Runaway Chapter 2

Dr.M

Disclaimer: I don't own Digimon.

Prince Ryo and his squire Kazu were in the forest searching for Princess Rika during the night.

"Man, we've been searching for hours and there's no sign of where she is." Kazu said.

"At least we have a clue." Ryo said. "One of the castle's horses went missing on the same night the princess was. We might be able to find her if we find it."

Rika awoke early morning and found that everyone else was up and ready for breakfast. She went to the table and found half a loaf of bread there. Takato broke it off into four pieces and gave one to Suzy, another to Jeri, and another to Rika. He broke the last piece in half and gave one piece to and the last to himself Henry. Rika broke off half of her piece and gave it to Jeri.

"Here." She said. "You need it to get better."

"Thank you Rena." Jeri said and then coughed after.

"Amazing." Rika thought to herself. "This meal is bite sized compared to the palace, but everyone's happy. Especially Jeri, even when she knows about how bad her illness is."

After breakfast, the guys went to work while Jeri and Suzy stayed home. After Takato went to the bakery he was working at, Rika followed Henry to his work place. She spotted a place that looked like a training area for knights.

"Are you training to become a knight?" Rika asked.

"No, I'm trying to reach the rank of squire because I'm not of noble birth." Henry answered.

"I see."

Meanwhile, the King of Drenvock got word of Princess Rika's departure. He set out some of his best knights to find her. But one of them gave him a report about what happened two nights ago.

"Your highness." He said. "I think we may have spotted her."

"Where?" The king asked.

"The other night, a mysterious person came to the village. We assumed she was a spy and shot at him or her. During the assault, a shadow like figure took the person away."

"That figure must have been a Digimon, but only one royalty has Digimon. Tell me, was that person riding a horse?"

"Yes, a dead horse was the only thing we found."

"You idiot, that must have been the princess! If she's dead, I'll have your heads for this."

"Yes sir." The knight said as his entire troop went out to search the village.

Rika watched as Henry used a staff to duel with another guy who was training to be a squire. Their staffs clanged and sometimes, one or the other would kick his opponent guy away. The two continued to use the sticks until one guy struck Henry's hand and made him drop his stick. The other guy held his stick toward Henry, signaling that the match was over.

"Guess I still need more training." Henry said.

"You were still pretty good." Rika said. "You'd be a great squire right now."

"Thanks Rena."

Ryo and Kazu continued their search for Rika in the forest and were getting very close to Drenvock. Ryo noticed something in the distance, he climbed off his horse, and ran towards it.

"What is it?" Kazu shouted as he caught up with Prince Ryo. Ryo removed some bushes in the way and found a dead horse. It was laying on its side with some arrows sticking out on it.

"What happened?" Kazu asked the prince.

"I think the Princess has been kidnaped." Ryo said to his squire. "We need to enter Drenvock and inform the King about it."

Back at the orphanage, Jeri had left the place and went to a flower field to enjoy the sun and fresh air. When Takato heard that she had left, he was greatly disturbed and left to search for her. After a while, he found her laying in the field and looking at the sky.

"There you are." Takato said. "I can't believe that you left Jeri! What if something bad happened to you."

"I'll be fine Takato." She said. "It's just that it's so tough not being able to go outdoors."

"I think I understand."

"It's just that if I die, I'd want to see the sun, and the sky, and everything else in the world."

"Don't talk like that! You will get better!"

"I can't get my hopes up Takato, I just haven't been able to get enough food."

"I will get some more." Takato said. "I promise."

Both Ryo and Kazu planned to go to the king of Drenvock to talk to him about Princess Rika. Ryo explained his title and was welcomed in. All the peasants gathered around the road to see the prince. Rika was shocked when she heard the name Prince Ryo. The two had met two years ago, and she was sure that he'd blow her cover the second he saw her. So she hid in the hut of the orphanage and waited until he left. She ran upstairs and spotted Jeri looking out the window.

"Why aren't you outside with the others watching the prince Rena?" Jeri asked her. Then Jeri started coughing.

"Royalty isn't something I'm into." Rika said.

"I can't believe you're not into it." Jeri said. "It's been a dream of mine to be a princess in a large castle."

After Ryo went into the castle, he and Kazu approached the king of Drenvock to tell him about what he discovered. The two entered and bowed to the king.

"Your majesty." Ryo said. "I've come here to tell you that I think Princess Rika might be here, and she's been kidnaped." The king started thinking about that. He knew a war could break out if he said that his men attacked her.

"I see." The king said. "I'll send some men out to help you find her."

"Thank you." Prince Ryo said as he bowed again.

Night came and Rika left the orphanage for a while to meet up with Renamon. She went into the forest and spotted her Digimon waiting for her.

"So how are you doing?" Renamon asked.

"Fine." She said. "But it's so sad being at the orphanage. These people really need money and food. Yet, they all make me happy because they are happy."

"That seems very confusing Rika."

"Or is it truth, I had it all and I was never happy. Excuse me Renamon, but I need to be alone."

"Ok." But what the two didn't know was that they were being watched.

Rika walked back to the orphanage and found Henry outside training.

"Your sword play is getting better." Rika said.

"Thanks." Henry said. "So why are you up Rena?"

"I couldn't get to sleep, so I decided to take a walk."

"I see. It's a good idea to be careful, a lot of thieves strike at night."

"Well I'm done any way so I'll go back inside."

"Ok, good night."

The man that spotted Rika and Renamon went back to the king to tell him where she was.

"So she is here." He said. "Find out where she's hiding."

"Yes your highness." The scout said.

The next day, the scout was searching around the village and he noticed Rika at the orphanage with the other children. He went back to the king to give him the report.

"Your highness." The Scout said. "The princess is hiding in what looks like an orphanage. I identified only two of the children. One of them has brown, bushy hair and lavender eyes. And the third has blue hair and brown eyes He has darker skin then the others."

"Wait." The King thought. "Could he be the one?"

"Let me see the boy." He said to his scout. "And tell Prince Ryo about it, we need his help. I fear he might be a certain kidnapper."

"If it is him, I can finally have him out of the way." The King thought.

The king, Prince Ryo, Kazu, and some Drenvock soldiers approached the orphanage. Takato and Henry were outside bringing some more bread for Jeri.

"Yes, it is him, now to get rid of the final person in my way." The king thought. Then he spoke out loud. "I was right. That boy Henry is a criminal to our palace. No doubt he kidnaped Princess Rika."

"I think you're right, I see her." Ryo said as he pointed to Rika, who was just walking out of the hut.

"We must get them now. Soldiers attack!" The king commanded. Then the soldiers ran into the hut. Everyone was shocked at their entrance. Then one of them grabbed Henry.

"What are you doing?" Suzy asked. "We haven't done anything to you."

"This boy is a kidnaper, we have orders from the king to take him in."

"But my brother's not a kidnaper." After that Prince Ryo entered and spotted Rika.

"Princess Rika, we've finally found you. Are you hurt?" Ryo said.

"What are you talking about?" Takato asked. "Her name is Rena." Rika, having no way out of this, decided to confess.

"I am princess Rika." She said. "I didn't want anyone to find me here..."

"Because that boy told her to or else he'd kill her." Kazu said.

"No..."

"Enough, take him away." The King of Drenvock commanded. "Prince Ryo, I want you to escort the princess home."

"Yes your highness." Ryo said. The others watched in horror as Henry is taken away by the guards. Rika had no choice but to go with Prince Ryo.

To Be Continued.

A/N: Don't miss the next chapter to find out the King of Drenvock's true intentions with Henry.