Intercepting the Scouts

"You're an idiot," Natalie said shaking her head. "But a sincere idiot I haven't seen any male cry openly like this. You need to toughen up war is war. That means neither side can trust the other lest they are led into a trap. That is why I was taking your brother hostage. For all I know you could bring back a regiment to try and take us down. I want to trust your word and even if you are sincere if you tell anyone else they may not be as sincere. Do you understand? I don't like it either but that is the way it is......bring me Ike since you are so adamant about it. However be back before sunset my father will get worried if we are gone for too long and not returned by then," Natalie stated with a sigh. "As for your brother it may not save the situation between us however I have to put myself first in this situation so I can return to my people and lead them."

Don closed his eyes feeling defeated as she refused to release him, Kaa couldn't believe it, she wouldn't budge from freeing Don. He closed his watering eyes tight and clenched his teeth, gripping tightly the sand in his palm. His word wasn't good enough, she was a warrior first. Just as Scomparsa raised there young to be, he'd need to save Don by doing something drastic...but what? "I get it....my word isn't good enough for you. I can't return without my brother...the three of us have to go back together...or things will be difficult. It's best we fool my army in thinking that you all really were just spies...it must go back as normal or I may not be able to bring you Ike."

Kaa stood up, "I'll trade you something for his release...." Kaa said, he looked at her "Information about my army?" Blake sat up shaking his head at Kaa. "I can give you our location...where we are right now..." Don looked at him, "Shut...up...Kaa! My...life is not.....worth.....the people!" Don gasped for air as Grey tightened his grip, "Silence second-born, the heirs are speaking...heh heh heh."

"If that isn't good enough....then..." Kaa turned his head away turning a slight red as his voice trailed off, "....I'll submit to you....be your slave even....or...toy as you put it...." Kaa looked back to her, "My honor is nothing compared to the lives of my family."

Grey began to laugh hardily, "Princess Natalie, this hatchling is clearly a fool. Is knowing such things really of such importance? Cole was clearly a spy, his son is probably no better. You should just ignore this request, let us kill them all and return to your father." Grey lifted his sword, threatening to run Don through.

"Stop! Stop! Stop! I'll Go! I'll Go! Just stop! Please! Don't kill him! I'll go...." Kaa yelled in a panic. He whimpered as Grey stopped looking at Kaa, "I'll go....." Kaa wept, "Then go hatchling prince. I will not stay my hand again." Grey warned.

Kaa closed his eyes and looked to Blake, "C....can you...walk?" He asked. Blake stood and nodded, he grabbed his jaw and lodged it back. "We will save you Don." Don shook his head, "They're going...to kill us.....anyway....don't....come back." Don spoke up.

Kaa turned, the droplets of water flying from the corner of his eyes and prepared to leave but could be stopped if he was called by Natalie. Don looked at her, "Guess...you really are.....just like....the rumors...." Don said. Grey clenched a fist and punched Don in his stomach. He coughed out blood as his stomach was hit and a steady stream ran from his open maw. Don would have vomit, had he anything in it. "Quiet second-born, a lower royal like you has no right to speak to an heir of Scomparsa." Grey said.

Don's eye twitched from the pain he was feeling, he took a deep breath to try and recover. "Princess...let us just kill them...this is all so pointless."

"I get it....my word isn't good enough for you. I can't return without my brother...the three of us have to go back together...or things will be difficult. It's best we fool my army in thinking that you all really were just spies...it must go back as normal or I may not be able to bring you Ike."



Kaa stood up, "I'll trade you something for his release...." Kaa said, he looked at her "Information about my army?" Natalie frowned. "I can give you our location...where we are right now..." Don looked at him, "Shut...up...Kaa! My...life is not.....worth.....the people!" Natalie stared at Kaa her tail swaying slowly in thought, "Silence second-born, the heirs are speaking...heh heh heh."



"If that isn't good enough....then..." She was listening, "....I'll submit to you....be your slave even....or...toy as you put it...." Kaa looked back to her, "My honor is nothing compared to the lives of my family."



Grey began to laugh hardily and she choked back her own. He was truly willing to go that far, "Princess Natalie, this hatchling is clearly a fool. Is knowing such things really of such importance? Cole was clearly a spy, his son is probably no better. You should just ignore this request, let us kill them all and return to your father." 


"Stop! Stop! Stop! I'll Go! I'll Go! Just stop! Please! Don't kill him! I'll go...." Kaa yelled in a panic. He whimpered as Grey stopped looking at Kaa, "I'll go....." Kaa wept, "Then go hatchling prince. I will not stay my hand again." Grey warned.



Natalie looked to Grey displeased with him a bit, "C....can you...walk?" He asked. Blake stood and nodded, he grabbed his jaw and lodged it back. "We will save you Don." Don shook his head, "They're going...to kill us.....anyway....don't....come back." Don spoke up.



"Guess...you really are.....just like....the rumors...." She scoffed at Don's taunt. "Quiet second-born, a lower royal like you has no right to speak to an heir of Scomparsa." Grey said.



"Princess...let us just kill them...this is all so pointless."


"Hold it Prince," Natalie called out to Kaa before he left their sight. "Release him Grey," she commanded. "We've made our point. Report to father how you will but he was willing to give up everything for family....if we can't trust love like that than we are heartless and soulless beasts no better than those of the Dark Area," Natalie held her head high as a noblewoman.

"I will hold you to your word however. Be back here by sunset or next time we meet I am making you a toy to be played with til you break and thrown away," Natalie said turning to walk away. If Grey continued to protest. "There is no honor in defeating a soldier who's already defeated. Drop it."

"Hold it Prince," Kaa stopped turning his puffed out eyes to gaze on her figure once more, "Release him Grey," Grey looked at her a moment then to Don, dropping him into the sand. He gasped for the air and coughed, holding his side. Don glared at Grey and Natalie, "We've made our point. Report to father how you will but he was willing to give up everything for family....if we can't trust love like that than we are heartless and soulless beasts no better than those of the Dark Area,"

Kaa nearly passed out with relief, feeling a bit dizzy from the flutter in his heart. "I will hold you to your word however. Be back here by sunset or next time we meet I am making you a toy to be played with til you break and thrown away," Kaa looked at her and nodded. Don began to move slowly with a limp walking past her, "Don't expect me to thank you." He said as he made his way to his brother and Blake. As soon as Don reached them Blake grabbed his shoulder, "You okay?" He asked.

"I am...or I will be." Don answered, "Here, let me help you. Lean against me." Don did as Blake offered, letting him be his crutch. Don looked at the Agumon who went into hiding nearby, "Come scouts." The Agumon quickly ran to them, "I'll return soon." Kaa turned and ignored the glare of his brother. They soon disappeared beyond the dunes, back to camp.

Grey sheathed his weapons and walked to her side, "This is a mistake..." he said looking to her, "There is no honor in defeating a soldier who's already defeated. Drop it." Grey turned his head away, "As you wish..." He said not saying another word of it.

"You needn't worry about my talking to your father, you'll likely kill the young prince...if he returns. That could have easily been a show you know...could any heir to a throne truly be so pathetic?" Grey said shaking his head.

Natalie did not want thanks from Don. The digimon was wounded and bleeding and could have died from her actions his hatred was well noted. It was only fair they didn't get along. Would the prince truly return however? A part of her hoped he was a man of his word and another believed the stories told to her.


"You needn't worry about my talking to your father, you'll likely kill the young prince...if he returns. That could have easily been a show you know...could any heir to a throne truly be so pathetic?"

"Pathetic indeed. He's much too soft and spoiled. He doesn't have the heart of a warrior.....which means the Corragians are weak. A hostage situation would be much better than simply killing him. If he was raised to be that weak his father may beg just as badly for him.....I'm sure my father would enjoy that," Natalie said in response. Her mouth in a tight lipped frown. She knew her father had a bit of a sadist streak in him but he wasn't evil.....

"Pathetic indeed. He's much too soft and spoiled. He doesn't have the heart of a warrior.....which means the Corragians are weak. A hostage situation would be much better than simply killing him. If he was raised to be that weak his father may beg just as badly for him.....I'm sure my father would enjoy that,"

Grey chuckled, "This war will end too quickly with warriors like that. Though...if their King is like his son, how could any of those stories be true? Their King is supposedly a destructive digimon bent on genocide of our nation. He fights like a demon so the rumors from Stall's guard have said." Grey stroked his chin in thought, "I think we may have been played...perhaps we should leave." Grey cautioned.

"This war will end too quickly with warriors like that. Though...if their King is like his son, how could any of those stories be true? Their King is supposedly a destructive digimon bent on genocide of our nation. He fights like a demon so the rumors from Stall's guard have said." Grey stroked his chin in thought, "I think we may have been played...perhaps we should leave." 

"We wait behind a dune. I'll go in alone and hear their story. I want you to keep eyes and ears out for any approaching troops.....We will retreat if needed. Call me a foolish child but a part of me wants to believe there is some good in their kingdom. After all i am not like my own father," Natalie said and started over one of the dunes.

(Return from Cora's Camp)

It was about an hour, and the sun had touched the dunes. Its light was fading as it started its decent out of sight to make room for the stars and moons. The temperature had cooled the desert sands and the chill of night was creeping in, Kaa and Ike had made their way to the blood stained battlefield Kaa had just left from.

There was just a moment now before they would reach the agreed upon meeting place, Kaa and Ike had slowed to a walk in the twilight light. "It shouldn't be much farther now..." Kaa said breaking an hours worth of silence between them. Kaa found it difficult to make conversation with Ike after practically forcing him to come. Maybe Don was right, maybe he was Kaa's prisoner. Kaa looked over to Ike and let out a sigh, his breath becoming visible in the cold air. "I'm sorry for what it's worth...you'll see that this was a risk worth taking."

Kaa looked back in front of him, concerns of an ambush lingering in the back of his head as Don had feared. A part of him felt that it wasn't Kaa who Don feared being ambushed but Ike. He turned his head to him, "You know Ike...I will do my best to keep you safe. We're just here to talk to her...I know Don wants what is best for you. You've been such a good friend to him. He isn't as close to Theos or Kemba so now that he finally has a close friend, I don't want to risk taking that away from him." Kaa said.

"Don has always been...difficult...to get along with. Females find him annoying and males are put off by him once they find out his sexuality. He has a really sucky way of talking and a poor attitude. I'm supposed to protect him and Ban...and I think this is one way too do it. Thanks for being there for him...where I can't be. I hope he finds a mate one day who treats him like you." Kaa gave a half smile, trying to put off the thoughts of what was to come from his head.

The smell of the previous battle whiffed through the air, they had nearly arrived. The princess and her guard could be anywhere.

"It shouldn't be much farther now..." Ike simply nodded in response wondering were their possible foes might be. "I'm sorry for what it's worth...you'll see that this was a risk worth taking."



Ike hoped so. It was not everyday one was dragged off to see the princess of a kingdom whom he had escaped. He truly hoped she was as trustworthy as Kaa said she was. Kaa trusted too easily....and he acted too rashly.

"You know Ike...I will do my best to keep you safe. We're just here to talk to her...I know Don wants what is best for you. You've been such a good friend to him. He isn't as close to Theos or Kemba so now that he finally has a close friend, I don't want to risk taking that away from him." Kaa said.



"Don has always been...difficult...to get along with. Females find him annoying and males are put off by him once they find out his sexuality. He has a really sucky way of talking and a poor attitude. I'm supposed to protect him and Ban...and I think this is one way too do it. Thanks for being there for him...where I can't be. I hope he finds a mate one day who treats him like you."


"Don tries," Ike responded. "He doesn't want you feeling guilty. So he does what you can not...it hurts him. To know one day you may hate him for it." Ike stopped there having given his peace.


Natalie waited impatiently her tail thumping the ground irritably after having the spine removed. It hurt to move it but it gave her something to focus on besides endless sandy boredom. Until she received the signal from Grey. She got up and started back to the center of their battlefield. Grey remaining out of sight and watching for incoming troops as she had commanded.

"It seems even Coraggian nobles keep their word," Natalie said standing there arms crossed. So this was the Scomparse princess Ike did think her pretty but her attitude was far from desirable.

"Don tries," Ike responded. "He doesn't want you feeling guilty. So he does what you can not...it hurts him. To know one day you may hate him for it." Ike stopped there having given his piece.

Kaa contemplated on those words, Don thinks that he'd hate him? Sure, he was livid with him right now but he wasn't capable of hating Don. Right? Kaa worried himself, to question his ability to love and hate...what was this war doing to him? To everyone? His thoughts were halted when he saw the princess arrive.

"It seems even Coraggian nobles keep their word," Kaa nodded, "I told you I would. You weren't wrong what you said earlier, us being played at. I saw it in your eyes, your solid belief that our kingdom is evil. That is why I've gone through all this trouble to try and convince you. Sparing us the way you did is further proof that you are the sole difference in your nation. This is Ike, son of Cole, a born citizen of Scomparsa. As you can see, he is just as I explained though he is clothed now. His age matches what Cole's son's age would have been, so you know that this isn't a trick. He will explain to you everything...the lie that has been told to you." Kaa looked at Ike.

"Tell her...everything you can about what Scomparsa is really like."

"I told you I would. You weren't wrong what you said earlier, us being played at. I saw it in your eyes, your solid belief that our kingdom is evil. That is why I've gone through all this trouble to try and convince you. Sparing us the way you did is further proof that you are the sole difference in your nation. This is Ike, son of Cole, a born citizen of Scomparsa. As you can see, he is just as I explained though he is clothed now. His age matches what Cole's son's age would have been, so you know that this isn't a trick. He will explain to you everything...the lie that has been told to you." Natalie looked to Ike doubtfully. Thousands of digimon were born each year it would make sense they could find one around the right age.



"Tell her...everything you can about what Scomparsa is really like."


Natalie's gaze unnerved Ike to a degree and he lowered his head. Giving her the respect he didn't doubt she was looking for from a servant. He disliked this even more now that he was here but he couldn't back out now.

"I was born to a wingdramon mother and Victorygreymon father. Our room was simple and in the servants quarters of the castle. I grew up in that room and sometimes outside when permitted. I was too young to be of any use as a servant so I had to avoid the nobles. Their glares when they did see me frightening although many ignored me altogether," Ike said looking at the sand it was oddly calming as he told his tale.

"The courtyard was massive and I often liked the small pond with flowering grasses. I couldn't get close to it unless it was really early in the morning though. It was too close to the cobblestones where the nobles walked so I couldn't be there during the day. 

"Once i was old enough I started to work hauling water or shoveling coal in the furnace for the cooks. Sometimes my father was free enough to take me out. He taught me how to skip stones and took me into the town teaching me to read the signs. Often times while we were out he would be beaten  by soldiers. Even when home it was not much better he would often come back bruised or bleeding by some nobles claw," Ike hated those memories the most. His father reassuring everything was alright. Sometimes his mother exploding and telling him it wasn't their arguing growing until the other slaves came in to threaten them with the guards. "He wasn't the only one and neither was I. No one was safe from a soldiers wrath or a nobleman's. The street urchins got it the worse and the homeless. One day they were there and the next they might not be. Vanished into thin air....killed for being worthless."

"Nobleman Francis was semi-kind to me. At least he never snuffed me and if whenever met me alone he'd smile a bit but continue on his way. It was Nobleman James that was the worst. Always drunk and throwing things at us servants. We were nothing more than slaves to him. It led to him....it led to him bedding my mother against her will one night. I remained hidden as that DinoRexmon took her then left. She was bleeding from multiple wounds from his claws and fangs as he drunkenly tried to claim her," Ike fell silent a moment.

"When my father returned his fury blossomed and he disappeared or the rest of the night. He killed James and in return they killed my mother. Hanged her because she 'was the last one to see him alive.' After that my father fell into despair. He continued the job for a few days preparing for us to leave. Then we ran.....we ran to his home to Coraggio. His duty was incomplete but he was unable to take it there anymore...not without my mother," Ike said his voice fading.

Natalie thought his story matched with his fathers. Wingdramon mother, check; the pond, check; Francis was a good nobleman. One of her favorites to be honest he had a sense of nobility unlike others. Unlike James whom she avoided at all cost. One meeting with him was all it took for her to hate his guts. She faintly remembered watching the hanging from one of her room windows.....it seemed to match. Though she could still be being played. She closed her eyes thinking on it.

"Your story is a sad one. One I will contemplate on for awhile. I will look at my own army with a scrutinizing eye for some of the noblemen are here to fight for glory and ranks. For now though I shall waste no more time. I must return to camp," Natalie stated turning on her heel without so much as a goodbye.

"Your story is a sad one. One I will contemplate on for awhile. I will look at my own army with a scrutinizing eye for some of the noblemen are here to fight for glory and ranks. For now though I shall waste no more time. I must return to camp,"

Kaa took a step forward, "Wait, what will you do? If you decide our words are truth? You shouldn't put yourself in harms way." Kaa said looking to her, she was hard to read. He couldn't tell what kind of impression that story had on her and whether or not she truly cared.

Still, he had to let her know that he really meant peace between them, "You don't have to answer now...but...I want you to know...I'll be your ally in this war. Your ally in Coraggio." Kaa knew that probably wouldn't go over well with Ike, such a thing could prove fatal. She could manipulate his friendship to cripple Coraggio. Kaa may be putting far too much trust in an enemy.

Kaa would wait a moment in case she decided to say anything, once she was gone he'd look to Ike. "I think that did it...I hope. If she sees the truth now, we may gain an ally in Scomparsa." He said turning to leave.

Grey stroked his chin from where he stood and waited until Natalie was near to him, "That hatchling...really believes his words. Do you think Dubal is capable of such things? Maybe Stall is manipulating him. If we report this to Dubal and Stall, we may be able to use the hatchling to our advantage. It's a glorious opportunity." Grey said.