Angel: Chapter eight is up! Whoo whoo!

Kupi: We would like to thank Neko Haruko and Yumi-chan Hamano for their constant reviews. Thank you from the bottom of our hearts!

Angel: Especially you, Neko Haruko! Your comments and advise are the best!

Kupi: Everyone here would love to thank you for improving this fanfiction.

Angel: So, without further ado, on with the show!

Kupi: Lady owns nothing.

It was after dark and the Data Squad had retired to their rooms. After Kristy insisted that the group stay another night, she treated them to a delicious feast. Apparently, being a princess had its perks.

Yoshino flopped down on her bed. They'd been seperated by gender, with Yoshi and Enyo in one room and Spencer, Thomas, and Keenan in another. "Ah… that was amazing."

"Indeed. The food was very good, and the entertainment wasn't half bad." Said Enyo.

This got Yoshi giggling. "No kidding. Jijimon and Babamon must be fun to live with."

"If I didn't watch those two single-handedly defeat you guys, I would never have believed two digimon could've caused that much chaos."

"Then you've never had to care for baby digimon." The redhead groaned. Then she sat up. "Hey, what do you think Kristy wanted to see us about?"

"No idea." Said the greek professor as she examined a note.

Come to the roof when stars come out. Kristy.

Enyo looked out the window… and saw the first star appear in the sky.

"That's our cue. Let's go."

On their way, they ran into the boys, who got the very same letter. They all made their way to the roof.

Kristy was already there, with a telescope all set up. She smiled when she saw them.

"Perfect timing. There's something I wanted to show you before you left."

Off on the horizon, something enormous was moving.

Yoshi recognized it first. "Hey, that looks like that giant black shadow we saw earlier!"

Biyomon swiveled the telescope around to look. "There's that shadow creature again."

"Really?" Kristy looked. "Yep, it's the same one. He's the only one to get so big."

"Shadow creature? What's that?" asked Spencer.

"We're not sure what it is ourselves. They appear as these big solid shadows, so we call them shadow creatures."

Thomas looked at the shape as it moved. "Are they some kind of digimon?"

It was Biyomon who answered him. "I don't think so, but we don't really know that much about them."

"What do you know about them?" This question came from Keenan.

"Not much." Admitted Kristy. "Each one is different, so it's hard to study them. Most of them aren't violent. Most of them wander around an area like they're lost or something. Like that one. He doesn't do anything besides circle the temple. It's a bit sad, actually."

Enyo asked the next question. "How do you know so much about them? You've only been here two weeks."

"That's easy. The Dragon King told me. He keeps track of all the shadow creatures." She paused. "Which reminds me… I had something to show you, didn't I?"

"The shadow creature wasn't it?"

"No, that was just a bonus."

Kristy turned away from the telescope, her mark glowing faintly. "I know you want me to come back home, and you know that my mind is made up. But there is one thing you can do.

"You can go to the Dragon King at Luna Azul and try to convince him."

"Luna Azul?" wondered Thomas. "Blue Moon?"

"Exactly."

"Is that the Dragon King's Base?" asked Keenan.

The Princess of Heaven nodded. "Yep. I've only been there once, but it still left a big impression on me. It's very high-tech and futuristic."

"One question:" interrupted Yoshi. "Why is it called 'Blue Moon'?"

Biyomon and his human partner looked to the horizon, where the dark sky was being illuminated.

Slowly, a pale blue sphere rose above the mountains and into the night.

The Princess of Heaven stood silhouetted against the rising moon. "Because that's where it's located. On a blue moon."


Miki woke up, crawled out of bed, and went to her computer. It simply wasn't practical to do secret research with Sampson interrupting. So, they'd brought the project home to Miki's PC and Megumi's Mac.

Megumi, too, awoke. She yawned all the way to the computer room.

"Morning, Miki…"

"Good morning, Megumi. Sleep well?"

"Sorta." Said the blonde. "I had this really weird dream."

Miki stopped typing. "You too? What about?"

"Well, there was this annoying silver monkey arguing with a scrap heap. It was one of the stupidest things I've ever seen." She laughed. Then she stopped. "This isn't the first time I've had a dream like this, but this is the best clarity I've ever had from a dream. It was totally unbelievable."

Miki smiled. "I know exactly what you mean. Strangest thing ever."

"Speaking of strange, how's the research coming along?"

"So far, I've got six megas, two ultimates, and a whole bunch in a weird category."

"Weird category?"

"See? Take a look."

Pause.

"Oh, that one spot for odd digimon that don't fit anywhere else?"

"Yep."

Megumi cocked her head. "Maybe there's a connection."

"Could be." Said Miki. "Let's check it out."


"You're sure I can't convince you to come back with us, Kristy?" asked Spencer hopefully.

"I'm sure." Said Kristy. "Thanks for trying, though."

"Your mother will be lonely."

She flinched at that. "I'll visit when I can. It's not like I've totally disappeared, you know."

"Um… Kristy?" asked Yoshino. "How can you visit? You need a digital gate to get back."

She and Biyomon grinned at each other. "Digital gates are overrated. Let's leave it at that."

"You'll keep an eye out for Yushima, won't you?"

"You got it."

The group was turning to go… But Keenan kept his eyes on Kristy as he was slowly led away.

Everyone watched him… and finally Thomas and Yoshi couldn't stand it anymore.

"Keenan, if you want to talk to Kristy alone, you can." Said Yoshi.

The blue-haired boy turned to them in shock. Then he smiled. "Can I?"

Thomas laughed. "Go right ahead. We'll wait at the digi-gate."

Keenan didn't need any more prompting. He turned around and ran for Kristy.


"Biyomon… He didn't even say goodbye…"

The bird digimon held Kristy's hand. "It'll be okay, Kristy. Don't cry…"

"I'm not crying!"

Biyomon stared in disbelief.

"I just have something in my eye…"

"I'm sure you do."

Suddenly, a call punctuated through the forest.

"Kristy!"

They stopped and turned the noise. Keenan Crier burst through the trees.

He stopped right in front of the Princess of Heaven, and then he had to pause to catch his breath.

"Ke…Ke…" Kristy had been caught by surprise, and she was now just out of breath as he was. She took a deep breath. "Keenan! What are you doing here!"

The wild boy panted. "I'm… sorry… for not saying… anything… and for not… being there… when you… needed… me…"

"Not being there?" she gave him a questioning look. "What are you talking about?"

"If I had stayed with you after you'd collapsed…"

Kristy shook her head. "I would've gone anyway."

"Then… you went on your own free will?"

"Yes. It was totally my own decision to go." She looked a little troubled. "Actually, I have a confession to make."

Now it was Keenan's turn to look puzzled.

"I was kinda glad when you went back to class."

"Kristy!"

The Princess of Heaven took a deep breath. "I had no idea how to say good-bye to you… I guess it was just easier to leave without trying. Now I see that I was being selfish. I'm sorry."

"I'm sorry, too."

"About?"

"Well, I want you to come back with me… Even though you're happy here." He sighed. "I guess I'm a little selfish, too."

She smiled. "You could always stay here with me."

"Kristy… I'd love to… But I can't. I have a little sister to look out for."

"Oh, you're right." She paused. "Now I'm the one being selfish, aren't I?"

They laughed.

"We can work this out, right?"

"That's what friends do." Keenan said. "They work things out together."

To Keenan's shock, he found himself crying.

"Keenan?" asked Kristy. "Are you crying?"

"No! I just have something in my eye."

Biyomon laughed. "Same song, second chorus."

Kristy, too, was laughing.

"Yeah, you're right." The princess grinned. "So, you feel like meeting the Dragon King one of these days?"

He shook his head. "I'd rather not deal with him unless I have to. I don't want to risk being hypnotized."

"Suit yourself. But you never know." Kristy said. "There are still plenty of marks out there. One of them could be destined for you."

"Kristy! Don't even joke about that!"


"They really do make a cute couple." Said Yoshi.

Thomas agreed. "Still, it's hard to believe that this mission is a failure."

"Don't worry about it too much." Said Spencer, "Her decision was final, and her resolve was strong. There was nothing we could do. Especially since she was so happy."

"I guess…" admitted Yoshi.

Enyo was playing with the bandage on her hand. Then she stopped. Then she removed the bandage entirely.

"That's odd…"

Everyone turned to look. "What's going on?"

"I injured my hand before this trip… but look at it now."

She held up her hand. Nothing was wrong with it.

"That is really weird. Maybe the digital world healed it or something?"

"Who knows? Anyway, let's get out of…"

Thomas was interrupted mid sentence by a high pitched scream.

Everyone looked for the source. Then they looked up.

Just in time to see a girl fall out of the tree and land on her butt.

She looked about ten years old, and had short, bright pink hair. She wore a dress, jacket, and hat ensemble that capitalized her youth. Her big grey eyes were innocent and trusting.

"Ow, that really hurt…"

The Data squad recovered from their astonishment. And Spencer, ever the gentleman, was the first to step up.

"Excuse me," he asked, "Are you okay?"

She looked up and noticed the Data Squad for the first time.

"Oh, yes. I'm fine. Thanks for asking." She replied politely.

"Um… Why were you up in that tree?" inquired Yoshi.

"A Saberdramon dropped me." She sighed. "Um, can I ask your names?"

Thoman nodded. "I'm Thomas Norstein, and this is Yoshi, Spencer, and Enyo."

The girl smiled. "My name is Rhythm. It's a pleasure to meet you all."

And that's a rap!

Kupi: You look like you've had a sudden inspiration.

Angel: I'm thinking that the Bio-hybrids might actually enter the story. Which is weird because I wasn't thinking of adding them before.

Kupi: Bio-hybrids... that would be Kouki, Nanami, and Ivan. Right?

Angel: Exactly. Hey, how about we leave up to my readers to decide?

Kupi: Good idea. Okay, everyone. Help Lady out! Should the bio-hybrids make an appearance?

Angel: Please tell me in a review! Believe me, I value your opinions.