Calmer of the Storm: So I'm still here! Yay! I'm alive. And I will hold to my promise. The next chapter will be the final one, and it's been a long time coming, lol. But for now, I write!

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To say that the situation was looking hopeless would be an understatement. Countless men had been slaughtered, on both sides, and the overall morale of the mass was wearing thin. Tears came to Hikari's eyes as she watched. She hadn't been able to pick any faces out of the crowd, and that frightened her. Hopefully it just meant that everyone was out of sight. But knowing that she could have somehow prevented all of this was tearing her apart. If only she had been more careful…more prudent in her workings. If only she had been stronger...braver. Maybe then would things have turned out differently.

And now she couldn't even move. Her best friend…her confidant, her…she didn't want to go one. After all, she was still a little confused as to where they stood on that subject. And it wasn't exactly the time to be thinking about that. But she wanted to be closer to him…to truly stand by his side in this moment of turmoil. To feel the comfort…the hope…that he always brought with him. Even in this dark time he still exuded that brilliant optimism that could spark the smallest light within her. Though she knew that if she made even the slightest motion towards him, he would no longer be there for her. Sir Guy stood there with his sword ready to plunge through the heart of the boy should she try anything.

Really there wasn't anything she could do about it.

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Things on the other front weren't going so well, either. The onslaught of Sir Guy's men seemed endless, while Sir Richard's men were dwindling. Though the chosen children were quite surprised at their prowess in battle, the bliss of it all seemed to wear off after a few short moments.

Taichi whipped around at the sound of a scream. It was a miracle that, amidst the tumult, he had heard it, but it was a cry that was familiar to him. Sora. Immediately he spotted her fiery air, and immediately he leapt into action. Without thinking he leapt into action, his sword pointed forwards. She had been caught off guard by someone from behind, and she had realized it too late. It was only her instinct to scream, but it would be the thing that saved her. Without thinking Taichi plunged his sword through the upper torso of the man.

Even though Sora was safe, he dropped the blade with the realization of what he had done. His eyes went wide and the battle was momentarily forgotten. Sora threw herself at him, partially because she needed to and partially because he needed her to. She wrapped her arms around him, holding him tight. He shook from the shock of what he had just done. He had lunged at others before, though he had always taken great care to never truly cut. Sometimes he had slipped…but it was never fatal. This…this was something else entirely.

One could never forget the feeling of driving one's sword through the chest of another living, breathing being. Even if they were part of a past that had already been written, and that if it didn't happen this way, the future was perhaps at steak. At least, the future of ten individuals who had been whisked away by one they never thought they would meet.

The two of them ducked into a corner, with Taichi still recovering. Something seemed to have covered them from the battle, for they were, for the most part, ignored.

"I killed him…Sora he's dead…he's dead because of me…." Was all he could say.

Sora put her hands on his face, forcing him to look her in the eye. "And it would have been me, had you not." Her voice was soft yet stern, as she knew he needed to hear it like that. She too was still recovering from this near death experience, but she knew that it was very hard for him at the moment. He needed her to be strong.

"It had to be done at some point, Taichi…we won't win this battle if we don't fight with everything we have. If we don't win, we will never go home. We'll never see our friends and families again…we'll be stuck here. And I don't even want to think about the life that awaits us if that happens."

He was silent, though he was pale as a ghost and slight tremors still wracked his body. Mentally this was not an easy subject to deal with. He wouldn't get over it soon.

At this point Yamato had made his way over. The blonde boy was covered in sweat, and he didn't stop to ask about the moment the two of them were having.

"I just came from the front…He got Kari. Sir Richard's gone…no one can find him. The others are fine, but failing." He was, of course, referring to the other digidestind.

"What are we going to do?" It was Sora who had spoken, for Tai was still getting over the incident that had just passed. It didn't even register that his sister was in trouble.

Matt shook his head. "I have no idea…but it's looking pretty bad…" He wasn't one to exaggerate, so Sora knew that his evaluation was probably correct…and really, she knew that to be true as well.

Leaning against the wall beside Tai, she heaved with a sigh. If one took a good look at the three of them they would see the bruises and scrapes that covered their bodies, and the weariness that engulfed them. No longer did they look like a bunch of youth, but war-torn soldiers that had seen too much in their day. Of course, this was partially the truth, as their young eyes had already seen things that no living person should ever have to see. They had lived things that would take the heart of the bravest men…and perhaps that was why they had been chosen. Only a child would go through such a life with such resistance, for the hope and faith that was there was unbreakable.

Until situations like this.

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A voice shouting at her caused her to lift her head. It was that of Daisuke. Hikari looked at him with pleading eyes; she did not want for him to get any closer. Takeru had seen him as well, and his eyes said the same thing. To his left was Miyako, with Ken not far behind her. Cody, at this point, was not in sight.

Hikari wanted to scream at them to go away; to save themselves, but she knew it would be in vain. They would not hear her over the sounds of combat. With this knowledge she sank to her knees, defeat radiating from her every being.

"Kari…" It was Takeru who had spoken. He looked down at her, a forlorn look in his own eyes. He was trying to hang on…trying to be strong. If not for himself, than for her. He knew she was fading, but he couldn't handle seeing her like this. She was always so full of life…full of light. Even in those times when she had been pulled beyond the land of light, there had still been something about her. A tiny glimmer that when ignited by hope could drive away that darkness. But this…this situation was different. And he was seeing that he could do nothing to help her. He wanted to take her in his arms, if only to be with her during what would seem to be his last moments. But his arms were tied, and the threat of being severed was rather overbearing.

The girl didn't look at him, she only stared out onto the masses. Tears brimmed in her eyes and threatened to fall. A couple spilled over. They were tears not for herself, but for the others that were out there. She was still feeling that it was her fault that no one would be able to get back home. Hopefully they would all get out in time…maybe they could run. Maybe they could live lives of their own. If they could do that, it would bring her some margin of comfort. But they couldn't come after her…she would have to sacrifice herself for them.

But it broke her heart to know that Takeru wouldn't be joining them. Because of her he would dead within the hour…she was sure of it. Unless some sort of miracle happened, this was it. This was the end.

"Does it pain you, to know that you could have saved them? If you had only agreed to marry me and if you had done all I had asked, they would have been free to live their lives. And now look what you've done…condemned them all." The sneer in his voice was unmistakable.

It evoked a sob from the girl who was on her knees, a pained look on her face. Here eyes were distant; not focused on anything.

"Leave her alone." Growled the boy, who was still bound with the noose around his neck.

The older man only laughed. "And look at you…her mighty protector to the end. But you can't protect her anymore. How does that make you feel?"

Takeru gritted his teeth and only stared; a fire and hatred in his eyes that was reserved only for the purest of evils. "We'll find a way out of this…and you'll regret everything you've said."

Sir Guy shook his head, a smirk upon his face. "We shall see about that, boy."

With these words he kicked him in the stomach, causing him to groan with the pain. It wasn't a light gesture at all. This caused Hikari to turn around, tears staining her cheeks. Worry and horror was written across her face, as pain occupied the boy's beside her. But she couldn't reach out to him…he would be dead if she tried that.

He saw the look she had given him, and he mustered the best smile he could. "Don't worry…I'm fine…" though the strain in his voice told him that he clearly wasn't.

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Down on the ground, the trio that had made their way to the front had seen all of this transpire. No matter what they did, they couldn't get any closer. Their bodies were tiring, as they weren't used to such physical work.

"Davis…we can't keep this up much longer!" It was Miyako who had spoken.

Ken was behind her; the two were standing back-to-back for better protection. He was doing his best, but despite all of his own training and work, his body was beginning to fail as well. "We should fall back…" He wasn't one to run from a battle, but he knew his limits.

"No! I'm not leaving her!" He yelled back, after dodging an attack.

"Davis!" Yelled Miyako, forever irked by his obstinate nature. She would drag him out of here if she had to. Not that she didn't care for the two that were on the platform in the centre of the square; she just knew that they would want them to regroup and find some other way to go about things. This was suicide, and all of them knew that.

But Davis was forever being himself, and it would get him killed.

Just as the girl was about to make her move towards him, a blade caught him in the shoulder. Her eyes widened and his earth-shattering cry was sent out, momentarily stopping the skirmish around them. He retaliated, but his assailant had darted away. Blood rushed from his wound, and a searing pain hit him. At any other time it would have probably sent him over the edge, but his adrenaline was in full gear.

"Davis!" Screamed Miyako, eyes filled with concern. She and Ken fought their way over to him, but he was insistent that he was fine. But all three of them knew that he wouldn't be. It was his fighting arm that had been damaged, and he would not be able to use it. As soon as those around him realized…things would only get worse.

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The battle raged on, and things were only going downhill. The three in hiding were still recovering, though having to fight off the odd attacker. Cody was on a roof top with some archers, protecting the entrances. But the swell of people was becoming too much for him, and his staff could only take so much damage. It would break before too long. The other five were in no better situations. All seemed lost.

It was at that moment that something happened that no one could expect. A trumpet sounded, though only few heard it. Again the call was made, and it attracted more attention.

An angry look crossed the face of Sir Guy; this was not his doing. "What is the meaning of this?" He demanded, yelling at one of the guards near him. The man could only shrug; he was as bewildered as the rest of them.

Again the trumpet sounded, and eyes turned towards the centre street. Those off to the sides continued to fight, oblivious to the change in tides. Followed by this trumpet sound was that of a mighty roar. Thunder seemed to be rolling in, but it was the drumming of hooves against the cobblestone roads. Sir Richard's men had all dismounted for mobility's sake; and he had no more to spare.

This was a different army entirely.

It wasn't a huge one; perhaps thirty horses. But they thundered through the streets at an alarming rate, stopping not to take into account the people that were there. In the centre of this herd there was a brilliant white horse, though other than that neither it nor its rider stood out. The sea of people parted, because they knew that if they didn't they would be run over. Despite the small size, however, one couldn't help but feel that this was only the tip of the iceberg.

At the riders approached the platform, the horses slowed to a trot, then a walk. As they reached it they too parted, making way for the one who rode in the centre of them all. He was an older aged man, with sandy coloured hair and a beard to match. His green eyes were piercing, and filled with a wisdom that was not found in many places. His body was a little on the lean side, though it looked as though that were more a result of lack of food than anything. Despite his almost frail appearance there was a commanding air about him that was hard to refuse. He looked at Sir Guy with a stern gaze that seemed to go right through the man.

Sir Guy, at this point, was white as a ghost. His sword clanged to the ground at the realization of who stood before him.

"Your Majesty…"

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Calmer of the Storm: So there you have it! The second last chapter of this epic story!!!

Okay…so maybe it's not that epic. Lol. But it's up!