Chapter 6: Kari Kamiya, the Light
"Guys..." Junpei voiced with a tinge of alarm in his voice causing everyone to wonder why he stopped in the middle of his motion. It had to be noticed, for whatever he was going to say, it sounded like it was drastically important to hear at the moment and probably for the rest of their lives.
"What is it?" the other four asked in unison. They hoped he wasn't going to say anything terrible had happened. They were starting to regret questioning Junpei about the possible bad news when...
"WE'RE IN NEW YORK CITY! I don't believe it. We're in the 'Big Apple.' NYC!" He cheered, making the rest sweat drop. They couldn't believe how he took the situation, as serious as he sounded so worried before, and made to sound like it was a celebration.
("Hey, Junpei,") Pikachu growled, causing the member of 'Those Who Hunt Elves' to look down in disgust, since he interupted his celebration. That's when the Pokemon performed a thundershock, electrocuting the muscled brute. Three seconds later, the mouse stopped, and Junpei was feeling a little crispy.
"He's celebrating the fact that we're in America, even though we have no idea when we are," Asuka speaks in disgust. "I would've wanted to give him a steel pipe, but that'll do. Thanks, Pikachu." She knelt down, and pet the Pokemon, like it was Pen Pen back home. While that was happening, Ash walks over to a vendor after he saw multiple stack of newspapers. He, then, saw "The New York Times" paper. He looks over at the menu for the newspapers and sees "TNYT" being 50 cents. He pulls out a crinkled $1 bill from his pocket.
"I'll take this," he says as he hands the vendor the bill. The vendor took it and, after a couple of seconds, gave Ash change of 50 cents and the paper.
"There you go," the vendor smirked, as if he made a major purchase. Ash first reads the date as he walks back to the group.
"It says here today is Saturday, September 11th, 2002." The words coming from his mouth were soundful for the group to hear, but was starting to quiet down when he was reading the main headline.
(A/N: It was actually on Wednesday that 9/11/2002 was dated on, but I have it on Saturday so that people wouldn't think that these heroes weren't skipping school.)
"Okay, that's all we need to know," Rin said lowly.
"No, get this." Ash began to read the main headline: "A YEAR TO REMEMBER THE FEAR." He paused for a second, somewhat letting the title sink in and let the group listen. Asuka decided, at first, not to listen to what 'fifth child' was reading, but thought twice, since it might've been more important than what Junpei had performed. Ash restarted the story. "At 10:02 A.M. today, the entire state of New York, the state of Pennsylvania and Washington, D.C. will have a moment of silence to remember the victims of the tragedy of 9/11 as a sorrow celebration of this day that lives in infamy of the new generation. It was a year ago, when terrorists from al-Qaida hijacked four commercial airline planes and guided them: two into the World Trade Center towers in the center of New York City, one into the Pentagon, and one into an open field, north of Philadelphia, killing hundreds of passengers. Investigators determined the hijackers in the last plane was aiming for Camp David, where they had suspected President George W. Bush would be, unaware that Bush was at an elementary school in Atlanta, Georgia, reading to students." Ash turns to the group. His face horror-stricken, as Al's attention was focused on a coffee shop with a wonderful patio set with glass tables and white lawn chairs. Ash's mind said that he should've listened to Rin, because he had never heard or read such a horrific and terrible story.
"Let's talk about it more over there," Al addresses to everyone. A little while later, they all sat at a large patio table. Junpei had a cup of coffee, while Rin had some chai tea, Asuka sipped her raspberry smoothie, Al enjoyed some lemon ice, Ash was enjoying an root beer-flavored steamer while reading the newspaper, and Pikachu was chugging a root beer float. Everyone was curious about what the newspaper had read.
"Ketchum, did the news say why these terrorists crashed the planes into the places you read?" Rin asked, confused to know why anybody would do such an act.
"As a matter of fact, I just got done reading that part," Ash said in a serious tone while his face stayed glued to the serious and unsettling look. "The al-Qaida terrorists were sent by a guy named Osama bin Laden, to send fear into the heart of the country. However..."
"It didn't work?" Asuka guessed, thinking it was a mad scientist with an evil plan that fail against the heroes.
"No, it worked, but it had the opposite effect." At that moment, Asuka imagined that scientist being Dr. Jekyll and his great experiment, Frankenstien, had completed its job, but then turned and chased after its 'father.'
"So, it backfired on them, right?" Junpei guesses, too, and Ash nods. He, then, finishes his steamer and started to get up. He looked at a digital clock, noticing that it was 9:40 A.M.
"Hey, Ash, where you going?" Al questioned.
"I want to wander around for a bit, if that's all right," the trainer sighed while hoping to be able to clear his mind of the story. He could never imagine someone being so evil and sadistic as to do that to people to cause terror and fear on to these people. "Can you guys take care of Pikachu for a while?"
"Sure," Rin acknowledged. Ash walks away from the rest with his head hung low. "I hope he'll be okay."
"I don't know why he should be in that low 'motional attitude," Asuka squirted out with an uncaring attitude. "I mean, does he know anyone of the hundreds of victims of the tragedy?"
"Exactly," Junpei agreed. "This is based on the people who witnessed the hanous act of terror who remember it too well, and hope that peace will be restored."
("It doesn't matter who he knows,") Pikachu started with a tone similar to Ash. ("The fact that this act of terrorism, killing many innocent lives, can occur anywhere, even back at our homes.")
"Pikachu's got a point," Al responded. "Can you imagine your loved ones in this kind of situation?"
"I can, and it sickens me, just thinking about it," Rin groaned. Silence lasted a couple of seconds.
"I think we should go shopping to get our minds off of it for a while," Asuka suggests. Everyone swung a nod and stood up to walk away, after throwing their cups in the waste can. Meanwhile, Ash was still walking around with the hung head. Then, he stops in front of a white, triangluar church with a cross over a row of glass doors, and after a moment, he decided to walk in. As he enters, he removes his cap and stares at the room, which has two rows of bench pews. Suddenly, a black, bald man with a gray goatee, wearing a white robe, approached Ash.
"Have you come here for confession, son?" He asked with a light, raspy voice.
"Actually, I've come here to pray upon the victims of this evil act on humanity," Ash moaned in a polite voice that was full of sorrow. The eyes of the trainer revealed the honesty from his words.
"You can do it anywhere you would have wanted. Is there a reason why here?"
"I thought this would be the best place to reach them." The black man smiled.
"I understand."
"Thank you." Ash walked and sat in the front pew in the left wing of the church, with the black man by his side. He placed his cap by his right side.
"Y'know, there's still 17 minutes until the moment comences."
"Can I start praying, at least?" When the man nodded, Ash interlocked his fingers together and clenched his hands, dipped his head and closed his eyes. Two minutes later, the doors opened again, and a young flat-top brunette girl with a magenta hairclip, wearing a pink/white striped shirt, pink arm-long gloves, and short yellow shorts appeared.
"Kari, it's nice of you to arrive," he whispered to her as she took her gloves off.
"Same to you, Kirk," she whispered back until she sees Ash, whom she thought was rather cute. "Is he already praying?" Kirk nodded. "Is it all right if I join him?" With another nod, she walked over, placed her gloves next to his cap, and sat next to Ash. Then, she interlocked her fingers and hands, dipped her head, and closed her eyes. Both Ash and Kari were in deep prayer. Meanwhile, the others were clothes shopping as Junpei and Asuka found some fabulous jeans in her size. Al and Rei found thierselves new wear as Pikachu was wearing a green football jersey with the number '4' and the name in the back being "FAVRE." Then, the P.A. sounded.
"Ladies and Gentlemen, in two minutes, we will have a moment of silence as we remember the victims of 9/11. Everyone, except for infants, shall remain silent for a small prayer until the moment passes." 10:02 A.M. The city goes completely quiet. Rin and Al softly clapped their hands and closed their eyes while Asuka and Junpei simply looked up. 10:03 A.M. "Thank you and enjoy the rest of your day." An aplaud was erupting as the people remembered the day. At the church, Ash and Kari were still praying for a few more moments when both locked hands dipped to their laps simutaniously, and they slowly opened their eyes. Then, as Ash was reaching for his cap and Kari was after her gloves, her hand accidently grabbed his.
'Did I grab his hand?' she thought. The trainer was in the middle of opening his eyes and blindly reached for his cap when his hand was caught, causing his eyes to open faster.
'Someone has my hand hostage, but who?' Ash wondered. In unison, both look to each other, then, blush.
'Oh my gosh,' both thought in unison. 'she's/he's cute.' They quickly looked away for a second.
"Sorry about that."
"No, I should be the one apologizing." A moment of silence weighed on the two, not realizing she still had his hand. "You nervous about something?"
"Not really. You?"
"Somewhat."
"Why you ask?"
"Well, your hand's got quite a grip, like you've been through a lot lately."
"Well, your hand's trembling a little, like you've got no idea what to do or where to go."
In unison, they giggled and said, "You've got a point, there." They stood up, and peeked at each other, again. Ash thought she was the cutest little, short brunette girl with a thin frame, and brown eyes that revealed a beautiful item of hers: a heart with unmatched purity. He knew if he compaired her to Misty or May or anyone else, this girl would be his choice.
"Y'know, this is the first time someone has held my hand like that," Ash smirked.
"Do you want me to let go?" Kari asked with somewhat of a sad expression, though, unsure why she had one, but he appeared to be so handsome to her, not to mention the surprise that she'd see a boy come to church alone, and pray, much less him. Her brown eyes peered into his brown eyes, and his showed that he was confident and determined in all that he did and that he cared for all that deserved to be, even when, at times, they would not appear to need it.
"Don't you want to grab your stuff? I can get it for you." This made her smile. She watched him walk back to the pew, and noticed that this young man must be on his feet quite a bit, though, he had an interestingly cool stroll that he carried as he walked.
"O-of course,"she studdered. "I-I mean, thank you, please." Kari released Ash's hand, so he could get his hat and her gloves.
"Here you go," he grinned as he handed over the gloves.
"Thanks. By the way, my name's Hikari Kamiya...Kari for short."
"Pleasure to meet you. My name's Ash Ketchum."
"Back at you, Ash. Say, you want to come to the Rockafeller Center? My friend has a gig with his band, along with Ashanti, P.O.D., and Linkin Park."
"Sure." They walked out of the pew and proceeded to the doors. All Kirk could do was smile.
"May thy good Lord watch over you," he spoke. The other two turned around and gave him a smile.
"...so may he help us, amen," Ash and Kari said in unison. They exited the church, where a lavendar-haired girl and a brunette teen male were sitting by the steps, along with a small orange dinosaur, a white cat with clawed gauntlets and a tail ring, and a red bird with a white head and a feather sticking from the back. The lavendar-haired heard the door open, causing her to turn around and saw Ash and Kari approach them.
"How'd it go, Kari?" the girl asked.
"Really well, Yolei," Kari replied. "Is Tai here, too?"
"Right here, Kari," the teen said. "Who's he?"
"He was here before me, and was deep in prayer when I arrived. His name is Ash."
"Nice to meet you," Ash said as he offered his hand for a friendly shake, which Yolei grabbed and shook happily while blushing a little at Ash. She always blushed around boys she thought were good looking.
"Hello, Ash. I'm Yolei Inoue," she introduced herself. The way she spoke, Ash could tell she was intelligent.
"...And I'm Taichi Kamiya, but everyone calls me Tai," Tai said. "I'm Kari's big brother." The three creatures, then, decided to take a look to see this new person. Ash noticed this with widened eyes.
"I didn't know you had Pokemon here," he said happily, but with a hint of confusion.
"What are you talking about? They're Digimon," Yolei corrected Ash.
"Digimon?" The other three picked up their 'Digimon.' "I'm sorry, but that one looks like a Charmander..." pointing to the dino.
"Well, I'm actually named Agumon," it barked, which startled Ash.
"It talks?"
"Of course, we do. That's Hawkmon," pointing to the bird. "...And that's Gatomon," pointing to the cat. "We Digimon have special abilities that-"
"Agumon," Hawkmon interupted. "I know he needs to know about us, but we should rendez-vous with Mimi and Palmon to see Matt's performance."
"Oh, yeah," Yolei chirpped as she looked to her watch, reading 10:15 A.M. "The concert starts at 11:00. We should get going." When all of them nodded, they started to run away from the church. Meanwhile, Rin, who was now in a flower blouse, kahkis and tennis shoes, and has a worried Pikachu on her head, and Al were wandering around for the others. They pass by a department complex, when Asuka, now in a red tank top, skin tight jeans and sandals, and Junpei exited from there and turned to the other two.
"Rinny," Asuka called. "Al!" Both Rin and Al turned around to see their teammates, but Rin shot a mean look at Asuka.
"Don't mock me, Asuka," she groaned. Junpei sees Pikachu's new jersey.
"What did you guys do to Ash's pet?" he snickered. "He looks like he should be in Green Bay, not here. I mean, really, Brett Favre's jersey in his size?" He starts to laugh like an idiot, which angered Al and Pikachu. Al planted a piece of paper with a transmutation circle on the sidewalk, clapped his hands and slapped the paper. This rose three statues with water pots, which poured onto Junpei, soaking him and stopping his laugh. Then, Pikachu performed a thundershock, zapping the muscled man and giving him plenty of pain. Afterwards, Junpei was on the ground in a heap of hurt.
("Don't make fun of someone in this wear,") the mouse growled. That's when Elizabeth appeared.
"If it's all right, can I go look for Ash, guys?" she asked. Asuka nodded, and the ghost zips to the sky. Overhead of the city, she searched around for any sign of the trainer. That's when she saw a teen with pink and starry hair, along with a plant, staring at her watch. Without warning...
"Mimi!" A shout was heard. The pink-haired turned to see Tai and the others, as well as Ash, and happily laughed.
"Tai, Kari, Yolei, you made it," she said.
"Sorry to keep you," Kari huffed, trying to catch her breath, as did the rest.
"What time do we have?" Tai winced. Mimi looks at her wristwatch.
"10:30," she replied. Ash rose up.
"How far are we to the Rockafeller Center, now?" he asked.
"I'll answer, after you identify yourself."
"Chill Mimi. His name is Ash, and he's Kari's new aquaintance," Yolei acted, giving Ash a reason to nod. Mimi approached the trainer with a curious look. Unaware to anyone, Elizabeth slowly descended after finding the trainer. Mimi, then, smiled.
"It's nice to meet you. I'm Mimi Tachikawa."
"Mine's Ash Ketchum," Ash blurts.
"We're about ten minutes from here. You think you can keep up?" He shot a grin, and flicked a thumbs up. Then, they all ran off to the Center. Elizabeth retreated back to the group, which took two minutes. Rin saw her return.
"Did you find Ketchum?" the swordswoman questioned.
"Yeah, and he's on his way to the Rockafeller Center," the ghost answered, then, she blushed. "And he's with a few cute girls." She started to squirm like it was having pleasure. The others huddle.
"Well, at least we know where fifth child is," Asuka muttered.
"Not to mention where he's going," Al added. Junpei looked up and around. "Junpei, what are you doing?"
"Sorry," he monotoned. "I'm still thinking about what Celsia told him before we left."
"Don't change the subject, Junpei," Rin growled. She focuses back on the others. "All right, we head to this Rockafeller Center and retireve Ketchum."
"One problem," Asuka snapped. "His new gang." Elizabeth wanted to butt in.
"Maybe one of them holds the next key," she whispered.
"But does anyone know about where the next key is?" Al questioned. Everyone had no clue, giving them a cause to shake their head. It seemed that right now in Pikachu's mind, the key wasn't relevant.
("Let's just go to the center and find Ash,") the mouse moaned. With a nod from everyone, they broke the huddle.
"The Center is this way," Elizabeth said. The group proceeded to the Rockafeller Center with the ghost leading the way. Meanwhile, the other group had arrived at a location with a large fountain under the street level. A crowd was gathering in front of a large stage, waiting anxiously for the show to start. In the dressing room, a blond teen male was trying to calm the nerves of stage fright, taking large breathes of air, as the rest of his group were unpacking the equipment from the large cases. That's when a tall man, with dirty-looking brown hair, crossed his path. The blond looked to him.
"Hey, Mike," he called.
"What is it, Matt?" Mike responded. Matt pulls out a picture of Tai in a school uniform.
"Can you see if this guy's here? He was supposed to meet me before the concert started."
"Sure." Mike takes the picture and proceeds to the exit in the back. During this, Ash and his new friends arrive backstage, just as Mike opens the door. Tai approached the man at the door.
"Hey, is Matt back there?" He asked.
"Yeah, he was expecting you. I'll go get him." Mike retreats back inside to tell Matt. Ash was more curious about these new people he had recently befriended.
"So, how long have you known each other, Yoiel?" he asked politely. Yolei was more than willing to tell him about the relationships with each other.
"Well, Tai and Matt Ishida were friends before Kari exsisted, and they were always playing video games and such," she explained, like Tai was a bibliography. Before she could continue, however...
"Hey, guys," Matt cheered. Everyone was excited to see their friend, as he shoned from the rays of the high above sun...except for Ash, who just smiled at the sight. That's when Matt saw the trainer, and wondered why he was with his friends. "Hey, who's he over there?"
"That's Ash, Kari's new boyfriend," Mimi greatly grinned, making Ash and Kari blush a rosey red. Yolei giggled at the sight, believing Mimi.
"I'd love to see Davis's face to this romantic sight," Gatomon joked, knowing that the mentioned person would be angry about anyone flirting with Kari. Ash approached Matt with a question in mind.
"So, what's the lineup for the concert?" he asked, curious about who was singing first. Matt pulled a sticky note from his pants pocket, and unfolded it.
"Well," he started. "We have Linkin Park first, with their song 'In the End,' then it's Ashanti with 'Only You,' my group with 'The Digivasion,' and P.O.D. with 'Youth of the Nation.' By the way, the first guy you guys saw was Mike Sodina, one of the vocalist for Linkin Park."
"I guess Mr. Hanh must be there, too," Yolei guessed. Matt nodded, like she knew who she was mentioning. Yolei looked back at her watch, now reading 10:55 A.M. "Hey, we should get to the floor. The shows about to start."
"You're right," Tai said, with a hint of concerned. "Break a leg, Matt." With that, the group ran off to the front gates, and Matt simply closed the door. At the front gate, the group slowed their run to walking as the Center was filling up. Then...
("Ash!") a squeak was heard, catching their attention, and turning to Pikachu, charging at them, and smiling since he found his lost master. Ash was happy to see his Pokemon, again, since he felt more happy having him around. Pikachu jumped into the waiting open arms of Ash, and he was able to catch him.
"Hey, Pikachu," he said with a smile. "Sorry about before." He saw the Brett Favre jersey and was wondering where he got it from, since this was the first time Pikachu wore something sporty, other than the time it had a mock boxing match with a Hitmochan.
"Hey is that one of those Pokemon you had mention?" Agumon questioned, thinking about the misidentification from before. Ash nodded, as to say that Pikachu is a Pokemon.
"So, are the rest coming?" Pikachu pointed to a fast approaching group, which Ash could easily recognize. Rin stopped in front, as the rest were catching up.
"How are you doing, Ketchum?" Rin worringly asked, as if the story he read before was still fresh in his mind.
"Better than eariler. Look, Rin, I should've probably not read the front page of the story, and follow your advice. I'm sorry." He spoke out of seriousness, like the weight of the emotional pain hit him in the gut, and simply bowed his head. Rin put her hand on his shoulder.
"It's okay." Ash looked up. "Besides, how else would we know about the stability of this country without that information?" Ash's nod was a touch slower than before, but no less out of honesty. "So, what's going on here?"
"We're going to see their friend's performance with a few other bands." As soon as the rest came up, and introductions were completed, they all proceeded inside, when Al spotted Ash and Kari holding hands, again. He stepped back to Asuka with grin.
"Looks like the trainer's found someone to tame him," he whispered with a snicker, believing that Asuka might make some kind of scandaling comment. Asuka just shot a smirk about the comment.
"Alphonse, I believe fifth child didn't find someone to love," she started, as if she was a brainiac about love. "Love is something that seeks you, and with fifth child, love came in the form of a kind, gentle, and innocent young girl. Have you ever felt love before?"
"Actually, no."
"Well, when you do, remember what I said." Al smiled, understanding her. 11:00 A.M. The curtain rose to see four men, including Mike, ready to play with the drums, guitars, and microphones. The music starts.
(It starts with you) One thing, I don't know why,
It doesn't matter how hard you try,
Keep that in mind,
Now the design is right to enslave a due time;
(All I know,) time's a valuable thing,
Watch the clock fly as the pendulum swings,
Watch the countdown to the end of the day,
The clock ticks life away;
(It's so unreal,) Didn't look out below.
Watch the time go, right out the window,
Trying so hard, you didn't even know,
While wasting it all, just to;
(Watch you go) I kept everything inside,
And even though I tried, it all fell apart,
What it meant to me will eventually be a memory of a time.
(I tried so hard,
And got so far,
But in the end, it doesn't even matter.
I had to fall,
To lose it all,
But in the end, it doesn't even matter.)
One thing, I don't know why,
It doesn't matter how hard to try,
Keep that in mind,
The design is right to remind myself how;
(I tried so hard,) In spite of the way you were mocking me,
Acting like I was a part of your property,
Remembering all the times you fought with me,
I surprised it..;
(Got some things,) Aren't the way they were before,
You wouldn't even recognize me anymore,
Not that you knew me back then,
But it all comes back to me;
(In the end,) you kept everything inside,
And even though I tried, it all fell apart,
What it meant to me will eventually be a memory of a time.
(I tried so hard,
And got so far,
But in the end, it doesn't even matter.
I had to fall,
To lose it all,
But in the end, it doesn't even matter.)
I put my trust, in you,
Pushed as far as I can go,
For all this, there's only one thing you should know.
I put my trust, in you,
Pushed as far as I can go,
For all this, there's only one thing you should know.
(I tried so hard,
And got so far,
But in the end, it doesn't even matter.
I had to fall,
To lose it all,
But in the end, it doesn't even matter.)
A cheer erupted as the music started to die down, and the band took a bow. "Ladies and gentlemen...Linkin Park!" The P.A. announced. "All right, everyone, in five minutes, Ashanti will be on stage performing 'Only You.'" Rin looked over to Ash and Kari and couldn't help but smile at the sight, while the P.A. started to play "Rise." (From GitS: SAC: 2nd GIG)
'If we find everyone, and complete this journey that we will be in, I hope there's a way we can keep Kari and Ash together,' she thought, but suddenly realized that she commited a personal sin, which was mentioning a boys' first name, and covered her mouth in panic. 'Did I just say that? Did I just call Ketchum by his first name? It must've slipped out. I mean, I never call Shikimori by his first name, and Junpei didn't tell us his last name. So if I did, why did I call Ketchum by his first name?' She thinks it over. She knew better than to call a boy by his first name, but there had to have been a reason. 'Is it because I'm starting to care about him?' Then, a hand was planted on Rin's shoulder, causing her to turn around. It was Yolei. "Oh, it's you," she studdered, not willing to speak about what was on her mind. "What is it, Yolei?"
"How about that first song, Miss Rin?" Yolei happily questioned.
"Well, I can admit, I actually liked it." Rin was relieved that Yolei's question wasn't related to her thoughts. That's when Yolei noticed Rin looking at their friends holding hands. "Y'know, Kari reminds me of someone."
"You don't say." Then, a young woman appeared in street clothes with tennis shoes as "Rise" was halted.
"Ladies and gentlemen," The P.A. started. "Here to perform her song, 'Only You,' here's Ashanti!" A loud cheer was casted as the music was starting. Before the first words were spoken, a series of explosions caught the crowd off guard. The music stopped playing as the crowd turned around and saw a blond man, in a navy blue suit, blue skin, red mask, and a cape in the air, laughing evily. Kari saw the man herself, and squeezed Ash's hand tight.
"It's Myotismon," she yelped in fear. Ash knew this was bad, but he needed to find a way to calm her down as the crowd dispersed in fear and panic...excpet for his other teammates, who wanted to fight. Asuka reached for her watch, and found out she is able to use it again, in which she draws out a steel bo staff. Myotismon desended to the ground as Al was getting ready to morph into his armor suit.
"Well, well, well," Myotismon grinned. "There's only one Digidestined here, and you, young boy, are willing to sacrifice your little life to protect her." Ash began growling at the hideous site in front of him.
"Hey, freak," Junpei called. Myotismon turned to the muscled brute. "Did you forget that we're here?"
"Why should I care about you, you ingrate?"
"You mind we show you why?" Ash grinned as he grabbed and threw his Pokeballs. "C'mon out, everyone." The Pokeballs opened, and out came Glalie, Corphish, Swellow, a gecko-like creature, and charchol-shelled turtle.
"Even more excitement." Myotismon leaped to the air. "Allow me to show you my true strength. Grisley Wing!" He launched a flock of bats at Ash and Kari.
"Grovyle," Ash called to the gecko. "Use Bullet Seed!" Grovyle fired seeds from his mouth at the bats. The bats were starting to overpower the Bullet Seed. "Torkoal, team up with Flamethrower!" The turtle got to Grovyle's side and spat out fire from it's mouth at the bats. The power between Myotismon and the Pokemon appeared to be even. "I don't like the looks of this. I'm not sure how long they'll last."
"Hey, fifth child," Asuka yelled. "Get your girlfriend out of here."
"We'll watch your Pokemon," Al added. Ash dug into his pocket and pulled out his Pokedex, and tossed it to Al.
"Use this," he called out. Al wasn't sure how to use the Pokedex, and wanted to ask, but Ash and Kari were already gone. Al did know a couple of attacks from Glalie, Pikachu, Swellow and Corphish, but with Grovyle and Torkoal making their appearance it was a new experience. He had to make a call.
"Grovyle, Torkoal, clear out," Al summoned. Grovyle and Torkoal stepped clear of the Grisley Wing attack.
"You won't get away from me that easily," Myotismon groaned. "Nightmare-" Al cut off his summoning of his attack with...
"Glalie, Icy Wind!" Glalie blew an arctic cold wind and froze the target's arms in place. Rin stepped up.
"Darim, disipline of arms," she called, causing her katana to glow a bright green color. Then, she leaped into the air and proceeded to cut Myotismon down. When she swung, a magic blade came out, and struck the target, knocking him down to the ground. Meanwhile, Ash and Kari were backstage, in hiding, when Ashanti approached them.
"You friends with Ishida?" she asked, knowing that she saw Matt talking to his friends before the concert started.
"I am," Kari admitted.
"This way." The three head to a shelter, where a worried Matt was praying, for the safety of his friends. When the door opened up, the three entered. Ashanti shut the door, willing to stay away of the fight. Matt was happy to know that Ash and Kari were safe.
"Thanks, Ashanti," he said, feeling like a part of his prayers had been answered. "What about the others?"
"They must've gone eith the rest of the crowd."
"So they're thinking of a gameplan to stop Myotismon."
"In the meantime," Ash butted in. "My friends, along with my Pokemon, are holding off that guy."
"Okay." Then, something shiny caught Ash's eyes, like a moth to a fire, and it was right next to Ashanti's feet. He walked over and saw another Queen's Key.
"Check it out." The other two walked over to Ash and Ashanti, and glimpsed over at the key.
"It looks like a giant key," Kari said.
"It's the sixth key."
"Sixth?" Matt wondered, not understanding what Ash meant. That's when Ash brought out his key.
"My friends and I were brought together with these keys, and still, we're not sure what we're suppose to do or where to go, like Resembool, Tokyo-3, Aoi Academy, the elven world, and even here in New York, not to forget how many others are still out there."
"So you guys have a journey of mythical proportions ahead of you, right?" Ashanti guessed. Ash nodded without hesitation, causing her to cross her arms, and look away in disgust. "Well, I don't believe it."
"If not, then why don't you try picking it up?" The singer thought it over for a second, then, tried to grab the key, but the key phased through her hand.
"An illusional trick," she said in disgust.
"Let me try," Kari whispered. She reached for the key, and grasped it. Then she lifted the key to her chest. She was in shock, as the truth became clear: she was a member. That's when her lips lifted into a smile, for other truth: she would be with Ash. She, then, grabbed Ash's cap, removed it, grabbed his head, pulled him to her and kissed him. This startled Matt and Ashanti a little. Meanwhlie, Myoitsmon was showing fatigue and pain, whle the others, including Al in his armored form, were willing to finish the Digimon off.
"This is unacceptable," he groaned in disbelief.
"Oh, cry me a river," Junpei mocked, as if to say 'like we care.'
"Even I can admit," Al added. "We thought you were tougher than this."
"I will see you again," Myotismon growled. "And next time it won't be the same." He bursted into a flock of bats, and dispersed. Rin sheathed her katana, as Al open his breastplate to allow Gatomon out before he used his alchemy to turn back to his human form.
"He's right about that," she said. "It won't be the same."
"Not without some more help," Asuka grinned. "I bet fifith child found another key and person right about now." Grovyle and Swellow nodded in agreement.
"You don't suppose it's that chick who's been howling over that brat, is it?" Junpei groaned, mocking the love scene before. Asuka walked over to Junpei, and slapped his face.
"En fon shame you idiot. He knows now what it's like to be loved. Don't ruin it for him." That's when Ash and Kari arrived, with Matt and Ashanti from the rear.
"Guys," Ash called out. Everyone looked over to the approaching trainer and girlfriend. Gatomon jumped on to Kari.
"Kari," the cat called. After a little while discussing the fight and finding the sixth key, the growing group was ready to depart, as they raised their keys to open the protal, which appeared. Matt approached Kari with concern.
"Kari, I know you got to go," he started. "Do you want me to tell Tai this?"
"Tell him, not to worry," Kari said with a smile. "Because I know Ash will protect me from now on."
"Okay." Then, the six key holders entered the portal. On the other side, however... the group appeared to be split up, and unconsious, as Ash and Kari, who were on the ground, were unaware as a woman in a red, and white priestess clothing approached them, with her bow and arrows strapped to her back.
TO BE CONTINUED...
The group had mysteriously split up as Ash and Kari have a priestess attend to their aid, but what about the others...including a monk rubbing Asuka's butt? (clue)