Return of the Digital Princess

Chapter 3 Battle in the Mountains

Koji and Kiari were carefully walking along the narrow ledges of a mountain until they heard cries for help coming from a cave above them. They climbed up into the cave and saw some caged up female snail-like digimon called Karasukinumemon.

"Please help us! He kept us in here for a long time! Get us out of here before he comes back!"

Koji picked up a large rock and started slamming it onto the cage's lock to try to break it until the female Karasukinumemon screamed in terror. Koji looked back and saw Kiari in the clutches of a goblin-like digimon.

"Let me go you creep!" Koji tried to save her but ended up being thrown out of the cave. "Koji! Let me go! I have to help my friend!"

Kiari tried to free herself from the goblin digimon's grasp but wasn't strong enough as it pushed her into the cage with the female Karasukinumemon and locked it up.

"Your friend won't survive a fall like that. You might as well forget about him."

"Koji." Kiari went down on her knees with tears forming in her eyes as the goblin digimon as it dug into a wall of the cave. 'Please be okay, Koji. Please.'

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Meanwhile, Takuya and the gang were climbing up a rope ladder that was hanging off the side of the same mountain. Takuya was climbing above everyone else as he climbed into a building that was on sideways against the mountain before he was suddenly hit in the head.

"It's you." Takuya saw that the one who hit him was Koji, who was standing near the wall while using his foot for support to keep him from falling.

"You're the ones they found to help?" Koji looked down at the Karasukinumemon elder when it entered the house. "Don't team me up with those guys. They won't do you any good."

"What is your problem, Koji?!" Koji drew back the wooden kendo stick and shrugged. "What? You think you're better than us?"

"Can I help it that you're not up to my level?"

"Heroes please. Save the fighting for Grumblemon. Right now, you must eat and regain your strength."

After the elder said that, Takuya and the gang, minus Koji, became thrilled that they were going to eat and accidentally released their grip that kept them from falling to the side. They would've crashed into Koji if he didn't move out of the way.

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After a while, Takuya and the gang were eating a bunch of lettuce that tasted like different varieties of food while Koji was eating by himself and away from the others. Zoey realized something as she looked around and noticed that someone was missing.

"Hey guys, did any of you notice that we haven't seen Kiari since we got here?"

"Now that you've mentioned it, I don't think any of us has seen Kiari since we got here." Takuya looked back at Koji who about to take a bite of a lettuce but stopped after hearing Kiari's name. "Hey Koji, where's Kiari? Wasn't she traveling with you?"

"Grumblemon has taken her hostage." Takuya noticed his guilt expression on Koji's face, so he didn't say anything. "I wasn't able to save her because I let my guard down and had my back on her. Look, the only thing you're going to do is save Grumblemon's hostages, including Kiari. I'll fight against Grumblemon while you guys stay out of my way."

"Oh come on, Koji. We legendary warriors have to help each other out right?" For some reason the Karasukinumemon looked a terrified after JP said that. "Was it something I said?"

"No, no, it was nothing. You heroes should get some rest so you won't be tired during your fight with Grumblemon."

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That night, the digidestined were sleeping on a bed of leaves since they were unable to sleep on their beds that were on the wall. Everyone else was asleep except Koji since he was having a hard time sleeping, knowing that Kiari was in danger.

'If Grumblemon dares to lay a hand on Kiari, then he'll have to answer to me.' Koji turned on his side and started to fall asleep. 'Don't worry Kiari. Just wait until I save you from Grumblemon.'

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Kiari was sitting in the corner of the cage that Grumblemon locked her in as the female Karasukinumemon looked at her with concerned looks on their faces. She had zipped up her jacket to keep her warm since the air in the mountains was colder at night. She was looking down at the ground until she heard the cage door open. The female Karasukinumemon quickly moved to the back of the cage as Grumblemon approached Kiari.

"You coming with me to get hold of mountain fractal code." Grumblemon pulled Kiari up by the collar of Kiari's jacket and tied a rope around her to pin her arms to her sides. "Your friend seem to be alive. I bet he trade anything to get you back."

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The digidestined started to wake up and found themselves hanging off the side of the mountain. The Karasukinumemon accused them of being allies with Grumblemon as one of them held a short scythe near the rope holding JP. A cave was suddenly busted through the mountain at a small ledge before Grumblemon walked out of it holding a line of rope.

"You give me fractal code now." Grumblemon pulled the rope which pulled Kiari out of the cave. "If you want friend back, then you give me now."

"Koji!" Kiari was relieved to see that Koji was okay and walked up to him but was stopped by the rope. "I'm so glad you're okay, except the fact that you're hanging off the mountain. Why are you guys like that?" She looked up and saw Karasukinumemon holding a scythe too close to one the ropes. 'I have to help them. But first I have to get myself out of these ropes.' Without thinking, Kiari kicked Grumblemon on the knee but it didn't seem to affect him that much. 'I was hoping I could at least get some kind of reaction. Should have thought of a plan before acting.'

"You thought a weak kick could hurt me? I show you pain."

Grumblemon released the line of rope attached to rope around Kiari as he pulled out a large hammer. He swung his hammer down towards Kiari as the said girl quickly jumped out of the way. Grumblemon grabbed the line of rope and pulled on it, causing Kiari to fall forward onto her stomach. She quickly rolled out towards the side right before Grumblemon's hammer slammed onto the ground where she was before. Kiari quickly got up on her knees then on her feet as she quickly ran to dodge Grumblemon's hammer but didn't expect Grumblemon to slam his hammer against the ground and caused to part of the ledge she was standing on to break off. The only thing keeping Kiari from falling was the line of rope Grumblemon was holding.

"Kiari!"

Koji saw the scythe fall from where the Karasukinumemon were as he kicked off the mountain to swing himself towards the scythe. Grumblemon released the rope holding Kiari and sent her falling down the mountain. Right when the scythe had cut the ropes around him, Koji spirit-evolved into Lobomon grabbed Kiari before kicking off the air and landed into one of the houses. He took out his Lobo Kendo sword and cut the ropes around Kiari.

"You should be safe here, Kiari. Stay here until I come to get you."

"Okay." Lobomon jumped out of the house and went to fight Grumblemon. "I feel so useless. All I can do is put myself in danger." She looked out the window and saw Takuya and the others spirit-evolve into warriors. 'Looks like everyone has found their spirit but me. Maybe I'm not supposed to be here in the Digital World if I don't have a spirit." She shook her head and watched the battle happening outside. "No. I shouldn't think that. I just need to have faith in myself and my friends." At that time, Kiari's detector started to glow as she took out her detector and saw the screen glowing brightly. "What's this glowing? Could it be...my spirit?"