Disclaimer: Whitezetsu does not own Digimon or any of it's character though she wishes dearly that she did. She does however own the plot to this story, Sakura, Sister Mia, Stargazer, Ayashi, Toyo, the 4 pixies, and Kouta.

The Distant Princess

"Please stop!" Rika cried out when out of no where the doors from upstairs burst open and out shot one creature dressed in all black, everyone ducked. When the creature's wings appeared and then the creature disappeared.

Just when they thought it was over more creatures jumped out letting out a fowl banshee scream. Everyone continued to stay down, but not sister Mia. Her piercing blue eyes stared at the creature as they looked at her.

She couldn't use her power it would hurt everyone in the room. She studied them carefully. Then they disappeared. Everyone stood up and looked around fear in almost everyone's eyes.

Rika looked around the boy she had been dancing with was gone.

"Where is the queen?" whispered Sister Rose.

"She went upstairs." The guard whispered back.

"Oh dear no!" She called out and ran for the stairs. "Mia watch the princess!"

Mia nodded her head and grabbed Princess Rika by the hand and pulled her along. (Hehe um FYI um Sister Mia ran out of the room after the creatures made their escape.)

"Mia what's going on?" Rika asked a little scared. It's not everyday you see weird creatures come out of no where, and a kid just completely disappear.

"I don't really know." Mia said, her words were not helpful but what could she say? "All I know is that first creature was a Nyearth."

"Nyearth?" Rika wondered following the elf down deep in the castle. Down stone stairs, spiraling down into the dungeon.

"Creatures that tried to take over the earth many years ago, but were sealed in the shadows by Amira's. But in that war the Nyearth sealed them away into oblivion. The Nyearth's must have found a way to break free." Mia said not trying to trouble the young princess but it's what happened.

"Can't you just destroy them, like I heard you did for Sister Mary?" Rika asked. Mia shook her head no as they approached a large wooden door with 2 torches next to it.

"No, I tried 7 years ago. But they are too powerful, only an Amira can destroy them." Mia said opening the door. She pulled the Princess inside and shut it quietly. She grabbed the keys and walked over to one of the jail cells.

--

"Queen Rumiko where are you?" Sister Rose asked. She was worried and why wouldn't she be? Who knew if the Queen was still alive.

She saw that one of the doors was open and that a cold draft was coming in through it. She slowly approached the room. It was dark but she could clearly see the curtains swaying in the window. She pushed the door open wider and noticed some dark spots on the floor. It was much too dark to be able to tell what the spots were. She looked in further and saw a body on the floor and one near it. Quiet sobs came from the room as Sister Rose approached the 2 figures.

"Milady are you alright?" She asked. But no response. She walked closer and went to lay her hand on the queen when she flinched.

"He's…" She sobbed, it was all she could do. Sister Rose bent down and Rumiko hugged her tightly. "Why? Why did he have to go?" She cried sobbing onto Sister Rose's dress.

"I cannot answer that?" She sighed. She looked at the body, his face was pale. She closed her eyes and wrapped her arms around Rumiko.

"Why are they after us?" Rumiko asked still sobbing.

"I do not know." She sighed once again. So many questions needed answers.

--

"Alright I know you guys know what is going on!" Mia shouted rudely at the 3 figures. One went over to the bars.

"Couldn't you just let us out?" It whimpered.

Mia sighed, did they really think she would do that?

"Look Stargazer I came here for answers!" Mia growled.

"Then why do you have the keys?" She asked. Mia hid them behind her back and smiled.

"To toy with you." She smirked.

"What do you want to know?" Ayashi asked. Mia smiled and Rika walked over to her side.

"I want to know why the Nyearths are attacking the castle." Mia stated, she was very demanding.

The flames swayed in the slight breeze and water droplets could be heard throughout the dungeon. Everything living was quiet. Ayashi thought about it, but what could he say?

"Well?" Mia shouted angered. Ayashi still remained silent. "HELLO!"

"Well, ah I remember. It was 8 years ago. When the Nyearths first broke free. The humans went to fight them. And the King killed the head Nyearth's wife. She had just given birth to their son. They must have come back to seek revenge on the King." Ayashi stated.

"Does that mean if they kill my father, they'll leave us alone?" Rika asked. So young she didn't understand much. But she loved her father, if he died who could she love? She wasn't that fond of her mother. Elves had always been her best friends.

"Well yes and no." Ayashi said sadly. "They might kill the king and then decided that they don't want any of his family to live and come after you and your mother." Ayashi pointed to the young girl.

--

From that day forward Queen Rumiko was too depressed, Rika had found out the news and became cold and distant to her mother. Rumiko locked herself in her room and only came out when it was most necessary. Seiko had come in to rule until Rika was old enough because Rumiko had given up trying to be queen. Things were going so well. In 7 years not one appearance of the Nyearth. They finally believed that they were gone. But where they?

-- 7 years later (I gotta stop doing every 7 years)

"Princess your breakfast is ready." Sister Chloe called, she knocked on the door. But there was no response. "Princess Rika?" She pushed the door open to find that the princess was gone and that she had left through her window. Chloe dropped the tray smashing everything on it and ran out of the room.

--

"Hello Princess Rika!" The stable girl greeted. She was the same age as Rika. She had long brown hair with brown eyes to match it.

"Sakura I told you to stop calling me Princess!" Rika growled. Sakura walked over to one of the stales with a black stallion in it. She bowed.

"I am sorry, Rika." Sakura said still smiling. She opened the wooded gate and placed the reins on the horse and smiled.

Rika went over and grabbed her favorite saddle. She walked over to the horse and placed it on him.

"I will be taking Blazer again today. Do not tell anyone that I have left." Rika demanded strictly like always. She tossed a golden coin to Sakura. And then rode off on the horse. Sakura ran out of the stable and waved goodbye to the Princess until she was out of sight.

She walked into the barn and closed the stable door just as Sister Lily ran in.

"Have you seen the Princess?" She asked. Sakura shook her head no and then Sister Lily ran off.

--

"No one can find her." Sister Mary said sadly. Sister Rose just got angry.

"She's always running off. I don't understand what her problem is." Sister Rose growled angrily.

"She's just a child let her have some fun!" Sister Mia smiled sitting in one of the finest chairs in the hall.

"She's 14 she should at least be doing princess things not boy things!" Sister Rose growled.

"You just need to live a little." Mia smiled. Sister Rose walked over to her and punched her in the head.

"Don't you ever say things like that!" Sister Rose yelled.

"Oww. FINE!" Mia shouted in pain. "Grouch."

"I heard that!" Sister Rose yelled. (Haha a little Sister Kate and Sister Rosette thing there!)

--

The horse ran into the woods staying on the path and just kept running when a voice called out and the horse stopped.

"Wow you're not a real trusting person are you?" A boy asked. Rika looked at him slyly he looked so familiar but she couldn't place him.

"Why do you say that?" She wondered. He jumped out of the tree and walked towards her and petted the horse.

"Well you do have a bow strapped to your back." He pointed out. Her eyes met his.

"Oh, good you know what it is. I thought I would have to tell you." She said sarcastically.

"You know you're not real nice." He said.

"I know!" She smirked and then made the horse leave him behind in the woods.

As she rode on she thought about the boy and how familiar he looked. She then forgot about where she was going and lead the horse to a halt. The horse neighed. Rika looked around and noticed she was near a small cottage. It was made from wood and straw. Houses you would see in a story. But this was real it had a stone path and was surrounded by a white fence. She jumped off the horse and walked towards the house.

"Can I help you?" Called a voice from around the side of the house. Rika opened the gate and walked over to where the voice called from.

There was a blond haired girl wearing all black.

"Um yes actually. Do you know how to get to the North Kingdom?" Rika asked. The girl looked up at her. Her pale blue eyes stared coldly at Rika.

"It's a three day trip from here." She said standing up. "Why would you like to go there?"

"Does it matter?" Rika asked. The girl looked at her.

"Well I guess it is none of my business." She said. "I will take you there."

Rika looked at her she could be no older then herself. How would she know how to get there? But what did Rika know. She had lived in a Kingdom all her life.

"Alright then." Rika said looking back at her horse who was grazing in the finely cut grass. (Hmm I want to know how they cut their grass in the 1400's)

"Well then guess I better get ready." She said and walked passed Rika but then stopped. "I'm McCoy, Alice, you?"

Rika stood there and thought about it. She would have to think quick or Alice would think that something was up. Rika didn't know if she should give away her name. If she did then Alice would probably know who she was.

"My name is Makino, Rika." She said, changing her last name but keeping the first. Alice looked at her like she was crazy, lying.

"Can you take out my horse?" Alice asked changing the look on her face and in her eyes. Rika nodded her head and went into the back yard as the girl went into her house.

Rika opened the gate slowly walking over to the brown horse. She grabbed the black reins and black saddle. Just from what the girl wore, Rika figured she would be happier with these. She grabbed the reins and pulled the horse outside. Inhaling a deep breath of the fresh air Rika sighed. She would miss her family. But this was for the best.

She walked the horse out to the front when something caught her eyes. She turned her head quickly, jolting it to her side when she saw that boy standing next to her horse. He looked different though. Not like he was another person but he was wearing something different.

"Sheesh, it took me a while to catch up to you, ya know?" He smiled once again petting her horse.

"No, I don't." She stated firmly leading the horse out of the McCoy yard. The boy stared at the horse she was now walking with.

"Changing horses so you will be harder to find?" He asked. Rika sighed and looked at him. He stood a little taller then her. He was older she could tell.

"Why are you so interested about knowing me?" She asked. She stared him in the eye. He thought about it, even rubbed the back of his neck.

"Now why do you think I'm interested in knowing about you?" He wondered. She looked at him shocked.

"Grr, you're so annoying you know that?" Rika yelled and looked at the door where there stood a girl dressed in all-black with golden hair.

"Who's this Rika?" Alice asked walking closer to the two. The boy's eyes widened, he knew.

"A stalker." Rika pointed bluntly. The boy fell- anime style.

"What makes you think I'm a stalker?" He asked.

"You've been following me around!" Rika yelled. Then everything went silent. They all just stared at each other.

The birds sung a playful tune and chased each other around in the sky. Rika rolled her eyes.

"Well then who are you?" Alice asked rudely, coldly. Like Rika would if she had felt like talking.

"Akiyama, Ryo." He smiled. Rika looked at him. The boy from her past?

Rika walked along the rock pathway out into the garden. She passed a fountain by the way spraying water and with the slight bit of wind blew some of it at her. She liked the feel of the wind and water against her skin. She walked over to the outdoor balcony that marked the edge of the hill. She sat down on the cold cement seat and stared into the vast gardens below.

The slight breeze picked up her hair, making it float with the wave lengths of the wind.

"What's a princess doing out here?" A boy asked. Rika turned around to see a blue-eyed boy, with messed up brown hair that swayed in the wind. He could be no more then 8. He just stood there.

"Getting away." She said. He walked closer and held out his hand.

"Why don't you come back in." He smiled, his smile so kind. The kind that could make you forget all your worries.

"I don't want to." She glared.

"Why not?" He wondered.

"Why do you care?" Rika wondered. She had never met this boy before in her life and he acted like he had know her all of his life.

"Just curious." He smiled and then walked over and sat down next to her. "My name is Akiyama, Ryo."

"That's nice." She looked away. He grabbed her hand and stood up.

"Today is supposed to be fun ok?" Ryo smiled a reassuring smile. "Now lets go in."

"You're the jerk that disappeared that one night!" Rika yelled now furious with the boy that ditched her so long ago.

"Oh, boy." He sighed. Alice interfered though. Rika looked like she was about to pound him.

"Well I don't know what's going on here, but let's go." Alice said, she walked over to her horse and got on it.

"Well where are we going?" Ryo asked slyly. Rika looked at him and shot him an icy glare.

"You're not going anywhere. We are though. And we as in me and Alice." Rika said getting on her horse. Ryo smiled he liked getting on Rika's nerves already. So he thought of something.

"I do know who you are, remember?" Ryo smirked. "I'm not sure if you told her, but I can spread it around." Rika glared at him like 'if you say anything I will personally kill you'.

"Ugh…fine." Rika sighed. "But you're not riding with me."

"I'll walk." He said.

"Can we go now?" Alice asked turning her horsed in the direction they would need to go in.

"Sure." Ryo smiled.

--

"You know the mission don't blow it." Something hissed.

"I know, and I wont."

Whitezetsu: Ohh so now the plot thickens yup. What's the mission and who's mission is it? Why did Ryo disappear 7 years ago? And why is Rika going to the North Kingdom? Well you'll have to read chap 4 to find out.

Sorry this chap was so short i mean really but i didnt have alot of time to write it but i also wanted to build some suspence ya know.

Well thanks to all the people who reviewed.

AzNAnGel07- thanks i really don't like Rumiko either so i try to keep her out as much as possible. C'ya

GTKari-123- Yeah it wasn't meant to seem close to Thorns but it happened that way but things will change i assure you.

JyouraKoumi- Thanks.

Dolce Saito- Penguin Ring awesome! I've been weird lately i keep like drawing penguins its so funny. Yeah the Pixies rock well C'ya