disclaimer: as with the whole of this series, I own only the plot.
A/N: One more chapter left.... I promise.
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Davis rode until his horse dropped out from under him. Then he made the poor animal get up and run some more, until finally its heart burst in mid-stride and it fell to the ground, never to rise again. Without the slightest pause Davis simply got up and started running. The terrain was rough, strewn with gnarled roots and jutting rocks, and Davis fell many times. But he always pulled himself to his feet and kept going. He had to get there in time. He had to prove to everyone that he was not a weakling and a failure. He had to prove it to his parents, and to Tai, and to Hikari and Takeru. He had to show them all that he was strong.
It was the middle of the afternoon by the time he finally reached Heighton View Manor. Luckily, most of the assembled lords were drilling their troops on the manor green. And less than half-an-hour passed before Davis was telling his story to them all. The exhausted young knight then scarfed down a little food and drink, while the lords hurriedly talked among themselves.
Many of them were old, and had been among the truest friends of the former king. Some even had fond memories of bouncing the prince and princess on their knees when they were babies. In light of the dangerous circumstances, they concluded that there would only be one chance; and it would be a desperate gamble. They would march immediately, and continue without pause until they reached the capital. And in order to attain the greatest possible speed, they would take with them only minimal supplies.
It was, in truth, a horribly foolish plan. The men and horses would be exhausted and hungry by the time they reached their destination. And if something should go wrong, there would be nothing to fall back on. The whole thing depended on speed, and if anything should stop them the fate of the kingdom would be sealed.
Davis agreed that the plan was their only chance, and as the Tai's third-in-command, he was the one chosen to lead them. He was scared by this responsibility, and his hands shook violently as he mounted a fresh horse. He had never even been in battle before, and here he was leading an army. But he swallowed the lump in his throat, and gave the order to march in a confident voice. He wanted a chance to prove himself, and now he was getting it.
Within two hours of Davis' arrival, the large train of men and beasts began the hard trek back through the forest. They marched all through the night, depending on the light of the full moon to guide the way. When the dawn came, it was evident that the pace and terrain had taken their toll. Horses let their heads droop towards the ground, and their mouths were flecked with foam. Men slouched down in their saddles, or dragged their spears through the dirt. Davis himself was beginning his third consecutive day without sleep, and could barely keep his eyes open. But his ravenous need to succeed drove him on, and in return he drove on the others with his show of strength and courage.
The sun was high in the sky when the feel of battle first began to settle on the men. They rubbed the handles of their weapons, patted the heads of their mounts, some mumbled a few prayers. It was an entirely new feeling to Davis; a maddening anticipation that would not let him sit still, yet made him feel as if he would throw up if he tried to move.
The nerves of all the men almost exploded when a lone rider came galloping at full tilt from the direction of the city. Davis was perhaps a tiny bit more confused than afraid. For it soon became noticed by his horseman's eye that the rider did not know the first thing about riding. Whomever it was bounced around awkwardly in the saddle, hung on for dear life to the horse's mane, and appeared to have long ago given up any hope of controlling the animal, and now just let it run as it pleased. There was also something vaguely familiar about the chestnut colored horse.....
"That's Princess Hikari's horse." He exclaimed, his eyes growing wide with sudden excitement. "And its a girl riding it!" He sat up in his saddle for a better look, forgetting in his enthusiasm that Hikari was not exactly a novice rider.
The men around him squinted their eyes at the still far off sight. "Well whoever it is, they're about to fall on their head!" One of the most senior lords noted. He nodded at two of his compatriots, who quickly galloped off to intercept the mysterious rider.
Davis' stomach did flips while he watched as one soldier steadied the errant horse, and the other helped the young female climb on the back of his own mount. "Please be Hikari." Davis mumbled. In his heart of hearts he knew that the girl could never love him as she did her bodyguard. But at the moment he just desperately wished for her to be safe
But as the two soldiers came galloping back with their new cargo, the face and heart of the young knight fell to his feet. It was not Hikari, but instead a young woman perhaps a few years older than the princess, but easily just as beautiful, even in the unkempt state she appeared in. Her face and auburn hair were smudged with dirt and grime. And she was wearing the torn and discolored remains of what once must have been a very regal dress.
When she came close enough she opened up her musical voice in an imploring tone. "You can't go any farther!" She panted out, as she slid off the back of the horse. "The king's set a trap up ahead at the edge of the forest!" She looked back and forth at all the faces before her, desperate to find a look of understanding.
The lords shot each other confused glances, but Davis could not tear his eyes away from the girl. There was something so familiar about the way her eyes flickered, like a kindling flame in the wind.
"Young lady," The senior lord finally spoke out, making a great effort to keep his voice gentle. "please tell us what you are talking about..... And just who are you anyway?" He bent down to examine her closer, he too saw a familiarity in her eyes.
The young woman clenched her eyes in exasperation, but when she opened them again Davis was shocked to see that the small flame in her eyes had grown stronger. She paused, and took a deep breath before answering in the calmest voice she could manage. "My name is Sora, and I am the...uh.." she stopped for a moment as a small blush invaded her face. "That is, I am the messenger of Prince Tai. And I bring urgent word that the king knows of your plans, and has an ambush set for you just up ahead."
A chorus of shocked gasps came from the lords as their nerve for battle suddenly dropped into the depths of dread. "She could be a pawn of the king!" One of them exclaimed. "She could be leading us into a trap!" The man's voice was desperate, searching for some plausible explanation.
But Davis knew immediately that the young woman was telling the truth. He had finally recognized the blazing bonfire in her eyes as the same look that he had seen in the eyes of Tai so many times. He thought back to the moment his heart had been shattered, the moment when he had looked into the eyes of Hikari and Takeru, and had seen how their gazes shared a penetrating light. It was that moment when he realized that the girl he loved was bound to someone else's star. Davis' thinking had never expanded horizons, but it was easy for him to conclude that this young woman, who shared the fire of Tai's heart and eyes, must have been bound to his friend in much the same way.
"No, she's telling the truth." He spoke out in a considerate voice. "Look, she has the prince's signet ring." He cited the first reasonable proof that came to mind.
"Yes." The senior lord seconded. "Claudius is not the kind to set a trap within a trap." His thoughtful gazed flicked between Davis and Sora.
Sora gave them both a small thankful smile. "The prince has given me orders to lead you to a different path, around Mt. Julian. You should be able to come out of the forest behind the king's forces.
The senior lord nodded and stroked his gray beard. "I recommend we listen to this brave young lady....Something in her eyes tells me the prince has the greatest of faith in her." There was an almost mischievous twinkle in his eyes as he observed how Sora blushed. "Sir Davis, we await your decision."
Davis gave an assured nod, and stuck out his hand to help Sora climb up behind him in the saddle. "We end this today."
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Jyou screamed out in horror. They were all over him. He could feel their skittering little legs crawling over every inch of his skin, their horrible fangs pumping death into his veins. They were all over him, and he could only scream and scream and scream.
"Jyou!.... Jyou, wake up!" Something had taken hold of him by the shoulders and was shaking him. "Jyou!" Tai repeated, his voice a desperate plea. "Come on wake up!"
The Lord of Kido was pale as death, and drenched in a cold sweat. His body trembled like a frightened child, and when his dark eyes finally snapped open they were vacant and unfocused. "All over!" He rasped. "All over me! Get'em off!" He violently began to squirm and shake. His hands clawed at his body in a mad attempt to brush away the imaginary arachnids.
Tai threw his arms around his friend and held him tight, making sure Jyou did not harm himself. "It's okay Jyou." He whispered soothingly. "They're gone Jyou... You're okay."
For a few moments more he continued to fight against Tai's grip, but the prince only held on tighter, and Jyou's attempts to struggle gradually lessened as his senses returned. "Oh God, I hate spiders." He whispered, the terrifying events of the past day kept replaying in his memory, making him want to start screaming anew.
"I'm so sorry Jyou," Tai whispered mournfully. His hard grip softened, but he still held his best friend in a firm hug. "so sorry I dragged you all into this."
The Lord of Kido wearily hugged his friend back. "It's not your fault Tai," He panted. "not your fault." He patted Tai on the back as he looked around in some confusion. His world was made up of blurred shapes and shadows. He had no idea what had happened in the past day and a half, and his heart still pounded with terror. Never in his life had Jyou felt so helpless. "Where's the dungeon master?" He asked, trying to get a grip on himself. "Where's everybody else?"
The prince grimaced as he pulled back to look at his friend. "The dungeon master won't be hurting anyone else." Behind him on the floor a bloody hand protruded lifelessly from the shadows. "And as for everything else..... Its probably best you not know."
Jyou winced. "That bad eh?"
Tai did not answer, but only started to pull Jyou to his feet. "Can you see at all?" He asked.
Jyou shook his head and blushed shamefully. "You know I'm blind without my glasses."
The prince frowned and moved his arm around his friend's shoulder. "I'll get you upstairs to safety." They both started slowly towards the door, Jyou sticking one hand out in front to feel along.
"Then what?" The Lord of Kido asked in an anxious voice.
Tai's face suddenly hardened into an emotionless mask. "My uncle has to pay..." He stated simply.
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Cody cursed himself for his stupidity. He had not been careful as he charged through the castle halls, childishly intent on the task at hand. He had attracted too much attention, and ended up in a game of hide and seek with a group of angry guards. A game that had him trapped in a dank little cupboard. A game that was stealing away any chance of saving his dearest friends in all the world.
Cody was a master of tactics and logic. He had gotten out of situations that would make a brave man scream out of fear. But now, when those he cared about were in danger, all he could find the strength to do was curl up in a ball and cry, and pray.
"Oh merciful God," he whispered to the darkness, his tears shining like holy water. "I have devoted my life to serving you through your people. And now I come to you on bended knee, and beg you please, save my friends."
There was no answer, and all Cody could do was softly weep.
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Kari wished she still felt angry. She wished she could hold on to the maddening rage she had felt towards the monster she called her uncle. If she could only concentrate on mentally tearing him apart, then she would not have to think about what was happening. But as the two guards dragged her away with her cheek still stinging, her murderous anger just slipped away like water down a drain, and she suddenly felt herself being thrust up against a wall of cold, dark dread, that loomed up all around her.
As the guards pushed her into the cab of a waiting carriage, she fought against the numbing fear with all the courage and will of a warrior, or even a spoiled princess. She and TK had promised never to leave each other, and in an indignant voice she declared to the wall of dread that no devil, nor even God himself could ever tear them apart. Something would happen, she reasoned. Something would end this horrible nightmare, Kari was sure of it.
But as the carriage gave a jolt, and began creaking towards the city square, her impudent courage seemed to crumble away like an ancient ruin under the weight of grim reality. Kari suddenly had to fight against the sickening panic rising from her stomach. As far as she knew everyone was dead or trapped. There was no valiant rescue coming, no miracle about to descend from the heavens. There was only a boy and a girl, standing alone at the edge of sorrow and death.
When confronted by these thoughts, it was all Kari could do to not cry as she desperately held on to her last glimmer of hope. The last reminder of the dreary morning when she had opened her door, and her loving protector had walked into her life.
"Now see here, little princess." One of the guards suddenly growled, startling Kari from her thoughts. "You best behave yourself in the square.... Or I'll gut you were you stand." The man gave her a menacing smile that suggested there was nothing he would like better then to do just that. He was short and burly. His face and bald head were riddled with pockmarks and scars. One eye was dull gray, the other was as large and chalky as a boiled egg. He savagely grinned with a mouth full of rotten teeth, even as Kari glared at him with daggers in her pained eyes.
In contrast, the second guard began to squirm like a worm on a hook and stared down at his feet when Kari looked at him. He was young, Kari noted, barely older than she and TK had been when they were first forced together. He was tall and gawky, with black curls billowing out from beneath his steel helmet. His childish face was cursed with violent red acne, and his pale green eyes were nervous, even scared.
For a brief moment Kari almost felt pity for the poor young guard, but then the carriage came to a jerking stop. And that thought, along with all the others in Kari's mind, seemed to fly away as the cab door was opened to reveal the crowed city square.
It looked like the entire population of the city had been herded into the cramped square. Grim faced men stood in small clusters and talked to each other in hushed voices. Every now and then they would steal glances at one of the few guards assembled at the edges of the crowd, or around the wooden platform and balcony in the middle. Women held tightly to their young children as they gossiped about all of the strange occurrences going on about the castle and countryside.
Then almost all the noise seemed to stop, and all eyes focused on Kari as she was forced out of the carriage and up the steps of the balcony. Her throat seemed to close up as she looked out at the sea of faces gazing at her, searching for some explanation in the face of their beloved princess. Kari clenched her eyes shut as she realized she had none to offer. She was helpless.
A deep drumbeat sounded nearby, and with it a block of purest fear seemed to settle in Kari's stomach. Her whole body began to shake and she had to grab onto the railing for support. Some small part of her kept thinking that none of it was happening, that it was all just some nightmare. But it was all too real.
A man in an official uniform appeared on the platform below. He held a scroll in his hand that he began to read from in an arrogant voice. "Subjects of the crown, you have been called to assembly by decree of his majesty, King Claudius of Kamiya. You shall herby bear witness to the execution of a slave to the crown, for the most heinous crime of attempting to murder our dear Princess Hikari." The man glanced up and grinned at Kari. "Let the execution proceed."
Kari gagged as she heard the words, yet another of her uncle's cruel jokes. Behind her the older guard chuckled evilly, and fingered the dagger on his belt. The younger guard looked back and forth between his comrade and the princess, his lance began to tremble in his hand.
The executioner mounted the platform and held his weapon high in the air for all to see. It was a black whip, made up of several tightly bound leather strands, which came together in a thick knot that was topped with a sharp metal hook that gleamed like a serpent's fang. Kari's vision began to cloud at it was presented. Her tears hung poised in the corners of her eyes. She felt like she would crumple to the ground, but she managed to keep herself standing through some gigantic force of will.
But then TK was brought out and all of her strength just left her. She slipped to her knees, only to be hurriedly pulled up again by the cursing older guard. "Oh God please no." She whispered as the tears began to roll down her cheeks.
TK looked like he was already dead. His golden hair was matted to his head with blood, the blindfold still around his eyes was soaked in it. There did not seem to be a part of his chest or back that was not covered in welts, gashes, or bruises. He was made to stumble blindly to the platform, though it seemed as if he could not even stand under his own power. As he walked bloody footprints were left in his wake.
The crowd was literally stunned into silence as the boy slowly came through their ranks. Men stared with their eyes wide with shock. Women gasped and covered their faces with their hands. The smaller children began to cry.
Kari did not see any of the reactions. She saw only her TK and what they had done to them. She wanted to move, but no part of her body would obey her. She could only stand rooted to the balcony as her heart threatened to explode in her chest, and the tears kept pouring from her glowing brown eyes. "Please." She began to whisper. Nothing else, just "Please" over and over again.
She kept whispering as they spread TK's arms and tied each of them to an individual wooden post, the guards making sure to pull the ropes until his arms were stretched unbearably taut. She kept whispering as the executioner uncoiled his whip, and let it float out behind him like a scorpion's tail. She whispered as it came forward with an echoing crack, and she kept up her pleading whispering as the cracking whip came down again, and again, and again.
TK's head arched towards the sky, his mouth open in a silent scream. Streaks like the claws of a cat slashed all over his back, fresh rivers of blood ran down the backs of his legs.
Up on the balcony Kari continued her soft pleading chorus. She jumped involuntarily whenever the whip came down, the sharp crack not breaking her body, but her heart.
The people in the crowd, and even some of the guards, looked on with their hearts rapidly filling with sorrow and shame. They watched as the tears continued to fall unhindered from the eyes of their beloved princess. They watched as she shuddered each new time the black whip came down. They watched as the brave boy she cried for refused to fall, refused to scream out in pain.
"Something is wrong here...." A butcher sadly remarked to a blacksmith.
The blacksmith nodded his head in mournful agreement, his eyes full of inner turmoil. "This is all wrong."
All through the crowd similar thoughts flashed through the minds of the people. But an overwhelming fear in their hearts kept them rooted in place, kept them standing there watching as two hearts slowly died.
But then something happened.
The black whip came down in a slightly higher arc, tearing the blindfold from around TK's eyes even as it cut into the back of his neck. He looked up immediately, and his glazed blue eyes began to search the faces in front of him. Kari's breath caught in her throat as their gazes locked within seconds. TK was in so much pain, so close to death, Kari could see the horrible truth reflected in his eyes. She could see how the light in them began to grow dimmer, like a star blinking out into oblivion.
"I love you" He mouthed to her, even as he slipped down to his knees, his body going limp against the ropes.
Kari watched him fall and she wanted to scream so loud that everything in heaven and earth could here her. She wanted to scream out with all the sorrow and love in her heart that she loved him, and she would not let anyone take him away. But all that came out of her mouth was a choking sob. "Please, I love you." She fell to her knees as the whispered words floated out of her mouth.
In terms of sound, the words of the boy and girl made none at all. But there was not a person in the crowd who did find the words repeated over and over again in the depths of their heart. Piercing the fear and shame like an arrow of light.
The executioner drew his weapon back for the final blow, the killing blow, but as it came forward a wrinkled, shaking hand reached up and caught the cord in its fist. The executioner turned around stunned. And there stood an old man, a feeble carpenter, with the whip clutched firmly in his hand.
"Leave em' be." The man spoke out in a pained but sure voice. "This.... this isn't right."
The executioner growled and tried to pull the whip away. But the old man would not let go. "It isn't right." He repeated louder, and then again even louder still. "None of this is right!!"
On the other side of the platform, two guards leveled their lances and began to move towards the old man, but a group of middle-aged men suddenly grabbed them and wrestled them to the ground. "It isn't right." Some of them said.
At the East wall of the square, another guard unsheathed his sword and made to go to the aid of his threatened comrades, but two of his fellow guards blocked his way. "It isn't right." One of them said, pointing his lance at the other man's heart.
On the platform, the executioner struck the old man across the face, but still his withered hand would not relinquish its hold on the black whip. The executioner cursed and pulled a short sword from his belt. He raised it high, with full intent to split the old man's head in two. But suddenly he was not alone on the platform, three men and another guard tackled him to the ground.
"Help!" The executioner squealed as his own sword was raised above his head.
"It isn't right." One of the men said as he stabbed down with the weapon.
All around the square the people moved against the guards. Six years of pent up rage in their eyes and hearts. Six years of seeing their loved ones put in chains. Six years of cowering in shame and fear before a monster. Six years of cruelty and murder.
But no more. They loved the princess as they loved their own children. Her entire life she had always been kind and merciful to the people, she had been their angel. And they would not let the monster harm her, they would protect her, and this brave boy she so clearly loved, with their very lives.
It is almost ironic how Kari did not notice any of it. She did not see the people rise up. She did not hear the shouts of "It isn't right", or "Save the Princess." Rapidly building in strength. She did not feel joy in her heart.
All she could see was him, his head bowed, his lifeless body supported only by the ropes around his arms. All she could hear was the sound of the blood dripping from his wounds. All she could feel was the sudden absence of a special part of her soul, the part she shared with the one she loved. All she knew was that she had to get to him.
Kari made a move to jump over the balcony railing, but suddenly a hand grabbed her by the hair, and she let out a small scream of surprise as her head was pulled back so violently that she found herself suddenly staring at the blue sky. In the corner of her eye she thought she saw something silver glinting in the sun. She felt her head being pulled back even farther, and the deadly silver glint began to move towards her throat.
But from behind her there came a sudden gasp of surprise, and she was free. She turned around more out of reflex than actual curiosity about her attacker, her heart and mind were just too overwhelmed to focus on anything besides thoughts of TK. So it was with a neutral expression that she beheld the form of the older guard slumped down behind her. His eyes were open with shock and horror, and red bubbles still gurgled from his open mouth. A sharp silver dagger was still clutched in his hand.
Without really even thinking, Kari turned away and began to scramble over the railing. Not even noticing as the younger guard gently took hold of her arms to slowly ease her to the ground. His face was pale, but his eyes were sure. His lance was still buried in the back of his late partner.
As Kari's feet came nearer to the ground, several people reached up to aid the princess in as careful a landing as possible, and they would have gladly carried her on their backs to wherever she might wish to go. But the second Kari's feet touched the ground she took off like a shot. All around her the crowd parted to let her pass, and then moved to follow her. The people would follow her anywhere, even to Hell itself as Tai had once suggested. Without even realizing it, Princess Hikari of Kamiya had just led her people to revolution, it was a glorious day in the history of the kingdom.
But at that moment it was all meaningless to Kari, a lonely, scared girl who loved a poor, brave boy. For her time seemed frozen as she made her way through the never ending sea of people. It seemed to be taking so long to get to the platform, that Kari began to wonder if she would be running forever. But then she saw him, like a light at the end of a tunnel. Two of the guards who had joined the crowd were hurriedly cutting the ropes around his wrists, and Kari jumped up on the platform as they were carefully easing him down.
Immediately she wrapped him in her arms and tenderly cradled his head in her lap. He was breathing, but each breath was so shallow that it threatened to be his last. "Wake up TK." she whispered to him through stinging tears. "Please, you can't leave me now. Not when we're finally free."
She felt so helpless, so lost. She pushed the hair away from his face and tenderly kissed his lips. She held him tightly, and wept as she begged him to open his eyes. But that was all she could do. Every second more blood stained her dress red from where she held him. Every breath he took was weaker than the last.
Kari knew he was dying. The truth had her heart in its icy grip. But still she would not give him up. She laid her cheek against his, memories of all they had been through flashed through her like lightning. "I love you." she told him. "I need you." she prayed. "Please."
It is impossible to know what happened next. TK's heartbeat died away, and Kari's died with it. Her eyes closed and she felt herself slipping away. But something stopped her. Something that felt big, and warm, and familiar. Something that made a sound like her father's great, bellowing laugh. And then her heart came back to life, and through some miracle brought TK's with it.
"Kari....." he whispered through a parched mouth. His eyes opened, and their blue light was almost nonexistent, but it was there.
"TK....." she answered drowsily. She felt so tired all of a sudden, tired but safe and whole "I love you." she whispered, and then she closed her eyes in sleep.
"I love you too." the boy answered back. He wrapped a weak arm around her, and then followed her into sleep. Neither one of them really noticing how their hearts beat in perfect synch.
A/N: One more chapter left.... I promise.
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Davis rode until his horse dropped out from under him. Then he made the poor animal get up and run some more, until finally its heart burst in mid-stride and it fell to the ground, never to rise again. Without the slightest pause Davis simply got up and started running. The terrain was rough, strewn with gnarled roots and jutting rocks, and Davis fell many times. But he always pulled himself to his feet and kept going. He had to get there in time. He had to prove to everyone that he was not a weakling and a failure. He had to prove it to his parents, and to Tai, and to Hikari and Takeru. He had to show them all that he was strong.
It was the middle of the afternoon by the time he finally reached Heighton View Manor. Luckily, most of the assembled lords were drilling their troops on the manor green. And less than half-an-hour passed before Davis was telling his story to them all. The exhausted young knight then scarfed down a little food and drink, while the lords hurriedly talked among themselves.
Many of them were old, and had been among the truest friends of the former king. Some even had fond memories of bouncing the prince and princess on their knees when they were babies. In light of the dangerous circumstances, they concluded that there would only be one chance; and it would be a desperate gamble. They would march immediately, and continue without pause until they reached the capital. And in order to attain the greatest possible speed, they would take with them only minimal supplies.
It was, in truth, a horribly foolish plan. The men and horses would be exhausted and hungry by the time they reached their destination. And if something should go wrong, there would be nothing to fall back on. The whole thing depended on speed, and if anything should stop them the fate of the kingdom would be sealed.
Davis agreed that the plan was their only chance, and as the Tai's third-in-command, he was the one chosen to lead them. He was scared by this responsibility, and his hands shook violently as he mounted a fresh horse. He had never even been in battle before, and here he was leading an army. But he swallowed the lump in his throat, and gave the order to march in a confident voice. He wanted a chance to prove himself, and now he was getting it.
Within two hours of Davis' arrival, the large train of men and beasts began the hard trek back through the forest. They marched all through the night, depending on the light of the full moon to guide the way. When the dawn came, it was evident that the pace and terrain had taken their toll. Horses let their heads droop towards the ground, and their mouths were flecked with foam. Men slouched down in their saddles, or dragged their spears through the dirt. Davis himself was beginning his third consecutive day without sleep, and could barely keep his eyes open. But his ravenous need to succeed drove him on, and in return he drove on the others with his show of strength and courage.
The sun was high in the sky when the feel of battle first began to settle on the men. They rubbed the handles of their weapons, patted the heads of their mounts, some mumbled a few prayers. It was an entirely new feeling to Davis; a maddening anticipation that would not let him sit still, yet made him feel as if he would throw up if he tried to move.
The nerves of all the men almost exploded when a lone rider came galloping at full tilt from the direction of the city. Davis was perhaps a tiny bit more confused than afraid. For it soon became noticed by his horseman's eye that the rider did not know the first thing about riding. Whomever it was bounced around awkwardly in the saddle, hung on for dear life to the horse's mane, and appeared to have long ago given up any hope of controlling the animal, and now just let it run as it pleased. There was also something vaguely familiar about the chestnut colored horse.....
"That's Princess Hikari's horse." He exclaimed, his eyes growing wide with sudden excitement. "And its a girl riding it!" He sat up in his saddle for a better look, forgetting in his enthusiasm that Hikari was not exactly a novice rider.
The men around him squinted their eyes at the still far off sight. "Well whoever it is, they're about to fall on their head!" One of the most senior lords noted. He nodded at two of his compatriots, who quickly galloped off to intercept the mysterious rider.
Davis' stomach did flips while he watched as one soldier steadied the errant horse, and the other helped the young female climb on the back of his own mount. "Please be Hikari." Davis mumbled. In his heart of hearts he knew that the girl could never love him as she did her bodyguard. But at the moment he just desperately wished for her to be safe
But as the two soldiers came galloping back with their new cargo, the face and heart of the young knight fell to his feet. It was not Hikari, but instead a young woman perhaps a few years older than the princess, but easily just as beautiful, even in the unkempt state she appeared in. Her face and auburn hair were smudged with dirt and grime. And she was wearing the torn and discolored remains of what once must have been a very regal dress.
When she came close enough she opened up her musical voice in an imploring tone. "You can't go any farther!" She panted out, as she slid off the back of the horse. "The king's set a trap up ahead at the edge of the forest!" She looked back and forth at all the faces before her, desperate to find a look of understanding.
The lords shot each other confused glances, but Davis could not tear his eyes away from the girl. There was something so familiar about the way her eyes flickered, like a kindling flame in the wind.
"Young lady," The senior lord finally spoke out, making a great effort to keep his voice gentle. "please tell us what you are talking about..... And just who are you anyway?" He bent down to examine her closer, he too saw a familiarity in her eyes.
The young woman clenched her eyes in exasperation, but when she opened them again Davis was shocked to see that the small flame in her eyes had grown stronger. She paused, and took a deep breath before answering in the calmest voice she could manage. "My name is Sora, and I am the...uh.." she stopped for a moment as a small blush invaded her face. "That is, I am the messenger of Prince Tai. And I bring urgent word that the king knows of your plans, and has an ambush set for you just up ahead."
A chorus of shocked gasps came from the lords as their nerve for battle suddenly dropped into the depths of dread. "She could be a pawn of the king!" One of them exclaimed. "She could be leading us into a trap!" The man's voice was desperate, searching for some plausible explanation.
But Davis knew immediately that the young woman was telling the truth. He had finally recognized the blazing bonfire in her eyes as the same look that he had seen in the eyes of Tai so many times. He thought back to the moment his heart had been shattered, the moment when he had looked into the eyes of Hikari and Takeru, and had seen how their gazes shared a penetrating light. It was that moment when he realized that the girl he loved was bound to someone else's star. Davis' thinking had never expanded horizons, but it was easy for him to conclude that this young woman, who shared the fire of Tai's heart and eyes, must have been bound to his friend in much the same way.
"No, she's telling the truth." He spoke out in a considerate voice. "Look, she has the prince's signet ring." He cited the first reasonable proof that came to mind.
"Yes." The senior lord seconded. "Claudius is not the kind to set a trap within a trap." His thoughtful gazed flicked between Davis and Sora.
Sora gave them both a small thankful smile. "The prince has given me orders to lead you to a different path, around Mt. Julian. You should be able to come out of the forest behind the king's forces.
The senior lord nodded and stroked his gray beard. "I recommend we listen to this brave young lady....Something in her eyes tells me the prince has the greatest of faith in her." There was an almost mischievous twinkle in his eyes as he observed how Sora blushed. "Sir Davis, we await your decision."
Davis gave an assured nod, and stuck out his hand to help Sora climb up behind him in the saddle. "We end this today."
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Jyou screamed out in horror. They were all over him. He could feel their skittering little legs crawling over every inch of his skin, their horrible fangs pumping death into his veins. They were all over him, and he could only scream and scream and scream.
"Jyou!.... Jyou, wake up!" Something had taken hold of him by the shoulders and was shaking him. "Jyou!" Tai repeated, his voice a desperate plea. "Come on wake up!"
The Lord of Kido was pale as death, and drenched in a cold sweat. His body trembled like a frightened child, and when his dark eyes finally snapped open they were vacant and unfocused. "All over!" He rasped. "All over me! Get'em off!" He violently began to squirm and shake. His hands clawed at his body in a mad attempt to brush away the imaginary arachnids.
Tai threw his arms around his friend and held him tight, making sure Jyou did not harm himself. "It's okay Jyou." He whispered soothingly. "They're gone Jyou... You're okay."
For a few moments more he continued to fight against Tai's grip, but the prince only held on tighter, and Jyou's attempts to struggle gradually lessened as his senses returned. "Oh God, I hate spiders." He whispered, the terrifying events of the past day kept replaying in his memory, making him want to start screaming anew.
"I'm so sorry Jyou," Tai whispered mournfully. His hard grip softened, but he still held his best friend in a firm hug. "so sorry I dragged you all into this."
The Lord of Kido wearily hugged his friend back. "It's not your fault Tai," He panted. "not your fault." He patted Tai on the back as he looked around in some confusion. His world was made up of blurred shapes and shadows. He had no idea what had happened in the past day and a half, and his heart still pounded with terror. Never in his life had Jyou felt so helpless. "Where's the dungeon master?" He asked, trying to get a grip on himself. "Where's everybody else?"
The prince grimaced as he pulled back to look at his friend. "The dungeon master won't be hurting anyone else." Behind him on the floor a bloody hand protruded lifelessly from the shadows. "And as for everything else..... Its probably best you not know."
Jyou winced. "That bad eh?"
Tai did not answer, but only started to pull Jyou to his feet. "Can you see at all?" He asked.
Jyou shook his head and blushed shamefully. "You know I'm blind without my glasses."
The prince frowned and moved his arm around his friend's shoulder. "I'll get you upstairs to safety." They both started slowly towards the door, Jyou sticking one hand out in front to feel along.
"Then what?" The Lord of Kido asked in an anxious voice.
Tai's face suddenly hardened into an emotionless mask. "My uncle has to pay..." He stated simply.
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Cody cursed himself for his stupidity. He had not been careful as he charged through the castle halls, childishly intent on the task at hand. He had attracted too much attention, and ended up in a game of hide and seek with a group of angry guards. A game that had him trapped in a dank little cupboard. A game that was stealing away any chance of saving his dearest friends in all the world.
Cody was a master of tactics and logic. He had gotten out of situations that would make a brave man scream out of fear. But now, when those he cared about were in danger, all he could find the strength to do was curl up in a ball and cry, and pray.
"Oh merciful God," he whispered to the darkness, his tears shining like holy water. "I have devoted my life to serving you through your people. And now I come to you on bended knee, and beg you please, save my friends."
There was no answer, and all Cody could do was softly weep.
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Kari wished she still felt angry. She wished she could hold on to the maddening rage she had felt towards the monster she called her uncle. If she could only concentrate on mentally tearing him apart, then she would not have to think about what was happening. But as the two guards dragged her away with her cheek still stinging, her murderous anger just slipped away like water down a drain, and she suddenly felt herself being thrust up against a wall of cold, dark dread, that loomed up all around her.
As the guards pushed her into the cab of a waiting carriage, she fought against the numbing fear with all the courage and will of a warrior, or even a spoiled princess. She and TK had promised never to leave each other, and in an indignant voice she declared to the wall of dread that no devil, nor even God himself could ever tear them apart. Something would happen, she reasoned. Something would end this horrible nightmare, Kari was sure of it.
But as the carriage gave a jolt, and began creaking towards the city square, her impudent courage seemed to crumble away like an ancient ruin under the weight of grim reality. Kari suddenly had to fight against the sickening panic rising from her stomach. As far as she knew everyone was dead or trapped. There was no valiant rescue coming, no miracle about to descend from the heavens. There was only a boy and a girl, standing alone at the edge of sorrow and death.
When confronted by these thoughts, it was all Kari could do to not cry as she desperately held on to her last glimmer of hope. The last reminder of the dreary morning when she had opened her door, and her loving protector had walked into her life.
"Now see here, little princess." One of the guards suddenly growled, startling Kari from her thoughts. "You best behave yourself in the square.... Or I'll gut you were you stand." The man gave her a menacing smile that suggested there was nothing he would like better then to do just that. He was short and burly. His face and bald head were riddled with pockmarks and scars. One eye was dull gray, the other was as large and chalky as a boiled egg. He savagely grinned with a mouth full of rotten teeth, even as Kari glared at him with daggers in her pained eyes.
In contrast, the second guard began to squirm like a worm on a hook and stared down at his feet when Kari looked at him. He was young, Kari noted, barely older than she and TK had been when they were first forced together. He was tall and gawky, with black curls billowing out from beneath his steel helmet. His childish face was cursed with violent red acne, and his pale green eyes were nervous, even scared.
For a brief moment Kari almost felt pity for the poor young guard, but then the carriage came to a jerking stop. And that thought, along with all the others in Kari's mind, seemed to fly away as the cab door was opened to reveal the crowed city square.
It looked like the entire population of the city had been herded into the cramped square. Grim faced men stood in small clusters and talked to each other in hushed voices. Every now and then they would steal glances at one of the few guards assembled at the edges of the crowd, or around the wooden platform and balcony in the middle. Women held tightly to their young children as they gossiped about all of the strange occurrences going on about the castle and countryside.
Then almost all the noise seemed to stop, and all eyes focused on Kari as she was forced out of the carriage and up the steps of the balcony. Her throat seemed to close up as she looked out at the sea of faces gazing at her, searching for some explanation in the face of their beloved princess. Kari clenched her eyes shut as she realized she had none to offer. She was helpless.
A deep drumbeat sounded nearby, and with it a block of purest fear seemed to settle in Kari's stomach. Her whole body began to shake and she had to grab onto the railing for support. Some small part of her kept thinking that none of it was happening, that it was all just some nightmare. But it was all too real.
A man in an official uniform appeared on the platform below. He held a scroll in his hand that he began to read from in an arrogant voice. "Subjects of the crown, you have been called to assembly by decree of his majesty, King Claudius of Kamiya. You shall herby bear witness to the execution of a slave to the crown, for the most heinous crime of attempting to murder our dear Princess Hikari." The man glanced up and grinned at Kari. "Let the execution proceed."
Kari gagged as she heard the words, yet another of her uncle's cruel jokes. Behind her the older guard chuckled evilly, and fingered the dagger on his belt. The younger guard looked back and forth between his comrade and the princess, his lance began to tremble in his hand.
The executioner mounted the platform and held his weapon high in the air for all to see. It was a black whip, made up of several tightly bound leather strands, which came together in a thick knot that was topped with a sharp metal hook that gleamed like a serpent's fang. Kari's vision began to cloud at it was presented. Her tears hung poised in the corners of her eyes. She felt like she would crumple to the ground, but she managed to keep herself standing through some gigantic force of will.
But then TK was brought out and all of her strength just left her. She slipped to her knees, only to be hurriedly pulled up again by the cursing older guard. "Oh God please no." She whispered as the tears began to roll down her cheeks.
TK looked like he was already dead. His golden hair was matted to his head with blood, the blindfold still around his eyes was soaked in it. There did not seem to be a part of his chest or back that was not covered in welts, gashes, or bruises. He was made to stumble blindly to the platform, though it seemed as if he could not even stand under his own power. As he walked bloody footprints were left in his wake.
The crowd was literally stunned into silence as the boy slowly came through their ranks. Men stared with their eyes wide with shock. Women gasped and covered their faces with their hands. The smaller children began to cry.
Kari did not see any of the reactions. She saw only her TK and what they had done to them. She wanted to move, but no part of her body would obey her. She could only stand rooted to the balcony as her heart threatened to explode in her chest, and the tears kept pouring from her glowing brown eyes. "Please." She began to whisper. Nothing else, just "Please" over and over again.
She kept whispering as they spread TK's arms and tied each of them to an individual wooden post, the guards making sure to pull the ropes until his arms were stretched unbearably taut. She kept whispering as the executioner uncoiled his whip, and let it float out behind him like a scorpion's tail. She whispered as it came forward with an echoing crack, and she kept up her pleading whispering as the cracking whip came down again, and again, and again.
TK's head arched towards the sky, his mouth open in a silent scream. Streaks like the claws of a cat slashed all over his back, fresh rivers of blood ran down the backs of his legs.
Up on the balcony Kari continued her soft pleading chorus. She jumped involuntarily whenever the whip came down, the sharp crack not breaking her body, but her heart.
The people in the crowd, and even some of the guards, looked on with their hearts rapidly filling with sorrow and shame. They watched as the tears continued to fall unhindered from the eyes of their beloved princess. They watched as she shuddered each new time the black whip came down. They watched as the brave boy she cried for refused to fall, refused to scream out in pain.
"Something is wrong here...." A butcher sadly remarked to a blacksmith.
The blacksmith nodded his head in mournful agreement, his eyes full of inner turmoil. "This is all wrong."
All through the crowd similar thoughts flashed through the minds of the people. But an overwhelming fear in their hearts kept them rooted in place, kept them standing there watching as two hearts slowly died.
But then something happened.
The black whip came down in a slightly higher arc, tearing the blindfold from around TK's eyes even as it cut into the back of his neck. He looked up immediately, and his glazed blue eyes began to search the faces in front of him. Kari's breath caught in her throat as their gazes locked within seconds. TK was in so much pain, so close to death, Kari could see the horrible truth reflected in his eyes. She could see how the light in them began to grow dimmer, like a star blinking out into oblivion.
"I love you" He mouthed to her, even as he slipped down to his knees, his body going limp against the ropes.
Kari watched him fall and she wanted to scream so loud that everything in heaven and earth could here her. She wanted to scream out with all the sorrow and love in her heart that she loved him, and she would not let anyone take him away. But all that came out of her mouth was a choking sob. "Please, I love you." She fell to her knees as the whispered words floated out of her mouth.
In terms of sound, the words of the boy and girl made none at all. But there was not a person in the crowd who did find the words repeated over and over again in the depths of their heart. Piercing the fear and shame like an arrow of light.
The executioner drew his weapon back for the final blow, the killing blow, but as it came forward a wrinkled, shaking hand reached up and caught the cord in its fist. The executioner turned around stunned. And there stood an old man, a feeble carpenter, with the whip clutched firmly in his hand.
"Leave em' be." The man spoke out in a pained but sure voice. "This.... this isn't right."
The executioner growled and tried to pull the whip away. But the old man would not let go. "It isn't right." He repeated louder, and then again even louder still. "None of this is right!!"
On the other side of the platform, two guards leveled their lances and began to move towards the old man, but a group of middle-aged men suddenly grabbed them and wrestled them to the ground. "It isn't right." Some of them said.
At the East wall of the square, another guard unsheathed his sword and made to go to the aid of his threatened comrades, but two of his fellow guards blocked his way. "It isn't right." One of them said, pointing his lance at the other man's heart.
On the platform, the executioner struck the old man across the face, but still his withered hand would not relinquish its hold on the black whip. The executioner cursed and pulled a short sword from his belt. He raised it high, with full intent to split the old man's head in two. But suddenly he was not alone on the platform, three men and another guard tackled him to the ground.
"Help!" The executioner squealed as his own sword was raised above his head.
"It isn't right." One of the men said as he stabbed down with the weapon.
All around the square the people moved against the guards. Six years of pent up rage in their eyes and hearts. Six years of seeing their loved ones put in chains. Six years of cowering in shame and fear before a monster. Six years of cruelty and murder.
But no more. They loved the princess as they loved their own children. Her entire life she had always been kind and merciful to the people, she had been their angel. And they would not let the monster harm her, they would protect her, and this brave boy she so clearly loved, with their very lives.
It is almost ironic how Kari did not notice any of it. She did not see the people rise up. She did not hear the shouts of "It isn't right", or "Save the Princess." Rapidly building in strength. She did not feel joy in her heart.
All she could see was him, his head bowed, his lifeless body supported only by the ropes around his arms. All she could hear was the sound of the blood dripping from his wounds. All she could feel was the sudden absence of a special part of her soul, the part she shared with the one she loved. All she knew was that she had to get to him.
Kari made a move to jump over the balcony railing, but suddenly a hand grabbed her by the hair, and she let out a small scream of surprise as her head was pulled back so violently that she found herself suddenly staring at the blue sky. In the corner of her eye she thought she saw something silver glinting in the sun. She felt her head being pulled back even farther, and the deadly silver glint began to move towards her throat.
But from behind her there came a sudden gasp of surprise, and she was free. She turned around more out of reflex than actual curiosity about her attacker, her heart and mind were just too overwhelmed to focus on anything besides thoughts of TK. So it was with a neutral expression that she beheld the form of the older guard slumped down behind her. His eyes were open with shock and horror, and red bubbles still gurgled from his open mouth. A sharp silver dagger was still clutched in his hand.
Without really even thinking, Kari turned away and began to scramble over the railing. Not even noticing as the younger guard gently took hold of her arms to slowly ease her to the ground. His face was pale, but his eyes were sure. His lance was still buried in the back of his late partner.
As Kari's feet came nearer to the ground, several people reached up to aid the princess in as careful a landing as possible, and they would have gladly carried her on their backs to wherever she might wish to go. But the second Kari's feet touched the ground she took off like a shot. All around her the crowd parted to let her pass, and then moved to follow her. The people would follow her anywhere, even to Hell itself as Tai had once suggested. Without even realizing it, Princess Hikari of Kamiya had just led her people to revolution, it was a glorious day in the history of the kingdom.
But at that moment it was all meaningless to Kari, a lonely, scared girl who loved a poor, brave boy. For her time seemed frozen as she made her way through the never ending sea of people. It seemed to be taking so long to get to the platform, that Kari began to wonder if she would be running forever. But then she saw him, like a light at the end of a tunnel. Two of the guards who had joined the crowd were hurriedly cutting the ropes around his wrists, and Kari jumped up on the platform as they were carefully easing him down.
Immediately she wrapped him in her arms and tenderly cradled his head in her lap. He was breathing, but each breath was so shallow that it threatened to be his last. "Wake up TK." she whispered to him through stinging tears. "Please, you can't leave me now. Not when we're finally free."
She felt so helpless, so lost. She pushed the hair away from his face and tenderly kissed his lips. She held him tightly, and wept as she begged him to open his eyes. But that was all she could do. Every second more blood stained her dress red from where she held him. Every breath he took was weaker than the last.
Kari knew he was dying. The truth had her heart in its icy grip. But still she would not give him up. She laid her cheek against his, memories of all they had been through flashed through her like lightning. "I love you." she told him. "I need you." she prayed. "Please."
It is impossible to know what happened next. TK's heartbeat died away, and Kari's died with it. Her eyes closed and she felt herself slipping away. But something stopped her. Something that felt big, and warm, and familiar. Something that made a sound like her father's great, bellowing laugh. And then her heart came back to life, and through some miracle brought TK's with it.
"Kari....." he whispered through a parched mouth. His eyes opened, and their blue light was almost nonexistent, but it was there.
"TK....." she answered drowsily. She felt so tired all of a sudden, tired but safe and whole "I love you." she whispered, and then she closed her eyes in sleep.
"I love you too." the boy answered back. He wrapped a weak arm around her, and then followed her into sleep. Neither one of them really noticing how their hearts beat in perfect synch.
