21. The four Queens (pt2) and The Rescuers

[Therra and its fights]

Kouichi and J.P. stared at the sitting creatures, and at the one in the small round pool.

The tallest one, who was sitting at the throne in the middle, stood up.

She looked like… well, an alien woman, but beautiful. Her skin was light blue and she had dark blue tattoos all over her body, which was covered by a long white dress. Her long purple hair was brushing lightly the white marble floor.

Her smile somehow reminded Kouichi of something… or someone…

"Welcome, Earthlings." She greeted them with a strong tone, which hinted she was happy to help anytime for anything… unless you make her angry.

'Ophanimon…! Her voice and smile are a lot like Ophanimon's!' remembered J.P.

Yasuo, Ayumi and Lythic bowed lightly. Receiving a fierce glance from the white-haired boy, J.P. and Kouichi did the same.

Only Yoma kept standing still, not moving a muscle.

"My name is Vindera, and I am of the Four Queens. These are Fleriss," a tall woman with orange skin and wild fire-like hair narrowed her eyes, nodding with light annoyance "and Aquamarine, my two sisters." Another woman-like, blue creature, which reminded of a mermaid, nodded shortly with a smile from the pool in the ground.

Somehow, Kouichi felt obligated to cough politely.

"…you… said Four Queens." he asked carefully. Ayumi jumped and nearly stepped on his foot.

Vindera smiled even wider and nodded.

"Hamadrya is the fourth." Her eyes fixed upon Yoma, which looked straight back without shame.

J.P. knit his eyebrows and looked at Yoma. This was getting way too complicated now… he looked at Kouichi questioningly, but only received a head shake and the same surprised expression.

"Stop hiding, Hamadrya." Vindera added, a little more roughly now.

Yoma's lips formed a little smile. Then something happened… no one was exactly sure what, but it looked like she split in two bodies, her eyes widening. The second figure formed a creature which looked a lot like Elfmon… or like the Mirits Bokomon had shown them.

The first figure coughed and tripped in her own legs. It seems like she wasn't used to walking or something of the sort. Kouichi caught her before she broke down on her knees.

She opened her eyes to reveal a deep green color. She coughed again.

"It's been a while, hasn't it?" the 'woman', apparently Hamadrya, grinned. Fleriss jumped up

"You traitor." She hissed and turned to Vindera: "why did you allow her to come back here?!"

"Calm your spirit, Fleriss." The other one responded, and looked back down. "I'm not going to 'beat around the bush', Hamadrya. We left you at the Hall so you could think of what you've done. What you actually did was trying to make another world suffer… two worlds, to be precise."

Maybe it was just J.P.'s imagination, but it seemed like her voice was rising with every word.

Hamadrya shook her head in slight annoyance, like she was saying 'oh, please, not again.'

"I wasn't trying anything of that sort. I promise you, this wasn't my intension. Chaos just gives me a headache, and it was present in both those worlds." She shrugged.

Kouichi narrowed his eyes in anger.

Chaos…??

"We know very well what you've been doing!" Fleriss said in a strong, angry voice before Vindera could answer.

"KK…" whispered Yoma weakly."I don't mean to sound… stupid… but why do I have the feeling I'm not exactly supposed to be… you know… alive?"

"Don't ask me, I don't know what's going on…" Kouichi responded in a low tone. "Not that I mind." He added with a smile, winking.

*******************************************************************

Takuya and Zoe exchanged worried looks. This didn't sound good.

"I think it's time we clear our business once and for all." Whispered Takuya, reaching for his pocket. Zoe nodded.

In the house, the magical ropes faded away and Jesse stood up.

"Time to call the pros." He muttered to himself, quickly entering his room and sitting in front of the screen.

*

"Pyro Darts!"

A man in dark clothing dodged, while his companion sent a fountain of water towards Agunimon from behind his back. Kazemon pushed him to the side in the last moment and they both fell.

"Wha-… I could've pushed it away myself...!"

"You welcome!" she snorted and stood up "step aside! Hurricane wave!" she sent the tornadoes towards the third magician, who murmured something under his breath and the tornadoes died quickly.

"Those guys… are really… powerful!" Zoe spoke through teeth, as she was trying to defend herself from a sudden sandstorm sent at her.

"…for once I'll have to agree on that… no wonder Jesse was so… afraid of them!" Agunimon managed somehow to get them out of the storm, which eventually died, crashing into a building.

"That's not good... fighting here is dangerous!" Kazemon shouted. "People might get hurt!"

She was expecting a crowd of panicked people to run out of the falling building, but it didn't happen. It just broke down with a loud crash, but no one came out. No one even checked from what's happening neighbor buildings and houses.

"What... is...?" she started with a whisper, but a blow hit her. Apparently, Agunimon was busy with two new magicians that had shown up, and Kazemon had just forgotten her enemies, amazed by the 'no-reaction' to all the mess.

It was a huge ball made of fire and water at the same time. How could that be possible, she didn't even stop to think.

Kazemon got swept to the side and was shoved into a tree. She cried with pain and fell, de-evolving.

Agunimon had managed to bring down three magicians (using mostly surprise attacks), but looked too exhausted after about a half-an-hour of dodging and attacking.

Two of the men were left, and they didn't seem like giving up either.

"seems like you kids are into some trouble there, heh?"

A voice right behind Agunimon said. He turned around. From one of the ruined buildings (just now he noticed all the damages the fight had caused) was walking out a man, holding up whet seemed like a flame-thrower a part of which was against his shoulder. The man looked like he hadn't shaved in a long time, although his eyes were sparkling wildly. His clothes were surprisingly clean for his entire image, but the buttons of his shirt were half-undone.

Tired and worn out, Agunimon de-evolved, and Takuya, a bit dizzy, ran to help Zoe stand up. They were both wondering if this man was on their side or not. The man made them a sign to approach, but Takuya's grip around Zoe's shoulder tightened and he shook his head.

*********************************************

"She's a spirit." Vindera said shortly, and then turned her attention back to Hamadrya, watching her closely.

Kouichi and Yoma exchanged looks.

"Not again..." the girl groaned.

"And eyes!! You got eyes!! How dare you-..."

"Fleriss!" Vindera raised her hand. "Enough."

The Fire Queen hissed something and sat heavily.

"I think," Started Aquamarine, raising her body with her hands against the cold floor, "we should hear her out. I would like to believe our sister has a reasonable explanation for her actions."

If the water Queen had eyes, they'd probably have been full of expectation. She was clearly trying to avoid any unnecessary fights.

Kouichi felt bits of thankfulness towards her.

"Alright. We are listening, Hamadrya." Vindera's expression became a bit softer.

"Wow, you're willing to hear me out? That's something quite new!" the former-Earth-ruler exclaimed with an overreacted surprise. "Then again, I'm sure you already have your own theory and you agree to listen only because that's the polite thing to do... ya'll remind me a lot of those from the Digital world. Did you know that they think they created the hall of mirrors? Or, at least, that's what they keep telling themselves and all the rest. Everyone on highest positions think they know best, that's something I should've realized some time ago... but, hope dies last, so... I just decided to keep going to the next world. As for the girl... this was an accident." Hamadrya finished with a shrug. Silence followed, even the crowd in the arena had stopped talking and shouting.

"Created the hall, you say..." murmured Aquamarine thoughtfully.

"Nasty creatures, they think they know more than any other... "Hissed Fleriss, looking angrier than ever.

"Like... you're any different...!" Yoma slowly shook herself from Kouichi's grip and looked towards Vindera. Her expression showed pure hatred. The girl stepped closer to Hamadrya and wrapped her fingers around her elbow, supporting herself.

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TO BE CONTINUED