Hey everybody! I'm sorry that I didn't update for a while. It's Christmas break and I'm getting lazy. Also my mom's laptop shut down on me and I haven't been able to get on for a couple of days. I need to finish this story fast before I lose interest. Luckily this story is almost finished. I'm sorry if this chapter is really short. I didn't want to keep you guys waiting so I decided to update what I had for the new year. Enjoy!

In a random chamber of the palace, Yuugi was struggling against her shackles. Her hands were chained to the bed posts and she was blindfolded. After many tries, the only result she got was raw wrists.

It's no use, Yuugi thought to herself. I'm never getting out of here. Oh, Atem, I wish you were here.

A few seconds after she made her wish, she heard the door creak open slowly. Yuugi immediately went tense.

"Who's there," she demanded, trying not to make her voice tremble.

"Yuugi," a very familiar voice asked softly.

"Atem?" She turned her head to the direction of the voice. "Is that you?"

"Yes little one. It's me." Atem quickly rushed to her side and undid her shackles and took off her blindfold. Yuugi blinked a few times to adjust her eyes to the sudden burst of light. Once she did that, she looked at Atem and gave him a crushing hug. He returned it wholeheartedly.

"You're okay. I'd knew you would come for me," Yuugi said.

"I did promise that I will always be there for you." Atem pulled back and kissed her passionately on the lips. Yuugi kissed back eagerly. After a few seconds passed, he broke the kiss and looked at her with concern in his crimson eyes.

"Nuru didn't do anything to you did he?"

Yuugi quickly shook her head. "Oh no. After you were dragged to the dungeons, he put me in here. I've been trying to get out but..." she glanced down at her wrists.

Atem looked down and gasped lightly at the sight of her wrists. They were bright red and slightly swollen. He mentally growled at Nuru for doing this to his little one but he put it aside. He had to tell Yuugi something.

"Yuugi," Atem said while still looking at her redden wrists.

"Yes Atem," she said curiously.

It was difficult for him to say what he was about to say but it was absolutely necessary. Yuugi won't agree to the idea but he has to push her, no matter how much it hurts him.

"I need you to leave the palace."

"What?" Yuugi asked, a shell-shocked look on her face.

Before she could ask why, Atem continued speaking. "Jounouchi will stay and help me. You, on the other hand, have to go back home."

Yuugi gripped Atem's hands tightly, her stubbornness kicking in. "No! I'm not leaving you. I can help."

"Yuugi-"

"Please," she pleaded, her amethyst pools shimmering. "Don't make me leave you."

Atem quickly closed his eyes so that he wouldn't succumb to his little one's puppy dog eyes. When he heard her sweet, pleading voice, he cracked open one eye a little bit and his heart melted at seeing her angelic and innocent face. He finally caved in when she let out a small whimper.

"All right, all right. You can help," Atem reluctantly said.

Yuugi smiled in satisfaction, a hint of mischievousness in it.

Atem mentally groaned at himself. Those eyes will be the death of me. He smiled a little. But that's what I love about her.

"We need to get to the stables," Atem said to Yuugi. He held out his hand for her to take to help her stand up.. "You need to go back to your palace and get your army then come back. We are going to end this today."

"Of course," Yuugi responded.

Atem peeked outside and dashed down the hall toward the stables, Yuugi behind him every step of the way. There were extra guards around but they easily avoided them and made it to the stables undetected. They stopped at the entrance.

"This is as far as I can go Yuugi," Atem explained. "Jou is waiting for me. You are going to have to continue on your own." He grasped her hands and looked deep into her eyes with concern and love. "Please be careful and come back safely."

Yuugi kissed him on the lips then slightly pulled back. "I promise," she softly said.

They quickly kissed again until Atem reluctantly broke it. He walked down the hall and gave Yuugi one last glance before he turned around the corner.

Yuugi sighed in sadness, already missing Atem. She quickly went into the stables once she heard footsteps coming her way. She silently crept through the stalls, looking for Peter. When she saw a familiar chocolate brown coat, she ran to her horse.

"Peter!"

The stallion happily neighed at seeing his friend alive and well. He nuzzled her cheek and licked her face.

Yuugi giggled and hugged him. "I've missed you too Peter. It feels like forever since I've last seen you."

Peter stepped back and nickered lowly as if saying where have you been and what's going on.

Yuugi patted his muzzle in comfort and affection. "I'll explain everything later. Right now, we need to get back home. I have to stop Nuru from killing any other innocent people."

She mounted her horse bareback. As soon as she sat on his back, he dashed outside to the gate. Yuugi quickly grabbed his mane to steady herself, not expecting the sudden burst of speed.

When the guards outside saw the pale princess on her stallion, they quickly lined up, blocking the gate, spears pointed at them.

Yuugi gasped and pulled at Peter's mane, trying to make him stop. "Peter, stop!"

Normally, he would have obeyed his mistress but after not seeing her and worrying about her, he was determined to bring her back home and nothing was going to stop him. Instead he picked up more speed and jumped over the guards. As they stood there stunned, Peter kept on galloping toward the desert. Once the guards got over the stunt, they chased after Yuugi and Peter but they were long gone.

Yuugi looked behind, amazed at how much distance was between her and the palace in the time span of a few seconds.

She encouragingly patted Peter's neck. "Wow Peter. You impress and amaze me. Good job boy! Now, full speed ahead to the Silver Moon Palace!"

With a huff, the Arabian stallion galloped with all of his might to the palace, leaving a trail of dust behind him.

So there you go! I'll see if I can get another chapter up by this weekend. No promises though. HAPPY NEW YEAR and review!