Disclaimer: I don't own digimon!

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A tale of four Children

Chapter 3: A royal power

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A young girl was helplessly sitting by a window, watching people under her. They seemed to enjoy themselves, while being busy to do things that does not imply the survival of the kingdom they live in. They could act like they wanted and not being restricted to a formal way to live like her. She sighed. Why was she a princess anyway? Her brother was enough to take care of the kingdom. Why did she had to stick here? Nobody needed her. She was alone, bored. And she didn't know what life she was going to lead. Just to be lady-like, then marry some good guy who passed by here. She was only 15 and she already had a few matches. Her parents were now considering wedding propositions. She was about to meet a bunch of guys who wanted power and not herself. What a shame. She sighed and brushed her brown hair with her fingers.

A servant run in the room.

"Lady Hikari, somebody is here to see you."

"If it's a suitor, tell him I'm busy."

"It isn't, my lady. It's a boy from Malary."

"Malary? The kingdom just next to ours?"

"Yes, my lady. He is a malarian. And he's begging to have an audience with you."

Hikari felt a strange feeling in her stomach.

"What does he want?"

"He said something I didn't really understand. Then he changed his mind and he said maybe it would be compromising for such an altess like your lady."

'This guy may be interseting' thought Hikari, as her feeling grew.

"I'll see him in the garden in five minutes."

"As your wish, my lady."

The servant bowed and left the room, and her lady followed her a while later.

"This is beautiful!" exclaimed Daisuke.

He had never been to a palace before, and especially not in the garden. There were flowers in bloom everywhere in sight, and some colored butterfly were flying among the wide colors of the flowers. It was a very big garden, with fontains everywhere. The purple haired boy and his blue friend walked in the park, huming the delicious perfumes of the flowers.

"You know what? I want to be king, and have a lot of gardens like this one!" said Demiveemon.

"We should stay here, or the princess won't see us!"

"I can't believe a princess is going to join us! You see, a princess, it's a precious thing! You can't lead her anywhere!"

"It's a princess, and she isn't even aware of her powers! Have you seen this poor servant and her shocked expression? It was clear nobody have heard about magic in there!"

He was right, and Daisuke knew he was about to have some hard time discussing with a princess who doesn't even know him and convince her to follow him.

"Look Dai, here she comes!"

Daisuke turned aound to see a beautiful teenage with shoulder long brown hair and amber eyes. She was wearing a long pink and blue dress that suited her like a glove. She didn't seem to be older than him. She was walking towards them. The two boys bowed.

"Lady Hikari." said Daisuke, "My name is Daisuke. It's kind from you to receive us here. This garden is beautiful."

"I heard you wanted to talk with me. You and your blue friend", she added motionning at Demiveemon. "So let's walk a little." They began walking throught the park, and Daisuke started.

"Have you ever heard of magic?"

Hikari seemed to be a little disturbed.

"A bit. There are some witches in this town, I think. Why?"

"Because you have magic powers."

She didn't look shocked. She didn't even stop walking.

"I kind of knew it. You see all those pools of running water? I often play with them. I've always been attracted to water. I discovered some few things. When my hand dive in water, I can make it grow or disappear. I can also produce water." She stopped abruptly. "How do you know? I never told anyone! Even my brother!"

"I felt you were the one I was looking for. You know, strange feelings in your stomach."

"I had it when I saw you two."

"It's a recognition sign. You're the sorceress of water. You have, along with me and two others, the greatest powers in the world. You just have to train them."

"Who are you?"

"Oh, sorry. I'm the wizard of fire."

"Show me some of your talent."

"As your wish."

Daisuke looked around and saw a almost dead tree. He removed his right red glove and extended his hand towards the tree. Some little flames lit up on his fingertips, and at the same times, others lit on the tree. Every little branch was now flaming, under Hikari's half-surprised eyes.

"Now, it's your turn to stop the fire."

"You mean..."

"You can do exactly the same thing as I did, except it will be water!"

Hikari nodded, and extended her hand like Daisuke did a moment ago.

"Now search deep in yourself. You can hear water running near you. Water is you. You are water. You want water on this tree. Now!" Hikari then felt a rush of power inside her arm and from her fingers water was sinking.

"Great, you did it!"

She looked up to see a fuming tree. She was now a little bit afraid.

"So it's true...What is going to happen to me now? What am I supposed to do?"

She was both scared and excited. She felt it was a turn in her life she shouldn't miss.

"Calm down first."

Hikari took a deep breath and looked at the ground, thinking.

"I mean, now that you've found me, what are you going to do?"

"You mean, what are we going to do! We have to stay together and find the others!"

"The others?"

"Don't you get it? Children of earth and wind!"

"It's not a way to speak to a princess!"

Daisuke hasn't expected this outburst. Seing his expression, Hikari calmed down.

"That's okay." they both said at the same time. They looked up to eachother and bursted out laughing.

"If you tell me why, well maybe I'll try to convince my parents."

He grinned.

"The problem is... I don't know why. I guess we'll discover it when we'll be reunited."

"Great! How do you think I can escape this castle?"

"Well, you throw a rope by your window and you get down!"

Hikari almost slapped him on the head.

"You fool! I won't do that!"

"Why not?"

"Because I'm a princess!"

Daisuke sighed. "I know you're a princess. I know your family rules here, I know the kingdom of Erania is ruled by the greatest family ever, the Kamiya! You have a big brother who will be king in a few years, he won't need you to rule by his side! He'll have a wife for this! And you, what are you going to do with your life? Don't you think it would be better if you trained your powers? We're the strongers wizards ever! It has to mean something. And this something, we'll learn it. Together."

Hikari was silent. He was right. He was certainly right. Oh, how much right he was!

"I think I'll follow you. But before, I'd like to spend a little time alone here."

He nodded.

"By the way, no digimon was around you, looking for you, or something?"

"No."

"You'll find one someday. And soon."

"How do you know?"

"Don't know. I'll meet you here tomorrow evening. Ok?"

"Ok."

"And, lady Hikari, it would be wonderful if I could treat you like my equal, and not like a princess."

This time, she really slapped him on the head. Demiveemon, who was sitting on it, foresaw this coming and jumped out of his hair just in time to avoid the watery blast.

"Don't you think I'm tired to be treated like a child and to act like a lady?"

Some water splashed on the ground.

"That's a good sign." said Daisuke. "You're progressing."

Hikari sighed and walked away. The sun was setting and the garden was even more gorgeous than before.

"C'mon, let's stay here a little longer!"

Later that night, Daisuke and his digimon partner were snoaring loudly in a little house they found in the middle of the garden when something awaked him. Again this strange feeling. But it was different. It was... bad. A very bad feeling.

He yawned, rubbed his eyes and looked around. He gently pushed Demiveemon to wake him up.

"Huh? What is it?"

"Shhh!!!" whispered Daisuke, his index on his lips. He pointed to outside, and they peeked at the window. The sky was dark, without no moon or stars. The garden was totally dark. They could only hear water running down the fontains. Demiveemon was about to ask Daisuke what was up when a flash of orange light lit up the scene. They heard the groan of somebody or something that wasn't happy. Soon the light disappeared, but some others, tinier, appeared and remained. A burnt smell flew in the house.

"He's burning the garden! We have to do something!"

They rushed out of their one-night home to see a lion-digimon firing orange balls and burning everything.

"Oh my, it's a Leomon!" said DemiVeemon.

"It will be hard! Fire against fire... can't you do something?"

"If I could digivolve... it would be better!"

"Try your best! I'll try too! Hey, you big beast!"

Leomon turned around.

"You know you're far to be as beautiful as the princess in this castle?"

"Don't care! Soon she'll be dead, burnt like the others!"

"Fight me first!"

"Leo Punch!"

The orange lion flew at him but he easily dodged it.

"You don't know better?"

Daisuke released a big fire ball from his arms. It hit Leomon but it just made him angier.

"Whoops... Looks like you are seriously strong!"

Leomon leapt in the air and nearly landed on Daisuke. But the boy was a fast runner and he escaped the deathly pound.

Demiveemon was watching helplessly.

"I have to do something, I have to do something, I have to do something..."

Then he felt a rush of strenght in his body.

"Demiveemon, digivolve in... Veemon! Hold on Dai!"

"Veemon? You're cool! You're bigger than before!"

"Watch out!"

Veemon pushed him out of the way of a Leo punch.

"Thanks dude! Do you know how to breath fire?"

"Yeah, look!"

Veemon took a long breath, then, aiming at Leomon, he let go a big flame out of his mouth.

Leomon didn't even winced in pain. He winced in amusement.

"Good try. But it's not enough. Leo punch!"

He was too near and before they could react, they were blasted by a huge lion of fire. They flew a few meters away.

Leomon walked a few steps near them but something cold and hurting in his back made him stop.

***

Hikari woke up with a strange feeling. But it was a different one. And she hated it. It was like something was about to happen. She slipped out of her bed and opened her window. What she saw paralyzed her: there was a huge lion burning everything in the garden! And he was heading to the castle! She had to do something! Just before she turned away, she saw Daisuke near the lion. He was fighting the digimon! What a courage.... she thought. I'd like to be just like him. Come on, you're a princess, you're better than him!

She rushed down the stairs, not caring if she was making noise. A few people followed her, and soon the whole cstle was up. The queen and the king asked their servants what was going on, and they answered in pointing the window, shaking in fear. Too bad their son wasn't at the castle. He could have got rid of this monster in no time. They went outside.

***

"Good try. But it's not enough. Leo punch!"

Hikari arrived too late to see the effects of this Leo punch, but she threw some water on Leomon's back. It seemed it worked.

"Daisuke? Are you all right?"

"I could be better." the reply came.

She kneeled next to him. He was hardly sitting on the ground, his body badly burned.

"What a shame... for me to... get burn... but you can defeat him!"

"Me?"

"Sure! Water is strong over fire!"

"You're sure?"

"Yeah! You can do it. You want water, here is some water! Never forget that!"

"I'll try..."

She stood up and glared at Leomon.

"You hurt my friend! I won't forgive you!"

She extended her two arms on her side and prayed for the water to get out of her body. It didn't worked.

"Try harder!"

She prayed again.

"Your will is not enough! You want it! Want it!"

"I want it!" she screamed. Water flew from her body and came over the approaching Leomon who cried in agony and run from the castle. Hikari allowed herself to fall down next to Daisuke, panting, soaking.

"You did a great job. Now could you heal my burns?"

"Could I what?"

"Heal my burns. You can do that. Just lay your hands over my skin and want the burns to disappear..."

"If you say so..."

She did as he told and the burns healed. She looked at herself, surprised. Her mother and her father, along with a couple of guards, catched up with them.

"Oh my darling, I've been so worried..." her mother said, taking Hikari in her arms.

"Guards! Send this guy in jail!" ordered his father, pointing at Daisuke.

"No!"

Hikari freed herself from her morher's grip and stood before Daisuke and Veemon.

"They're my friends! They helped me to beat this digimon!"

"Talking about this, what have you just done?"

"I used my powers, that's all." she said proudly, lifting one of her fingers and creating a smooth sphere of water, in front her parents' wide eyes.

"Your daughter is a great sorceress." said Daisuke, helping Veemon to his feet.

"And I have to go with him."

"You have to what?"

"I have to go with him."

"Darling, you can't! You're a princess! You can't just run off with a peasant! What would the others think? And have you thought about us? We'll be sad without you! We love you!"

"If you did loved me, you should know what's good for me. And tonight, I'm saying you it's my destiny to follow him and to chase after other wizards. And I want it. So let us be! You don't need me here. Taichi is there to rule after you. So you can let me go! Here I waste my time. I do nothing except being a lady. And it's not interesting. You should konw I'm bored to death here. And I don't want to spend my life in a golden jail. I want to be free, and so I'll be!"

Everybody was impressed by the outburst, coming from an usually so quiet girl. Her mother sighed.

"If it's what you want... You are free to go."

Hikari looked angrily at her father. He was the king, and will the king beaten by his daughter?

"Fine. But don't come back here until you've done something right, until you've proven us you were right to leave this place!"

"That's okay with me. I'll leave tomorrow night. Tell Tai I love him."

Then Daisuke slightly hit her.

"You should put down the fire now..."

"Oh yes."

She walked away, and sound of water could be heard everywhere. Soon the garden was out of burning danger.

Hikari was about to come back in her room when a little figure jumped right in front of her. She backed away in fear.

"Who are you?"

The figure stepped out of the shadows. It was a white cat who stood on her feet, with blue and white tail and blue gloves. She jumped on Hikari's arms.

"I'm Gatomon, and I've been waiting for you for so long. I didn't know where you were, but tonight I knew it was you I was looking for. I'm your digimon partner."

"You mean, like Daisuke and Veemon?"

"Exactly!"

Hikari smiled cheerfully.

"I'm glad you found me. I needed a friend very close to me. Someone to talk too."

"So did I."

Hugging her little partner, Hikari had a strange feeling, again. But it was as good as it was when she met Daisuke. Happy and peaceful after that busy night, she walked back in her room and slept the rest of the night with her new-found friend at her sides.

"Please, take care of my daughter." whispered the Queen before leaving.

"As if she was my own sister." answered Daisuke.

"I guess this is goodbye, now."

"Take care, Hikari darling!"

She waved one last time at her parents and they turned away. The four of them. Daisuke and Veemon, Hikari and Gatomon. Hikari now wearing a blue dress, light and pale, to disappear in the crowd.

"So, where are we going?"

"Straight away! I don't know what it is! Let's discover!"

Hikari sighed.

"What have I done to stick with such a guy?"

Daisuke laughed, and she soon joined in. The queen and the king were watching them.

"Do you think they'll be safe?"

"I don't know. But what I know is that I will miss my daughter, and I don't know how we'll handle Taichi's reaction."

"He's going to be very angry. You know how he cares for his sister."

"When he'll know she has gone with a boy..."

"And she's only 15..."

"But it was here destiny. So let's leave her to live her life alone."

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I know the story is less captivating without cliffhangers, but you should thank me for not letting you long for the next part.... for those who want angst, stay tuned. For those who want romance, well I'll lose audience but I think I won't make any couple. It would be too risky. I don't wanna be flamed by some daikari lovers if I make takari, or the opposite, that doesn't matter. This is a friendship story. And if you guys really want me to make a couple, I think I'll put in a sorato, or maybe a taiora. No more! Say what you think. Oh and yeah, I'll leave hints. So you can imagine what you want about my four main charcters.