The legends also speak of an offshoot of this line, a single pokemon trainer in every generation, sworn to defend the kingdom from threats that might not be seen by the throne of the Mirage Kingdom. He is the Mirage Prince...
Digicross side-story: 'Over Ghost'
Elements of this story taken from 'Shaman King' byHiroyuki Takei. Akira Akiyama created By Caryl Kyashi.
Anyone who knew Akira Akiyama at all might have wondered at her choice of pastime. No one who thought of the hyperactive, slightly boy-crazy daughter of two of the Elite Four would have picked her for a ballerina.
Still, those people who watched her that night would have to admit she was actually quite good. One of the best, in her teacher's opinion. If you didn't count the time she jumped off the stage to tackle-hug the lead cellist...
Akira tried not to shiver. The gossips in the dressing room had hinted that there might be some very important people in the audience tonight. She thought she knew who, judging from the knot of people in the centre-back rows of seats. There were two boys there too, slightly older than her. Both cute, she thought.
Closer in were Joe and Lisa Kido, parents of Hikaru Kido, her classmate. Beside them was her father, Ryo. Hikaru hadn't come out yet, her part wasn't for a few more minutes. Her mother, Caryl Kyashi, wasn't able to come that night. She was there last night, and promised that she'd be there for the next recital in a week's time. Akira didn't mind; she and her mother spent a lot of time together already. One absence wasn't going to seriously damage her.
Closing her eyes, she fell back into the rhythm of the dance, carrying out the carefully planned set of movements she and the rest of her class had spent the last month going over.
Akira finished wiping the sweat off her forehead; she and the rest of her class had just finished one of their best recitals to date, in front of a packed audience. "Hikaru!" Akira yelled, waving to one of the girls exiting the change room.
Hikaru Kido looked up. "Akira! You were great out there!" The girl smiled, a lock of blue-black hair falling over her face. Annoyed, she flicked it out of the way. "I'm going to have to get this cut. Were mom and dad there?"
Akira nodded. "They looked so happy when you came out; I could see them from the wings. I hope dad saw me. And don't think of getting that hair cut. Boys just love that shade of hair here." She sighed, fingering a bit of her own fire-red hair.
"I wouldn't know." Ryo Akiyama said, entering the backstage area. "You were great, Akira. Mom would have been proud."
"It's too bad she had to go make some boring old speech at the Pokemon Academy." Akira sighed. "Oh well, we do a repeat of this in a week's time. And I know that she'll be there."
"She will." a voice said.
Akira rolled her eyes, unimpressed. "Rena-MOM!" she groaned. "Stop spooking everyone."
A Renamon, partner of her mother, Caryl Kyashi, stepped out of the shadows. "You did very well tonight, Akira. And thank you for not giving the teacher another heart attack."
"Come on!" a second Renamon whined, leaping down from the railings. "It was just one little forward somersault." This Renamon, Akira's partner, was a bit smaller and (as she constantly reminded the elder Renamon) a bit slimmer than her senior.
"Into the band area." Ryo sighed.
"Nearly landing on top of the violinist." Hikaru added. "Honestly, Akira, do you have to pounce on every boy you see? You're as bad as Takeru."
"That's not fair!" Akira whined. "Besides, he was a cellist. Just because I thought he was cute...I mean, I don't go slamming into every boy out there."
"Just the cute ones." Akira's Renamon interjected, giggling (If Rika could have seen a Renamon giggling, she'd have passed out. I am so looking forward to the eventual crossover. -ed). "Like that Henry Wong boy from the dimension Hitomi's stuck in."
"I know." Hikaru nodded. "Imagine, having to live with a teacher. Well, I guess Hitomi wouldn't mind, she is the group's bookworm."
"What am I?" Akira demanded.
"Completely nuts." Both Renamons chorused.
The audience slowly broke up, some of the parents trying to get backstage to meet their children, others trying to retrieve confiscated video cameras, or just to congratulate the dancers for a show well done.
One group remained seated until the rest of the seats had emptied. Then, as one, they all got up, escorting one young woman. "Did you enjoy the performance, milady?" one man, an older, severe looking man with a moustache asked.
"Yes, count Hanzou, I did." the young girl in the centre replied. She looked around, suddenly worried. "But, where did he go?"
"Don't worry." a second man, younger and more pleasant looking answered. "We notified the house manager. He's telling all the guards to watch out for him."
"Thank you. He's very important to me." All but two of them left. "Well, duty calls." the blond one said to his darker-haired companion. "You going to be okay?"
"Sure. You need anything, just holler." the other boy said, leaning back. He took a small tape out of his pocket, put it inside an old-fashioned walkman, and slipped a pair of orange earphones over his head. The first boy sighed, shaking his head, and left.
Akira looked down, feeling something tugging at her leg. She saw a small, oval creature, white with several multicoloured triangles over its body. "Awww...it's a Togepi! It's so cute!" She bent over, picked up the small pokemon, and lifted it up. The Togepi, enjoying the attention, chirped happily, arms and feet waggling.
"Akira, I'm sure that that belongs to someone." Ryo said, praying that he was right. "We should check with-"
"Ah, there he is. Thank you for finding him, miss." A man in a uniform walked over. "Forgive me. My name is Ryo, I am...an escort for one of the audience members tonight. Her Togepi managed to get out of its pokeball and wander off during the last part of tonight's recital."
"You mean you're one of Princess Osashi's guards?" Hikaru inquired. Boy he's cute, she didn't say. She could already feel herself being taken in by those grey eyes, carefully brushed brown hair, pleasant face...
"Ahh...no, of course not!" the guard replied nervously.
Akira nodded her head. "As Hitomi might say, you're lying." She glanced again at the Togepi in her hands. "So, I guess that you're royalty, then?" she asked the pokemon. It chirped again happily. "Well, I guess we'd better give you back."
"That won't be necessary." a man commanded. Ryo turned around, catching sight of the speaker. "You will turn over that pokemon now, or face the consequences."
"I already don't like this guy." Ryo murmured. Out loud, he said "we were just on our way to do that. But I don't much like being threatened." He glanced at the younger guard. "Well, if he's one of the palace guards, you must be General Hanzou, Queen Sonora's right hand man."
Hanzou narrowed his eyes. "And I can tell that you are Ryo Akiyama, one of those so called 'Elite Four' I've heard stories about. I'm not impressed."
"Hanzou!" Now a young woman in an elegant dress stepped into view. "That will be enough of that. Please, accept my apologies for his conduct." She stepped over to Akira, who handed the Togepi over. "Oh, you naughty little trickster. Thank you for finding him; he's always wandering off."
"Oh, he really found us." Hikaru answered, waving her hand. "Did you just catch him?"
"There is nothing else to discuss." Hanzou commanded, taking the princess by the arm and leading her off.
"Well...bye." the younger guardsman said. "Oh, my name's Skyler. We're from the Mirage Kingdom in the Houen region."
Akira's eyes went wide. "I've always wanted to go there! Hikaru, they have the coolest castles there, it's like a medieval village!" Hikaru sighed as Akira started rambling away.
--Next day.
Akira and Hikaru sat at the cafe table, bored. Ryo was out with Caryl, there was no recital or even practise today, and while this city was nice enough, there wasn't a lot to do in it on a Saturday late morning; the really interesting stores hadn't even opened yet.
"I'm bored." Hikaru moaned. "Mom and dad won't be back from that medical conference until tomorrow night." (They left that morning, at 5 am. -ed)
Akira looked up. "Really? Who are you staying with now?"
"Oh, I'm at home alone." Hikaru sighed.
Akira gasped. "Cool! Mom would NEVER let me do that."
"Yes, but I'm the responsible one, remember? You'd probably go off boy-hunting if they didn't have someone keeping an eye on you. And my partner is keeping an eye on me." (DIGIMON partner. Just in case someone needed it spelled out -ed)
"That hurts!" Akira replied, feigning insult. "I have Renamon. And Rena-mom, too." Akira glanced over her shoulder, wondering if she was being watched. "And I saw you checking that guy out last night, Hikaru. What was his name, Scott?"
"Skyler!" Hikaru snapped, then clamped her hands over her mouth, blushing.
"A-ha!" Akira smirked triumphantly. "Admit it - he was cute."
"Well...yeah..." Hikaru stammered. "But I'll probably never see him again." she sighed. "He's a royal guard, and I'm just some kid."
"Now that's not true, and you know it." a small digimon cried, jumping into Hikaru's lap. It looked like a small oyster, with a small face inside it.
"Thanks, Syakomon." Hikaru sighed.
"But Joe and Lisa might not approve of you flirting at your age, young lady." Syakomon added, shaking her 'head' disapprovingly.
"Thanks, Syakomon." Hikaru repeated, voice a bit harder. "But that Hanzou guy really creeped me out. It was like he was trying to pick a fight with your dad, you know?"
Akira nodded. "Dad could have taken him. And the only one who can beat dad is mom, of course." Akira glanced around, some noise catching her attention. "There he is! That cute Skyler guy!"
"Don't look!" Hikaru whispered, slouching down in her seat. "He might come over here!"
"Yeah? And? Oh, there's another guy with him...and he's even cuter! HEY, SKYLER! OVER HERE!" Akira got up and waved to the guardsman.
"Akiraaa..." Hikaru groaned.
Skyler and his companion heard Akira calling. "Oh, it's those two girls from last night."
The other boy, dark hair held back by a set of orange earphones save for two large bangs hanging over his eyes, looked in Akira's direction. "Hey, isn't that the girl who was checking you out last night?"
"Put a sock in it!" Skyler growled.
"So why are you going over there?" the other boy teased. There was nothing harsh about his words; in truth, his tone sounded very laid back.
"We're going over there." Skyler replied, grabbing the boy's arm and dragging him across the street.
"Yes, your royal guardsmanship." the boy joked.
"Hello again." Akira said as Skyler and his companion sat down. "Haven't seen you in hours. And you're all Hikaru can talk about." Akira tried not to flinch as Hikaru kicked her.
"Tell me about it." Skyler's friend said, clapping an arm on Skyler's shoulder. "He's been in a daze all day."
Akira blinked. "Weren't you in the audience last night?"
"Yeah. I got an invite from Skyler here. We don't see each other a lot, so we try to get together when we can. So...Akira, right?"
"Akira Akiyama." Akira nodded.
"Pleased to meet you. Yoh Asakura." The boy offered his hand. There was a small popping sound, and a large bird appeared. "Oh, and this is Amidamaru, my Fearow." The pokemon bowed, looking comically formal. "I...wait a sec." Yoh stood up, as if hearing something. "Skyler? It's time."
Skyler nodded. "We have to go. Listen, Hikaru, why don't you... comeonoversometimeI'dreallyliketo....ahhh...I'm in the Silver Skitty Hotel, room 310!" The two boys ran off.
Hikaru stared after the two. "He...I...they..."
"DATE!" Akira cried. "Way to go! See if you can talk him into a double date! That Yoh guy was HOT!"
"Akira!" Renamon said, appearing. "There's some sort of fight going on a few blocks from here! And that cute guy you were just drooling over last night is in it!"
"I was flirting, not drooling." Akira argued, getting up. "I want to see those guys in action!"
Hikaru got up too. "We should check on them"
Renamon nodded. "So, he asked you out?"
"No, just to his place." Hikaru blurted out. She clamped her hand over her mouth and went red-faced.
--
The second thug fell over, red welt from the wooden sword Yoh was using as a weapon on his face. "Now, is that anyway for one of the Princess' subjects to act?"
Skyler tightened his grip on one of his pokeballs. "You are charged with treason. Surrender now!"
"NEVER!" the last thug roared. "Torkoal, melt 'em!" A giant turtle-like pokemon, all red and black, appeared, fire and smoke coming out of its back. "Overheat!"
"Alakazam, Light Screen!" Skyler commanded, releasing his psychic pokemon.
"Amidamaru, Shadow Ball!" Yoh called. The bird flew up, and hurled a small sphere of black energy at Torkoal, knocking it out.
That was the moment Akira and Hikaru made it to the fight. "Did...that Fearow use Shadow ball?"
"He must be a really good trainer, then." Akira replied.
Yoh glanced behind him. "Hey, hello again! Just be a second here."
"It'll be longer than that!" the thug yelled. "While you were wasting your time with us, the real plan has taken effect!"
Instantly, Skyler's cellphone rang. "Skyler!" a tinny voice said. "Someone's kidnapped Princess Osashi's Togepi!"
"A distraction!" Yoh gasped. "Who put you up to this?" he demanded.
"I'll never tell." the thug replied, recalling Torkoal. "Adieu!" He pulled another item out, hurled it to the ground, and vanished in a flash of light.
"Escape rope." Hikaru snarled. "He should be back at the Pokemon centre, then." She took her own phone pout, and dialled it. "Hello? Nurse Joy? It's Hikaru Kido. Did someone just appear there? Dressed in black, might have had a Torkoal?" Hikaru listened for a few seconds. "Alright, thanks. Yes, you'd better call Officer Jenny."
Skyler shook his head. "No, you can't involve-"
"They already are." Yoh interrupted. "Let's just go with it. So, are you two up for some international intrigue and royal power games?"
"Cool!" Akira exclaimed. "Where first?"
"To Princess Osashi's residence. We should find out all we can."
"Well, you're in good hands. Hikaru's seen like every episode of CSI ever made." Syakomon said, balancing on Hikaru's head.
Skyler blinked. "You're a digidestined! That might be handy."
Hikaru blushed. "Well, I'm not much of a fighter..." She admitted.
"Hikaru." Akira whispered. "Ixnay on the uthtray." In a louder voice: "Hey, Renamon. You there?" Renamon appeared. "We're more dancers than fighters, but we can take care of ourselves."
Yoh nodded. "Okay then. Let's go meet the royals."
--
Princess Osashi looked a wreck. Akira and Hikaru had seen her mildly worried last night; this was much worse. Plus, her room was a shambles, and there were several parts of the room that had been blown up.
"There were three of them." the princess sobbed. "They all had bug type pokemon...and one of them grabbed Togepi!"
"We'll get her back." Skyler promised.
"Yes, you've done such an excellent job of guarding the princess so far." Hanzou sneered.
"And I'm sure you did so much right here." Yoh replied. "Tell me, where were you when all this happened?"
"Sleep powder." one of the princesses' aides said. "They blanketed the room."
"And why are they here?" Hanzou asked, glaring at Akira and Hikaru.
"They're going to help us." Skyler replied. "They know the city better than any of us. And besides, they're digidestined; that's a good asset to have if we get into another fight."
Hanzou opened his mouth. "We'll take all the help we can get." Osashi said, cutting him off. "They went north." she added, pointing out the hole in the wall.
Skyler and Yoh both bowed, and left, Hikaru and Akira following. "I really hate that jerk." Akira growled.
"Yeah, but he's like that with everyone. Okay military general, but a lousy PR person. I don't know why the king insisted on him coming with us." Skyler shrugged helplessly. "Tradition, I guess." They went outside and were soon looking at a map of the city the hotel provided.
"They went north...okay, we'd better split up." Yoh stated. "Akira and I will go here," he indicated one part of the city, "and you two can go over here." He grinned as he pointed to the more industrial part of the city. "If you can keep your mind on the job." he added.
"Good plan. Let's go!" Akira said, taking Yoh by the arm and leading him away.
"Um..." Skyler said, suddenly feeling very awkward. "So...what's in this area?"
"Mostly old warehouses. It's a good place to hide if you're up to something." Hikaru replied, trying not to stammer. "I guess we should go check it out, right? I mean, we can always call the police if we find something."
"Yeah...the police." Skyler answered.
"You realise," Renamon said to Yoh as they walked down the street, "That that was a rather evil thing to do."
Yoh shrugged. "Nah. Evil would be spying on them." He glanced at Akira, who grinned evilly in return.
"Go, Swablu!" she cried, releasing a small blue bird pokemon with wings like cotton. "Keep an eye on Hikaru and Skyler." Swablu chirped an affirmative. "If anything happens, come back and let us know, alright?" Another chirp, and Swablu flew off.
"I shouldn't be surprised. I mean, your parents are part of the Elite Four, right?" Yoh asked.
"Yup. We go all over the place and do demo battles and all that boring stuff. And I get to see some really awesome pokemon. I caught Swablu when we were hiking up Mount Silver last year." A thought occurred to her. "Hey, did your Fearow really use Shadow Ball? I thought that was a Ghost-type move."
"Well...Amidamaru's a special case." As if on cue, Amidamaru appeared.
"Hmm...he seems a bit darker than a normal Fearow." Akira commented. "Cool." The Fearow took the compliment with some dignity.
Hikaru glanced around. "She's spying on us, I just know it." In her arms, Syakomon nodded.
"Akira?" Skyler asked, charmingly clueless (As Akira would say -ed).
"Yeah." Hikaru groaned. "Well, maybe I can help speed up the search a little. Go, Marril!" The small blue aquatic pokemon appeared. "We're looking for a Togepi, got it?" Marril nodded. "One sec, you've never heard one before, right?" Maril shook, indicating that he hadn't. "Okay..." Hikaru fished out her pokedex, and called up the entry for Togepi. "Okay, this is Togepi's cry." She pressed a button on the pokedex, and it played a slightly tinny version of a typical Togepi's cry. "Got it? It's not exact, so be careful."
"Marril marril!" the pokemon replied. He faced down the street, eyes closed. Marril gradually increased the range of his hearing, tuning out certain sounds, amplifying others.
"Will this work?" Skyler whispered.
Hikaru blushed slightly as Skyler leaned close to her. "Y-yes. Marril have incredible hearing. Tracy Sketchum's can hear a Snorlax snoring across Cerulean City during rush hour."
"The president of the Pokemon Watcher's society?" Skyler asked.
"Yeah. I have a friend who's a fan of his." Not that I'm sharing you with Hitomi, she added mentally. Marril perked up, and pointed down the street, hopping up and down. "You heard a Togepi? Did it sound worried?" Marril nodded. "Alright, that's our target then. Come on!" Hikaru took off, Skyler following her.
The two ran down the street, following Marril, until they made it to a less-occupied part of town. This part of the city hadn't quite gone to seed yet, though it was well on its way. Some windows were broken, and there were visible spots of graffiti that hadn't yet been cleaned up.
"Marril! Marrilmarril!" the pokemon cried, hopping into Hikaru's arms (and on top of Syakomon. He HATES that. -ed) and pointing to one building.
"In there?" Hikaru asked.
Skyler frowned as Marril nodded. "Okay. I'll call the rest of the guards here; that way, we can-"
"The guards are already here." someone said. Hikaru and Skyler looked around, and saw several large men, all in uniforms similar to Skyler's, forming a circle around the two. "And we think you've snooped around long enough."
"Eric!" Skyler gasped. "What's the meaning of this...you're the kidnappers?"
"Of course." Eric replied. "We're tired of the current regime. It's high time the Mirage Kingdom started expanding as it once did. Our current pacifist rulers have forgotten too many of our traditions."
"The last time I looked," Skyler replied evenly, "high treason wasn't one of our traditions. Nor was oathbreaking, if I recall right."
"Circumstances. Our leader managed to switch everyone out except for you, Skyler. It's not too late. You and your girlfriend would be spared any reprisals."
"I haven't forgotten my oath!" Skyler replied. "Release Princess Osashi's Togepi NOW!"
"Machamp...subdue those two!" Eric ordered. He and the other guards released several Machamp, each one flexing their four arms menacingly.
Skyler's eyes narrowed. "Hikaru, you'd better get out of here."
"I'm not leaving." Hikaru replied. "Ready, Syakomon?"
"You bet...Syakomon, digivolve to...Frogmon!" The small oyster-shaped digimon grew slightly, into a small frog like creature, with a transparent green shield over its head, small daggers strapped to both legs, and small red plastic plants mounted on her back. "First one approaching Hikaru loses an arm." Frogmon challenged the Machamps.
"Go, Combusken!" Skyler yelled, releasing a pokemon. A yellow and red bird-like pokemon, but looking more like a fighter than a flyer, appeared, and assumed a fighting stance.
--
"So...seeing anyone?" Akira asked.
"Well, you, right now." Yoh replied. Akira arched an eyebrow.
"Oohhh...Why are the cute ones such smart-alecs?." Akira moaned.
Yoh laughed at that. "You don't waste time, do you?"
Akira shook her head. "Nope. Mom and dad travel a lot, so I have to either make friends quickly, or miss out." She sighed. "So...doing anything tonight?" Yoh started to answer when Swablu came flying back, chirping madly. "Have to answer later, looks like Hikaru's in trouble! Hey, Renamon!" On cue, Renamon appeared. "Let's go! Try to keep up, Yoh!" Renamon took Akira in her arms, and the two took off, Renamon easily clearing the roof on her first jump.
Yoh sighed. "Anna would just hate her." He grinned at the thought of the two meeting. "Hey, Amidamaru, you ready?"
The Fearow nodded. "Fear! Fearow!"
--
The last Machamp fell to Combusken's powerful kicks; Frogmon had already dealt with two others (Despite his initial threat, no limbs were severed; Hikaru does want to become a pokemon doctor, after all -ed). "Anyone else?" the digimon demanded, glaring at the guardsmen.
"Just me." A familiar voice sneered. Hanzou stepped into view, flanked by three bug pokemon that Hikaru didn't recognise at first. "Princess Osashi's Togepi will remain in my possesion, Skyler, until the time that she and Queen Sonora abdicate."
"You were sworn to defend her, Hanzou!"
"My, aren't we imperious today?" Hanzou replied. "Ninjask, eliminate that Combusken!" Two of the bugs, looking like oversized bees, seemed to vanish, then appeared around Combusken, striking the pokemon with several strong blows.
"Combusken! NO!"
"Impressed, Skyler?" Hanzou taunted.
Hikaru's eyes narrowed. "Ninjask, of course. They get faster the longer they are out in a battle. Frogmon!"
"Right! Bush Dagger!"
"Ninjask, Hyper Beam, both of you!" Two golden lances of energy stabbed out, slamming into Frogmon mid-leap. Wounded, the digimon landed on the ground, glowing and becoming Syakomon again. "Now, as I was saying..."
"DIAMOND STORM!" The two Ninjask were knocked out by a hail of white energy darts. Renamon landed in front of Hikaru and Skyler. "Too easy!" she said, smirking. "Now, as I was saying, give up, or else!"
Hanzou snapped his fingers. "Shedinja, advance."
Akira ran to where the other two were standing. "Renamon, go for it!"
Smirking again, Renamon jumped, aiming a kick at the advancing yellow insect. Hikaru squinted slightly, wondering where she knew that bug pokemon from. Ninjask was one evolution of Nincada..."Akira, call Renamon back!" she gasped.
"Too late!" Hanzou snarled. Renamon hit Shedinja dead on...and bounced! "Miracle Guard negates every attack you have!"
"Except super effective ones." Akira replied. "That's why you made sure to take out Combusken first." Hanzou nodded, mockingly. "But it's still a bug type, so a flying attack will settle its hash! Go Swablu!"
Hanzou growled. "Idiot child! This is no pokemon battle! And my Shedinja has a few surprises..." Laughing, he took out a small item. Hikaru and Akira gasped when they saw it. A small black square with a circular screen...a Dark Digivice!
"You're a..."
"I know all about you digidestined. And WarDevidramon will reward me for adding the Mirage Kingdom to the Dark Ocean! Now, Shedinja...DIGIVOLVE!" Shedinja howled, a primal roar of power and agony, its shape twisting in mid-air, growing ever larger. "Behold...Black Kabuterimon!"
Renamon stepped back, stunned. "A hybrid, like dad's Charizard?"
Hanzou snorted. "Ha, I'm not wasting my time with those. He is a pure object of evil now, created by the Dark Ocean. Now, destroy them all!" With a roar, Black Kabuterimon advanced, four arms reaching for the humans. Snarling, Renamon jumped again, this time trying to punch the attacking digimon in the throat. Again, the attack was stopped.
"Fool! Dark Kabuterimon retains the power of Shedinja's Miracle Guard! He's invincible!" Black Kabuterimon advanced, grabbing and hurling Renamon away. Then, the bug digimon's wings sprang out, and it took to the air, soaring above the rooftops. "Now, level this pathetic place with your Dark Thunderbolts!"
"Amidamaru, use Protect!" Yoh shouted. The large Fearow swooped down, blocking the bolt of electricity meant for Renamon. "Man, it's hard keeping up with you."
Akira frowned. "Everyone keeps saying that." she pouted. "Renamon, are you alright?"
"Yeah...sure..." Renamon replied, still dazed.
Yoh shrugged. "Well, this looks like it'll be good practise."
"Yoh, wait!" Hikaru said. "That digimon knows Miracle Guard. It's only vulnerable to certain attacks. Amidamaru should use Drill Peck and Wing Attack if it can..."
Yoh grinned, rubbing the back of his head. "Well...Amidamaru doesn't really know any Flying type moves right now..."
"Ha...ahh...HOW CAN HE NOT KNOW EVEN ONE FLYING ATTACK?" Hikaru demanded. "At least tell me you have another pokemon!"
"Nope. We're a team. And we don't exactly battle in the same way that normal pokemon trainers do."
"Hikaru, trust him." Skyler urged. "I've seen him in a battle."
"Yeah, but not recently." Yoh replied. Above them, Black Kabuterimon and Amidamaru were circling, each trying to find an opening. Suddenly, Black Kabuterimon shot forward, driving a clawed arm through the bird pokemon!
Akira gasped in horror, then, along with Hikaru, watched in amazement as the attack went through Amidamaru...as did the dark digimon, thrown off balance by its target's sudden intangibility.
"Wh...how?" Hanzou gasped.
Skyler smiled darkly. "I've known Yoh and Amidamaru from when we were both infants. And from that time, he had a Spearow, then a Fearow, named Amidamaru as his partner. But Amidamaru died during the last revolt in the Mirage Kingdom...you had a role in that, didn't you? Though nothing was ever proven..."
"Those fools didn't see the power that the Togepi Paradise could grant us!" Hanzou snapped. "We could use it to strike anywhere, and the power of the Togepi themselves could have won us any battle!"
Yoh frowned. "I guess it's time to show your true colours, Amidamaru!" The Fearow cawed loudly, swallowed up by a greyish cloud. The mist dissipated, revealing a small ghost pokemon. "Misdreavus!"
"Fascinating!" Hanzou snarled. "But pointless! A Ghost pokemon can't use any attack that could harm Black Kabuterimon!"
"Oh? Then you don't know me very well. Or didn't Princess Osashi mention she had a nephew? You do know her last name is Asakura, right?"
Hanzou's eyes went wide. "You...you're the Mirage Prince?" he gasped.
"Yep. Amidamaru, SPIRIT FORM!" The ghost pokemon seemed to cheer with pleasure, before turning into a blue ball of energy, which flew to Yoh's open hand. "UNITY!" Yoh yelled, pushing Amidamaru inside of his chest.
"He's merging with Amidamaru?" Akira gasped.
"It's like those five kids Ryoko and Hiroki met." Hikaru murmured, awed. "He can unite Amidamaru's spirit with his own. But why?"
"Watch." Skyler replied. As the three watched, the shinai Yoh was carrying was wrapped in blue energy, and a pair of wings sprouted out of his back. "Now he can use flying attacks."
"Incredible." Hikaru breathed.
"I'm in love." Akira whispered. Renamon sighed, rubbing her head.
Black Kabuterimon howled, charging at Yoh. Yoh's spectral wings flared up, and his shinai was covered with bluish-white energy. "DRILL SABRE!" Yoh roared, shooting right at the attacking digimon. Everyone else flinched as the two collided, releasing a bright flash of light. Seconds later, Yoh landed, sword held in a ready position, facing away from his target. Black Kabuterimon hung in mid air, then seemed to crack, bits of him falling away.
Hikaru recognized what was happening. "That's...a control spire digimon!" she gasped. She shifted to Hanzou, glaring at him. "How could you make a deal with the Dark Ocean?"
"Power, what else? Hanzou replied. "This isn't over, Mirage Prince." He made a throwing motion, then disappeared.
"Another escape rope." Akira growled.
"No worries." Skyler spoke up. In the distance, police sirens could be heard approaching. "Now that we know Hanzou is behind this, he's got nowhere to run."
"Yes he does." Syakomon said.
--Dark Ocean
Hanzou appeared outside the ruins of a castle. "That interfering whelp! I'll have my revenge!"
A loud thumping noise approached him. "If you survive, Hanzou." War Devidramon said, flexing his hands. "If you survive."
--That night
Princess Osashi, Togepi cradled securely in her arms, looked out the window. "I can't believe they were all with Hanzou."
Skyler sighed. "Hanzou's spent years planning this. The king's just let me know that he's purged the ranks of the Royal Guards, and is inducting new members from the academies as we speak." At her horrified expression, Skyler elaborated. "Anyone who was connected with Hanzou is being interrogated and, if they can't prove their loyalty, they're being expelled from the castle. And, the king's making a full report to the people, so they know exactly what's going on."
There was a knock at the door. Skyler got up and opened it. "H....hello, Skyler." Hikaru stammered. "Umm...so, dinner tonight?"
"Well, there's no-one else to guard the princess-" Skyler started.
Princess Osashi walked over. "I think a night out after all this is a grand idea. In fact, I have to get changed. Akira's invited me and Yoh to a nice restaurant."
"Akira invited you?" Syakomon asked.
"Royal prerogative." Osashi replied, smiling. "Someone has to chaperone my cousin. Now you two go and have a nice time. Skyler? I'll see you tomorrow!"
"Uh...yes, your majesty." Skyler managed, adding in a salute.
To be continued?
