I don't own Yugioh. I do own Maria, Gold, silver, and this plot… which is co-owned by Rei…figures, but nothing more,
YSF: These are the step-sisters from oldest to youngest: Nephoris, Tages, Taous, Neherebkan, Nubkhas, and Nefer
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"That should shut them up for at least a day," Bakura muttered as the girls recovered from their shock and started screaming.
Atemu just winked and rushed out, followed by Maria, Seto, and Mahaado. "Girls, what happened?" Atemu asked 'worriedly' helping them up, "What spooked the horses?"
It was Nefer who found her voice first. "We heard a shrill piercing whistling sound, and before we knew what was happening, the horses bolted," she explained, expertly making her voice and body tremble.
Maria was having trouble not laughing, so she went to calm the horses down. Reaching the six horses, she uttered her murmuring sound, which they recognized and came over. Burying her face into Jasmine's neck while she gave her horse a hug, Maria started laughing uncontrollably.
Once her laughter subsided and she put the horses away, Maria headed back to the palace. Reaching the throne room, she spotted Atemu and Bakura laughing.
"Did I miss a joke?" she asked.
"The twits are so terrified, they just plan on staying in their rooms for the rest of the day," Bakura chortled, "That was the funniest thing I've ever seen!"
"It was funny," Maria conceded, "I wonder if they're going to leave sooner than planned now."
"If not, just think. There's only four more days till they're gone," Atemu reasoned.
"Four days is a little long," Maria grumbled, but Atemu heard her and just smiled.
Maria learned at dinner that evening that all six were still in their rooms and hadn't left all day. Nefer was also staying in her room so as not to raise suspicion amongst her sisters.
"I must say, this dinner is unusually quiet," Mahaado commented, "Almost…dare I say, normal?"
"Well since you dared, I guess you're right," Atemu laughed.
"Why can't this happen for the rest of the week?" Maria asked.
"Enjoy it while you can," Bakura snorted.
"But still, I have an incredibly bad feeling, but I don't know what it is," Maria continued, ignoring Bakura and then settling down Yugi who was fidgeting.
…
The next morning, the five oldest sisters were gathered in Nephoris' room discussing a certain incident.
"I don't like this. That sound that spooked the horses wasn't natural," Neherebkan said.
"I agree, it sounded like someone whistling a very high note," Nubkhas answered, "And that note was way too high for a male to whistle, so that rules out Atemu, Seto, Mahaado, that Bakura guy…"
"And every other male in this palace," Nephoris crossly interrupted from where she was sitting on her bed, "The whistle was from Maria. I remember the day before we lured her out of her haven and pushed her down those stairs, I watched her play with/train her horse from the balcony I was on. Miss high and mighty would whistle, and her horse would break into a very fast gallop and not stop until she made a different sound that I couldn't hear."
"So what are we going to do about her?" Tages asked, "Push her down stairs again?"
"No, she's too wise to fall for that stunt a second time," Taous replied, "However, I have a better idea."
As Nephoris listened to the idea, a malicious grin spread across her face. "It's a very good idea. In fact, it's a great idea. Maria loves them so much, it'll be a direct blow to her heart," Nephoris contemplated, "We'll pull this off tomorrow."
Nodding, the girls went to breakfast. Upon entering, they spotted Bakura and a black haired girl whom they assumed was a servant talking quietly at the far end of the table. Bakura hugged the girl and she departed from Bakura, heading straight towards the sisters.
The sisters didn't move out of the way, so the black haired girl was forced to stop. Green eyes scowled at the five. "Move."
"You're the servant, you move," Taous spat, "and lower your eyes when you're looking at someone of higher authority you worthless…"
Taous didn't get to finish her comment before she was grabbed by the throat and slammed against the wall, surprisingly sharp nails digging in for a better hold. "Don't you ever call me that again!" came the deadly growl.
"REI! Stop!" Bakura called out sternly. Rei, hearing her brother's call, reluctantly let her hand drop to her side and sullenly stalked out of the dining area after glaring at the five sisters.
"And you're in a relationship with a servant like her?" Nephoris demanded walking over to Bakura as he finished eating and stood.
Bakura let loose a disgusted snort. "I'm not in a relationship with her. First of all, Rei isn't a servant, she is good friends with Pharaoh and Maria and is staying as an honored guest in the palace. Secondly, why would I be in a lovey-dovey relationship with my own sister?" Bakura asked dryly, emphasizing the word honored.
"You have no right to talk to us like that!" Neherebkan exclaimed but was cut off.
"I have every right. Just remember this if you ever decide to cross me and/or Rei again," Bakura hissed, his eyes flashing, causing the girls to back up in fear. "You have never experienced the trauma and destruction I went through when I was five, what Rei had to do to survive at about three, and all our pain and suffering that we went through in our lives. Unless you would like to experience what we had no choice but to, keep annoying me. You have no idea who you're dealing with," he finished darkly and strode out, coat billowing behind him.
Once out of the dining hall and safely away from it, Bakura leaned against the wall and slid down to a cross-legged sitting position. Exhaling in a sigh to relax, Bakura closed his eyes. He didn't know how long he'd been there, before he felt someone sit next to him and rest their head on his shoulder. "Hello Maria," he said pleasantly. Without opening his eyes, he reached up and stroked long hair.
Maria smiled at his ability to tell who it was before he touched her hair. "You looked ruffled. What's wrong?" she asked sweetly.
Bakura tensed a little, "That idiot, one of the twins, I think it was Taous called Rei a servant," he explained.
"Ouch," Maria said with a small laugh at her step-sister-in-law's mistake and lifted her head up, "I take it that she blew up?"
"She got mad enough to start to dig her nails into Taous' neck." Seeing Maria wince, Bakura continued, "Then the eldest basically insulted Rei once I got her to let go and leave, which got me mad, so I exchanged potent threats and left."
"Of course you'd get mad, you're Rei's big brother. It's no wonder that you'd be protective after all that you two have been through," Maria pointed out gently.
"With you there next to us for a good deal of it."
Maria smiled and sat with Bakura for a few more minutes before leaving saying that Atemu was probably looking for her. Bakura watched her go and then fisted his hands in his hair. "Damn," he moaned standing and going to the window, "being in the palace and not permitted to steal anything in it is making me nutty and stir crazy!" He released his hair and gazed over the city to where he could faintly see his house with its two level basement full of treasure. "The pharaoh really owes me."
Maria walked into the throne room from the rear door and stopped behind the throne. Listening, she realized no one was there but Atemu and popped her head around the throne. Atemu still didn't notice her, so she decided to speak up. "How long have you been looking for me?" she asked with glee at seeing Atemu nearly jump out of his skin.
Atemu tried settling his racing heart as Maria neatly hopped the arm of the throne and landed on his lap. "How did you know I was looking for you?" he asked cradling his queen. Maria looked at him with disbelief and Atemu mentally hit himself. "Duh, psychic powers," he answered to his own question.
"You two look cute together," Nefer called out as she entered the throne room.
"Could be a factor as to why we married," Maria replied dryly as Atemu laughed. Nefer grinned and perched on the edge of the raised platform, legs dangling.
"I'm slightly worried about my sisters. They're up to something," Nefer said.
"When aren't they?" Maria replied but was hushed by Atemu.
"What do you mean?" he asked.
"Well, all five of them were in Nephoris' room until after breakfast. I'd watch your back my queen, you've made fools of them three times already. They're going to come after you somehow," Nefer warned as she slid off of the platform. "I must go so as not to give my sisters any reason to suspect me, so good day to you both."
"I feel bad for making her lead a double life while she's here," Maria admitted to Atemu once Nefer left.
"It can't be helped. Remember, she volunteered to do this," Atemu reminded her. Maria sat there for a minute, and was about to say something when Yugi running into the room, being chased by Mahaado interrupted her.
"What's going on?" Atemu asked as Yugi leaped into Maria's arms and buried his face in the crook of her neck.
Mahaado took a breath to calm down. "Your little squirt here just knocked over a set of neatly organized scroll shelves in the palace library!"
"Yugi," Maria asked guiding the little boy's head up so that she was looking in his eyes, "is this true?"
Yugi blinked innocently and then tried to get away. He would have escaped, if Atemu didn't hold him in place by the shoulders. "Answer your mother," Atemu said sternly.
Yugi knew better than to disobey his father, so he lowered his head and meekly nodded. "Yugi, you know you're not supposed to go into the library," Maria reprimanded.
"I was looking for Mahaado, and when I found him, I was going to surprise him, but knocked over a shelving unit in the process," Yugi protested, "I got scared, so I ran, but Mahaado spotted me."
"He reminds me of someone else who used to get into worlds of trouble," Mahaado mumbled with a sideways glance at Atemu.
Atemu just gave Mahaado a swift glare and then returned his attention back to Yugi. "Well Yugi, since you confessed, what do you think your punishment should be?" he asked.
Yugi fidgeted but did not try to escape. "No dessert?" he suggested hopefully.
Maria tried to hold it in, but failed and started laughing gently. "I think you should go with Mahaado and help him pick up and organize every scroll that you caused to become disorganized," she said once her laughing bout subsided. Yugi nodded, hopped off her lap and taking Mahaado's hand, started to leave towards the library.
"No dessert tonight also since you did suggest it," Atemu called after his son and chuckled once he heard the little groan that followed.
The rest of the day went by blissfully. The sisters, fearful of crossing Bakura and/or Rei, amused themselves by exploring the palace and the shrine of Wedju. The next morning, Maria and Atemu were in the throne room watching Yugi play with one of the palace cats, when the sisters entered.
"What can I help you girls with?" Atemu asked, snapping Maria and Nephoris out of their immediate glaring contest.
"Brother, we were wondering if we could go on another horseback ride, seeing as our ride was cut short last time," Taous asked carefully, the sisters choosing her to speak since it was her idea.
"I don't see why not," Atemu said thoughtfully.
"If it's all right with you, we'd like to use the same horses as last time," Tages added.
Atemu looked surprised and just looked at Maria. Maria raised an eyebrow and then understood Atemu's look. "I'll go tell Rei," she sighed and left, Yugi scampering after her.
About half an hour later, the six horses were blanketed and ready to go. Nefer gave Jasmine a sugar cube and climbed up with Maria's help. Kaminter, Blade, and Star were energized and prancing around their respective rider since it wasn't often that they were ridden. Anubis and Sekhmet merely stood near Jasmine and watched the other three with a bored expression on both of their faces.
Once everyone was up, the sisters turned and rode through the palace gates, having proclaimed that they were going to have a picnic near the Nile and wouldn't be back till dusk. No one challenged that, seeing as how Nephoris and Neherebkan each had a basket presumably filled with food.
"At least they're out of our hair for a day," Seto muttered, "Do you know how hard it was to worship at the temple without one of them bugging me?"
"They'll be back you know," Bakura dryly replied, effectively bursting Seto's bubble.
Maria shook her head in amusement as Bakura and Seto started arguing, but then felt a churning feeling in her stomach. Something was terribly wrong. Looking around, Maria spotted Yugi petting the palace cat that he was currently trying to carry and knew it wasn't him.
"What's wrong?" Atemu asked Maria, seeing that she was quiet and thinking hard on something.
"I don't know, I got this really bad feeling just now, and yet I don't know what's causing it since Yugi is staying out of trouble," Maria replied quietly so no one else would overhear.
Atemu frowned. Usually when Maria had a bad feeling, something of a wicked and terrible nature was going to happen very soon. "How bad is this feeling?"
"Not very, I just feel uneasy about whatever it is."
"Then let's not worry and just enjoy ourselves," Atemu said rubbing Maria's arms. Maria smiled and nodded.
The remainder of that day was pure relaxation for Maria, who realized just how frayed her nerves had become at the sisters. It was surprising just how soothing the energy of a child was when one was playing with the said child.
At dinner, it was somewhat quiet with occasional bantering between two or more people. About halfway through, the sisters returned looking very satisfied. They didn't stay in the dinner hall long, but they just came to say that they put the horses away and were exhausted so that they were going to bed. Nefer was behind the others and refused to meet anyone's eyes and meekly followed Nephoris as her older sisters headed back to their rooms.
"What's wrong with Nefer?" Mahaado wondered as soon as they were out of earshot.
"I don't know," Atemu replied and then turned to Yugi who was trying to slid out of his chair. "Stay in your seat Yugi."
"But Amir…" Yugi started and then fell silent at his father's warning look. A minute later, he was trying to slide out of his chair unnoticed, but Atemu scolded him again.
"Yugi, stay in your seat. I'll take you to see Amir after you're done, but only for a while since it's late out already," Maria tried to reason. Yugi ignored her and jumped out of his seat and darted to the window.
Yugi turned and saw that the whole table was looking at him in shock since he disobeyed his parents three times. "Don't you hear it?" he asked everyone, focusing on Isis, since locking eyes with either of his parents would make him falter.
"Hear what?" Karim asked raising an eyebrow.
"Amir was neighing. He sounded scared," Yugi said looking at his parents. His mother's eyes had lost their angry flare and were just gently reprimanding him. His father, however, still looked terribly stern and Yugi felt his spirits sinking.
"Yugi," Atemu started, "Amir is fine. You checked on him before dinner…" That was as far as he got, before Bakura cut him off by standing and walking to the window.
"Look Pharaoh, Amir is still small, so he isn't able to neigh loudly. Yugi has the seat closest to the window so he probably heard it faintly," Bakura said looking at Yugi who nodded, "I suggest we stay quiet for a minute and listen."
Atemu scowled but nodded. Nothing was heard for a minute, and just as Seto was about to break the silence, everyone heard a very faint neighing.
Maria had been listening with her eyes closed. Once she heard the neighing, her eyes flew open. "That is Amir. He sounds terrified," she said.
"Do you think something could have happened since Jasmine usually calms him down on his first set of neighs if he's frightened?" Shaddah wondered.
Maria was quiet for a second. "I have a very bad feeling," she murmured and jumping up ran out of the room towards the front doors of the palace after Seto and Atemu.
Atemu got to the stables first and swiftly entered. Seto and Maria waited outside on Atemu's insistence and looked around as the other priests, Bakura, and Rei caught up. They were all quiet for not even a moment before Atemu's distressed call came from the stables.
Entering the stables, Maria glanced around and froze, horrified at what she saw, too shocked to even move except sink weakly to her knees.
"Keep Yugi out of here and busy with Amir in the east pasture!" Atemu instructed Isis as he handed her Amir's leading rope.
Seto looked in the stalls with wider than normal eyes. "They went too far this time," he said before going to his sister and guiding her to a hay bale.
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YSF: can anyone besides Rei figure out what happened? If so review and tell me.