Yugi drags the course brush through the horses chestnut mane, humming to the rhythmic sound of the bristles. Her free hand goes to rub the nose of it as it lets out a snort in response. She lets out a giggle and continues to brush its manes.
She hears a clatter behind her and turns to look over her shoulder, finding her white haired companion easily. Ryou holds a large basin filled to the brim with water. It threatens to slosh over the sides as she brings it over to the empty trough, pouring the fresh water in. She holds the the empty basin to her hip and turns to Yugi.
"Princess, we're almost done with the chores here. Do you want to go for a ride afterwards?" Her voice comes out softly, a tone reserved for very few in private conversations.
"Ryou, no one is around you don't have to call me by title," Yugi huffs. "But yes, I would love to. Let's take Star and Cinnamon. They love to go for rides." Ryou nods and disappears from view. There were a few more sounds of sloshing water and clattering before Ryou came back into view holding a saddle, walking over to a pure white horse. Ryou swings the saddle over the horses frame and starts fastening the straps on it.
Yugi watches her for a few moments before turning back to the horse in front of her, finishing brushing the beast.
As she drags it down one more time, she hears Ryou walk off once more. Yugi puts the brush back on the shelf in the stall. Giving the horse a pat she takes the second saddle from Ryou as she comes over once more.
The two work quickly to strap it into place. Yugi loved to do menial tasks. While it technically wasn't "proper" for a princess to do, it was better than doing nothing. Yugi was grateful her parents didn't enforce the traditional customs.
Ryou was her companion during her tasks. She knew her quiet friend liked to spend more time around the animals than any human in the palace anyway.
As the final strap is clipped into place, Ryou steps back, allowing Yugi to grab the reins of the horse and slowly lead it from its stall and out of the stable. Ryou follows shortly behind with Star. The two walk out of the stable and onto the dirt road. Ryou looks up at the sky, finding it blue and clear. "It's a nice day isn't it?" Yugi says, stepping into the foothold and swinging onto the back of Cinnamon.
Ryou doesn't answer immediately, her brows furrowing as she does a quick look around, "Yes." Yugi pauses noticing the shift in her friend's demeanor. "Ryou, what's wrong?" A few moments pass once more before Ryou shakes her head and mounts her horse with ease.
"Nothing, your highness. I thought I heard something."
Yugi frowns, not buying the excuse. Ryou was very perceptive of little things. There was a reason she was trusted to be a royal's bodyguard despite her young age. "Are you sure it's nothing?" She asks.
Ryou glances at her, brown eyes flashing with alertness. She hesitates to answer. "Ryou?" Yugi prods again.
"Something doesn't feel right," she admits. Yugi shifts in the saddle.
"Should we go inside?" Ryou mulls over the question before shaking her head. She's turns to Yugi with a soft smile.
"No, let's go for a ride. It's probably nothing, your highness." At this Ryou snaps the reins, commanding the horse to move forward. Yugi frowns before following, her head looking around, finding nothing out of the ordinary. Perhaps it was nothing.
The two ride side by side in silence, the only sound come from the horses as they move along the dirt road. Yugi takes a look around once more before saying, "Mother is worried that a war might break out soon." Ryou looks at her from the side of her eye.
"Are you?" Yugi bites her lip at the question nodding.
"I am. Our country is small compared to theirs. Their military power would easily overpower us. If we had war, I doubt we would win."
"War is never one on one. Our kingdom has many allies that would come to our aid if war did break out." Ryou clutches the reins tighter. "I would never allow you to be hurt Yugi." At her name Yugi turns to look at Ryou, finding her green eyes staring right back. "Jou and Malik would never either."
At the mention of her other two bodyguards she smiles softly. The two were summoned earlier by her parents. No doubt over something else the two had broken while roughhousing. They never seemed to be able to keep out of trouble for long. Yugi wouldn't doubt if they were currently scrubbing the kitchen floors as punishment. Ryou seemed to be the only one fully capable of keeping the princess out of the chaos.
The smile fades fast though. "I'm not the one I'm worried about. It's my people. They would be most affected by the war. I would be safe. I know that. You-" Ryou's hand shoots up to stop her next words.
She halts her horse, Yugi doing the same. Ryou's head snaps in the direction of the palace and then her gaze goes up toward the sky once more.
The clear blue sky was no more, a dark cloud of smoke, blooming up and up. Both took a sharp inhale, tasting the smoke on their tongues. Neither said a thing before the echoing sound of gunshots rang out.
Ryou snaps her head towards Yugi. "We need to go NOW!" Her voice was commanding and Yugi knew better than to go against it. She swallows and nods as Ryou yanks her horse towards the direction of the palace and urges her into a gallop, Yugi following right next to her.
The popping sound of gunfire doesn't stop, growing louder as they got closer to the palace. "Are we taking the tunnels?" Yugi asks. Ryou nods.
"Right now it's our best bet to getting you to safety."
"What about mother and father?" Yugi asks panicked. She couldn't leave them behind.
"They know the routes. They'll most likely be heading there as well. Don't worry, Yugi, Jou and Malik should be with them. We have safety measures in place for this kind of situation."
Yugi tried to force herself to calm down. Her thundering heart competing with the sound of her world burning around her.
Within minutes the two arrived at the palace, Ryou doesn't slow before leaping from her horse. She smacks the rear of it, sending the horse off riderless. Yugi slows only for a moment as Ryou pulls her from the saddle, before sending the horse off as well.
As soon as Yugi's feet hit the ground Ryou's hand is at her hip, pulling her gun from its holster. She cocks its and takes the safety switch off.
"Stay close." Ryou orders. Yugi nods, following close behind as Ryou takes the lead towards the two glass doors to the palace.
There were no guards. They were nowhere to be seen. Ryou opens one door before peeking inside, she holds her gun in front of her as she checks both hallways. Nothing.
She grips Yugi's arm and pulls the girl inside, closing the door behind them. Ryou goes over the mental map in her head. They need to get to the West passage. It would be a short path from here but still dangerous.
Ryou holds her finger up to her mouth signaling to be quiet. Her hand goes back to her gun, holding it in front of her. Ryou couldn't feel anyone around but she wasn't taking any chances. The two start down the hallway, Ryou taking the lead with Yugi close behind.
Ryou gaze darts from the windows outside to in front of them, looking for anyone enemy or not. Soon the two reach the end of the hallway and flatten themselves against the wall. Ryou creeps up towards the corner and carefully looks around it. She sees a heavily armed man walking down the hallway back to them. He wasn't one of theirs.
Ryou holds a hand up to Yugi, signaling for her to stay before going around the corner. She fires one round, the bullet finding its mark in his head, causing his body to drop immediately.
She moves quickly and grabs the handgun from his waist, sliding the spare in her empty holster before signaling for Yugi to come. She stands in front his head, blocking the view from Yugi's sight as the princess passes her continuing down the hallway. Ryou follows behind before taking the lead once more.
The keep going, Ryou glancing at the windows once more. There was no one outside. Suddenly the hairs on her neck rose and she shoved Yugi to the ground. A gunshot echoed down the hallway, the bullet grazing her bicep on the outstretched arm.
She whips around as another bullet grazes her outer thigh, she doesn't hesitate to pull the trigger, bullet finding its target. Before his body drops she's already grabbing Yugi off the floor.
Yugi gasps seeing blood run down Ryou's left side but Ryou ignores it. They couldn't stop now.
The two come to the grandfather clock embedded into the wall. Ryou looks both ways before sliding the clock back, revealing a doorway. She opens it, ushering Yugi inside before following, clock and door closing behind her. The two stand on the staircase, darkness consuming them. The only sound was their light breathing.
Ryou's hand goes to her pocket, pulling out her phone. She quickly turns on the flashlight, causing both of them to wince at the sudden brightness.
She aims it down towards the old stairs. Yugi holds her free arm and the two walk down each step. She feels the blood continuing to travel down her leg. She hoped she didn't leave a trail behind them.
The two descend down the stairs until they reach the bottom. They come to a passageway. Yugi releases her arm and Ryou passes the phone to Yugi, holding her gun upright again.
They slowly walk down the stairs passage, listening for any sound of anyone else. They hear no one but themselves as they continue navigating the passages. Only a select few knew how to. Anyone who didn't would get lost to time.
They start down the next passage before coming to a halt at the sound of voices.
Yugi dulls the light with her hand and they creep along. As they get closer the voices become clearer.
"Ryou knows these passages. She'll come here first," Yugi head snaps towards Ryou. It was Malik! They hurry down the passage towards the voices and quickly come to find four familiar figures. There was a click as two pointed guns at Yugi and Ryou. Ryou held her hands up and Yugi did the same.
"Jesus don't just run up on us!" One of them yells before lowering their weapon. "Sorry Jou!" Yugi calls to her blonde friend.
The other does the same before coming up to Ryou. She looks her up and down. "Shot twice huh?" Ryou rolls her eyes.
"Don't say it like that Malik." Malik shrugs, turning her attention to the other two behind them. Yugi runs up to them and hugs them.
"Mother, Father" there was a sniffle from her as her parents hugged her back.
Her mother straighten holding Yugi's shoulder. "Yugi, sweetheart, we're glad your safe." Her father nodded.
"But we need to tell you something." Yugi inhaled and Ryou snapped to attention. He continues, "Malik and Jou have already been briefed on this. Yugi, since we've been invaded it's safest for you to leave the country." Yugi goes to speak but he holds his hand up. "You won't be alone, the three others will join you. You'll be relocated to Domino until it's safe for you to come home."
"When will that be." Yugi asks immediately. Her father looks over at his wife.
"We don't know sweetheart," She admits. The group goes silent as Yugi takes in all the information. She was leaving her home behind.
Malik comes up breaking the silence. "Your majesties we need to get going. It's still not safe here."
The king and queen nod. "You four go on ahead. You'll have to get on the plane as soon as you can. We'll contact you again when it's okay to." Yugi clenches her fists, tears pricking her eyes. She hugs her parents tightly once more.
"I love you."
"We love you too sweetheart." Her mother kisses her forehead. Yugi steps back and Malik puts a steady hand on her shoulder. "Ready?" She asks. Yugi nods and the four take off down the passageways. Yugi looks back at her parents struggling to not cry as she leaves them behind. She sends a prayer up to whoever was up there, hoping for her parents safety and her country's.
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