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Digital Manifest

Keepers

Chapter: 21/Lightning Struck

"Laser Discharge!"

"Desolation Claw!"

The sound of digimon pronouncing their attacks was the first thing that Ryo noticed upon waking up, followed immediately afterwards by the smell of smoke and the crash of something heavy hitting the ground. A sharp pain tore through the Legendary Tamer's side, indicating through the confusion that shrouded his mind that his partner was in trouble. Uncertainly Ryo tried to get to his feet. He still felt a little bit shaken up from…whatever it was that had just happened to him. And what was it that had happened to him again? The last thing that he remembered was a red colored Sakuyamon…

Suddenly Ryo was yanked to his feet and pulled roughly back, narrowly missing being crushed by the massive form of one Cyberdramon as he was pinned beneath the burning red form of what looked to his eye a fox shaped out of energy.

That can't be good, thought Ryo sarcastically as his mind raced for a way to help his partner out of his jam. He may have been out of the loop on what precisely it was that was that had transpired while he was out but he recognized a fight when he saw one. A plan formed in Ryo's mind and soon enough one hand was reaching into his deck box, searching for the appropriate card that would help his partner while the other was already bringing out his D-Arc. He took note of the fact that the fox creature seemed to be made out of flames, and sure enough he knew just what he needed to get out of this situation. Like magic he brought out the card that he needed and slashed it through his digivice.

"DIGI-MODIFY! SHELLMON'S HYDRO-PUMP ACTIVATE!"

Cyberdramon let out a roar as he felt data being fed into him via Ryo's digivice. Pulling back one clawed hand, the cybernetic dragon let loose a torrent of water onto his adversary's face, pushing forward relentlessly as the pressure of the water forced the fox creature off of him. Getting back to his feet, Cyberdramon snarled and pressed on with his attack, steam pouring off his enemy as the water struck it repeatedly. With a growl, the fox leapt backwards and tried to counterattack, only to be met with a renewed assault a second later as Ryo slashed a card combination involving a Targeting and Speed card. The flaming wolf howled in pain as it crashed to the ground, and with a well timed slash of a Power modify card from Ryo, Cyberdramon easily finished it off.

"Nice reflexes," said Chris breathlessly, amazed at the speed that the Legendary Tamer had defeated the fox creature upon waking up.

"You too," remarked Ryo, not forgetting Chris's last minute save. "Now would you mind telling me just what's going on here? Preferably in ten words or less."

"Uh…somehow I think that it'll take too long to explain with everything else that's going on right now," said Chris, pointing out that Guardromon, MarineAngemon, and Metal Dracaramon were engaged in battle with three more fox spirits, their performance nowhere near as flawless as Cyberdramon's was just a moment ago. Before Ryo could even begin to make a response, an all to familiar red-garbed figure surged forward and crashed into Cyberdramon, knocking the cybernetic dragon to the ground with an earth shaking punch, making Ryo grunt in surprise as he nearly lost his balance as well.

Point taken, thought Ryo as he drew another card, hoping to find something that would give him a chance to biomerge with his partner. Better go with the flow for now…

With the slash of a Recharge modify card, Cyberdramon surged back to his feet and launched a Desolation Claw at the crimson colored Sakuyamon, only to have it effortlessly blocked by what had to be this Sakuyamon's version of the Crystal Sphere as a flurry of Sakura blossoms formed a shell around her. Cyberdramon's attack crashed into the sphere, only to fizzle out with no sign that it had even affected the barrier. Without making a sound, the red Sakuyamon expanded the Crystal Sphere's boundaries, the Sakura blossoms now turning into deadly, crystal shards that tore at Cyberdramon's armor and forcing him to back off a bit or be rent to shreds.

Only that was what the red Sakuyamon wanted him to do.

"Amethyst Mandala!"

A surge of red energy flew from the Sakuyamon's staff and slammed into Cyberdramon as he retreated, adding its force to his own backward momentum. The blow threw him off the rooftop and sent him careening towards the streets below, the attack stunning him enough to make him forget how to use his wings.

Ryo fell down to one knee, grimacing as he felt his partner's pain slip through the link that they shared. In front of them the red armored Sakuyamon calmly made her way towards them, as if she had all the time in the world to do whatever it was that she came here to accomplish, her gaze seemingly fixated on the blonde haired boy that stood next to him (it was rather difficult to tell given that the fox mask completely covered the top half of the Sakuyamon's face and had no visible eyeholes). Instinctively Ryo regained his feet and stepped forward and placing himself in front of Chris, eliciting a look of surprise from the boy.

"Ryo…?" The boy began, only to have the Legendary Tamer cut him off as he addressed the red Sakuyamon in front of him. He had to buy time for Cyberdramon to recover.

"Hey! You mind telling me what this is all about? I mean I kinda doubt that you'll tell me, but it would be nice to know what it is that you want with me? Seeing as how you grabbed me in the first place…?"

The red Sakuyamon continued to close in on the two Tamers, her face still focused on Chris.

"I don't want you," the red Sakuyamon said firmly, surprising Ryo. He didn't actually think that she would answer. And not only that, did he detect a note of…sadness in the way that she had said that? It was almost as if she didn't want to be fighting them. Regardless, she was fighting them anyway, and she was giving every impression that no amount of reasoning was going to convince her otherwise.

Too bad, thought Ryo as he caught sight of something approaching fast out of the corner of his eye. He didn't look though lest the motion catch the Sakuyamon's attention.

"Ryo?" Asked Chris as he clenched his digivice, the knuckles on his hand white from the grip he had on it. Ryo didn't even have to look to know that the kid was worried. "If you've got a plan, now would be a real good time for it to kick in…"

"Spirit Strike!"

Chris blinked suddenly as he saw four ethereal foxes fly towards the red Sakuyamon. The crimson colored Mega also took note of this intrusion and promptly leapt up into the air to avoid the attack…

…Only to get kicked down a second later by what had to be the shaman's twin sister. The four foxes dove at their target as she crashed down onto the rooftop, twisting their forms around her as she struggled to escape them. Next to Chris, Ryo Akiyama laughed as the new digimon, one that was practically identical to the crimson variation that was now tangled up by the four foxes with the notable exception of color difference, landed in front of the two boys. Chris took a moment to analyze this version of Sakuyamon. Gold armor and purple gloves and high-heeled boots adorned her body where on the other one red was. Turning to face them, the new Sakuyamon grinned at them.

"Well, well," she said in a smug, almost superior tone, with a voice that sounded like there were two people speaking at once. "Looks like the shoes on the other foot for once Ryo. Didn't think that you'd need saving for once."

Ryo cracked a good-humored smile.

"Only because I knew that you wouldn't be able to resist the opportunity to do so Wildcat. So tell me, what do you want for me allowing you to rescue me this one time?"

It suddenly clicked in Chris's mind as to the nature and identity of their rescuer and nearly smacked himself for not realizing it sooner. After all, the Tamers had told them about their own misadventures from the Devas on up to the D-Reaper…

"Wha…?!" Sputtered Rika's voice from within the form of Sakuyamon, sounding clearly annoyed with Ryo. "Let me rescue you? I should've known that you'd be…"

"Rika?" Interrupted the familiar voice of Renamon from within the same figure. Chris had to admit that this was going to take some getting used to. Even though the Tamers had told him and Ryan that they could merge with their partners, it was quite another matter seeing the affect up close. The fact that they were talking to each other while being in the same body was rather disturbing.

"We have a situation on our hands here," Renamon continued, and with that said the gold armored Sakuyamon raised her arms and summoned her own Crystal Sphere, blocking her counterparts Amethyst Mandala attack as she blew apart the four fox spirits that had been attacking her. Without missing a beat the golden Sakuyamon collected the Sakura blossoms with a gust of mystical wind and transformed them into razor sharp amethysts before flinging them at the crimson Sakuyamon, who responded in kind with a Talisman Sphere of her own. Growling in frustration Rika leapt into the air as Renamon threw another Spirit Strike at their opponent. Once more the four fox spirits flew towards the crimson Sakuyamon, who just stood there calmly, waiting for them to come at her. And then, with nothing more than a gentle breath, the four spirits to both Rika and Renamon's surprise broke away from their intended target and flailed about helplessly, as if confused about what they should be doing before finally settling on attacking each other.

Rika and Renamon didn't get a chance to absorb this sudden and unexpected shift in the battle, because no sooner than the fox spirits went awry in their paths the red Sakuyamon took flight, changing tactics from a battle of mystical prowess to that of pure melee, relentlessly hammering away with her staff as she swung and twirled it in the air. Rika tried to block, but even with Renamon assisting her with her vast combat experience they were hopelessly outmatched. Within the time space of a few seconds, Rika's staff was sent flying into the air to clatter helplessly on the rooftop, and a split second later her red colored opponent landed a deft punch to her solar plexus, effectively knocking the wind out of her lungs. As Rika and Renamon gasped for breath, the red Sakuyamon leaned forward and spoke in a voice low enough for only her to hear.

"Stay out of this, little sister. I don't want to have to destroy you…"

Swiftly pulling back, the crimson Sakuyamon brought her right leg up and kicked her counterpart in the face, sending her careening towards the rooftop where she landed with a crash. The red Sakuyamon watched her fall, her lips pressed into a thin line as though she had just done something that she had found distasteful before suddenly bringing her staff up to deflect an incoming Desolation Claw attack from a recovered Cyberdramon. Grimacing the cerise colored shaman summoned forth the burning fox of fire that the Ultimate had defeated earlier and bid it to attack before descending back down to the roof. Once more she fixed her unseen gaze on the blonde haired boy that stood next to the Legendary Tamer…

"Fist of the Beast King!"

Slashing her staff on pure reflex, the vermilion Sakuyamon sent a wave of pink energy that engulfed an incoming attack that was composed of orange fire in the shape of a great lion. Gasping in surprise, Chris turned his gaze away from the main opponent and saw his comrade in arms, the famed Leomon surging towards the scene of battle. To make matters worse for the red hued Mega, her golden counterpart was already recovering and letting fly with a flurry of amethysts aimed at her direction. Guardromon, MarineAngemon, and Metal Dracaramon had just now finished off the fox spirits that they had been combating, and from the looks of things Cyberdramon would be swift with his as well as he used a Seadramon's Ice Blast attack courtesy of a card slash from a certain Legendary Tamer.

Things were not going well. Although she didn't doubt that she could defeat these obstacles that prevented her from obtaining the Mjolner's that were in this world, the addition of the Sakuyamon was cause for concern. She didn't want to fight her. She didn't like fighting her own kind in general, digital or otherwise, but if it could not be helped…well, she'd cross that bridge once she got there. Though the Sakuyamon had so far proven herself to be powerful, she was still a long ways from being able to defeat the White Fox (she smiled slightly at this title, as it no longer had any bearing with her current form, but it was still hers nonetheless from time unmemorable) in battle or magic. This was after all the reason why Loki had chosen her for this particular assignment, but even though she was powerful she couldn't afford to dally for long. There was something else approaching as well to join the fray; something that she couldn't easily identify as it was still a fair distance away, but if she could sense its power from this distance than it was something to be concerned about. She had to take care of all of these opponents as quickly as possible before it got here, otherwise all would be lost! And she couldn't afford that. Things were close to collapse already…

Crossing her arms, the red shaman reached into the center of her being, and called forth the power that was her birthright.

"Vajra Storm!"

A blast of violet energy erupted from the cerise colored Sakuyamon and exploded outwards, engulfing the digimon that were charging towards her, knocking both them and the two humans on the roof backwards. The red hued shaman glowed brightly for a moment, maintaining the attack and burning like a bonfire until finally letting go of the power that coursed through her, breathing heavily for a moment as she got a hold of herself and surveyed her surroundings.

This form is so limiting, thought the shaman bitterly. I gave up so much just so I could survive…and in the end I'm reduced to fighting children at another's beck and call out of debt and to help others survive.

The shaman's gaze traced over each of the battered digimon that were strewn about the ground like so much rag dolls, two of them, the Cyberdramon and Metal Dracaramon had been blasted back to their Rookie forms from the strength of the blast that they had endured. The golden armored Sakuyamon was the only one presently making any effort to try and get back to her feet, but judging from the effort that she was putting into just raising herself onto her arms that wasn't something that was going to happen any time soon. With a low sigh, the red shaman strode forth gracefully, walking over to the blonde haired boy who now lay unconscious on the ground, a T-shaped digivice resting next to his head from where it had fallen out of his hand.

If only they weren't connected…the crimson Sakuyamon began before her senses suddenly gave an alarm. Whirling about, the Mega level shaman's gaze settled on the form of a heavily armored knight with a large shield and lance in his hands. The knight's armor had white and red plates covering his body. A strange, dragon like face made up the visor of the knight's helmet, and for a moment the Sakuyamon thought about the almost comedic affect that it had on his otherwise somewhat imposing figure. Upon landing, the knight glanced around, and an aura of anger seemed to suddenly surround him. Not a murderous type of anger, but anger nonetheless, one that she easily recognized.

"Is this where you tell me that you're going to deliver justice in their names now?" Asked the crimson Sakuyamon with a bite of sarcasm in her voice. The knight digimon glowered at her and pointed his lance straight at her.

"If you already know what I'm going to say then I don't need to say it," said the knight in a strange, double voice that was reminiscent of the golden Sakuyamon that had now gotten to her feet, though leaning heavily on her staff, trying to find some reservoir of strength so that she could aid her ally. The knight met the vermilion Sakuyamon's gaze and once more spoke, a coolness present in his voices that for some reason gave her pause.

"But either way, I promise; justice will be done this day."

There was something going on here. Something about this digimon that caught the red Sakuyamon's attention…something…

Wait. That power that I sensed earlier…

Beneath her fox shaped mask, the Sakuyamon narrowed her eyes.

It's coming from this knight! But what is it? Something…familiar…

Understanding suddenly dawned in the Sakuyamon's mind at the exact same second that the knight charged towards her, lance glowing with the power of a lightning storm.

I don't believe it…a Dreamer…this…this changes everything!

Even though she was still reeling from the sudden realization the red Sakuyamon gracefully dodged the Royal Knight's attack, leaping over the lance and smashing her knee into his face before somersaulting over him. Landing in a crouch, the cerise Mega lashed out with her staff, sending waves of energy towards the knight…

Only to have it blocked unexpectedly by her counterpart throwing up a Talisman Sphere.

This could become troublesome if she continues to lend him aid. I'll need to take this battle closer so that she can't have an easy opportunity to assist him like that. If nothing else I'll be able to get a closer look at this digimon's essence and see if my theory is correct. If it is…we won't even need the Mjolner's. But just in case the Sakuyamon continues to be a problem even then…

Charging forward, the crimson Sakuyamon lashed out with a Spirit Strike, recreating them as the four fox's of fire, lightning, wind, and water and sending them to attack the Royal Knight digimon while she took a moment to take care of some personal business. Racing over to where her golden counterpart stood, the red shaman leapt forward and launched into a move that Henry Wong would have recognized as a Butterfly Kick from his martial arts class, extending all of her limbs outwards and twisting in the air, her legs aiming towards her adversary's head. The golden Sakuyamon, apparently too injured from the battle to properly dodge the attack raised her staff to block it instead. The leg connected…and a second later the golden Sakuyamon crashed to the ground once more, the top half of her vajra staff clattering against the ground.

Once more pursing her lips as though she detested having to fight another that was so much like her, the red Sakuyamon turned to see how the Royal Knight was doing and was surprised to see her four foxes obliterated as a crimson glow burst from the form of the knight. A sensation of power washed over the air as a cry of anguish erupted from the armored form bathed in that light. For a moment, time slowed down as the cerise Sakuyamon saw the essence that lay within the knight's form as it began to change and alter into something much more powerful. It was a boy…contained within a sphere of red and orange light.

Reacting purely on instinct, the Mega shaman surged forward into that all-enveloping light, one hand outstretched as she called every last remnant of power that she possessed to combat this new force before it could fully manifest.

Within the confines of his data sphere Takato felt the familiar power of his mode change begin to surge through him…remnants of Grani's data from that last battle with the D-Reaper, a sacrifice, as well as a gift from a friend that would never be forgotten. It had happened once before, back on the day of Rika's birthday when he and the others were being overwhelmed by the army of Parasimon that had come through the digital zone that the digimon Locomon had created. His determination to make sure that they wouldn't lose to the Parasimon no matter what they threw at him and his friends activated the otherwise dormant data of his friend Grani and transformed him into his Crimson Mode, a digimon that so far had yet to be outmatched by any enemy. Once more his emotions at seeing his friend Rika being struck down, of all his friends lying on the roof battered and defeated, triggered the transformation, destroying the four fox spirits that his enemy (that looked so oddly like Sakuyamon with the exception of the difference in color) that had attacked him. And no matter what this enemy was going to do now, he and Guilmon were going to make sure that it…

Before Takato could even begin to complete that thought he felt a hand suddenly tear its way through his armor and the surge of power was interrupted. Gasping in pain…there was so much of it… and hearing Guilmon's own cry as well, Takato felt something grab hold of him…

…And tear him out.

There was a flash of light and a heavy thud as the limp form of a crimson reptile with a hazard symbol emblazoned on its chest fell to the ground, unconscious before he even landed. Shards of glowing red data floated in the air as the crimson Sakuyamon held onto the blue shirt of a brown haired child with strange, yellow rimmed objects attached to his forehead. The boy was groaning softly, the sudden shock to his system apparently being too much for him to handle. She couldn't blame him really. The injury that she had inflicted on the knight as he was transforming would have easily killed any mortal that she had encountered in her lifetime…and probably a few deities as well if enough power was put into an attack like that. The fact that this child had survived was a testament to him…and the power that lay within his person. Yes…this one was a Dreamer. So rare in all the universes that existed…and had given birth to the power of the Mjolner's.

Of course, the Mjolner code is scattered, thought the Shaman. Fragmented. This child will more than make up for that loss and save all of the Regin, be they Jutin or Aesir. He could very well be the final piece that we need for the Manifest…

Suddenly there was a roar of unrestrained fury behind the crimson Sakuyamon, and before she could even turn to see what was causing it she felt something impact her from behind and a sharp pain tear through her back. Looking down she found herself almost amused to find the sharp end of a bronze vajra staff sticking out of her chest, data leaking out of the wound. The cerise Sakuyamon smiled, knowing just who it was that had just attacked her.

So that's how it's going to be, eh? She thought, feeling her body weaken, and noticing her vision dimming. I can't let it end like this…my mission is…too important to allow to fail. That other Sakuyamon…perhaps I can…

Focusing herself in the center of her being, the red-garbed Sakuyamon gathered everything that was left of her power…her very being, and lashed out at her opponent.

Sakuyamon fell to the ground as the data of her dying opponent, suddenly took the shape of a white vixen and lunge at her, crashing into her with tremendous force before disintegrating. Within the confines of her blue data sphere Rika felt a wave of disorientation flow through her body as the vulpine apparition struck her. It wasn't at all like any kind of attack that she was expecting. If nothing else she expected something that would hurt instead of make her dizzy. Doing her best to shrug it off, Sakuyamon struggled to get back to her feet, feeling exhaustion from the battle finally take hold of her body. Unsteadily the shaman digimon walked over to where Takato had fallen and then was overcome by the light of dedigivolution, revealing the two forms of Rika and Renamon. Rika stood where she was for a moment, trying to fight off the feeling of dizziness and exhaustion that played through every inch of her body before finally sinking to her knees. She heard Renamon saying something to her…possibly calling her name and asking if she was all right but she might as well have been a mile away. Her violet gaze fell on the goggle-wearing Tamer in front of her as she took in his battered form, and for some reason it felt as though she were seeing him for the first time. As if she were shown something that she hadn't noticed before, but for the life of her she couldn't figure it out.

Rika felt Renamon touch her shoulder, trying to get her attention and suddenly Takato's inert form was that much closer in her eyes. She was falling forward. The world swam in her eyes…

The last thing that she felt was the warmth of Takato's cheek as it pressed against hers…

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