mert-Re said.

Victoria grabbed Mert-Re's collar and pushed her against the wall. "What did you say to that?!"

"…I said yes." Mert-Re answered, and Victoria pulled back, now having a look of pure shock on her face.

"What? How? Why would you say that?"

"Victoria, you don't understand the position I was in. When the Pharaoh asks you to bear his child, you don't say no."

"You do if you're in love with someone else!" Victoria yelled. "You love Mahad, and yet, you still said yes?! What the hell?!"

"Victoria… I do love Mahad, but… I can deny that…"

"That what?!"

"…Nothing." Mert-Re said, almost sadly.

--

Mert-Re was walking into the throne room right when everyone was about ready to go to bed. "Pharaoh, wait! I need you to grant permission for me and Zahur to duel!"

"Right now?" Atem asked. "Mert-Re, do you have any idea what time it is?"

"I know that it's late, Pharaoh, and I am truly sorry, but this cannot wait."

"Well… alright." Atem said and looked at Zahur. "Do you want to duel Mert-Re?"

"…Well… I don't really know if I'll win, but… alright." Zahur said and walked to the other side of where Mert-Re was standing and the duel started.

--

In the middle of the duel, Mert-Re and Zahur were really playing tough before Mert-Re finally decided to spill it.

"Zahur! Do you know why I wanted to challenge you to this duel?" She asked.

"Um… not really."

"Really? Nothing comes to mind?" Mert-Re asked.

"No."

"How about these gold relics that I found in your room?" Mert-Re asked as she tossed the bag to Zahur and one of the relics fell out and rolled in front of Mahad who picked it up and examined it.

"These aren't Egyptian relics at all."

"Of course not!" Mert-Re said. "They're Roman relics! Do you know how a simple slave got hold of Roman relics? It's because he's not just a simple slave at all! He's the Roman prince, but not just that! He's also a secret assassin whose duty was to kill the Pharaoh!"

Silence went throughout the room.

Zahur knew he was caught, so he thought it best to just confess and not try to deny any of it. (A/N: Good choice on his part!) Zahur fell to his knees and bowed his head in shame. "I'm sorry!" He said. "It's true! All of it is true! I am the Roman prince and I was supposed to kill the Pharaoh, but… I couldn't."

"What do you mean you couldn't?" Mert-Re asked.

"I couldn't. I…I had fallen in love with him. I cannot kill someone who I love and care so deeply for!"

Mert-Re walked up to Zahur and kneeled down in front of him. "Zahur… I know what it's like to be in love. You never want to hurt that person, but you do make mistakes and end up hurting them anyway." (A/N: Just to let you know, she's referring about her hurting Mahad by agreeing to bear Atem's child… who she's already told.) She pulled Zahur into a hug and held him close, and whispered, "You're not the only one."

Zahur pulled back and looked at Mert-Re, then dared to look at the Pharaoh, who was actually walking towards him.

Mert-Re stood up and moved away to let the Pharaoh do what he wished.

Atem kneeled down in front of Zahur where Mert-Re had been and kissed Zahur. He broke away a minute later, and saw Zahur's shocked look.

"Pharaoh…" Zahur whispered.

"I told you, Zahur, my name is Atem."

"B…but… I…I betrayed you."

"You did not betray me, Zahur." Atem said. "Answer this for me… do you still love me?"

"…Yes." Zahur whispered. "I always will too."

"And you do not wish to kill me, correct?"

"Yes, I do not wish to kill you anymore. I've fallen in love with you, Atem… and I am still falling." Zahur replied. "I… actually wanted to give you something." He said, and reached into his bag, pulling out a silver and gold crown. "You see… in my country… when the prince falls in love with someone, he is supposed to give them this crown, but you already have a crown… so…"

"Don't take it back." Atem said as he took the crown and placed it on his head.

"Pharaoh, you mean it?" Zahur asked, his eyes shining with happy tears.

"Yes, Zahur, I do." Atem said. "Oh, I mean… my prince." He said, and then kissed the top of Zahur's left hand.

From the window, a young man who looked about a year or two older than Zahur was standing there, watching. He growled to himself and ran off, back to his horse.

--

Back at the Roman palace a day or so later, the other Roman prince, whose name was Aurelianus(1), was reporting to his father, the Roman Emperor, Darius(2) about Zahur.

Darius was furious when he heard what his youngest son had done. "You are sure, Aurelianus?"

"Affirmative, father! I saw it with my own eyes!"

Darius growled and said to himself, "Zahur, you will be the first to die!"

--

Back in Egypt, Zane had found a strange looking belt lying near the Nile River which was next to the palace. 'Huh? I wonder where this came from…' He thought, and put it on, just for fun. A flash of black went across his eyes before they went back to normal.

--

Back at the palace, everyone – and I mean everyone, from the past and present – was standing in the throne room, when a couple slaves came in with a couple buckets full of water.

"Straight from the Nile." One of them said, and placed the water in front of them. They each took a cup and filled them with water and cheered, 'To the Pharaoh's engagement!'. Right before they all took a sip from their glasses, the water turned red so when they took their sips, they immediately spit the water back out, in disgust.

"What is the meaning of this?" Atem asked as he stood up.

"Wait!" Victoria said. "It tasted… just like…"

"Blood!" Mert-Re finished as she dropped her glass.

"But it was clear water just a minute ago." Jaden said.

"It's just like one of the 10 plagues!" Bastion explained. "The rivers and waters of Egypt ran red, and were as blood."

Victoria looked around and saw Jabari standing there. 'If Jabari's okay, then that means…' "Something's wrong with Zane." She finished her thoughts, out loud.

"What?!" Everyone asked.

YGO – YGO

Getting pretty intense, huh? Zahur and Atem are going to get married, Zahur's father wants to kill Zahur for proposing to Atem, and who knows what is going on with Zane!

REVIEW… please!!