Angel: Hi everyone!

Crystal: (walks into the room) If Angel owned YuGiOh, Yami and Tea would never go on a date, and in one of the episodes of Battle Ship where Yami and Bakura are fighting, half the characters there would have been thrown overboard by her and her friend, Shannan.

Angel: (nods) We were discussing that for almost the whole episode.

Crystal: (sighs) So obviously, Angel doesn't own YuGiOh. She doesn't own anything that other authors made up. She also doesn't own any money.

Y.Ang: Yeah, she's flat broke.

Angel: Hrmph. And speaking of broke, why is everything in the lounge room broken?

(view changes to Tea locked up in chains in another room of the house, trying to break everything in sight again)

Y.Ang: (shifty eyes) I have no idea...

Angel: (sighs) Anyway, on with the chapter!

Lonely Heart In Egypt

Chapter 7 - New Old Friends & Disaster

Crystal finally reappeared in the library about half an hour later, having changed into a beautiful blue dress. It was an off-the-shoulder long sleeved one, with gold embroidery on the top half.

Yami was a bit bored and cross by this time. "What took you so long?"

"As I was getting dressed, one of the maids came with a message from my father, and before she left she insisted of putting make-up on me, and fixing my hair. And that took ages."

"I suppose that's fair. It does take ages when the servants try to 'help'."

As Crystal was about to reply, she was interrupted by a child's voice ringing through the library. "Yami, are you in here?"

"Yes!" Yami called back.

A young, 8-year-old boy suddenly ran in front of the two royals, before throwing himself at the Pharaoh. "Yami!"

Yami smiled as he was 'attacked' by the eager child, "Hello, Yugi."

Yugi looked up at his brother with his puppy-dog eyes, "How come you didn't play with me yesterday? You said you would, even though there was a big party."

"I'm sorry Yugi. I forgot, due to the beautiful yet distracting presence of the Princess here," he said, gesturing at Crystal, who blushed.

"That's not fair. Who are you anyway?" He asked, suddenly noticing Crystal was sitting there.

Crystal pretended to look hurt, "You mean you don't remember me Yugi?

Yugi looked puzzled for a moment and then his already huge eyes widened further, "Crystal?"

She smiled. "Yes, it's me. Three years is too long."

As Yugi then leapt on Crystal, giving her a fierce hug, Yami spoke up, "But how could you have seen Yugi three years ago? I didn't see you then," he said, pretending to pout.

Crystal smiled at his expression before hugging Yugi closer to her and sighing. "You wouldn't have. When Yugi was on a little tour/holiday then, his guardians stopped at our palace for a few days. Yugi and I became good friends then, didn't we honey?" she asked, looking down at Yugi.

He nodded, but Yami frowned, "No fair. Even though something made me forget about you, I still would have liked to have seen you too."

Crystal smiled again, but then frowned, "I've been wondering about how we forget about each other. For some reason, I didn't remember that I knew you until we were talking about it in the gardens. I wonder what was blocking our memories. Or who caused it?"

Yami frowned as well. "To be honest, I have no idea. However, we'll probably find out in due time."

"I agree."

Yami searched his head for a change of subject, "Didn't you say something about a message from your father?"

"Oh! I forgot. He's going to come here, to talk to me about something, apparently it was urgent."

Yami was about to speak when a booming voice was heard, "Crystal?"

"I'm in here, Father," she called back.

King Isaac then strode into view, "I've brought a guest with me."

"Who?" Crystal asked suspiciously.

A young woman with long blonde stepped away from behind the bookcase, "Only me, my lady."

"Mai!" Crystal shrieked, moving Yugi out of her lap, jumping up, and throwing her arms around the slightly older woman.

Mai's pulled away, holding Crystal at arm's length, her violet eyes shining happily, "It is good to see you again, Crystal. My vacation was too long."

"Far too long, my friend. You're never going away for so long again!"

"I don't plan to, my lady. But sadly, there is another reason for my being here, other than to visit you. I'm here to tell you that, about a week ago, the palace was attacked again."

"No," Crystal said quietly, sinking back down onto the cushions. Yugi, sensing her distress, climbed back into her lap.

"Half the palace, including your room, was destroyed. I've spoken with your father, and he thinks it would be safer for you to stay here, rather than return home. If the Pharaoh allows it, we would like you to stay until repairs are finished."

Yami was quick to respond, "She's welcome for as long as she needs to be here."

Crystal sighed, absently putting her arms around Yugi. She hesitated a few moments before speaking. "Yami?"

He jumped at her voice, the wet cloth on his head falling from his forehead, "Yes?"

"Although I appreciate your generosity, I would rather go home."

Yami looked a little bit hurt by this, but Yugi, whose face was hidden from view, looked devastated. In contrast, Isaac and Mai looked shocked.

"Crystal, you must stay here! It is safer, and if you go home, these people could try to kill you again and they could succeed!"

"I know, Father. It's not that I don't want to stay here, it's just that if I go home, maybe I'll find out exactly who is behind this."

"Absolutely not! I will not risk your safety! I don't know what I would do without you. Besides we already know who's behind it."

"Not exactly Father. Anyway, I won't risk Yami and Yugi's lives. If I stay here, and because they are helping me, they could be killed too."

Yami was puzzled at this. "Who, may I ask, was also killed then?"

Crystal's eyes filled with tears, and she placed her hands over Yugi's ears, "Our mothers. Both our mothers died to stop them from killing me."

Yami looked shocked, and Crystal could also see the pain in his eyes. "But why would someone want to kill you?"

Yugi struggled to pull Crystal's hands away from his ears, but failed as she answered Yami's question. "Because I am the only one who can stop them."

"Who's 'them'?"

"A group of people that follow someone that claims to have the power of the gods. We don't know any exact names. Since I didn't want to join them, and I am very powerful myself, they have obviously decided to kill me, so that I can't stop them."

"How do they know that you are the only one that can stop them?" Yami asked, as Yugi finally succeeded in pulling Crystal's hands away from his ears.

Crystal shook her head, "I don't know. I've known I was very powerful from a young age, probably because of my heritage, but my parents found out just how powerful I was. The only people they told were your parents, Yami. Obviously, someone told this evil clan, but I don't know who."

"Do you have any ideas?"

"None, because obviously our parents would not have told anyone."

Yami sighed. "Knowing my luck, we'll find out sooner than we want to know."

Crystal smiled sadly. "It always works like that, doesn't it?"

"Yes. And changing the subject to what we were talking about before, I insist that you stay here. You will be a lot safer here than at a half destroyed palace. There the danger of another attack is too great."

Isaac spoke up. "That sounds fair, Crystal. Now, Mai and I must return to Isiria to oversee the repairs and such. So, goodbye, my dear."

Crystal gently pushed Yugi out of her lap before standing up again, and kissed her father's cheek. "Goodbye, and please be careful."

Mai smiled, and hugged her, "We will, honey. You be careful too."

"I will."

With a final goodbye to everyone, Isaac and Mai then left.

Crystal sighed. "I suppose that I will probably have to stay here for a few months then. Probably until my birthday at least. Yami?"

Yami was unsteadily trying to get to his feet, "Yes?"

She hurried to help him stand, "Do you only wish for me to stay because of the danger, or because you really want me to?"

Yami turned his head to look at her, "For both of those reasons, Crystal. As I said before, I haven't just found you to lose you again."

She smiled. "Thankyou. Now, let's get you to your room and get your bruises and the like looked at. Yugi, will you run and get one of the physicians please?"

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Angel: I'm sorry that it is so short! Anyway, now Crystal is living at the palace, Yugi is in the story, and only I know what will happen next!

Y.Ang: Ahem.

Angel: Oh. Sorry, she knows too. Anyway, please review!

C YA! Angel

Angel: Wait! One last thing, we found Tea, and are deciding what to do to her as I am writing this. Suggestions are welcome! And if you want her free, well, just write that! Majority rules! C YA!