Pride began to feel slightly sick from the constant rocking of the carriage. Weather the sickness was physical or her own psychological dread for Netto was up to her to decide. The carriage rolled along to its next destination while Pride tried to soothe her turbulent nerves. "What do you want with Netto?" she ventured.

Dhruv smirked, "Wouldn't you like to know?" he asked in a coy tone.

Pride's natural aggression started to take over, "Yes, I would. Why did you use the Neko virus? What is so important about the Net Saviors?"

"Well, to answer your first question, I used the Neko virus because most navi's are very dependent on sword and cannon chips. Take that away and most fighter navi's are useless. Where as my warrior are Nekos by design, they have the advantage. Also a common virus, a common control," he gave Pride a devilish grin.

Pride's eyes widened, "You have the Neko Virus?" she gasped.

Dhruv crossed his arms and smirked, "But of course. In this world at this moment every navi is infected with the Neko Virus, no to mention some," he paused, "others as well. So they all have a common, link if you will, connecting them. All I have to do is re-program the Neko Virus a little bit an all those navi's are under my control."

Pride's hands clenched into fists and shook, "Why haven't you done it yet?" she asked, her voice scarcely above a whisper.

"Well, I'm a ruler, a conqueror, but not a programmer. I need someone that knows what they are doing, not to mention I wish to obtain your kingdom through," he smiled, "political means. Have I answered your questions?" he asked.

Pride nodded stiffly, "Yes, and you won't gain anything."

"We shall see, my princess, we shall see," he said in a smarmy tone.

OOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO

Netto heard a soft knock on his door and his ears swiveled unconsciously to pinpoint the sound. "Yes-nya?" he called.

"I've come to talk to you," Ocelot said through the door.

Netto felt a little apprehensive, he wasn't so sure he could trust her so readily. "Why-nya?" he asked.

"Quite a few reasons actually. The most pressing being what Dhruv wants with your princess," Ocelot said through the door.

Netto quickly opened the door, "She's not my princess-nya," he blushed.

Ocelot placed her paw on Netto's head and rubbed his ears fondly, "I'm sure," she said. "Now, I know by now that you've realized that Dhruv wants to marry Pride for her kingdom, right?"

Netto nodded slowly and Ocelot continued.

"Well, then you need to know that if he does indeed get Creamland then he will attempt to take over the world," Ocelot said simply.

Netto coughed, "What-nya?" he yelled.

"Why else do you think he released the Neko Virus?"

"B-but that's insane-nya!" Netto cried out. "First of all, what does the Neko Virus have to do with anything-nya?"

"The Neko Virus is a program right?" Ocelot asked.

Netto nodded hesitantly, "A corrupted program, though-nya. It can't really do anything-nya."

"Uless someone changes it," Ocelot offered.

Netto blinked, "But you would need to rewrite the part of the virus that infected the navi's operating system to pull that off. And if you changed anything else the virus would evert to a program and everyone would be cured, that's how the vaccination was made-nya," Netto said.

Ocelot smiled, "So, you do know how to do it."

Netto gave her a puzzled look, "Well with Rockman maybe-nya…" he paused, "Why?"

"You just answered your own question, think about it," she said.

Netto shook his head, "No way, Enzan is a better programmer then me any day-nya," he said.

Ocelot raised her eyebrow, "My information never told me that you were modest. In fact, aren't you quite the opposite?" she asked.

Netto blushed angrily, "I was just saying-nya."

"That you are the son of the best programmer in the world. Enzan-san may beat you in discipline and education," Ocelot paused and Netto turned even redder. "However you are a better programmer. You navi has his own customization program no?"

Netto blinked, no one was really supposed to know that. "Well yes, but papa gave it to me-nya," he said.

"But you can use it. Do you think anyone else can?" Ocelot pressed.

"No-nya," Netto said slowly.

"Would you know how to change the Neko Virus?" she asked.

"I might-nya…" Netto said, "But why-nya?"

"Dhruv wants to use you and your navi to control the Neko Virus, and because of that you need to be careful, understand?" she asked.

Netto nodded, still not completely grasping the whole situation.

"Good, now will you come with me?" she asked, looking out of the room.

Netto stayed where he was, Ocelot sighed and said, "Look, I know you have no reason to trust me but I want to show you something."

"Where is Rockman-nya?" Netto asked.

"With his navi friends, he'll probably show up in your PET very soon. Now will you come?" she asked.

Netto cautiously followed her out of the safety of his room and followed Ocelot down the hall. "I still don't understand what you want with me and Rockman-nya," he said.

"I want to make sure that Dhruv does not take over the world. I have to follow direct orders from him, but anything else is my game. What's worse is he knows it. I'm afraid he's going to make his move very soon, that's why I'm keeping an eye on you."

Netto's head began to spin with all the information that was being told to him. He began to muse why he and Rockman were so important and eventually cam to the conclusion that was told to him ten minutes before. "Wait, so Dhruv actually planned to capture m…"

His vice was suddenly cut off by Ocelot's paw placed over his mouth. Netto squirmed in Ocelot's grip and she said, "Shhh…"

Netto quieted down and Ocelot released him.

"This place has a voice activated security system. Even I'm not supposed to be down here," she whispered directly into Netto's ear. "Understand?"

Netto nodded and followed her to a big door. He gave her a puzzled look and she whispered, "Behind that door is the Neko Virus, understand?" she asked again.

Again, Netto nodded.

"Good, now let's get out of here," she said and led him back through the halls.

Netto hung out in his room thinking about all that he was told. It was very puzzling to him, nut he tried to sort through it anyway.

Rockman appeared in his PET not long after, "Netto-kun, are you okay-nya?"

Netto rolled over and looked at Rockman, "Do you know why we're here-nya?" he asked,

Rockman blinked, "No I don't think so-nya," he said.

Netto sighed and told Rockman everything that Ocelot had told him, "Well, do you think she's telling the truth?" he asked.

Rockman wore a deep frown as he thought it over. "I think that she might be telling him the truth, but she also just might be trying to trick us-nya," Rockman said.

Netto nodded, "Yeah, that's what I thought-nya."

"I guess all we can do is watch, huh-nya?" asked Rockman.

"I guess-nya," said Netto.

OOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO

Mejin crumpled the document in his hands. "Damnit!" he hissed.

He had taken the first flight he could to Creamland as soon as he heard that everyone at Dhruv's castle had mysteriously stopped sending reports. Netto he could understand but that was very unlike Laika to do something like that.

"Why me?" he said. "Why is it always the kids that get into trouble."

Enzan didn't look too happy himself with the turn of events. "What happened-nya? And why?"

Mejin shook his head. "I have no idea, all it says here was that Pride and Netto were extended an official invitation to stay with Dhruv for two weeks that they excepted.

"Why-nya?" asked Enzan.

Mejin shook his head, "I have no idea, but I suspect foul play," he said.

"Be careful about who you accuse, Mejin," said Hinoken.

Mejin nodded sighing. "I know. But what worries me is that Laika, Madoi, Elec and Pride's guards are not mentioned on this letter. What if something really did happen?"

"Maybe we could make an 'official' visit to Dhruv's castle-nya," suggested Blues.

Mejin nodded, "My thoughts precisely. I think it's time we get to the bottom of this."

Mahajorama gave his silent agreement with a nod of his head.

"Well, then that's settled. Enzan, how soon can you get us over there?" Mejin asked.

"How soon do you need to be there-nya?" Enzan answered.

OOOOOOOOOOOOOOO

This plane ride was much more sober then the one to Creamland. There was no Netto to say how boring things were then make up a new game, or no Madoi to start a conversation and tell jokes. There wasn't even Elec Hakushaku's engrish which everyone by that time had grown accustomed to.

Enzan sighed and looked out the window. "Everything happened right under our noses-nya," he said.

Hinoken nodded soberly. "Some babysitters we are," he said.

Enzan bristled, "We don't need babysitters-nya," he said.

"No, but Netto does," said Hinoken attempting a joke.

The attempt was weak enough that no one laughed, but it was strong enough that everyone at least cracked a small grin.

"How much farther?" asked Mahajorama.

"Blues-nya?" Enzan asked.

"About another three hours at least-nya," said Blues.

No one groaned but they were all thinking the same thing.

"Are we there yet?"

OOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO

Three and a half hours later they arrived on the small dark island that the other group had come to seemingly so long ago. "Not very pretty is it?" asked Hinoken.

"I've seen worse-nya," said Enzan.

Blues nodded even though the other navi's were the only ones who could see him.

They went up to the large door, it looked on them cold and uninviting. "Well? Should we ring the bell?" Mejin asked.

"What bell-nya?" asked Fireman.

There was no bell, but there was a very large handle that took Mejin and Hinoken together to pull open. They went inside, to their very great surprise, nothing was lit.

"Hello?" Mejin called out, half expecting an answer, half not.

"Whose there?" called a voice.

"Madoi!" Hinoken yelled.

There was a pause, "Hinoken!" she called back and there was a patter of footsteps down the hallway.

"Hinoken!" Madoi said again and threw herself into his arms. He awkwardly hugged the shivering Madoi and looked to where she came from. Everyone but Netto and Pride came out into the open, Elec Hakushau looking a little cross.

"Laika," said Mejin with a sigh of relief.

Laika bowed politely and saluted Mejin.

"What happened?" he asked.

"There was an ambush, they took our navi's and…"

"Netto and Pride," Mejin finished. "I knew it!" he hissed.

"What do you mean?" Laika asked.

"We got a letter from the Darkland government saying in no less words that Netto and Pride are to travel with him for the next two weeks," Mejin said.

"Who were you ambushed by?" asked Mahajorama.

"Net navis. Cat net navi's, but they were different. They seemed like they were always cats," Laika said.

Mejin nodded, he had heard about such navi's going around in the undernet but he never heeded the rumors.

"So, we're not allowed to do anything?" asked Madoi.

"No officially though. However we can take a two week vacation and tour Darkland," Mejin suggested.

Laika actually smiled, "Yes, I could use a vacation after all that.

OOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO

Dhruv and Pride continued to travel back to the castle. Pride was almost at the end of her temper and Dhruv wasn't helping any. She just wanted nothing more then to reach out and slap that smarmy face of his.

"You look stressed, Princess," said Dhruv.

"You have no idea," Pride hissed through her teeth.

"Ah, are you sure about that? You also said that no one knew what it was to rule a country. Yet I know. You see Princess we are not all that different," Dhruv said sipping on a goblet.

"Don't you dare compare me to you!" Pride said her voice rising.

Dhruv set the goblet down on a flat table in the carriage and held up his hands, "Sorry, I meant to offence."

Pride crossed her arms, all reform school rules forgotten. He didn't deserve her politeness. "Yes you did."

Dhruv just smiled and the rest of the ride back was without conversation.

They pulled up to the castle and Pride climbed out with as much stature as she could muster. "I'll see you at dinner then, Princess?" Dhruv asked.

"Yes," said Pride tightly and she fled into the castle.

She ran down the halls and as far away from Dhruv as she could get. All her stress and emotions coming out in a giant sob in her chest. She ran to the one person she knew would understand her at that time.

She opened Netto's door without even knocking and went inside. Netto look at her confused and she stood there looking helpless and terribly upset.

"Poipu!" Netto said in a shocked voice.

"N-netto," she said.

"What happened?" he asked.

Pride ran over to his bed and started to sob again. She told him everything that happened and everything that she wanted to do for the people but couldn't. "N-netto, he has me trapped. I can't do anything!" she said.

Netto nodded and listened through the whole thing and when she was done he smiled at her. "I think you did a lot more then nothing for those people. You did get Dhruv to order the apple seeds again right?"

Pride nodded.

"Well, then that means they have hope again. And you gave it to them."

Pride drew in a shuddering breath and threw her arms around Netto. "Netto, you always know the right thing to say. You must think I'm a big crybaby by now," she said.

Netto shook his head, "No of course not. Dhruv is doing this on purpose. He wants you to feel useless and powerless. It's okay if you cry, at least you get it out," he said blushing.

Pride gasped, "Oh my god. That is what he's trying to do. He's trying to break my resolve."

Netto looked puzzled.

"That jerk!" Pride said. "Well, I'll show him! No one will ever beat me," said Pride.

Netto blinked, very puzzled but decided to go along with it.

OOOOOOOOOOOOOO

Dhruv punched the monitor is disgust. "Damn that kid!" he said.

Ocelot came into view from the shadows. "Now now Prince, don't worry. You just need to keep on working on Pride. I'll take care of the kid."

Dhruv nodded, "Ah, of course. Thank you Ocelot, we will win this."

"Yes, your majesty," she said.

"We will win," he said. "I will."

OOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO

Heh, well this was fun to write. Hope you enjoyed it!