Chapter 10: Four Princes of Darnell Lunaria, Part 4

Flying through a series of volcanos, Ash, who's still in Charizard's morph form, and Hikaru were trying to find something that could help identify where the Flinter kingdom is. However, Hikaru seemed to be enjoying the flight a lot more than the finding. 'It's weird,' she pondered in thought. 'It's the first time I met Ash, and suddenly, I'm blushing like crazy, like I love him or something. Is it because...he reminds me of Lantis, only younger?' Ash was wondering why Hikaru was so quiet.

"Hikaru, you okay, up there?" he asked. She snapped out of thought when her name was mentioned.

"I'm fine. I haven't seen anything, yet." That's when Ash spotted what appeared to be doors on a dome-shaped volcano.

"I think I found it!" With that, Ash turned and flew to the mountain. Meanwhile, Kagome was opening her eyes, waking from Asuka's attack. She looked around and found flowing lava rivers flowing like it was man-made, and a royal seat with an upset young redheaded man with scowling red eyes.

'Where am I, and why is he so mad?' she wondered. That's when she peered over to two cages and saw Tai in one, and Agumon in another, both still knocked out. 'That must be one of Kari's friends.'

"So it seems you're alert, Gaialell spy," the redhead snorted.

"What are you talking about? And what did you do to my friends?"

"Aren't they your friends?"

"I've only met them. A few of my friends are knights of this world." The starting arguement woke Agumon up.

"Could you two keep it down?" it grumbled. "We haven't recovered from that strike." Kagome was a little stunned about the small dino Digimon being able to talk.

"Didn't see...or hear that coming." She turned back to the man on the seat, as Tai was unstirring from the assult. "Why don't you tell me who you are? This is the first time I've met you, so a proper introduction is mandatory. I am Kagome Higurashi, an incarnation of a priestess from the Feudal Era."

"I an Luther, heir to the kingdom of Flinter," the young man announced. "If you are not a spy, then prove it." Agumon was more to show that they were not spies.

"I'll be happy to show that we're pretty much on your side," it huffed before it inhaled. "Pepper Breath!" He blew out a fireball and accidently hit a pillar a few feet behind the seat. Luther knew that the mini-monster had the ability of fire.

"Little creature, you have proven yourself worthy." He tossed a key, ninja-style, and it hit the keyhole. The cage opened and released Agumon, who walked out, but still a tad weak. "I do apologize. My father was killed by a skilled member of the Pacifus army, along with my mother."

"I wasn't aware," Kagome moaned.

"Make that the three of us," Agumon pointed out, refering to himself and Tai. Tai looked at the large window paine above the door, wondering who'll save them from Luther. Suddenly, he saw a weird-shaped thing, coming close.

"Guys, I hate to break this conversation," he issued. "But it looks like we've got company." The rest peeked at the window, and saw the weird thing.

"What do you think it is?" Kagome asked. The shape was changing, like something, or someone, was standing up.

"Trouble," Luther grunted. Then, the thing looked like it was winding up to throw something.

"Flame Arrow!" shouted someone. A fire shot was launched from the thing and struck the window, shattering it into a million pieces, litterally. That's when Ash and Hikaru entered, still flying strong. Ash knew who was down there. Hikaru hopped off as Ash landed and hit his emblem, turning him back to human.

"I hope I'm not interupting anything," he grinned. Luther was a little ticked about the broken window.

"I hope you've got enough to pay for a replacement," he fumed.

"Right now, that's not important," Hikaru defended. "Princess Elizabeth wants your presense."

"How can I believe you?"

"We are the Knights of Darnell Lunaria," Ash answered. "We won't take denial from the invite for an answer."

"I'll go with you..." Luther unsheathed two red daggers. "If you can beat me first." Hikaru, then, summoned her sword from the ruby jewel on her wrist, which had a red, dragon head-like design, along with the red hilt. Luther charged as Hikaru braced herself.

"I'll keep him busy," she ordered. "Get the others out." Ash nodded, and proceeded to Kagome and Agumon, who was happy to see him.

"Ash, it's a good thing you're here," Kagome cheered. "I'm worried about Shippo, though."

"He's resting up back at the castle," Ash replied. The fight looked one-sided as Luther's attacks seemed to be skimming the target. Ash knew he needed to help, but he needed to free his friends, first. "Tai, I'm getting you out."

"Do you have a key?" Tai wondered.

"Something a little better." Ash pressed the green emblem. Then, he began to morph in a cloud of dust, and came out in his Sceptile form. The newcomers were in shock, seeing Ash in his new form. That's when the trainer used Leaf Blade, and sliced the cage in half, freeing Tai. "You guys head to the castle."

"But what about you?" Agumon questioned.

"I gotta help my partner. You get going."

"All right, but you'll need to explain how you can transform into...whatever you just turned into," Kagome mumbled.

"I'm sure Emma can give you the detail." With a nod, the three ran off and exited the area. 'Now for Luther.' He ran back to assist Hikaru, but it turned out it wasn't needed, as Hikaru appeared victorious from her match. Luther's daggers were knocked to the side, leaving the Flinter prince defenseless.

"Very well," Luther grumbled. "For your victory, I'll proceed over to Princess Elizabeth's castle." Satisfied, Hikaru placed her sword into the jewel, after it changed into a red light. Ash pressed the green emblem, reverting himself back to human form. "I shall prepare for the heir of Darnell Lunaria. Can you wait one moment?" Both Ash and Hikaru nodded, allowing Luther to head to the chair. "Be careful of my Dragonvan Fangs. Only I can touch them."

"I know," Hikaru agreed. "Same with my sword, Rayearth." After a while to prepare, he walked over to the lava.

"Garvé, we need to go." Out came a green dragon, about twice the size of an average human, and wearing a steel breastplate. Ash and Hikaru were amused by the appearence of the dragon. After Luther grabbed the Dragonvan Fangs, he hopped aboard Garvé, which flew through the broken window opening, and off. When Ash and Hikaru stepped out as well, they saw Kagome, Tai, and Agumon, still hanging around.

"Guys, why are you still here?" Ash asked.

"Well, we have no idea where this castle is," Tai confessed, while rubbing the back of his head.

"Ash, if you would be so kind," Kagome pleaded. "Could you help guide us?"

"I could, but don't you need a ride?" Ash pointed out.

"I believe that's where I come in," Agumon spoke.

"You?"

"You might wanna take a note," Tai smirked. He pulled out a device, and pointed it to Agumon, who then started to transform in a glowing light.

"Agumon Warp Digivolve to...WARGREYMON!" it summoned itself. Out came a warrior/dinosaur/machine hybrid with an orange skin underneath. Everyone, except for Tai and WarGreymon, was in shock and awe at the sight of WarGreymon. "So, shall we go?"

"I'd say so," Hikaru agreed as she elbowed the red emblem on Ash's chest, turning him back into the Charizard form. Once Tai and Kagome boarded WarGreymon and Hikaru got on Ash, Ash took flight, heading back to the castle, followed closely behind by WarGreymon.
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A shadowed figure had guided Asuka to a cell with "Asuka" on the door. "Take some time to think about your precious boy while you're locked up, bitch," scorned the figure which sounded like Asuka, before pushing Asuka into the cell. The door was slammed as Asuka was struggling to get to her knees. It was more than the pain from the whipping she recieved, but...

"Pete, why did you..." Asuka whimpered, actually sounding like the old Asuka. "Why did you sacrifice your life for me? You had no reason to be killed. Why did X kill you?" She was crying, as the pain of what happened before the whole scenario. "I was hoping we could've raised our daughter together, and shared it with Shinji, and Misato, and...and..." She continued to cry, surrendering to fate itself.

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TO BE CONTINUED...(However, this is the conclusion of the "Four Princes" series)
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As the knights, princes and friends return to Darnell Lunaria, a number of questions rise up as discussions and trouble tend to mount. In the next chapter, we learn about how Lisa, Louie and Hikaru got to Darnell Lunaria. However, we now know that Pete was killed by X, but not before Pete was told that Asuka delivered a baby girl, and he was the daddy of her. What happened to the bundle of joy, now bittersweet to Asuka's mind?