The girl stood, watching as the Digital World erupted in flames around her. A red and gold spark singed her as she stood, unmoving. Her eyes were blank, and looked dead.
gAaaahh!h the high-pitched scream echoed around her, as people were burned alive.
gHurry! We must get her to safety!h a woman yelled to a man as they ran past the young child.
In the womanfs arms was a bundle of blue. A baby.
Suddenly she was picked up, and the person who was holding her yelled to the other two.
gWait! Please! Take mine too! She can protect the other child from harm!h
The woman stopped, her husband behind her, then she nodded.
Her husband grabbed the girl, and the two started to run again.
A sudden cry of attack and a blast sent the girl flying from the mans arms. She landed on the ground, and watched as the two were torn apart by a blue flame.
The babyfs screams echoed through the air, and the girl felt herself being lifted by something.
gPrincess! We must get you to the other--h the person who was holding her stopped. gWhat the hell?! Youfre not the princess!h The person then turned to the disappearing bodies of the Emperor and Empress, and the Princess.
gWellch the person swallowed. gI guess that changes thatch they looked down at the child, then said, gHere, child. Take this.h She placed something in the girlfs hand, and closed the small fingers around it. gMay all hope of the Crystal Kingdom be with you, and good luck.h The person tossed the child of about two into the air, and she was gone.
The girl collapsed next to a car wreck, and woke up with a sudden jolt. She looked around, then saw the two cars.
One was a purple car. No longer was it purple. It was now starched and burned. In fact, there were still some flames from when the two cars had collided. The other one had been red.
Blood pooled around the two cars. But, it had dried to the pavement.
The blonde cocked her head sideways, hearing sirens wailing in the distance. Suddenly, lights began to flash, and the sirens grew louder until they were almost defining.
Soon, men and women were rushing around her, trying to put out the flames of the two cars. They were too late to get most of them. The girl stood, hardly even noticed. Suddenly, she was grabbed by the waist, and rushed over to an ambulance.
gThis one survived. Give her medical treatment ASAP.h The man said, handing her over to a woman.
The woman had dark hair, and was smiling down at her. gDonft worry. Everything will be fine honey.h
The girl just ignored her as she was placed into the ambulance, and driven awayc
Alana jolted upward, and screamed. Her brow was wet with sweat, and she was breathing hard.
gWhatfs wrong?h came Horkamonfs groggy voice from her right.
gWhych Alana began, her voice shaky, gWhy for all these years did I forget thatc? And, why do I remember it now?h
gWhat?h Horkamon asked.
Alana lowered her head, and closed her eyes. She took in a few shuddering breaths, then spoke, "Nothing. Never mind.h
gOk. Gfnight.h The Digimon fell over, and was back asleep with in seconds.
Alana, however, stood up, and walked to the edge of camp. Little did she know that Umi was watching her closely.
So, she has finally remembered what really happened to the Royal family of the Crystal Kingdom, Umi frowned, but did nothing. I hope Kurt didnft make her remember. One should remember by chance, not by purpose.
Alana felt her mind racing. Why? What happened then? Was it my fault the princess died? Was she reborn? Is Felina the princess then? Or am I?
Suddenly, something nearby began to glow a silver color.
gHuh?h Alana stood up, and walked over to the glowing thing. She had to push some under-brush aside, but when all was clear, she saw a
silver orb, about as big as her hand. She reached out to touch it, and when her gloved finger came in contact with it, she closed her eyes, and felt something wash over her.
She saw them. All of them. Every detail was done so clearly, it were as though she was there, watching.
People walked about the silver halls, going about their business. She began to walk too, but then she stopped, and looked at the perfection of the walls.
This is no place for a person like me. She thought. I must leave. I recline as the princess.
Her thoughts stopped everyone in the castle.
The nearest maid turned slowly and looked at her.
gYou canft be serious, mafam. For, you are the only heir to our throne.h
gLet her have it! I wonft do any good here!h the girl pointed toward a black hared girl. The girl had the mark of a Crest etched into her forehead.
The maid laughed. gJudi canft even keep the wash from touching the floor! How could she rule our perfect kingdom?h
The dark hared girl bowed her head in shame.
gYou just wait! You think nothing will happen to this palace?! You are blinded by your greed!h the girl turned and ran out of the castle.
The scene faded out to white, then faded into the present.
Alana pulled her hand away from the orb, and blinked. gBut, I couldnft have been therecit was too long agoch
gYou were right, though,h a voice said. Umi stepped out from the trees.
gWhat do you mean?h Alana snapped.
gAbout the greed, I mean. It did lead them to their destruction. But, a millennium or so later, the kingdom was rebuilt, and you were born again. Then it was destroyed, again. And you were sent to earth by chance. And, tonight, you remembered all, just by chance.h
gWhat are you talking about?h Alana asked in her hard tone, standing up.
gI am one of the four Council. I am known as Righteousness, the holder of Justice, in a way. I did not make you remember, nor did Fate. It just happened by Chance.h
gHuh?h
gYou are the Empress, by chance, but not by blood.h
gThen, who is?h
gThe one you call Felina. She was the baby in that blanket.h
gButcI saw her die. And, shefs older then me. Howfs she the Empress?h
gShe was born a three years before you came to earth.h
gButch
gTime is not the matter. Well, at least not in the way you think it. Felina was born on earth directly after she died here in the Digital World, but on earth, it was three years before shefd died here, understand?h
Alana nodded. gYea. But, why?h
gWhy what?h
gWhy is it that I tried to decline my birth to the throne?h
Umi smiled slightly. gYou are as you were then, onlycthen you were ordered to wear a dress. Now, though, I think youfd rather die then wear one.h
Alana nodded. gYou got that right. But, if I was born first as the princess, and Felinafs the princess, then who really is? And, does that make me, in a sense, her distant relative?h
gNo and yes. And the princess is whoever chance chooses.h
gHuh?h
gBy blood, youfre like a sister to her, but when you left the kingdom after reclining, Judi became the ruler.h
gBut that had to have been over a millennium ago! How come she doesnft look older then she is?h
gBecause, she found a way to preserve herself until now. She was cocooned until now.h
gFor how long?h
gFrom just after the first fall of the Crystal Kingdom to now.h
gWhat happened to the Crystal Kingdom? Why did it fall?h
gYou shall find out soon enough.h
gBut, why did Judi want to live until now with out aging?h
Umi looked directly at Alana. gShe will never forget the child that showed her kindness when others showed her anger.h
gWhatfs that supposed to mean?h
gYou must look into the past, when you first said youfd decline. What did the maid say about Judi ruling?h
Alana blinked, then went into thought. gThat she couldnft even keep the cloths off the floorcthen she said that Judi could never rule.h
gExactly. You may not know it, but you were the first to ever show her how kind people can be.h
gThen why is she trying to kill us?!h Alana raged.
gShe wishes not to be told such things again, and she figures that in the darkness alone, can she finally be let alone.h
gHuh?h
gShe wants darkness to cover the world so she can live out the rest of her life happy.h
gOh. But, why is she trying to kill me if she waited all these years to see me?h
gShe doesnft know you are the same girl. The other girl that you were had bronze eyes.h
gAh. I see.h
gAlana,h Umi said.
gHm?h
gThe orb?h
gWhat about it?h
gItfs gone.h
Alana turned to see where the orb had lay, and indeed, it was gone. gOh.h
Umi closed her eyes, and seemed to be searching for something. Then she spoke. gJudi has it.h
gWhat? Why?h
gShecshe wishes to find out about the childcshe wasnft watching us until now. She knows!h
gKnows what?h
gThat the Council still lives! Alana! I must leave you! Good by, and good luck!h suddenly, the brunet and her Digimon were gone.
Judi had stopped watching the battle, and was now pacing around the center of the room, her eyes locked on the orb and the stand on which it was. Her eyes were narrowed.
gSo, the Council of Four still livescand, Righteousness, who was that with you? She looks familiar, yet I only know her as Saturnfs Daughter.h
The orb seemed to be alive to her, which was why it didnft answer she walked up to it and lightly placed her hand on it.
Memories went rushing through her mind as her life was rewound to the very moment when the girl declined being the princess.
The girl had begun to walk, but stopped suddenly. I watched with minor interest as she looked at the walls. She was dressed in white, and her gold hair was up in two tails on each side of her head, and a small bun on the back. Each was wound in pearls.
This is no place for a person like me. She thought. I must leave. I recline as the princess.
I watched as everyone stopped what they had been doing.
Then a maid nearby spoke to her. The words were unclear, but when the princess spoke about me, and pointed, the maid laughed, and said something cruel to me. I felt both hurt and enraged at her.
But the princess seemed to stand up for me, even if I couldnft understand what she was saying.
At that moment, I felt my heart clench. Did she know what it was like to be shunned? No. Of course not. She was the princess.
Then she turned and left.
When she didnft come back after the Emperor and his wife had died, I was given the right to rule. And I had become so caught up in what I wanted, Ifd forgotten the one whofd shown me kindness.
Fade out to black, and fade in to present scene.
Judi pulled her hand away, much like Alana had. Her eyes looked empty, and seemed to hold no life.
Zach and Jessica burst into the chamber, followed by their Digimon in their In-Training forms.
gMistress! They are too powerful! They defeated us!h Zach yelled, and Jessica nodded grimly.
Judi ignored them.
gMistress!h
Judi blinked, and her eyes became filled with coldness again. gLeave me. NOW!h
gYes,h Zach said, then backed out of the room followed by Jessica.
Judi blinked, then turned to the orb. gYou lie.h She hissed. gNo one has ever shown me that way of life.h
The orb spoke no reply.
She hissed again, and swung her arm around, knocking it to the floor, where it shattered.
She left the room with a single flip of her black cape.
Tai and the other cheered as the Digimon de-DigiVolved into their In-Training forms.
gWe beat them!h Tai yelled. Koromon was cheering too, and jumped into his arms.
The others yelled and cheered as they ran about.
Felina actually hugged Matt.
gWe won!h she yelled.
Matt was slightly red, but nodded. gYup!h
gI canft believe itch Keekomon sighed. gI was just in this formcI had just DigiVolvedch
Mikagemon jumped into Kylefs arms, and grinned, but Kyle was looking over at the trees.
gKyle?h
gSomethingfs not right,h he turned to see Nansui looking the same direction as he. The suddenly, she and Konfnanmon began to walk away.
Kyle ran up behind her, and grabbed her arm. "What the fuck was that?h
gWhat?h she asked.
gI felt something, and you did too.h
gAlanafs coming back, right now. She should be here soon, at the speed shefs running. Why?h
gNo. It was something else. I felt something break.h
gIt was the Orb of No Lies. The child broke it.h
gWho?h
gThe one you call the Darkness.h
Kyle let the girls arm go. gI know who you are now!h
gWho am I?h
gI remember from a book, or something that there was a Council that held the DigiWorld in balance. Youfre one of the four, arenft you?h
Nansui nodded. gYou are correct. I am Holder of Hardship. I see what will be, and what was. I must go now. She knows we live.h
Kyle nodded grimly. gAll right.h
The girl smiled, then suddenly, she kissed him.
Kyle was shocked, but soon found himself kissing her back.
When she pulled away, however, he looked confused. gWhat? Huh?h
gI had to. And, no. Alana wonft find out.h She winked, turned and ran into the forest, Konfnanmon right behind her.
Alana ran as fast as she could. After about twenty minutes, she burst into the clearing where all the Digimon and DigiDestened were at. They had calmed down, and were talking to each other.
When Kyle saw her, he smiled and walked over to her.
He was about to say something when Alana went over to Matt.
gWhat happened?h she growled.
Matt turned and looked at her. He blinked, then said, gWhy are you asking me?h
gBecause I am. Now, what happened?h
gListen, we got into a fight with those kids, Jessica and the other boy, and we won,h he said.
Alana spotted Felina, and blinked. gHuh?h
gLetfs just say I had help from Fate,h Felina said, not wanting to go into detail.
Alana nodded.
Nathan smirked, then stood up. gIs Mimicmon with you?h
Suddenly, Mimicmon and Horkamon burst into the clearing, both breathing hard.
gYea, hefs here.h
Nathan nodded.
gNathan?h
gYea?h
gFelinafs the lost Princess of this world.h
gBut, I thought you were?h
gNo. I died.h
