Hey, this is an AU universe of the wings of fire series. Ranko Ketchum asked for this, so here it is. Also this will a crossover with digimon season two instead of a strait monster rancher story.

Warning: The beginning of the fic is the same for some of it; but areas are different.

When the Cat Strikes

By Firehedgehog

Chapter One: falling from the sky

      "Yeah, it's a beautiful day," a dark haired eleven year old cheered, this boy was no other then Genki a boy from another world and like his name he was filled with energy. He wore an orange-brown hat worn backwards; a white T-shirt that looked like it had seen better days, loose brown shorts and brown shoes common to this world.

      "Must you be so cheerful this early," a sleep filled voice complained, Genki turned and grinned at the owner of the voice. It was Hare a rabbit like monster that loved money, but since joining their group in search of the Phoenix his greed had gotten less.

      "You're just grumpy because your breakfast was cold, I warned you that you should have gotten up earlier," another male voice said, Tiger better known as Tiger of the wind smirked as Hare bristled in anger. Tiger looked like a large blue and white wolf with horns, he was once a thief but was learning to trust and not to steal things.

      "Stop it you two, its too early to fight," a brown haired teen said, this was Holly a girl around fifteen years old. Around her neck she wore a necklace that a strange pendant rested on, it was the magic stone that led them actually.

      "Fine," Hare grumbled, Genki laughed cheerfully as the two began their usual staring contest.

      "Silly, chi," a child's voice said, at his side a small bird like creature stood that was slightly pink in color. His name was Moochi; he had been in the disk that Genki had first brought to this strange world.

      'Some things never change' he thought smiling, he then watched in amusement as Golum a huge rock monster tried to stop the staring contest. Nearby a yellow monster with a huge eyeball laughed at the others antics, this was Sweazo Holly's oldest friend... and also a pain in the butt a lot.

      "Stop fooling around, we should get going," Holly said with a sigh, everyone stopped what they were doing and nodded.

      "Yeah, let's go find the Phoenix," Genki cheered, everyone smiled at how energetic he was while Holly pulled out the magic stone.

      Slowly it began to glow as she concentrated her mind on it, Genki watched as an image of a fiery bird appeared briefly before turning into an arrow. He had seen this many times and it never ceased to amaze him, every time it would lead them to new adventures and new friends.

      'Thinking of friends, I wonder how Pixie and Big Blue are doing' he thought, in his mind he could just see the two ex-baddies.

      "Hey, Genki hurry up," a voice shouted, the small boy blushed slightly realizing that while his thoughts drifted the others had gotten ahead of him.

      "Hey wait up," he called, smiling he ran to catch up with his friends.

***

      Genki sighed in relief when they stopped to rest for the night; they had walked all day stopping for brief rests and lunch. He was tired and so was everyone else, they had all eaten a small supper not really hungry.

      'Strange, usually I'm not this tired' he thought with a yawn, finally he pulled out his blankets and crawling inside them fell deep asleep.

***

      Genki dreamed. He found himself resting on something white and it reminded him of cotton candy. Curious he moved enough to look over the edge, his dark brown eyes widened seeing the ground miles below.

      'Okay, so I'm on a cloud' he thought, it was at that moment the cloud became like a real cloud and he began to fall.

      "Ah," he screamed, he really hoped that he would wake up before hitting the ground... wasn't there a theory that if you died in a dream you died in real life.

      Yet suddenly something flew under him and it was huge, he landed on it and found himself on the neck of a huge bird. Fiery sparks flowed around the huge creature; he didn't know this creature. Yet something inside him said he had known this creature all his life, like he had carried its warmth next to his heart... keeping it safe.

      "Who are you?" he asked this so familiar yet unfamiliar creature, it gave

a great cry that seem to cry something important.

***

      With a soft gasp Genki woke up, he whipped cold sweat off his face. Looking around he noticed that everyone was sound asleep and hadn't woken up because of him.

      'What a strange dream, what kind of bird could that of been' he thought with a frown, he placed a hand over his heart. For a second their warmth spread through his body, as if something or someone was trying to comfort him.

      He shook that feeling away; he must be very tired if he was feeling things that weren't happening. With that he fell asleep.

      What he didn't know was that everything was about to change for him.

____________________________________________________________________________

Chapter Two: Capture

      A tired group walked the next morning; everyone was still tired from yesterdays walking and even Genki seemed less energetic. To tell the truth the brown haired boy wasn't feeling so well, once he had gone back to sleep he had kept on dreaming of falling and fire.

       Genki yawned and stretched his body wishing that everything would feel like normal soon... that meant up to his normal energetic speed.

      "Are you okay Genki?" someone suddenly asked, Genki blinked and looked at the speaker. It was Tiger who had noticed that the usually energetic boy was looking more tired then he should, Genki forced a smile on his face and knew that the monster thought it was real.

      "I'm fine Tiger, just had a few weird dreams so didn't sleep well," he said, he yawned as if to prove it.

      "Is that all, we better take a few more breaks then normal then," Tiger said and Genki nodded, with more breaks he could rest and gather more energy... and hopefully wake up faster.

***

      "Is that him," a voice asked.

      "Yes, it is him... I told you that ten minutes ago," a second said, the first grumbled and readied to fight the second.

      "Stop it you two, if you fight they'll notice us before we can enact our plan," a third more athorative voice said, the two others grumbled but agreed.

***

      With a happy sigh Genki sat down, it was lunchtime and he was starting to feel like his normal self again. His energy levels were up (at what most people called reactor of the sun level) and he was cheerful again, a little to cheerful for some people though.

      Happily he bit into an apple that Holly passed him, its sweet juice entered his mouth refreshing him greatly. Once done he lay back on some soft moss and looked at the sky, it was such a beautiful day and he wanted to enjoy it to the fullest.

      "Hmmm... we have enough money for provisions in the next village, but by my calculations we really must get more money before we leave the village or get to the next one at least," hare said, in his paws was the appicus (is that what its called, I never can remember) and he was moving beads as he looked over there money supply.

      "Don't worry Hare, I'm sure we'll find away to make money when we get there... maybe a few jobs we could do," Holly said thoughtfully, Tiger gave a sniff not liking the idea of working so hard for money (something that still carried over as his days as a thief).

      "Tiger... really, we can't steal things like you want... we'd be as bad as the baddies," Hare yelled eyes flashing angrily, Tiger leapt up growling.

      "Not again." Holly sighed; once again the two were fighting so everyone settled down knowing they'd be here awhile.

***

      "Now is the perfect time," the first voice said.

      "Yes, now is the time," the second said, silence lasted for a few moments before they began to move in to attack the small group.

***

      Genki yawned as he leaned against a tree his cap hiding his face from the sun; Tiger and hare were still fighting so he could rest. He could feel himself falling asleep, if something didn't happen soon he would be in dreamland.

      'Strange, in the beginning this world was just a game I played... now its real and fighting real evil' Genki thought with a soft smile, it was one of his rare true smiles that even the others never saw.

      Sure they saw his energetic smiles, but there was just something so right about this certain smile that seemed magical.

      It was at that moment a sound filled the air, startled Genki and the others jumped up to see what was the matter. At first they saw nothing, but then suddenly something hit the ground in the middle of them.

      "Looks like a metal capsule of some type," Hare said walking over to it,

Tiger sniffed the air.

      "Something about it doesn't smell right," Tiger growled, their answers to what it was were soon answered as a sweet smelling gas soon started pouring out of it.

      "It's dazzle gas," Hare yelled in warning, quickly they all started running from the out pouring gas but it quickly surrounded them... soon none of them could see each other.

      "Tiger... Hare," Genki called in a slightly worried voice, this gas was causing him to feel quite dizzy and was making him cough heavily.

      "Genki hold still, I'll be right there!" he heard a voice call, he sighed in relief recognizing it to belonging to Tiger.

      "Not now young one," an unfamiliar voice suddenly whispered, startled Genki spun around yet saw nothing but a strangely shaped form... a monster of some type.

      "Who are you?" he asked backing away, he never got to hear his answer as something hard hit him on the back of his head... sending him into darkness.

***

      "Mission complete," the first voice said, the others sighed in relief.

      "Good, glad that's over," the second said.

      "Its not over yet, we still have to get back to base before the boys friends track us down," the third said, with that in mind the three set out with a certain brown haired boy in there grasp.

____________________________________________________________________________

Chapter Three: By my heart you rest

      "Genki," Holly called, for the last four hours their group had been searching for their friend. Sure he could be annoying at times but he was a true friend, his loyalty was true to them... that was something so rare on their world.

      "When I find whoever took Genki I'll rip them apart, no one kidnaps one of my friends," Tiger growled angrily, he was so angry that his hackles were up making him look larger them normal and electricity fizzed around his horns.

      "Calm down Tiger, we all want to find him," Hare said, Tiger growled and ran out of view looking for the young human boy.

      "I hope he's alright," Holly said with sad eyes, in her life she had lost her whole village to evil... she didn't want to loose another friend to it.

      "Chi," Moochi agreed sadly, the small monster had a down trodden look on his normally cheerful face.

      'Genki, please be all right' she thought, a tear slipped down her face at the thought of loosing the young boy that had brought new light into her life.

***

      Genki felt himself slowly coming back to reality, his head felt as if a jack hammer had been pounding against it.

      'What happened, the last thing I remember is that gas and that weird shadow' he thought, with a groan he opened his eyes.

      "He's awake," a voice said excitedly, Genki blinked and had to blink again. Standing above his body were three monsters, monsters that looked like beautiful humanoid dragons to be exact.

      The one that had spoken had orange scales covering his body; he had amber eyes and wore cool leather armor over the rest of his body.

      "I noticed that," the second one said in a tired voice, this one had purple scales, blue eyes and the same type as armor as the first.

      The third was the largest of the three probably six feet tall; he had silver scales and large very intelligent gold eyes. He wore the same armor as the other two but his seemed to say he was more important, Genki looked at them confused.

      "What's going on, let me go!" he said and he tried to get up, his eyes widened when he now realized that he was strapped to a stone floor that looked like it had held fire on it many times.

      "We cannot do that young one, what you hold within yourself is too important to let you go," the third said, Genki bit his bottom lip having the feeling that even if he screamed for help no one would hear.

      "What are you talking about, who are you three?" Genki said, he felt panic building up inside him. What did these three nut balls mean by that, they were insane.

      "I am Hoshi," the third one said, weird name because it translated to star.

      "My name is Tatsu," the second said, his name meant dragon in a way.

      "And I am Hikari," the third said, Genki remembered that word meant light... but why did these three have names that came from his world and from Japan... everyone here spoke English.

      "We are the Draconia," they said together, it was then that Hoshi held up a lit torch.

      "What are you planning to do with that?" he asked in a panicked, it was then that his nose caught a strange smell... something that was probably very flammable.

      "This," Hoshi said and he dropped the torch beside Genki, fire filled the air around the young human boy... and then he screamed as pain over whelmed him and everything began to burn.

***

      Genki burned, he was burning in what seemed an everlasting hell. His throat was raw from screaming in pain, he knew he should be dead now from the fire... but he wasn't.

      He couldn't move now because of what the fire had done to him; he could still feel the pain though.

      'Never thought I'd die like this' he thought, he would have cried but the fire and his terrible injuries prevented him.

      'I'm alone' he thought, what had he done to deserve death in such a long and gruesome way.

      But you are not alone a new voice suddenly said, startled Genki blinked his dried eyes and coughed weakly.

      (Who are you?) he thought back, suddenly he felt as if he was surrounded by something so familiar... but he couldn't place it.

      Something that has always been with you and by your heart, Genki I have watched you grow up since you were born the voice said, Genki closed his eyes and felt as if he was drifting closer to the owner of that kind voice.

      (How come I didn't know about you, what are you by the way?) He asked, there was a flash of light and Genki found himself floating in a plain of his mind.

      There was no need and it was to protect Genki, but now is the time to reveal myself the voice said, suddenly fire appeared in front of him and took form.

      (The Phoenix) he gasped, indeed in front of him floated the great bird...

Boos enemy they had all been looking for.

      Yes, after that great battle my soul was separated from my body. I floated for a very long time till I came upon your mother who was about to give birth, I his inside your body knowing that fate would lead you to the monster world the Phoenix said, this explained... some.

      (Okay that explains something's Phoenix, but why the hell am I being burned alive?) He asked, he knew it was rude... but wouldn't you be rude if you were being burned to death.

      Somehow the Draconia found that my soul rested in your body, they wish to free me from your body. But they are doing it the wrong way, only your courage at the right time can return my spirit and soul into my body the Phoenix said, Genki bit his bottom lip.

      (I'm going to die aren't I?) He asked, the silence answered that question.

      Yes, but there is way to save you. I can use the power I have to place your body into a monster disk I shall create, that means if released you will be a monster but I will make you very humanoid and as close to your old form as possible... will you accept? the Phoenix asked, Genki took a deep breath... kind of weird considering he was in his mind.

      (How do we do this, me become a monster... and what about you?) he asked curious, the Phoenix floated to him and surrounded him with his huge flame like wings.

      When your body is destroyed I will appear in spirit form in real time, the Draconia must be destroyed for I will not have innocence destroyed. Then I will take your spirit and create a disk for it, then I will trap my soul in another disk Phoenix whispered Also I will tell your friends what has happened, they can unlock you and help you get use to your new form

      (Thank you) Genki whispered.

***

      In the real world the fire suddenly turned white, the three Draconia looked at it in awe. After thousands of years their task was born, they had brought the Phoenix back... even if they had to destroy a young child's life to do it.

      They wondered what the Phoenix would like it; it had been hiding in a human body. So most likely it would be more humanoid then avian.

      Watching in awe the fire flared and they had to cover their eyes from the bright light it caused, when they could look again they quickly fell to the ground in awe.

      "Welcome great one, we greet you great Phoenix," Hoshi praised, the Phoenix had finally returned to their dimension. In front of them floated a ghostly fiery bird, it looked at them with hard eyes... but that hardness had to be their imagination.

      "Draconia, you have destroyed innocence... now it is time for you to pay the price for murder " the Phoenix told them, the Draconia never knew what true pain was until that day.

____________________________________________________________________________

Chapter Four: Innocents Disk

      It was nearing sunset when a tired group of five monsters and one human arrived; they had found the scent of the three Draconia and finally tracked it here.

      "This looks like the Burning Dawn ruins, I thought they were just a myth,"

Hare said with interest, everyone gave him blank expressions.

      "What are the burning Dawn ruins, I've never heard of them?" Holly asked, it was apparent to Hare that he was the only one who had heard of it.

      "It was said that in ancient days a temple was built for the Phoenix by a tribe of monsters called the Draconia, it was said that they were given the task by the Phoenix itself to wait and search for something... but I don't know what it is. They called the temple the burning dawn, and by the flame designs on the buildings this looks like it might be the place," Hare explained, everyone frowned.

      "But what did they want with Genki?" Holly asked, for this Hare had no answer.

      "I bet the Draconia were turned into baddies, that's why," Tiger growled, the others paled and with that in mind they ran to the one spot the ruins still stood seemingly untouched by time.

***

      Holly looked around in disbelief; the place was empty and looked like no one had been there. But the fact there was hardly any dust believed that belief, she also spotted fresh ash and soot in a huge burning thing in the center of the room.

      "I found something," Moochi called suddenly, everyone quickly ran to where the young monster stood. It was by the gigantic burner, Holly felt fear grip her realizing that Moochi was pointing inside the burner.

      "No," she whispered, grief covered her as she spotted what Moochi had found. In the burner she could just she a few scraps of fabric, what had once been his hat and shorts... they were mostly incinerated.

      "They burned him alive," Hare whispered sobbing, all felt grief... there friend was dead... murdered.

      "They'll pay, I'll turn the draconia into lost disks myself," Tiger growled, everyone looked at Tiger startled. They all knew that Tiger and Genki were friends, Genki was the one that had given Tiger friendship with no price attached... something they all valued.

      "We can't tiger, we'd be just as bad as the baddies then," Holly tried to reason with him, Tiger glared at them grief showing across his face but rage burning in his eyes.

      "No, they took away Genki... an innocent... someone who should of never been involved in our battle," Tiger growled, he was about to leave the Temple when suddenly the whole Temple was filled with light.

      Startled the grieving group turned, deep gasps filled the air... and even a few jaws dropped.

      "The Phoenix," Holly breathed in awe, and so it was... but strangely the great firebird was see through... it reminded the human girl about ghost stories.

      "Phoenix... but how, we haven't even found its disk," Hare said is shock, the great bird looked down and they found themselves looking into endless sapphire eyes (Or is it green in the series, I can never remember).

      "Something isn't right here," Tiger said, looking around, it was then that the wolf like monster noticed three piles of Ash around the brazier. They smelled suspiciously like the Draconia.

      The Draconia, are no more

      Tiger gasped as a voice suddenly went through his mind; his hackles went up and he growled lowly.

      "Who said that!" he demanded.

      I am the Phoenix, I am speaking into your mind the voice said, Tiger blinked and sat down deciding to let the matter down for the moment.

      "Please Phoenix, tell me if you know what happened to Genki," Holly cried, the great birds gaze seemed to soften and sadden softly.

      Before I tell you his fate, I must tell you some of the past the Phoenix said, everyone shared looks worried for there friends health but decided to listen.

      When my soul was separated from my body I drifted for millennia, somehow I came upon the world that your Friend Genki came from. It was then that my strength began to fade, I needed a place to rest until my body and soul were reunited the Phoenix told them, Tiger frowned wondering what al this had to do with Genki.

      "What does this have to do with Genki!" he growled, the Phoenix looked at him with great patience.

      I came upon a woman who was in the early stages of pregnancy, I took refuge within the child... even the child did not know I hid within him the Phoenix said, at this they gasped... did this mean that the Phoenix his within Genki all this time.

      Genki has a great destiny ahead of him, returning me to my body was part of it... yet others found where I rested the Phoenix said sadly.

      "So that's it, so he didn't end up in our world by accident," Holly said thoughtfully, it had always confused her why exactly he had come to their world.

      Yes, the Draconia thought that by killing gentle Genki they could bring me back. They were wrong, and Genki died and the Draconia paid the ultimate price for their dark deed the Phoenix told them, Tiger growled angrily.

      "All this because you hid within an innocent child, what now... you can only bring back lost disks and free baddies... you can't bring back the dead," Tiger yelled, the Phoenix looked on with more patience.

      I could not save his body but I saved his mind and soul, I tell you this for I am bringing him back the Phoenix said, gasps filled the air.

      "How, how bring back Genki... chi," Moochi begged, tears of hope filled the avian monsters eyes.

      "I am creating a monster disk and place him inside it, that way he will come back but not as human. He will still be humanoid and you will still recognize him from certain features, but he will come back the Phoenix told them, Tiger felt stunned.

      His friend would come back, mind you quite different but still he wouldn't leave forever. Monsters became lost disks and the Phoenix could revive them, in normal situations (which this wasn't) there was no way to brink back the human lost.

      "Bring him back," he said quietly, he felt great hope... he would not loose his first true friend in life.

      I will, also I will place myself in disk also. You will give this disk to Genki to guard, he will be the deciding force that will return my soul and mind to my body the Phoenix said, light then filled the air blinding them.

      'Please let this work, I do not think I could take it if this failed' Tiger thought turning away, finally the light faded enough for them to look back.

      In front of them on the ground were two monster disks, around one of them silvery-white light glowed and the other glowed with fire like colors. The fire like one was the Phoenix he knew right away, but the other he knew was Genki.

      As he watched Holly ran to the silver one and hugged it to her chest, tears flowed down her face.

      An innocent rested and slept within that disk.

      "Genki," Holly whispered, she was happy though for their friend had come back.

TBC

FH: well here it is the first four chapters. Ranko and myself worked out certain things about the future storyline over AOL.

R.Calumon: Yeah, I can't wait for you to bring in the real fun for the series.

FH: Sush! We don't want to spoil things for them.

Ja Ne