AN: Chapter three!
Yama: Yeah, that's what the title is…
Dai: PLEASE read and review!!!
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"Angelina…. Umm, this doesn't look good," Aquaia said as they looked at the barracks from the tree they sat in.
"They're getting ready… well, looks like it's time to strike now before they get all the way ready.." The raven-haired girl leapt down, when she stood she was face to face with Daisuke.
"When are we going in?"
"You mind not doing that? I've got to see if I can get Matthew inside. If I can get him inside then he can open the gates for everyone else," she explained as she walked knowing he followed listening closely. A horn sounded loudly on the other side of the wall.
"What was that?" Ken asked coming up to the two.
"Trouble…"
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"Where is the General? I demand that you bring him here now!" Helalia screeched. Several soldiers ran around trying to find out where he was. The Queen looked ready to behead the next person that told her no. This was not a good thing.
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"Angelina Fa Treniaya?" The girl shocked still before whirling around to find the general. "Don't say it. You found him?" Angelina drew her sword.
"Leave. Now!" she hissed.
"Helalia wants him dead child!"
"As if I didn't know that! She's the one that caused him to be flung into the portal in the first place Aknet!"
"Angelina, please. I know he'd be a better leader than she could ever dream of being! She's going to hand the whole of the kingdom to the outlanders!" the general pressed on.
"I already knew that! What is it that you want? Or did you come to be run through?"
"Please. I want Daisuke in power as much as you do," he began.
"No one comes close to knowing how much I want Daisuke in power of the kingdom, Aknet. Hang me for treason to Helalia for all I care. But my last words will be 'Long Live Daisuke Ren Harter! True King of Gartenia!' And you know it would be as such!" Angelina told him. Daisuke continued to watch them from the shadows. He'd come to see when he would be needed to help with the attack when the man had approached her. He just watched and listened as the whole thing played out.
"I know more than anyone Lady Fa Treniaya that you are fiercely loyal to the boy. I remember the day he left, that was the day my brother died, Angelina. He was one of the guards sent to watch the prince…. Helalia killed him… You remember that.. You were with us when we found the carriage." Angelina's hand began to shake slightly as the sword shook violently in her hand. She bit her lip, obviously remembering the day.
"Why are you here, Nicolas?" she asked quietly.
"To help put Daisuke in power," he answered.
"How do I know I can trust you?" she asked her grip tightening on the sword once more. 'I shall not loose Daisuke again!' she swore to herself.
"I swear by my brother's grave, and the grave of the king! Am I not the one whose wife took you in after the siege?"
"That may be, Nicolas, but that will never cloud my judgement."
"Let me help you, Angelina. Please, for the love of Gaia and Dagder! Child, listen to me! No one would question me if I said I sent your group on a small training mission!"
"Not that we would ever need it!"
"I've tried my hardest to keep the lot of you out of trouble with the queen!"
"And don't take this the wrong way but, Helalia hasn't changed her mind and we all know that she won't! No matter what we think or do!"
"Over throw her for love of the Gods! Angelina, with Daisuke in power the kingdom would be even more lovely than when his father was in power…and you can't tell me that you don't want to be safe," he told her.
"I'm not concerned with myself, Nicolas Aknet. Nor, will I probably be for a long time. Leave. Please. I can't take this anymore!" Angelina said turning her back to the man.
"Angelina. Child, I consider you as one of my own. Please, we all know what Helalia wants besides to hand over the kingdom-"
"And I swore on the gravesite of my family that she would never have it. I'd die first!" Daisuke shocked still, a soundless gasp escaping him. Angelina dead? The thought terrified him to his bones. "What can you do to help, Nicolas?"
"Let you in. I know a handful that are like us. Those who oppose Helalia. We shall fight by your side."
"I can't accept your help this way."
"What?! Why not, Angelina?"
"Should you choose to help us when the battle begins, so be it. But I can not make a backwoods treaty with you, Nicolas. I am sorry." With that Nicolas bowed to her and left. Angelina collapsed to her knees. She damned herself for being weak, and she damned herself for not alerting the others.
"It hurts to have to say no to him, doesn't it?" Angelina swirled around to land on her bottom looking up at the prince.
"D-Dai-Daisuke… What, what are doing here?" she asked eyes frightful.
"Don't look at me like that 'Lina… I don't feel that you betrayed me," he said kneeling beside her.
"I'm sorry, my King," she said bowing her head.
"Angelina, look at me, please," he said trying to left her chin.
"Dai…."
"'Lina… Please don't do this to me," he said as she finally lifted her gaze to him. "I've told you, I'm not mad at you. I remember Allen, Nicolas' brother…he was the last to die while trying to protect me. Angelina. I understand that you're trying to protect us-"
"No. I'm also trying to protect him, Dai. He was a father to me after mine was killed. He and his wife Alisia took me in and cared for me when no one else would. I can't let Helalia hang him because he was conspiring with me."
"You sound as if you think that we won't win."
"No. I just know what Helalia has on her mind…." Angelina said quietly as she stood. "Was there something that you wanted before you overheard myself and Nicolas?"
"What your plan for the digidestined was… To know when we're to be brought in or whatever…"
"You'll be sneaking in with Kahart's help, sticking to the shadows. The rest will probably follow up behind the rest of my team. I can help you get to Helalia in the throne room or where ever she may happen to be," she explained. "We attack at before dawn." Daisuke nodded and went to tell the digidestined. "Gaia, please spare us…"
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"Quietly…" Matthew urged the group as they began to sneak in. Daisuke had a spell cast on him by Kahart to allow him to blend into the shadows. They made it inside, almost to the castle, before they were spotted and the battle began.
"Angelina! Get to her!" Matt called to the raven warrior as she viciously attacked soldiers that came at her swords, axes, and maces bared.
"Right!" she called to him as she fought her way into the castle where she felt a tug on her sleeve letting her know that Daisuke was with her. She ran up the stairs and into the throne room before the doors were slammed right in Daisuke's face. Yamato came up to the door right when the spell wore off of Daisuke.
"Highness," he gasped. "You should be in there with Angeli-" Swords clashed loudly on the other side of the heavy wood.
"I know that.." Daisuke spat, not so much at Matt but at the situation.
"Then let's get in, shall we milord?" he asked gathering a magic attack in his hand.
"Okay, Matt. Care to give me a quick run down," Daisuke said stepping out of the way.
"Name's really Yamato."
"That explains it," the redhead said nodding before Yamato let loose a powerful ice attack that splintered the doors. Daisuke and Yamato fought their way past soldiers to see Angelina going head on against Helalia.
"Give it up, Angelina!"
"Nay, you shall be the one to fall!" she said blocking blow after blow before both swords were knocked from their owners in a particularly hard thrust. Helalia used a powerful wind to knock Angelina into a wall.
"Dear, you should know better than to challenge me…"
"Burn in the depths of the underworld!" Angelina spat, not seeing Daisuke and Yamato being pushed out of the room.
"I'll take you with me!" Helalia screeched pulling away the other's crystal leaving her in a lady's wear and leading her away by the hair towards another door before Daisuke let loose a fire and ice attack that made the way clear. They followed the sounds of Helalia's screeches down a flight of stairs and found Angelina in the hands of a guard, her hands bound behind her back.
"Angelina!" Yamato yelled. The struggling girl looked over to them with a sad expression on her face, failure in her eyes.
"It's me you want, Helalia!" Daisuke yelled drawing his sword and pointing it at her. The commoners were rounded up from they're routines by the sounds of battle.
"It's the prince!"
"Prince Daisuke has come to save us!"
"SILENCE!" Helalia screamed to the crowd. "Angelina Fa Treniaya you are charged with treason to the crown!" The soldiers that had been fighting with the rest of them had since stopped when they saw their general had sided with the 'rebels'. Nicolas made his way to the gallows.
"You can not hang Angelina!" he said climbing up and standing before the Queen. Helalia growled and grabbed a sword from the nearest guard still following her orders and pointed it at the general's throat.
"Release them!" Daisuke yelled to his sister. "Give me the right that father left me, Helalia. Stop this insanity!"
"Look who's in power little brother! Hang the wench!" she declared and Angelina was drug to the noose and it was looped around her neck. Daisuke and Yamato engaged any and all who got in their way in battle while Helalia nodded to the executioner while she fought with the general.
"Long Live Daisuke, King of Gartenia!" Angelina cried seeing the nod.
"Vee-Laser!" was cried just as the deed was started and the rope broke leaving Angelina to fall limp and gasping to the ground in a heap. Taichi leapt up and started to cut the ropes on Angelina with a small knife.
"You okay?" he asked her as she stood up coughing and rubbing her neck then her sore wrists.
"Yeah," she responded hoarsely before Nicolas threw her crystal to her and she was garbed as a knight again. Her team gawked a moment as she drew her sword and blocked the blow that would have killed the general.
"She's a lady?" Peter asked scratching his head. Natilea stared.
"That was umm different," Matthew said. The digidestined were a little on the clueless side.
"Helalia, your time as Queen has come to an end," Angelina said stiffly as she knocked the sword away from the queen and her soldiers were arrested.
"You can not do this to me! You're a common nothing!" Helalia screamed in Angelina's face. "You're supposed to be mi-" Yamato grabbed her and put a gag on her mouth before she could finish. Daisuke walked up briskly and took the crown from his sister's head and handed it to Angelina to hold. She took it with a bow. The people were looking on with wonder, before parting to allow Dongertsan access to the platform where the gallows were before X-Veemon destroyed them in order to save Angelina.
"Helalia Ren Harter, you are charged with treason to the kingdom of which you were born to help protect. For your crimes against your people, your brother shall be the one to give your punishment right after he is properly crowned King of Gartenia," the old man said when he was standing before the people and the struggling, very angry Helalia, whose crystal was taken after she was gagged.
"Long live Daisuke Ren Harter! The true king of Gartenia!" was being cried from the crowd. The digidestined and other soldiers joined in the noise as Angelina motioned Daisuke to step forward and address his people. The crowd fell silent to hear him.
"People of my kingdom who have had to suffer at the hands of my, poor, sister Helalia, I swear to you today that your suffering is over! From now on, we shall rebuild Gartenia so she is more splendid than she was in the beginning!" Daisuke told them only to have them cheer for him some more. Angelina smiled as Helalia was led away and Yamato gave her a sideways hug and a big smile as Daisuke calmed the fears of his people. Taichi saw and part of him sank seeing the two together before her team came to her and began to ask many questions. Mostly about why they were never told she was really a Lady in Court.
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Angelina was changed into a brand new dress, compliments of the royal seamstress' powers and Daisuke's order for her to have a full wardrobe made for Angelina as soon as possible. She was wearing a lovely green and leafy dress. Yamato came to visit, changed himself, as he sat in a chair across the room as she looked out the balcony doors he commented on how she looked very earthy in it.
"Not earthy just like a very lovely bush my dear cousin," she said. The first thing that had happened after Daisuke's speech was he had his digimon destroy the gallows. He said that there was no need to keep it in the middle of things, though he had muttered to Ken it was better for the digimon to do it before he tore it apart himself.
"Angel? Angelina! Come out of your world before I go and see how Tai is fairing," her cousin joked with her.
"Sorry dear. You know, Jean-Paul was only a babe when you left Yamato," she said looking at him sternly.
"I know. But I must speak with Mother first! I can not just come up to my brother and tell him that we belong here!"
"I understand that, cousin but he will need to be told."
"I know… I'll see you in the throne room for the crowning, milady." With that Yamato gave a regal bow and left the room. Angelina sat in a chair by a window and looked out wondering what life would be like from now on. She didn't hear a soft tap at the door. Her maid peeked in saw her deep in thought and said something to the person that was standing behind her. A male voice murmured something and the maid curtsied to him and left.
Daisuke walked into the room carefully and smiled at the sight of Angelina in her new dress. He closed the door before clearing his throat.
"You're back Yamato?" she asked with a start before turning around and jumping slightly in her seat. She placed a hand to her mouth delicately before saying her apologies to the prince.
"It's alright 'Lina. I just came to ask you a simple question," Daisuke said with a grin. After her being a knight for so long, it was amazing to see her be the lady so easily.
"What was it you wished me to answer my lord?" she asked standing before him clasping her hands in front of her.
"Would you be so kind, my lady Angelina," he began before sweeping a wonderful bow to her and lifting his head to see her mildly surprised face, "as to accompany me to the throne room for the ceremony? And perhaps be my personal guest for the dinner that follows?" he asked her before rising.
"I-I am deeply honored, your grace, for you to ask me. And it would be my greatest pleasure to be in your company for the evening," she said giving a low curtsy.
"Splendid!" Daisuke said offering her his arm. Angelina picked up a fan and slipped the ribbon 'round her wrist easily while she took the offered arm. She lifted her skirt as they proceeded to make their way to the throne room. They were having a wonderful conversation on how things had been for them in their early youth, totally oblivious to the eyes that watched them and the whispers that followed with them.
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"I'm not going to be at the dinner Matt. That's all there is to it!" Taichi
said as he stood, still in his battle attire, rummaging through the clothes
hung in the closet.
"Taichi, Daisuke is throwing it in honor of our victory! You were a part of that victory! Not to mention he wants you there as a SPECIAL guest for helping save Angelina," Yamato explained from where he stood. Why was Taichi so upset?
"I don't feel like celebrating today," he answered.
"When will you Tai?"
"I don't know, maybe never."
"Why?"
"Because."
"Taichi, please!" Yamato said before advancing and standing beside his friend and seeing the hurt in his eyes. "What's wrong, Tai?"
"Nothing. Really, it's just nothing."
"Tell me. Please."
"What's between you and Angelina? I saw you two during Daisuke's speech."
"You're upset because I gave her a hug?!" Matt asked shocked.
"Yeah."
"Why? I mean I've hugged Sora and Mimi and Yolei before and you never said anything abo-"
"Because I'd know if it meant something!" Taichi yelled turning to him.
"You really want to know what it meant Taichi?" Matt asked before turning to look in the wardrobe.
"Yes. I do."
"It was meant to comfort my cousin who almost died a second time," Yamato said before he shoved an outfit into Taichi's chest not caring if the brunette caught it before leaving the room and heading down the hall.
"Cousin…?" the brunette murmured in shock before changing quickly and going to follow Matt.
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Angelina's adoptive family and her comrades were already in the throne room waiting for her and the prince to arrive. Matthew gave Peter a few coins while no one was looking when the two entered arm in arm. Peter had a smug smile on his face.
"Angelina, my darling!" Alisia said coming over to her. She quickly murmured a 'your majesty' and curtsied to Daisuke.
"Lady Alisia Aknet," Daisuke said letting go of Angelina to take the lady's hand and kiss it politely. "It is quite an honor to see you again."
"Really my lord, the pleasure is seeing you here again, strong and well," she said. "If I may have the company of you a moment Angelina, dear?"
"Of course, ma'am. Excuse me your grace," she said giving a curtsy and leaving with her adoptive mother to speak. Nicolas came up and talked with her as well. She smiled and laughed brightly with them while Daisuke walked over to Angelina's company. The group bowed or curtsied to him and gave various titles.
"I have something that I want to ask of you all," he said when they had straightened. He had their full attention. "I know that I'm not yet king, but, I would be honored if you would be ambassadors from your kingdoms or tribal groups and such."
"Your grace I would be more than honored," Aquaia squealed happily. All but Natilea agreed; she remained very silent.
"Natilea, what's wrong? If you don't wish to be an ambassa-"
"I have no where to help extend the hand of friendship to My Lord," she said quietly.
"Is there something else that you wish? You will always have a home here, rest assured," Daisuke said quickly.
"I want to continue to help the army, sir. That is really all I have ever known, the ways of the warrior. If I may help General Aknet, I would be happiest," she explained.
"I shall see what I can do," Daisuke said. "The rest of you, feel free to go and speak with your leaders, well the leaders you had before coming here, to discuss what formalities need to be worked out at any time you wish."
"Thank you, Daisuke," Peter said shaking his hand. They all thanked with handshakes and curtsies. Angelina came up to them with a smile on her face.
"Good day," she said with a slight curtsy. "What has happened over here that I do not know of? I see all of you so very happy, and I feel as if I should get to know why."
"May I present, Lady Treniaya, some of our new ambassadors," Daisuke said gesturing to them.
"That's some of the best news all day! Oh, I'm so happy for you all!"
"We're happy that you can be who you were meant to be again, Angelina," Sarya told her.
"We are all, lords and ladies on the inside my friend," she said with a smile. "It's just some of us were born in a different place.."
"There's Yamato, your cousin," Kahart said to her gesturing to a door where the obviously upset blonde strode in.
"Oh my… I should go and see what is wrong. If you all will excuse me," she said bobbing a curtsy to them.
"I'll see you when the ceremony starts?" Daisuke asked before she left.
"At the very latest your grace!" she said as she hurried off to see to her cousin. Taichi came in scant seconds later to see Angelina bustling up to the blonde asking what was wrong.
"Just a small disagreement with Taichi. It's nothing really. I just need a drink," he told her starting towards a table before the girl whapped his hand with her fan and glared at him.
"Nothing can be solved by a foxed man. Be him peasant or gentleman!" Angelina said sternly. "what is it that you had words about, dear cousin?"
"I said it was nothing."
"And I wager it wasn't 'nothing' as you put it. It had to be something for you are more than willing to fox yourself!" the raven-haired teen declared softly.
"A slight misunderstanding is all! I see not why you are so concerned if I become foxed or not, milady!" he hissed at her.
"Were we not in the company of others I would strike you for that! You are my blood Yamato Fa Taeniaya, and shall you never forget that fact! Really cousin, it is I who sees not why you insist upon not talking about what ails you on the inside. You should see no reason to hide your feelings from someone that you trust! Keep it in and you shall become a madman!" Angelina told him sternly.
He nodded and told her in low tones what had transpired.
"Well allow me to voice my opinion, dear cousin, that you would make such a lovely couple! I wish the best for you both," she told him touching his arm lightly. She caught glance of everyone else mingling together besides Taichi who stood by himself in a corner. "And a slight suggestion, Yamato, talk with the brunette in that corner over there," she said with a conspiring tone gesturing to Taichi by himself. "And straighten out his clothes. The man isn't well versed in the wear of the populace.." With that she curtsied to him and joined Daisuke who had gestured her over to him after she had left the blonde's side.
Yamato carefully made his way over to Taichi. "Hey."
"Matt! Umm I think we need to talk," he said.
"I know. Two things at the moment though. My real name is Yamato, and the other is, you need help with your clothes."
"Hey, you picked it out!"
"Not that it's inappropriate, Tai, it's that this should be tucked," the blonde said carefully doing so and then smoothing out the rest of the brunette's attire. Taichi couldn't help but flush slightly. When Yamato stood up, they were face to face, and very close.
"Thanks, Yama…" Tai said looking into the blonde's ice blue eyes.
"It's no problem at all," he replied with a small smile.
"Uh, would, um.. you like to.. you know, be my heh, dinner partner for tonight?" Taichi asked biting his lip slightly.
"You mean it?" Matt asked with mild surprise.
"Yeah. I do."
"I'd love to, Taichi… I'd be more than honored," the blonde replied smiling radiantly. Tai smiled as well and offered an arm to him, which the blonde gladly took. Angelina saw and gently nudged Daisuke to gain his attention as they made their way towards Dongertsan. Daisuke turned to look at her and she made a nod towards Taichi and Yamato. Daisuke followed her gaze and smiled.
"It's taken them long enough," he whispered to her as she giggled.
"Daisuke," Dongertsan rasped out. The prince brought his attention to him and the other consorts. They formed a cabinet of sorts.
"Yes, Dongertsan?" he asked.
"Please come forward to us." Daisuke bowed and kissed Angelina's hand. She mouthed good luck to him as he rose and came to stand before the men of his father's court. Yamato and Taichi were standing near her now and her foster mother motioned for her to sit next to her. She watched as Daisuke swore to protect his kingdom with his very life and to be the best ruler to the extent of his capabilities and then some. Angelina smiled as he was instructed to kneel before them. He did so and the crown was placed on his head. The room applauded several of those sitting stood, though none faster then Angelina.
"My King, you will need to appoint ambassadors, and you need a personal consort," said one of his cabinet.
"The personal consort will be there to aid you in decisions at any time," said another.
"There are two people worthy of this title, and I can not place one above the other," the king started. "One doesn't even live in this world… So I am going to appoint two personal consorts if that is alright." The cabinet was shocked but agreed. "I would like for Ken Ichijouji and Angelina Fa Treniaya to be my personal consorts." They both agreed though no one was more shocked than Angelina. There had never been a female personal consort before. Yamato was very proud of her and said that her parents would be even prouder after the sash was awarded her and Ken was given a medal to show his status.
Daisuke had an announcement sent out of what had transpired to the people and the group moved to the dining hall where a grand feast was laid out. The festivities lasted long into the night.
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Angelina was making her way to her room alone, almost dancing towards it. She hummed one of the dances she had danced with Daisuke. A hand grabbed her shoulders and pulled her into a room, she let out a surprised gasp before her back came into contact with a wall very hard. "Hello Angelina dear…" the voice said thickly.
"Helalia!"
"I was worried you would have forgotten me in my brief absence from power," the older teen purred.
"Stay back, Helalia!" Angelina swore.
"Or what?" she asked as she held up the pouch that Angelina's crystal was in. "You're defenseless…." Helalia pinned the other girl to the wall and began to rip at her dress. "So I will take what is rightfully mine!"
"Get your hands off of me!" she screamed trying to stop the red haired girl from ripping her dress off her.
"Shut up!" Helalia hissed backhanding her. Angelina gave surprised cry at the strike. Helalia went back to undressing her.
"HELP!" Angelina yelled trying to get the other off of her by kicking and struggling as much as she could in the outfit she was dressed in. Something was pounding on the door now; her cries had caught someone's attention.
"Angelina?!" Ken cried from the other side.
"HELP! Please Ken HELP ME!" she screamed before crying out in pain when Helalia wrenched her head back by her hair and slapped her.
"I said to shut up!" Angelina nearly choked as Helalia kissed her roughly sending her tongue into Angelina's mouth. The doors was finally burst open by Stingmon who grabbed Helalia and held her while Ken knelt beside Angelina. Yamato and Taichi were the next to show up. Yamato was by his cousin in an instant. Daisuke, who had been on the other side of the castle, came running in demanding to know what happened. Angelina was clutching her dress around her where it had been ripped and she was very pale. Yamato and Ken were trying to find out what had happened. Daisuke saw Helalia who was struggling against Stingmon. Taichi handed Daisuke Angelina's crystal.
"Helalia had a hold of it," he told him.
"Take her to the dungeons. Again. This time I want guards on duty outside her cell at all times!" he said harshly. Two soldiers came in and followed Natilea's orders. Daisuke came over to Angelina who was beginning to sob. Yamato shook his head when Daisuke asked if they had found out what had happened. "I want her room moved to the other side of the castle," he said to Yamato. "Can you see to it?"
"Of course your majesty," he said. "May I ask which room?" Daisuke paused a moment.
"The one over looking the gardens," he answered before he left to find out what Helalia thought she was doing.
After a while Yamato found out what had happened. He relayed it to Ken who went to tell Daisuke. Yamato had left for a bit so Angelina could change and bathe. When he came back in, she was pulling a robe on over her nightgown.
"Are you all right now, Angel?" he asked her as she sat down on the settee and pulled her knees to her chest.
"I believe so… Do you know why Daisuke moved my chambers over here?" she asked him as he sat down next to her.
"Not a clue, Angelina."
"It's been nagging me since I realized he had it done," she said resting her chin on her knees. "And if I remember correctly Yamato, his is um, just a few rooms away…"
"Hey, you are one of his best friends… he probably wants to make sure you're okay. Come on Angel he made you the first female consort in the history of all Gartenia!"
"I know that…. When are you leaving? To return to your world I mean, to your mother?"
"Dunno… Taichi will be talking to Daisuke about it… he and Ken will be the ambassadors for Earth."
"Taichi will do a good job. Have you two talked yet?"
"We were before, you know."
"And?"
"Things are only gonna get better," Yamato told her with a smile. Angelina smiled brightly.
"I'm very happy for you, Yamato. You will have to tell me all about it," she said happily.
"Of course!" he said before there was a knock on the door.
"Who is it?" she called.
"Daisuke."
"Come in, your grace," she said standing. Yamato stood and bid her goodnight, which she returned before facing Daisuke.
"How are you doing Angelina?" he asked as Yamato left.
"Much better, Daisuke. Thank you for asking."
"'Lina, why didn't you tell me?" he asked suddenly.
"What are you talking about Dai?" she asked turning and walking over to where Gloria, her maid, had placed a pot of hot chocolate out for her. "I admit I'm a bit lost."
"You know exactly what I'm talking about Angelina! About Helalia!" he told her walking over turning her to face him barely catching the wince that graced her features.
"What about her?" Angelina asked awkwardly.
"Gods 'Lina! Don't play dumb! You know what I'm talking about, please, gods, don't make me say it!" Daisuke said taking her hands.
"I didn't want anyone to know about it…" she said as tears formed. "Only Nicolas knew about it… Dai, why did you have to find out?" she took her hands back and covered her crying face with them.
"Angelina…" Daisuke pulled her hands away and wiped away the tears. "You can't mean that you would have rather carried it mostly by yourself…"
"Dai, I don't want to think about it… If Nicolas hadn't taken me in…." she started before shaking her head and turning away. Her name was already scared enough by her years as a soldier.
"You don't have to say it, 'Lina…" She shocked still when she felt his hands on her shoulders. "I can't kill anyone, no matter how much I want to at the moment, but Helalia's being exiled soon. I'll not stand by and let her be near enough that she may be able to hurt you again."
Angelina turned to face him. "Thank you, Dai… I guess I'm just really shaken right now… I'm sorry, Dai. I should have told you…" she said allowing him to take her hands again.
"I'm glad that I know now 'Lina… And I do hope you don't mind me worrying over you?"
"It makes a nice change to have someone worry over me the
way you do Dai…"
"I'm glad that it doesn't upset you," he said with a smile.
"Why would it?" she laughed as he poured her a cup of chocolate, and one for himself, and motioned for her to sit on the settee.
"I don't know. Maybe the army captain in you might object to such treatment," he said before taking a sip.
"Believe me, Dai. The army captain is only there because it was forced, not because I chose it those five years ago…"
"You were only twelve?!" Daisuke asked looking at her shocked.
"When I went into training! My first battle was when I was fourteen thank you," she said.
"That's not any better Angelina!"
"And facing monsters at the age of what? Eleven, is oh so much better?!" she asked setting down her cup.
"That was entirely different! I mean, I had no choice but to fight in the digital world!"
"And I had no choice if I did not chose to become some…. PET of Helalia!" Angelina hissed standing up and walking to the window.
"I guess I too choose not to think on that all that much, do I?"
"I'd prefer that we not speak on it before one of us says something we shall both regret," Angelina said softly.
Daisuke sat his cup down and walked over and placed his arms on her shoulders, "Please, Angelina, don't be angered with me… I'm still trying to get back to being royalty and being here, with you."
"I know…" she said softly.
"I'm not going to let anything happen to you," he told her coming a bit closer.
"You won't?"
"I won't. I'll do all in my power to protect you Angelina. You're as important to me as my kingdom… If not more so…" Angelina swirled to face him and saw that he meant what he said; it was all there in his eyes.
"Dai…" she whispered a small smile blooming on her face.
"Promise me, 'Lina, that you won't hide from me… All I want to do is help you…."
"I promise, Dai…" she said as the smile spread. Daisuke smiled as well, he let a hand come up and brush some stray hair from her face.
"You're beautiful, 'Lina…" he breathed looking in her eyes. Angelina blushed ferociously.
"Dai-"
"No. You are… The most beautiful thing I've seen," he told her.
"'Tis not possible. I am but a simple mortal woman, your grace…I can not be such a beauty as you say.."
"You can… Because you are," he said leading her to the mirror and standing her in front of it. "Because you have amazing and expressive green eyes," he said pointing to them and the other features of her face as he talked. "High, graceful cheekbones, a perfectly shaped nose, and absolutely stunning lips…." Daisuke grazed them with his fingers.
"Am I only a beauty?" she asked. Her looks were exactly why Helalia wanted her…
"No." The answer was swift and forceful, enough to make her wince slightly. "Angelina… You are beauty in all ways. You have a bright and wonderful spirit. You know what you believe in and fight for it… And it seems, are willing to pay the ultimate price for your beliefs… You are very loyal, friendly beyond what many see capable and so utterly unique…. Angelina how can you not see your beauty?"
"Easily. When you've hidden it under a layer of harshness and armor…"
"…'Lina… Do you want to continue to be in the guard?"
"It's what I've known, Dai… But, I do what dearly to be the lady that my parents wanted me to be… If you need my assistance in the army, it will be more the fully given."
"I asked what you wanted."
"What I truly want, is something that probably can not be given, your grace. But I would very much like to be a Lady in Court…and your Personal Consort."
"Well, you can't get out of the latter easily…" he said turning her to face him. "You know… We never did get to dance the last dance of the evening… You left early.."
"I felt a bit uneasy.. I'm sorry for not be-"
"Lady Angelina."
"Yes, my King?" she asked shocked at the sudden change. He bowed to her and then stood with a large smile in his features.
"May I have this dance?" he asked her, as she laughed a bit, relaxing again.
"Of course, milord!" she said curtsying to him and then they waltzed around her room to music only they could hear. Yamato, Ken, and Taichi peeked in to see them dancing and smiled. Yamato mouthed 'I told you!' to the others with him. Ken rolled his eyes and mouthed 'After I told you!' Tai, on the other hand, just shook his head as they left the two to dance….