SHD:jumping up and down: Thank you SO much everyone! I had a really crappy day today and when I came home and saw those reviews, it just brightened up my whole day! You're lifesavers:hugs all the reviewers:tears of joy:

Sunae: Um, hikari, are you… okay? o.O'

SHD: I'm in my best mood right now:jumps up and hugs Sunae: Anyways, here's the replies to your questions and concerns…

Yup, I've read "Daughter of the Nile" twice! It's the best book ever! I strongly recommend it to anyone who hasn't read it. Mari is short for Mariasha, and I only picked the name because it means "bitterness and full of sorrow" and that fits the OC's personality. But I didn't realize I'd done the same plot until you told me. I'd forgotten about that book for a few years…Credits to Leneia for reminding me. )
A special thanks and a cookie to: Leneia, emotional-writer, Dark Mage of Sea, (yay! We meet again!) pharohs-slave, knucklesbob, and Yuki Motou,

Disclaimer: We don't own Yu-Gi-Oh or any of its characters. We don't get any money or anything from writing this story. Oh, and we don't own Daughter of the Nile. :sigh: I sure wish I did…

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Mari's POV:

'I can't sleep,' I thought as I slid out of bed. I couldn't stop thinking of that pharaoh…and our conversation. 'He'd been pretty nice…'

I walked over to the balcony, overlooking the palace garden. It was midnight. I could see pyramids way in the distance. I stared up into the starry night sky.

'That's where my mother and father are now…' I thought. I stared so hard at the stars that my eyes began to blur, but I didn't care.

"Mother, Father. Can you hear me now?" I whispered. "Can you see what kind of person I've become?" I felt my throat tightening again, as I remembered another childhood flashback.

Flashback

A little girl, about four or five years old, sat alone in a dark little corner, like usual, while the dinner party went on merrily about her.

A redheaded common girl a few years older than the lonely princess approached the corner. The lone girl looked up, cowering a bit.

"Hi. Who are you?" the redhead asked, her green eyes friendly and curious.

The lonely little girl didn't answer. She just stared at the redhead, trembling and backing away.

The redhead was puzzled. "What's wrong? You're scared of me?"

The lonely girl whimpered and backed away a bit more.

The redhead looked hurt, but she didn't leave. "Come on. I'm not going to hurt you. What's your name?"

The lonely girl continued to tremble, but answered softly, "It's Mariasha. Mari."

The redhead smiled. "I'm Nashwa. Why are you here alone? Come play with us!" She pointed to the several other common children playing in one corner.

Mari shook her head, still frightened.

"Are you sure?" Nashwa persisted "It'll be fun!"

When Mari still shook her head, Nashwa sighed, disappointed. "Okay, if you really don't want to."

She handed Mari a blue lotus flower. "Here. It'll look pretty in your black hair. Wear it."

Mari took it shyly, and smiled a small smile. "Thank you," she whispered.

"Mariasha!" the king growled.

The little girl looked up, her blue eyes frightened and full of guilt.

"Yes, Father?" she whispered, trembling again.

"What have I told you about associating with commoners?" the king barked.

Mari whispered, "I'm sorry, Father…"

Nashwa looked from Mari to the king, uneasy.

"What are you looking at, girl? Go and play with your filthy commoner friends!" the king snarled.

Nashwa didn't look frightened. Rather, she looked indignant and angry. "We are rather filthy. That's true. But none of us are as filthy as your heart!" she replied coolly, and left, giving Mari a look of pity and encouragement.

"What is that that thing that the common girl gave you?" the king snarled.

Mari held the lotus flower tightly. "A flower, Father," she replied softly. "A lotus."

"A gift from a commoner? How low can you get?" the king spat. He snatched the flower from the little girl and tore it into tiny pieces. "Rubbish!" Then he threw them to the ground and ground it with his sandals. Then he glared at his frightened daughter. "And just like you." With that, he left.

The girl stared in horror at the torn blue flower on the ground. A tear fell upon it.

'Worthless? I am worthless?'

End of Flashback

"I guess you were right on one thing, Father," I whispered bitterly. "When you were alive, you were always telling me that I was a worthless piece of trash, and that I would never be anything else!" I closed my eyes. "And now, that's exactly what I've become. Worthless trash."

"I didn't know you enjoyed talking to yourself, Mariasha."

I whirled around, humiliated, and found Bakura leaning on the balcony railing, looking highly amused. I was glad that it was so dark. I was blushing like mad.

"Number one. It's Mari. Get that into your thick head. Number two. I wasn't talking to anyone." I snapped, taking a bold step towards the tomb robber. "Number three. Why must you always sneak up on me?"

Bakura snickered. "It's amusing to see you so jumpy and riled up. Besides," he smirked, "what are you going to do about it?"

I narrowed my eyes, and stepped a bit closer. "You aren't the only one with good fighting skills, Bakura. I am well experienced in combats as well. Come straight to the point. Why are you here already?"

"I saw you talking with the pharaoh a few hours ago. Did you get any information?"

I was about to tell him that Kissa made most of the decisions for Atem, and that she could be very foolish, and everything else, but something stopped me.

'Atem…he didn't do anything to me…in fact, he was pretty nice…why should I tell this idiot tomb robber anything?'

I shook my head. Bakura stopped smirking.

"Don't lie to me, Mari!" he snarled. "I know you're getting really close to the pharaoh already. You must know something!"

I shook my head stubbornly, and turned my back.

"But you do know something, don't you?" Bakura snarled.

It was my turn to smirk. "Maybe I do. Maybe I don't. Why should I tell you?"

"Freedom," Bakura whispered. "And wealth. Plenty of it. You'll never go hungry. You might even have your own slave."

My head was whirling like mad, and I couldn't breathe. 'Of course I want to be free and wealthy…It's what I've dreamed about for years and years…' But visions of crimson eyes and a smile kept flashing across my mind.

"I'm not ready to tell you," I replied flatly. Bakura's face twisted a bit.

"All right, Mari. I'll meet you here a week later. If you still don't have anything, I could always give this job to someone else. So you better make up your mind soon." Smiling a nasty grin, he slinked away like a shadow.

I watched him leave. 'Why did I just do that?' I wondered miserably. 'What is wrong with me?' I felt like crying, something I haven't done since I'd been kidnapped and brought to Egypt, about ten years ago.

I stumbled into bed, Bakura's words echoing over and over in my head. I put my hands over my ears, trying to stop the sneers and threats in my head, but they kept coming.

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Regular POV:

The next morning…

Mari found out that she had somehow managed to have some sleep. Still weary, she came out of her room, expecting a day of work and nothing else. Then she noticed Atem trudging somewhere.

'Where is he going so early in the morning? And why does he look so gloomy?'

Usually Mari didn't let curiosity get the best of her, but something came over her, and she quietly followed Atem from a distance. She watched him go into a room she had never noticed before, and sneaked closer to the door, trying to listen in.

Atem was in the room with a woman. Mari could only make out some parts.

"Realize….suitable bride…I don't want….and get some common girl?… what is wrong with….those girls are.….Mariasha….what does she have to do….listen to me for once! I….no, you listen…how can you be so irresponsible? Atsu is…Kissa, I don't care about….this country will be ruined if…why am I not allowed….you are not old enough…what are you talking…."

Then she heard the woman's voice. "Say no more, pharaoh. You shall be allowed to rule when you prove yourself responsible for this duty." Then Mari heard footsteps, and edged away quickly from the door, hiding behind a pillar to watch.

Atem came out of the room, looking tired and angry. His twin Atsu was watching him smugly. "Had another lecture, brother?" he sneered. "When will you ever learn?"

Atem glared at his twin. "What do you want, Atsu?"

Atsu smirked. "Nothing. Just wanted to drop by for a brotherly chat." He swaggered off. Atem watched him angrily, but didn't reply.

Mari had seen enough. She came out of her hiding place, and faced Atem, indignant and a bit disgusted. Atem was shocked to see her. "Mari…" he began, but Mari interrupted.

"How can you let them boss you around so?" she demanded. "You are no child. You are nearly a man! You are the pharaoh of this country! How can you stand that woman and your brother?"

Atem stayed silent, so Mari went on indignantly, "You have every right to rule this country without any help from your sister. I can't believe this! You're letting your older sister rule over you! The whole thing sickens me!"

She glared at the pharaoh, waiting for his reply. Atem avoided her eyes. At last, he replied quietly, "You're right, Mari. I am sick of this whole thing too."

Mari snapped. Atem's submission was doing more than just irritating her. "Then why are you letting her control you like some…some dog? Don't you have a mind of your own? And why do you let your brother push you about and make fun of you like that? What happened to all that "pharaoh's dignity" stuff?" She glared at the pharaoh coolly. "You are no true pharaoh. You're just another worthless teen with the title and appearance of one! The thing that irritates me most…" She went on in a lower tone, "…is submission."

Her blue eyes blazing both fire and ice at the same time, she turned her back and walked away, leaving Atem with his own thoughts.

Atem stared at the retreating girl quietly. 'She's right…I am pretty worthless…'

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SHD: Aw, that sucked. :sighs:

Sunae:gasp: Omg, that was exactly what I was going to say, hikari:smirk:

SHD: Hey:tear tear:heart breaks into millions of pieces:

Sunae: Please review us and tell us what you think! We'd really appreciate it, and we'll review your stories if u have any!

SHD: Sanoraya people!