Chapter Text
Leo the Lion gazed in wonder at the pale, thin scar that ran along the side of his stomach as he traced a finger along its length.
Amazing surgeons live in this world, he thought, raising his finger and inspecting it, as if for dust. Some time had passed since the hospital battle that left him with a gaping wound in his stomach. The doctors he had protected took action after he killed the last crow warrior and stitched him back together, saving his life. A near thing, to be sure, due to an infection he also received from the crow blade that, along with the need to wait for the injury to heal sufficiently, prevented him from accompanying his Takato and Rika back to their world.
He cast his gaze outside the window his hospital room, once more amazed at the sight of the city, far surpassing anything he had seen before in all his travels and wars. Towering spires that reached toward the heavens, made of glass and metal and stone, as far as the eye could see, without a single wall to guard them. Not for the first time did he ponder that oddity, wondering how peaceful a realm this might be.
No… he thought. Not peaceful. Rather, perhaps walls are no longer a shield.
He found himself shuddering at that, wondering what manner of weapons this world held in which a good wall could no longer serve to protect a city of such majesty and strength.
This is a nation that made my world and my gods with just a child and a story, he thought, taking up a shirt that had been set out for him and slipping it on. And I have only seen a fraction of it. Perhaps it is best that I go no further than this. I would surely go mad from the knowledge.
He grunted as he finished tugging the shirt on, hearing it tear somewhere. He inspected himself, but could find nothing, and sighed. His physique was just too large, and though the garment felt wonderful on his tough skin, it felt as though it would shred at just the slightest flex of his muscles.
So long as it sees me home, he thought. I must observe this world's customs until then.
There came a small knock at the door, and Leo looked up to find one of the Hypnos agents standing in the doorway.
"You have a visitor," the man said, and standing just behind him, grinding the toe of her shoe into the floor, was the figure of Jeri Katou, a tiny, cream-colored creature attached to her shoulder.
"Jeri," he nodded, as she stepped inside the room, hands folded in front of her, so very much like the Jeri he knew, once upon a time.
"I heard from my friend Henry that you were going to be heading home today so I came to see you off," she said, the creampuff digimon hopping off her shoulder and strolling on over to Leo, a wide smile on his face.
"I thank you for the thought," Leo nodded, uncertain as to what more to say to that. He thought back to their first meeting at her schoolyard, and how she had reacted to him then. How she and all of her friends reacted to him. Used to know, had been what this world's Kazu said in reference to their version of him. Given this Jeri's overall reaction, he suspected as to what happened to his counterpart.
Death becomes me, it seems, he thought, one hand touching the scar on his abdomen. Jeri followed it and winced.
"In…the same place…" she whispered before clenching her eyes shut. Leo lifted an eyebrow at this.
"I beg your pardon?"
"I-It's nothing," Jeri replied, her eyes becoming evasive as she opened them again. Leo sighed as the digimon hopped up onto the hospital bed, watching him with large, green eyes.
"I get to turn into you, now!"he exclaimed happily. "I can protect Jeri just like you did!"
"Calumon!" Jeri exclaimed, her face growing pale as her amber-eyes darted over to Leo, seemingly afraid of how he might react. Making a rumbling noise in the back of his throat, Leo placed a massive hand atop Calumon's head and patted it companionably.
"All very well, then," he said. "And I thank you, for doing guarding her. It is good to know that there is a world where she lives and may, in time, find her happiness."
"Huh?" Calumon looked confused at this. "Are you saying that, in your world, she's…she's…" He glanced over at Jeri before back up at Leo, his expression growing hard and fierce. "You can count on me Mr. Leo! I'll make sure no bad guy hurts Jeri! I'll be the best digimon partner, ever!"
Ah, the naivety of youth, Leo thought, remembering when he first took up the sword. He looked back at Jeri, who now looked down at her feet as she rubbed her hands together. Tension, he saw, lay heavy in her.
"There is something on your mind and your heart that you wish to bring to the light," he said, allowing Calumon to hop up onto his arm. "I will not begrudge you that. Speak, if that is your wish."
Jeri shifted from one foot to the other. "Sorry," she began. "I…" She trailed off and looked up at Leo's blue eyes before dropping her gaze once more. Leo waited, the air heavy with silence.
"I…know you're not Leomon," she said finally. "My Leomon, I mean. I… W-Well, the name is probably a big giveaway there. I just…"
Again, she trailed off and heaved a heavy sigh.
"I…don't think I know what I'm supposed to be saying," she said before sniffing suddenly. Leo tilted his head, seeing her eyes beginning to shimmer from unshed tears. "Maybe this was a bad idea, but…" She looked up at Leo, and in spite of a tear that now broke free from her eyes, her expression was firm and strong. "I…I wanted to say goodbye. I know you're not Leomon. But…I'm glad there's a version of him alive somewhere, and I wanted to say goodbye to you in case…in case I never see you again."
She lowered her gaze again, her hands fidgeting around one another.
"This…This was a bad idea…"
Approaching Jeri, Leo set a massive hand on her shoulder.
"If this helps you find peace, even a little bit, then pretend I am he," he rumbled. "Say all the things you wish you had said then. Free them from your heart, so that your companion might hear them."
Jeri bit her lower lip and Leo felt a tremor run along the length of her body. Another tear slipped free and she quickly wiped it away.
"I'm sorry," she said hoarsely. "I'm sorry for not being good enough then. Sorry for not protecting you like you did me. But…I promise, with all my heart, to not let it happen again. Calumon and I are partners now. We'll…We'll always protect each other."
Leo smiled and nodded, seeing the bold fierceness that lay behind her eyes. Unlike the Jeri from his home, this one chose the path of the warrior rather than a healer, but despite this difference, they remained alike. That burning desire to never let others down.
"I have no doubt that you will," he said, drawing Calumon off from his perch and presenting him to the girl, who took her partner gratefully, hugging him close.
"Mr. Leo?" came the voice of the agent by the door. Leo looked up and nodded.
"It's time," he said. "I must take my leave."
Stepping away, Jeri bowed.
"Thank you," she said. "And good luck when you get home."
###
Rika leaned against the gate of the concrete bunker that, once upon a time, served as Guilmon's home and hideout, idly glancing at the time on her cellphone. The return to normal life following her and Takato's rescue from Henry's storybook world had been swift, though she developed a newfound appreciation for hot water, showers, beds, and a well-cooked meal. Not that these weren't things that she wished for during her trip to the digital world, but that reality had a way of blunting those wishes; patching up the holes, as it were. This new experience changed her, in more ways than one.
Rika frowned at her phone, taking note of one of those changes affecting her right now.
He's late…
"Hey! Rika!"
Looking up, her eyes lit up briefly, before turning into a dark frown upon spying Terriermon and Henry climbing the stairs to the hideout. Henry's grey-eyes met her violet ones and she nodded stiffly, causing the half-Chinese Tamer to rub the back of his head in a show of apprehension. Closing up her phone, she folded her arms together.
"Hey yourself," she replied. "What are you doing here?"
"You mean besides what you're here for too?" Terriermon asked, drawing to a halt. "To see who wants to hang out, duh! It's the same thing we do every time we show up here."
Making this the meeting spot was definitely a bad idea, Rika thought, resisting the urge to roll her eyes.
"Right. Should have guessed."
"Actually, I was kind of hoping to run into you before anyone else," Henry said, lifting up his partner and setting him atop his shoulder. Rika shifted, uneasily, already guessing why.
"It…has been a while," she admitted. She had been avoiding Henry since returning home. A part of her wanted to give him a piece of her mind for the whole ordeal, but a wiser part held her back, advising that she take some time to readjust to home life and cool her head before seeing him again.
Sensing the tension in her voice, Henry again rubbed the back of his head uneasily.
"I'm sorry for everything that's happened," he said. Rika's hands tightened her grip on her arms, but she nodded, accepting his apology.
"It's not a big deal," she said. "It's not really your fault. You were playing mad scientist. It's not like you were expecting Frankenstein to turn out to be an entire universe."
"He's not just apologizing for that, you know," Terriermon said from Henry's shoulder. "Even though I think it's kind of a dumb thing to apologize over…"
"Terriermon…" Henry began in a warning tone.
"What? It is dumb!"
Rika sighed and pushed off the gate.
"I don't think it's dumb," she said, approaching the pair. Terriermon looked at Rika with a frown.
"Momentai, Rika. It was just a story."
"A story that was about me and Takato," she cut in, glowering at the rabbit-dog digimon. She paused, letting her words hang there as she turned her attention back toward Henry, who at least had the good sense to appear ashamed about the whole thing, even if he didn't mean for it to blow up quite as publicly as it had. She tried to maintain her glare for a moment longer, but she soon tired of it and sighed, lowering her arms.
"Well…it's over now," she said. "Take his advice and momentai, Henry."
The boy's eyes shot up in surprise at that. "Wha…?"
"I didn't stutter," she grunted, her arms folding back together once more. "Look, I'm not happy about the whole thing, but I don't think you came up with that story about the two of us just to be a jerk or anything." She narrowed her eyes at him. "It was enormously stupid of you," she continued. "Not even Takato would think of doing something like that."
"Ouch," Terriermon winced. "A boneheaded move that's even worse than something Takato would do? Yikes, Henry. Maybe you should get yourself checked out or something."
Rika again fixed the rabbit-dog digimon with a sharp glare that caused him to twitch and flap his ears.
"You know, a simple Terriermon would be just fine…"
"I've seen how well that works for Henry," Rika admonished. "Don't expect it from me."
"Momentai," Henry chuckled, giving his partner a gentle rap on the side of his head. "Well, I promise that I won't do something like that again."
"Even if Suzie gives you the big, weepy eyes?" Terriermon asked.
"How's Suzie doing anyway?" Rika asked, opting to change the topic of conversation.
"She's… Well, I think she's still upset about her part in all this and how everyone got caught up in it. I've tried talking to her about it, but…"
He trailed off, seemingly uncertain as to what to say. Rika pressed her lips together, understanding.
"I could help with that," she said, though privately she wasn't sure if she would be any good on that front. "You know, let her know that things are okay and that we're all still friends." She allowed a small smile to grace her features, hoping to drive the reality of her words home. "It might help, even if it's just a little bit."'
Henry smiled back, relief flooding his face. "Thanks, Rika. That's…"
The boy was interrupted by the sound of feet thudding up the steps, and he turned just in time to see Takato and Guilmon running into view, the boy's face perspiring as he ground to a halt, breathing heavily. Almost immediately, Rika planted her hands on her hips and scowled at him.
"Where were you?" she demanded, allowing a touch of annoyance into her voice. "We agreed 11:00 and it's almost 11:30 now!"
"S-Sorry," Takato panted, wiping an arm across his brow, and Rika tilted her head to one side, suddenly becoming concerned that a digimon was on the rampage before their friend quickly dispelled such thoughts with something, while bizarre, was no less alarming.
"The stove…" Takato began, swallowing down another huge gulp of air. "…and Guilmon got caught in it…"
"This already sounds bad," Terriermon said worriedly. "You two didn't start a fire or anything, did you?"
As one, they all glanced over at Guilmon, who looked bashfully away, scratching at his chin.
"Ah… Well, I was helping Takato's dad taking the bread out of the oven, and then one of the loafs fell, so I tried to climb right in to get it…"
"He burned himself on the rack, broke the oven door and got stuck in the oven itself," Takato groaned as Rika looked at the pair, her face a mixture of bewilderment and sympathy. Reaching out, she tousled his hair.
"You should have called if you were having problems," she said, while Terriermon could only shake his head in astonishment.
"Only to Takato… Sheesh! How the heck do you get yourself into these things?"
"Takato's dad calls it the Matsuki Luck," Guilmon explained. "I don't really get it though. He makes it sound like it's a curse."
"There's certainly something to it," Takato said, his breathing starting to return to something approaching normal. "Sorry. I was just too worried that I'd get here late and tried to get here as quickly as I could." He glanced at Guilmon, his eyes thoughtful. "I probably should have given Guilmon a speed boost and ridden him here."
"Well, you're here now, and that's all that matters," Rika smiled, shaking her head. "You tend to be late for things anyway, so I should probably tack on a 'Takato-time' to our meetups." A slight, rosy color rose in her cheeks as she folded her arms together. "Are you ready to go?"
At that, Henry lifted an eyebrow, and Terriermon's ears flew up, eyes wide and shining with curiosity. It was just then that Terriermon noticed that, for a wonder, Takato wasn't wearing his goggles. He remained dressed as he always did, in his usual blue-hoody and tan pants, but the goggles were strangely missing.
"Whoa! So, you weren't just here to wait for someone to show up? You were waiting for Takato to get here?"
Rika shot the long-eared digimon a deadly glare.
"Something wrong with that, rabbitmon?"
"No," Terriermon giggled mischievously, placing a paw over his mouth. "Just…how do you say it? Out of the ordinary?"
"Uh…how?" Takato asked, tilting his head to one side quizzically, looking rather confused. They had spent over a week together in Henry's fantasy world, and this was hardly the first time that just the two of them hung out with each other. It was rare, true, but hardly reason to make it seem like there was more going on than just two friends hanging out.
Terriermon sniffed the air and giggled. "Nice cologne, Takatomon…"
"Huh? Oh! Well, Rika complained that I smelled bad in that other world, so I figured…"
"All right, that's enough!" Rika exclaimed heatedly, her tone clearly indicating that was the end of the conversation. A bright blush stood out luminously on her face. Folding her arms together, she turned toward Henry.
"We're going to a card event in Akihabara, and that's all we're doing." She paused, worrying over her lip while her blush increased in ferocity. "If you want to tag along, you can. As long as Terriermon can keep a lid on his mouth."
"I think we'll pass," Henry chuckled lightly, while on his shoulder, Terriermon's mouth dropped in shock.
"Wha…?! Henry?! Have you completely lost your…?"
"We have errands to do now that I think about it," he interrupted his partner, planting a hand over Terriermon's mouth. "I just wanted to catch up with everyone before we took care of them. I hope you guys have a good time."
Rika narrowed her eyes at the half-Chinese Tamer and his partner while next to her Takato and Guilmon exchanged confused looks. Finally, blushing, Rika harrumphed and spun about on one heel.
"Come on, Gogglehead. I'd like to get there sometime today…"
"Right," Takato said, falling in after her alongside Guilmon. "Later, Henry!"
Henry watched them go for a moment, waving goodbye before releasing his hold on Terriermon's mouth. With a gasp for air, the tiny dog-digimon hopped down and, after spinning about, planted his hands on his hips defiantly.
"Henrrryyy…" he began, scowling. "What was that about?"
"Nothing," the boy smiled, starting down the stairs after he was sure that their friends had enough of a head start for Terriermon to not be a bother to them. "Momentai, Terriermon."
"Hey! You can't use that on me! That's my line!"
"Whatever you say," Henry laughed. "Come on. I think Nurse Suzie scheduled you for a game of 'Princess Pretty Pants'…"
"Gah! Henryyy!"
###
"It's not too strong, is it?"
"Hm?" Rika blinked, turning toward Takato with a confused eyebrow raised. Takato pointed at himself indicatively.
"The cologne," he clarified. "I didn't put on too much or anything, did I?"
Rika shrugged indifferently. "You're fine, Takato. You're not like Kazu. I only said you were starting to reek back in that fantasy world just like me because we hadn't bathed in days. Don't worry about it."
"Oh," Takato went quiet at that, and out of the corner of her eye, she saw him blush lightly, as if embarrassed now that he went the extra mile for what appeared to be just a friendly outing.
This…does kind of look like a date, doesn't it? she thought, unfolding her arms and stuffing them in her pockets to give herself a more relaxed appearance that she didn't at all feel herself. Terriermon's words had struck a chord with her, bringing up all the inner thoughts that she had been ignoring since their return from Henry's fantasy world; since going on their original 'movie date' as well, for that matter. It felt odd. In Henry's world, she had grown comfortable showing her 'real' self to Takato. It had been just them and their partners, and in their struggle to survive and find food, they connected. Now, however, that they were back in the real world, she felt like the two of them were under a microscope and being watched.
It almost felt as though they were doing something wrong.
We're…just friends…right? I just see him as a friend, don't I? I just want to hang out with him. It's not wrong to want that, right?
She glanced at Takato out of the corner of her eye again and when he noticed, she quickly jerked her gaze away, tightening her hands into fists in her pockets.
It's not wrong to want to connect with him again like we did before, right?
"Are you okay, Rika?" Takato asked. Ignoring the heat that steadily bloomed in her cheeks, Rika nodded.
"I'm fine. I just want to get to Akihabara already."
"Sorry about that," Takato replied, scratching the back of his head. "Um… Maybe Kyubimon could help? I mean, if that's okay with her…"
"I have no qualms against it," the vulpine digimon said, materializing out of thin air next to Guilmon, whose eyes lit up in delight upon seeing her. "It might be a good idea in fact to burn off some of the tension after all."
She knows… Rika thought as next to her, Takato gave a nervous chuckle. She frowned, wondering if he knew as well. In the past, she wouldn't have thought he did, but after so much close, quality time, Takato had picked up on quite a number of her quirks and how to navigate them, accepting them, just as he always did, with others or when they were alone.
At that thought, she found herself relaxing a little, and a small smile touched the corners of her lips.
I am such a Gogglehead…
"In that case, if Renamon wants to burn off some tension…" Rika withdrew her digivice and an evolution card. "…then who am I to say no?"
A quick slash and a digivolution later, and Rika swung herself onto her partner's back. Grinning down at Takato, she held out a hand for him, and smiling in return, he took it.
Like Renamon said, we have plenty of time to work things out, giving his hand a loving squeeze as she helped him climb aboard, followed quickly by Guilmon.
"All aboard the Kyubimon express," Rika said as Takato wrapped his arms around her waist. She could feel him blushing against her back, causing her grin to grow in response as her heart quickened its pace. "Make sure your arms and legs are inside the ride at all times."
"Everyone ready?" Kyubimon asked, a playful tone to her voice.
"Oh yeah," Takato laughed alongside Guilmon, and Rika adjusted her seating to allow for as little wind resistance as possible.
"Then let's go!"
With that, the nine-tailed kitsune took to the air, her passengers whooping and hollering all the way.
###
Fire crackled as the princess lay with her knight's arms wrapped about her, drifting on the edge of sleep. Although she knew she would miss the comforts of that strange, other world, at the same time it felt good to be back home, a place that she understood and could venture through without constantly having eyes on them all the time. Briefly, she wondered how Leo was doing, and how long it would be before he would be returned to his home as well. They were making their way steadily north toward Hypnos, a place that might, hopefully, be home for them.
Home. The very word caused her to tighten her grip around Takato's hand, thinking back on the kingdom of Makino, the only home she ever knew, now left far behind.
It doesn't matter anymore, she told herself. Home… Home is wherever my heart is. Takato would have stayed with me back there if he could. He swore himself to me, and I to him. Our hearts will never again be divided from one another.
She sighed, and shifted against him, relaxing in his grasp. Her shadow flickered in the light of the fire, but not from the chaotic luminescence. Her familiar, always with her and always on guard, even in the presence of friends and allies. She cast her gaze over at Henry and Terrierjinn, friends that Takato knew and accepted readily. She wondered briefly about them, and about their place in the 'story,' as they described it, yet so far, she and her familiar sensed nothing untoward or threatening about him or his companion.
"Guilmon's still out there," Henry said, not looking up from the fire. "He's looking for you two."
"We know," Rika said. "We'll find him. Or he'll find us."
"Lot of faith in that horse you have there," Terrierjinn noted, scratching at his long ear with his hind foot. Rika smiled in amusement.
"A horse who has since become part dragon and grown a little bit wiser than you," she replied. "I've a great deal of reason to have faith in him."
She cast her eyes back toward the fire.
"We will see him before we arrive at the mountains, one way or the other. For we are all bound to one another by oath and blood."
With her shadow shimmering protectively beneath herself and her knight, Rika closed her eyes, her mind drifting into her memories. Into the tale that remained untold…
###
Rinchei entered the living room to find Suzie seated alone, staring out the window amidst a sea of stuffed animals and Lopmon, a sketchbook in her hand and a box of crayons laying nearby. Yet her hand didn't move, and her expression was one of distance. Watching her, he saw her heave a heavy sigh and look down at her sketchbook, a desolation of empty white, broken only by a scrawling of black and red.
"Hey there, little rabbit," he said jovially, approaching her. "You're looking pretty down."
"I don't know what to do," Suzie sighed despondently. Rinchei looked over at Lopmon, who inclined her head apologetically.
"She's been like this all day," the dark-furred rabbit-digimon said. Rinchei nodded, taking a seat next to the girl, knowing that, while Lopmon's words were true, they were only half accurate. Suzie had been out of sorts for a while now, ever since the story they told around the dinner table that was left unfinished. He wasn't sure himself as to why this was, though he could guess, he felt with a fair amount of accuracy, that it had to do with Henry's two friends, how they went missing, and his two siblings' role in the events that led up to their disappearance and the attack on their household. Though young, ever since becoming a Tamer, she had taken to the idea of responsibility fairly quickly and readily, at times wanting to prove that she had what it took to be a Tamer just like her big brother.
Reality had been harsh to her.
"That looks pretty good," he said, peeking over her shoulder at her work. "What's it about?"
Suzie cringed in response, drawing the sketchbook up to her chest and glaring at her brother. Rinchei simply smiled, not wanting to make her feel as though she were being judged. After a moment, she relaxed and lowered her drawing. Taking a closer look, Rinchei attempted to translate the crude artwork, and soon realized that it represented a fire-haired princess riding a horse through a forest and over mountains, aiming toward someone wearing a red cape.
The princess and the knight from the story? he wondered.
The story, he had to admit, burned a hole in the back of his mind, leaving him wondering how the tale ended. Being interested in the craft itself, he hated the idea of a story being left unfinished. So, it nagged at him, and now, here he sat, seeing what looked like a continuation – or an ending – sitting there in front of him.
"So, they reunited?" he asked. Suzie twitched and bit her lower lip. Rinchei cocked an eyebrow at this, but waited, saying nothing, and after a moment, Suzie relaxed, but only a little.
"Pwomise you won't tell Henwy?" she asked, her lip quivering as she looked up at him. "Or the angwy kid and Wika? I…I just… I…just…wanted to finish it…"
Her eyes scrunched up as she fought to hold back her tears, afraid that she were going to get a scolding for continuing to write about her story. Still smiling, Rinchei patted her head.
"I'm fine with seeing how it ends if you are." He glanced at Lopmon questioningly. The former Deva looked hesitant for a moment before nodding.
"I…don't see any harm. Henry has disconnected the equipment after all."
"See?" Rinchei looked back at Suzie. "I promise I won't tell Henry."
Suzie sniffed and took up her sketchbook, and flipped back a couple pages, showing what appeared to be a stick figure with red hair lying on a bed with a black ball hanging over her.
"The pwincess woke up in her bed…" the girl began.
###
Rika awoke to find a black orb hovering over her. Almost immediately, she tried to rise, only to find her body unable to move. Her muscles trembled, straining against the magic that bound her to the bed. Lightning crackled around her body, lashing out against the force of the opposing magic, but instead it bound all the more tightly, and Rika gasped, the pressure becoming enormous, until, finally, Rika released her power, panting heavily.
"M-Mother…" she growled, glaring up at the orb. At once, an image came into focus on its surface, revealing the blond-haired visage of the Queen, her violet-eyes severe and commanding.
"Hello, daughter," she greeted. "I left you this message for when you awoke and attempted to again defy me." She pressed her lips together, her frown deepening. "I will get right to the point about your knight, since I am certain that he is your more immediate concern. He has been exiled from our lands, under pain of death. Not that his living matters, as he is heading toward the Crow god's castle to face him and, hopefully, put an end to him. In either case, whether he succeeds or fails, you will never see him again in this world."
Never see him again…? No! Rika's eyes went wide with shock at that, only for it to be quickly replaced with anger. She began to struggle again, and once more a curl of lightning snaked along the length of her body. The pressure from the orb's magic fell on her again, crushing down on her like a tidal wave, battering her over and over. Yet she strove against it, ignoring her mother's message as it continued to prattle on. Her anger gave her renewed focus and power. The pressure mounted still further in response, but Rika bore it. There was one advantage that she had against the orb that she did not against her mother.
The orb had far lower reserves of magic from which to draw from.
She lashed out, struggled, and clenched her teeth, all the while magic crackled and spat, drowning out the Queen until, finally, there came the sound of glass splintering, and the orb's light winked out of existence, dropping down onto Rika's chest with a dull thud. The fire-haired girl rolled off the side of the bed, coughing and gasping, quickly getting her magic under control before it could spread out and destroy her room, alerting everyone to her doings. The orb rolled across the floor, coming to a rest within a hand that reached out to stop it. Rika's eyes shot up guardedly, finding Ryo there, rising with the orb in hand.
"Hey," he smiled. "Glad to see you're back with us."
"What…happened?" Rika demanded, quickly climbing to her feet. She gave herself a onceover, making note that she was in a different outfit to what she wore previously, but otherwise, despite feeling tired, she looked relatively unharmed.
"After you fought your mother?" Ryo asked. "Takato unleashed some kind of magic and knocked everyone for a loop. You were out like a light, but not the Queen." His eyes winced in remembrance. "She still had the power to back up her oath and her treaty with the Crow god, and Takato…has no experience with whatever he is. She beat him down without even breaking a sweat and told him to get lost."
He fixed Rika with a level gaze as he hefted the orb.
"She forced a compulsion spell on him to make sure he obeyed. It applies as long as he's in the borders of the kingdom."
Rika ground her teeth at that. A compulsion spell! Something reserved only for the worst of criminals whose actions were deemed unworthy of execution. To do something like that…
I could learn to hate her… she seethed, her fingers curling into her palms.
"I'm leaving," she said, her shadow shimmering and snatching up her staff from where it sat in a corner, drawing it to her gloved hand. "What direction is he going in?"
"To the east," Ryo replied simply, approaching the bed and raising the orb above where it had previously sat. "To the land of the crows."
To death… Rika thought, starting toward the door. Ryo retrieved the orb and grabbed hold of her by the arm.
"Don't you dare…!" she began, only for Ryo to wink at her in a conspiratorial manner, bringing a finger up to his lips.
"Your grandmothers arranged for an exit and a horse for you," he said in a lower tone. "But first…"
Returning the orb to its position above the bed, blue lightning crackled from Ryo's gem, snaked around his arm and about the orb, repairing it. He set it to hover, and the lightning dropped down, crafting an image of Rika.
"An illusion…?" Rika asked, lifting an eyebrow. Ryo shook his head and tapped his gem.
"A suspended moment in time," the gem pulsed. "It is all your mother will see until she comes to check on you personally. By then, you will be long gone."
Rika narrowed her eyes at Ryo suspiciously. "Why?"
"Why not?" Ryo shrugged. "It's not like ours would be a happy marriage anyway, and one way or another, this kingdom will become part of the Millenium Empire." He looked at Rika, watching her stiffen up, knowing full well what her absence would mean. "Don't worry about it. You have my oath that I will do everything within my power to make sure it's a bloodless affair. Perhaps your cousin from the Damon clan… Either way, I'll be in the superior bargaining position."
Rika glowered at the prince, but reluctantly nodded. She hated the idea of abandoning her duty to the kingdom, but now, more than ever, she found that she didn't want anything further to do with it. Not if it meant herself being traded off and losing someone she came to care about deeply. Someone who, now, had been given to a death sentence.
"Take care of everyone," she said, fixing Ryo with a hard look. "If you don't, I will be back."
"Of that, I have no doubt," Ryo laughed before indicating the door. "Come on. Seiko has a secret path that you can use. We have a horse ready for you outside the city walls.
###
Seiko gazed skyward as she waited, hugging her arms about her to ward off the cold of the night. The stars shone brightly, and the elder matriarch took that as a good sign. The gods were, at times, swift to show their anger. Not always, but often enough when the situation warranted.
Perhaps they are merely suspending judgment to await on what my daughter and her knight do. She tightened her grip around herself at that thought. Breaking oaths was not something one did lightly. Seiko could only imagine what might happen if – or when – the gods chose to bring their judgement to bear on her and the kingdom of Makino. A war with the Crow god would appear merciful by comparison.
Still, the stars twinkled in the clear night sky, and the horse – Swift Wind – that stood saddled and ready for its rider, calmly munched at the grass, showing no sign of fear regarding its surroundings.
Animals were, if nothing else, far wiser about the dangers of the world and the wills of the gods. Seiko took that as a good sign and set about to calming herself.
The door to behind her clicked open, and the former Queen turned around to find Ryo and Rika emerge. The girl's eyes lit upon Seiko's, and at once her expression changed. For the briefest of moments, she appeared as the little girl who, once upon a time declared her intention to become the greatest Queen that the realm of Makino had ever seen. The same little girl who hugged her, fearing the darkness beneath her bed when night came, imagining the terrors that lay hidden within.
"Grandma…" she whispered. Reaching out, Seiko brushed aside her hair, her touch tender and loving.
"No tears now," Seiko said, running her fingers down to Rika's cheek. "If this is what you want, stand straight and leave without regrets. Perhaps one day, when things are settled, we may see one another again, but until then, this is goodbye."
"Not goodbye," Rika shook her head. "One day, as you said. Only we will see each other. This won't be forever."
Seiko smiled with shimmering eyes, retracting her hand. "Until that day comes then. I'll keep a candle lit for you."
Rika's lips trembled for a moment, seeming to want to say more, but she soon turned away, pausing just long enough to rest her hand on Ryo's arm – saying a quiet thanks to him for all he had done – before swinging herself up onto Swift Wind. Reaching out with her senses, she muttered a quick spell for her horse's sight, and after another moment, she clapped her heels against the sides of the steed and together they shot off like a bolt of lightning.
###
Guilmon whickered as Takato lay in front of the fire, staring dazedly into it while his mount ate his meal. The compulsion Rumiko lay on him itched within his limbs, but with the sun down, it would drive him no further. A mercy that the Queen bestowed upon him, knowing the length of her kingdom would likely see his horse or himself dead before they could even reach halfway to the borders. He tried to close his eyes and get some rest. He knew he would need his strength for tomorrow, as at first light the compulsion would seize him and drive him on, a magical whip upon his mind and soul, cracking upon him relentlessly. But he couldn't.
Gazing into the flickering fire, he could only think of she who lay behind.
Even now, he felt the crack of the castle wall upon his back as Rumiko seized him magically and hurled him against it, the Queen stalking toward him with an outstretched hand and a snarl writ upon her face.
"You will not lay hands upon my daughter again! Do you understand me, Errant?!"
And I couldn't do anything, he thought. Oh, the fire within beat and flared in response to Rumiko's magic, but it had been exhausted by his earlier release, and Rumiko, well-versed as she was in magical combat, easily clamped down on all his meager attempts to rally. Rika had appeared as a snake fighting a horse, but himself? He might as well have been an ant by comparison.
He had been unable to help her. Unable to do anything for her. And now, the Queen's commands coursed through his veins; pumped through his heart and echoed within the halls of his mind.
What good am I as Rika's vassal knight if I am unable to aid her? He curled his fingers around his arms, thinking back to their time in the bath, how they swore to each other that their hearts were where the other was allowed to rest. What good am I as her confident if I can't be there for her? If I can't…
The fire crackled, and something snapped behind him, causing Guilmon's head to lift, his food bag hanging off his muzzle. Takato was up in a flash, sword out of its sheath before he was even aware he had drawn it. His crimson eyes tracked the shadows, and swiftly found movement approaching him, a flicker of white against the darkness.
"Who's there?" he called out, shifting his footing so that he began to move around the fire, keeping it between himself and whomever was coming. He tightened his grip on the hilt of his sword as anxiety crawled through him as a horse, white as a ghost, came into view, and with it, a girl with eyes shining in the dark.
"Whom do you expect, Brush Knight?" the girl asked, the flicker of the light touching her features, revealing flame-red hair above her brow. Takato blinked, his lips parting in utter astonishment while that of the girl's curved upwards. Entering into the light, Rika Nonaka released the reins of her mount and approached him, coming to a halt before the knight.
"R-Rika…?" he stammered out. "How…?"
"I have not released you from my service," she said, reaching up and cupping his cheek with her palm. "And as I swore, your heart rests where mine is."
Clasping her hand with his, Takato let a small tear slip free from an eye. The compulsion sung within him, but it felt as nothing to him now.
"And mine yours," he said throatily, moving to embrace her. "For however long you'll have me."
Taking hold of the knight, Rika drew him to her, their lips meeting in a passionate embrace as their two hearts no longer willing to be denied any longer, sought to become one.
The fire sparked, signaling the promise that lived within them now. A promise that would carry them across the land, from sunrise to sunset for as long as they lived.
All the way to the fate of all tales that are told. A resting place that is marked by two words.
The End.