Thank you for these characters and their stories, Kazuki Takahashi. Requiescat in pace.

Chapter Sixty-Three

Dria

We decided to spend our date strolling through the downtown section of Domino where the newest game stores and popular food options were. Some of the game shops had board games available to play for free, so the three of us played multiple rounds of various games, each one winning at least once. Our game of Monopoly became particularly intense, and eventually we had to declare a tie before our arguments escalated too far. Yugi and the Pharaoh kept claiming that I was cheating by using actual business tactics when they had none; I didn't deny this claim to keep them from asking about how often I'd used my magic to eavesdrop on the thoughts in their shared mind.

We then found a small park with various food carts, surprisingly even one that served Middle Eastern cuisine. The Pharaoh had loved an ancient version of falafel when we were children, so I encouraged him to try a modern recipe. He had enjoyed it so much that he 'accidentally' ate them all while I was buying Yugi an overpriced hamburger, leaving me with none to enjoy myself. I made sure that he couldn't have any of the ice cream that we found nearby for dessert.

After our late afternoon meal, we made our way to the Pegasus mansion, where it was highly unlikely that we would be interrupted by curious individuals. I gave each of the maids and butlers a bonus for their hard work and told them to take the rest of the day off. As soon as the front door was closed, the Pharaoh hoisted me over his shoulder and asked for directions to my room. Yugi immediately retreated, and a distinctive 'click' indicated that he had firmly locked himself within the Puzzle. Shortly after, I found myself on my bed with my rather zealous lover pressing every curve of his body against mine. Though he didn't quite have the same muscular build as he once did, my heart still sputtered at the sensation. It wasn't long before the pillows and sheets were strewn about the bed and the floor, along with various articles of clothing.

The Pharaoh more than fulfilled the promises his eyes had made me in the moments before we escaped from Kaiba Corp. Island. My body sang as he teased every nerve with his hands and tongue. In the brief moments when I wasn't trembling in pleasure, I utilized each sensitive spot on his body as well to return the favor. He groaned in response multiple times, then redoubled his own efforts to bring goosebumps to my skin. Tears filled my eyes every time I heard him say 'I love you,' and it brought me absolute joy to return the sentiment with my own words and actions.

The moon had begun to rise by the time we were finished with one another. I collapsed on top of him, thoroughly spent at last, feeling my limbs shaking in exhaustion. He gently kissed my forehead again as I rolled off him to lay at his side, a coat of sweat covering us both. After pulling the sheet back up to cover us, I rested my head against his shoulder, feeling his rapid heartbeat slow to its normal rhythm as my own tried to do the same. We laid there for a few moments trying to catch our breaths.

Please tell me it's safe to come out now.

Yugi had finally resurfaced from the Puzzle, albeit very slowly and tentatively. I smiled at him, "Yes, yes, it's all clear. We need a chance to rest and regain our energy. We always did have a problem getting out of bed."

Yugi groaned in response, covering his reddening face with his hands as he tried to block out the meaning of my words. Only when the Pharaoh and I both promised to keep ourselves under control did Yugi agree to rejoin our conversation. With a wave of my hand, we were clean and decent once more, though we still chose to stay on the bed. The two young men had many questions for me, and it was time I answered some truthfully. I smiled at them both, tightly hugging a pillow to my body as I sat across from them both.

"What would you like to know?"

My two companions looked at one another for a few moments before returning their gazes to me, both sets of purple eyes filled with deep curiosity. Before either one spoke, I gave them a warning.

"There are some things that I cannot tell you, no matter how much I might wish to. So, please don't be too disappointed if my answers seem short or unsatisfactory." They both nodded in agreement before launching into their inquisition.

"Where were you born?"

I tried to restrain my grimace at Yugi's first question; it was only natural for him to begin there. I debated how to answer for a few moments, before deciding that a heavily edited version of the truth was the best course of action.

"A kingdom near to, maybe even on, the sea, far from Egypt. It has long been lost to history, and it was destroyed when I was young. The name would mean nothing to you now."

"Do you remember how it was destroyed?"

I glanced up at the ceiling, holding back as much emotion as I could in remembering the land of my birth. "Nothing is very clear. I remember an earthquake, a fire, and a bright green light. All my family perished in the event, so there was no one to recount their memories or pass on the ancestral traditions to me. But, as I said, I was young and so much time has passed now that I struggle to recall anything more detailed."

Though not a complete lie, the more honest answer would have been that it was too painful for me to think back on those days. I had been betrayed by one I considered to be family, and it was a wound that had taken many centuries to scar. Even now, if I dwelled on the memories for too long, I could feel the pain still throbbing beneath my chest. It had been my home, after all, where people I had loved dearly once lived.

"Was it after losing your home that you ended up in Egypt?"

I nodded solemnly, not offering any further information to the Pharaoh. Our conversation lulled for a few moments before they suddenly switched topics, asking about what my life had been like at various points, which famous people I'd met over the years, and how I'd kept myself sane all this time. Very few questions revolved around my time in Egypt with the Pharaoh, almost as if they knew it was a topic to avoid.

"What about marriage? You were married to the Pharaoh at one point, but did you ever marry someone else?"

I hesitated to answer Yugi's question and looked towards the Pharaoh for guidance. Though the jealousy was clear in his eyes, he still nodded with a stoic expression, wanting to hear the answer. I took a deep breath before responding.

"Legally yes, I did marry other men throughout the years, primarily for my own protection during times that were difficult for young, single women." I paused, returning my gaze to the Pharaoh, "But I didn't marry any of them for love, and I never slept with them. Only one man has ever had that privilege." I finished my answer with a smile, hoping to alleviate his concerns about where my heart belonged. His previously tense shoulders relaxed as relief filled his body, and he leaned towards me to kiss me again. His lips quickly drifted back down to my neck, and a shiver ran down my spine as his fingers danced over my back to pull me closer, tracing the marks he'd left behind earlier.

Pharaoh! You promised to behave yourself!

"I'm sorry, partner, but I couldn't help it. How else can I respond when such a beautiful and brilliant woman declares her love and loyalty to me alone?"

My heart reveled in the deep baritone chuckle that escaped the Pharaoh's mouth in response to his younger partner's irritation. Yugi petulantly crossed his arms over his chest before dropping the act and smiling widely. He wasn't truly upset with our behavior; he was thrilled that we were happy, together again after so long. A comfortable silence fell between us for a short while before Yugi asked another question.

"So would that mean that you've never had your own children?"

I smiled sadly, "No, I haven't. I'm not positive, but I think my curse prevents my body from changing in such a way." I winked at the Pharaoh, "Not that I've taken opportunities to test that theory." I paused again, growing somber once more, "I do regret not having been able to give you a child, Pharaoh. You would have made a wonderful father."

All three of us fell silent again, not knowing how to continue the conversation. I hadn't meant to make things awkward, but I wanted him to know my innermost thoughts before I became too cowardly to voice them. He deserved to hear the truth, as much as I could give, from my own lips. My two companions looked at each other one final time, then the Pharaoh voiced their last question.

"Do you wish you were mortal?"

His question caught me off guard, and I wasn't sure of my answer at first. Part of me did wish that I were mortal and could die just like everyone around me. The time I had spent with many dear friends had been too short, years passing in the blink of an eye and my time in certain places coming to an end before I was prepared to leave. I couldn't deny the sizeable desire to be mortal once more.

Yet, at the same time, I didn't regret my immortality, especially not at this moment. Even though there had been times where I'd hit the absolute bottom emotionally and mentally, someone had always pulled me back, reminding me of what I did have rather than what I had lost. I had been blessed with the opportunity to travel the nearly every corner of the globe, to meet incredible individuals who changed my life for the better, and to be with the man I deeply loved in two separate lifetimes.

As all these thoughts crashed around in my head, I could only smile and respond, "Sometimes yes, and sometimes no. There are many things I am grateful for and many things that I regret." He seemed to understand my brief answer and was satisfied with my reply. A sudden yawn overtook me as my physical exertions for the day finally took their toll. I felt a kiss pressed to my forehead, and I leaned into my companion's arms. As my body began to relax, a final important thought entered my mind.

"I expect that I'll have a nightmare about Marik, so don't worry if I scream."

"We'll be right here, Dria. You won't ever be alone again."

I smiled at his reassurance and allowed sleep to overtake me. My fears had been well placed. It wasn't long before I was staring into the frenzied eyes of the evil Marik once more.

"You're mine now, my Queen. Your dear lover has lost this duel and his Millennium Puzzle. It's only a matter of time before this entire world belongs to me! Now no one can stand in my way!"

Marik's wicked cackle echoed across the shadows. Pharaoh and Yugi had lost the final match of Battle City. Yugi was trapped in the Shadow Realm, and his counterpart's spirit was sealed once again within the Puzzle. Their shared body lay motionless on the dueling platform across from me. I couldn't understand why; the Pharaoh's spirit should have just taken full control of the body when Yugi vanished. Instead, he was forced back into his prison, and I knew that I would never see him again. I was alone against this madman, and I was ensnared by the shadow chains that kept me from escaping.

"Now, to pick up where I left off. As I said, we really should get to know one another better, my Lady. This time, you will be mine."

Using the sharp end of his Millennium Rod, Marik swiftly tore my blouse from my body, exposing my upper torso to his perusal, leaving only my long hair as a defense against his gaze. His eyes hungrily roamed over the revealed skin, and I turned my head away from him in anger and shame. There was nothing I could do to stop him, and for one of the few times in my life, I was completely powerless. His fingertips skimmed down the center of my body as his excitement grew. He laughed once more as he shed his own cloak and shirt, depositing them on the ground behind him.

"I'm going to enjoy this, my dearest Lady." He lunged at me, hands outstretched, and –

I shot up out of bed with a loud gasp, panting as the nightmare dissipated. I placed my hand over my rapidly beating heart to calm its rhythm and remind my body that Marik had been stopped.

"We're here, Dria."

Yugi's gentle voice flew into my ears as his hand touched my shoulder, prompting me to turn towards the young man, his ghostly spirit sitting on the edge of the bed to watch over us both. I moved closer to him, wrapping my arms around him and burying my face into his chest, trying to restrain frightened tears. Yugi glanced quickly towards the Pharaoh, not wanting to cause any problems with his partner. The older man smiled and nodded his head in understanding; Yugi wrapped his arms around me reassuringly. It felt like a warm blanket had surrounded me, and soon I sank back into a dreamless sleep.

"Alexandria Isis Pegasus! What in heaven's name is going on here?"

The bedroom door slammed against the wall, rudely awakening me. I stretched my arms over my head, feeling refreshed even after a nightmare.

"Good morning to you too, Father."

"Alexandria, why is Yugi Mutou in your bed? You have five seconds to answer before I shoot him."

As much as Yugi's panic-stricken face amused me, I didn't want to risk my father trying to harm him. It was time my father and I had a heart-to-heart talk anyway. Now that Yugi and the Pharaoh knew a good portion of the truth, I felt it was right to share some of my secrets with Pegasus as well. I motioned to Croquet, who was standing behind Father.

"Croquet, would you please escort Yugi safely out of the house and have a driver take him home? He's done nothing wrong to warrant any kind of punishment or threats. Father, we need to talk in private."

Pegasus' eyes widened to the size of dinner plates as the color drained from his face. Though I could only guess at what his wild imagination was leading him to believe the conversation would be about, I was nearly positive that he wouldn't guess correctly. Yugi quickly departed the room with Croquet after I promised to call him later. The door closed behind them, leaving Pegasus and I alone as requested.

Neither of us said anything for a few moments. With a small smile, I just stared at my father, willing to let him ask the questions that his fear placed into him. Behind his remaining eye, I could see his mind was spinning with where to begin his interrogation until finally he could wait no longer.

"Alexandria, are you about to tell me that you're pregnant by that boy?"

All my thoughts grinded to a halt as I processed Pegasus' question. I didn't even know how to respond at first until laughter burst forth from my mouth and tears threatened to stream down my face. Of all the directions for his concerns to take; not that it wasn't a well-founded worry, especially given the fact that he'd just witnessed Yugi and I sharing a bed, but it was hilarious, nonetheless. It took several minutes for my laughter to recede to the point that I could respond.

"No, Father, I'm not pregnant. I'm fairly confident that I'm not able to have children, so let's go ahead and remove that from the equation."

Pegasus' eyes narrowed in confusion at my statement, "What's that supposed to mean?"

I smiled in response, diverting his attention elsewhere for the time being, "Remember all those stories you asked me to tell you about the Prince and Princess of Egypt?" He nodded slightly in response. "Well, they're not fictional stories." I paused a moment, surprised by the emotions I saw flicker across my father's face. "But something tells me that you'd already guessed that, or at least considered the possibility."

Maintaining his blank expression, he nodded, "Some of the details in those stories were almost too specific, too personal. It was as if you'd experienced it yourself and were reliving a memory, not simply making up a story. But logically that isn't possible, so I pushed the idea aside."

A twinge of fear ran down my spine as my mouth went dry. Pegasus had been more astute over the years than I had given him credit for. But how would he respond when I told him the truth? He was the most likely to respond in fear and anger, if for no other reason than because I had been lying to him all these years. I wouldn't blame him for responding in such a way either.

"You weren't wrong, Father. They are my memories. Despite how I look, I've been alive for over 5,000 years."

Silence immediately overtook our conversation. Pegasus' expression had frozen, and I could nearly see the wheels in his mind screech to a stop as he tried to process my revelation. Although I wanted to say more and try to offer as much consolation as I could, the words refused to come. Instead, I dropped my head down, staring intently at the floor beneath me, and tried to restrain tears as my fear grew. I heard the bedroom door open, and I glanced up in confusion. The door shut behind Pegasus before I could say another word. My heart twisted painfully, having already experienced this situation once before.

"Master Shimon?"

My guardian had frozen after hearing the truth about my age. When I reached out to reassure him that I was still the same person, he took many hurried steps backwards, creating a large distance between us. Fear radiated through his eyes as he continued to stare at me as if I were the god of chaos himself. As slowly as possible, I sat on the ground before him and bowed my head, indicating that he was in the position of power and I only a suppliant.

I heard his footsteps fleeing from the room before I could raise my head again. It was the first time I'd ever shared this secret with anyone, and while I shouldn't have been surprised, I felt frustrated and hurt by the fact that Shimon had only felt fear despite having already known me for 7 summers now. If my guardian reacted in such a way, how would the Prince respond?

I shook my head, pushing that thought out of my head. I already knew the answer anyway. He would react in fear as well and run far away from me. He would view me as a demon, as Shimon no doubt did now. He would likely tell the Pharaoh about my secret, and then the real danger would arise. I would be lucky if the Pharaoh asked me to quietly leave the kingdom and didn't try to have me either killed or imprisoned for research purposes.

Master Shimon didn't show himself to me for many days following. A messenger always came to deliver some kind of excuse as to why my lesson was cancelled. Though I wasn't sure if it would help, I made no plans to flee and continued about my usual business, working as hard as I could to make it clear that I loved this kingdom deeply and wanted nothing more than to serve the Pharaoh and his household with unquestionable loyalty.

Master Aknadin had probably noticed the sudden distance between my guardian and me, but he made no public comment about it. The Prince knew that Shimon hadn't been conducting my usual lessons recently, but rather than questioning why, he used my extra time as an opportunity for playing games and adventuring beyond the palace walls. Strategy games were always fierce between the two of us, oftentimes with Mahad needing to remove the game when the volume of our arguments escalated beyond what was considered acceptable. The Prince never took losing well.

A week passed by before Shimon returned. I was in a garden, napping in the shade beneath a shady tree, when a messenger announced my guardian's arrival. I slowly lifted my head and smiled as he appeared before me, and though I desperately wanted to throw my arms around his knees and beg for his forgiveness and understanding, I kept myself as still as possible to keep his fear at bay. Neither of us spoke for a few moments, during which the herald disappeared back into the palace. Only after his patience reached its limit did Shimon open his mouth to speak.

An unexpected scream diverted us from beginning our conversation. Anzu was walking through from another hallway when a snake suddenly crossed her path. It hissed loudly at her and rose in preparation to strike. With a snap of my fingers, I traded places with her, putting myself into the snake's path and her safely by Shimon's side. The snake hissed again, but made no further moves, as if waiting to see what I would do first. I was still laying on my stomach, my position not having changed despite my new location. Though I didn't want to frighten the creature any further, I also wanted it to understand that I was the alpha in this scenario, so I kept a calm yet challenging gaze on it. The Pharaoh and the Prince had entered the garden by this time, followed by Mahad and the other guardians.

"Be careful, my daughter!"

"Aziza! Don't get hurt, please!"

"Lady Dria, stay perfectly still. We'll have the snake removed as quickly as possible."

A smile arose on my lips, though I didn't remove my gaze from the reptile before me. My dragon was serpentine like the one before me, and much larger too; though I didn't fancy myself a snake-charmer, I wasn't afraid of these beautiful creatures. The affection and concern that came through the words of my companions was touching, nevertheless. At least I still felt wanted and welcome for the time being.

After several moments of silence, my opponent settled down and became docile, seeming to realize that its life was not being threatened. It had simply been frightened by its surroundings and responded the only way it knew how to so it would survive. I smiled gently at the creature, understanding the relevance to my current situation. Shimon had only responded as any natural human would, interested in his and the kingdom's survival above all else. Though it may have frustrated me emotionally, I could understand his reaction logically. I just had to hope that he would be willing to listen to the rest of my tale with an open mind and heart. The snake slowly slithered toward me, wrapping my arm with its coils and settling next to my cheek to resume his nap, now as gentle as my own dragon.

The memory released me once again, though the vice-like grip only tightened in my chest. Needing a distraction, I left my bedroom, heading straight for the drawing room at the far end of the house. Pegasus and I used this room whenever we wanted privacy to paint. It was a nearly empty room with multiple windows for natural light, and a balcony for when we wanted to sit outside.

Setting up a fresh canvas and organizing the acrylic paints, I began sweeping my various brushes over the previously blank space. Blues, purples, reds, and greens soon dominated the scene, a tan, brown, and gray backdrop with elegant clouds. A figure soon began to emerge from the scattered mess of colors, creating a focal point for the painting. I wasn't sure how much time had passed since I'd begun when I heard Father's voice from behind me.

"You haven't painted anything like this in years. He looks like Yugi, and yet not somehow. Who is he?"

I paused in my brushstrokes to look at the image I had created. Staring back at me was an image of Yami, as the pharaoh he'd once been. His angular features dominated the canvas and his eyes demanded attention and respect, yet the slight upward turn on his lips softened the scene. While his Nemes headdress wasn't present, the golden jewelry that glimmered across his forehead, neck, and ears displayed his proud wealth and status.

"Someone from long ago, a man I still love even now."

Pegasus gave no response to my statement, only staring at the painting in silence. After a few moments, he gently touched my elbow to pull me away from the painting. As soon as I turned toward him, he offered his hand to me, which I took immediately. We walked toward the balcony. It was still cool outside despite being late morning, a gentle breeze keeping the air from becoming stagnant. We sat together at the table, where hot tea and brunch had already been prepared. Pegasus handed me a cup of tea and a plate of fruit and small sandwiches. Then, leaning forward on his elbows and placing his chin on top of his linked hands, he nodded that he was prepared to hear my story. I took a sip of tea before beginning.

We sat on the balcony for the next several hours, me telling my story and him listening intently. It didn't take him by surprise that I was a magician, though having revealed my age to him probably handled that question. I then told him nearly everything, only eliminating the name of my former homeland, her king, and the true extent of my age. Nothing else was hidden from him: the green light that had torn through my kingdom, the fire that had taken the lives of my family and friends, and the earthquake that had left my beloved city in rubble. I felt my eyes water with tears as I described what I had seen, and he took my hand into his own, gently rubbing the back and occasionally squeezing it, as if to remind me that he was still there as I wandered through my past.

As I transitioned to the time between my homeland and Egypt, he smiled at my moments of peace and joy, and he gasped when my situations became dire. When my true home became the topic, his eyes softened when I narrated my life with the Pharaoh, seeing how I truly loved the man. He grasped my hand tightly as I briefly explained what had happened to my beloved husband and our kingdom. He understood the devastation I'd felt at losing the one person who made my world turn. Though I didn't reveal many details, it was enough to move my life's history forward.

His entire body became rigid when I described the difficulties I'd experienced in the years after leaving Egypt, how I had been treated in other kingdoms as the years passed by. Though I had been in positions of power on numerous occasions, I had also experienced great poverty and rejection due to various reasons, my gender at the forefront sometimes. As I told him, though, I never regretted being a woman, or wished that I'd been born a man. I had accomplished much in many kingdoms and done what I could to improve the lives of those around me if it were possible. I didn't always succeed, which brought me many frustrations, but I never quit.

Finally, I explained the loneliness that had driven me to changing my form into a child and the orphanage I'd put myself into, where I met Pegasus and Cecelia. He was a major part of my story from that point forward, so my narration came to an end.

"And you know the rest of the story. You've been an irreplaceable figure in my life for more than a decade."

Pegasus sat back in his chair for the first time since my story began, crossing his arms at his chest as his remaining eye kept its gaze on me. After several moments of silence, he motioned for me to cross to his side of the table. I slowly rose from my chair and, obeying his request, walked around the table to stand by his side. Softening his posture, he took both of my hands into his own and placed a kiss on my knuckles. Before I could speak again, he quickly stood and wrapped his arms around my waist, pulling me into a fatherly embrace. My arms surrounded his neck as I lightly cried into his shoulder, finally releasing years' worth of fear over his possible rejection of me.

"My beautiful Dria," he pulled back from the hug, placing his hands on my face and wiping away the few tears that had escaped, "the day we lost your mother, I swore to you that I would be at your side for the rest of my life. I failed you once at Duelist Kingdom, I know, but I won't fail you again. Your story, though it will take some time for me to fully process, doesn't change anything. You are my daughter, and you always will be, no matter your age or history."

Tears blurred my vision as they fell from my eyes and ran into Pegasus' fingers. He smiled as he kissed the top of my head, pulling me close to him once more. We stood there together for several more moments before Croquet returned, announcing that dinner was ready to be served. Pegasus asked no further questions about my personal history, instead updating me on the latest game proposals he had received and asked for my perspective on each. We agreed to invest in three of those new games as we finished our dessert and coffee.

As we parted for the evening, my father took my face into his hands and kissed the top of my head again and a genuine, loving smile arose on his lips as he told me goodnight. He then left the dining room, returning to his office to finish his remaining paperwork. Our conversation had delayed his work schedule, though it wasn't unusual for him to work late into the night. I returned to my bedroom to call Yugi and reassure him that Pegasus wouldn't shoot him for the time being. I also informed him that my father was now also on the short list of those who knew my secret. We didn't talk for much longer since it was late, and Yugi had to attend school in the morning. I agreed to meet him in the school courtyard after his classes ended.

As I climbed into bed, I realized how relaxed I felt after a full day of sharing my closely guarded secrets. For so many years, fear had kept me from allowing anyone into my heart, making sure we were at least an arm's length apart from one another. The only person who I had allowed near was the Pharaoh himself, and it had only been more difficult to form true friendships after losing him. I had never wanted to feel such pain again, yet here I was, opening myself up to the possibility once more. Even so, I felt only relief and joy as I sank into the mattress. I was looking forward to acting 'normal' around people I loved again.

As I drifted off to sleep, I felt a slight twinge in my chest. If I hadn't been so relaxed, I might have gotten out of bed and followed the pull towards my dresser. My jewelry box sat on top, where I kept various necklaces, earrings, bracelets, and rings that I had received over the years. There was a special compartment within the box that could only be opened with magic. If I'd been more cautious, I might have opened that section and looked inside at the single piece of jewelry I had hidden there. It was a small circlet made of Atlantean metal, the same material Aristokles had been forged from, and it shone just as brightly as my staff still did. In the center had been placed a solitary stone.

A stone that was now glowing bright green.