A/N

Hi everyone! I'm so sorry this took so long! I accident dropped the Internet hub and broke it so haven't had internet for ages! But we got another today so I'm back, haha!

Big tight hugs for key46812, Sunrise phoenix, s2Teennovelist, Hiei Dragon Girl, Nobody XX and the anon guest that reviewed. You guys are amazing and I know I say that a lot but I honestly do appreciate you taking the time to review. It makes me so happy and I feel so honoured :D You make writing this story an absolute pleasure, thank you :)

Hope you enjoy the chapter!

Review if you have time :)

Yugi's words left him as he stared in wonder, walking down the large open streets of Tace. Many wonderfully odd looking carriages drawn by Dridons and other amazing creatures flooded the roads. Strangely shaped, colourful buildings lined the streets making the city mould into one peculiar yet, beautiful mess. But even though each building was unique, nothing looked out of place. Everything looked like it was supposed to fit there perfectly, almost like nature itself had created it. Yet this bizarre city completely matched its citizens. Some totally normal looking, almost human. Some with odd animal appendages and other crazy mixtures.

They stepped through a narrow path and into a large open plaza, hundreds of different, adorably charming, hand made stalls selling many trinkets came into view, walled off by little shops and businesses. The smell of cooking food and the sound of sellers bargaining their goods filled the air. The small human was truly in awe, it was more then he could ever imagine.

"So, what do you think?" Ryou smiled seeing Yugi's large eyes sparkling with delight.

"It's magnificent!" Yugi squeaked, excited to explore the market.

"I'll go post these, you go show little red around" Bakura nodded to his fluffy boyfriend.

/You sure it's safe/ Ryou asked through the mind link, not wanting to alert Yugi.

/Yeah I won't be far. Plus I highly doubt Pegasus would make a move without his best men./

"Come on let's try out some of the food stalls!" Jou grabbed the humans wrist and pulled him along.

"But you've just had breakfast!" Yugi laughed.

The group went there separate ways happily, totally oblivious to the three pairs of eyes watching them from the shadows.

"Why they are practically doing our job for us" Cecilia giggled leaning against the red brickwork, between two looming buildings. "You both know your role."

"Fine. Let's just get this over with. This town gives me a headache. The sooner we get that brat in Regalia the better" Dartz groaned, slinking away into the darkness.

"Let's go" She nodded to Valon, pulling her hood up.

"I still don't understand what your problem is." Atemu huffed, following his cousin down the long corridor.

"My problem?! You completely lost yourself and went out of control." Seto replied, anger lacing his words clearly.

"He was going to be sentenced to death anyway!" The Red King argued.

"Yes, but were weren't going to carry out his sentence in front of the public!"

"Why not? They deserve to see justice."

"That's why we invited them to see the trail, we are not savages, not like the white demon. We're not going to execute a prisoner like its some sort of sick entertainment. No matter who it is." The King of Aces shuck his head, opening the metal door leading into the barely-lit, damp dungeons.

The prisoners went silent as the two walked down the hallway. Each of the once menacing, even evil prisoners now cowering, hoping it wasn't their turn to face the Bloody Red King.

As they approached Dartz and Valon's cells, the two kings stared numbly, totally unable to find their words as they found both doors wide open on the hinges.

"How. How is this possible?!" Seto quietly seethed after a few moments.

Saying nothing, Atemu closed his eyes and took a deep breath. Something was in the air, it was faint and he had felt it since he had entered the dungeon. But it was much stronger in this area. Traces of Dartz's spells? No… Not his , and Valon was totally normal and without magic. No, he had felt power before but he couldn't put his finger on just what it was. A shiver ran down his spine. It felt almost, dirty… Impure.

Seto clicked his tongue as he ranhis fingers through the golden dust on the dungeon floor. Rubbing the metal type dust between his fingers and thumb, he frowned. Looking at the opposite, open cell, the same dust confirmed his theory.

"Atemu" Seto called out, grabbing the younger rulers attention. " The locks have been disintegrated"

"God dammit." He barked in anger.

So there WAS magic in the air. Which meant an inside job. But how on earth had they gotten into the castle unseen? How had they managed to get passed the many trackers that lived on-site? And why now? He would have thought they would have tried to spring them BEFORE the trail. He licked his dry lips. There were to many unanswered questions and it made him un-easy.

"The guards did a Patrol only an hour or so ago- they couldn't have gotten far. They will still be in Tace. We should be able to catch them."

As Setos words echoed through the hallway everything clicked into place in Atemus mind. His face drained of colour as he looked at his cousin, fear present in the Red Kings eyes.

Seto clenched his Jaw seeing the terror on his cousins face. Throughout the hundreds of years he had known Atemu, they had faced much together. Brutal, bloody battles, watching in horror as innocents lost their lives In this cursed war, even fighting that giant metal beast. But there was only two times in his life he had seen the King so shaken up, and it chilled him to the core. The day his parents were found dead, the same day he was crowned king at his very young age and the day Atemu used the puzzle to save his life.

"What- What is is?" Seto gulped.

"Yugi-Ryou-" Atemu stuttered." They're in Tace!"

"And you let THEM?" Seto gaped

"It's not like I knew these two scumbags had escaped!" He argued.

"For gods sake Atemu. Your too distracted lately."

Ignoring Seto's harsh words, he knew deep down were the truth, the Red King turned on his heel sprinting back down the dungeon hall.

This explained everything perfectly. They were waiting for him to let his guard around the new light down. Dartz himself promised to shove Yugi in the jabberwocky.

He couldn't let that happen, he couldn't let the one so pure meet the same twisted fate. Not again.

"What's next on the list?" Yugi asked between mouthfuls of ice cream.

Ryou looked down his shopping list as they strolled through the market. "Just a few more things we're almost done. I'll just have to grab some herbal ingredients for Isis and some tea leaves for Marik."

"Thank goodness. My arms are going numb" Jou whined, following close behind carrying several large, heavy bags."Why do I have to carry your shopping, How long does it take to send invitations anyway. This is your boyfriends job, make him your pack mule."

"Invitations? What to?" Yugi blinked back at the struggling man.

"Urm-" Ryou wondered how he could tell the human lightly.

"You don't know? To Atemus and Vivians engagement party! There having a huge ball to celebrate. Don't get me wrong the women is a nightmare! But some of my old pals are being invited! Some I haven't seen in years!" Jou beamed.

Yugi turned back and looked down at his ice cream slowly. Suddenly he wasn't so hungry.

"I'm sorry Yugi, I didn't know how to tell you without hurting your feelings." Ryou said to the human quietly.

Yugi shook his head " Why would my feelings get hurt? He's my boss and my king, nothing more. I'm happy for him."

Ryou frowned, he was a terrible liar and could see through that fake smile a mile away. "Yugi, he really likes you, it's obvious he cares for you."

"Obviously not enough or he wouldn't still be getting married." Yugi spat. He honestly hadn't meant for that to escape his mind, or to be said with such venom. "I'm sorry- I didn't mean to snap" Yugi rubbed the back of his neck in embarrassment.

"It's okay, I understand it must be difficult. Why don't you and Jou take a break, while I pop over the road to the shop to get the last few bits, I won't be long"

Still slightly embarrassed Yugi agreed and sat himself down on a large, old fashioned bench. Jou happily collapsed next to the human, dropping the bags. Yugi winced, he was sure he heard something smash.

As Ryou crossed the street, a particular hooded figure hanging round the entrance, in a dark purple robe caught his eye. For some reason he got a particular bad vibe from this guy, but he brushed it off as paranoia. Lots of different types of people used this shop and for different reasons, and had a reputation for being particularly rough and shady. He shouldn't have been surprised really, it would be a place like this Malik got his tea leaves from. The hatter defiantly owed him one for this. He was sure if he just kept to himself and kept his eyes down he would be in and out in no time.

"hello?" The rabbit asked timidly as he opened the door slowly. It was unusually dark, the windows were covered by black curtains. Just a few small fairy lights lit the small shop.

He took a few small steps to the counter cautiously and rang the small bell hoping to get some assistance. As the minutes ticked over he found his fur beginning to stand on end and himself becoming more on edge. Maybe the shop owner was on a break, he would just come back later. The door creaking open and shut behind him caused Ryou to turn quickly.

"Is someone there?" He gulped.

After a few moments of silence he decided it was defiantly time to leave. He took a a few brisk steps before someone forcefully grabbed him from behind and pulled him against a taller body. He screamed in shock but was stifled by a hand across his mouth. "Looks like I caught myself a rabbit" A smooth voice cooed.

Jou had popped a few stalls down to check out a particular place selling armour and weapon accessories. Yugi enjoyed the sun hitting his face and let his mind wander while he waited for his rabbit friend.

He looked over to the shop Ryou had gone to, he had been in their quite a while…. maybe they should go check on him. He turned to see Jou trying to haggle with the stall owner. He had been carrying their stuff all day, he deserved to enjoy himself abit. He would just quickly go check on Ryou then come back.

He grabbed the bags and placed them under the bench for safety, before standing up and crossing the road, narrowly missing being hit by a carriage on the way. Yugi mouthed a silent sorry to the disgruntled driver as he walked through the shop door.

Yugi squinted as he scanned the darkened shop for his friend. "Ryou?"

"Yugi RUN!" Ryou's voice shouted from the darkness before something muffled his voice.

Heeled steps sounded over the rough wooden floors and a click as a large lantern was lit to the left of a room aluminising a slim figure holding Ryou against her. A large knife held to his neck and a gag covering his mouth.

"What's happening?! Let him go!" Yugi growled.

"It's been a while Yuuugi" The captor cracked a wicked smile.

"Should I know you?" The small human glared.

"You don't recognise me? You disappoint me, child."She snickered.

That voice caused Yugi's blood to run cold, every hair on his body stood on end. His breathing turned into gasps for air as it felt like his throat closed up. His stomach lurched violently.

Keeping the knife to the bunny's throat she quickly lowered her hood before re-gaining her hold on her hostage. Her once, vibrant thick hair spelled out from the dark robe, now reduced to a lifeless, broken mess. Her baron, soulless blue eyes looked her nephew up and down before pulling up her nose. "You truly are a PITIFUL in every sense of the word, Yugi"

"I'm still dreaming. This isn't real." Yugi shook his head in horror.

Missy let out a shrill laugh, before she pulled her blade back, Slashing deeply into Ryou's right arm.

The rabbit man let out a loud cry, quickly stifled by Missy's hand over his mouth.

"STOP PLEASE" Yugi begged.

Yugi vision suddenly blurred, his head pounding in pain. The human griped his temples, hoping the agony would pass. The voice from before started screaming loudly inside his mind. Roaring angrily to be freed.

"You're Just the same as you were back then. A weak, scared little boy who can't even control his powers yet." She spat.

"How, Why… Are you here?" Yugi struggled passed the deafening screams of the voice in his head

"Oh, child. There's so much you don't know." She hummed, tracing the knife lightly back and forth across Ryous neck. The bunny man let out a small whimper.

"Please, I'll do anything!" Yugi pleaded.

"Anything?" She paused with the blade. "You take his place. No struggling, no fighting. You come with me and do whatever I say."

"Yugi don't!" Ryou interrupted before Missy drove her fingers into the arm wound, causing him to cry out.

"And then I'll let him go."

"I'll do it!" Yugi accepted without a second thought.

Yugi squinted,hoping to clear his blurred vision as he stepped closer. Holding the shelving for support.

As soon as he was a few steps in front of his aunt, she firmly pushed Ryou forward and grabbed Yugi by his shirt collar holding him tightly against her.

"He will be so proud of me." She whispered into his ear, holding the smaller human tight as he threw something towards the injured bunny-man.

Ryou gasped in pain as a a knife pierced his chest, his shaking hand reach down to grab the handle of the knife. Blood started to seep from his mouth and his vision faded to black as he fell back to the floor with a THUD.

"R-R-RYOU?" Yugi stammered, looking at the fallen bunny. A lump in his throat forming as he remained unresponsive.

"Your so naïve. Like I would let him go" She giggled.

"Get up."Yugi whimpered, watching the blood drip from the bunny's chest.

"Its too late for your rabbit! You can't protect anyone. let's go meet your uncle"

"PLEASE. Accept me. She will hurt us like before please." The golden eyes Yugi begged, pulling at the increasingly brittle bars of the cage holding him in.

"Can you stop her, from hurting anyone else?" Yugi let out a choked sob.

"Together we can. You just have to trust me and yourself! Yugi and if you want to stay in this world, want to survive this world, then you must work WITH me, Let the power you denied for so long to flow through you."

Yugi was still frightened and unsure but if this was the only way to stop his twisted aunt, to save his friends and to stay in this world, this wonderful mad land of ultimate wonder, he was more than willing to take this chance.

He reached out and took the golden eyes counterpart's hand in his. The cage around his subdued power fell apart around them.

The golden eyed counterpart took a large sigh of relief to finally be free.

"Let's teach this witch a lesson"

"Let's fight together" Yugi nodded.

Tears streamed down the small humans face.. " Im going to make you pay."

"Excuse me?" Missy raised her eyebrows in surprise and amusement.

"IM GOING TO MAKE YOU PAY." He screamed.

A sudden wave of extremely heavy, violent power overwhelmed Atemu's senses, almost like a bucket of Icy water had been thrown on him. Leaving a cold burning tingle scolding his nerves. This caused him to lose his footing on the steps leading to the dridon stables, falling and landing on his knees.

"Shit" The Red King gasped

Seto quickly followed, helping the shorter ruler to his feet.

"Did you feel that?" Atemu grit his teeth as the tingling only seemed to be growing stronger.

He nodded. "Are we being attacked?"

Ignoring his burning nerves Atemu stormed into the stables. Hoping with everything he had that Yugi was okay. The prisoners escaping and them being in Tace… it couldn't be a coincidence. Throwing open the first gate he saw and grabbing the reigns hung over the hook, he quickly equipped the surprised dridon. It gave an unhappy grunt as Atemu gracefully jumped up onto it back.

"ATEMU, SETO!" Malik shouted running down the corridor and into the yard. "We've got trouble!" He panted, His long ears twitching in different directions madly, as he caught up to the kings.

"Enemies? Pegasus's men?" Atemu questioned. He had never felt such furious power before.

Malik shook his head. " Atemu, this isn't the enemy. This power… It's coming from Yugi!"