Devil's Advocates

by AmethystB

{FINISHED}All of them had fought that evil…and without both of them, the world wouldn’t have been saved from the evil. By helping the Devil, they had helped the entire world. They were The Devil’s Advocates. Forever...

11. The Next Minion

Amethyst Blizzard: Hiya, I'm back again and prepared to take a beating this time around for making Rika a little too emotion conscience, meaning her mind is now in relapse for what happened in the last chapter. Yes, the kiss will be explained as it is key in later chapters, as well as just plain mean to both Rika and Ryo. (Told you I'm evil)

Thank you to all my wonderful reviewers and loyal readers. As I've said so many times, I really couldn't do this without all of you behind me. ;)

Floramon: Yeah, whatever. Enough with the thank you's and the pleasantries. Time for some long-waited action, so sit back and relax!

A/N: This chappie will start off in Rika's point of view in a sort of flashback sequence, so as to get a hold of her thoughts.

Disclaimer: I gracefully admit not owning Digimon or any of its characters, but damn, I would like to own Koji! -_- So no one can sue me for writing this. But then again, no one can sue me anyway because I'm not eighteen. So there!

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Devil's Advocates

Chapter 11: The Next Minion

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I smiled to myself as BlueMeramon burst into data. Together, we truly were an invincible team, and nothing and no one will get in our way. I glanced up at Henry and he nodded ever so slightly and smiled down at me. I then looked down into the gorge where our Digimon had fallen and Kyubimon was gliding through the air to us. Gargomon De-digivolved back into Terriermon, as did Growlmon. Over the years, we had discovered that if our Digimon no longer had the mad urge to fight, then they would be able to De-digivolve. At first we couldn't control their emotions and calm them down, but after a while, they got used to it and things started going our way. But because Kyubimon had not De-digivolved yet, that meant she was not ready to give up fighting, which meant she knew something we didn't.

My faint smiled faded as I suddenly remembered why we were here. It was to apparently save Ryo and that was going to be pretty hard, considering the fact that wherever Ryo was, you could be sure trouble would be swarming around like bees. I sighed and looked around me for the umpteenth time and noticed the darkness was growing thicker, as opposed to, well, the opposite, growing thinner. The landscape was barely noticeable through the fog, but despite being somewhat blind to my surroundings, I knew where we were. Were we standing on the ledge in the little village where Jijimon and Babamon live, or lived. It was now completely barren and there was nothing in sight but a few tree limbs.

I started slightly as Alicia bumped my arm as she walked past me. I could tell she was still pissed at me, but why was beyond me. We were sisters, after all, so what's the point in keeping secrets, especially a secret that could help us in situations such as this one. When Alicia took the lead, in front of both Brad and Henry (surprise, surprise), it meant we were on the move once again. Kyubimon walked gracefully behind me and I could feel her soft breath on my neck. I smiled again as the secure feeling came back to me. No matter what, I was protected. Protected from harm, yes, but from my own feelings, I wasn't so sure.

Takato, Kazu and Kenta walked behind Kyubimon and I noticed something funny. They were walking in order of height: Kazu first, then Takato and finally Kenta. I suppressed a laugh and looked behind them. Apart from making out the familiar features of Guilmon and Guardromon, nothing was to be seen except for darkness. I absently noticed MarineAngemon wriggling around in Kenta's blue jacket, but other that that, the bland scene was quite depressing.

Monodramon was walking slightly in front of me and I had the queer feeling that why he was doing so was because of Ryo. Monodramon could tell from the beginning that there was something between us and I guess he just felt secure around me. Or maybe he just wanted to reassure me. A sudden thought came to me then, and I looked at my watch. I was surprised to see it not working, but I thought nothing of it, as the battery may have worn already. But then another thought came to me. I had just changed the batteries yesterday.

My thoughts were disturbed as Alicia spoke from the front. "He's close. Knowing this, I also know that we have to be prepared." Her voice sounded emotionless and strangely monotone, but I kept my mouth shut and concentrated.

The minute I began to think about Ryo and what I had said to him, Henry spoke up, disturbing me again from my solitude. "Alicia and Brad, maybe you two should hide somewhere or something, because you are basically defenceless against any Digimon."

"Are you calling me weak?" Alicia answered back in a slightly flirtatious voice and I shuddered. Right now, I felt like I was about to throw up, not because the two of them were flirting, but because they did it so blatantly, like Ryo and me used to. Used to before we grew up and realised that our feelings weren't just based on attractions. Well, maybe they are, but that is completely beside the point. The point is, well I don't know what the point the is, ok.

I felt my features crease as I plastered a deep frown on my face. I was on the verge of punching something, and when I get like this, I usually hurt someone. Or something, considering what Renamon once said about Digimon not being divided up into genders. Actually, that's rather disturbing, but anyway, back to Ryo. Right now, I didn't know what I thought of him. It wasn't really him that was a problem; it was his feelings for me and how they constricted me so much. I guess it wasn't all his fault that facing him right now would be overkill, because we wouldn't even be in this situation if I hadn't run off on him like I did.

And after all, you can't help who you fall in love with, can you? It just happens, and it just feels so right. Maybe we still have a chance, if I explain to Ryo what happened, but my dad just won't leave me alone. Why is it that every time I get close to someone, he always reminds me of why I became so cold and ruthless; because I was hurt so bad by love before. I loved my dad and I guess I took him for granted because it came as such a shock to me when he left.

The landscape suddenly took a change for the best. The thick fog suddenly dissipated into thin air and evaporated like smoke after the fire. I could see clearly our surroundings and it suddenly hit me that we had entered a different plain of the Digital World. All around us the barren mountains of desert became green fields of grass and tiny purple flowers. There were no longer narrow cliff faces and we could walk however we wanted. Henry shifted ahead of me to fall in line beside Alicia, as did Brad. Kyubimon slipped in stride beside me and I glanced sideways at her. I saw her bland features and realised we were way in over our heads, but who could care less when the landscape around you was as beautiful as this?

I flicked my eyes forward and noticed a small, fairytale-like castle dead ahead. I smiled and looked up towards the only noticeable window. My smile froze on my face and I stopped dead in my tracks. Fear and anxiety crawled up inside my chest and I felt suddenly sick and afraid. Our eyes met, deep blue and ice violet, and we were fixed on each other. I felt as if I could not breathe when the sight of him took a turn for the worst. A blonde-haired girl took his face in her hands and kissed him full on the lips. And I knew who she was!

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Ryo froze when he felt warm lips connect with his. Two warm hands practically engulfed his face and he felt both compelled and repulsed at the same time. Compelled to return the passionate kiss, and repulsed because his heart belonged to someone else other that the one who was kissing him. Thoughts and images flashed mercilessly through his head, giving him a painful headache. Feelings of regret, sorrow, guilt, hate and love filled through him and Ryo felt as if he was being pulled apart. Nothing he knew had ever been this painful, and nothing had ever hurt him so much.

Stacie finally pulled apart and when she did, she covered her face with her hands, and a look of horror flashed in her eyes. Both Ryo and Stacie were now facing each other, the window to their side, and their eyes never parted. Unsaid questions flooded the air around them and spilled into the room.

All the while, Mephismon was standing with his arms folded in the far corner, an amused smirk on his cold features. He lifted his arms and clapped loudly, loudly enough for the bemused audience outside to hear.

"What a sweet way to ruin a reunion. Well done, Stacie."

Ryo backed away slowly from the girl, a look of utter confusion gleaming in his eyes. Why had Stacie done that the minute Rika and the others had walked into the scene? Was she trying to make Rika jealous? Or did someone or something make her do that against her will?

Sorrow formed in Stacie's eyes and she shook her head slightly, as if to erase a memory. "I'm so sorry, Ryo. I didn't mean-"

"What do you mean you didn't mean to do it? You did it, and that has to count for something!" Mephismon cocked his head to the side and gave Stacie a fake startled look. The look hid the malicious smirk that was forming just enough to make it look real. "You don't have to apologize for wanting something, Stacie. All you have to do is ask."

"Ryo!"

Ryo started at the voice and turned his head to look out the window. The building he was in wasn't far off the ground and he could easily jump out. Kazu was there, and jumping up and down, trying to get his friend's attention. "Yeah, what?"

"Dude, thought we lost you for a second. Listen, we're going to get you out. Hang on." Kazu then turned to Guardromon and told him a few instructions. Guardromon nodded and turned to face the small castle.

"Guardian Barrage!" His missiles flew whistling through the air and hit the castle head on, causing a few grey bricks to collapse and crumble. When the smoke cleared, a larger hole appeared just next to the window.

Without hesitation, Ryo jumped out just as Kyubimon was gliding through, followed by Guilmon and Terriermon. Kyubimon landed in front of a smiling Mephismon and a shell-shocked Stacie, while Guilmon and Terriermon fell in either side of the great fox.

Mephismon, arms crossed, eyes closed, and deadly smile plastered to his features, sighed tiredly and yawned loudly. "Have fun." And with that, he disappeared into thin air and left the group to stare after his formidable presence.

Outside, Kazu and Kenta were crowded around a tired Ryo and were asking him a dozen questions, very much like reporters or journalists. Ryo however, ignored them and looked straight at Rika, whose cold glare told him she was angry with him. How was he going to explain this one?

They both kept their eyes directly on each other, never leaving or hesitating. So many unasked questions were left unanswered as Rika dismissed the reunion and turned on her heel, nose slightly upright.

Kazu and Kenta had stopped talking and were now looking at Rika's receding figure, both with blank looks on their faces. Finally Kazu took a sharp breath in and shook his head. "Damn, if looks could kill, we'd all be dead."

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"Is this it?"

"Yes, sir. The Phoenixmon. A beautiful creature."

"Good, bring it out."

"Yes, sir."

Mephismon smiled triumphantly as a huge cage was pulled off the ground with great heaving forces from a group of exhausted Gekomon. A savage creature lashed out at the purple Digimon, but the strong, metal bars that formed the cage prevented it from doing so. The creature then let out a terrible screeching cry and retreated back into itself, shimmering its feathers with greatness.

"Ah, Crome-digizoid, magnificent creation. Oh, and Boltmon, go have some fun." Mephismon motioned to the great Digimon, who took the hint and smirked with glee.

"Certainly, sir."

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Stacie breathed a sigh of relief and stepped towards the forced entrance of the now ruined castle, but as she did, as small grenade was launched from the sky and landed just before her feet. Stacie's eyes widened at the realization of what was about to happen and she instinctively covered her head with her arms, not even bothering to run. The grenade ticked its final tick and exploded while blowing up the surrounding area, tearing the solid concrete and under-layer of dirt from the ground. Fortunately, as it was small, it did not reach Stacie or the three Digimon who remained in the charred castle.

Kyubimon took this opportunity to jump gracefully into the air and scooped up a distressed Stacie from underneath. She landed with a light thud on the ground outside right next to Kazu, Kenta and a distant Ryo. Kazu and Kenta moved straight away to help Stacie climb off while Ryo just stood there, staring hard at the sky. Something was up there, he just had to find out what it was. It. A Digimon.

Monodramon crouched into a fighting position, growling defensively. "Something's coming, Ryo."

Ryo nodded in understanding, recognizing Monodramon's wild growl. "Ready, buddy."

Monodramon began to glow a dark purple, as did Ryo's blue D-Power. The glowing sensation began to burn intensely inside both Digimon and Tamer as they recognized the dangerous power brewing and that was about to be released. Monodramon's growl descended a few tones and became a precarious, low growl. Cyberdramon, Millenmiummon. They were one and the same.

Monodramon let out a dark yell of pain and power and a purple sphere engulfed him completely. "Monodramon warp-digivolve to………"

Inside the sphere, Monodramon's head morphed into a sharper shape, while his legs struggled to grow. His arms grew and his small wings vanished from them, replaced instead with two knife-like spikes on his elbows. Sharp claws descended into the place of the smaller ones with a skin-tearing sound. Dark red wings sprouted from his back with a similar tear and his taut torso gleamed once over with power and fury. The purple sphere shattered into bits of data and the Ultimate roared in awakening. "Cyberdramon!"

"Tomahawk Crunch!" A large axe descended from the sky with an ear-splitting whistling noise and aimed itself down to the ground. Its destination: Rika.

Rika suppressed terror and instead of calling for her Digimon or simply running from it, she stood still, Alicia and Brad looking at her as if she were mad.

"Rika, are you crazy? Run!"

Rika ignored her sister and glared at the advancing axe, as if it had disobeyed her. She kept her eyes dead ahead but managed to catch Ryo's worried glance.

"Rika, move! It'll kill you! Get out of the way!"

But Rika didn't move. She blocked out the sounds of her friends' worried cries and concentrated deeply on the advancing axe. There was an old legend saying that if you wanted to move something so badly, then if you concentrated hard enough, it would move. In other words, telekinesis. Rika almost laughed out loud at the thought of something so bizarre and unreal and she almost lost concentration. Just a couple more seconds………"If you want me, come and get me."

A mere whisper on the wind, her taunt became an echoing surround voice that whispered to whoever was listening. The axe was still flying through the air and was a mere inch away from Rika's face before it stopped in midair.

Rika smirked with satisfaction. Her taunt had worked and now she had control over whatever had thrown the axe. The conversation was in her hands. "So, you listened to me. Very good. Now are you going to answer my request?"

A cool voice from behind her tickled the hairs on the back of her neck and sent shivers down her spine. "My dear, what makes you think I want anything from you? I only want to eliminate you first, for you are the greatest distraction in my grand scheme."

Something sharp pricked Rika's neck and she immediately reached up to feel what it was. The fanned edges of whatever it was stood out and protruded from Rika's neck, the sharp end tore into her skin like an arrow. It was a dart of sort some and Rika was sure it carried poison. She viciously pulled it out and threw it to the ground, turning to look at what had thrown it, but when she did, nothing could be seen behind her.

She looked around at the others and could see them all staring in horror at the axe that was still floating in midair. Rika turned back around to face the axe and wished she hadn't. The axe started to move, but in slow motion. Everything was in slow motion, screams, yells, and pleas. Rika tried to run, but she wasn't going anywhere. She was stuck. Maybe she too was in slow motion and wouldn't be able to get out of there before the axe connected with her.

She heard a ruffling noise beside her and turned her head sharply, realising that she wasn't moving in slow motion, but was immobilised. Metal clenches and a gurgling sound, and then a deep cry.

"Desolation Claw!"

Cyberdramon's attack tore straight through the axe, dissipating it into bits of data. His fists were clenched into tight balls and an afterimage remained in Rika's mind of the merciless attack. The attack that saved her life.

Breathing hard and sweating, Rika held one hand up to her chest and felt her heartbeat. It was pulsing rapidly, shocked after the initial fear that had overcome the body. Rika's sight suddenly became blurry and fuzzy, and Rika felt like she had a tremendous headache. The world around her became black clouds illuminating the surface of the light and Rika's eyes rolled back.

Just as she was about to fall, Kyubimon sprang up and landed behind Rika, preventing her fall. But Rika's sight was still black and she was unconscious.

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A/N: A little short and not much action but a hell of a lot of philosophical meanings. *nod* In the next chapter we will find out who this next minion is and the Phoenixmon will eventually rise.

Floramon: Hoped that cleared up a few things, but in case you didn't catch it, Mephismon controlled Stacie for a short time and made her kiss Ryo. Yes, one of his many evil, twisted talents. *wise nod* Oh and, never grow up to be evil, it's bad for our society.

A.N: *sweatdrop* Floramon, what the hell have you been eating?

Floramon: I dunno. I found this red stuff in the fridge labelled 'Cordial' and it sounded good so I drank it………all. *innocent shrug*

A/N: So that's where it all went. You know, that was supposed to be for the Halloween party on Friday. Anyway, please review this chappie and tell me what you thought about it. Constructive criticism would be nice too, just no flaming. I have never been flamed before in my life and I intend to keep it that way. Thanx to everyone who continues to read this! Cookie for all ya!