Author's notes: Holy cow, I didn't think it could possibly take so long to write something. I just want to say that I am really sorry. I think 13 is my unlucky number or something. This was the second time I had to write this chapter (I seem to have developed this horrible tendency to delete things by accident) and it took a lot longer this time around. Again, I'M SORRY! :(
Disclaimer: Characters- not mine (for the most part), property of Akiyoshi Hongo, Toei, Saban and them. Thanks.
Oh, one more thing! *Ahem* THIS CHAPTER IS DEDICATED TO SUNNY AND MAGE BECAUSE THEY'RE SO AWESOME!
The Arrow, the Staff &the Shield
Part 13
By Android Eleven
As Yamato, Takeru and Hikari stood there on the lawns, watching, an elegant black carriage drawn by twelve gleaming black stallions rode into the palace gates and quickly made its way towards the castle. The dozen horses seemed to be moving in perfect unison, almost as though they were all being controlled by a common master. The three young royals were so enthralled by the sight that it took them an extraordinarily long amount of time to notice Lady Sora shouting and running towards them.
"Princess Hikari!" she yelled again, finally getting Yamato, Takeru and Hikari to notice her. Hikari, still glancing over her shoulder every few seconds to glimpse at the black carriage, slowly ran to meet her approaching friend.
Sora finally reached her and Hikari could see that she was carrying a bundle under her arm as she clutched a stitch in her side, panting. Once she seemed to have finally caught her breath, Hikari decided that it would be okay to start questioning her.
"Sora, what on earth is going on? Who is that who just drove in and why are they- WOAH!" The Princess was not given a chance to finish her question as Lady Sora suddenly grabbed hold of her arm and started to drag her back towards the castle, Takeru and Yamato staring at them, explaining all the way.
"Forgive me, your Highness, but it is urgent that you follow me back to the palace right NOW." Sora continued apologizing in this fashion for another few moments before she glanced behind her and saw the two Ishida royals. She jerked to a stop. "And the two of you, your majesties," she called to the two of them, bowing slightly, "should also follow me immediately. This newly arriving guest is some sort of Prince, so you're all supposed to be there to greet him."
Takeru and Yamato looked at each other, startled, and then took off after Princess Hikari and Lady Sora.
* * * * *
Prince Taichi stood outside the Kamiya palace entrance, occasionally glancing at the fast approaching carriage, pacing. Standing beside him was Grand Duke Koushiro, who was carrying Hikari's sapphire tiara and looking more than a little harassed. Beside him, Baron Daisuke and Count Iori were each holding a crown also, though theirs' were bedecked with emeralds instead. A bit further down the line were the King and Queen of Tachikawa, but Princess Mimi had not yet been found. They had sent Lady Miyako to find her and Sir Jyuu, who was also missing.
Finally, with only seconds to spare before the carriage pulled up, Lady Sora, Princess Hikari, Prince Takeru and King Yamato came running towards the group. They came to a stop, all panting, and the appropriate crowns were placed upon the appropriate heads. Lady Sora quickly unraveled the bundle in her arms, which turned out to be a very long blue cloak with the crest of Kamiya embroidered onto it, and threw it onto Hikari's shoulders, over her dirty practice tunic and leggings.
As the carriage came to a halt in front of them, Hikari, trying to fix up her hair as best she could, leaned over and quietly asked her brother, "Taichi, who exactly are we greeting here?"
His brow furrowed, Taichi answered quickly. "A King Ken something-or-other from the kingdom of Digitalia."
Hikari was thunderstruck. "Digitalia? I didn't think they had a ruler. Mother and Father never mentioned one."
Taichi shook his head as the Digitalian footman jumped from his perch to open the carriage door. "I didn't think so either, but I guess I was wrong. I only hope King Ken won't mind that I didn't send an invitation."
Hikari didn't reply to this, but her brother didn't notice. Their eyes were on the open carriage door and the handsome youth that had stepped down from it. With neat navy blue hair and striking violet-blue eyes, he didn't seem to be a very imposing sight. But there was a sense of power, of *presence*, with him that told Hikari that, despite the fact that he couldn't possibly be any more than a year older than her, this was King Ken.
As he stepped down from the carriage Ken surveyed the scene before him with a tiny smirk on his face. The Kamiyan Prince, Princess, Grand Duke and Lady, the four Ishidan noblemen and the King and Queen of Tachikawa had all shown up to greet him. The Tachikawan Princess, he noted, along with her lady-in-waiting and Sir Jyuu of the House of Kido were absent from the group. But his sources had ensured him that they were all there. Ken gritted his teeth for a moment. 'They'd better be...'
But Ken quickly turned his smirk into a cordial smile and introduced himself. "Hello, my dear lords and ladies. How are you all this fine afternoon? I am King Ken Ichijouji of the kingdom of Digitalia. Which one of you am I to assume is Crown Prince Taichi?"
Taichi stepped forward with his hand outstretched. "I am he. Hello, your majesty and welcome to the Kingdom of Kamiya." Ken took Taichi's hand and shook it in a polite manner.
"I'm delighted to be here, your Highness."
A few feet away Prince Takeru narrowed his eyes at King Ken in suspicion. Had it been his imagination or had he heard a trace of sarcasm in his voice? Takeru examined the pale face skeptically. But why would he be sarcastic? If he hadn't wanted to come to Kamiya, he certainly wouldn't have had to. Who would have been there to force him? Takeru studied Ken for another short moment before the boy seemed to notice his stare and turned to look him straight in the eye. Ice water blue met violet-blue and sparks flew. Ken smirked subtly and Takeru frowned. He'd be keeping an eye on this guy.
The only person who noticed this silent exchange was Yamato and he didn't know what to make of it. He too believed he had detected the suspicious note of sarcasm in Ken's reply, but he wasn't sure enough to say anything about it. He knew Takeru had noticed too and realized that there were probably seeds of dislike already taking root in Takeru's perception of Ken. Not the best thing when they were supposed to be on a diplomatic visit.
But, even though Yamato had already decided to ignore Ken's subtle sarcasm, he realized that the Digitalian King was someone to be wary of.
* * * * *
Back inside the palace Mimi and Jyuu were standing in a rather abandoned-looking corridor, talking. Or rather Mimi was shouting angrily and Jyuu, forbidden to leave, was standing there awkwardly, trying to sink into the wall and disappear.
"How could you do that! To go behind my back and agree to something like that! And all this time you have known about this... ARRANGEMENT and you haven't said anything about it! Did you think I didn't NEED to know? That, because I am just a *mere princess*, that it was unnecessary to tell me? That is just so... ARGH!"
Jyuu looked at his feet sheepishly, with a hint of a blush on his face. "Your father kept saying that he would tell you and that I shouldn't worry about it," he murmured, still not meeting Mimi's eyes. The Princess blinked with exaggerated disbelief and anger.
"My *FATHER*! Don't even get me started about my father. He's next on my list." Mimi paused for a moment and rubbed her temples.
"You know," she continued in a softer, almost defeated tone, "I thought you were different. Different from the other noblemen I've met. There was something about you that... just... UGH! I don't know what I'm talking about!"
Jyuu tore his gaze away from his feet, startled. He looked over at the Princess, who had turned away from him. "Mimi..."
Mimi, still not willing to look at him, waved him back. Jyuu could have sworn that she was on the verge of tears. She shook her head at him and quietly said, "Just go away, Jyuu."
Jyuu was about to say something more, but a yell sounded from further down the corridor before he even managed to open his mouth.
"Princess Mimi! Princess Mimi, are you down there? Sir Jyuu! Sir J-!"
"We're down here, Miyako!" Jyuu interrupted.
Lady Miyako appeared from around the corner looking extremely relieved. Princess Mimi hurriedly wiped at her eyes. "Your majesty! Thank goodness I found you. Your parents are very worried. They're... "
But Miyako's voice faded away as Jyuu turned to look back at Princess Mimi.
* * * * *
A few hours later, after diner had been served to the assembly, Takeru and Hikari were walking together in the gardens, watching the night sky as twilight fell. Hikari twirled the rose Takeru had given her earlier in her hands, glancing occasionally at her companion, who was obviously preoccupied. Finally she could take no more of his silence.
"Takeru, what's wrong?"
The Prince looked down at her, pulling himself from his thoughts. "Hmm? Oh, nothing. It's nothing, Hikari."
She gave him a disbelieving look.
Takeru sighed. "Okay, fine. I'm just thinking about that King Ken Ichijouji person."
Hikari frowned, not having expected such an answer. "What about him?"
"Just... certain things." Takeru shook his head, noticing that the explanation sounded pathetic, even to himself. "Like I said, Kari, it's nothing."
Hikari shrugged. He would talk about it when he felt like it, she supposed. She had thought there was something... *peculiar* about King Ken also. But she wasn't about to lose any sleep over it.
She wrapped her arms around his right arm and snuggled into it comfortably. But then she remembered something she'd started to ask him earlier that day. Something rather important.
"Takeru," she asked after a few moments of pleasant silence, "where did you get that staff of yours?"
# # # # #
Author's notes: 'Kay, yet again sorry for the long wait. The next chapter will be out much sooner, I promise. Toodles peeps! ^_^
