Dhruv looked at everyone in his monitors. Netto and Pride were asleep and Ocelot and her people were awake and talking quietly. Dhruv pressed his fingers together and glared at the screen over top of them. He just received news from his spies in Faranea that Mejin, Enzan and other Net Saviors were on their tail. He only had a few days left before they would catch up with them. Dhruv bit his lip; it looked like he would have to put his next plan into action quicker then he thought he would.

He closed his eyes and leaned back into his chair. He had every navi infected with the Neko Virus and then some. One common link, one program joining millions and millions of navis all over the world. Yet, the Neko Virus wasn't something that could be controlled, not easily anyway. He may have been a leader and a prince, but a programmer he was not. Pride was smart and could probably pull it off, but he needed to be careful with what he made Pride say and do, as Creamland was a very important part of his ideal future. He sighed and called in Ocelot.

He continued to sit in his chair with his eyes closed until the tawny navi came into the room. "You called, milord?" she asked silkily.

Dhruv nodded, "Ocelot, do you know what I plan to do?" he asked.

Ocelot's eyes widened, "Of course not, milord," she said in a fake innocent voice.

Dhruv smirked and opened his eyes. "No, of course not," he repeated. "I could tell you," he said. "And you'd still have to work for me, because at this point I pull all the strings, you know that, don't you?"

"Yes," Ocelot said tightly.

Dhruv's lips curled in a cruel smile. He got out of his chair and started to pace the room. "As you know you are my main confident. I tell you orders, you carry them out and in the end you help me take over the world for the right price. And I know you can't do anything about that contract," he said.

"I know," Ocelot replied.

"So, you already doubtless have figured out my plan to use the brat and his navi to reprogram the Neko Virus to take over all navi programs infected with it, right?"

Ocelot didn't respond.

Dhruv grinned, "I thought so. Well, you see, I need Pride to marry me before I can carry out the second half of my plan. I need Creamland; it's one of the biggest port industries in the world. If I have that tiny country I can control 80 of the Mid-Atlantic trading routes. Pride is being very, very stubborn about this and I figured, well maybe there's something wrong with my plan, what do you think, my dear?" Dhruv asked Ocelot.

"I think you're insane," Ocelot said saucily.

"Now's the wrong time to jump ship," Dhruv said dangerously. "Do you want your business?" he asked.

"Yes," Ocelot said.

"Then act like it," Dhruv hissed. "Now, what do you propose we do?"

Ocelot knew what they could do to win; it's what made her such a good mercenary. Whatever side she and her friends joined would win, and Dhruv knew that. He also knew which buttons to push and how to get his way. "I…"

"Yes?" Dhruv asked impatiently.

Ocelot sighed, "Use Netto to get to Pride," she said coldly. "She cares for him and I'm sure if you threatened him then you could get her to do almost anything."

Dhruv smiled, "I don't know why I didn't think of that."

"Be careful though," Ocelot warned. Dhruv raised an eyebrow at her, "Pride won't break so easily," Ocelot said softly.

Dhruv nodded, "Yes, I know. Well, once I get Pride's consent I can finally push ahead with my plans. I knew I could count on you, Ocelot," he said.

"It was my pleasure," Ocelot said tightly and turned to leave the room.

"Ocelot?" he said right before she left.

"Yes?" Ocelot asked with her back still turned to him.

"Bring me the kitten and his navi after my outing with Pride," he said. "I want to have another talk."

"As you wish," Ocelot said and left the room.

OOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO

The next morning Netto woke up and Pride was already gone. He yawned and sat up in bed rubbing his eyes. "Good morning, Netto-kun-nya," Rockman said happily.

"Morning," Netto said sleepily. "Why so happy?" he asked.

Rockman opened an e-mail and showed it to Netto. His eyes widened as he read it, "Yes!" he cheered.

Ocelot walked into the room, "What with the cheering?" she asked.

"Nothing," Netto said happily.

Rockman closed the e-mail and Netto grabbed his clothes. "I'll be out in a second," he said.

Ocelot looked at Rockman, "Why are you two so happy?" she asked.

"No reason-nya," Rockman said.

Netto came back out tying his bandana loosely around his neck. "Why are you here?" he asked Ocelot.

"I just wanted to talk, Koneko," she said.

"About what?" Netto asked.

Ocelot sighed, "Well, about Dhruv," she said.

Netto sat on his bed and Rockman sat down on the floor of his PET. "What's up?" Netto asked.

"Dhruv is planning to make his move soon. Netto, if you don't want to get caught in the middle of this you should leave," Ocelot said in a dead serious voice. "I can't disobey direct orders from Dhruv, if he tells me to do something to you; I will have to do it."

Netto bristled, "You want me to abandon Pride?" he asked.

Ocelot sighed, "No, I don't. But Dhruv is getting nervous. Listen Netto, if you stay here you and your navi are in danger, do you understand?"

Netto nodded coldly, "I'm not leaving Pride here," he said.

Ocelot sighed, "All right, I get it. So much for that tactic," she said under her breath.

"Is Pride okay?" Netto asked.

"She's fine, but not for long. Netto, I'm telling you this is about to get dangerous, are you sure…"

"Absolutely," Netto said. "Right Rockman?"

"Right-nya," Rockman replied.

Ocelot sighed, looks like she needed a new plan.

OOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO

Pride and Dhruv walked the streets of the city. It was a factory city with soot and pollution pouring into the sky from every which way. But the people seemed happy and content. "Why do they live like this?" Pride asked herself.

"Because their lives before were much worse," Dhruv smiled.

Pride looked at him with a puzzled glance.

"I'm not as evil as you think I am. This was once one of the biggest cities in the world with huge production turn outs. But once there was no more use for it, the country abandoned it and millions of people. So, I took it over, opened back up all the factories and now this city provides 75 of Darkland's resources. You see, I know how to run a country," Dhruv said smarmily.

"You abandoned that other place," Pride hissed.

"It was of no use. I mean apples are nice an all but still," Dhruv said airily with a wave of his hand.

Pride resisted the urge to smack him again. She got the feeling she wouldn't be applauded for it in this place.

"Now my dear, I'm going to give you one more chance for me to be nice," Dhruv said, fixing Pride with an icy glare. "Will you marry me?"

Pride glared back, "Never," she hissed.

"I have my ways of getting what I want," Dhruv said. "I can take over your country by force if necessary."

Pride wavered.

"Ah, you don't want a war I see, very smart. Well, truth be told I don't want one either, so why don't you just make this easy and say yes."

"Never," Pride hissed again.

Dhruv rubbed his forehead in a relaxed irritation, like Pride was saying 'never' to the question of "Now will you do your homework?" He smiled and then gave an exaggerated sigh. "Oh well, how unfortunate. You know Princess, I do have your friend and navi back at my castle with my mercenaries, all it would take is one little phone call…" he let the threat hang in the air.

"You would never!" Pride yelled.

"I would, and I will," Dhruv said in a deadly voice.

Pride stood there in shock.

"I said I have my ways of getting what I want," Dhruv said icily. Then he smiled, "Now, Princess, will you marry me?"

Pride looked at him and took in a shuddering breath. "I will," she said softly.

OOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO

As soon as they got back to the castle the first thing Pride did was run as far away from Prince Dhruv as she possibly could. Dhruv smirked and walked on into his study, now that Creamland was his, he needed to set the rest of his plan into motion.

Pride ran right to the one person she knew would be there.

Netto's ear's flicked back as he heard a rapid knocking at the door. He looked up from the manga that he was reading and looked at the door. "Who is it?" he wondered out loud.

"Maybe you should answer it-nya," Rockman said.

Netto put down his manga and walked over to the door where whoever was on the other side was still knocking rapidly. He opened it and Pride stood there looking very lost. "Netto…" she said softly.

"What's wrong, Poipu?" he asked using the comforting nickname she had given to him as her name once so long ago.

Pride hugged Netto around his shoulders and he could tell she was trying not to cry. "Netto… I… just…"

"What?" Netto asked again, wondering what was wrong with Pride.

"Dhruv… he…" Pride let go of Netto and she looked him dead in the eye. "Netto, I just agreed to marry Dhruv to save Creamland," she said softly.

Netto's brown eye widened in shock. "What-nya?" Rockman asked.

Pride's eyes looked sad as she relayed most of the story to them. Leaving out the part where Dhruv threatened Netto, she said everything then was silent. "Netto… I feel like I'm helping this man get what he wants but…"

Netto swallowed hard but still gave Pride a comforting pat on her shoulder. "It's okay," he said.

Pride sighed and she looked at the door. "I… just thought I'd tell you. I'm going to go back to my room," she said and got up.

"Okay…" Netto said.

Pride left his room and Netto sighed. He collapsed onto his pillows and looked at the ceiling. "Rockman?"

"Yes Netto-kun-nya?" Rockman asked.

"Pride…" he paused, unsure of what to say.

Rockman gave his operator a small smile, "Don't worry, something will work out-nya."

"Really?" Netto asked.

Rockman nodded, for Netto's benefit. "Something always does-nya."

"Hm…" Netto said thoughtfully.

OOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO

Dhruv smiled at Ocelot, "Well, looks like I can finally set this into motion. I want you to bring me Netto and Rockman; we'll see how this works out."

"Yes, your highness," Ocelot said silkily and bowed out of the room.

Netto was fast asleep on his bed even though it was only three in the afternoon. Ocelot walked into his room and shook him awake. "Netto, get up."

"Five more minutes," he muttered and turned over.

"Netto," Ocelot hissed, "Get up."

Netto's ears went back in irritation. "I don't want to…" he sighed.

"Netto-kun-nya…" Rockman said softly.

"Netto you have to get up, come on," Ocelot said and forced Netto into a sitting position.

Netto rubbed his eyes and glared at Ocelot. "Why do I have to get up?" he asked.

"Because, Dhruv wanted me to get you," she muttered.

"Wha?" Netto asked.

Ocelot sighed, "Kid, just go with it for now, I'll think of something."

Netto's mouth twisted but he grabbed his PET and followed Ocelot anyway.

OOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO

"How much longer?" Mejin asked the pilot.

"I'd say three hours, give or take," the man said. "There's so much cloud cover in this area flying any faster could prove to be very dangerous."

Mejin sighed and sat back down. "This is perfect," he muttered.

Laika sat across from him. "At least we know where they are," he said.

Mejin nodded, "Now comes the part where we can't be detected by Dhruv's equipment. We're going right to him which is probably what he wants us to do."

OOOOOOOOOOOOOOO

"This is the last thing I want them to do!" Dhruv hissed at the footage of the airplane flying towards the city. "This is just… perfect. I have three hours to get what I want, or maybe…" he smiled; a plan was beginning to form.

He heard a knock on the door, "Come in," he said silkily.

Ocelot opened the door and Dhruv gave Netto a wide grin. "Hello again kitten."

"My name is Netto," he hissed.

"Yes, yes," Dhruv said. "You may go now," he said to Ocelot.

Ocelot nodded and left the room.

"So, kitten, I'm sure you've been told of my plan."

Netto crossed his arms, "I have. But if you think I'm going to do anything for you, you're out of your mind."

"I'm perfectly aware that you are quite the strong willed brat," Dhruv said icily, "One thing I do not do is underestimate my opponents."

Netto crossed his arms, "Then why did you bring me here?"

"There are more then one or two ways to achieve a goal, kitten," Dhruv replied. "I know forcing you won't do anything, but I also know you have quite a bit of pride and more honor then most."

"What are you getting at-nya?" Rockman asked warily.

"How about a little contest," Dhruv said smoothly, not missing a beat.

"What do you mean?" Netto asked.

"A contest," Dhruv said again, "Who ever wins can request one favor from the loser that the loser may not refuse." Dhruv grinned, "I may not look it but I have honor myself."

Netto snorted, "Yeah right," he said.

"You don't believe me? All right, if you won what would you request from me?" Dhruv asked.

Netto's eyes widened and he blushed, "I'd ask for you to not marry Pride," he muttered.

Dhruv grinned, "Fine."

Netto blinked, "You're lying."

Dhruv shook his head, "I am not. I have never broken a promise in my life."

"Netto-kun, you can't trust him-nya," Rockman said only loud enough for Netto to hear. But Netto wasn't listening.

"What kind of contest?" he asked.

"I'm aware you've recently learned how to play the strategy game of chess," Dhruv smiled. "How about a match against me?"

Netto crossed his arms and stared at Dhruv trying to make sure he wasn't joking. "You're basing your entire plan on a game of chess?" he asked incredulously.

"Why not? I always did love a good challenge, and this is much better then just threatening your life or the lives of your loved ones because chances are you'd be able to get out of it. I'm not stupid, kitten."

"My name is Netto," Netto retorted through gritted teeth.

"All right, Netto, do you accept?"

"Rockman?" Netto breathed.

"Netto-kun… I don't know-nya…" Rockman replied.

"I could just always threaten to bring down the plane that is holding your friends that is currently crossing into lands occupied by me," Dhruv said with no warm tone in his voice. He was dead serious.

"What plane?" Netto asked.

"Your Net Savior friends are currently flying towards my castle and about 2 and a half hours away. However I can always bring them down."

"You can't do that-nya!" Rockman yelled.

Dhruv smiled, "No? They're officially trespassing onto my lands, I can do whatever I want. So, your answer?"

Netto's fists shook. "Fine," he muttered.

"That's a good kitten," Dhruv smiled.

Netto glared at him but didn't retaliate. He was getting into a battle that didn't include Net Battling, it was a different kind of strategy and he needed to think about what he had just gotten himself into.

OOOOOOOOOOOOOO

One more chapter :3