A Kingdom For My Dark Horse
"Rika, honey, are you OK?" Rumiko asked as she hugged her daughter and the idol's arm. Both winced, not because the hug was a bonecrusher, but because of the bruises they had inflicted on each other.
"I'm fine, mom," she said, then added "just a little sleepy."
"Oh," Rumiko let go of her. "and who's this?" she asked, looking at Alisha.
She held out her hand, and Rumiko shook it. "Hi, I'm Alisha McLaud, a childhood fan of yours." Rika took this little bit of information and stored it for later use. "It is an honor to meet you."
"If you two don't mind, I would like to take a nap in my bed," Rika said, looking for a chance to take a snooze. And I don't want to fall asleep on Alisha's shoulder, listening to them trade beauty secrets.
"Oh, sure thing, my Rika," Rumiko responded. "Follow me." She turned around, without waiting for Alisha or Rika.
"I know where my room is," she gritted tiredly.
"But I don't," Alisha pointed out as she followed her childhood idol. Rika just tried to stay awake, tuning out the babble between the two women.
Before she knew it, she was in her bed, asleep.
After a few hours of listening to Rumiko's beauty secrets, Alisha could feel herself nodding off. "I'm sorry, Mrs. Nonaka, but my brain is still on US Pacific time. I need a nap. Oh, and thanks for the room." Standing up, Alisha held out her hand, and Rumiko shook it.
The room was actually "Renamon's," but due to the fact that she liked to sleep either outside or by her Tamer, it was rarely used. Renamon graciously donated it for Alisha's use, bending into Pixiemon's plan to get their Tamers to be better friends.
Collapsing on the mat, she sighed and turned over. Pixiemon wasn't far behind, landing on the floor and falling asleep. She too closed her eyes, waiting for sleep.
"It's good to see Rika getting more girl friends," Alisha heard Rumiko say outside her room.
"Yes, she does need more friends that are women, in my opinion. But remember dear, don't push her: she'll only push back if you do," said an older voice that Alisha didn't recognize. Friends? No way am I going to be friends with that woman! Alisha thought bitterly as she opened her eyes.
"I know! It's just seems like Rika just wants to spite me, no matter what!" Rumiko said in frustration.
"I know, dear. Just let her go at her own pace. I'm sure she'll find some good friends, and maybe even a good husband." Alisha could hear a wistful tone in the older voice, but she didn't know why. Unless the older lady is Rika's Grandma.
"'HUSBAND'! What makes you think that Rika's ready to get married!" Rumiko shouted.
"She's twenty-one. Some women I knew got married when they were younger. Others were a bit too young, in my opinion." Rumiko inhaled, getting ready to shout down her mom. "I'm sure Rika will be wiser than you, and the fact that she didn't get up and marry Ryo or Kazu shows that." Rika, Kazu, married? She's always at his throat, and he's always baiting her. It would be fun to watch the two, Thought Alisha, grinning. but I would hate to be their children. Her grin turned into a frown. "Perhaps she'll choose Henry or Takato."
"I don't want my daughter marrying some poor bread-maker," Rumiko said, almost pleading. I don't know. Henry was close to that blonde, and I could swear I saw an engagement ring. I don't think you need to be worried about Rika marrying a poor baker. Alisha thought, erroneously thinking that Henry was the poor baker.
"If she wants to do that, it's her choice. She is a woman now; you can't tell her what she can or cannot do. If you try, she will only push you back harder, maybe even disown us," her mother replied sadly.
"But, she'll get into debt, she'll loose everything, she'll…" Rumiko ranted.
"She's not like you. I have a feeling that she'll get by with the bare necessities of life. Without too much complaining." There was a hint of a smile in her voice when she said that.
Alisha groaned and closed her eyes. I just want to go to sleep! She thought irritably. There was a lull in the talking, making it so that Alisha could fall into blissful slumber.
When Michael looked at Takato's house, he was deeply humbled. It's smaller than my house. And I thought I was poor. "You live here?" he asked, looking at the bakery.
Takato nodded. "Uh-huh. The first floor is the bakery, and the second floor is where we sleep."
Michael nodded and rubbed his right eye. "I should have taken that nap," he said tiredly. Michael walked up to the front of the store, only to be dragged to the side door by Takato. "Takato, what are you doing?" Michael asked, confused.
"I, uh, let's just say I'm entering into my rebellious stage of life," he said, giving, in his opinion, an impish grin. Michael thought it just made him look freaky.
"You didn't tell your parents, did you?" Michael asked, rubbing both eyes with his right hand. Takato's impish smile was replaced by a nervous grin. He nodded. Hmm. Thought so. Michael yawned, trying to hold back on the sleep. Takato opened the side door and Michael followed.
"Takato!" He groaned, knowing he was in big trouble. Luckily for him, his mother was at the front of the store, waiting for customers. "Where have you been! Your father and I have been needing your help, and what do you do? You disappear! If you're going to take over the bakery one day, you'll have to learn some responsibility, and not just about Digimon!"
"Don't worry, mom. I'll help you right after I get Guilmon up into my room," Takato called out. Michael smiled. He was about to whisper that he would help tomorrow when he had a sleepy-induced brain fart, making forget what he was about to offer Takato and his parents. Takato led him up stairs to his room and bed, where Michael promptly fell asleep. He must be exhausted to fall asleep that fast, thought Takato. Probably suffering from jet lag.
Takato went downstairs, ready to help his parents with the bakery. He cowered when he saw the glare that Mai gave him, but all she did was point to a bowl and Takato knew that he needed to make dough for the bread. He sighed. Never a dull moment around here.
Beep-beep-beep! Beep-beep-beep!
Alisha groaned, rubbed her eyes, and looked for her alarm clock, planning on turning it off and skipping work. But, when she looked around, she was surprised to see that the alarm clock was nowhere to be found. Then what in Malaysia is making that stupid beeping? She threw off the covers and stood on the bed. She quickly realized that she wasn't touching the ceiling. Looking down, she saw that the bed was maybe three inches thick. Where in the world am I?
"My Tamer! We must not doddle! There is a big, bad Digimon coming through!" Alisha looked over at her Digimon to find him flying to and fro in a distracted manner. It was then that Alisha realized that it was her D-ark that was going off.
Knock! Knock! "You gonna help us or not?" asked Rika's voice irritably.
"Coming!" Alisha called out. She looked around, looking for decent clothes to wear, only to realize that she was wearing decent clothes. Cursing herself, she opened the door and walked out, only to see a yellow blur go by her. She shrieked, scared stiff until she realized that it was probably Renamon. Cursing herself yet again, she followed the direction the yellow blur went. When Rika caught sight of her, she just shook her head in amazement. And she is related to Michael? His roommates could barely get him out of bed when I come over early.
Beep-beep-beep! Beep-beep-beep!
Michael, of course, completely ignored the beeping noise, sleeping peacefully. He didn't even wake up when Takato tried to shake him awake. Not even the well-known call of "Food" and "Breakfast" would make him stir. Sighing, Takato took out his D-arc, turned off Michael's so that his parents wouldn't wonder who the stranger was, and got Guilmon, trying to find the location of the next Deva.
Beep-beep-beep! Beep-beep-beep!
"Five more minutes!" Kazu groaned sleepily, hitting the snooze button on his alarm clock.
Beep-beep-beep! Beep-beep-beep!
"I said five more minutes!" he groaned loudly, slapping his alarm clock harder.
Beep-beep-beep! Beep-beep-beep!
"I said five more minutes!" he shouted, pulling the Alarm clock's cord.
Beep-beep-beep! Beep-beep-beep!
"What the Heck is going on!" he asked, still not recognizing the fact that his Digivice was going off.
"You killed the clock!" said Guardramon in shock.
"It was annoying," was Kazu's sleepy response. "and it's still annoying!" he yelled, truly enraged and about to throw the clock out the window.
Guardramon picked up his Digivice and said "This is annoying, too. Should I kill it?"
"Huh?" Kazu dropped his alarm clock and took his D-arc from Guardramon's hand. His eyes widened when he realized what it meant when a D-arc went off. "Snap! Let's roll!" Kazu yelled, running out of his door and outside his house. Man! I hope it's good enough for me to wake up from my nap, but if it's not!
"Kazu, wait!" Guardramon followed him as fast as he could.
They all came to an open area of the park, where the fog was visible. When all of the Tamers reached it, it dispersed, revealing the horse Deva.
"Foolish humans! Do you think that you could defeat the Dark Sovereign? You are badly mistaken if you do!" Indramon shouted.
Takato wasn't happy with Indramon's tone. "Guess again, Deva! Guilmon…"
Indramon raised his "hands" to the air, and called out "Dark Aura!" cutting off Takato. A shadow started going across the ground, engulfing everything. The same shadow was going across the ground was also going across the sky and on the sides, making complete darkness surround the Tamers and the Deva. When the darkness reached Rika and Renamon, Rika staggered, taken a bit off-balance, while Renamon was thrown off her feet. None of the other Tamers or Digimon seemed to have been affected in any way, however Takato didn't Biomerge with Guilmon, confusing both.
When Rika saw that Renamon was on the ground, she ran over to her, trying to see what was wrong. Kneeling down, she could tell that Renamon was having trouble breathing.
"Rika! Look out!"
Rika looked up when she heard Takato and saw a hoof moving in her direction. Grabbing Renamon, she rolled out of the way, barely dodging the attack. She felt the hairs on the back of her head stand up, and she rolled again, barely missing the big hoof.
When Susie saw her role model rolling to avoid the hoof of doom, she looked at her partner and said "Lopmon, you have to Digivolve."
Lopmon, however, didn't seem to be able to. She tried, narrowing her eyes in concentration, but at last sighed in defeat "I'm sorry, Susie, but for some odd reason, I can't Digivolve."
"We're screwed," commented Susie, looking back at Rika and Renamon.
Rika's was starting to get tired dodging the hoof, secretly wondering when he was going to use his Desolation Horn to wipe them out of existence. Rika stopped rolling to get a breather, trying to get her head to stop spinning.
"Rika!"
Rika looked at the hoof, unable to tell which way she should roll. Luckily she was saved by an unlikely Digimon.
"What're ya doin,' huh!"
Indramon's attention was redirected to the new threat, barely missing Rika and Renamon. Beelzemon came flying out of the sky and hovered in front of the horse Deva. He was in his Blast Mode, with his corona canon on his right arm and his raven wings outstretched.
"Who dares defy the Dark Sovereign?" Indramon asked indignantly.
Beelzemon just glared at him, remembering the last Indramon he fought as Impmon, his Rookie form. "I do! Ya got a problem with that, then take it up with my gun! Corona blaster!" Beelzemon called out, shooting a ball of purple energy at the horse.
"Rika!" Takato ran over to her and helped her up, leading her and Renamon to a safe area. Basically where he was before he ran over to aid her.
Beelzemon didn't even notice Takato's actions, being too drawn into staring down the horse. However, said horse seemed to have a bit of confidence, despite being up against a Mega. And Beelzemon was feeling the the best Mon in the Digital world; that he was unstoppable; that he could take over the world; that no four Sovereigns could beat him. He didn't know, or at this time care, why he felt that way. The stupid horse, he thought, must be feelin' the same.
"Foolish Digimon!" Indramon roared. "Do you think that you can defeat me?" The straps that hold the horn on the Digimon's back disintegrated, and the horn started to ascend. "Desolation Horn!"
"Corona Blaster!" Beelzemon yelled, holding his right arm and firing the canon at the horn. The purple orb impacted on the horn and held for a while, before the horn disintegrated.
"Impossible!" Indramon yelled, shocked and enraged. Beelzemon just smirked and started to draw a star with his big gun.
"Corona Destroyer!"
The big purple ball of energy shot at the big horse, whose last words were "Nooo…" But when the Deva was gone, the dark zone was still there, making Rika worry a lot. The fact that Renamon hadn't been getting better after the defeat of the Deva was really making Rika paranoid. She looked at Renamon, not knowing how much longer she would remain in her bad condition. When she looked back at Beelzemon, however, she saw something that made her blood go cold. His Corona canon was pointing straight at her! She hadn't seen him go rogue for a long time, and she didn't want her or any of her friends to be at the business end of his guns.
"Impmon!" "Impmon!"
Rika looked at the source of the voices and saw, a boy and a girl, quite possibly twins, one with a Digivice, and the other with a card. Beelzemon turned in the direction of the voice and saw his Tamers and gritted his teeth. I don't need my Tamers… What am I thinking! He closed his eyes. Of course I need my Tamers! He then noticed that he felt something dark surrounding him and penetrating him.
But they make you weak. Beelzemon heard a dark, seductive voice in his head say.
They don't make me weak! They make me strong. Their care for me and their love for me makes me stronger than ever! Beelzemon yelled back into his head, hugging himself as if trying to rip himself in two.
You can become stronger if you use me. Said the dark voice. My only request is that you delete your partners.
I don't want power! I won't kill my partners! Never! "Never!" Beelzemon yelled out. A yellowish light surrounded Belzemon and started to rip apart the dark area, making a bit of the sunset's light to peek through. The light exploded, and everyone had to shield their eyes. But for a brief moment, Rika could swear that she saw Beelzemon have golden clothing and a gold helmet.
When the light dimmed, Beelzemon sighed and started drifting to the ground. At twelve feet off the ground, he de-Digivolved and started to fall to the ground.
Rika felt something move at her side and saw Renamon jumping to catch Impmon. When Renamon tumbled to the ground and Impmon noticed who saved him from hitting the pavement a bit too hard, he smirked and mumbled out "Thanks, toots," before falling asleep. Renamon was right behind him in the sleeping bandwagon, curling up around him.
"Aww, how cute!" Terriermon said obnoxiously loud. Rika, enraged, got up and was about to run over and kick the bunny as far as she could, but was restrained by a hand on her shoulder. Looking over her shoulder, she saw, to her great surprise, that it was Ryo. He just smirked a little when he saw her look at him.
"Relax, Wildcat. Let him have his fun," he said. Rika wasn't happy with this advice and turned to face him fully, glaring at him. She then turned to glare at the Digital bunny, but while turning, she caught sight of a large area of flesh in an area where wouldn't have been visible in normal circumstances. She stopped her turning and saw that it was Kazu.
"Nice shirt, Kazu." she remarked dryly. "How much did you pay for it? I bet you got it gratis."
"Huh?" This comment confused Kazu, until he looked at his chest and realized that in his haste to get to the Digimon he forgot that he usually napped without his shirt and everyone had a view at his moderately flabby stomach. Kazu blushed and did many classic "I'm a Macho Man," poses, getting everyone to groan.
"Just get a shirt on," Rika demanded, walking back towards her house.
Alisha merely shook her head at Kazu's actions, looking for her brother. When she didn't find him, she turned to Takato and asked him where her brother was.
He got embarrassed and scratched the back of his neck, embarrassed, and said "I couldn't wake him up."
Takato, thinking that Alisha was thinking he was the idiot, said "I'm sorry," in a depressed tone.
Alisha smiled at him and said "Don't worry; it can be a pain to wake him up if he isn't taking a nap."
He got embarrassed and scratched the back of his neck, embarrassed, and said "I couldn't wake him up."
Alisha smacked her head, remembering how hard it could be for people who don't know Michael to wake him up.
Takato, thinking that Alisha was thinking he was the idiot, said "I'm sorry," in a depressed tone.
Alisha smiled at him and said "Don't worry; it can be a pain to wake him up if he isn't taking a nap. Let's go and visit my brother." She started marching in, what she thought, was Takato's house.
"Uhh… My house is that way," Takato said, pointing in the exact opposite direction that Alisha was taking. Alisha corrected this error and started following Takato home.
Rika was watching them leave, angry that Takato and her were going to be alone. Wait! Why the heck do I care? I'm not jealous, am I? Taking her thoughts away from Takato, she looked at Renamon and Impmon sleeping peacefully, and she knew that she didn't want to wake them. "Guardramon, I require your services."
"What can I do for you, my lady?" Guardramon asked, turning towards her.
"Hey!" Kazu yelled out.
Rika silenced him with a glare. When Rika looked back at Guardramon, she requested, "Could you please bring Renamon and Impmon's sleeping forms to my house?"
"It will be my pleasure," commented Guardramon.
Rika decided to see Michael and followed Takato and Alisha to his home.