Disclaimer: I do not own Yu-Gi-Oh.

The next morning Ateyda was bounding through the palace the happiest she could ever remember. She first went to the arena looking for Lamasse. She found him practicing some moves on another guard.

"What ho, Ateyda!," he said stopping and waving, "Good news! We have recruited five more guards! They are being trained as we speak." He pointed to another guard going over some standard defenses.

"Wonderful, but that is not why I am here to speak to you, Lamasse," she said and pulled him over to the corner of the room, "I must tell you of some news."

"Some racy bit of morning gossip, perhaps?," he said nudging her.

"I bet you would like that, now wouldn't you?," she replied, "Especially if it has anything to do with you and that new, young chamber maid Lorena hired."

"You know me all too well," he said bowing, "But tell me now of your news."

"You must keep this in secrecy," she said getting serious, "I trust you being my friend with this information. Yami and I will be married." He instantly picked her up and whirled her around calling out his congratulations. "Shoosh!," she said as he finally put her down, "We wish to keep this information within people we trust. We do not want word to get out, because we do not want Kaiba and his supporters ruining the wedding."

"You have my word," he said, "Who else knows about this?"

"Only you and a few of Yami's closest advisors," she replied, "But I am going to tell Lorena if I can find her."

"Well, then one last word of congratulations," he said hugging her, "And I wish you the best."

"Thank you, Lamasse," she said as she left in search of Lorena.

She searched the palace high and low without a trace of her. She stopped one of the maids to ask if she knew where Lorena went.

"She said she had to run to the village market quickly this morning," the girl replied, "But now that I think about it, I have not seen her back yet."

"Thank you," Ateyda replied as she quickened her pace. She started to feel worry course through her. What could have happened to her? Just as she was about to check Lorena's room once more she heard shouting from outside of the palace front doors. She ran to the staircase to see a couple of her guards carrying Lorena's lifeless form in the door.

"Lorena!," she screamed and ran to her as fast as she could. The guards took her into the library where there was a couch they could lay her on. Ateyda knelt beside her. There was a large wound in her abdomen. "Lorena?," she said turning Lorena's face toward her, "Say something."

She opened her eyes, and looked at Ateyda. "I went to find you a gift," she said to Ateyda, "Yami told me of the news, and I wished to buy you an early wedding gift." She handed Ateyda a hairpin beautifully crafted to look like a white lily. "They always look lovely in your hair. I wanted you to wear it to the wedding, but as I made my way back to the palace I was attacked," she said.

"By who?," Ateyda pleaded, "Who did this to you?"

"Kaiba," she replied, "He knew I worked in the palace. He told me to send you a message. He told me 'Watch for sunset for the battle will begin.' Ateyda, do you remember when I told you about my daughter being killed?"

"Yes," she said through tears, "I remember."

"The boy who killed her all those years ago was Kaiba," she told her, "I want Kaiba to face justice, but you must promise me that you won't put yourself in danger. Don't go after him yourself. Promise me."

Ateyda was shaking from her grief and tears, "I can't. I want Kaiba to pay. I can't promise that, but I will promise that he will not go unpunished."

"Please," Lorena said as she started to breath harder, "Don't put yourself in danger."

"I won't be hurt," Ateyda replied, "I won't let it happen to me or Yami. Kaiba will face death if I have to chase him through hell." She did not know if Lorena heard her last words, because her breathing had stopped. Ateyda pressed her face in Lorena's shoulders and cried harder than she ever had before. Lorena was the only woman who ever showed her any love, and now because of Kaiba's hate and greed she was gone.

The guards lifted Ateyda to her feet, and pulled her from the room to take care of Lorena's body. She fell to the ground where she stood. She sat with her hands on her face letting the tears drip into the open wound on her heart.

"Ateyda?," she heard Yami's deep, soothing voice beside her, "What's wrong? What happened?" The guards brought out Lorena's body wrapped in a white cloth. Yami turned back to Ateyda, and knelt beside her. "Who was that?," he asked her, "What happened?"

Ateyda suddenly stopped crying and looked up. "Watch for sunset for the battle will begin," she repeated what she heard Lorena tell her. Her distant stare soon turned into a deadly glare that scared Yami.

"Lamasse!," she cried out and went in search.

"Ateyda," Yami said holding her back, "What is going on?"

"Kaiba killed Lorena," she said, "Because of the stupid grudge he holds against us. He told her a fight is coming at sunset. I will meet him, and slaughter him. Lamasse!" Lamasse came bounding out of the arena.

"What is it?," he asked taken aback by the fury that was ingrained on her face.

"Kaiba has threatened an attack," she said quickly, "Get the guards together. We will plan our battle."

"Ateyda, please," Yami said, "Let them take care of this. . ."

Ateyda turned on him, "I won't let Kaiba get away with this. You believed I could hold this position. I will now prove it."

Yami grabbed her and turned her to him, "I do not want to lose you," he said very seriously, "Not when we are about to start our lives together."

"I will not let Kaiba attack this palace," she said, "Do not worry for me, for I will not give up until Kaiba pays." With that, she left Yami watching after with worry in his eyes.

"What is your plan?," Lamasse asked Ateyda as all the guards formed a circle around a table in the arena.

"We need to break up into teams," she told them, "Kaiba is coming into our territory. We can use this to our advantage. I want teams of at least three in every designated area. We are not going to be open targets for them. We will use the object of surprise on them. Now listen closely, this is what I want you to do. . ."

The sun started to set on the horizon. Two guards were in front of the gates to the palace, sitting down, looking extremely bored. There were few sounds coming from the palace itself. All was quiet except for the sound of approaching feet. The guards stood up looking out to see what the sound was and where it was coming from.

"What the hell?," one of them said as at least two hundred men stalked up toward the palace with Kaiba leading them. Kaiba stopped ten yards from them.

"Holy shit!," the other guard said as they struggled to open the gates and slid inside. Shouts were echoing over the walls as they heard the two guards warning everyone of the posing treat.

"Ha! They are not prepared," Kaiba said, "That old woman must have died before she sent my message." He started to laugh, "Even better! They are weak!"

The gates slowly opened. Ateyda stood alone in the middle of the path that led to the palace doors. She flung out the sword that Yami had presented to her when he named her head of the guard. She went into a stance and waited for them to come.

"Remember my rules, men," Kaiba told them, "Kill as many as you want in the palace, but leave the Pharaoh to me and do not kill Ateyda." He started to laugh again, "Ateyda! Do you really think that you alone are a match for all we have set against you? Now, my faithful warriors, attack!"

The men furled around Kaiba like a raging waterfall as they charged toward Aida and the palace. She stood ready, but when they had surrounded her she screamed, "Now! Attack!"

Out of every conceivable shadow guards came pouring out. The guards then surrounded the traitors. There were a few moments of shock as the traitors realized that they were indeed prepared for their attack, but then the battle broke loose. One of the men came at Ateyda. He swung his sword at her, but she could tell he was pulling back. Kaiba told them they could not kill her. That was a fatal mistake. She knocked his sword away from her and shoved hers into his chest. She pulled it back and looked for her next victim. There was a small window through the traitors to the guards fighting on the other side. She grabbed the fallen traitor's sword, and ran through the space between the rebels while slicing them on both sides as she held out both swords. She got to her guards on the other side.

"Don't stop until they are all dead!," she called out to them. She started to approach where Kaiba had been, but he was gone. Where did he go?

Yami, meanwhile sat in his bedchamber. Ateyda had ordered two guards to stand at the door and refuse to let him go down to the battle. He sat listening to the chaos ensuing outside cursing Ateyda for locking him in there.

"At last Pharaoh," a voice said behind him, "It is just you and I."

Yami turned to see Kaiba walking into the room from the balcony. Yami started to perform the mind crush when Kaiba held up his hand.

"I would not do that if I were you," he told him making Yami pause, "If you would like Ateyda to live, then you should surrender the throne to me. I have men waiting with her. If I do not come down within five minutes, I have ordered them to kill her."

"Why are you doing this?," Yami asked him.

"I want you dead!," he replied, "You don't deserve to reign as Pharaoh and you stole Ateyda from me. I will claim your throne, and take her back! Now stand down!"

Yami merely crossed his arms and grinned back at Kaiba. "Did you not hear me, Pharaoh?!," Kaiba screamed, "I said she will die if you do not stand down!" Yami continued to smile. "I would remove that smile from your. . .," he stopped as he felt cold metal touch his neck. He slowly turned his head to see Ateyda standing beside him with her sword ready to strike. The hate and malice in her eyes was all most too harsh to look at.

"You dare to attack the Pharaoh?," she said, "You have already taken Lorena from me. Do you really think I would let you take him?"

"I do not fear you, Ateyda," Kaiba said, "I know it is you who fear me."

"I may fear the power of your millennium item," she told him, "But I for one am not afraid of you. Now, should I take your life now, or should I let my faithful guards torture your worthless hide?" Ateyda lowered her sword, but kept it aimed straight at him. She turned to the door to call for the guards outside it, but Kaiba took advantage of this moment. He threw something at the Pharaoh that exploded on contact and surrounded him with smoke. Ateyda looked to see the Pharaoh collapsed on the floor, and Kaiba approaching her. He knocked the sword from her hand, grabbed her around the neck, and lifted her off her feet.

"You dare bring your sword on me?," he said as she struggled to pull free from him, "I will have to teach you respect."

"I am no longer afraid of you!," she choked out and kicked him in the stomach. He fell backward. She ran to grab her sword, but she felt her body freeze. She could not move, but she could see the light coming from Kaiba's millennium rod. "No!," she cried as he flung her over his shoulder. He started to walk back to the balcony when she elbowed him in the head. She had broken his millennium spell. "I am no longer afraid!," she screamed. Just as he turned to face her, she jumped in the air and kicked him. He flipped over the railing and fell toward the ground.

She slowly walked to the edge, and looked over the side. He had disappeared. "No!," she screamed, "You will not get away from me!" She ran back into the room and grabbed her sword. She ran as fast as she could through the palace to the front doors. She saw the guards struggling to keep the traitors from entering. She screamed out and charged into the sea of bodies. She flung her body around like a rag doll as she ducked and dodged attacks. She plunged her sword into every rebel body she could see. As she helped clear the doorway, she looked to her right to see Lamasse struggling with five of the traitors by himself. He fell to the ground, and one of them waved off the others.

They started to retreat back to the main fight when Ateyda quickly swept past them with her sword slicing along their stomachs. She then turned toward Lamasse. He was looking up at his attacker, but had no energy to lift his sword.

"If you value your life, then you will stop!," she screamed at the man advancing on him. He turned, and she let out a gasp of shock. She met her father's face.

"You have descended into damnation, Ateyda," he said, "For your treachery you will pay the price. Does this dog mean something to you? Are you in love with him, too? Are you going to abandon your family for him, also?!" He turned strike Lamasse's fallen form, when a sharp pain cut in his hand that held his sword. Ateyda had assaulted him.

"Leave him alone," she said, "This battle is not yours to win."

"I will not stand here, and let them win," he replied. He inched his way back toward Lamasse to fetch his sword.

She then advanced on him. "Please, father," she pleaded, "Do not make me do this." He backed up from her sword but lunged for the ground. Lamasse watched helplessly as Ateyda and her father clashed body and sword, and heard her scream.

Ateyda fell to her knees and watched her father's lifeless body fall to the ground. She felt hot tears stream down her face. His hate and ignorance had forced her to kill him; her own father. She crawled forward to Lamasse.

"Are you all right, Lamasse?," she asked him.

"I will be fine," he replied. He could not believe the justice she had done him. He was about to be killed, and she chose his life over her father's.

She called over one of the guards. "Protect him," she said, "I must finish this."

She ran back to the see of bodies. She could tell by merely glancing around that her men outnumbered them three to one. This battle was almost over. She ran through the fighting soldiers searching for Kaiba. Where was he? She had been through the whole crowd without seeing one trace of him.

"Kaiba!," she called out, "You coward! I am here! I'm ready for you! Now come out and fight with honor!" Kaiba never appeared. She hung her head. 'I'm sorry, Lorena,' she thought, 'He got away, but I will not let him cause anymore pain.' She looked back to see her men finishing off the last of the rebels that had not retreated with Kaiba.

She walked forward to view the casualties. Both sides lost a lot of men, but they were victorious and Kaiba now knew he could not force his way into the palace.

"What shall we do with the dead?," one of the guards asked her.

"For our men, we shall send our regards to the families, and ask their wishes for bodies. I will speak to the Pharaoh about some sort of compensation," she replied then turned to one of the closest rebel dead, "As for them, make them a shallow grave, then burn it."

She motioned for a few guards that were carrying Lamasse on their shoulders to follow her. They entered the palace to see Yami walking down the staircase.

"Ateyda," one of the guards was carrying in a body, "What do you wish us to do with him?" She walked over to see her father's body. Yami came up behind her. He looked over at Ateyda with sympathy.

"Burn it with the others," she said and turned sharply to go with Lamasse to the infirmary. Yami was shocked. What happened out there?

"Ateyda?," the guard questioned, "Are you sure?"

"You heard my answer," she said, "Burn it." She continued her way with the two other guards towing Lamasse behind her.

Ateyda and Yami sat beside Lamasse when they had settled him into a bed. "I want to thank you, Ateyda," he told her, "I can't imagine what it took to make the decision you had to."

"What are you talking about, Lamasse?," she asked.

"When you chose to sacrifice your father in sake of saving me," he replied. Yami stared in shock.

"I had to," she told him, "I had no other choice."

"Thank you," he said as he gripped her hand.

She smiled and squeezed his hand back. "I will leave you now to rest," she said getting up and walking toward the door, "Get some sleep, I want you ready to challenge me again soon."

He smiled back and they said their goodbyes. She made her way up the staircase to her room. She sat on the bed and hung her head. She was exhausted from battle and all the emotions that had run through her. She laid her bloodstained sword on the floor beside her. She stared at the weapon that had taken her father's life. She did not know what to feel any longer. She felt someone's arms wrap around her. Yami had been standing there watching her.

"You made the right decision," he told her, "Do not regret it." She pressed her face into his shoulder and let her tears flow into him.

"I know," she replied, "But that does not make this any easier. How could I have let Kaiba get away?"

"There was nothing you could have done," Yami said, "Kaiba is quick to elude."

"He has to pay, Yami," she said, "I cannot let him get away with Lorena's death. He is such a coward."

"We will catch up to him in the end," he told her, "Do not worry, but next time let's do it together."

She laughed, "I had you locked in so you would not try to fight. You have more power than anyone I know, but you should leave the fighting to me." He laughed, and continued to hold her against him. Her exhaustion finally overcame her and she passed out in his arms.

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