Stealing a Heart
Neferi: Sorry for taking so long to update, I started school early in August and it has been keeping me really busy.
Amara: Tell me about it, she can hardly read or watch TV!
Neferi: Anyway, this is the last chapter of this story, I hope you enjoy it, and here we go!
Disclaimer: I don't own YGO but I do however own Amara, Semertep, Arion, Anyah and Arusem.
Chapter seventeen: Battle to the Death
Amara watched from a corner of the garden as Yami spoke with his commander. She crossed her arms as many soldiers walked about the place, holding their weapons and putting their helmets on. She hoped Yami would hurry, she had the suspicion that she had been seen running out of the Nubian palace.
"Amara, we shall go to the grounds and await the troops there" Yami told her, as he approached her.
She nodded and followed him silently. Walking at his left side, she found herself submerged in her thoughts and worries for her country, not to mention the Pharaoh.
"Is there something ailing you?" Yami's voice broke her from her train of thought.
Amara looked up at him, meeting his crimson gaze with her lavender one before answering "Yes, there is, how many soldiers are there in Egypt's army?".
"We have around 7,000" Yami answered as they approached the principal path to the palace.
"Around?" she repeated, raising an eyebrow and looking at him.
"Yes" he answered as he stood giving his back to the stairs that gave entrance to his home.
"That is something to worry about" she said "The entire Nubian army will be participating in this fight, we do not know how many are they".
"Well, this is all we have" Yami replied as the soldiers started to gather before him.
When all the soldiers were gathered around, the commander spoke "Attention!".
All the soldiers fell silent and looked at their commander.
"Pharaoh has some words of encouragement to give us all, we shall hear them and let them guide our inner selves in this battle" the commander said, his voice booming.
Yami walked forward and spoke "Soldiers of Egypt, as you know you are all gathered here because there is a threat to our land, the Nubians are going to attack us today. But we shall show them they have committed a great mistake, for we are all ready to fight for our land and our people. We will show them the strength of the Egyptians and the faith we have in our gods. Today, no matter how bad the situation may seem, we will not let ourselves fall as long as we see a ray of Ra', a ray of hope. Are you all with me?".
The soldiers cried in agreement, holding their weapons up and some jumping.
"Now, let us finish our preparations!" Yami said.
As the soldiers all spread around the palace grounds and some walked out of it to secure the city, Amara followed Yami inside the palace.
"Pharaoh I want to fight" she told him as he strode over to his chambers.
Yami stopped on his tracks and looked at Amara, incredulously "What?".
"I want to fight at your side, for my people, for my land, for our freedom" Amara stated firmly looking at him.
"I will not let you go to the battlefield, it is too dangerous for a woman to be there" Yami told her as he kept on walking, leaving Amara behind.
The girl caught up with him and stood ahead, preventing him from advancing.
"Pharaoh I am not just a simple woman, I once was a thief, a good one handling a sword and with a knowledge in the arts of fighting. You must not deny me to go to the battlefield when you well know I can be of some use" Amara insisted, spreading her arms to prevent him from walking past her.
"Amara, you are not the same sharp thief you once were, you must have lost some of your abilities while being here since you had no need to use them. I cannot let you go, you might be captured or even killed and I do not wish to be back here without seeing your face" Yami told her, looking at her seriously.
"Yami I prefer to give up my life in battle rather than staying in the palace and waiting for the outcome of battle! I know I can do something, let me ride to war with you!" she exclaimed, narrowing her eyes.
Yami however, shook his head "I can't".
"Well if you don't give me permission then I will ride by myself to war!" she yelled, anger flaring up inside her.
She was not about to let Yami make her sit down and wait, that was not the kind of person she was. Amara liked to take action in the matter and that was something Yami was not going to prevent her from doing, whether he liked it or not.
"Amara don't make me do something I don't like" Yami warned her in a calm tone as he walked past her.
The girl turned around and followed him, insisting. She kept on insisting until they reached his chamber and entered.
"Amara I said I won't let you go! Don't you understand that you're important to me!" he said, narrowing his eyes at her as she stood before him.
Amara was suddenly speechless as he continued.
"I don't know what would I do if you weren't around!" he said, making her quiver.
He then fell silent and tried to calm down, as the girl looked at him surprised.
"Yami I…I didn't know you cared for me that much" she said gently, her eyes softening as she looked at him "I'm sorry for insisting".
She walked over to him and gave him an embrace, resting her head on his shoulder. Amara soon felt Yami's arms around her, hugging her protectively.
"Will you stay?" he murmured on her ear after a moment.
"I will stay then" she answered as she looked up at him "But you must come back here, all right?".
"I will" he assured her with a nod.
A short while later Yami had been dressed for battle and walked outside the palace, reuniting with the commander and the troops. Egypt's army was ready for battle now.
Amara watched from the balcony of her chambers as Yami gave an order and rode out of the palace gates on his horse, followed by the army. People outside the palace watched as their friends and family parted to a battle they did not know if it could be won. The children and mothers were crying while the old asked for the gods to bless their children. Amara sighed and walked inside her chambers, then perched on the bed.
'Does Egypt have a chance against this army? Can our army defend the capital? What will happen if our army should fail? No! I must not be thinking so negatively, I must have some faith' Amara thought as she gaped into space.
She sat there silently until she heard a sound of horns nearby. That could only mean one thing: the Nubians were near. Amara quickly stood up and ran out of her chambers towards the balcony that gave view to the part were the battle was to take place. As she approached it she found that there were other people already watching.
'The Pharaoh's priests are here' she thought as she approached the balcony slowly 'I better go away and watch from another place'.
"Amara, you wish to watch the battle, yes?" Shimon said from behind her, making her jump.
"Oh! Yes, I do" the girl answered looking down at the short man.
"Then come along with me" he motioned her to follow as he walked past her and entered the balcony.
Amara shrugged and followed him. The first thing she saw were some archers, then she saw High Priest Seth, looking down at the desert as the Nubians approached. Next to him was Shimon, who motioned her yet again to approach. Amara walked over to the counselor and stood between him and Seth, looking down at the battlefield. The Egyptian army was ready, waiting for the Nubians to approach. Amara could see Yami from where she was since the crown glimmered lightly as Ra's rays made contact with it.
"What are you doing here?" Seth asked her, raising an eyebrow as he looked at her with his icy eyes.
Before Amara could reply, Shimon did "I made her come with me so she would watch Pharaoh in combat".
"A servant has no need to watch this sort of things" Seth retorted as he looked at Amara with disgust.
"And you shouldn't be caring about me, it's not your problem" Amara snapped, glaring at him.
"How dare you speak to me in such manner, I will make sure that you get punished by your incompetence!" he narrowed his eyes at her.
Amara however, grinned mischievously "I won't get punished by your hands, that's for sure. Only Pharaoh can punish me since I am his servant".
"I may not be able to punish you but…" he slapped Amara and smirked "I can hit you for being an incompetent and not following the ways of a mere servant".
Amara rubbed her cheek and glared furiously at Seth as he smirked. Before she could reply, Shimon told them that the Nubians were charging against the Egyptians.
'I will make sure you get yours later' she thought as she kept on rubbing
her cheek and looked down at the battlefield.
The Egyptians also charged against the enemy and soon they clashed in the desert. Amara looked on as the Nubians fought against the Egyptians with axes, swords and other weapons while the Egyptians fought back.
'Wait…there's something missing in the Nubian army…' she thought as she frowned 'Where are…?'.
Her eyes suddenly narrowed as a rain of arrows flew through the air towards them.
"Arrows!" she yelled quickly as she moved down and pulled Seth with her.
The rest of the priests and Shimon also threw themselves down as the arrows entered the balcony. Luckily for them no one was injured since the arrows had missed.
"Thank the gods" Amara whispered as she peered over the railing of the balcony.
"Answer back! Fire!" Seth ordered to the archers.
The Egyptian archers placed an arrow on the bow and then fired. Amara stood up after Seth and looked on as the arrows shot hit some of their target.
"I cannot find Pharaoh anywhere" Shimon informed as he searched the crowd.
"Honored Ones!" a soldier had ran into the balcony, looking rather pale.
"Speak" Shada said, holder of the Millenium Key.
"Honored Ones, some Nubians are attacking the capital!" he informed, eyes narrowed "They are slaying our kin!".
Amara's face filled with horror at the thought of innocent people dying.
"Then we must act quickly!" Shimon exclaimed.
"I suggest we use some of the kas in our decks" Isis said as she looked at her companions.
"Then we must go to the Veju Shrine immediately" Seth said.
The priests walked out of the balcony to the Veju Shrine, which is where all the kas are kept.
'Well, since they're going to help I think I will do so' Amara thought 'I'm sorry Yami but this is something I must do'.
Then she quickly walked back to her chambers, not giving time to Shimon to call her back. When she got there, she quickly locked herself in. Then she hurried over to her dressing chest.
'I have to change myself from this dress into something more comfortable to fight with, then I have to get some weapons and a horse to carry me' she thought as she looked through the chest.
She grinned as she found her old outfit, used to steal when she was with Bakura. She rapidly changed into it and then covered her head with a shawl. Then she walked over to the balcony and jumped down.
'Let's get some weapons, or rather steal' she thought as she walked through the empty grounds of the palace.
She was going to enter the Chamber of Arms using a window. As she rounded a corner and looked up, she found the window of the Chamber of Arms. But there was a tiny problem: it was high above her.
'Let's see if I can still jump high enough' she thought.
She took impulse and jumped as high as she could. Fortunately her hands gripped the stone. Amara pulled herself up and then jumped inside the quiet chamber.
'I barely made it' she thought bitterly as she walked over to the corner of the swords.
Amara looked at all the swords and when she found one that was like her arm's length, she took it. Then she took a bow and some arrows and swung them on her back.
'Let's see…I'm missing daggers' she thought, walking over to a table.
Placed upon it a variety of daggers were seen. The girl took three and placed them between her dress. Then she walked over to the window. She climbed it, since it was at the standard level, and jumped outside. Then she ran towards the stable. She thought she wouldn't find anyone in it so she entered it without caution, only to find herself face to face with five guards.
"A thief!" one yelled.
Amara narrowed her eyes and ran over to the horse Yami had lent her, quickly climbed it and gave him a kick. The horse instantly reacted and ran out of the stable before the guards could stop him.
'I keep on saying, the Pharaoh's guards are so pathetic' Amara thought as her horse ran over to the closed gates.
The guards in the gates got scared when they saw the horse running towards them and they opened the gates, letting Amara get through. The girl smirked as she rode through the city freely, with no one to stop her.
'You know, I could just runaway from Egypt and leave everything behind' she thought as she made the horse turn in a corner 'But that would be so cruel from my part'.
She stopped her horse when she saw a house on fire, an Egyptian woman in the verge of tears as two Nubian men tried to take advantage of her. The image caused Amara to feel rage, because there was nothing more that angered her than seeing a woman in need of aid when a man was about to take advantage. She rode over to them and when dismounting the horse, she kicked both men straight on the face.
"Serves you right for trying to harm a woman" she hissed, glaring at them.
"You are a woman yourself" one of them gave her a sly grin.
"Yes, I am a woman" Amara snapped as she approached them "I'm the woman that's gonna kick your lousy butt!".
She launched herself at both and in a moment knocked them out cold. Then she tied them with the rope one of them was carrying and removed their weapons.
"Lady are you all right?" she asked as she turned her gaze over at the woman.
"Aye, I am, thanks to you" the woman replied, nodding.
"Good, then seek shelter somewhere safe" Amara said "I have to leave now, be careful".
She climbed her horse and rode over to the battlefield. As she reached the border of the city, she observed the Egyptians as they took over control of it and led the Nubians away.
'So we took control of the city again' she thought 'Well, it's time to fight'.
She rode over to the Egyptians that were reforming nearby and searched for the commander or the Pharaoh. She found the commander and rode over to him.
"Commander" she told him, looking down at the man who had just given some orders to a group of soldiers to search the city for intruders.
The man looked up and narrowed his eyes "A thief!".
"I'm not a thief" Amara replied as she uncovered her face "I'm a woman from the palace, do you recognize my face?".
The commander looked at her and then nodded "Aye, I do, you're the Pharaoh's personal maid, what are you doing here in the battlefield?".
"I came to fight, as you can see" she motioned to her weapons "I am skilled in such arts and I believe I will do better work here than staying inside the palace".
"But a woman should not fight" the commander replied.
"Maybe, but I can fight since I know what I do" Amara retorted "So let me assist".
"If you insist, but don't get yourself killed" he told her.
Amara grinned "I assure you that's not going to happen".
Then she made her horse ride to battle. As she penetrated through the men fighting, she found an opponent. He was also riding a horse and right that moment he was charging at her, sword in hand. The girl charged at him too, her sword ready to defeat him. Their swords clashed and then enemy tried to stab her with a hidden dagger, only to find himself already stabbed. He looked down at his wound, then fell out of his horse dead.
"Goodbye" she murmured as she charged another opponent.
Amara fought with passion for her people and for her country, for the safety of her land. She lasted a long time in the battlefield but when she was struck with a dagger on her right arm, she had to retreat to the borders of the capital in need of aid for her wound. Some soldiers that had skill in treating wounds quickly attended her and bandaged her injured arm.
"I believe you will not fight again on the battlefield little one" the commander told her as Amara was brought some water to drink.
She snickered "Commander, I'm left handed, not right handed".
"Then why were you struck on your right arm?" the commander questioned, looking down at the girl whom was sitting on the ground.
"Because I was carrying another sword with it and giving blows using my right arm, instead of my left" Amara answered "So I was attacked".
"I see…" the commander said "Well, do you think you can still battle?".
"Of course, I'm not a weakling, I can hold much more than this wound commander" Amara retorted, looking up at him "I may as well go again".
"Commander! Pharaoh has been injured!" a soldier informed him.
Amara narrowed her eyes 'Yami…'
She saw the young Pharaoh being carried her way by two soldiers. He was settled on the ground and some soldiers started attending him. His right arm was injured, just like Amara's. Amara approached him and observed him with worry. He was sweating and his eyes were closed.
"Yami?" she called him, concern in her eyes.
The Pharaoh snapped his eyes open and looked at her, then his eyes narrowed.
"Amara, what are you doing here?" he asked, angry to see she had disobeyed.
"I came to help because I heard the capital was being attacked by Nubians" Amara answered.
"I told you not to come!" he yelled furiously as he sat down instantly.
"Commander! There's a group of Nubians entering the city from the other side!" another soldier informed.
"We have to send more reinforcements" the commander ordered.
"No, I will go" Yami said as his arm was being bandaged.
"But my Pharaoh, you can't go all by yourself" the commander said, narrowing his eyes "What will happen should you be slain?".
"He won't go alone, I will go with him commander" Amara stated looking at Yami. Then she told him "And I am going".
Yami looked at her angrily and then said "Fine, you may come".
When his wound was bandaged, Yami walked over to his horse and climbed it, followed by Amara who did the same with hers. Then they parted back to the city. Inside, they found many Nubians attacking the houses and slaying the people, so they quickly moved into action with the other Egyptian soldiers that remained alive. While being attacked, they were both pushed out of their horses, which ran away, and they had to continue fighting on foot, just like the Nubians.
"I see you haven't lost your touch" Yami told Amara as he pushed an enemy back while Amara shot another one with an arrow.
"And I intent to keep it that way" Amara replied as she shot another Nubian with an arrow.
Suddenly Yami stopped fighting and sank to the floor on his knees, his eyes narrowed. Amara got distracted, only to be stabbed on her side of the stomach with a dagger.
"Amara!" Yami exclaimed as he pulled out the arrow that had struck him on the back.
The girl fell on her knees, thought she shot an arrow to the Nubian that had tried to kill her.
"I'm all right, still breathing, still seeing clear!" she told him, though her eyes showed a lot of pain.
The young Pharaoh stood up and walked slowly over to her. Then he picked her up in his arms and made it to an alley, where he tried to hide with Amara for a while. He settled her down on the ground and observed her. She was losing blood fast, and her eyes were watery, her breathing slowing down.
"Hold on Amara" he told her as he ran his fingers through her black with yellow streaks hair.
"I will" she told him, with a weak voice.
"Die Pharaoh!" yelled a Nubian, who had found them.
Yami narrowed his eyes and quickly searched for his sword, only to find that he had left it back in a hurry to get Amara out of danger. The Nubian thrust his sword forward towards Yami, only to hit Amara in the stomach, who had blocked him.
"You failed" she grimaced as she looked at the Nubian "Run Pharaoh".
"I will finish you woman!" yelled the Nubian as he took out a dagger and attacked her.
The Nubian suddenly fell dead in Amara's feet.
"Foolish woman, trying to get yourself killed for trying to save the imbecile Pharaoh" Bakura said, as he looked down at Amara.
The girl noticed Anyah and Arusem were with him, all armed and seemingly ready to fight.
"Now don't die and wait for us Amara" Anyah told her, as she ran away to fight.
Amara had not heard a single word told to her as her vision went black.
She snapped her eyes open to stare to a ceiling. Amara found herself inside a chamber, lying on a bed. Just what had happened? Had Egypt won the war? Was Yami safe? Were Bakura and the others safe too? All these questions flooded her mind as she heard a noise coming from the balcony.
"You're awake at last" Bakura's voice said.
"Is that you, Bakura?" she whispered weakly.
"Aye, it is, only keeping watch over you and waiting for you to awaken" Bakura replied as he stopped by the bed and looked down at her.
"What happened?" she asked, trying to sit down only to feel a terrible pain on her stomach.
"After we arrived you lost consciousness and were carried back to the palace by Arusem, you were treated while the war took place outside" Bakura answered "And when your wounds were treated, news arrived that Egypt had won the war".
The girl smiled as she heard the good news, though one question still bothered her "Is the Pharaoh all right?".
"Aye, he is, safe and sound" Bakura answered. After a moment, he said "Your heart belongs to him, doesn't it?".
"Yes, it does" Amara said, looking at Bakura apologetically "I'm sorry Bakura".
"I don't care Amara, I only care for your safety, do you think you will be all right here?" Bakura snorted.
"Yes I will" Amara answered.
"Then -" Bakura was interrupted as he heard the door about to be opened.
"See you later and take care, we will always watch over you" Bakura hissed before he disappeared using the Millenium Ring.
At that moment Yami walked in, only to find Amara staring at him. He grinned and walked over to her.
"You're awake!" he said, pleased.
"Yes" Amara said, smiling "And you're safe".
The Pharaoh nodded, then a serious expression made its way to his face "Amara, there is something I want you to know".
"Let me guess, that you love me?" the girl asked smirking.
"How did you know?" Yami asked, rather surprised.
Amara shrugged gently, trying not to harm herself "It was a guess".
"I see…" Yami said, looking at her with care.
A silence filled the room for some moments, until Amara interrupted it.
"I love you too Pharaoh" she said, blushing a little as she stared at the blankets covering her.
She suddenly felt his arms wrap around her gently and she looked up to stare at his crimson eyes.
"I know" he said gently as he placed his cheek against her hair.
Amara smiled and closed her eyes, feeling relieved that her country was safe and feeling relieved because her beloved Pharaoh was with her and had at last told her his true feelings.
'I've learned something from all of this, things that you believe that are bad can become things that can make you happy, though it depends on what it is' she thought as Yami raised her head by the chin and caressed her left cheek gently.
Then, he leaned down and gave her a fervent kiss on the lips as a sweet breeze involved the two lovers.
The End
Neferi: At last I'm done!
Amara: Crappy ending.
Neferi: I don't care what you say Amara, I liked it. Here are my thank yous: Thanks to all of my reviewers, I LOVE YOU SO MUCH, you guys rock! I thank you for your support and saying that you liked this story, I appreciate that a lot. A note to the readers of my other stories: I'll update soon!
Bakura: Please review with your comments of the ending of this story.
Neferi: Thank you for reading!