Disclaimer: I do not own the characters from Yu-Gi-Oh. However, I do call the following characters my own:

Khasara

Matthew

Nye

Thanks to my devoted reader Yamis Girl 4everandever, Cheeky-eyes, Anorethunbound, and thanks to my friends and editors RoMi IshUraTarMeshi and Viet grl.
Hope you enjoy reading this story. Please R&R. Thanks again.

Chapter Seven: The Upper Kingdom Princess?

Matt walked around a corner of the hallway, and ahead of him was Khasara. Her normal jeans, jacket and shoes replaced by a white gown. She was walking down the passageway away from him.

"Khasara? Hey, Khasara, wait up. Come back!" He shouted to her. However, his commands went unheard as she continued her walk through the hall. Matt ran following behind her but he never seemed to catch up. Then Khasara stopped in front of a door and before entering she turned and gazed at Matt with a small sad smile on her face. Sorrow and helplessness swimming through her eyes. Matt stopped and looked at her with confusion.

"Khasara what's going on?" He question, but she said nothing and walked through the door. "Khasara wait." Matt called to her and ran to the door as fast as he could. He came to a sliding halt in front of the door fear filled his eyes as he looked at the sight before him. Khasara walked up to a platform and stood in the center of the raised area. Two strange items appeared at each end of the stage one the shape of and upside down pyramid, the other looked like a double-headed axe with an orb between the blades. Each showed the image of a golden eye that Matt had seen numerous of times throughout the tomb. Then with out warning white beams of magic and energy shot from the items and met in the middle hitting Khasara. A scream escaped from her lips as the beams tortured her body.

"KHASARA! NOOOO!" Matt shouted, but before he could run to her and invisible force seemed to pull him backwards away from the scene. Khasara's scream echoed through his mind as he was dragged back into darkness.

Matt shot up from his makeshift bed near the station, breathing heavily. He looked around his surroundings and noticed Nye standing a little further away from him. The horse was giving him that "Dude, what's your issue?" look. Matt ran one hand through his dark brown hair while the other held him up. He took a deep breath of the night air as he realized that what he just saw was a dream. It was then that he noticed a sandy taste in the air and the wind had picked up to, something in his mind clicked. Through his time spent in the deserts of Egypt he had been taught how to notice when a sand storm was coming, and what to do if one came. He had also experience a few of them, but now was not the time to have one. His day had already been bad enough, and the coming storm was not going to make things any better.

Matt stood up and quickly rolled up his blankets, then took out a towel he kept in his backpack.

"Come on Nye, we have to find a place to go and wait out the storm." Matt said as he untied the horse standing at the hitching post. Nye followed the man in front of him as he was lead literally up onto the little porch of the train station. The porch was covered with a roof but it was not closed in. The only good thing about the porch was that it was blocked from the oncoming wind by the building. Matt took his towel and threw it over Nye's eyes and ears. Then he took out a bandana for himself, tying it around his head to keep the sand out of his face. Within seconds, the wind picked up and the sand blew with all its furry as the storm raged around the small station, Matt and Nye.

Atem walked to the corridor where the mysterious woman lay in a guest bed, still unconscious from the day before. The trial had been a little more interesting then he though, and it did not give the answers to the questions he had it just created new ones. The nurses had been in and out of the room the whole time, once he knew was to tell him that the stranger would be fine and should wake up in the near future. He was on his way to the room now to find out if anything new had come up, hoping he would finally get the answers he wanted. As he approached the room, Atem saw a nurse stepping out closing the door behind her.

"How is our guest today?" He questioned the nurse. The woman turned around slightly surprised at the sudden appearance of the pharaoh, but instantly bowed her head.

"She should be waking up here in a few minutes your majesty." replied the woman. Atem nodded and waved his hand excusing her to continue what she was doing. The nurse curtsied and walked away from Atem. Once the nurse had gone down the hall a ways he slid into the door and walked to the far corner of the room on the opposite wall of the bed, looking at the figure that lay sleeping on the bed. He sat in a chair and watched her, his questions flowing through his mind.

Khasara fought back the darkness that engulfed her mind, swimming around searching for a way out. She swam through the deepest and darkest parts of her mind praying for a way back to the safeness of consciousness. Finally, a light could be seen, it was as if Khasara was looking at the far end of a tunnel. She fought her way toward the light, kicking at the darkness that tried to grab her and hold her there. The light began to become bigger as she swam closer, she could once again feel her body and limbs. Khasara reached out to the light and came back to reality, and slowly her eyes fluttered open. At first the light coming into the room hurt her eyes, but they quickly became accustom to the shinning warmth. She looked about the room, it was not the dungeon she was expecting to find herself in. It was much better, bright, warm and she was even on a bed. Khasara looked down at the blankets that were pulled over her chest, and tried to rise but instantly pain shot through her head.

"I wouldn't do that just yet if I were you." A dark voice came from the corner of the room. Khasara sat up anyway holding herself up with one hand while the other she placed on her head.

"Yea? An what would you know about it?" She questioned the figure seated in a chair across from the bed.

"My nurses have been keeping an eye on you and said that you should take your time with movement." Atem said leaning forward in his seat to allow the light to fall over his face. Khasara looked at him for a moment before looking down at herself, it was then that she realized that she was no longer wearing her jeans and t-shirt. Instead, she was wearing a plain white cotton gown. She looked up and her ebony eyes met the crimson cat-like eyes of the Pharaoh.

"What happened to me?" She asked, fear tugging at the far edges of her voice.

"You fainted during the trial. Don't you remember?" He asked a confused look crossing his face. Khasara looked at him, trying to remember what happened.

"I remember when the guy with the key came forward and somehow came into my mind. There was this Pegasus creature there, and it kicked the guy out. Then I remember feeling weak and pain everywhere, and then seeing the Pegasus in front of me, you and your priest people," She said holding her head once again, "and then nothing but darkness"

"I see, and by the way the man with the key about his neck was Priest Shada." he stated putting his hand to his chin still watching Khasara as she looked around the room with curious eyes.

"Oh." Khasara responded dully as she peered around the room. Suddenly, she turned back to Atem with worry in her eyes.

"How long was I out?" she questioned.

"About a day and a half, give or take a few hours." Once again, she looked down at the bed before her. "I wonder if Matt and Nye are ok?" she asked herself. Again, another question crossed her mind and she could not hold her tongue quick enough before she asked it.

"Who are you anyway?" With that question, Atem snapped his attention from the window back to the woman in front of him.

"You mean to say you have no idea who I am." He questioned, kind of shocked still at this fact. She slowly shook her head No. "I am Pharaoh Atem, and you are"

"My name is Khasara." She stated flatly. The fact that he himself had just said he was the Pharaoh, made things fall together in Khasara's mind. "Oh my god! Some how I've actually been transported into ancient Egypt," she thought. Her jaw slightly dropped, but not enough to be noticed by Atem. She still could hardly believe it, then with everything that has happened she could just about believe anything. Then the door opened and a servant stepped in holding a piece of parchment, he bowed slightly before explaining himself.

"Your majesty. My apologies, but we just received a letter from the upper kingdom ruler that the Princess was suppose to arrive with in a few days of receiving this letter." The slave said with another slight bow before handing over the parchment to Atem. Khasara watched as Atem's eyes read over the paper, and at one point his eyes widened. He then looked up at her then back down to the paper then read on. Khasara sat confused for a moment, then decided that this could be used to her advantage. "Hmmm. I could play princess for a while until I find a way to get back to my time. I know that if I told these people that I was from the future that would win me a one way ticket to the loony bin," she thought to herself and then spoke up again.

"If I might introduce myself again my King." She said throwing the blankets from her and standing as straight and as dignified as possible. "I am her Royal Majesty Princess Khasara from the upper kingdom." She curtsied to her best ability but could not do much because the pain shot through her head once again, and she had to sit back down on the bed.

Atem looked at Khasara then back down to the letter, where the upper kingdom ruler had stated:
"Your Royal Majesty Atem, My daughter Princess Khasara is to arrive at your kingdom some time within the next few days of you receiving this letter. She will be traveling lightly on camel with a handful of my best guards and soldiers. I hope she is to your liking and behaves herself whilst she is a visitor with you"

The Kings signature was placed at the bottom of the page. Atem took a third look at the page then back up at Khasara. "So she is the princess that was requested to come. Well at least that explains her attitude." He then stood up and bowed.

"It is a pleasure to meet you my Princess. If I might say so, it is an honor to have you here. But might I ask what became of your escorts." He looked back up at Khasara's face. Khasara turned her head away appearing to be slightly sad, but really, she was thinking of some lie to tell him of what happened. She put a hand to face covering her eyes, then an idea hit her and she choked a fake sob and turned back to Atem.

"There was a mishap in the desert. I went to sleep after a long day of traveling and when I awoke, they were gone. I was left all alone. Therefore, I rode my camel in the direction we had been riding, and fell upon your tomb. It was then that I went inside seeing a horse tied near I thought that maybe someone was there. That is were I met the thief, Bakura I think you said it was. Then you showed up, and the whole thing yesterday happened and now I'm here"

"What happened to your luggage might I ask?" Khasara looked at him and her eyes widened for just a minute before she thought of something again.

"I had to leave it behind I couldn't pack it onto my camel with me and my food packs. The poor creature would not have survived, and there was not another animal left. I guess when my guards went missing the animals were taken with them." She said folding her hands in her lap, making her excuse look believable.

Atem watched her, and decided that she was telling the truth. He then turned back to the slave standing in the doorway.

"Have milady's clothes brought to her, and two horses made ready." He ordered. The man quickly bowed and ran from the room. Khasara watched as the door closed, then looked back at the pharaoh with a puzzled expression on her face.

"And why are we going for a horse ride?" She asked.

"Since you have no clothes of your own any more I figured we go and visit the tailor. An while we are at it maybe you could get a tour of the city." Atem said a small smile crossing his face.

"Oh." Khasara said turning and looking back at her hands in her lap. Within minutes, her jeans, t-shirt, jacket, and shoes were brought to her. Atem thought that this was the perfect opportunity to slip out and waited outside the door.

Khasara dressed herself, tossing the cotton gown to the bed. "God that thing itched something awful," she thought to herself and walked to the door. She found Atem waiting outside for her, and when she stepped into the hall, he began to walk down the passageway and into the courtyard. She once again looked around the courtyard, it was much prettier now that she was not wondering what was going on. Palm trees lined the tall sand walls and the ground was covered with native flowers of various of colors. The scents drifted to her as she followed behind the Pharaoh to the two horses standing in the middle of the yard.

Atem approached to two horses, being held by a stable boy and easily mounted a massive bay stallion. Then turned to watch Khasara as she swung upon the sorrel gelding next to him. He looked at her riding style of choice, not very lady-like that was for sure. She rode astride the horse instead of sidesaddle like most of the Ladies that visited the palace for balls, and meeting with surrounding kingdoms. He shrugged it off and steered his horse to face the gates of the palace.

"Shall we be off milady?" He questioned motioning toward the gates. Khasara adjusted herself in the saddle, turned to look at him before turning her horse, and trotted toward the gates.

"Whenever you're ready." She said giving him a charming smile as she looked back at him. Atem nudged his horse forward catching up with her before they exited the gates.

Set watched from a balcony as Atem and the so-called Princess Khasara rode out of the gates and into the city.

"I do not know what is it about this strange girl. I don't care if she says she's the princess or not. Things just don't add up to me, something just does not feel right. And I will be watching out for anything strange, I promise that." He said before he turned back into the room to finish his work. Isis had begun to walk by when she heard Set's declaration. She let out a sigh and closed her eyes. "At least I'm not the only one who feels that way. But in time things shall be revealed." Isis thought to herself then continued her walk through the palace.

Matt kept the bandana tightly around his face, lifting it only once to make sure Nye was alright. The horse seemed not to notice the storm raging around him, as he stood relaxed resting on one back leg and his head hung evenly with his whither. The porch they were standing on was not that much of a protector from the storm but it was better than nothing. The wind seemed to go on forever, the wind whipping against the shutters and siding of the building. But through the harsh wind the door remained locked tight. Matt leaned back upon the wall as he listened to the wind howl around him. The sand that managed to get around into the porch stung his unprotected skin like shards of glass.

Just as Matt started to think that the sand storm was never going to end the wind began to let up on it attack upon the station. Soon the sand settled back down to the ground. Matt removed his bandana, and let out a sigh of relief before pulling the towel that was tied protectively around Nye's eyes and ears. The horse blinked, looked around and shook the loose dirt from his chestnut coat. Then looked back at Matt with that "Well, what do we do now?" look.

"Well, lets go see what the well looks like bud." Matt told the horse as he spun him around on the porch. When he was down on the ground he moved safely out of the way as the gelding quickly jumped from the wooded planks. They walked back to the hitching post and looked in the tub that was once filled with water. Now the metal basin contained soggy red mud. Nye looked at the muck and drooped his ears, shook his head and snorting at the mixture. Matt gave another sigh and kneeled down and pulled a pluck that kept the water, or now mud, in the tub. The red mush oozed out of the container slowly. Nye took a few steps back as it slowly made its toward his hooves, bent his head down and snorted at the muck. Once it was empty Matt replaced the plug and pumped fresh clean water into the basin. Nye gently placed his nose to the liquid and drank slowly.

"There, happy now, you spoiled horse." Nye picked his head up from the water, stretching his nose out towards him. Matt reached up and patted the horse's head, then out of nowhere Nye let out a sneeze, shook his head and went back to drinking. The now snot covered Matt pressed his lips tightly together and glared at the horse. "Nice. Real nice. Thank you so very much for the shower. That's just what I needed." He said sarcastically to the creature. Nye took on last gulp, before his rested his head on the post and slowly went to sleep. Matt looked up at the starry sky, wiping his face with the bandana. He walked to the building and sat down leaning against the wall, closed his eyes, and he too was sleep within minutes

Awww it seems like Matty-watty had a bad dream, but was it really a dream or a vision? (covers mouth and gives and innocent look) Opps did I say that out loud? Well anyway, now Khasara is "The Princess of the Upper Kingdom" soo to speak. But for how long will that last, and what is the matter with Set and Isis? Gosh, they seem paranode or something (giggles).

Again hope you enjoyed this chapter just as you did the others, sorry it took so long. I hate writers block. I promise to try to update sooner next time. Until then, valve...thats Latin for Good-bye!
Moxy