A/N: Well, here you go. I think I'm getting this updating at least once a month thing down. Of course, school starts tomorrow, so you guys probably shouldn't get used to it. Thanks to Crystal-Wolf-Guardain-967, Eaten Alive By Boredom, and awsomeangel200 for reviewing the last chapter.

Disclaimer: I do not own Digimon.

The Warrior of Hope
Chapter 29
The End of the Princess

"Jade, wake up." Someone was shaking my shoulder.

I slowly opened my eyes to see that Miyako was looking down at me, blocking my view of the ceiling. I yawned, "What is it?"

"I understand now," Miyako said.

I frowned, "What do you understand?"

"What you were saying about ice. I thought about it all night, and I finally remembered that someone I once knew was like ice. He was focused and had a goal to drive him. Even with that, he was always smiling and bright. I thought seeing him like that would melt my frozen heart, but maybe it doesn't need melting?" Miyako looked at me hopefully.

I smiled, "Why do you think that is?"

"Maybe," Miyako bit her lip, "because ice isn't always a bad thing? It can become strength."

"That's right, you shouldn't have to change anything about yourself. Don't let other people's words affect you so much. Live life the way you want to," I said.

Miyako frowned, "What about you?"

"Huh?" I asked.

"Well, you're so concerned about how the Digimon view you that you can't even take care of the problem. Shouldn't you just take control and tell them to deal with it?" Miyako asked.

"Well," I said, "it's not my life. I'm making decisions that will affect all of them. It's not fair of me to just make decisions on my own. Besides, they won't trust my decisions without trust, and a certain android Digimon turned the human Digimon against me."

Miyako grinned, "Was that me?"

I rolled my eyes, "Of course not."

"So, what should we do about today?" Miyako asked.

I blinked, "What do you mean?"

"Well, I don't really care enough to fight you anymore. So, what should we tell the Digimon?" Miyako asked.

I sighed, "I'll figure something out."

"How about I just surrender?" She asked.

I frowned, "After all that? It would be pretty hard to convince them that I am trustworthy now. I'll talk to them."

"Princess, it's time." MetalGarurumon's voice echoed into the building.

"I'm on my way," I called.

Miyako pulled out a purple and silver D-Tector, "Are you ready?"

I nodded, "Let's do it."

"Execute, Spirit Evolution!"

"Execute, Fusion Evolution!"

"Androwomon!"

"LadyBlackGatowomon!"

Androwomon stared at me, "What is that?"

"My fusion evolution. It combines my beast and human spirits," I said.

Androwomon blinked, "Wow."

"Let's go," I said.

We left the building to find that the human and beast Digimon had created a sort of ring around the square. I looked around at all the Digimon and saw the same look on all their faces. They all wished for this fight to happen. Whether beast or human, they all looked bloodthirsty at the moment.

"Sorry to disappoint you all, but we are not going to fight. I have spoken with Androwomon and we have come to understand each other. Now, I wish for you all to understand something about me. I said before that I was both a human and beast Digimon. Right now, you are seeing me as a combination of the two," I said.

"So, you aren't going to pick sides?" A Digimon called out.

I shook my head, "I shouldn't have to pick sides. You all should be capable of getting along. Do you know why? You all have something in common. The Digital World is your home. Yet, you expect me to direct you all. I assume that you all know something about my adventures in the Digital World. However, you all seem to have forgotten that this is all just an adventure to me. I will not be in the Digital World forever. I will go back home to the human world."

"You all need to start seeing me for who I am," I said. I took a deep breath and let myself fall out of my digital form.

I heard some gasps as the Digimon took in my human body.

I looked around at all of them, "Right now, I am just a human. I was called to the Digital World to help you all fight a great evil. Though I look like the "Princess" you once knew, I am not her. I am just a human. In my world, I am still seen as a child. However, you all decided to turn to me for help when things looked tough. In reality, I could have just refused the call, leaving you all to figure this out for yourselves. I could have, but I didn't. I decided that it was my job to save you all from yourselves. Even though I didn't have confidence in myself, I knew that you all relied on me. Now, I'm asking you to think for yourselves. I would love to fix your problem, but I don't think it's something that an outsider can fix. You all have to realize that the divisions that you are making are just causing pain. Plus, you are just helping the enemy. While you are here arguing, Lucemon is getting stronger. My friends are doing their best to keep him from awakening, but even the Legendary Warriors are having trouble. So, will you all just sit here attacking each other, or will you help the rest of your world?"

"We will fight with you, Princess!" A voice cried out.

"Princess! Princess! Princess!" A cheer came over the crowd.

I held up my hands to silence them, "No. I am no longer the Princess. I am just a human. My name is Jade. Just because I can change into a Digimon doesn't mean that I can take the Princess's identity."

"I'm so glad to hear that. It isn't beautiful to pretend to be something you can never be." Crusadermon's voice startled me.

I looked up and saw that the pink Digimon and her counterpart were staring down at us.

Androwomon looked at me, "Who are they?"

"These are the Royal Knights! They are serving under Lucemon and collecting data. You all voiced your resolve to fight, will you show it to me now?" I called.

A cheer went up and the Digimon all began to attack.

Androwomon picked me up and dodged an attack that went astray. She brought me to the roof of a nearby building.

I smiled, "Thanks."

"So, what now?" She asked.

"Now, we fight," I said.

She raised her eyebrows, "Even after that big speech about them learning to fight on their own?"

"Well, I still think that I should fight to protect the Digital World. After all, that's the whole reason I was brought here," I said.

Androwomon nodded, "I see."

I pulled out my D-Tector, "Execute, Fusion Evolution! LadyBlackGatowomon!"

I opened my eyes in my digital form only to see hundreds of eggs flying into the air at once.

Crusadermon and Dynasmon were laughing as they watched the eggs float unsurely in the air.

"Poor things, they have nowhere to go now that we have destroyed the Village of Beginnings," Crusadermon said.

"You what?" I screeched.

Dynasmon smiled, "Did you think those pitiful Legendary Warriors could actually protect it?"

"Well, should we put these eggs out of their misery?" Crusadermon asked.

I flew right at her, "Wicked Claws!"

Instead of slashing the air in front of Crusadermon, I slashed her directly. She yelled out in frustration, but I just hurried into my second attack, "Darkness Noose!"

My belt wrapped around her. I knew that it would only trap her for a second, but a second was all I needed. I leaned to Crusadermon's neck, between her armor, "Poison Fang!"

I injected my lengthened fangs into her neck. She wrapped her arms around me, letting me take on all of her weight, "If I must go down, then we shall go down beautifully together. Like lovers committing suicide together."

I flapped my wings desperately against Crusadermon's added weight. If I could just hold on long enough, then Crusadermon would lose her grip and fall to the ground.

"Out of my way," Dynasmon shouted. I watched as he swatted Androwomon into the ground. He then proceeded to fly down to the broken fountain.

I could only watch as he began taking the data for Metro City from the now destroyed fountain.

"Slide Evolution! MachRenamon!" I watched as a mechanical fox Digimon flew straight at Dynasmon. The new Digimon pulled giant gun from her back, "Giga Cannon!"

MachRenamon fired two energy waves from the cannon, hitting Dynasmon directly.

As I was distracted, I didn't notice that I was slowly getting closer to the ground. Crusadermon's armor was dragging me down a lot. I tried to flap harder, but it was no use. I fell to the ground. Only then was Crusadermon finally knocked out. Unfortunately, the ground was disappearing quickly. I shook Crusadermon's arms off me and took to the skies. I spotted MachRenamon as she hit a building.

I flew down and caught her before she hit the ground. In my arms, I watched as she became Miyako once again. I swallowed, "Are you okay?"

She nodded, "But it looks like we couldn't save Metro City."

I looked around and saw that the ground was completely gone, leaving the few Digimon left huddling on the train tracks. I was happy to see that SaberLeomon had made it out okay, but MetalGarurumon hadn't been so lucky.

"Splashmon!" Miyako called out.

I flew over to her watery companion, leaving her in his arms.

"So, what now?" Miyako asked.

"I need to find my friends. What about you?" I asked.

Miyako shrugged, "I guess I'll head back home."

"You know, my friends would love to meet you. They would certainly welcome any help to fight against the Royal Knights and Lucemon," I said.

Miyako shook her head, "Sorry. That's not really my thing. I'm no hero. Plus, I have a long way to go before I will be able to stand proudly before you all."

"Alright. I guess I can understand that," I said.

"Hey Jade, do you think you could do me a favor?" Miyako asked.

I nodded, "Sure. What do you need?"

"Do you think you could keep my existence a secret? I wasn't supposed to be here. Not like you. After seeing what you can do, I realize that you really do belong here. Someone like you, who tries their best do the right thing, definitely belongs with the Legendary Warriors," She said.

"If that's what you want, then I won't tell anyone. I hope that one day you realize that you being here wasn't a mistake. Even though you might not be meant to fight, meeting you has made me remember that I am human. I am no Princess. I just stumble around trying to do what I can. You made me realize that it's okay to be like that. So, thank you," I said.

Miyako grinned, "No problem. After all, you taught me something too. Now, I should get going. Splashmon, could you turn into a Trailmon to take me home?"

Splashmon nodded, "Of course, my lady."

I watched as Splashmon transformed into a Trailmon before my eyes. He took the form of angler. Splashmon took off down the tracks, heading back to the human world.

"Princess—no, Jade, where are you going next?" SaberLeomon asked.

I looked down the tracks, "I need to find the other Legendary Warriors.

"It is said that only two places are left in the Digital World. There is the Autumn Leaf Fair and Ophanimon's Castle. Which of these places do you think they would go?" SaberLeomon asked.

"Let's go to the Autumn Leaf Fair," I said.

SaberLeomon looked up at me, "You should save your strength. If you turn back into a human, I will carry you on my back."

I nodded, "Thank you." I let myself fall out of my evolution. SaberLeomon let me onto his back and we set off for the Autumn Leaf Fair. I hoped that this would turn out better than the last time he had taken me someplace.

A/N: Well, what did you think? Reviews are welcome. Thanks for reading :)