Hi...same thing, same thing, been out of the fandom but discovering I did write something I didn't post and gaining a bit of interest back in the story I created so decided to post it anyway. Well, it's not much. But I'm also doing this for my friend who said she'd still be interested in the story no matter how much time passes. I do like the setting even though it's been so long since I've written for Digimon. But I feel guilty so here I am. For more details, check out my profile. Thank you.

"This is all your fault!"

"How is it my fault?!"

Yuuki looked at the phoenix beside him as they walked along, "Hey…should we stop them?"

Aijou sighed, "There's no stopping Sora when she gets like this…" she mumbled, "When Yamato's in danger of any kind, she worries about him and loses control of her emotions."

"But…" Yuuki said, "We're never going to find him if they keep arguing!"

"It's your fault because you didn't protect him!" Sora accused, glaring angrily at Taichi.

"Well excuse me if I'm not overprotective of him like someone is!" Taichi glowered back.

"Overprotective? Yamato is my childhood friend!" Sora screamed, her orange eyes narrowing, "I care about him greatly!"

"And you think I don't?!" Taichi exclaimed, regarding Sora disbelievingly, "You think I was going to let him fall to his death just like that?! I tried to go after him with Yuuki but Yuujou shouted at me that he can go faster than Yuuki!"

"Remember who saved your precious childhood friend from dying in a fire, won't you?!"

Sora started. She bit her lip, and lowered her head, her orange bangs falling over her eyes. "I-I'm sorry…" she choked, "I didn't mean to accuse you…I was just…"

"H-Hey Sora! Don't cry!" Taichi said, reaching out a hand and staring at the orange haired warrior with wide brown eyes, "I was just- I didn't mean to shout at you- don't cry!"

Sora sniffed, and Taichi rambled, "I mean, it's my fault!" He said, "You're right, it's my fault." His tone was slightly somber now, "If-If I hadn't dodged that attack, Yamato would still…"

"Taichi…" Yuuki lowered his emerald gaze guiltily as Taichi clenched his fist. "Sorry. I forgot Yamato was behind us."

"It's not your fault, Yuuki. You were only trying to protect me. I should have thrown up a shield in time…"

"I'm…not crying," Sora said and raised her gaze. There weren't tears in her orange eyes, but her voice was still choked, "I just…"

She sniffed, and Taichi stared. He sighed, and placed a hand on Sora's shoulder. "Look," he said awkwardly, averting his gaze, "I'm sure Yamato's fine. I'm worried about him too, but we have to trust Yuujou, right?"

He turned his gaze to her. "So let's just go forward, alright? He should be on the ground by now, he'll be around somewhere."

"Alright." Sora said. She cleared her throat, and then managed a smile. "Yeah. Let's go. There's no use moping around, we have to find him."

Taichi grinned, "That's the spirit!" He slung a friendly arm over Sora's shoulder, holding up his other fist, "So, let's go!"

Sora looked surprised. She blinked, then her smile widened. She reached up her own fist and bumped fists with Taichi, then let her arm reach to her fellow warrior's shoulder, "Yeah. Let's find him, Taichi." She paused, "And, it's not your fault. You couldn't have known there was another one. I'm sorry for accusing you."

"Maybe, but all I had to do was throw up a damn fire shield…" Taichi gritted his teeth. "But I let my guard down. That's not how a leader should act! I'd never forgive myself if anything happened to him."

"Don't say that!" Sora frowned. "Taichi, if it weren't for you, Yamato would have died in that fire."

"Yeah." Taichi said vaguely. He smiled at Sora. "I guess you're right. Sorry, Sora."

"No need to apologize, Taichi."

Taichi smiled a more genuine smile, and Yuuki and Aijou stared as the two fire warriors advanced forward, arms slung around each other's shoulders.

"Hey, Aijou?"

"Yeah?"

"How did they make up so fast?" Yuuki blinked, "They were fighting just now and now…"

Aijou shrugged, "I have no idea," she said. But her blue eyes sparkled, "I'm just glad Sora's okay!"

"I think she found her warrior spirit with Taichi!"

Yuuki stared, then shrugged as well and moved along with the firebird.

"Humans are weird."

Somewhere nearby, Junshin landed on the ground and Mimi hopped off her Pegasus, landing gracefully. Yamato was about to alight when Mimi stared and pointed a finger.

"Wait, don't move!" Mimi said, and Yamato blinked. "Junshin, spread your wings out!"

"Eh? Why?"

"Just do it!"

"O-Okay…" Junshin said, and did as Mimi asked. She spread out her wings, and Mimi squealed.

"Oh, it's perfect!"

"What is?" Yamato asked in confusion.

Mimi grinned at the image of Yamato sitting on the Pegasus with white wings behind him, which made him seem as if he was a real angel with white wings and golden hair and deep blue eyes which blinked at her. She flipped open her brown pouch and took out a camera. Yamato blinked as Mimi snapped a picture of him. "Wha-?"

Mimi smiled widely and hugged the camera to her chest, "Oh, I can't wait to get this printed!" She said happily.

"Eh?" Yamato was still confused. He frowned, "Why did you take a picture of me?"

"Because that look was perfect!"

"What look?" Yamato was truly mystified.

Mimi just smiled sweetly at him. She kept her camera in her bag then reached out to take hold of Yamato's hand and kiss it gently, "Oh Yamato, you're like an angel princess on a white Pegasus!" Her eyes shone at his flushed face, "So romantic!"

Yamato blushed, "I'm not an angel princess…" he muttered, but he didn't take his hand away from hers.

Mimi grinned, "You know, if I could marry you, I would treat you better than any stupid prince will!" She said eagerly and clasped Yamato's hand with both of hers, getting down on one knee and looking up at the shocked blond with shining eyes, "Will you marry me, my angel princess Yamato?"

"M-Marriage?!" Yamato gaped, feeling his cheeks burn in embarrassment, "W-What the hell are you saying?! I can't marry you!"

"Yamato!" Yuujou gasped, "She just proposed to you!"

"No need to point out the obvious, Yuujou!" Yamato yelled mentally.

Yuujou smirked, and sat back on his claws to watch the show.

"Why not?"

"B-Because!" Yamato stuttered, "We-just met!" He said lamely.

"Why do you want to marry me anyway?!"

"Weelll…because marriage would mean I can be with my angel princess forever!" Mimi squealed, smiling widely, "And I won't have to marry some stupid prince!"

"This girl is crazy." Yamato thought helplessly. "I can't believe she just proposed to me!"

"I can't marry you, Mimi," Yamato tried desperately to explain, wondering why he hadn't combusted from embarrassment, "I-can be your angel princess but I can't marry you!"

Yuujou giggled. "Yamato's so cute!"

"SHUT UP!"

"Oh." Mimi said sadly. But she soon perked up, "Nevermind then! I'm happy enough to have you as my angel princess!" She winked.

"Yeah- h-hey!" Yamato yelped as Mimi tugged him down and he fell into her arms, "Don't just pull me like that!

Mimi just smiled and hugged him tightly. Yamato stared, then resigned himself to being in her arms- again, and dropped his burning face into her shoulder.

"How the hell do I get myself into these situations?"

Such was the scene Sora and Taichi came upon when they came through the bushes. They gaped.

When they had recovered from their surprise, they turned to each other, eyebrows twitching, "Hey Taichi, who's that girl?" Sora hissed.

"I don't know," Taichi hissed back, "But she's taking Yamato away!"

Sora nodded, "We can't allow that to happen!" She said. She held out her hand, "Truce?"

"Truce." Taichi agreed. They shook hands once, then withdrew their hands and advanced forward together.

"YAMATO!" The two warriors shouted as one.

Yamato looked up in surprise at the sight of Sora and Taichi running towards him. "Sora! Taichi!"

"Aijou! Yuuki!" Yuujou said as he saw the phoenix and the griffin.

Yamato broke away from a surprised Mimi and sprinted towards his friends. He caught Sora as she engulfed him in a hug, shouting into his ear, "Yamato! You're alright!"

"Of course I am." Yamato said breathlessly. He hugged his childhood friend, then withdrew, looking at both Sora and Taichi. "Sorry for making you guys worry."

"I told you he would be fine." Taichi told Sora with a grin, but there was relief in his eyes. Sora looked at him as he flicked his gaze to the unknown girl who had been hugging Yamato. They exchanged gazes, then Taichi said, "Hey Yamato. Who's that girl?"

"How did you meet her?" Sora asked suspiciously, able to focus more now that she knew Yamato was alright.

Mimi crossed her arms. "How rude!" She huffed. "I am not 'that girl', I am Princess Mimi!"

"Princess?" Taichi blinked.

Mimi nodded as she came to stand beside Yamato. She sighed, placing her hands on her hips. "Are these your subjects, my angel princess? They are awfully rude. Not even introducing themselves!"

"Angel princess?" Sora looked confused.

"Mimi, they just met you." Yamato said in slight exasperation. He sighed, then said, "Sora, Taichi, meet Mimi." He gestured a hand. "She saved my life. I was falling through the sky when she caught me."

"Caught you?" Sora said. "She can fly?"

"So she's really a princess?" Taichi asked. "An angel princess?"

Mimi looked confused. "I'm not an angel princess. Yamato is."

"What?"

"Uh," Yamato said as Sora and Taichi looked positively befuddled. "Just- it's just a fantasy of hers- don't listen to her!"

Taichi blinked, then adopted a mischievous grin, "Oh really?" He said.

Yamato glared, "Anyway," he bit out, "Mimi is a princess yes, no she can't fly but Junshin can."

"Junshin?"

"Her pegasus." Yamato informed, glancing behind, and it was the first time Sora and Taichi saw the Pegasus with a horn, pure white wings, and light green eyes. Taichi's eyes widened and Sora gasped.

"She's beautiful." Sora whispered.

"A Pegasus," Taichi said dazedly. "The legendary winged horse."

Some distance away, Yuuki pouted. "There he goes again." The griffin complained. "Sometimes I think Taichi would rather have some legendary creature than me!"

"Don't say that!" Aijou admonished. "He's your partner, he cares for you very much! It's a normal reaction for humans." She nodded. "I mean, Sora was very surprised when she first saw me!"

"But then…" Yuuki blinked as Aijou pouted. "Sora has never called me beautiful before…" her flames seemed to burn a little less brighter and she glowered at the Pegasus, who blinked.

"But she told you she loves you, right?" Yuuki shrugged.

Aijou seemed to brighten at that. "That's right!" She said. Yuuki quickly retreated when the phoenix spread out her blazing wings and cried delightfully, "Sora! I love you!"

Sora flushed, but smiled and waved, "I know! Love you too, Aijou!"

The phoenix beamed, flames burning brighter than ever, and Mimi gasped, a hand to her mouth, "Oh my god! T-That's!"

In the blink of an eye, she disappeared from Yamato's side. The three teenagers blinked, then turned to look at the princess who was now in front of the phoenix, staring in awe.

"Hi!"

"…Hi?"

Aijou blinked her blue eyes in confusion and Mimi burst out, "You're a phoenix, right?!"

"Yes?"

"And you can talk! That's so cool!" Mimi placed her hands on her cheeks, "You're so pretty! What's your name?!"

"T-Thank you," Aijou said, blushing slightly. She cleared her throat. "Um. I'm Aijou."

"Aijou! Such a sweet, romantic name!" Mimi was practically bouncing on the balls of her feet, "Can-Can I touch your feathers?"

"Um," Aijou scratched her head with one flaming wing. "I wouldn't mind, but you would get burnt." She said. "I'm made of fire, you see. Only Sora can touch me."

"Sora?"

"Yeah. Sora's my partner."

"Sora's so lucky!" Mimi said enviously. She beamed, "You're really beautiful, Aijou! I've read so much about phoenixes like you, but I never ever dreamed I would be lucky enough to meet one!"

"Thank you," Aijou smiled in embarrassment, "But I'm not that special, really…"

"Mimi!" Junshin whined, her snout turned down in disappointment. "What about me?! Do you like her better than me?!"

"Oh don't be like that, Junshin!" Mimi smiled as her Pegasus trotted over with a sad neigh, staring with wide light green eyes. She placed a fond hand on the horse's head, "You know you're the only partner for me!"

Junshin gave a happy neigh and rested her snout on Mimi's brown hair, "Mimi!"

"…As I was saying," Yamato said to Taichi and Sora, wry amusement in his voice. He didn't really get his companions' fascination with other mythical creatures. He had never really been interested in them until he met Yuujou. "Mimi was riding on Junshin, her Pegasus, and she caught me when I fell through the air," he shrugged, "Long story short, we had a talk, a disagreement, and then we fought one of those creatures and won."

"She can fight?" Taichi said in surprise.

Yamato nodded. "She's one of those rare clerics who can attack." He said. "Junshin helped too. Their attack was very effective, since the creature was made of darkness and their Element is Light."

"So," Sora clarified. "She's a Chosen One?"

"Seems like it, yeah."

"Wow." Taichi said. "It's really random, huh? Meeting a Chosen One while falling through the sky…" he looked at Yamato, "What if you hadn't fallen?"

Yamato shrugged, "No idea. But it's a good thing I did, huh?" He smiled wryly. "Taichi, show us your crest."

Taichi blinked, but held out his hand, palm face up. The orange crest started to glow, and he looked at Yamato, who had rolled up his sleeve, revealing his glowing blue symbol. The blond looked at Sora, who flipped up her fringe, where her red symbol was glowing as well.

There was a feminine gasp, and everyone looked to where Mimi was craning her head, looking at the light green symbol on her neck, "W-What?!"

"It's okay!" Taichi said quickly as the girl looked like she was about to panic. He held out his hand with his orange crest of Courage. "It just shows you're one of us."

"One of you?"

Sora moved to where Mimi was. She smiled and brushed away her fringe, showing the surprised girl her own red symbol of a heart. "It's alright." She said gently to the other girl. "We're your friends."

"Just relax, okay?"

Mimi stared, then nodded. She closed her eyes and inhaled as Taichi and Yamato moved to Sora's side.

Mimi's symbol stopped glowing. Sora's symbol followed. She turned to look at Taichi and Yamato, whose symbols had stopped glowing as well.

"We know what happened, the same thing happened to us." Sora explained when Mimi opened her eyes. "You got that symbol when you were struck with lightning, right?"

Mimi nodded hesitantly and Sora smiled. "Then that means you're one of us." She said. "Was there a voice talking to you?"

"A man. He was in my head." Mimi said. She placed her hand on her neck. "He said something about this being the symbol of my heart and giving me power…" she swallowed. "Junshin has one on her neck too. She…protected me."

"I know. Our partners protected us too." Sora gave Aijou a fond smile as Taichi looked at Yuuki and Yamato turned his gaze to Yuujou. "Did you come to find us?"

"No. I just needed to get away for a while." Mimi confessed softly.

"It doesn't matter. You're with us now." Sora placed a comforting hand on Mimi's shoulder with a smile. "You're one of us, Princess Mimi."

Mimi looked surprised, but smiled back. "Thank you, Sora." She said. "And, just Mimi is fine."

Sora smiled. "Okay, Mimi-chan." She said, "And I should be the one thanking you, for saving Yamato."

"Well I didn't mean to, he just came falling-" Mimi grinned, "But I'm glad I did!"

"Sooo…what's this crest thing? Besides being the symbol of my heart?"

"We're not sure yet either," Taichi said. "All we know is that it's the source of our power."

"Your partner's called Junshin, right?" Mimi nodded. "Well, your crest is her symbol. You have the crest of Purity."

Mimi removed her hand, staring at the symbol on her neck properly for the first time. It was a simple symbol, a light green symbol in the shape of what looked like a teardrop. There were two circles in the bottom of the teardrop, the bigger circle enclosing the smaller one. Sora supposed it was in such a shape as tears conveyed the purest emotions.

"You mean…" Junshin said as her wing brushed against the light green symbol on her neck, "Mimi has my symbol?" She said. "This is my symbol?"

"Yup."

Junshin just stared in awe and Mimi giggled, her eyes shining as she turned to her partner, "Isn't that great, Junshin?"

"Y-Yes!" Junshin grinned. She gave a happy neigh and nuzzled Mimi's neck. "Mimi! I'm so happy!"

Yamato, Sora and Taichi watched the display of affection between the Pegasus and her mistress fondly. Taichi smiled, then said, "So," he brought up, "I think we should introduce ourselves properly."

"Yagami Taichi, and I control the Element of Fire." Taichi swept a hand to his side, indicating Yuuki who had come to him when they were involved in conversation, "This is Yuuki. He's a griffin and he's my partner." He held out his hand, as Yuuki lifted his paw. "This is his symbol."

"Ishida. Ishida Yamato, Ice and Lightning Mage," Yamato said smoothly, baring his arm. Beside him, Yuujou did the same and he smiled at his partner. "Yuujou, the ice dragon and my partner."

"Takenouchi Sora, Elemental Warrior." Sora said and Mimi blinked. Sora smiled, raising a hand to ruffle Aijou's feathers. "You've met my partner, Aijou. As you know, she's a phoenix."

"Tachikawa Mimi, Princess of the Kingdom of Adrianna," Mimi said. She pushed her hair away from her neck, showing her symbol, and smiled at Junshin, placing a hand on the pegasus's neck. "I'm a cleric. My partner's Junshin. She's a lovely Pegasus."

Junshin neighed happily and Taichi said, "Courage, Friendship, Love and Purity." He pondered. "I wonder what's next? How many are there anyway?"

"So far, we have a Fire-uh, Warrior, Elemental Warrior, Ice and Lightning Mage and Cleric." Yamato said. "And a griffin, phoenix, dragon and Pegasus."

"There could be another mage, one of Air or Earth maybe." Sora said. "Or another warrior. Maybe a Paladin? Or we could get a Hunter."

"As for their partner, he or she could be a," Taichi flipped through his knowledge on winged beasts, "Hippogriff, Gargoyle, Harpy, Salamander? Oh but it doesn't have wings." He sighed. "Anything, really!"

"But cool, a princess," Taichi smiled admiringly at Mimi. He shrugged. "I'm just a normal village boy."

"But you're the leader." Yamato said.

"Uh, yeah." Taichi said awkwardly. He sighed, "And I have no idea where to start."

"We've already started." Sora said encouragingly. "We were on our way to the next town, weren't we?"

"When we got attacked by those things." Taichi grumbled. "And Yamato…" he swallowed.

"I'm fine, right?" Yamato reassured. He looked at Taichi, Sora and Mimi. "Anyway, I figured out a way to defeat those things. You have to take out the gear in it. I think it's what's controlling them."

"We figured it was that." Sora said. Yamato blinked, and she smiled sheepishly, "Um, Taichi and I kinda went a bit crazy mad when you fell through the sky." She said. "But we had to defeat the enemy first, and we noticed those spiky things."

"It's dark magic." Yamato said gravely. "Very dark magic."

There was silence for a while, until Sora said, "Anyway, we have Light to counter the darkness." She smiled at Mimi and Junshin. "But we have to find the others first. We should continue on our way to the next town."

"Next town…" Mimi said contemplatively, "You mean the City of Bellus? It's quite a big city!"

"You know how to get there?"

"Of course!" Mimi grinned brightly, "It's one of my favorite cities! It has the latest fashion, contests, beauty paegants!"

"…You think we're gonna find a Chosen One there?" Taichi said.

Mimi pouted. "Well, who knows?" She said. "And even if we aren't, we should relax a bit, shouldn't we?" She looked at them slyly, "The food there is really good."

Taichi's mouth watered and Yamato rolled his eyes, "Okay, I get it. No need to drool." He nodded to Mimi. "We're going there. Can you lead the way?"

Taichi flushed in embarrassment and swiped the back of his hand across his mouth as Yuuki snickered. Mimi brightened, "Of course! Anything for you, my angel princess!"

It was Yamato's turn to blush as Taichi and Sora and their partners stared at him. "Not again." He said. "Mimi, I told you…"

Mimi just winked and swung herself onto Junshin's back. "Off to Bellus, Junshin!" She grinned excitedly, placing a hand on her brown pouch, "Oh I can't wait to get that picture of my angel princess!"

"Wha-" Yamato spluttered. He flung out a hand as Junshin took off to the sky with the princess on her back, "MIMI!"

Mimi merely waved from where she was in the sky, and Yamato growled. "Oh no damn way is she going to get that stupid photo!" He barked. "Yuujou!"

"Here, Yamato!"

Taichi and Sora stared as Yuujou shot off into the sky once Yamato was on his back. "I guess," Taichi said, "We should follow them?"

"Yeah." Sora said. "We should."

They got onto their respective partners and took to the sky. "Taichi?" Sora said.

"Yeah?"

"What were those things?"

"I don't know." Taichi said honestly from Yuuki's back. "But whatever they are, they're to do with the darkness that guy spoke of."

"They weren't like that metal dragon." Sora said. She frowned. "I don't know if there was a gear controlling it, but it's like-" she struggled to explain, "That metal dragon didn't have that-darkness. It wasn't that infected."

"Maybe it did." Taichi said. "Maybe they're the second stage of what happens when the gear is in too deep, for too long." He shivered involuntarily. He ran a hand through his spiky hair, "Anyway, no use thinking about it. I have a feeling we'll find out sooner or later." He nodded. "If we encounter anymore, we'll just have to destroy that gear thing."

"Yeah." Sora murmured.

"Gah! Mimi what are you doing?!"

"Well, you looked so cute angry that I couldn't help but hug you!"

"Are you trying to make me fall?!"

"Never, my angel princess Yamato!"

"For the last time, I'm not your angel princess!"

Taichi and Sora watched in bemusement as Yamato glared at Mimi who pouted and reluctantly withdrew back onto Junshin. "Well, whether you acknowledge it or not," she held up her camera with a sly smile, "I still have that precious little picture of you-" she laughed, dodging Yamato's desperate swipe, "Oops! Looks like you missed!"

"Mimi-Mimi!" Yamato yelled as Mimi sped away on Junshin, "Yuujou! Follow her!"

"Yamato's always so cool and calm," Sora said in amusement as Yuujou streaked after Junshin as Yamato glared at Mimi, "It's kind of funny to see him like that." She grinned, "Don't tell him I said that though!"

"Oh I wouldn't." Taichi grinned back, "'Cause I was thinking the same."

"Great minds think alike, huh Sora?" He turned his gaze forward. "Looks like we have one interesting addition to our group."

Sora nodded with a smile, looking at Mimi and Yamato as she and Taichi flew forward on Aijou and Yuuki.

"The City of Bellus…huh?"

End Volume 2

Glossary

Cleric

The Healers of a party. For simplicity sake, Clerics have been classified as mages which specialize in defence magic and more particularly healing. Clerics draw their source of magic from the Holy Power. Clerics are the only form of mages who can use the element of Light, though they cannot use it for offensive purposes. Cleric is a class which can only be obtained by birth. People who are able to draw magic from the holy power are almost always Clerics. As a result of this, Clerics are usually gentle, caring and kind by nature, always extending a helping hand to others in need. The opposite of the Cleric is the Necromancer.