A/N: Well, here it is. I'm kind of proud of how fast I was able to get this done. I would like to thank Layla347 and Crystal-Wolf-Guardain-967 for reviewing the last chapter.

Disclaimer: I do not own Digimon.

The Warrior of Hope
Chapter 28
Playing the Game

"What the heck?" I growled. Androwomon was clearly just playing with me. Wasn't she the one leading the human Digimon? It didn't make any sense for her to want me to stop the battle. Maybe she really just wanted to fight me. That would make things a lot easier.

I really needed something to let out my frustration. The noise of battle still reached me from the center of town, so I began to head in that direction. Breaking up a fight and possibly taking part in it would surely make me feel better.

Making sure to avoid any attacks along the way, I went toward the center of town. I stopped when I caught sight of the main battle. There was a fountain in the middle of a large square, but it had been split apart by the Digimon surrounding it. There were attacks flying everywhere. I leapt back to avoid a blast of fire.

The human inside me was terrified. I had fought before, but this was like a war zone. I reached for a fallen Digimon in front of me, but it turned into an egg before I could even get a good look at it. I watched as it flew into the sky, heading for the Village of Beginnings.

The beast inside me was furious. What was the point to all this death and destruction? It didn't do anyone any good for these Digimon to be fighting. Survival should be their real concern, but they're too worried about an old rivalry to realize that the world is crumbling around them.

I grabbed the whip at my waist and jumped right into the middle of the square. I landed on what was left of the fountain. I cracked my whip into the air, "Stop it, everyone!"

The Digimon closest to me turned to look in surprise. Some looked annoyed, but others began to recognize me.

"Isn't that Gatowomon?"

"You mean the Princess?"

"Why is the Princess here?"

"Princess!"

I looked around the square, "What is going on here? Why are all of you fighting?"

The Digimon all tried to talk at once.

"These beasts are intruding."

"Our friends were hurt by the humans!"

"You destroyed our homes!"

"That was self defense!"

"We lived here once too!"

"You abandoned your homes when you decided to fight alongside Cherubimon!"

Amidst the shouts, a familiar mechanical wolf Digimon made his way toward me. MetalGarurumon bowed, "Princess, thank you for coming."

"MetalGarurumon," I acknowledged him, "What is the meaning of all this fighting?"

The Digimon turned to hear MetalGarurumon's answer, "The human Digimon and the beast Digimon have different views and have thus begun fighting. Human Digimon insist that the beasts cannot be trusted since we sided with Cherubimon. Beast Digimon still feel like the humans think they are above us."

I nodded, "I see. You all are fighting for a cause that you believe to be just. However, none of you are looking at the big picture."

"How can you say that? You come to us to bring peace, yet you are in the form of a beast Digimon. It is clear which side you are on," Androwomon came to the front of the human Digimon.

MetalGarurumon growled, "How dare you insult the Princess's pure wish for peace?"

"See how the leader of the beasts sticks up for her?" Androwomon smirked at me, "When has MetalGarurumon wished for peace? He is one of the fiercest Digimon when we are battling. This is clearly an attempt to distract us."

The human Digimon around her all began nodding their heads.

"That's right!"

"She doesn't really want peace."

"She's had time to get to know the beasts."

"Does the Princess even care about how we feel?"

I needed to diffuse the situation, "Wait a minute. You are all misunderstanding something. I can understand both sides. I am both human and beast. I have fought against Cherubimon myself. Fighting for the sake of the Digital World is the only reason I am here."

"If that's the case, why didn't you destroy the beasts that followed Cherubimon in order to purify them? Instead, you let them run wild. You saw what they did for Cherubimon to destroy the Digital World. Shouldn't it be a priority to turn them back into Digi-eggs for the protection of the Digital World?" Androwomon challenged me.

"Androwomon," I stared her down, "You are under the assumption that the beast Digimon are mindless creatures that cannot see right from wrong. After they saw that Cherubimon's ideas were not the best, they decided on their own to leave his side. They also wish to protect the Digital World. It is their home. Is the Digital World not your home as well?"

Androwomon frowned, "You say that your goal is to protect the Digital World, but can you actually do it? You use words in order to show us human Digimon your humanity, but can you back it up with action?"

"Are you challenging me?" I asked. I held back a smile.

"See how she jumps at the chance to fight me?" Androwomon pointed out, "She clearly has no control of the beast inside of her."

I sighed, "I clearly do have control. If I didn't, I would have clawed your eyes out by now. A person can only take so much of another's challenge, whether they are beast or human."

"But, as a Princess, shouldn't you be in more control of your feelings than the rest of us?" Androwomon asked.

"Who are you?" I asked, "Because clearly you have a very set list of what a Princess should be. What gives you the right to tell me that I'm not good enough? I'm just trying to make life better for everyone. I'm not above you. As the Princess of the Digital World, I protect the Digimon. It is not my job to rule over them."

Androwomon frowned, "Is that not the duty of a Princess?"

I shook my head, "Not this princess."

"Princess, everyone is getting restless," MetalGarurumon said, drawing my attention to the crowd around us.

I looked to Androwomon, "Shall we settle this? Meet me here tomorrow morning at daybreak. At that time, I will show you that I can protect this world."

Androwomon nodded, "I agree to fight you. However, if I win, you shall name me as Princess of the Digital World."

"No!" MetalGarurumon's voice led the protests of the beasts around us.

I held my hand up to silence them, "If I deem you worthy of the position, then I will be glad to."

"Good," Androwomon smiled as she left.

The Digimon all began to shuffle away, chatting as they did.

"Wait," I called out, "I want everyone to know that there is to be no fighting between the beast and human Digimon. There are better ways to figure out this mess. At least until the end of the fight, please listen to my words."

"The beast Digimon will not attack the human Digimon," MetalGarurumon declared.

Splashmon stepped forward, "The human Digimon will also agree to your terms."

I nodded, "Thank you."

The Digimon quickly dispersed after that, leaving MetalGarurumon as the only Digimon in the square. I sighed and jumped down from the fountain, letting myself fall out of my Digimon self and back into my human body.

MetalGarurumon blinked, "So, this is what you really look like?"

"Yes," I nodded.

"You are so small," MetalGarurumon noted, "How do you protect yourself?"

I smiled, "We can't all have giant metal bodies. Plus, I don't really have to protect myself in the human world as I would in the Digital World."

"I see. Well, should we head over to where the other beast Digimon are camped?" MetalGarurumon offered.

I shook my head, "I do not want to show favoritism. I shall stay here."

"Princess," SaberLeomon came into the square, "I have brought you some dinner."

A blue and white dog Digimon with boxing gloves and a red headband brought forward a handful of apples. The Digimon bowed before giving them to me.

I smiled at the Digimon, "Are these meat apples?"

The Digimon blinked before nodded.

"What is your name?" I asked.

SaberLeomon stepped forward, "This is Gaomon. He is a rookie beast Digimon. His home was destroyed by the Royal Knights just a few days ago."

Gaomon looked up at me, "Can you really protect the Digital World?"

"Maybe not by myself, but with the help of the other Legendary Warriors, I'm sure that we can do it," I said, though my voice was wavering.

Gaomon looked down, "So, it's that hopeless?"

"No! I mean, that's not what I meant. They can do it. I'm sure they can. I'm just unsure about my own role in this. I thought it was to help you all, but maybe I can't do it," I said.

"Please," Gaomon looked up at me, "don't give up on us."

I smiled, "I won't. Don't worry, I'll fight 'til the end."

Gaomon smiled at me.

SaberLeomon cleared his throat, "Anyway, we should leave you alone. We don't want the human Digimon to get the wrong idea. Just go to the east side of the city if you need anything."

I nodded, "Thanks."

The three beast Digimon walked away.

There was a gasp from the opposite direction and I turned to face whoever the human Digimon had sent. To my surprise, instead of a Digimon, there was a young girl in front of me. She had dark green hair that was pulled into a side bun and glasses over bright red eyes. She was wearing a white halter top dress with ruffles along the skirt that went down to her knees and black flats.

"Jade?" The girl asked.

I blinked, "Do I know you?"

"Ah, um, no. I just heard that Jade was the name of the girl who had the spirit of the Princess. My name is Miyako," She said, looking down and pulling on her skirt.

I frowned, "Why are you here? Are you one of the children that were called to the Digital World to see if you matched up with one of the spirits? Why didn't you leave with the others?"

"That's a lot of questions," Miyako smiled, "I guess I should say that yes, I was called to the Digital World. However, it was not Ophanimon that called me."

"Then Cherubimon was the one who called you?" I asked.

Miyako shook her head, "It was something inside of me. I just had the feeling that I needed to go to the train station. When I got there, I followed the other children and made my way to the Digital World."

"Why are you still here? If you've been here that long, you should know how dangerous it is. Plus, it looks like you don't have any Digimon to protect you. How did you survive?" I asked.

Miyako sighed, "Androwomon."

"She helped you?" I asked.

Miyako shook her head, "I am Androwomon."

"What?" I demanded, "You, a mere child, are Androwomon?"

Miyako frowned, "I'm not a child."

"Oh, right. I'm sorry. I forgot how being here can make you grow up," I apologized sincerely.

Miyako shook her head, "The Digital World did not make me grow up. The place I grew up in forced me to grow up. This place is actually pretty easy to deal with."

"Oh, I'm sorry," I apologized again.

Miyako smiled, "It's alright. I have a big brother who cares about me. He's always taken care of me and keeps me safe."

"Wait, if you're Androwomon, why are you talking to me like this?" I asked.

Miyako's smile faded, "I wanted to meet you. Since the first time I heard about you, I wanted to know you. You were the amazing girl who fought with the Legendary Warriors even though you didn't belong with them."

I winced, "What do you mean?"

"I'm like you. I hold the spirit of knowledge. Like you, I am not represented by an element, but by an idea. There is no way that I'll ever belong with the Legendary Warriors. Yet, you stand beside them. I admire that you stay with them even though you don't belong," Miyako said.

I frowned, "Just because we're different doesn't mean that we can't fight alongside them."

"Yes, it does," Miyako insisted.

I shook my head, "If that was the case, then we wouldn't be able to stand next to the Digimon. After all, we are human."

"Then maybe we should leave," Miyako said.

"You would leave them?" I asked, "Even though you have the power to help them?"

"Just because you have the power, it doesn't mean that you should use it. You must choose your battles," Miyako said.

"Why did you choose to fight me?" I asked.

Miyako shrugged, "I wanted to see who was stronger."

"Why do you stay with the human Digimon? You clearly don't care about them," I said.

Miyako sighed, "Like I said, I wanted to meet you."

"So, you started this battle merely to see if you could best me in battle?" I demanded.

Miyako nodded, "That's right."

I turned away from her, "I take back what I said earlier. You are definitely a child. You may be the Warrior of Knowledge, but you seem to be lacking the knowledge of sympathy."

"You're right. I don't know how to be sympathetic. People often compare me to ice, saying that, while I look pretty, I am merely cold," Miyako said.

I glared at her, "Don't say that! Ice may be cold, but its beauty can move hearts. Ice can have any array of emotions."

Miyako blinked, "What are you talking about?"

"Maybe you should think about it yourself. Since you are the bearer of knowledge, it should be easy for you, right?" I challenged.

Miyako began to walk away, "I shall think on it. Will you give me until morning?"

"Take as long as you need," I said, watching her go.

I wondered how a girl like that could end up in the Digital World. She acted like she didn't care, yet she followed some instinct deep inside her in order to get to the Digital World. It just didn't add up.

I yawned, "Oh well, I should get some sleep before tomorrow."

I put the thoughts of Miyako out of my mind and prepared to go to bed.

A/N: Are you thoroughly confused? Good. That was my intention. Please leave reviews. Thanks for reading :)