Calmer of the Storm: Wow. I apologize for taking so long. It's been over a year. I've been busy and mostly unmotivated…but here it is! It's the final chapter! And the conclusion to my last story, unless I am consumed by another moment of insanity. I will probably pop out a one-shot here and there, but I can't promise anything more than that. It's been fun :)

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The battle had come to a standstill. Nobody on either side could find it in themselves to move anymore. All weapons were lowered, some even dropped. Even those that could not see what had caused the change had sensed that something was not entirely right. Those on the outskirts of the square and in the alleys began pressing together, closing the gap that had been made for this new group as quickly as it had been opened. Those on rooftops had moved to the edges, and all strained to see what was going on.

Hikari and Takeru exchanged a glance as they remained on the platform, both of them uncertain as to what this meant. The appearance of this man had stopped the battle itself, and Sir Guy was trembling at the sight of him. The King. It was King Richard the Lionheart. How he was here right now was completely unexplainable. Had he not been a prisoner of war? Had they not ransomed him for an impossible amount of money?

Sitting on his great white horse, the king was level with the platform. His green eyes were trained on Sir Guy, and there was a look in them that was rather difficult to place. It seemed to be one of…amusement. But what would a king find so funny about returning home to chaos? It was not unknown to the people that this man had intended to take the throne for himself. Everyone knew the impossibility of their king coming home to them. They all knew that they would be subjected to Sir Guy of Carleton's rule. Even Sir Guy himself had known that.

"Why do you tremble, old friend? Come; greet your king as is proper." His eyes danced with the statement, but there was an underlying note in his voice that told those within hearing range that Sir Guy would not be let off so easily, if he was to be let off at all.

"Y-yes, of course Sire. My apologies…" The man stood to his full height, and then prepared himself to offer a rather elegant bow.

The mirth still danced in the king's eyes. "Now, I should like an explanation for all of this. It would seem as though someone has made for much cleaning up…"

Sir Guy wasted no time in presenting his case. "I was acting as steward, as was charged to me. But this insolent young man," he pointed to Takeru, who was still standing with a noose around his neck, "has been stealing from the royal treasury. He has gathered the people against the crown, and with the help of Sir Richard he is leading a revolt."

The king raised an eyebrow. "Leading a revolt while standing at the gallows? My, he is a talented boy."

The other man searched for words. "H-his companions are leading it, of course. I mean, there is no way that such a fool could lead a revolt. He isn't very smart, to have gotten himself caught."

An amused smile twitched at the king's lips. "Oh? But he is smart enough to lead a band of outlaws against the crown…and cause quite a stir. He must have the people's trust." The wording and tone of his last sentence indicated something far deeper; that Takeru and his friends had earned the trust of the people, and Sir Guy had not.

Finally the Lionheart turned his attentions to the boy. "Do you deny the charges laid against you?" The question was serious, and Takeru knew that his very life hung on the balance.

The boy shared another glance with the girl, who was still on her knees beside him. In her eyes were was now hope; hope that had not been there before. King Richard was a fair king; it was just a matter of convincing him. He loved his people, and they just needed to convince him that keeping all of the 'rebels' alive was in their best interest.

"I am guilty only of doing what is right for the people. When they were being cheated out of their profits I merely took what was theirs back. When taxes were raised I brought back what was their due. I have acted only to protect, looking only for the good of the kingdom. And if his majesty holds that as a crime, then I will accept the charges that had been laid." Takeru had to keep his composure and not allow the surprise at what he had just said show through. These words were not his own, for in truth, since coming here the only unlawful acts he had committed consisted of stealing future brides from their husbands' homes.

Once more, King Richard seemed amused. The look on his face was gentler now however, but it did not lack that unpredictable hard edge. "And just how is it that you find yourself in such a position?"

It was Kari who spoke up, knowing that Takeru would not adequately explain the situation. "If I may explain, Sire…" She was given a look that she interpreted as telling her to continue, "T…Robin is a friend of mine, whom I have known for quite some time. He has been a change in the routine of my noble life, and I am grateful for it. Sir Guy…he spoke with my father and arranged for me to dwell in the castle with him, with the final intention of becoming my husband. However I never wished for such a thing, for my heart…" she hesitated, her cheeks turning a light shade of pink, "…it belongs elsewhere…" It was embarrassing enough, confessing to the boy you had had a crush on for so many years, but telling it to everyone else was much worse.

"When Sir Guy threatened me I knew there was no escape. Gladly I would have given my own life, but he held the lives of others over my head, knowing I could not then refuse his commands. Robin was merely here to save me, but was captured in the process." She was no longer just speaking as Hikari, just as Takeru had not only used his own words. They were speaking as the characters from the stories; from legends and histories.

"What is your name, child?"

"Marion, Sire."

"And Marion, you swear to me that you speak the truth? And anyone in the castle that I choose to interrogate will tell me the same thing?"

"Yes."

The King nodded. "I'll think over this matter some more. In the meantime, get this mess cleaned up."

With that, the white stallion was turned from his spot on the platform, and once more the crowds parted to let him through. This time he headed towards the castle, where he would continue his dealings as king. He had been gone for quite some time now, and evidently there were things he needed to fix.

When the king was out of sight, Sir Guy kicked the hilt of his sword in a fit of rage, sending it off the platform. The metal clanged as it hit the ground, and was only drowned out by the sound of his infuriated cry. But there was nothing more that he could do now. Not even the wretched boy could be killed. But he would not leave without some respite. With one last swing of his arm, his fist connected with Takeru's face with a loud crack. All those in hearing range cringed, but none would move.

"Get out, you fools…All of you!" He screamed, and his men began shuffling. Some did not move, for they wished not to face his wrath. And they knew that later, when it came time to deal with the king, it would be better for them if they no longer bore any allegiances to him.

Sir Guy left the platform, and people began to move about. Kari rose from her spot and flung herself at Taker, wrapping her arms around his body. His cheek was already bruising, as was indicated by the slight discoloration. It would take a few days to heal properly.

But this pain was nothing, in light of what they had all been spared from. The noose was lifted from around him and his hands untied, at which point he wasted no time in taking the girl up in his arms as he had so longed to do so. Only now his embrace was not one of comfort; it was one of celebration. Upon parting he still did not let go, and she did not seem so willing. Hikari's smile was bright, and she leaned up to place a gentle kiss on his lips, careful of his injured face.

Out of those who saw the exchange there was only one who lacked the happiness for the young couple. But Davis would find his way around that one. There just had to be a way.

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Two weeks had passed since the battle in the town square. The body count had been higher than what anyone would have liked, but all they could do was mourn the losses and remove the bodies. The debris was next, and as punishment for fighting it was all those who had participated that were charged with getting rid of it all. Next came the fix-up stage, where carts and windows and doors had to be replaced and mended. Out of those that were doing this it was only those that had fought on the side of Sir Guy that held any sort of disgruntled feelings for all of this, though they knew they had gotten off easy.

Their leader, however, had not been so lucky. Sir Guy of Carleton had quickly been placed on trial, much to his outrage. It would seem as though the man had completely lost his mind, and was in a complete fit as to the fact that he was being put on trial where the notorious Robin Hood was not. But the people had spoken, and the trial was put through. Over a unanimous jury and a flurry of angry witnesses, Sir Guy was condemned guilty of plotting against the crown, threatening a noble, and stealing from the people. He was sentenced to life in prison, where he could forever contemplate what he had done.

As for Robin Hood and his merry band of outlaws, they were asked to remain in the city. The Chosen Children were all anxious to return to their home in the forest, where they could figure out what to do next. History had been righted…or so it appeared. But nothing had happened. They had not found themselves back on the sunny beach that they had left. The feeling of hope that had accompanied the victory was quickly fading as it looked more and more like there was something else they were missing. And they had no way of knowing whether or not it was something they had yet to do, or something they had missed. But there was nothing they could do about it now except for wait.

The king had requested that they dwell in the servant's quarters of the castle, for he wished to speak with them all once the trial of Sir Guy was finished. Kari had been called to witness, going into further detail about her plights. All the others had been deemed too biased for a proper testimony, but it was not needed. The people had done away with him themselves.

The chaos had not completely subsided, but it was on the very edges of being completely subdued. There were still a few loose ends to tie, among the ranks of the soldiers and what to do with the outlaws themselves. One afternoon they had been called into a meeting with the king, where they sat with him around a circular table. The ten of them all sat in silence, knowing that the outcome of this meeting could change their fates. Whether this was the missing piece they did not know, but they were running out of hope. It was beginning to feel like they would never get home. The only thing that kept things going was that they were all together and intact; no one had been seriously harmed in the battle. Davis' wound had been deep, but with rest it would heal nicely. All the others had gotten by with mere scrapes and bruises.

"Now, you're probably all wondering why I've called you here today." The King began.

No one said a word, but the glances that were shot around the room said it all.

"In light of the current situation, I cannot allow all of you to go unpunished. I realize that you were protecting the people, but I cannot allow such seeds of rebellion to be sown. I know that none of you would ever lay a hand against me, but I do not wish for others to get that idea. The people must know that there is punishment for acting against any sort of government, no matter how horrible the rule."

He was a king…they understood this. He had to keep the faith of his people, and he needed to keep their respect. While he was powerful, a king was nothing without his people. And they had rallied those people against themselves. It was a collective understanding, though nothing was said. The information was taken in silence, and so the sentence would be also.

"Robin, you are the master mind of this operation, and thus I will order you to serve two years in my army. Next week you will set off with my troops to the front lines, where you will serve my purposes. Should you return, you are free to do as you wish." Takeru swallowed, but nodded his head. This was to be his fate.

"As for the rest of you, the punishment will be the same. The women will work in the infirmaries, as I do not expect you to fight alongside my men," a wry smile crossed his lips at this point, "though I know you are fully capable. But we are short on care, and your knowledge of living in the wilderness will do us some good. You will set out in the regiment next month, where the need is the greatest.

"Marion…you are to remain here. You did not participate in the battle, and therefore I have no crime against you. You are free to leave this meeting now, if you wish."

So that was it, then. They were all to be separated. The boys would go in a week, and the girls in a month. But Hikari would remain here at the castle, most likely, not helping at all. The knowledge that her friends would be out there without her was too painful. She would have Sora, Mimi and Miyako for the next month, but the rest would be leaving soon. To have just discovered the depth of her feelings for the blonde-haired boy and then have no time to spend with him…it was too much. And her brother, Taichi. What would become of him? He was a reckless fighter. And Davis too. Cody was so young, and Mimi fainted at the sight of blood. Miyako would lose her temper with anyone who crossed her. Sora, Yamato and Ken…would she see them all again? It was probably inevitable that at least one of them would not be coming home. To die here…it was not a fitting end. For the group of Chosen Children that they were, they had fallen short this time.

After a few moments of deliberation, Hikari shook her head. She was seated beside Takeru, who had reached out and grasped her hand in his, and was stroking it soothingly. "I'll go to the battle too. I'll leave with the women…I'll help out in the infirmary. Sire, I do not wish to go against your rule, but even more so…" she glanced at the faces around the table with her, "I do not wish to leave my friends behind. Where they go, I will go also." Once more she felt as though she were not speaking on her own words and strength, but of those of the character whose roll she now filled.

A smile broke out on the king's face. "Very well then, it shall be as you wish. You are all free to go." And something about his statement told them that he had expected such a thing to happen all along.

As the ten of them rose from their chairs, it was hard to deny the feeling of dread that had clouded the room. The king could not feel it, for he was not attuned to their troubles. All of them knew what this meant; they had missed something. Somewhere along the line, something had gone wrong. The history…the legend…it had been re-written in a way that had forced them to dwell in this past forever. And they all knew that they should get used to it.

They exited the round chamber and ended up into the grand hallway, which opened up into the throne room. The sun was descending in the sky, as was evident by the way its blinding light shone through the back windows of the hall, blocking their view of the main room. But not even this could brighten their spirits. The thought of never seeing home again was not sitting too well with them. Their parents…their friends…even the digimon. That was all gone. Joe and Izzy had not made the trip with them, and all of them were glad for it. At least there would be someone who would have a small inkling as to what had happened to them. It would be interesting to see what story they would come up with…

The sound of seagulls and the waves on the beach was the next sound that they heard. Suddenly the ten children found themselves standing in the very spot they had been in when they had left. Nothing had changed; their stuff was still packed. The sun was still dipping lower, down into the ocean. It took a moment for them to figure it out, as they were all simply stunned by what they were experiencing. They were home…

"We did it…I don't know how…but we…we did it!" It was Taichi, who was the first to proclaim the collective sentiments of the group.

A laughter broke out among them; it was one of relief and of slight insanity. How on earth they had managed to do this, none of them knew. Whatever it was, they had done it right. None of them would be going to war; none of them would die on the frontlines. They would all have to go to school again; they would all grow up, get married to the people they chose, and have families and jobs…and none of these things would be taken for granted.

Not much else was said, for each needed the time to process what they had been through. They were used to this; it wasn't the first time they had been transported to another world. But even still…they had been dealing with people and not digimon. It had been harder.

"Hey, Kari?" It was Takeru who had spoken, and he had made his way over to the girl after his and Yamato's car had been packed.

"Yes?"

"Um…so…are you…busy tomorrow night? I was just wondering if…you'd like to do something…"

She couldn't ignore the blush on his face, and the way he could not meet her eyes as he asked the question. "I think I might be able to pencil you in…"

The grin that followed made her laugh, to which her older brother only rolled his eyes. Takeru had begun his trek back to the car, however he seemed to make a quick decision and darted back. Before Hikari could get into the car, he placed a light kiss on her cheek.

"See you tomorrow." And with that he was gone again, leaving the girl blushing a bright red in the passenger seat of the car.

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It was a little later, when the sky was much darker, that Hikari and Taichi were crossing through the front door to their home. It had never looked so good. Their mother was cooking…and it had never smelled so good either. Both of them knew that this might be the only time the actually wanted their mother's cooking, but she would be happy.

After her stuff was deposited into her room, Hikari made her way into the kitchen. Her mother had her back to her, but the girl knew that she was aware of her presence.

"Kari, hun, can you get me the butter?"

Without a word she reached into the fridge, passed something green that used to be orange, and pulled out the butter and placed it on the counter.

"Thank you. How was your day at the beach?"

Hikari was glad that her mother was not looking at her, for she had closed her eyes and drawn in a deep breath. "Fine. The weather was nice." She couldn't say anything more than that.

"Oh, well that's good. I'd heard it was supposed to rain or something. Maybe that was tomorrow's weather…"

Hikari had to smile at her mother's absent-minded nature. She remained in the kitchen, now more willing than ever to help with whatever concoction she was whipping up. And she would eat all of it, for her mother's homemade disasters would much, much better than anything anyone ever got in the realm that she had just come from.

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Calmer of the Storm: Alrighty. So there you have it! It's been a long ride…wow. 4 years. I was looking back at some of the earlier chapters…my writings sucks! I'm tempted to re-write them…haha. We'll see. I should win a prize or something for longest time it takes to get a story out xD

The ending wasn't the best, but I kinda wanted it anti-climactic. But I'm passed the point of caring...it's 12:17 Christmas morning and I'm sleepy. So Merry Christmas everyone, and I'll see you guys around!