Disclaimer: Digimon is not mine.

It is a product of Bandi and the other company?

(sorry about that)



Hidden Pasts Chapter two

Stronghold



"In the barn now" commanded Matt's grandfather. He quickly ushered Matt in the barn without any hesitation, and motioned him to head towards the hay. Thus Matt's grandfather proceeded to hide his remaining grandson and himself, ensuring that none of there body parts were visible. When finally sure his assumed project was a success he quickly told the prince not to breathe another word, in spite of any situation.

Matt felt his heart gradually begin to beat again, there was so much loss in this one night. His grandfather was a painful reminder of his father, and the thought there was nothing he could do to help, or prevent what happened to his father pained him all the more. Life wasn't fair, and it wasn't fair that life wasn't fair.

"Lets check in here", Matt heard a gruff voice from outside the shabby barn yelled over the confusion. The young prince trembled without movement as he heard the door burst open. He did have a quick after thought 'why didn't the door brake'.

"Search it", another more commanding voice ordered. "The prince could be anywhere". Now Matt was shivering.

+ + +

King Kamaiya sent him, and he made his men ride like they were racing the wind. Due to the extremely short notice he was now the man in charge, not that he minded. It was , that the situation of leadership was new and to say the least , slightly uncomfortable. He realized that time was against them. They had to reach there destination set before them.

The rain stung his face as he pressed forward, although it was slightly painful it was also a relief. The attacking army would have much more trouble burning things to the ground. As he reached closer, from the sounds of the cities he could tell it was already to late, from the sounds of opposing metals right down to the very last scream. There was no need to make assumptions, the two joint kingdoms were lost and were now in the hands of another. His horse no longer could continue and he immediately headed for the nearest shelter, witch appeared to be an old barn.

+ + +

"Excuse me but what are you doing in my barn", a man Matt knew as his grandfather demanded of the soldiers. This idea was wrought upon the skills one needed to be learnt as royalty. Matt however was still afraid. "It's the kings barn now", the solider with the gruff voice corrected. It also seemed to appear as this man was the leader if not, one with very high position. "The two kingdoms now belong to the king, the new king". Matt peaked out from the hay to see his father give the soldiers a dirty glare, then let his face relax. Apparently resistance was not an option. All this time Matt could feel the rats scurrying through , piercing there beady eyes into his back. He hated rats. Correction, he loathed rats, especially these ones with evil red eyes, and scrawny malnourished bony bodies. As they scurried around he noticed they looked bloodthirsty, bloodthirsty like the soldiers. He felt sharp claws dig into his delicate skin. He ignored it. It was a life and death situation. He knew even a slight movement could possibly give them away, and cause death for himself and his grandfather. But unfortunately he could not hold back the trembling, and the shivering , for some reason he felt cold, really cold.

Another shiver ran through his body, why did that rat refuse to leave him alone. Couldn't it just go away and bother one of the soldiers, common , he wasn't that special. What did he ever do to them, he even threw some of his food out, see rat service.

'Wait' isn't that the arm I scratched running through the secret passage'. 'Yes', his mind screamed. His thought began to jumble 'Bloodthirsty rats……, arm bleeding……,rats like the taste of blood………, arm bleeding. Suddenly he jumped suddenly and let out a whimper as the rat sunk its sharp teeth into the same arm he scratched.

BIG MISTAKE !!!

"What's in the hay old man," one of the soldiers questioned immediately. "minerals , protein and whatever else is found in wheat, Nothing," Matts grandfather answered well, almost immediately. "Then allow me to check it", the soldier persisted. "That is not necessary"

"Then you are lying", another soldier concluded, "surely if there was really nothing in the hay, you'd let us check it, because you would have nothing to hide." It was most likely one of the smarter soldiers who knew logic. "Well I didn't ask you did I", the supposed farmer said coldly. "your impute is not appreciated."

"I sense some negative feelings in here", the captain said calmly. The captain always being in a position of power never had the need to feel anxiety. "How about we search the hay now", the captain commanded only to be stopped by the farmer who sternly told him that he should not.

Unknown to the old man it was something in his voice that gave him away to the captain, whether it was his strong commanding voice or how he spoke in proper English is still to be determined.

"Ignore the old man", he commanded his soldiers. Matt heard the captain let out an audible sigh. "We have no time to waist on this pathetic soul."

Shaking his head with mock pity, he continued, "I guess we will have to restrain him".

"That's not necessary", Matt heard his grandfather desperately say.

The young prince had never been so frightened in all his life. He briefly checked his new wound, the blood flowed freely. It wasn't horribly bad, but painful, not as painful as the fear, however.

He once again peaked through the hay and saw three men grab his grandfather. His Grandfather still struggled, even though it was well known that his struggle was pointless.

"Search the hay", he heard the wicked voice of the captain command. Later Matt knew this voice would haunt him. "No", the captain suddenly said changing his mind, stopping all the men in there tracks. An evil smile flickered across his face, and the evil continued upwards and flashed across his eye's.

"Lets burn it" then he added with a little more thought, "burning is much more amusing".