AN: Here it continues. Here I think it came a bit longer than it should or is it just me. And again don't need to remind my writing errors I' know I'm not perfect.

As far Boin has managed to remove poison from Leona, but she was very weak now. And so far temperature has gone back to normal and plants have started to recover. Elephants had soup ready. Qui went to give some to Leona and since they made a lot of soup, everyone had some.

"How did you choose your new defenders?" asked Wilykat.

"The guides collect together and choose together a new one. In that time, it took three whole days, before they had chosen the new ones."

"What happened to the orphan?" asked Wilykat again.

"He became one the defenders." said Panthro.

While others were talking and kids keep asking more questions, Lion-o gets up and goes to see Leona. In medical bud, Rose has sat next to Leona. She just had the soup and was now in deep sleep. She didn't look any worse like she did a few hours ago.

"Will she be okay?" he asked.

"As long she rests next hours." said Rose.

Lion-o goes to another side of Leona. She was sleeping peacefully like a child. She always seemed bit prettier when she sleeps. In while, Rose went to others leaving him alone with Leona. Qui leaves the bowl on the desk and rests next to it.

"You know, in time she could have left the Thundera before it was destroyed."

"I know. She was about to..." said Lion-o remembering those last few days.

*Flashback*

On the day, when Lion-o was meant to first time try sword of omens, Leona went to the allies too. But only to check on her friends. In few days she met two kittens that had to steal to survive. She felt pity for them, so she always came to allies to help them. She always gave some money, so they wouldn't need to steal much. In that time she also went visit old friend Jorma. She always went to him, when one of her memory disks got broken. In those memory disks, she holds sweet holo-memories of her parents. She came there few minutes after Lion-o went back to the palace. Once she had disk back, she returned back to the palace too. Yes, she has lived there too. Once she got to her room she hides her memory disk before getting her father's cape off.

"I hope you didn't get any fights this time?" said white female wolf named Luna. Luna was Leona's nanny when she was little and few days when she got herself into trouble by her powers, defenders thought it would best if Luna stays with her too. For the king that sounded a good idea too. Even if she was the daughter of a good friend, her nature wasn't like the rest of the cats.

In these past years, Leona had more strange powers, then growing hair. Like every time she got upset the earth started to shake. When she cried, became to rain. Not to mention her strength was the same level like general Panthro and general Grune.

"No, I wasn't. Those morons already got beaten, when I crash on them," said Leona, while she put bracelets on her wrists. Those bracelets were made by her grandfather to control her powers.

"But did you punch them?" asked Luna.

"a little..."

"Leona!"

"What? I'm a daughter of the defender, not a daughter of some boring noble."

"But as a grandchild of high Cleric, you could act more lady like."

"No, no no. "Ladylike" is for someone who wants to become Queen. I'm just 'a warrior princess' type."

"I hope that warrior princess holds some of the etiquettes."

"Only the necessaries," said Leona before she went out. She usually went see if she could talk to Lion-o. Those past years, talking with Lion-o was only things she loves to do in this kingdom. While she kept running she stops, when she notices clerics coming. She steps aside letting them pass by first. Even if she had her father's wild nature, she still was respectful like her mother.

When Jaga went past her, he told the Lion-o is in his room. In this Leona nodded and after they left she kept going.

Once she was standing front of his door she knocks few times, so he knew it was her. Doing so he knew when to hide certain items or not. He opens the door few seconds after she knocked, he looked unhappy about something.

"Why so gloomy, your highness?" asked Leona playfully.

"I was expecting that from Tygra." said Lion-o while letting her in.

"Okay, seriously. What happened?" she asked differently. "Is it about the sword?"

"Yes...I don't like to talk about it."

"You know, if I have an animal guide it would tell me now what really happened," said Leona. And she wasn't kidding. She has become defender so far. She had the cape, defenders ring. Now only what she needed was an animal guide. Lion-o sighed on this. He knew she won't think less of him maybe she even understands him. So, he sat on his bed and told what happened when he tried sword of omens.

"Then what?" she asked.

"I saw something..."

"You mean like a vision through sword?"

"yeah. How you...?"

"Defender, we have those things. Plus I have studied in the library. So, what did you see?"

"I wasn't sure... it was so dark, then there were two wicked eyes... someone with dark force."

"Did you tell Jaga about it?"

"Well... I..."

"You didn't tell."

"No."

"Is that why you're so gloom?"

"Well, you see..." Lion-o wasn't sure how to say what happened. By what Leona see it, he either said or did something stupid, maybe even both. She sat next to him and took one the bracelets off her wrist. Then she moved her hand on his forehead. In this, she kind of heard what happened. After hearing enough she removed her hand from his forehead.

"What you just did?" asked Lion-o.

"Something I learned a few days ago. It's mind-hearing."

"Is it like reading minds?"

"Kind of. I heard it not see it."

"Is that any different?"

"You're right. But still, I now heard what happened. No wonder your dad got angry."

"No wonder... He thinks I'm not ready."

"Well, maybe not fully. But sword didn't reject you, so, it could mean it has already accepted you as next in line. That's the good thing, right."

"No one doesn't seem to look that way."

"Do they ever?" she said and got up. "You think I like to wear these. I'm tired on what they expect me to be. In Hidden paradise I could be myself, not pretend something else." she said. Lion-o just smiles little on that. Even if she was talking truth, she intended to cheer him up.

"Why then not leave?" he asked. "You could just call others and they pick you up."

Leona blushes on this. The thing is she had been thinking to leave soon the Thundera, but she wanted to do something first. "Well, you see... I first want to do something first..."

"What is it? I could help if you want," he said.

"Well, the thing is that... I..." Leona tried to say it, but then horns blow to informed someone was coming. Lion-o had to go see what it was.

"Sorry. I have to go. We'll talk later, okay."

"Yeah. Sure..." she said and stay there.

Later it turns out Grune came back with slaves and treasures. Leona came later to see what it was, but when she saw lizard slaves and heard that Panthro has died, she couldn't stand it and walked away. A few minutes later. Lion-o found her crying in the garden. He knew the sight wasn't good for her. What she had told him about the Hidden paradise that there weren't any slaves and everyone is treated respectfully. Either the news wasn't good. Panthro was like another one who tried understand her because she reminded a lot of her father. He even trained her little bit. But now that he was gone, it would be probably worse.

"Everything okay?" he asked.

"No, it's not. Can this kingdom sink any deeper?" she cried. "If they even dare to treat defender like them, I... I..." she couldn't breath by just thinking how worse could kingdom's heart fall in such. Lion-o came close to her to calm her down. If she hadn't been wearing the bracelets, who know what would be happening.

"I understand if you want to return back." he said.

"I can't..."

"Why not?"

"I promised myself, I'll need to know one thing first before I'll go."

"What's that?" he asked. She started to blush again before she looks at him. She was about to say something before Tygra called for Lion-o.

"I'm sorry. I must go. There's going to be a feast for Grune's returning." said Lion-o.

"I see..." said Leona gloomily.

"You're not going?"

"I'm not feeling for parties..." she said and left.

And so in the night, there was a party. Everyone seems to have a great time. Except for Leona, she first didn't want to go, because she really didn't feel like to go, but when she saw when two lizards put up on stocks, she really didn't want to be part of it. Even if she was asked for the games to eat on king's table.

"I don't want to go!" she said, while Luna was brushing her hair.

"King asked you. You don't like when he orders guards to pick you," said Luna.

"What you know about it. It's like everything is going crazy."

"Everything except prince Lion-o."

"I know he'll become a great king. At least better than last ones."

"I understand you stood for him, but don't go too far." said Luna, while she started to add hair decors.

"He is the whole reason I have stayed in here." said Leona.

"Well, if he hears that, he'll be blushing like fire."

"Or wish not to see me..."

"Dear, that is less possible chance than moon falling from the sky," said Luna. After she was done with her hair she went pick her dress to wear.

Leona was on her way to the game arena. While she got there, another round has started and this time there was Lion-o and Tygra. 'Not again...' she thought aloud and runs hoping she could stop both before something happens. But when she managed to get there, Tygra already had knocked Lion-o down and ring the bell. Leona went to help Lion-o out of the water, but he just said he was fine and left. Leona was furious. She wanted to yell out loud. Tygra had to do it again. She has watched him like brother figure, but now these years, he has become something else. When Tygra came, Leona walks right at him and give huge punch on his face. This was unexpected to everyone. Tygra was going ask what was that for, but by a look on her face, he didn't need to ask. After it, she said that this was exactly why he won't become king and left the place.

Soon she was back at the palace, she was in her thoughts when she met Lion-o who have just talk with Jaga.

"Sorry. I didn't notice you. Are you okay?" he asked.

"What you mean?"

"You're holding your hand." he points up. Leona looked away because she wasn't proud what she did.

"I hit Tygra after you left."

"Wow... you mean... you hit him? There? In Public?"

"Yes..."

"What did they say?"

"I don't care. I ...What you're holding there?" she asked, when to she noticed that he was caring something.

"This? I got it today. I don't know what it is, but I know it's technology."

"I know what it is. I have seen it."

"But Grune said that he didn't saw any of that."

"Hey! Just because he didn't see any of it in his journey, doesn't mean it's not real. We have studied this thing in Hidden paradise too."

"Then do you know what it does?" he asked. Leona was quiet for awhile. She knew exactly what that thing was, but she couldn't break it to Lion-o.

"Well, I only tell you this; don't touch here or your little secret will be discovered and it won't be pretty."

"Okay... I won't touch it I promise." he smiled at her. In this, she thought this could be her chance to tell him now. But when she about to speak, she noticed something from the window.

"Is something wrong?" he asked.

"No. I'm okay. I think I'll just go," she said and left.

She went look what it was what she saw. It turns out to be an animal guide. But if the guide is here then Defender must be close. She asked the guide where it came from. The guide looked like small dragon signed that it wanted her to follow. So she did and follow it to the dungeon. She was having a bad feeling about this. The guide landed on her shoulder, so no one won't notice her when she entered to the dungeon. She walks slowly so, no one would hear her. In time she came to one cell where was only one prisoner. The prisoner had a head cover, so you couldn't see his face. But he somehow noticed that someone was there. He got up and walked to the bars. But once he did, Leona already saw the ring of the defender. This was the last straw. She got out from quickly as possible and went to look for the king. On that time, king Claudius already had accepted to release two lizards by Lion-o's request. He just got to the palace when Leona yelled to have an explanation. King Claudius was a bit confuse and asked what she meant. In this Leona told how she found that defender was in prison like someone who was going to be executed. King Claudius wasn't sure should he be angry with her for been going to the dungeon by herself or shocked that defender was in prison. He asked guards go check if it was true. But Leona was so furious that swear that she won't take any second this selfish Kingdom saying that Lion-o was like only normal in here. That was enough for the king too and ordered her to leave before he'll decide something that they will regret. In this Leona ran away.

In time guards confirmed that one prison was Defender Lacar, the lizard defender. His face was cover and his back was in injuries. He was taken to medic instant. In that late of the night, Lion-o had returned back to the palace when he heard sobs in the garden. He went look and once again found Leona crying.

"What's wrong?" he asked.

"I had enough of this place." she cried.

"What happened?"

"I found a defender in prison."

"What? But how he got there? "

"His face was covered. So, he was treated like the rest."

Lion-o wasn't sure how to respond in this. He knew how much this effect on her.

"I even said things, I shouldn't have." she said.

"Don't think about it," he said and hugged her. They stood like that for a while before he broke the silents. "Will this mean you leave soon?" Leona didn't know what to answer, but it was probably obvious.

"I don't want to. Not yet..." she said.

"I know. You told me you want to ask something first."

Leona tried to, but crying too much already had taken so much strength.

"It's okay. You don't need to say it now. I'll be waiting when you're ready. I promise"

"you promise?" she asked. In this, he kissed her forehead. It was how they did when they promised something important. In this, they stood there while before they left.

Next day Defender Lacar told that he tried to save more of his people to Hidden paradise, but enemy saw him minimizing their groups so, they captured him and cover his head, so he won't be noticed. After telling this King Claudius made sure he was fully recovered before he returns. No one mentioned about Leona. But it felt obvious that she was leaving too. On that day when they were leaving Leona came Lion-o's room to say goodbye and left him her ring of the defender. After that, she ran back to outside while tears fall from her eyes. On that nightfall, Thundera was attacked.

*End of the Flashback*

Lion-o stayed there looking at her. She has been through a lot.

"You know, before Thundera was destroyed completely, she came back to help, but she was captured. She was ready to die on fight the save High cleric Jaga before I came," said Qui.

"Why didn't you let us know?" asked Lion-o.

"I have thought of that. But what it would have changed?" said Qui before left to others.

Lion-o kept looking at Leona. Even by all, she was only one who understood him and afterward. It was the only reason to keep it up. And now she was afraid to lose all that. He won't blame her. He would have been too. He reaches out for her to leave a kiss on her forehead.

"I'll be waiting when you're ready," he said before he left. While he did, a tear appeared in her eye.

AN: Okay Here was Episode 4. I'll go for episode 5, but I also try to do some pictures about the story. See ya next time. ^^