Disclaimer: Digimon has not yet reversed ownership to me from the last time I wrote a disclaimer

Disclaimer: Digimon has not yet reversed ownership to me from the last time I wrote a disclaimer. Michelle, Frostmon, all related digivolutions, and the storyline belong to me.

Lily Pads

Takes place a couple months after "Freedom of Ice", during the summer months. ^^ Medieval Mimoe with a teensy weensy bit of Yamato*Michelle thrown in it. And the only reason why I wrote this was because I got an idea stuck in my head and it wouldn't leave me alone until I wrote it down.

BTW, if you were wondering about the names I chose in the last fic, Tobias is the name of one of my favorite Animorphs while Kiwa is a mix of Kido + Tachikawa.

Notes for reviewers from "Freedom of Ice" at end of this fic! ^^' I would have put it in the beginning, but I think it would have given everybody a heart attack what with all the insanity involved within. So if you get terribly bored with the fic but you reviewed the last one, just go to the bottom to see my note for you. ^^'

A warning right now. The sword fights here are pretty detailed, a horrible result of reading Tamora Pierce's books, especially Alanna. In fact, I have almost all of her books, except for the Circle of Magic quartet and Page. *you are talking to one of the cheapest people in the world, and I will be getting Page when it comes out in paperback.*

RATED PG-13 FOR RATHER GRAPHIC SWORD FIGHTS…

~*~ Prologue ~ AKA lousy explanation about how Jyou and Mimi came to their present state.

"Daddy, when are you going to tell us the ending to your story?" Michelle asked, tugging on Tobias Kiwa's pant leg. Tobias looked down at his daughter.

"Shouldn't you be studying with your mother?"

"Mathematics is boring."

"So is ignorance."

"I'm not ignorant."

"You won't be ignorant if you go study."

"Why don't you get educated by mother? If you'll learn my mathematics and I do the farming, would that be okay?" Michelle asked.

"No, because I already learned my math skills, and you haven't," Tobias gently pushed Michelle back to the house, "Give your mother a kiss from me."

Michelle pouted but obediently scampered back into the house, and Jyou Kido smiled. Who could have known that Mimi and him could have had two wonderful kids, considering what they had been through just to get away from it all. He paused, leaning on the spade as he looked at the pond. Already, lily pads were beginning to sprout up, and it created a rainbow of colors on the pond.

After jumping from Mimi's room, the two had fallen into the moat. Before any of the guards could get down there to see if they were alive (flashlights hadn't been invented, remember), the two had ended up right underneath the bridge, so nobody could see them. When the army had left the area, the two had floated downstream and ended up quite wet and smelling relatively fishy. Once extracting themselves from the river, they ended up moving to the pond where they had met.

They built a house, got a garden, had children, and were currently living the perfect little cottage life. Not to mention they had changed their names in case anybody asked about anything about them, not that anybody even knew they lived there. But it never hurt to take precautions. Also, it helped during trading. Anything they didn't have they traded for in the Digital kingdom, mainly because there were rumors that if King and Queen Tachikawa ever found them, they would probably try to kill him.

Well, it wasn't that bad, being fugitives and living off the land. At least they weren't dead and nobody was trying to hunt them down to tack their heads up on a wall. He was still rather awed that nobody had found them. But then again, everybody thought that they were dead, so nobody would be looking for them… right?

He didn't know that at that moment, somebody was watching them.

~*~

Morning found Jyou alone, and he looked up sleepily.

"Mimi chan?" he asked, until he noticed a note next to him on the table.

Jyou chan:

My dear knight, I know I should have waken you up to help me when I went to pick mushrooms,, but I knew that we couldn't leave the kids alone and they wouldn't want to wake up early. But I promise to be back in time for lunch. Try to hold the fort until I get back.

Your lady,

Mimi

Jyou blinked and looked at the clock (how they had clocks in the Medieval times is currently beyond me. Maybe it's steam operated? Ooh, they have a sundial! How about that?). She couldn't have been gone for a while, but there was still five hours before noon.

Slowly, he pulled himself off the bed, and put on the cream colored tunic and soft tan colored breeches, his daily wear. He grappled for his glasses, putting them on so he could once again see the world in focus.

He took a quick look at the two beds, where Michelle and Willis were both sleeping. Ah, let them sleep for a little longer, it wouldn't hurt. At least Mimi wouldn't be here to say anything. Besides, it would be easier for him to take care of them when they weren't running around like wild elephants ^_^.

Sighing, he looked at the few possessions they had. After they had been presumed 'dead', both had managed to sneak back into their rooms and got a few things. On a wooden peg, two pairs of skates were hung by the laces. Mimi had also taken some cloth and thread from the store rooms, and Jyou had gotten his sword from the armory. He wondered vaguely if he would ever need it or if anybody would notice that it was missing. Cause if anybody did notice that it was missing, either they would think somebody stole it or somebody really intelligent would figure out that he was alive, and that certainly wouldn't be a good thing.

He stared at the sword. Another reminder of the days when they spent the majority of the time staring behind their back for an assassin to stick a sword through them.

"Father?"

He blinked, returning to reality and looked down at Michelle.

"Yes, Michelle?"

"Where's mother?"

"She went to pick mushrooms, sweetheart. Do you need her? If you wake up your brother, we can go look for her," Jyou offered to his daughter.

"But if she's picking mushrooms, then who are those people outside?"

"WHAT????" Jyou slammed the door open and found himself staring at a vast army.

Michelle looked at the army from behind her father.

"Kido! Surrender now, we know who you are," one of the guards yelled.

"S***!" Jyou cursed under his breath, and Michelle looked up at him.

"Father… I thought your last name was…"(and she thought, what does s*** mean?)

"Kido, where is Mimi? If you both surrender peacefully, we might not be so harsh."

"There's no Kido here! He died a long time ago!" Jyou yelled back desperately, pushing Michelle back into the house.

"Don't be a fool, we know who you are," the guard repeated.

"Doing this would be a violation of the peace terms!" Jyou snapped, dragging Michelle back and slamming the door.

"Father, what's happening??" Willis wailed as he watched the guards advance.

"Nothing's happening, Willis. Michelle, I want you to take Willis to the woods, and don't come back, no matter what happens, all right?" Jyou pushed the two towards a window at the back of the house, just big enough for the two children to escape from. He was relieved to see that there were no guards out there, watching the back part of the house.

"But father, what about you?"

"I'll be okay, you two. Go find your mother. If you can't, find Michelle Woo. Go to the Digital kingdom and ask for Michelle Woo, from the Digital council."

"I thought that was just a story," Willis protested.

Jyou turned as he heard a pounding on the door, and he was sure he could hear the door becoming splinters at every pound.

"It's not, all right. It's true. Michelle Woo really is a member of the Digital council."

"That would mean that Jyou and Mimi exist though. Did they die? Do you know them? Do we know them?" Michelle asked.

"You know them. Okay, you know them. But right now, you just have to get out of here. It isn't going to be very pretty. Either find your mother or Michelle."

"We don't know anybody but you and mother. You don't let us."

"That's the point," Jyou muttered as he grabbed his sword which was hanging on the wall. His hair, which had grown a little longer since being presumed dead was quickly tied into a horsetail to prevent it from getting into his eyes.

Somebody slammed on the door again, and Jyou looked at the door. Only one more before it would come down, but so far, Michelle and Willis didn't look at all ready to move.

"If you find your mother, ask her to explain everything. If you find Michelle, ask her to tell you everything about Jyou Kido. You two have to go," Jyou finished, drawing the blade from the sheath.

"But what about you?"

"GO!" Jyou barked, and finally Michelle and Willis scampered out through the window.

Jyou sighed with relief as he watched his son and daughter raced out, and braced himself for the onslaught of soldiers that was bound to come in soon.

~*~

Meems Kiwa, P.K.A. known as Mimi Tachikawa, couldn't help but feel that there was something wrong as she cut the next mushroom and stuffed it in the bag. Maybe she should have waken Jyou up, but he had looked so peaceful as he slept.

A sudden thundering caught her attention, and she hid behind the tree as she looked at an… army?

And where the hell were they going? She looked at the direction in which they were heading and turned pale.

"Damn…" Mimi muttered, dropping her knife and running towards her home, also where the army as heading towards.

~*~

Jyou winced as the door finally was burst open, and he shot a look over his shoulder to make sure that Michelle and Willis were out of the way.

He immediately recognized the sneering guard as the one he had met those years ago… the one who had been so eager to kill him.

The guard recognized him too, obviously.

"Well, well, if it isn't our little escapee," he grinned.

"Well, well, if it isn't our sneering guard," Jyou mocked, his grip tightening on his sword.

"That's not going to save you, Kido. You're obviously rusty."

"Is that so," Jyou shot back.

"I know so… men, don't kill him," the guard stepped back.

"Can't say the same for myself."

~*~

"Father's not going to kill anybody, is he? He might get arrested for that," Willis said quietly as the two watched the house from the branches of a very leafy tree, shielded from the view by the leaves.

"He won't even fight with Mother… why would he get into a fight with… these… guys…" Michelle's voice trailed off as a bloodied guard came charging out of the house, his arm cut and one hand missing.

Soon after that, a body was thrown out of the now doorless house. Michelle blinked.

"Father's probably just lost his mind. I think we should go check on him," Michelle muttered.

~*~

(a/n: This scene is dedicated to CtienH and your many different screennames because I know how much you love your sword fights.)

Jyou closed his eyes and breathed in heavily, ignoring his conscious, par usual. He was pretty sure that at least one of his victims would end up dead, and he didn't like that. But he couldn't do anything about it now. He caught his breath in time to block the swipe of a thrust that would probably have cut off his head. Instead, he used part of the splintered door to block the blade and used his own sword to swipe to the side, cutting into his opponent's side deeply. Was it his side?

A hand flopped to the ground, and Jyou resisted the urge to retch, instead swinging to the side blindly. The scream he heard died off quite quickly. He had no doubt that the man was dead. He turned to look and saw that the guard had been cut in the chest, resulting in his death.

Jyou blocked a third down sweeping sword, which would have cut into his shoulder if he hadn't avoided it. The force caused both to jolt, and after a while, he disengaged from the blade and swung his blade in a half circle, aiming for the guard's side. This one had some brains because he stepped back , and Jyou lunged again, forcing the other to block rather than attack. The guard forced him into a body-to-body, and luckily, Jyou had the advantage with all the work in the gardening and forced the other guard to his knees. The man broke the body-to-body, dropping down and rolling out of the way, but not quickly enough to avoid Jyou's strike, the blade slicing down, causing a gash from his collar bone all the way down to his side. He withdrew, bleeding heavily.

He half turned to face his next opponent, and without warning, the man struck, cutting slightly into Jyou's shoulder. Before Jyou could fight back, the swordsman struck again, tearing down his thigh and causing more blood. Jyou fought back desperately, the flat of his blade knocking into the guard's cheek. He briefly stopped, holding his throbbing cheek, and Jyou brought his blade up, catching the guard's hilt and forcing the sword from his hand, which imbedded itself in the wall.

The guard backed away, but before he could do anything, he felt something slam into the side of his head, knocking him to the ground. The sneering guard stood above him, holding a part of the door.

"Watch your side," he sneered, walking casually over and kicking the blade out of Jyou's hand. He didn't reply, trying to ignore the painful throbbing in his head. However, soon the pain in his head was overwhelmed when the guard kicked him in the stomach.

"Father!" a voice screamed, and they all turned to look at a little girl with navy blue hair tied into a pony tail and brown eyes.

"Michelle, get the hell out of here!" Jyou yelled, but the guard just kicked him again.

"Stop it, you big meanie!" Michelle yelled angrily, throwing herself at the guard and attacking him as viciously as if she had a weapon.

"Shut up, you little brat," he snapped, shaking her off his leg and grabbing her by the shoulders, slamming her into the wall.

"Stop it!"

The guard ignored him.

"Hey, let go of her," Willis yelped, kicking the guard's leg (I think I should name the guard).

"Damn it, how many brats do you have here, Kido?" the guard roared, letting go of Michelle, who dropped to the ground. Willis grabbed Michelle and the two sped out.

"They're… not brats."

"Be quiet!" he pulled Jyou up roughly, who flinched from the pain, "Where is the princess?"

"Why do you care?"

"Cause it'll be less painful for you."

"Like I said, why do you care?"

"If you have no answers, then don't say anything," the guard (who has yet to be named but will be!!) snapped, dragging Jyou outside.

~*~

Michelle was still in shock, and Willis was still dragging her.

"What are you doing, Willis? Father needs our help!!"

"Saving you," Willis shot back.

"What are you doing?" a voice inquired, and Michelle and Willis looked up to see a knight wearing silver colored chain mail and the sign of a seal with wings, a horn, and a purple jewel at its throat. Small purple amethysts dotted the chain mail, and the knight wore leather gloves with a silver dotted crest of joy adorning the top, and a long sword was sheathed at their side. A sky blue seal like Digimon with sea green spots, a fish tail, and a blue green braid stood at their side.

Michelle and Willis started screaming.

~*~

Mimi reached the house in time to see… nothing but a ripped out door and a messed up house. There was blood covering the ground and Jyou's sword was lying on the ground as well.

She gingerly picked up the blade, the silver hilt with a black opal at its base. There was blood staining it, and after staring at the blade, she sheathed it and started running towards the Digital kingdom.

When she got to the gate, she just stared at the iron gates. After some debating, she took in a deep breath and screamed.

"WILLISSSSSSS!!!!!!!!!!!"

A familiar pair of blue eyes stared out the guard house in absolute surprise.

"Mimi?" Willis whispered loudly.

~*~

"AHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!!!!!!!!!!!!!" Michelle and Willis screamed, and the knight didn't say anything.

The knight reached up and removed the helmet, long brown hair cascading down their face. Whoever it was brushed away the hair, and the two could see purple eyes staring intently at them.

She stared at them.

"What are you two doing?" she demanded.

They didn't say anything except stare at her.

"Well?"

"We're looking for somebody," Michelle finally answered.

"Who? What are you doing here anyway? Shouldn't you be in the kingdom, not the land between?"

"Huh?" Willis yelped.

"Are you from the Tachikawa kingdom or the Digital kingdom? Whichever one, I can take you home," the knight offered.

"We're… we're looking for our mother. That's what our father told us to do."

"And… who is your father?"

"Tobias Kiwa."

The knight blinked, and finally sighed.

"Which kingdom are you from?"

"We're… we live in the area between the two kingdoms," Michelle answered.

"But nobody lives there."

"We do," Willis piped up.

The knight bit her lip, purple eyes staring intently at the two children.

"What's your name, dears?"

"I'm Michelle, and this is my brother, Willis." The knight looked at the two; Michelle had long navy blue hair and brown eyes while Willis had brown hair with black eyes, so familiar.

"My name's Michelle Woo, but you may call me Miccy," Miccy introduced herself. *a/n: From this point on, Michelle Woo will be referred to as Miccy unless otherwise noted, to prevent confusion between the two Michelle(s)*

"You! Our father told me to look for you too!" Michelle yelled, pointing.

"Waitasecond… do I know your father?" Miccy blinked.

"Don't you? He spoke of you as a really good friend," Willis asked.

"I don't think I know a Tobias Kiwa… does he have any other names?"

The two looked at each other.

"The mean guard called him Kido," Michelle finally whispered, and Miccy felt herself pale.

"Kido? Kido Jyou…" she closed her eyes, the last part of her statement not to Michelle and Willis, but herself.

"Are you okay, Miccy?"

Miccy shook her head, trying to clear her mind and smiled at the two.

"Yeah… um, I'm going to take you to the Digital kingdom, okay? We'll look for your mother from there. Is that all right?" Miccy asked.

The two looked at each other again.

"Okay," they replied in unison, and Miccy stripped off her gloves and stuffed them in a pouch at her waist, taking each by the hand.

"Let's go then," Miccy walked back towards the Digital kingdom, the daughter and son of her best friend skipping right beside her.

"So, anything about your father you want to tell me about? Does he still have allergies?"

"Yes! Every spring he spends half the day sneezing!" Willis replied.

"And he makes me do my mathematics. I offered to do the farming if he'll do my calculations, but he said I had to learn them," Michelle pouted. Miccy laughed out loud at the thought of Jyou sitting next to Willis learning 1+5 again.

"You should listen to your father. He used to help me with my calculations!"

~*~

Oh god… it hurt a lot. His shoulder and thigh was still bleeding, and his head still felt woozy. Every time he opened his eyes, it was the equivalent of opening one's eyes under water, and he couldn't see anything but a blurry world.

Ow, ow, ow, ow, ow…

Finally, they stopped and dropped him. Unable to stand due to exhaustion, he collapsed to the ground, eyes tightly shut. After what seemed like a year, he opened his eyes and saw that they were at the main gates into the Tachikawa kingdom. Ooh… now he was probably screwed.

Just when he was finally seeing clearly again, he was jerked back up and being dragged towards only god knows where again.

~*~

"Mimi! I thought you were dead!" Willis hissed, embracing her. Then he noticed the sword at her side, "Whose sword is that? It looks like the one that was missing from the armory."

"It's Jyou's sword," Mimi replied quietly, "Willis, I need your help. My father's guards attacked the house we were living in, and now I can't find Jyou or my kids! I really need your help."

Willis frowned.

"Are they dead?"

"I don't know! I don't know if they're dead, if some are okay, if he's been arrested… I don't know!" Mimi shrieked.

"If they were killed or arrested, it would be a violation of the peace treaty we have. We can't let this out. It'll result in another war."

"Mimi Tachikawa????" a voice asked incredulously, and two heads turned to see Miccy holding hands with Michelle and Willis.

"Michelle! Willis!" Mimi screamed, reaching down to embrace her two children.

"Willis… Jyou's alive."

"I know."

Miccy sighed. "I can't believe this is happening. I always thought they were dead," she admitted, watching as Mimi hugged her children, crying happily.

Finally, Mimi let go and looked at her two children.

"Where's your father, dears?"

"The mean guards took him, and they hurt him," Willis whimpered, and Miccy and Willis (senior? ^_^) looked at each other.

"Peace violation. Nobody from either country can seize or arrest anybody living in the land between the kingdoms," Miccy stated slowly.

"Mother… how do you know Miccy? And who's that man? Also, you never told us the end of the story. Why'd Miccy call you Mimi Tachikawa?" Michelle started blaring off questions, and Mimi paused.

"I don't really know Miccy, but this man is Willis…"

"Call me Wallace, to save us some identity crisis," Wallace *a/n: Same situation as w/ Miccy/Michelle* replied kindly.

"Yes… the story is true. I'm Mimi Tachikawa. Your father is Jyou Kido. That army was sent by my father, who has always hated your father," Mimi finally admitted, "This is the Michelle Woo and Willis from our story too. It all happened. And now your grandfather is probably ready to kill your father…"

~*~ (any part w/ Michael is dedicated to Child of the Faeries… I will use your suggestion later! ^^ I know you'll like it… hee hee…)

Michael, prince from the kingdom north of the Tachikawa kingdom, watched as several guards dragged in the bloodied Jyou Kido. He just stared at the former member of the Digital council, disbelief in his eyes. This was the man that had captured Mimi Tachikawa's heart? That didn't seem possible! He was… was… a nobody!

And who could have blamed him. Jyou certainly didn't look like that much at the moment, bleeding from wounds, and not to mention his plain clothes were ripped and shoulder length navy blue hair tussed up, silver rimmed glasses slightly bent.

Basically, he just didn't look too good.

Michael leaned to his… soon to be father-in-law.

"That's who all the fuss is about? He's the one who won my Mimi's heart?" Michael demanded, and Jyou glared at him through infuriated eyes.

"Yes," King Tachikawa cut off any chance of hearing Jyou's sharp retort, "But Mimi will come back, and she will marry you after the proper arrangements have been made."

"Nima? (AKA evil guard who I want to kill… anyhow, thanks to Tanya Takaishi for helping me name him… I hate naming people! I just have so much trouble doing it!!) Take our guest down to the dungeons…"

Jyou shot daggers at him as Nima dragged him away.

Michael just smiled.

"Your majesty, may I have your permission to deal with this scum (how dare he call my Jyou this? *Fwapps Michael with a frying pan*)?" Michael asked as he watched the guard lead Jyou away.

Mimi's father half smiled, half frowned.

"Don't kill him," was the only reply he gave.

Michael smiled.

(a/n: Guess what? I hate Michael!!!!!)

~*~

Miccy gave a test swipe with her sword, swiping through the wood and the head of the practice dummy came off.

"Technically, Michelle, you're not supposed to behead the dummies," Wallace commented lazily as Mimi, Michelle, and Willis watched.

"I know, I know, but I'm just so mad right now. If we inform Yamato or Taichi about this, it will mean war because Jyou is still technically a citizen of the Digital Kingdom, and not to mention the peace terms state that nobody may be arrested between our kingdoms. It can't even come out of this room. If anybody finds out, it'll end up in a war, and I don't think either of the kingdoms can go through that again."

"Yeah, but we can't exactly just barge in and rescue him. That would be a violation of our own peace terms."

"I know," Miccy replied, swinging the sword again and cutting the dummy in two.

Wallace winced.

"Such violence."

"I don't care. Jyou's my friend, and I can't even do anything to help him!" Miccy growled, punching what was left of the practice dummy. Even thought it was bolted down, the screws came undone at the force of her blow and fell over.

"Oh. My."

"Shut. Up."

"You know what? I think we should find out what my father wants," Mimi suggested downheartedly.

Miccy and Wallace both stared at her, and then at each other.

"He'll probably try to force you to come back, and then he'll kill Jyou," Miccy murmured, viciously attacking the next practice dummy.

"Is that true, mother? Would grandfather really kill father?" Michelle asked, her lip quivering.

Mimi took one look at her daughter's face, and all sanity dissolved.

"Miccy, I want to go there. Today. Now."

Miccy froze and the sword flew out of her hand, piercing the practice dummy where its heart would have been.

"You're not serious."

"I am."

"You're insane."

"I am not."

"Yes you are. Do you know what would happen if you gave your father what he wanted? He wouldn't need Jyou anymore. He hates Jyou. He'll probably kill Jyou!" Miccy practically shrieked, retrieving her sword.

"I don't care. He might kill Jyou anyway. That's the way he's always been."

"What happens if we say no?"

"Then I'll go without you. Miccy, please. I need your help, as well as you, Wallace."

"But it's a violation of the peace treaty," Wallace protested.

"So is arresting Jyou!"

"Miccy… do you think there's a loophole in the peace treaty?" Wallace suddenly asked, looking at the knight and member of the Digital council.

"Probably… I haven't read it for a while."

"Maybe we should check it first…"

"There's not enough time, Wallace!" Mimi snapped.

"Mimi, charging in there wouldn't help matters at all. We can't just barge in and do anything we want. There's the peace treaty. A war could occur because of our actions, and Jyou may still end up dead. Let's let Miccy check the peace agreement, and then we can decide further," Wallace explained calmly, and Miccy left to go check.

"What about Michelle and Willis? I can't take them with me."

Wallace grinned.

"Let's talk to uncle Daisuke…"

~*~

Miccy sneezed at the dust, thinking that they probably should fire the maids.

"Michelle, what are you doing?" Yamato asked.

"Looking for the peace agreement between the Digital kingdom and the Tachikawa kingdom. Somebody needs to dust this place."

"Why?"

"Cause it's dusty."

"No, why do you have to find the peace agreement?"

"Oh, no particular reason."

"Sure."

"Yamato, don't worry about it."

"You know that every time you say that, I worry."

"I know. But this is important. Yama san, is there any loopholes in the treaty?"

"That just makes me even more suspicious, Miccy."

Miccy sighed.

"This is important, Yama. Really. But I can't tell you why."

"I can't just let you go out by yourself. You might get hurt."

"I'm a fully trained knight, like you. Yamato, please."

Yamato stared into her eyes and finally sighed.

"If they start something, we have the right to fight back. Same as them to us."

"So if they arrested somebody from between our kingdoms, we could retaliate? And it wouldn't result in war?"

"The arrest would already be a cause of the war, unless somebody decides not to tell us."

"I'm sure I have a very interesting explanation you would like to hear about, Yama, but there really is no time. You're sure that's in the treaty?"

"Yes, Michelle."

"Thanks."

Miccy turned to walk away, but Yamato laid a firm hand on her shoulder.

"Michelle. Don't… don't get hurt, okay? You know it'll kill me if you got hurt."

"A couple bruises never hurt anybody. I'll come back to you in one piece. I promise," Miccy replied, giving him a quick kiss on the cheek before walking away. Yamato sighed.

Please get her through this all right…

~*~

"Get up."

Jyou felt a searing pain in his right side and looked groggily at Michael. Couldn't he ever get a break? First he's bashed in the head by a heavy piece of wood, then dragged for god knows how long, and when he finally gets time to rest and clear his head, he had to come.

"I told you to get up," Michael hissed, and Jyou winced from the pain in his side, but he didn't move from his sitting position.

"Even… even if I could… I wouldn't," Jyou retorted angrily.

Michael snarled and grabbed him by the wrist, forcing him to stand.

"It is beyond me how Mimi could ever fallen in love with a nobody like you. You're nothing, a worthless piece of dirt. It doesn't seem possible that somebody as beautiful and gorgeous as Mimi Tachikawa could fall in love with a nobody like you, when she could have had me. I should have had her, not you! She was supposed to be my wife, not yours! Nobody cares about you, and she shouldn't either. You don't deserve somebody like her.

"And I suppose… that you believe… that you do?"

"Damn straight," Michael replied, landing a punch on Jyou's face, the impact whipping his head to the side and giving him a black eye. He didn't fight as another blow forced the breath out of him when it slammed into his stomach, or when the blonde haired prince slammed him into the wall, his head painfully coming in contact with the stone wall.

Is she worth the pain, Kido? Or do you wish you had never met her? If you hadn't, you wouldn't be in this current fix, would you? Aren't I right?" Michael demanded, shaking the older man viciously.

"You're… you're wrong," Jyou breathed out slowly, pain richoting through every part of his body.

"Am I? Are you sure? I'm feeling beneficial today, Kido. If you renounce all ties to your precious Mimi, I'll convince his majesty to let you go. I might even try to throw in your precious brats in well. Then you'll be free to go and do whatever you want to do. What do you say?" Michael smiled maliciously, expecting for the former member of the Digital council to agree.

"You're crazy. I refuse to hurt her by betraying her or allowing you to become her husband," Jyou hissed back, and Michael stared at him in shock.

"Then you'll a bigger fool than I had expected," he answered finally, letting go of Jyou's wrist and allowing him to fall into a crumpled heap next to the wall before turning and walking away.

(a/n: *Sighs dreamily* Jyou is soooo noble… ^^' *everybody gags*)

~*~

*a/n: The kids Willis and Michelle are now with Daisuke, so Miccy and Wallace will be referred to as Michelle and Willis again, okay?*

"Do you think this will work, Michelle?" Willis asked quietly as they sped through the air. Frostmon had digivolved to her champion form, Blizzardmon, a huge sea lion like Digimon with wings and a horn, and not to mention the handy ability to carry up to a ton of weight without losing any speed or energy. Currently, Mimi was sitting on top the champion Digimon while Michelle and Willis were clinging to her front flippers, careful to avoid the silver claws. Willis was wearing the garb of a monk… a fat monk, so when Blizzardmon de-digivolved to Frostmon, he could hide her within the folds of the garment. Underneath, he was clad in his usual outfit and had his own sword, although he wasn't as adept to using it as Michelle, as he did not have the training of a knight.

"No, not really, to tell you the truth," Michelle admitted. Michelle was dressed in a free moving outfit of clothes; white tunic and dark brown breeches, her sword clipped to the leather belt around her waist and hair tied into a ponytail to prevent from getting in her eyes. Her purple eyes were focused and intent, anticipating the battle that was to come.

"Don't be so pessimistic, Michelle," Blizzardmon commented.

"I'm not. I'm simply being realistic," Michelle replied.

Mimi sighed softly, clutching her husband's sword in both hands. Mimi wore a petal pink dress… the same one she had taken a dive in. It still smelled rather fishy, as Frostmon/Blizzardmon had pointed out numerous times. But it was the only nice dress she had.

She was worried. Worried about everything, actually. Jyou, her father, what would happen if the plan didn't work, what would happen if Willis or Michelle got killed… then war would be inevitable, it would probably be her fault… ooh, she didn't like this. She didn't like this at all.

But she didn't say anything. Not even when the champion Digimon flew over the gates to her old home and towards the palace.

As they flew over, Michelle looked down at the guards. They hadn't even noticed the huge sea lion Digimon flying above them! How sad was that?

Oh well. Better for them then.

~*~

"Mimi!" Queen Tachikawa screamed as she embraced her daughter. Clearly, the fishy smell wasn't affecting her at all.

"Hello mother," Mimi replied emotionlessly, stiffening at her mother's touch.

"You're alive," her father stated matter-of-factly.

"Yes."

"Why didn't you come back, dear?"

"Why do you care?"

"We're your parents, Mimi chan."

"Don't Mimi chan me! I know you have Jyou! I want him back and then I want to get out of your miserable lives forever!" Mimi shouted angrily, her father and mother paling.

"Dear, I don't know what you're talking about. Are you feverish?"

"No, I'm not feverish," Mimi mocked.

"That is not the behavior of a princess, Mimi."

"Like I really give a d***."

~*~

Michelle watched as Mimi was ambushed by her mother and father. It had been easy to get into the palace, and Mimi was to distract her parents while she and Willis searched for Jyou or anything else discriminating to the Tachikawa rulers.

She turned to Willis.

"Willis, take Frostmon with you. I'm going to go look for Jyou… any idea where they would be holding him?"

"The dungeons… go straight, make a left at the second corridor. Eventually, you'll get to a flight of stairs going downwards. It leads to the cells. I'll go and see if I can figure out what our two rulers are trying to pull off."

"Okay," Michelle agreed, drawing her sword, "Do they have a lot of guards here?"

"Yeah, but peace might have made them soft or even more wary… I'll be saying yes."

Michelle rolled her eyes.

"Oh great," she muttered as she ran towards the direction Willis had pointed and he went the other way, taking the sky blue seal Digimon with him.

~*~

"Mimi, this is your fiancée, Michael," Queen Tachikawa introduced the blonde at her side, and when he tried to take her hand to kiss it, Mimi pulled away.

"Nice try, mother, but I already have a husband. And I happen to know you have him. SO give me a break and let him go so we can get out of your life again," Mimi snapped angrily.

"That's very rude, dear."

"Tell somebody who cares," Mimi sneered.

"I can't believe a daughter like mine would act this way!"

"Too bad. I'm not leaving this room until I see him alive and in one piece!" Mimi screeched.

"Contrary, my dear," Mimi's father replied, and suddenly Michael picked her up and dragged her away.

"Let me go you b******! You d*** scum bag, let go!!" Mimi screamed as he forcefully carried her away.

After Michael and Mimi had disappeared, Mimi's father leaned over to face Nima.

"I want you to go down to the dungeons and kill Kido before Mimi can find out," he ordered before turning to face his wife.

Nima smiled and bowed, walking away briskly.

~*~

"Willis, I'm suffocating here!" Frostmon hissed, and Willis glared at the Digimon.

"Sorry your majesty!" he retorted sarcastically.

"Sarcasm doesn't do anything for you."

"Be quiet until Michelle comes back with Jyou," he muttered, looking through the papers. All of them seemed to be devoted to war, but how did the Tachikawa kingdom expect to have a war during peace? Even now, the war would be against them, and even their own people would turn against if they knew that the Tachikawa rulers had been the ones to break the peace treaty. Perhaps the king didn't care because once Mimi was married to Michael, they would have the added power of his kingdom's resources and armies, but it still technically didn't make sense.

Finally, he came upon a paper. He quickly skimmed through it, the contents horrifying him.

"What is it, Willis?" Frostmon asked, her head popping up to look at the parchment that he was reading.

"A possible declaration of war… Frostmon, we have to go to the throne room, and hopefully Michelle will get there as quickly as possible. I have to talk to her."

"Why?"

"Cause if I can't get the news to her soon enough, Mimi may end up dead."

~*~

I'm… bum, bum, bum… LOST!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Michelle ran from room to room, trying to find the stairway down to the dungeon. No, no, no, no, NO! WHERE COULD IT BE??

I'm lost! I'm lost! I'm totally lost!!!! Willis! You said it was over there! But I'm lost! These are the lousiest directions I've ever had! These must be the lousiest directions you've ever given! What did you do, what did you do? Where, where, where, where was the idiotic stairway? I bet you couldn't even give directions to the bathroom in a two room house!!!!!

Suddenly, a noise caught her attention, and she turned to see Nima striding towards a stairway.

Please, please, please let him be going to the dungeons…

Finally, she made up her mind and followed him, glad she didn't wear any armor to alert him of her presence. When he reached a stairway and walked downwards, Michelle had to resist the urge to scream in triumph.

~*~

The clang of the iron bars opening jarred Jyou awake, and he looked to see Nima coming for him, sword drawn.

He didn't say anything, even when the guard (evil, evil guard) was standing above him, sneer on his face.

"King's orders. You're to die now," the guard hissed, sword at Jyou's neck. Jyou didn't even move… not that he really could have even though he desperately wanted to.

"Uh hem," a voice suddenly interrupted, and both looked to see a figure at the door.

~*~

"Uh hem."

Nima didn't lower his sword , even as he turned to face Michelle, eyes blazing and right hand gripping the hilt of her sword.

"Are you talking to me?" he asked impassively.

"No, I'm talking to your clone right next to you… Of COURSE I'm talking to you! Do you see anybody else here who I would be talking to? No offense, Jyou," Michelle muttered the last part.

"You're a feisty girl, aren't you?"

"Perhaps, but this feisty girl is going to give you a little lesson in swords play if you don't let her friend go."

"And why would I do that? I'm having fun here."

"Considering your twisted definition of fun, I wouldn't deny it, but I have a friend who would like to see him, preferably in one piece. Now either get out of my way, or fight somebody fairly for once in your life," she hissed, holding her sword up.

"I don't fight women," Nima answered coolly.

"I don't fight b******s like you either, but do you see me complaining?"

"What makes you think you have any chance of defeating me, the captain of the Tachikawa kingdom army?" he demanded, swinging his blade away from Jyou and at the member of the Digital council.

"The training and experience of a knight," Michelle retorted, swinging her blade upwards to catch Nima's blade, creating a flurry of steel sparks.

"Women can't be knights. You're all too soft and weak," he sneered in her face. Michelle resisted the urge to start gagging at his foul breath.

Braggart he was… swordsman he was not. He didn't attack enough, but spent most of his time blocking her attacks. One of the first things they teach is that you can never win by only defending, but you have to attack. Not to mention the blocking was already causing him to breath heavily, while she was still breathing slowly and not feeling in the least tired. She attacked with a series of harsh downward blows, but Nima blocked, lunging forward. He used his heavier weight to his advantage, locking swords body-to-body and he forced her to her knees. She broke away, but before she could scramble back to her feet, a harsh blow to her stomach resulted, and she shot him an angry glare. He was not the honorable opponent that she was normally used to, but just an idiot who would do anything to win.

Well, you know what they say. Fight fire with fire.

Before he could put his guard back up, she slammed her entire body weight into him, knocking him away and causing him to crash into the door. Switching sword hands, she landed a long gash across his chest, and he growled and stood, sword clenched in his hand. She took a quick look at Jyou to see if he was okay,, and Nima used the opportunity. Again he attacked, this time with a punch to the face that knocked her sprawling. Mentally, she cursed herself for being so stupid and taking her eyes off her opponent. She managed to roll away right he slammed the blade down where her heart would have been if she hadn't moved and sprang up. Taking the opportunity to attack while he was still trying to get the blade loose, Michelle jumped up and kicked him, right where the gash was. With a howl of pain, he let go of the sword and swung blindly at her, his rage making up for his lack of skill. One of his wild punches landed in her stomach, forcing the air out of her. He grinned in triumph as she slumped down clutching her stomach and drew his blade out of the ground.

"I win," he said simply as Michelle looked up, fury in her eyes.

Just as he was about to kill her, she forced herself to jump up and then just threw her sword at him, like with the practice dummy. Being the slow idiot that he was, Nima didn't move away in time and the sword buried itself in his chest.

He died instantly.

After standing there, leaning against the wall for support, Michelle finally walked over to the dead captain of the guards and pulled her sword out. Then she turned towards Jyou, who had managed to finally stand.

"Good god… remind me never to get you mad," he rasped as Michelle rushed over to help him stand.

Oh yes… "What happened to you?" Michelle demanded, taking some herbs and bandages from the loose fitting belt around her waist and hip and beginning to wipe away the blood. Still, he certainly didn't look like the picture of health.

"Please don't ask, Michelle."

"Fine then. But we have to hurry. Frostmon can't digivolve without me," Michelle replied slowly, placing Jyou's arm around her shoulder and helping him walk out of the dungeons.

~*~

"Michelle! We've got trouble," Willis hissed as Michelle came staggering up while supporting Jyou.

"What is it?"

"The king and queen are planning on war. They know that Jyou is still a citizen of the Digital kingdom. They planned on killing Jyou and using him as the scapegoat when they have Michael kill Mimi. By using Mimi as a martyr, they will have the citizen's and the Digimon's support, and Michael will also be able to get his kingdom's support as Mimi was to be his wife. This way, they would have more than enough to challenge the Digital kingdom in war, and with Michael's support, they can quite easily destroy us. Even though Jyou is alive, Michael doesn't know that, and he may still kill Mimi. The death of Mimi wouldn't make much of a difference because everybody already thinks she's dead, but it would still be a loss to Jyou, and if word should get out that he's still alive, the Tachikawa kingdom may put two and two together to think that he was the cause of Mimi's death, and if the Tachikawas should challenge war, they would still have the support of their citizens. Either way, we have to save Mimi," Willis explained quickly.

"Where is the king and queen?"

"They should still be in the throne room… I think."

"YOU THINK?"

"I'm sorry!"

Michelle looked into the throne room, and came face to face with about thirty guards. She smiled and laughed nervously.

"Heh heh… hi…"

~*~

"Frostmon warp digivolve to… ICECRYSTALMON!!"

The mega level Digimon was the first to attack.

"Frost wings!" she yelled, frost coming from her shining wings, blinding the guards with powder. Michelle left Jyou outside the room before barging in, Willis at her heels, both ready for a fight when they got the powder out of their eyes.

"Think we can fight them all of?" Willis asked.

"Yes."

"Are you being optimistic?"

"No. Realistic."

Willis rolled his eyes.

"I'm sure, Michelle."

~*~

"What is Jyou doing?" Willis asked as the two saw him appear from the doorway.

"I don't know… I left him outside the throne room," Michelle muttered.

Jyou finally struggled up to them.

"I need my sword."

"WHAT?" Michelle hissed as Icecrystalmon let out another one of her attacks, grabbing Jyou's arm. He glared at her.

"I'm going to find Mimi."

"You can't! Some guard will come and cut you down to size! Wait until the battle is over!"

"I can't. If Willis is right, Michael is going to kill her. I can't just stand by and watch!"

"So you'll act like a fool and let yourself get killed?"

"If that's what it takes!"

"Jyou, love has made your sanity go nuts! You can't do this! You'll get killed!"

"If I don't, she'll die. Simple as that."

Michelle glared at him angrily. Finally, she walked calmly over to the edge of the room where Mimi had dropped Jyou's sword.

"Here's your sword," she finally muttered, handing him the no longer blood stained weapon.

"Thanks."

"Jyou… before you go. I only have one thing to say to you."

"Yeah?"

"If you die, I will kill you later," Michelle grinned lopsidedly before turning to Icecrystalmon.

Jyou knew what was coming then.

"Aurora Light!"

Icecrystalmon spread her blue and white sparkling wings, and all the light seemed to collect and suddenly explode, blinding everybody except her allies. Jyou took the opportunity amidst the confusion to run out the throne room and towards Michael's room.

~*~

Mimi shivered as Michael stared at her, as if he was ready to eat her or something. She shivered again at that thought. God, she wished that Jyou was here to help her instead of this weirdo! Jyou… Jyou, where are you?

"My love, you seem depressed. What are you thinking of?" Michael commented, trying to get close to his soon to be wife.

"How nice it would be to get away from you," Mimi replied harshly, moving away for every step Michael took to get closer to her. But eventually, she had walked to the window and wall, and she couldn't move any further.

"Well, you can't," he snapped, making Mimi just want to get away from him even more.

"I can dream."

"Not anymore."

"Get. The. Hell. Away. From. Me."

"I can't, my dear," Michael replied, embracing her. Mimi looked at the ground, anger making her shake. Even though Jyou did the same thing to her, it was so different. Jyou's hands were always so warm and loving. Michael's hands were currently the equivalent of having a large, cold, and not to mention extremely slimy snake attempt to strangle her to death. There was no love in any of his actions, just dominance and triumph.

Not at all like Jyou.

She was so busy comparing Michael to Jyou and how much her body abhorred his touch that she didn't see when he was raising his dagger, ready to stab it into her back and kill her.

But at that moment, Mimi looked at the window and saw her reflection and also Michael with the dagger. She screamed as she turned to face the blonde haired prince.

At that same moment, the door slammed open, and both turned to see a bruised and battered Jyou Kido, breathing heavily and clutching his sword as he glared hatefully at the blonde prince.

~*~

"Where did Jyou go?" Willis asked as he went back to back with Michelle, facing down an army of ten guards. At least this way, they would have to check their back. On the other side of the room, twenty guards were attacking the Marineangemon look-alike, Icecrystalmon.

"He went after Michael and Mimi," Michelle muttered, disarming one guard and slamming her foot into another, knocking him over.

"WHAT???" Willis practically screamed, causing some of the guards to flinch. Michelle ignored his scream and killed one guard while injuring the other to put him out of the battle.

"Do you not understand English?"

"I heard you, but I don't believe you!" Willis snapped, slicing downward and instantly killing his opponent.

"Well, BELIEVE IT!"

"HOW COULD YOU HAVE LET HIM GO????" Willis continued to rage, and Michelle could only roll her eyes and attack the guards as they continued to come at them.

~*~

"Get away from her," Jyou breathed in slowly, the run tiring him. Mimi took one look at him, jaw practically dropped to the ground, turned, and started attacking Michael angrily.

"What did you do to him???" she screeched into his ear, pounding angrily at his chest in an attempt to get him to let go of her.

"Shut up," he snapped, throwing her into the wall. With a painful yelp, she slumped down, unconscious.

"So, Kido, we face each other. Let me assure you that you will not live," Michael stated, in that really, really, REALLY annoying voice of his.

"An honorable opponent wouldn't even fight, knowing that he was the one who had injured the fighter to his current condition."

"Really, Jyou, not all of those injuries were inflicted by me. Just the bruises."

"It's enough," he stated simply, still breathing heavily.

"I'll give you a second chance, Jyou. If you leave right now, I won't come after you. And then you won't see me kill Mimi."

"And if I don't?"

Michael walked right over to him until they were staring at each other eye to eye.

"Then I'll make sure you'll alive to see me rip her heart out. What do you say?"

"I say, draw your sword."

~*~

"Is that all of them?" Michelle asked as Icecrystalmon de-digivolved to her in-training form, Icemon. Icemon immediately floated (she's like Bukamon… floats, you know?) up onto Michelle's shoulder, her eyes closed on her little seal face as she slept peacefully.

"I guess so," Willis replied curtly, and Michelle winced. Obviously, he was still p.o.ed at her for letting Jyou go after Michael and Mimi.

"Where did their majesties go?" Michelle asked, looking around the throne room. The room was completely empty, except for dead or possibly dying guards.

"I don't know… but I don't think we need to worry about them."

"Why not?"

Willis grinned lopsidedly and held up a rolled up wad of papers.

"Their war plans. And their plan to kill Mimi and Jyou to use her as a martyr and him as a scapegoat."

Michelle shook her head, smiling.

"You never cease to amaze me, Willis."

"Well, let's go find Jyou and Mimi," Willis replied, stuffing the plans back in his pocket. Michelle didn't even bother to wait, already off and running towards the prince's room.

~*~

Michael was a very good swordsman. But he was overconfident. Normally, Jyou could have used this to his advantage, and perhaps use his better speed to end the battle quickly. But his injuries had made him a lot weaker and a touch slower.

He winced as the gash on his thigh reopened, a red spot growing at his pant leg.

Okay, so maybe not just a touch slower.

On the plus side, unlike Nima, Michael was an honorable opponent. He didn't throw in random punches or use anything but his blade, but even that was extremely dangerous. However, he still tried to annoy Jyou, to make him lose his temper and make silly mistakes. And he was definitely succeeding in annoying the hell out of Jyou.

"Maybe I'll let you hold her heart. I've always heard that people want to hold the heart of their loved ones. Of course, it's not literal," Michael taunted, whipping his sword downward and then upward. Jyou lunged, sword for Michael's heart, and Michael finally shut up and stepped back. While he was stepping back, Jyou lunged at him. Normally, it would have ended the battle, but lack of speed made it easy for Michael to block the blade.

"Feeling slow, old man?"

Jyou didn't reply, watching intently as Michael circled him, looking for an opening in which to disarm the older (but not by that much!!) man. Michael attacked again, bringing his sword down in an arc. Jyou blocked, just in time to prevent it from slicing a hand off or perhaps something worse. He was weakening steadily, but Michael wasn't letting down at all. He had stopped the rain of insults when he saw that it wasn't affecting Jyou as he had hoped, instead conserving his energy. Jyou knew that to win, the battle would have to end soon or he wouldn't even have enough strength to hold his sword.

Eyes never leaving his opponent's blade, Jyou desperately stopped a series of chopping swipes, and Jyou finally saw his advantage. Michael's sword wasn't of a very good condition, more of the fancy dress kinds, unlike his own, which he had actually used the entire time he was training to be a knight and afterwards. (*sighs dreamily… Jyou, a knight… it seems too good to be true… Oh wait, I'm writing this story… ^^*) He knew for a fact that his sword could take a lot, while Michael's sword could shatter if he put enough strength in his attack.

Strength suddenly renewed as he finally realized his opponent's weakness, Jyou started to attack more viciously, trying to press his advantage. Every time he blocked, he pushed away, causing more strain on the other's swords. Michael didn't seem to have any idea what Jyou was trying to do, each time attacking with more force, but when it landed on Jyou's sturdier blade, it was becoming worse for himself. Michael suddenly stumbled clumsily for no apparent reason, and Jyou took advantage of the brief imbalance to use all his force in his blow. Michael hurriedly blocked, but the force was enough to shatter the sword, and Jyou watched in grim triumph as it fell into two pieces.

"Rule number one in battles… don't use dress swords," Jyou suggested, and Michael looked desperately around for an opening. But with his sword gone, he was helpless. Then he saw Mimi, slowly regaining conscious and standing. Quickly he grabbed the dagger and got up, running to attack Jyou's helpless wife.

"At least I'll have the pleasure to see you die," Michael yelled crazily, and Mimi stared at him, paralyzed with shock.

Sooner than he could battle his conscious, Jyou threw his sword like Michelle had also done. It probably wouldn't have killed him, if Michael hadn't stopped and allowed the sword to pierce his chest, to the right of his heart, but it was still enough to kill him instantly.

Jyou just breathed in, unable to move as he used the wall to support his weight.

Finally, he collapsed, unconscious, and Mimi ran over to him, trying to support him but not really succeeding too well. Just when she was about to collapse under his weight, the door opened and Michelle and Willis entered.

"Mimi? Do you need some help?" Willis asked as she struggled to keep standing.

"WHAT DO YOU THINK????" Mimi screeched, and Willis quickly ran over to help her while Michelle collapsed laughing at the look on Mimi's face.

"Well, you were obviously busy," she commented, looking at the body and blood.

"Blame Jyou," Mimi muttered.

"He did save you," Michelle reminded him as she for the second time that hour, pulled out a sword from the body and picked up the abandoned sheath, quickly replacing the bloody blade.

"Let's get out of here," Willis suggested.

"I'll lead," Michelle offered, her sword still drawn.

~*~ (back to nicknames…)

Miccy watched silently as Jyou and Mimi piled their few belongings onto the horses that she had helped get for them. The effort was minimal, as they didn't have much to take, and after a moment of silence, the two turned to face her and Wallace.

"Guess this is good-bye now, isn't it?" Miccy asked, smiling.

"Probably. We won't be coming back until we know it's safe… and that won't be until my father and mother both die," Mimi replied.

"I still can't understand why you can't just come to live in the Digital kingdom…" Wallace started, but Mimi and Jyou shook their heads.

"We don't want to cause anymore trouble."

"You pig headed buffoon… even if I guaranteed it would be safe, you wouldn't stay," Miccy muttered.

"True. We'll be back someday."

"Someday. Someday can be forever, Jyou."

"I'm not 'old reliable' for nothing, you know. We'll come back when it's safe."

"Where are you going?" Wallace asked.

Jyou and Mimi looked at each other.

"We don't know yet. Someplace… someplace where we can live a normal life, I suppose," Mimi smiled.

"A place like that might not exist."

"We'll look for however long we need. And when we do find that place, we'll send you something," Jyou promised, his arm around Mimi's shoulder.

"Jyou, I was wondering. Where'd you learn to fight like that? You managed to hold off several guards at your house, and you also managed to defeat Michael when you were injured! Is there a little secret past life of yours that I don't know about?" Wallace asked suddenly.

Miccy laughed.

"Jyou and I trained together to be knights. Actually, all of the original members of the Digital council did, with the exception of Sora, who never trained to be a knight. Miyako never became a knight either, although both have enough training to hold off a guard or two. However, Daisuke, Ken, Takeru, and Iori also trained to be knights, but they actually ended up our squires when we were knights."

"Oh really? Who was your squire?" Mimi looked at the two knights.

"Ken," Miccy replied.

"Iori," Jyou answered.

"I feel sorry for both of them," Wallace commented evilly, and Miccy and Jyou both gave him evil glares.

"We… we better get going," Mimi finally sighed.

"Yeah… it's getting dark soon."

Finally, the former princess and member of the Digital council walked away and got into the saddle. With one last wave good-bye, the horses started walking away towards who knows where.

"Bye Miccy! Bye Wallace! Thanks for helping mom and dad!" Michelle and Willis yelled, waving. Miccy felt the tears well up.

"Bye kids! And learn your mathematics, Michelle!" she yelled, nearly choking on her tears.

"They'll be back, you know," a new voice stated quietly, and Miccy didn't even turn to face her husband.

"I know, Yamato. But until then, it's going to be so hard," she sighed as the four disappeared into the sunset, leaving nothing but an empty house and memories.

But even as sadness reigned, the lily pads covering the lake continued to blossom, a gorgeous reminder of the wonderful memories they would always have, and a promise of new beginnings.

As I promised, notes to the readers that reviewed before I put up the sequel!! ^^

Pinkangelsakura: Come on, you're the one who suggested I write a Medieval Mimoe! I still think there are too many medieval Takaris… *pouts* But write whatever you want, although I suggest you finish the CCS fic… your readers are awfully violent, in my opinion… *mutters something about overzealous readers who threaten to dismember the writers*

Child of the Faeries: I used your idea! SEE?? *starts whines* I still think it went too fast! I still think it went too fast! I still think it went too fast! *continues to whine until Child of the Faeries walks away shaking her head*

jmn103: Thanks for the review! I reallllyyyyy appreciated it! *smiles like an idiot and does a happy little dance that, par usual, scares the heck out of everybody*

Nightflame: Actually, I haven't watched "Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon" before, and I don't plan on it. Anyhow, that means I wouldn't know if it ended up Crouching Tiger style! Maybe this one did! I don't know!!! *runs off laughing insanely while everybody just blinks*

Carter Quetzi Tachikawa: *sweatdrops* I hope I didn't spell anything wrong… ^_^ Thank you also for the review!

Sonar: I'm glad you enjoyed it! I hope you enjoyed this one too, but maybe you didn't… I admit it wasn't as good as the first *whines* I don't even know whyyyyyyyyyy I decided to write it!.

Al: I'm not taking Spanish! I'm one of the few taking Japanese! MWAHAHAHA! (did I mention I'm failing Japanese?) Anyway, Arigato! (thank you!) *I bet that that's not spelled right…*

Angel#2: Here's the sequel! Here's the sequel! *continues to rant and rave and point at nothing in particular* Do you want another sequel? Do you want another sequel? I'm thinking about it!!

Alexia: Yah… I've killed off Mimi and Jyou too many times, and I think I would have felt guilty if I had done it again! Anyhow, I'm glad you enjoyed the fic! I hope you enjoyed this one too *possibly not, it wasn't as good in my opinion…*

Liete: *does a little dance* I'm glad other people have noticed. COME ON MIMOE FANS! WRITE SOME MEDIEVAL MIMOES! *starts muttering something inaudible about nothing in particular while everybody sweatdrops* ^^ Takari is fine with me, but I still think we need more Mimoes… *puppy eyes* Always room for another Mimoe… *everybody sweatdrops again*

Cindy: You didn't review the last fic, but I just want to give you a note. IF YOU WRITE ANYTHING ABOUT ME NOT HAVING GOOD SELF ESTEEM, I WILL SIC YOUR GUARDIAN ANGEL ON YOUUUU!! AND I HAVE SECRET CONNECTIONS TO GUARDIAN ANGELS ANONYMOUS, THANK YOU VERY MUCH!!!!!!

Please leave a review! It'll make me happy! ^^' I'm still debating a sequel or not.Maybe, maybe not… Either way, please review! It really does make me happppyyyyy!!!!!

Pikachumaniac