This is it. The final chapter of arc 1/4 for this story. I know this is still far from over, but it feels strangely satisfying to have the first arc done. In any case, enjoy!

After reporting their mission, Ben and company do one last patrol of Oblivia, obtaining more Guardian Signs in the process. They now return to Cocona Village at the request of Rand.

Later Summer Ami and Arata were making their way over to Cocona Village. "So, what do you think Rand wants us to meet about?" Palmon asked.

Arata shrugged. "Who knows. I just hope it's nothing Pincher related. I've had it with those chumps."

"We'll find out soon." Ami said as they passed Bookers house. "Here we…are?"

Cocona Village had never been this crowded. Kids were running and playing, colorful explosions filled the sky, and people were talking and laughing. Summer looked around. "What is all this about?"

A Staraptor cry could be heard and Ben landed nearby with Takumi and Nokia following on Rapidmon. "Whoa. Someone's birthday, or is there some kind of Oblivian holiday going on here?" Takumi asked as Rapidmon became Terriermon again.

"Beats me." Fei said as she, Yuuko and Yuugo approached. "By the time the three of us got here everyone was partyin'."

"Oh! Welcome, Heroes of Oblivia!" They saw Rand approach with a smile plastered on his face."

"Rand? What's with the theatrical gestures?" Ben asked.

"Ye brought true peace to Oblivia!" Leanne approached from behind them with Nema, Murph, Kyoko, Matayoshi and Date.

"Leanne? Why are you referring to us as "ye"?!" Summer asked.

"Told you it would weird them out." Date muttered to Rand.

"Ha, ha, ha. Sorry to have surprised you." Rand rubbed the back of his head. "I'm actually a little embarrassed too. The truth is, today's the day of the Rainbow Festival. We thought it would be a perfect reward for all of the hard work you've done for us."

"Rainbow Festival?" Takumi asked.

Rand nodded as he turned to Ben and Summer. "I'm sure if you relaxed in Oblivia a little bit before going home, Prof. Hastings would just laugh and let it slide."

"I agree." Ami smiled. "You two worked so hard."

"WE worked hard." Summer replied. "All of us."

Kyoko smiled. "Either way, what your superiors don't know can't hurt them. For all they know you're still chasing the Pinchers."

"And even if you wanted to contact them, the wireless is still broken." Murph added.

Nema laughed. "Well, if the Union's PR cheir Murph says so, that means you have official permission from the Ranger Union!"

"Everyone! Please direct your attention to the stage!" Everyone in the village gathered around the wooden stage where one young woman stood.

"Hey, isn't that Nixie?" Nokia asked.

"This year's Rainbow Festival was almost canceled due to the Pokemon Pinchers, but thanks to those two brave, young Rangers and their friends the twin Cyber Sleuths, we were able to hold the festival!"

Everyone turned to Ben, Summer, Takumi and Ami as the applaud. "Thanks, Rangers!"

"You Cyber Sleuths were awesome too!"

"You might as well just live here in Oblivia!"

"If you do, then Rand will have nothing to do!"

"Ha, ha, ha, ha, ha!"

Matayoshi laughed as the four kids looked around with bashful expressions. "Feeling a tad humble there?"

Takumi scratched his cheek. "I didn't think people would make such a big deal out of it…"

Nixie clapped her hands. "Okay, everyone listen up! I'm sure you all know this part of the Rainbow Festival…It's time to announce who will be playing the role of the Hero who searches for the grail. This year that role will be played by four people! Ben, Summer, Takumi and Ami! Let's give them a hand!"

"How great!" Nema sang. "Good luck, you guys!"

"Uh…with what exactly?" Ami asked.

"Huh, what's this?" Summer looked at Ben. "The role of the Hero who searches for the grail?"

"Last year, I was the Hero in the Rainbow Festival, so I'll do the explainin'." The Rangers and Sleuths looked behind them to see Booker approach with the seven other Pichu.

Ukulele Piche smiled in delight. "Picchuu!"

Ben smiled. "Booker!"

The man smiled. "Hello, Ukulele Pichu! Glad to see you're doin' well." He turned to the Pichu. "Hey, y'all, go play over there." As the Pichu ran off Booker turned back around and cleared his throat. "Okay, Heroes, listen up. The Hero of Oblivia's search for the grail is the highlight of the Rainbow Festival. Since you were picked to be the Heroes, you have to get the Raibow Grail from Rasp Cavern and bring it back to the village. But in order to get the grail, you must pass The Hero's Trail."

"Wow. Sounds scary, but fun!" Murph said.

Nixie smiled. "Thanks for the explanation, Booker. We'll all wait excitedly for our two heroes to bring back the Raibow Grail from Rasp Cavern!"

Takumi turned to Ben. "What do you say? Ya up for it?"

"If everyone's expecting us to, how can we say no?"

Summer nodded. "I'm surprised by how sudden this is, but we'll just have to do it!"

Ami laughed. "Then let's get going! We'll pass this trail with rainbow colors!"

"I told you this would be a chance to rest, but you've got a pretty difficult role." Rand said. "Sorry about that. But this isn't a duty, so just relax and enjoy the trail."

"I'll show you where the trail is." Booker said. "Let's go, Heroes!"

"Good luck!" Nema waved as they left.

"Takumi! Ami! I know you can do this, so you better not screw up!" Nokia added.

"Just think of this as another case!" Matayashi hollered.

As Booker lead Ben, Takumi, Summer and Ami into the cave, the teenagers looked around. "I remember when we were last here." Ben said.

"Yeah." Takumi nodded. "This was where we first saw Raikou. And where Terriermon first became Gargomon. Well in this world anyway."

"So much has happened since I came here to Oblivia…"

Booker stopped on front of a wooden gate that was previously locked but now open. "From here on out, you're on your own."

"Thanks Booker." Ben said as he proceeded inside with his friends.

Nick was on the other side to greet them holding a script. "Oh! Welcome, Heroes. This is The Hero's Trail. You cannot obtain the Rainbow Grail without passing the trail."

They were slightly surprised to see him. "Oh, hey Nick." Ami said.

"I said I didn't want to do it, but they made me play this role. But…"

Terriermon groaned. "Here it comes."

"I was feeling uneasy, because it was taking you so long to get here. Perhaps you'd been called away on a sudden Mission, or you forgot about the trail and left Oblivia, or…" Everyone sighed as he went on. "I'd wait like this until night, then morning, then night, and even though I'd been waiting here all this time, everyone in the village would forget me! "Now that you mentioned it, someone named Nick did live here." "What was he like again?" "Really? I thought there was someone like that here, but am I wrong?" "Hey, pull it together! You always…"

"Nick! Enough!" Summer snapped.

"Yeah, we know you're good at having pessimistic daydreams already." Ben added. "Tell us about the trail."

"Oh yeah." Nick cleared his throat. "Behold the trail floor before thee. Sixteen tiles, four elong… Okay." Nick threw the papers he was given over his shoulder. "This is a pain, so I'm just going to speak normally."

"Please do." Palmon said as the others laughed. "The weird talk everyone's been doing is getting annoying."

Nick looked behind him. "There was a set of sixteen panels on the floor in a box. One was damaged and two were glowing blue. "Two of the sixteen panels are lit up. Stepping on one of those panels starts the trail. Step on every unit panel once, and reach the other lit panel to pass the trail. However, if you step out of the area, or step on a lit panel that you've already stepped on, you have to restart from the beginning. Also watched out for cracked panels. You can't step on them." Nick turned back around. "Anyhoo! If you don't pass this trail, you cannot obtain the Rainbow Grail."

"Ha! I've cleared puzzles like this in my video games back home!" Takumi smirked. "This'll be a snap!"

"I wish you luck! Last year, this trail made the boss cry…"

"Oh dear…" Ami replied.

"Not a problem!" Takumi stepped onto the panel in the lower left corner and looked around to think of his move. "Let's see…" He went to the right and then up then down, making all the outer panels glow blue. He then stepped to the one on the right then up two and right again to the second glowing panel. "Ta da."

"Wow. You do, do this a lot." Ben said.

Nick clapped. "Amazing! You have passed The Hero's Trail with flying colors! Now take the Rainbow Grail with your own hands!" Nick said as he held an ancient looking cup.

Ben took it in his hands. "Huh. It's a lot lighter than it looks."

"Phew! Thanks to you, my job is over. Be careful on the way back! You might happen to skip along all exited, stumble on some rocks, then drop the Rainbow Grail, and break it. Then you might hurriedly try to hide it by gluing it together, but at that point you're feeling so guilty, you can't enjoy the Rainbow Festival, and…"

Ben sighed. "Nick, seriously, stop."

Summer ignored the rant. "We're heading back to Cocona Village! Thanks for the hard work!"

"Let's get going then!" Ami said. "Everyone's waiting!"

Nixie stood on the stage again. "Attention, everyone! Our Heroes have passed the trail and safely brought us the Rainbow Grail!"

Everyone applauded again. "Yay! Way to go!"

"They kept Oblivia peaceful!"

Nick ran to the audience. "Somehow I made it in time! You left me behind and went really fast…"

"Now then, please enjoy the rainbow dance performed by the eight Pichu from Dolce Island!" Nixie declared. "This year we have a surprise! There will also be a ukulele performance!" Nixie got down from the stage and Ukulele Pichu along with his eight friends. They lined up in two rows of four.

They stepped to one side, then the other and jumped. They did so again before the front and back lines switched. Then switched again. Then they formed a circle with Ukulele Pichu in the center. He took out his Ukulele and started playing. The Pichu at the top of the circle jumped. Then the two below it, then the two next them, making a wave. As the tempo picked up the Pichu went faster. And Ukulele Pichu started to glow with electricity. He jumped and twirled landing with a little pose.

Everyone applauded the Pokemon as they bowed. "That was Ukulele Pichu and the other Pichu's dance! Thank you very much!" Nixie announced. "Now then, O Heroes of Oblivia! Hold the grail above brought high above you! Now, everyone, let's show our gratitude for the peace we enjoy in Oblivia!"

Ben nudged Takumi as he held the grail. "Come on. This isn't just a Pokemon Ranger achievement. We need a Cyber Sleuth representation." Takumi smiled and nodded. He walked onto the stage with Ben, Summer and Ami as Pichu cleared some space for them. Ben got a good look at the pattern on the stage as they stepped on it. "Hey…Did I see this somewhere before…? Nah. I must be imagining things."

Takumi put on his goggles. "Terriermon!"

Ami put on hers. "Palmon!" The Digimon ran towards the stage and jumped.

DIGIVOLUTION

"Terriermon Warp Digivolve to…Rapidmon!"

"Palmon Warp Digivolve to…Lillymon!"

Everyone applauded in awe as Rapidmon and Lillymon flew overhead of Ben and Takumi who each took a handle of the grail and held it up proudly. Ami and Summer stood by their sides and waved. More colorful bursts of smoke filled the air as everyone cheered.

"Hip, hip hooray!" Murph cheered. "Hooray for Oblivia!"

"Looking good you guys!" Nokia cheered.

Booker clapped. "Pichu, that was a mighty fine show! You went to all that trouble, so go ahead and do it again! Encore, encore!"

"Today, let's dance until our legs give out!" one of the older woman said. "It's showtime, yeah!"

The festival continued on through the night. Yuuko was trying out some of the Oblivian snacks, Nokia, Calumon, Tokomon, Agumon and Gabumon were playing with children. Ben was sitting at a tree looking at the night sky. He reflected on everything that happened since his arrival in Oblivia. Takumi and Ami, Pichu, the legendary Pokemon, the battles against Blue Eyes and Red Eyes.

"Hey, Ben!" Summer walked over to him. "What are you sitting here alone for?"

"Nothing…just…thinking. So much has happened here. And reflecting on it made it clear to me that if we never met Takumi and Ami, we wouldn't have ever been able to pull this off."

Summer sat down next to him. "Yeah. I know what you mean. It kind of makes me wonder if we can call ourselves Top Rangers."

"Being a Ranger doesn't mean doing everything on your own." Takumi said as he and Ami walked over to them.

"Oh, hi guys."

"It's not like we could have done this without you either." Ami added. "Besides, if we didn't meet you guys, Takumi and I would probably be wondering around Oblivia aimlessly. So, thanks."

"Eh. It was nothing."

"Hey, guys!" Nokia ran over to them. "Great party, huh? It reminds me of that Digimon Festival!"

"Digimon Festival?" Summer asked.

"It was a case we got after our world and the Digital World collided." Takumi explained. "Some Digimon were trying to throw a festival and we were invited because we helped Digimon a lot in the past."

"Oh, don't undersell it!" Nokia grinned. "I'm pretty sure I was told that you two were celebrities to Digimon!"

Ben whistled. "Sounds like you two built quit a rep!"

"I still don't see why they had us play the heroes in their battle event…" Ami said.

"Normally I'd argue with that." Nokia grumbled. "If it weren't for that sarcastic comment you gave Leomon when you were supposed to be saving me from him Ami! And then you two ran out on us!"

Ami glared at her. "Well, Nokia, let's call that payback for what you said to me when we first met at the EDEN Demo!"

"Oh, come on! Will you ever let that go?! Wait, what did I say to you?"

"What's with that weird thing growing out of the side of your head?" Honestly, like you never saw a ponytail before!"

Nokia nervously chuckled as Palmon, Terriermon, Takumi, Summer and Ben laughed. "Ooooh…right. That. You're still upset about that?"

"I have bad memories of my brother, Yuuko, Yuugo, and Arata laughing their heads off!"

"Oh, come on, I just never seen someone with a ponytail at the side of the head instead of the back!" Nokia walked over to Ami and starred at it. "Come to think of it, you've had your hair like that ever since, haven't you?"

"You just noticed that?" Takumi asked.

"Look of this big poofy thing!" Nokia giggled, batting Ami's ponytail lightly, watching it swing back and forth, to Ami's annoyance.

"Like a cat with a toy dangling in front of its face." Takumi chuckled.

"Hey, let the Digimon Princess have her fun! Makes up for the fact that she had to chase her heroes all over the place to get them to rescue her!"

Terriermon glared at her this time. "Nokia, do you have any idea how many Digimon we were forced to fight? Me neither, because I lost track somewhere after thirty!"

"Oh, come now, I know you four had fun with the other events! Like the Digimon totem pole contest!"

"Yeah, that was pretty fun." Takumi admitted.

"Totem pole contest?" Summer asked.

"Exactly what it sounds like." Ami replied. "Takumi smoked the rest of the competition."

"Because Terriermon and I have a great sense of balance! Even back in the EDEN Demo eight years ago! Watch this!" Takumi ran over to a rock, turned around and jumped back landing on it with one foot. Terriermon leapt up and landed on his head, balancing on him with one ear.

"Showoffs." Ami giggled.

Ben noticed one of Ukulele Pichu's friends sneaking up on Takumi and Terriermon. "Carful now, it'd be a shame if someone bumped you."

The Pichu charged at them only for Takumi to catch him in mid air and toss him up. He landed on Terriermon's other ear. "If you wanted to join, you only had to ask."

"What?! No way!" Ben gapped as Ami and Nokia laughed.

"I wanna join! I wanna join!" Calumon flew over and balanced on the Pichu's head with one foot.

Nokia giggled as she took a picture with her Digivice. Takumi smiled as he got down and let everyone off. Calumon and the Pichu left. "Oh, speaking of the EDEN demo, I wonder…"

"Wonder what?" Ami asked.

Nokia gave her a teasing grin. "I remember a certain quirk a pretty little Ami had when we were kids."

"Quirk?"

"Yes! I remember when we were playing in the Digital world and someone came down with a serious case of the giggles!"

Ami's eyes widened and she backed away. "I-I haven't the slightest idea what you're talking about."

"Aww! Does that mean you got less ticklish as you grew up?"

"If anything, she's more ticklish then back then."

Ami turned around to glare at her grinning brother. "Shut up Takumi!" And while her back was turned to Nokia, the girl snuck up behind her and started skittering her fingers around her ribcage. "AAAAAAAAIIIIIIIEEEEEEE!" Ami jolted as she covered her sides.

"Yup! She's ticklish alright!" Nokia laughed.

Ami tried to run away, but Takumi wrapped his arms around her as she tried to get past him and lifted her up off her feet before proceeding to carry her over to the rock he was balancing on. "Going somewhere?"

"Put me down!" Ami demanded. "Don't you dare!"

"Don't what?" Takumi asked innocently. "Oh. This?" His fingers brushed around his sister's sides.

"N-no! S-sto-Ha, ha, ha, ha, ha, ha!"

After a moment Takumi kept her arms trapped in a lock. "Have at her Nokia!"

Nokia grinned as she started exploiting any ticklish spot on Ami. From her ribs, to her belly, even her neck was ticklish. "Ami's ticklish!" Nokia said in a singing tune. "Ami's ticklish! Ami's ticklish!"

"Heh, heh, heh, heh!" Ami giggled uncontrollably as she tried to get away. "Ha, ha, ha, ha!" The three of them remembered this exact scene when they were little kids in the Digital World.

Ben and Summer chuckled at them. Takumi and Nokia only backed off long after Ami's face was red and leaking tears.

"Heh, heh. The hijinks we went to back when we were young." Nokia giggled as she watched Ami catch her breath.

"I remember having as much fun back then as I did in the Digimon Festival." Terriermon said.

"It was nice to see Digimon enjoy themselves despite the situation. I feel the same when I look at the everyone here." Takumi said. "Digimon, Pokemon and Humans alike."

"Yup! And this is all thanks to you and Ben defeating Red Eyes!" Nokia smiled.

"Still I can't really say everything has been taken care of." Ben said.

Takumi nodded. "True. There's still Myotismon and Arcadiamon."

"Wha-No I meant how you guys are going to get home!"

"Oh…right."

"You almost sound disappointed." Summer said.

"Well…I guess I just don't want to leave anything unresolved before leaving Oblivia."

Those thoughts stuck with Ben. "That's right…Summer and I will have to leave soon…And there's something I still need to do here…"

"Ben? Ben!" Summer waved a hand in front of his face to get his attention.

"Huh? What?"

"Are you okay? You're spacing out."

"Yeah, I'm fine, don't worry about it. I'm uh…Just going to check something out." He walked over to the stage where Ukulele Pichu was dancing. "Hey, partner, you got a minute?"

"Pichu?" Pichu jumped off the stage and onto Ben's shoulder.

"Where are you going?" Takumi asked.

"Nowhere special. I'll be back."

"I can go with you." Summer offered.

"N-no, no! It's fine! Just wait here, I'll be back before you know it!" Ben hurried off leaving the others in concern.

Summer in particular was beginning to worry. "Ben…"

Ben ran over to the odd pillar in Cocona Village and looked around. "Okay…Nobody is here…this is where I said we would meet him." He stood there and looked around. "But I don't see him, do you?"

Pichu glanced back and forth. "Pi…"

"Did something happen to him?"

Summer hid nearby with Takumi, Ami, Nokia, Arata, Yuuko, Yuugo and Fei along with their Digimon and Staraptor. "Who's he looking for?" Ami asked.

Takumi shrugged. "Ya got me."

"Hey! Celibi! Are you there? It's me, Ben!"

Summer looked at him in surprise. "Celibi…the Legendary Pokemon Celibi?!"

"Hey, isn't that the Pokemon we saw at the mansion?" Arata asked. "The one that abducted Ben?"

"I KNEW he was hiding something!" Nokia scowled. "Nothing" my foot!"

Suddenly the pillar near Ben glowed blue. Then a yellow hole opened up next to him. "This is just like Celibi's light…" he glanced at Pichu. "Do you think he's telling us to come in?"

"Pichu! Pichu!"

"What's that?" Yuugo asked from the hiding place. "Some kind of…portal?"

"Come on, Pichu!"

"Pi!" Ben and his partner jumped in.

"Ben!" Summer ran towards the light with her Staraptor.

"Summer, wait!" Ami followed after her. Without thinking, one by one they all ran into the portal just as it was closing.

And with this, the gears were set. A new battle-No. A war was about to begin.

To be continued...

And with that we have finished up the first arc of Cyber Ranger Guardian Story. I doubt the other three arcs will be equal in length, so it's hard to say what percentage we are at in terms of completing the story. That aside, I thank you all for reading and again thank all of you who left favorites and reviews for this story. And I hope you check in next week, because I'm starting the sequel to this story: Cyber Ranger Guardian Story: Oracle War. ...Actually this technically takes place in the distant past, so doesn't that make this a prequel? Whatever, the point is next up is the multiplayer missions, so look forward to the second arc!