Disclaimer: No We do not own any of the digimon characters, but we can sure manipulate them to our will!
Hi! This is the Real Aleida! In reality I'm Lauren but whatever! My good friend Ashley (Aledaya or rather Katra...oh wait, you don't know! You'll find out!) was good enough to post these stories of mine on the Internet! I've wanted to do that for a long time! Anyway, this is the second in the series (10 in all) and we'll post the rest up soon! We're actually working on the 8th one as of now! If you'd like to see/have any pictures from the stories, email us at Doberry85@excite.com, we'll be sure to send you one! Please specify what you want! Keep the reviews a comin' and we'll be a sendin'!
Aleida Katomi!
This isn't like the Digimon Emperor to not report, she thought with a frown. She knocked on the door of his base and waited. No answer. She knocked harder. Still no answer. She raised a gloved fist and with a great blast of energy, blew the door off its hinges. The metal door echoed throughout the room as it fell to the floor. She calmly stepped through and smirked. Oh well, it serves him right for not opening it when I knocked! She walked into the main control room. He was usually there, either sipping tea or just yelling at Wormmon. To her surprise, he wasn't there. The equipment was shut down and the room itself was dark.
"Emperor? Are you still here?" She looked around in puzzlement. "Don't make me call you that cute little name you hate!"
If he was hiding, he would have come out by now just to escape hearing that awful nickname she gave him.
"I warned you!" She called out. "Oh Emperor boy!"
He still didn't come out. He definitely wasn't here. She went over to the computer system and activated the main computer. The screens flashed on. She tapped in some codes and then turned to watch the screens display different scenes of the Digital World. She frowned. "He's not in the Digital World? How could that be?"
She typed in another sequence and suddenly the screen flashed to show Ken walking home from school with Aleida in the park. She gasped. "The Real World?! What is he doing there!" She frowned. "He's beyond my control now. Oh well. It was fun while it lasted..."
She finally noticed his friend and narrowed her eyes on her. She tapped in another code and the screen centered on Aleida. "I remember that girl..." A devious grin spread on her face. "Hmmm...perhaps I can still reach Ken!"
* * * * * * "And I told him that if he called me that again, I'd kill him," Aleida continued on simply.
Ken covered a smile. "It seems like you've had a busy day."
Suddenly a flash of light appeared behind them. Ken whirled around and gasped. Aleida peered over his shoulder. Before them stood a woman in her late twenties. She had a black witch hat, long blonde hair, spiky bangs, one side covered her left eye. She had a simple ballgown dress that was layered. The top was dark purple, the bottom light purple with a simple brown belt and a pearl necklace. She had long gray gloves that were criss-crossed.
She smiled at Ken. "Greetings Emperor. Did you miss me?"
He stood in front of Aleida and raised a fist at the woman. "You leave me alone! You've no longer have control over me!"
She smirked. "My dear boy....whatever made you think I wanted you?"
Ken was caught off guard. "Why are you here then?"
She didn't answer and a portal between the Digital World and the Real World. She stepped through it then suddenly turned and grabbed Aleida's leg. She was caught off guard and fell to the ground. The woman stepped through, soon only her arm was visible, still dragging Aleida.
"No!" Ken exclaimed. He grabbed Aleida's gloved hand. "I won't let you do this!"
"Ken! Help---"
The strange woman pulled Aleida away into the portal.
Ken fell to his knees in horror and surprise. "I can't believe she's really gone..."
* * * * * *
Aleida tried to break free from the experimenting table she was strapped to but all in vain. The woman had her back to Aleida, it appeared that she was reaching for something.
"Just who do you think you are?!" Aleida snarled.
The woman turned slightly. "Now, now, that's no way to talk to your new partner..."
Aleida paused. "Partner? What are you talking about?"
She approached Aleida who had grown quieter with a stamp in her hand. On it was the same symbol Ken had had on his glasses when he had become the Digimon Emperor. Aleida shivered. She must be the one who turned Ken into the Digimon Emperor...but what does she want with me?
"You have a lot of nerve for a little girl," the woman said coolly. "You took Ken from my power. For that, I ought to kill you here and now."
Aleida cringed.
"But no matter," the woman's tone became more smoother. "As they say, if you can't fight them, join them."
Aleida paled as the stamp came closer and closer...
* * * * * * Kari jumped as she heard the computer door slam open and was surprised to see Ken panting.
"Aleida's been kidnapped," he quickly explained. "I need your help!"
Izzy looked up from the computer at him coldly. Ken cringed. I knew this was a bad idea!
"What happened?"
Ken approached him. "I was walking with her when Lady Sinister---"
"Woah, Woah! Hold on!" Yolei interrupted. "Who's Lady Sinister?"
Ken sighed in exasperation. "Its a long story! All I can say is that she's kidnapped Aleida in order to get me to return me as the Digimon Emperor."
Izzy rose an eyebrow. "What makes you think we should help you?"
Ken lowered his head. "I know I've done some terrible things as the Digimon Emperor, but things are different now. I know you guys hate me, but I'm doing this for Aleida."
Davis placed a hand on his shoulder. "Of course we'll help. We're all friends of Aleida's."
Ken smiled in relief. He took a seat at an empty computer and started typing in some codes.
T.K. came up to his side, still wary of him. "What are you doing?"
"Setting the coordinates to a certain part of the Digital World," Ken explained, getting his Digivice out.
"What for?" Cody asked.
"I found something the other day. It could help us."
Davis grinned. "Just lead the way Ken."
* * * * * * "Wormmon!" Ken called as they wandered through the forest of the Digital World. "Where are you?!"
The bushes at his feet rustled and Wormmon crawled out. "I'm right here Master---er, I mean Ken."
Ken got on his knees and embraced his Digimon. "I'm so glad you're safe!"
Kari peered through the bushes Wormmon had emerged from. Nestled in pieces of straw laid an ice-blue digi-egg with yellow zigzags. In the center was an ice-blue heart with two halves of a Ying-yang on either side of it. "Is that...a digi-egg?!"
T.K. followed her gaze and nodded. "And that's a digivice next to it." He got on his knees to look at it more closely. "I recognize this symbol...its the Crest of Loyalty. Who does it belong to?"
"My theory is that Aleida didn't come to the Digital World by accident," Ken said, kneeling by his side. "I had Wormmon guard it."
"Aleida's a DigiDestined!" Davis was dancing for joy. "Yahoo!"
"Weren't you going to bring Aleida here?" Wormmon asked.
Ken nodded. "I was, but Lady Sinister kidnapped her. Have you seen her?"
"No," Wormmon admitted. "But I did see a strange girl..."
"Explain."
"She appeared out of no where and claims to be---"
"The Digimon Empress," a familiar voice said on a cliff above them. Everyone whirled around to see who spoke. It was indeed Aleida, or was it? She wore a blue cape just like Ken's Emperor cape, long black gloves, the shirt Ken had, only as a tank top, and a knee length skirt that was similar to Ken's pants. She had knee length black boots and her hair was pulled into one ponytail on the left side of her head. She smirked down at them.
Ken paled. "What happened to her?"
Davis cocked his head. "Digimon Empress huh? She kinda looks like you as the Emperor, only as a girl though..."
Cody advanced on Ken. "I bet Ken is leading us into a trap! He probably did this to Aleida in the first place!"
Ken grabbed him by the collar and glared at him. "You take that back! Right now!"
"Never!" Cody said flatly.
"If I had my whip I'd---"
"You'd what?" Cody taunted.
Kari separated them. "Stop fighting! We have bigger problems at hand! Like how Aleida came to be this way."
Ken rolled his eyes. "That's real easy. Lady Sinister is behind this!"
Suddenly, Lady Sinister's voice echoed throughout the forest. "Empress! Bring the Emperor before me!"
Aleida turned away and advanced towards the kids.
Davis stepped in front of Ken in a protective stance.
"Davis," Ken said softly. "Its no use."
"We're in this together Ken!" Davis said firmly.
At that moment, a loud THOOMP sounded behind them. T.K. paled. "Now what?!"
They turned to look up at a Greymon. Tai sat on his shoulders. He winked and gave them a thumbs up. "Need a lift?"
Aleida watched Greymon leave with the kids in the distance. "You may have escaped me for now, but just you wait..."
* * * * * * Once they were a safe distance away, Greymon dropped them off at by the shade of a tree. Ken was still pretty shaken and everyone was quiet. He hugged his legs to his chest and stared at the ground. "She's my only friend...I won't lose her...not this way..."
Tai placed a hand on his shoulder. "Don't give it a second thought Ken. We'll free her somehow. But first you need to tell us more about this Lady Sinister."
Wormmon snuggled up to Ken's side. "He's right. It's time to tell them."
Ken sighed and the others gathered around him. "I had no clue about the Digital World until Lady Sinister told me. Once I arrived, she agreed to help me rule it. We were partners. Only when Aleida got hurt did I realize that she didn't care about me. I was merely a pawn in her game. Now I fear that she is punishing me for leaving."
He bit his lip to keep the tears from coming.
"Hmm," Tai said thoughtfully. "Ken. Remember that symbol you had on your Emperor glasses?"
Ken shuddered. "Yeah."
"I saw that same symbol on Aleida's forehead."
"I saw it too," T.K. pointed out.
"That must be what's controlling her," Kari said.
"I'm guessing that she's not the Aleida we know and love," Davis said softly.
"That's it!" Ken exclaimed.
"What's it?" Davis asked in puzzlement.
"The only way to break the spell is through love and friendship!"
Davis frowned. "You sure?"
Ken grinned. "Hey, I'm living proof!"
"Got any ideas?" Tai asked.
Ken winked and gave him a thumbs-up. "Just leave it to me!"
* * * * * * Aleida approached Lady Sinister and bowed.
"Did you manage to capture him?"
"A thousand apologies," Aleida said. "I failed to do so."
Suddenly, Lady Sinister slapped her across the face. Aleida fell to the ground from the impact. "I will not accept failure! Do you understand?"
"Yes."
"Let me explain again," Lady Sinister said, advancing on her. Aleida tried to back away, but her back was already against the wall. "You have no friends and never will until the Emperor is punished! Its all his fault. You are alone." She grabbed Aleida's arm and pulled her to her feet then shoved her towards the door. " Now go! Do not fail me!"
* * * * * * Ken scanned the terrain and spotted Aleida walking by. He crouched down behind the bushes he and the others were hiding behind. "O.K., here she comes. Remember, don't do anything...even if I get hurt."
Davis nodded. "We're with you all the way Ken."
Ken grinned and climbed out of the bush and stood in front of a tree so Aleida could plainly see him. She spotted him and approached him. She paused for a moment...because he was...smiling. "Hi! Want to play soccer? I'll be the goalie this time."
She narrowed her eyes at him. "This is a trap!"
He shook his head. "No, it isn't. I wouldn't do that."
"Why not?"
"Because we're best friends."
She frowned. "I don't have friends."
"Of course you do," he continued to smile. "You just don't remember."
She hesitated. "Prove it."
He pulled out a photograph of the two of them his mother had taken a week ago when she came out of the hospital and handed it to her. "Here's your proof."
She looked it over and a confused expression crossed her face. "I had friends? I wasn't always alone after all?"
"Listen to me," he said, knowing that he had reached her. "Lady Sinister is lying to you."
"She wouldn't. I'm her faithful servant---"
"You don't belong to anyone."
"I don't?"
He nodded. "Yes."
She turned and covered her face with her hands. "I'm so confused!"
He placed a hand on her shoulder. "It'll be all right. I'm here to help you..."
She suddenly glared at him. "How dare you try to turn me against my Master!" She held out her hands and a ball of pure energy emegered from her hands. Ken was slammed against the tree. He was out cold. She smirked at him. "That'll teach you to lie about my Master." She created another ball of energy, but this one placed him in a bubble. "Perhaps if you knew her better you won't say such things!"
Once the two were out of sight, the others stood up.
"Ken was sure brave," Davis admitted, though he looked worried for him.
Wormmon fidgeted in Kari's arms. She looked down at him. "Ken will be fine."
Cody looked at his Digivice. "Its a good thing Ken's wearing a tracking button."
Tai tapped his chin in thought. "I can't remember Ken ever having that type of power. He only had a whip."
Yolie rose an eyebrow. "You mean that wasn't enough?!"
* * * * * * When Ken woke up, he was surprised to find himself floating in a large ball of some kind in his own base. Lady Sinister approached it and smirked at him. "Its so nice of you to stop by. By now you must realize that you two are no longer friends."
He glared at her. "We'll always be friends, forever and ever."
"Friends forever? Ha!"
Aleida suddenly remembered the day they meet. They were only little kids. He was leaving and she waved. "We'll be friends forever!"
She was back to the present by a sudden scream of pain. She looked up to see lightening crashing around the ball, zapping Ken left and right. She couldn't watch this. She approached Lady Sinister. "Isn't this punishment a bit extreme?"
Lady Sinister rose an eyebrow. "Of course not! A traitor to Lady Sinister is worthy of death!"
Davis fidgeted as he and the others watched the whole scene from an air vent. "I can't watch this any longer! We've got to act now!"
"No," Tai said, holding out a hand to hold him back. "I've got the feeling Aleida will do it for us."
Aleida was growing more uncomfortable by the second. Every time she closed her eyes, she could see Ken waving with a smile on his face saying, "Hey, you want to play soccer?"
When she opened her eyes, Ken was barely moving and the lightening stopped briefly. Lady Sinister wore a devious smile. "And now Ichijouji," she murmured. "You will learn the ultimate price for leaving me..."
Aleida knew what she had in mind and flung out her hands at the ball holding Ken prisoner. An energy blast shattered it to pieces and Ken fell to the ground. He wasn't moving at all. She feared that she had been too late.
Lady Sinister held up a hand to slap her. "You just made the biggest mistake of your life!"
Aleida held up her hands again in preparation to blast her. "No, you did!"
"Okay Tai," Kari said as she carefully popped the grate out of place. "While those two are fighting, you get Ken out of here."
Tai nodded and hurried to Ken's side. He gingerly picked Ken up. He stirred and looked up. "We've got to get you out of here."
He looked at Aleida. "What about her?"
Tai looked over at the two fighting and wore a wry smile. "Something tells me that she'll be all right. Besides, this place is gonna blow!"
Suddenly, Lady Sinister broke free and grabbed Aleida's throat. "What makes you think you can harm me?! I control you!"
Ken pulled away. "We've got to save her Tai! My friendship with her is important to me. Don't worry about me, I'll be fine."
Aleida twisted away and held out a hand. Instead of a ball of energy, a ball of fire threw Lady Sinister back into a stack of crates and set the whole thing on fire. She rounded on Tai who was still trying to get Ken to leave. "And just who do you think you are?"
Ken paled. "She doesn't recognize you!"
"That makes sense because she didn't know me to begin with," Tai said trying to make a joke although he wasn't smiling.
She raised a hand and prepared to throw a fireball. "Say good-bye..."
"Tai no!" Kari called out in horror.
Tai covered his face and braced himself. Seconds went into minutes, and still nothing happened. He finally opened his eyes. Kari was standing in front of him and was glowing. "Kari?" He asked in surprise.
Ken's mouth dropped. "What's going on?"
"She's Queen Kari again."
His mouth dropped. "Huh?!"
"Its a long story," Tai said.
Kari turned to look at her brother. "Tai, get the others out of here! This is not going to be pretty."
She waited until everyone had left until she turned back to face Aleida. She hovered in the air. "I don't want to fight you Aleida...but I fear I must."
"You think you can stop me?" Aleida countered as she hovered in the air once again. She held up a hand and a ball of flame appeared in her hand. "Take this!"
Kari held out her hand and it bounced off. She punched Aleida in the face. Aleida growled and tried striking her with another fireball. Kari ducked and it fell towards a stack of TNT. Aleida and Kari gasped in horror.
* * * * * * Tai took the others a little ways away from Lady Sinister's castle. Ken peered out from behind a tree. "They've been in there a long time..."
"It'll be all right," Tai assured him, but he was just as worried.
Suddenly, the castle exploded. Everyone gasped in horror. Ken's eye filled with tears. "I can't believe it..."
"Ken!" Davis exclaimed as he pointed in the direction of the destroyed castle. "Look!"
He looked to see Kari (who was still glowing) walking towards them, carrying Aleida in her arms. She was unconscious. Kari looked at Ken sadly. "I'm sorry Ken, but even with my power I can't break the spell."
Ken bit his lip and nodded. He held out his hands to hold her. "May I?"
Kari nodded and carefully placed Aleida in his arms. She barely moved. Ken sat on the ground, holding Aleida close to him. The others gathered around him, but he didn't notice. His tears emerged.
"I'm sorry this happened to you," he said softly. "I'm sorry I ever became the Digimon Emperor. If I hadn't. you'd still be the Aleida I have grown to know..." He paused and gently touched her cheek. "And love. I'm so sorry."
At that moment, one of his tears fell on the mark on her forehead. They were then enveloped in a pink light. The others gasped in surprise. Davis quickly put his goggles on. "Ken's Crest of Kindness is glowing!"
When the light slowly disappeared, Ken's uniform was no longer torn and even Aleida was returned to normal, though still unconscious. Ken smiled in relief. "I did it! I broke the spell!"
Aleida stirred and opened her eyes. "Hmm..."
Ken embraced her. "Its really you!"
She looked at him strangely. "Of course it is! Will someone tell me what's going on?"
"You were turned evil by Lady Sinister," Davis explained.
"You called yourself the Digimon Empress," Cody submitted.
"You took Ken to her to be tortured," T.K. added.
"When you turned on us, I fought against you," Kari said.
"My Crest broke the spell," Ken said with a proud smile.
Tai waved. "Hi! My name's Tai. I'm Kari's older brother."
Aleida was surprised at how the others could tell her this with a smile on their faces. She pulled her legs to her chest and stared at the ground. "In other words, I was evil and nearly destroyed you all..."
Kari placed a hand on her shoulder. "Its all right now. We know that that you didn't mean to do any of those things."
Wormmon crawled into Aleida's lap and nuzzled her. "I missed you."
"That reminds me," Ken said and held up the digi-egg of Loyalty and a digivice. "These are your's!"
Aleida held the digivice and rose an eyebrow. "Me? A DigiDestined? Impossible."
"There's only one way to find out," Ken pointed out and handed her the digi-egg.
She held it in her hands and frowned. Is it possible?
Suddenly, the egg glowed and soon a small Digimon appeared in her arms. It looked somewhat like a small tan dog, only with long ears that looked like a rabbits on either side of its head. It had a lightening bolt scar, black beady eyes, a small mane of fluffy blue hair and its tail was like a twig with a poofy end the same color as its mane. "Hello," she said with a smile. "I'm Risimon."
Yolei stroked her ears. "They're so soft!"
Kari stroked her other ear. "Oh! She's so cute!"
Ken looked off to the horizon. "The sun's setting. We'd better be leaving."
* * * * * * "Hey Ken?" T.K. asked once they returned to the Real World in the computer room.
"What?" Ken asked.
T.K. gave him a thumbs-up sign. "You're welcome to join us DigiDestined. Wouldn't want Aleida to be bored!"
Ken grinned. "Thanks a lot."
"You going to be okay Aleida?" Kari asked.
"I'll walk her home," Ken offered. "Do you mind?"
Aleida was staring at the floor, but nodded. As they walked down the street, the sun had disappeared and it was dark. Aleida still didn't notice.
"Is something wrong?" He asked. "Usually you can't go through two minutes without talking!"
"I can't be a DigiDestined," she said flatly.
He frowned. "Why?"
She was silent for another moment. "Its...its...personal."
"But we always tell each other everything," he said.
She glared at him. "That's funny, I can't remember you saying that you were the Digimon Emperor!"
He blushed. She hurried on ahead and up the front walk of her house.
"Please Aleida!" He called after her. "Tell me!"
She paused for a moment, but hurried inside.
Her mother was waiting for her. She had shoulder-length blonde hair, dark blue eyes, a French hat, a purple shirt, and a black skirt. "Where have you been? I was so worried?"
"Sorry mom," Aleida said. "Soccer practice lasted longer than usual. Can I spend the night at Ken's?"
"Do you promise never to do that again?"
"Yes," Aleida said. "May I?"
"Sure, but come home first thing in the morning. Oh, by the way. That's a nice stuffed animal."
"Thanks," Aleida said and hurried into her room. She laid Risimon on her bed and turned to start packing.
"I don't get it," Risimon admitted. "Why do you want to spend the night at Ken's house?"
Aleida paused for a moment. "Let's just say the Digimon Empress may not be gone..."
Risimon placed a paw on her hand. "I'm coming with you."
After Aleida bid her mother good-bye, she hurried down the street. She didn't know where exactly she was going, but as long as it was far from home...and the other DigiDestined. I can't face them again...not after what I almost did.
"Do you think I'm a bother?" Risimon asked.
Aleida looked down at her and wore a small smile. "Of course not! I could really use the company. I have a feeling I'll need it more than anything..."
To be continued....
Hi! This is the Real Aleida! In reality I'm Lauren but whatever! My good friend Ashley (Aledaya or rather Katra...oh wait, you don't know! You'll find out!) was good enough to post these stories of mine on the Internet! I've wanted to do that for a long time! Anyway, this is the second in the series (10 in all) and we'll post the rest up soon! We're actually working on the 8th one as of now! If you'd like to see/have any pictures from the stories, email us at Doberry85@excite.com, we'll be sure to send you one! Please specify what you want! Keep the reviews a comin' and we'll be a sendin'!
Aleida Katomi!
This isn't like the Digimon Emperor to not report, she thought with a frown. She knocked on the door of his base and waited. No answer. She knocked harder. Still no answer. She raised a gloved fist and with a great blast of energy, blew the door off its hinges. The metal door echoed throughout the room as it fell to the floor. She calmly stepped through and smirked. Oh well, it serves him right for not opening it when I knocked! She walked into the main control room. He was usually there, either sipping tea or just yelling at Wormmon. To her surprise, he wasn't there. The equipment was shut down and the room itself was dark.
"Emperor? Are you still here?" She looked around in puzzlement. "Don't make me call you that cute little name you hate!"
If he was hiding, he would have come out by now just to escape hearing that awful nickname she gave him.
"I warned you!" She called out. "Oh Emperor boy!"
He still didn't come out. He definitely wasn't here. She went over to the computer system and activated the main computer. The screens flashed on. She tapped in some codes and then turned to watch the screens display different scenes of the Digital World. She frowned. "He's not in the Digital World? How could that be?"
She typed in another sequence and suddenly the screen flashed to show Ken walking home from school with Aleida in the park. She gasped. "The Real World?! What is he doing there!" She frowned. "He's beyond my control now. Oh well. It was fun while it lasted..."
She finally noticed his friend and narrowed her eyes on her. She tapped in another code and the screen centered on Aleida. "I remember that girl..." A devious grin spread on her face. "Hmmm...perhaps I can still reach Ken!"
* * * * * * "And I told him that if he called me that again, I'd kill him," Aleida continued on simply.
Ken covered a smile. "It seems like you've had a busy day."
Suddenly a flash of light appeared behind them. Ken whirled around and gasped. Aleida peered over his shoulder. Before them stood a woman in her late twenties. She had a black witch hat, long blonde hair, spiky bangs, one side covered her left eye. She had a simple ballgown dress that was layered. The top was dark purple, the bottom light purple with a simple brown belt and a pearl necklace. She had long gray gloves that were criss-crossed.
She smiled at Ken. "Greetings Emperor. Did you miss me?"
He stood in front of Aleida and raised a fist at the woman. "You leave me alone! You've no longer have control over me!"
She smirked. "My dear boy....whatever made you think I wanted you?"
Ken was caught off guard. "Why are you here then?"
She didn't answer and a portal between the Digital World and the Real World. She stepped through it then suddenly turned and grabbed Aleida's leg. She was caught off guard and fell to the ground. The woman stepped through, soon only her arm was visible, still dragging Aleida.
"No!" Ken exclaimed. He grabbed Aleida's gloved hand. "I won't let you do this!"
"Ken! Help---"
The strange woman pulled Aleida away into the portal.
Ken fell to his knees in horror and surprise. "I can't believe she's really gone..."
* * * * * *
Aleida tried to break free from the experimenting table she was strapped to but all in vain. The woman had her back to Aleida, it appeared that she was reaching for something.
"Just who do you think you are?!" Aleida snarled.
The woman turned slightly. "Now, now, that's no way to talk to your new partner..."
Aleida paused. "Partner? What are you talking about?"
She approached Aleida who had grown quieter with a stamp in her hand. On it was the same symbol Ken had had on his glasses when he had become the Digimon Emperor. Aleida shivered. She must be the one who turned Ken into the Digimon Emperor...but what does she want with me?
"You have a lot of nerve for a little girl," the woman said coolly. "You took Ken from my power. For that, I ought to kill you here and now."
Aleida cringed.
"But no matter," the woman's tone became more smoother. "As they say, if you can't fight them, join them."
Aleida paled as the stamp came closer and closer...
* * * * * * Kari jumped as she heard the computer door slam open and was surprised to see Ken panting.
"Aleida's been kidnapped," he quickly explained. "I need your help!"
Izzy looked up from the computer at him coldly. Ken cringed. I knew this was a bad idea!
"What happened?"
Ken approached him. "I was walking with her when Lady Sinister---"
"Woah, Woah! Hold on!" Yolei interrupted. "Who's Lady Sinister?"
Ken sighed in exasperation. "Its a long story! All I can say is that she's kidnapped Aleida in order to get me to return me as the Digimon Emperor."
Izzy rose an eyebrow. "What makes you think we should help you?"
Ken lowered his head. "I know I've done some terrible things as the Digimon Emperor, but things are different now. I know you guys hate me, but I'm doing this for Aleida."
Davis placed a hand on his shoulder. "Of course we'll help. We're all friends of Aleida's."
Ken smiled in relief. He took a seat at an empty computer and started typing in some codes.
T.K. came up to his side, still wary of him. "What are you doing?"
"Setting the coordinates to a certain part of the Digital World," Ken explained, getting his Digivice out.
"What for?" Cody asked.
"I found something the other day. It could help us."
Davis grinned. "Just lead the way Ken."
* * * * * * "Wormmon!" Ken called as they wandered through the forest of the Digital World. "Where are you?!"
The bushes at his feet rustled and Wormmon crawled out. "I'm right here Master---er, I mean Ken."
Ken got on his knees and embraced his Digimon. "I'm so glad you're safe!"
Kari peered through the bushes Wormmon had emerged from. Nestled in pieces of straw laid an ice-blue digi-egg with yellow zigzags. In the center was an ice-blue heart with two halves of a Ying-yang on either side of it. "Is that...a digi-egg?!"
T.K. followed her gaze and nodded. "And that's a digivice next to it." He got on his knees to look at it more closely. "I recognize this symbol...its the Crest of Loyalty. Who does it belong to?"
"My theory is that Aleida didn't come to the Digital World by accident," Ken said, kneeling by his side. "I had Wormmon guard it."
"Aleida's a DigiDestined!" Davis was dancing for joy. "Yahoo!"
"Weren't you going to bring Aleida here?" Wormmon asked.
Ken nodded. "I was, but Lady Sinister kidnapped her. Have you seen her?"
"No," Wormmon admitted. "But I did see a strange girl..."
"Explain."
"She appeared out of no where and claims to be---"
"The Digimon Empress," a familiar voice said on a cliff above them. Everyone whirled around to see who spoke. It was indeed Aleida, or was it? She wore a blue cape just like Ken's Emperor cape, long black gloves, the shirt Ken had, only as a tank top, and a knee length skirt that was similar to Ken's pants. She had knee length black boots and her hair was pulled into one ponytail on the left side of her head. She smirked down at them.
Ken paled. "What happened to her?"
Davis cocked his head. "Digimon Empress huh? She kinda looks like you as the Emperor, only as a girl though..."
Cody advanced on Ken. "I bet Ken is leading us into a trap! He probably did this to Aleida in the first place!"
Ken grabbed him by the collar and glared at him. "You take that back! Right now!"
"Never!" Cody said flatly.
"If I had my whip I'd---"
"You'd what?" Cody taunted.
Kari separated them. "Stop fighting! We have bigger problems at hand! Like how Aleida came to be this way."
Ken rolled his eyes. "That's real easy. Lady Sinister is behind this!"
Suddenly, Lady Sinister's voice echoed throughout the forest. "Empress! Bring the Emperor before me!"
Aleida turned away and advanced towards the kids.
Davis stepped in front of Ken in a protective stance.
"Davis," Ken said softly. "Its no use."
"We're in this together Ken!" Davis said firmly.
At that moment, a loud THOOMP sounded behind them. T.K. paled. "Now what?!"
They turned to look up at a Greymon. Tai sat on his shoulders. He winked and gave them a thumbs up. "Need a lift?"
Aleida watched Greymon leave with the kids in the distance. "You may have escaped me for now, but just you wait..."
* * * * * * Once they were a safe distance away, Greymon dropped them off at by the shade of a tree. Ken was still pretty shaken and everyone was quiet. He hugged his legs to his chest and stared at the ground. "She's my only friend...I won't lose her...not this way..."
Tai placed a hand on his shoulder. "Don't give it a second thought Ken. We'll free her somehow. But first you need to tell us more about this Lady Sinister."
Wormmon snuggled up to Ken's side. "He's right. It's time to tell them."
Ken sighed and the others gathered around him. "I had no clue about the Digital World until Lady Sinister told me. Once I arrived, she agreed to help me rule it. We were partners. Only when Aleida got hurt did I realize that she didn't care about me. I was merely a pawn in her game. Now I fear that she is punishing me for leaving."
He bit his lip to keep the tears from coming.
"Hmm," Tai said thoughtfully. "Ken. Remember that symbol you had on your Emperor glasses?"
Ken shuddered. "Yeah."
"I saw that same symbol on Aleida's forehead."
"I saw it too," T.K. pointed out.
"That must be what's controlling her," Kari said.
"I'm guessing that she's not the Aleida we know and love," Davis said softly.
"That's it!" Ken exclaimed.
"What's it?" Davis asked in puzzlement.
"The only way to break the spell is through love and friendship!"
Davis frowned. "You sure?"
Ken grinned. "Hey, I'm living proof!"
"Got any ideas?" Tai asked.
Ken winked and gave him a thumbs-up. "Just leave it to me!"
* * * * * * Aleida approached Lady Sinister and bowed.
"Did you manage to capture him?"
"A thousand apologies," Aleida said. "I failed to do so."
Suddenly, Lady Sinister slapped her across the face. Aleida fell to the ground from the impact. "I will not accept failure! Do you understand?"
"Yes."
"Let me explain again," Lady Sinister said, advancing on her. Aleida tried to back away, but her back was already against the wall. "You have no friends and never will until the Emperor is punished! Its all his fault. You are alone." She grabbed Aleida's arm and pulled her to her feet then shoved her towards the door. " Now go! Do not fail me!"
* * * * * * Ken scanned the terrain and spotted Aleida walking by. He crouched down behind the bushes he and the others were hiding behind. "O.K., here she comes. Remember, don't do anything...even if I get hurt."
Davis nodded. "We're with you all the way Ken."
Ken grinned and climbed out of the bush and stood in front of a tree so Aleida could plainly see him. She spotted him and approached him. She paused for a moment...because he was...smiling. "Hi! Want to play soccer? I'll be the goalie this time."
She narrowed her eyes at him. "This is a trap!"
He shook his head. "No, it isn't. I wouldn't do that."
"Why not?"
"Because we're best friends."
She frowned. "I don't have friends."
"Of course you do," he continued to smile. "You just don't remember."
She hesitated. "Prove it."
He pulled out a photograph of the two of them his mother had taken a week ago when she came out of the hospital and handed it to her. "Here's your proof."
She looked it over and a confused expression crossed her face. "I had friends? I wasn't always alone after all?"
"Listen to me," he said, knowing that he had reached her. "Lady Sinister is lying to you."
"She wouldn't. I'm her faithful servant---"
"You don't belong to anyone."
"I don't?"
He nodded. "Yes."
She turned and covered her face with her hands. "I'm so confused!"
He placed a hand on her shoulder. "It'll be all right. I'm here to help you..."
She suddenly glared at him. "How dare you try to turn me against my Master!" She held out her hands and a ball of pure energy emegered from her hands. Ken was slammed against the tree. He was out cold. She smirked at him. "That'll teach you to lie about my Master." She created another ball of energy, but this one placed him in a bubble. "Perhaps if you knew her better you won't say such things!"
Once the two were out of sight, the others stood up.
"Ken was sure brave," Davis admitted, though he looked worried for him.
Wormmon fidgeted in Kari's arms. She looked down at him. "Ken will be fine."
Cody looked at his Digivice. "Its a good thing Ken's wearing a tracking button."
Tai tapped his chin in thought. "I can't remember Ken ever having that type of power. He only had a whip."
Yolie rose an eyebrow. "You mean that wasn't enough?!"
* * * * * * When Ken woke up, he was surprised to find himself floating in a large ball of some kind in his own base. Lady Sinister approached it and smirked at him. "Its so nice of you to stop by. By now you must realize that you two are no longer friends."
He glared at her. "We'll always be friends, forever and ever."
"Friends forever? Ha!"
Aleida suddenly remembered the day they meet. They were only little kids. He was leaving and she waved. "We'll be friends forever!"
She was back to the present by a sudden scream of pain. She looked up to see lightening crashing around the ball, zapping Ken left and right. She couldn't watch this. She approached Lady Sinister. "Isn't this punishment a bit extreme?"
Lady Sinister rose an eyebrow. "Of course not! A traitor to Lady Sinister is worthy of death!"
Davis fidgeted as he and the others watched the whole scene from an air vent. "I can't watch this any longer! We've got to act now!"
"No," Tai said, holding out a hand to hold him back. "I've got the feeling Aleida will do it for us."
Aleida was growing more uncomfortable by the second. Every time she closed her eyes, she could see Ken waving with a smile on his face saying, "Hey, you want to play soccer?"
When she opened her eyes, Ken was barely moving and the lightening stopped briefly. Lady Sinister wore a devious smile. "And now Ichijouji," she murmured. "You will learn the ultimate price for leaving me..."
Aleida knew what she had in mind and flung out her hands at the ball holding Ken prisoner. An energy blast shattered it to pieces and Ken fell to the ground. He wasn't moving at all. She feared that she had been too late.
Lady Sinister held up a hand to slap her. "You just made the biggest mistake of your life!"
Aleida held up her hands again in preparation to blast her. "No, you did!"
"Okay Tai," Kari said as she carefully popped the grate out of place. "While those two are fighting, you get Ken out of here."
Tai nodded and hurried to Ken's side. He gingerly picked Ken up. He stirred and looked up. "We've got to get you out of here."
He looked at Aleida. "What about her?"
Tai looked over at the two fighting and wore a wry smile. "Something tells me that she'll be all right. Besides, this place is gonna blow!"
Suddenly, Lady Sinister broke free and grabbed Aleida's throat. "What makes you think you can harm me?! I control you!"
Ken pulled away. "We've got to save her Tai! My friendship with her is important to me. Don't worry about me, I'll be fine."
Aleida twisted away and held out a hand. Instead of a ball of energy, a ball of fire threw Lady Sinister back into a stack of crates and set the whole thing on fire. She rounded on Tai who was still trying to get Ken to leave. "And just who do you think you are?"
Ken paled. "She doesn't recognize you!"
"That makes sense because she didn't know me to begin with," Tai said trying to make a joke although he wasn't smiling.
She raised a hand and prepared to throw a fireball. "Say good-bye..."
"Tai no!" Kari called out in horror.
Tai covered his face and braced himself. Seconds went into minutes, and still nothing happened. He finally opened his eyes. Kari was standing in front of him and was glowing. "Kari?" He asked in surprise.
Ken's mouth dropped. "What's going on?"
"She's Queen Kari again."
His mouth dropped. "Huh?!"
"Its a long story," Tai said.
Kari turned to look at her brother. "Tai, get the others out of here! This is not going to be pretty."
She waited until everyone had left until she turned back to face Aleida. She hovered in the air. "I don't want to fight you Aleida...but I fear I must."
"You think you can stop me?" Aleida countered as she hovered in the air once again. She held up a hand and a ball of flame appeared in her hand. "Take this!"
Kari held out her hand and it bounced off. She punched Aleida in the face. Aleida growled and tried striking her with another fireball. Kari ducked and it fell towards a stack of TNT. Aleida and Kari gasped in horror.
* * * * * * Tai took the others a little ways away from Lady Sinister's castle. Ken peered out from behind a tree. "They've been in there a long time..."
"It'll be all right," Tai assured him, but he was just as worried.
Suddenly, the castle exploded. Everyone gasped in horror. Ken's eye filled with tears. "I can't believe it..."
"Ken!" Davis exclaimed as he pointed in the direction of the destroyed castle. "Look!"
He looked to see Kari (who was still glowing) walking towards them, carrying Aleida in her arms. She was unconscious. Kari looked at Ken sadly. "I'm sorry Ken, but even with my power I can't break the spell."
Ken bit his lip and nodded. He held out his hands to hold her. "May I?"
Kari nodded and carefully placed Aleida in his arms. She barely moved. Ken sat on the ground, holding Aleida close to him. The others gathered around him, but he didn't notice. His tears emerged.
"I'm sorry this happened to you," he said softly. "I'm sorry I ever became the Digimon Emperor. If I hadn't. you'd still be the Aleida I have grown to know..." He paused and gently touched her cheek. "And love. I'm so sorry."
At that moment, one of his tears fell on the mark on her forehead. They were then enveloped in a pink light. The others gasped in surprise. Davis quickly put his goggles on. "Ken's Crest of Kindness is glowing!"
When the light slowly disappeared, Ken's uniform was no longer torn and even Aleida was returned to normal, though still unconscious. Ken smiled in relief. "I did it! I broke the spell!"
Aleida stirred and opened her eyes. "Hmm..."
Ken embraced her. "Its really you!"
She looked at him strangely. "Of course it is! Will someone tell me what's going on?"
"You were turned evil by Lady Sinister," Davis explained.
"You called yourself the Digimon Empress," Cody submitted.
"You took Ken to her to be tortured," T.K. added.
"When you turned on us, I fought against you," Kari said.
"My Crest broke the spell," Ken said with a proud smile.
Tai waved. "Hi! My name's Tai. I'm Kari's older brother."
Aleida was surprised at how the others could tell her this with a smile on their faces. She pulled her legs to her chest and stared at the ground. "In other words, I was evil and nearly destroyed you all..."
Kari placed a hand on her shoulder. "Its all right now. We know that that you didn't mean to do any of those things."
Wormmon crawled into Aleida's lap and nuzzled her. "I missed you."
"That reminds me," Ken said and held up the digi-egg of Loyalty and a digivice. "These are your's!"
Aleida held the digivice and rose an eyebrow. "Me? A DigiDestined? Impossible."
"There's only one way to find out," Ken pointed out and handed her the digi-egg.
She held it in her hands and frowned. Is it possible?
Suddenly, the egg glowed and soon a small Digimon appeared in her arms. It looked somewhat like a small tan dog, only with long ears that looked like a rabbits on either side of its head. It had a lightening bolt scar, black beady eyes, a small mane of fluffy blue hair and its tail was like a twig with a poofy end the same color as its mane. "Hello," she said with a smile. "I'm Risimon."
Yolei stroked her ears. "They're so soft!"
Kari stroked her other ear. "Oh! She's so cute!"
Ken looked off to the horizon. "The sun's setting. We'd better be leaving."
* * * * * * "Hey Ken?" T.K. asked once they returned to the Real World in the computer room.
"What?" Ken asked.
T.K. gave him a thumbs-up sign. "You're welcome to join us DigiDestined. Wouldn't want Aleida to be bored!"
Ken grinned. "Thanks a lot."
"You going to be okay Aleida?" Kari asked.
"I'll walk her home," Ken offered. "Do you mind?"
Aleida was staring at the floor, but nodded. As they walked down the street, the sun had disappeared and it was dark. Aleida still didn't notice.
"Is something wrong?" He asked. "Usually you can't go through two minutes without talking!"
"I can't be a DigiDestined," she said flatly.
He frowned. "Why?"
She was silent for another moment. "Its...its...personal."
"But we always tell each other everything," he said.
She glared at him. "That's funny, I can't remember you saying that you were the Digimon Emperor!"
He blushed. She hurried on ahead and up the front walk of her house.
"Please Aleida!" He called after her. "Tell me!"
She paused for a moment, but hurried inside.
Her mother was waiting for her. She had shoulder-length blonde hair, dark blue eyes, a French hat, a purple shirt, and a black skirt. "Where have you been? I was so worried?"
"Sorry mom," Aleida said. "Soccer practice lasted longer than usual. Can I spend the night at Ken's?"
"Do you promise never to do that again?"
"Yes," Aleida said. "May I?"
"Sure, but come home first thing in the morning. Oh, by the way. That's a nice stuffed animal."
"Thanks," Aleida said and hurried into her room. She laid Risimon on her bed and turned to start packing.
"I don't get it," Risimon admitted. "Why do you want to spend the night at Ken's house?"
Aleida paused for a moment. "Let's just say the Digimon Empress may not be gone..."
Risimon placed a paw on her hand. "I'm coming with you."
After Aleida bid her mother good-bye, she hurried down the street. She didn't know where exactly she was going, but as long as it was far from home...and the other DigiDestined. I can't face them again...not after what I almost did.
"Do you think I'm a bother?" Risimon asked.
Aleida looked down at her and wore a small smile. "Of course not! I could really use the company. I have a feeling I'll need it more than anything..."
To be continued....
