Digimon World Tour Chapter 23: Poisoned Flower, a digimon fanfic

Digimon World Tour

[Shoutmon] All right, so here's what happened. The gang made it back to Paris and Thomas really flipped out- in his usual way of course- when he arrived at the exact recording studio where The Alan Parsons Project recorded "The Turn of a Friendly Card". That night, Anya admitted her love to Greg, who admitted he loved her too. So, they're a couple. The biggest story, though, is this French chick Catherine. She had a little history with T.K., so she agreed to capture Kari for the Bagra Army if they'd give her partner Floramon a power upgrade. Can you believe her? She recorded a K.D. Lang cover and then got all chummy with Kari. They're still not back from lunch. Want to know what happens to her? Find out now!

Chapter 23: Poisoned Flower

Kari

Catherine did treat me to lunch at this nice place. She seemed very interested in T.K., but that was OK. She later took me to the Palais de Justice. For some odd reason, it was empty that day. I later found out why when Catherine went ahead of me. We ended up locked in a courtroom with no way out to civilization. After realizing I was trapped, I urgently tried contacting the others. "Matt, T.K., come in!" No answer. I was starting to panic. "Come on, pick up already! Anyone! This is Kari, come in!" "It is no use, you ingénue. The Bagra Army has put a seal around this building. I can come and go as I please, but you must stay," Catherine said. I gasped. "You- you mean-" Just then, I heard an evil laugh from nowhere. Catherine revealed a black-and-lavender Digivice, like the one Anya had, and summoned her partner, Floramon. "You walked into a trap! Heh heh heh, sweet little, innocent Kari. A naive fool, always looking for the best in people. Well now, it led to your downfall! Tomorrow, the Bagra Army will come, and then they'll decide what to do with you." I scowled. "You know you won't get away with this! The others will come to rescue me."

Catherine laughed. "I assume you are speaking about your Prince Charming in the bucket hat? Ha ha ha ha! This palace is impenetrable. There will be no way any of your friends can get in, and no way for you to contact them. Now, there is food here, if you can find it. If not, I will do what I can to make your stay bearable." She and Floramon walked toward the door, with the human holding up her Digivice to escape. "Farewell, ingénue," she snickered. Then, she left.

I tried as hard as I could to escape, but it was no use. So, I eventually crouched against the wall and sat down. I realized Gatomon, and the two of us paced around like tigers at the zoo. "How could I let myself get captured again?" I wondered aloud. "I don't know, but we have to get out of here. Why don't you Armor Digivolve me to Nefertimon so I can fire a few Rosetta Stones at these windows?" I shook my head. "You heard what she said. I'm so sweet, so innocent, so easy to fall into a trap. I wish I could be more like Rika." "That vamp? She can't hold a mouse trap to you." "And now, nobody will be able to get in." "Kari, would you stop feeling sorry for yourself!? You can't give up this easily! We can't give up this easily!" "But-" Then, Gatomon slapped my face with her paw. "Quiet!" I touched my cheek. "Gatomon..."

We were fed barely decent food by the Bagra Army, and luckily there was a bathroom in the building we could access. "But why would Catherine do this?" I asked. "Maybe she's a bad egg." "No, that can't be it. Nobody is completely evil, well except maybe MaloMyotismon. Although sometimes I wonder..." "Kari, forget it. Catherine turned on us and there's nothing we can do. Just admit it, she's bad. She's hopeless." "Hopeless? But how can you say that? After all, you nearly tried to kill me when I was little, and now look at you." Gatomon sighed. "That was before I knew any better. Now, it's getting late. We better get some sleep." So, we tried making do with what we had. I just laid there on the table, wondering what would happen next, and whether we'd get out of this alive.

The next morning, breakfast was again barely decent. At 9:30, Catherine and Floramon entered. "Good morning, you two. Sleep well?" Catherine asked. Gatomon let out a growl and hissed. "Good." She checked her watch. "Well, it's about time. Tactimon, appear!"

The room got darker as a DigiPort opened from nowhere. Tactimon walked out from it, and it shut behind him. "So... we meet again, Miss Kamiya." Gatomon hissed even louder. "And hello as well, Gatomon. Now, Kari, I believe it was... you do know that you have quite a bit of potential. If you joined us, you could possibly rule both worlds." I scowled at him. "I don't know how you got Catherine involved in this, but you won't get away with it!" "Oh, but I already have. In fact, Catherine was quite willing." I gasped while he continued. "You see, in all the time she's been a DigiDestined, Catherine has never been able to Digivolve her Digimon past Champion level, that pathetic Kiwimon." Floramon eagerly nodded while Tactimon went on. "And since only the Japanese DigiDestined, like you, have Crests, she won't be able to get any further. At least, not until I was able to help her. She agreed to bring you here, and Lord Bagra agreed to give her a dose of Dark DigiSoul." I gasped again. "You mean the stuff you gave Matt?" "No no, Laylamon gave that to him. But I digress." He moved towards me, getting a bit too close for comfort. "Just think. You could have it all, my dear. Anything your little heart desired. Power beyond your wildest dreams." Mustering up my courage, I uttered, "I'm not interested."

He backed away. "Foolish girl! I offered you a chance to come peacefully, now I know you won't be of any use to us. We'll just have to give you a demonstration. We must go to the courtyard. Come!" So, we walked out to the Cour du Mai. Catherine and I stood on opposite sides with our Digimon. Tactimon stood in the middle. "This will be a battle to the death, for both Digimon and human," Tactimon proclaimed. My eyes widened. "To the death!?" Catherine's widened even more. "Now wait just a moment here. You said I had to bring her in, not kill her!"

"Aww come on, don't be a coward," Floramon goaded. Tactimon even threatened her. "If you don't do as I say, Catherine..." Then he snapped his fingers. I pleadingly looked to Catherine. "Catherine, you don't have to do this. You don't have to sell your soul to him." She hesitated. "Do it!" Floramon shouted. I looked in horror as the French DigiDestined let out a high-pitched scream and became covered in a dark purple aura. She reluctantly posed with her Digivice. "Dark DigiSoul... Full Charge." Then, she put her hand on top until it was absorbed, then thrust the Digivice forward. Floramon soaked in the power, then methodically stomped her foot on the ground. Her root-like toes sank in and she grew in size. Eventually, her helmet changed color and covered her face until it became completely different. Except, she wasn't different to me. I'd seen her before. "Blossomon!"

I froze up in fear. The last time I'd faced a Blossomon, Yolei and I had nearly died. In fact, if it hadn't been for Silphymon, we would've been goners. I mustered up whatever courage I had and got in position, flipping open the sensor. "Ready, G-Gatomon?" My partner bravely got in position. "Yeah." I brought my hand up with my imaginary "tambourine", then shook it and brought it down. "DigiSoul... Charge!" After pulling what I thought was an appropriate pose, a light shot out from the Digivice and hit Gatomon.

"Gatomon Digivolve to... Angewomon!"

T.K.

That morning, my brain was racked with guilt. Why hadn't I acted sooner? At breakfast, we decided to act. Well, most of us except Marcus. "Count me out. We've got work on the album to do." "Now how can you say that, Marcus?" Matt demanded to know. "Easy. Somebody's got to be there, and they say too many cooks spoil the broth, ya know?" "You need to learn loyalty." "I am being loyal. To the label, and to Kazuki. He's expecting somebody to record at the studio."

Just then, Matt's cell phone rang. He picked it up. "Hello? Sora!?" "Sora?" I asked. "But how did you get here so quickly? Oh..." Matt covered the mouthpiece. "Took the company jet, she was going to visit anyway." He went back to his conversation. "OK, so here's the problem. Kari's gone missing. Yeah, since yesterday at lunch." He covered the mouthpiece again after a few minutes. "T.K., Sora wants to know why you didn't go after her sooner." "Tell her I'm on my way, and that I'm sorry I didn't go sooner."

After a quick argument, we decided to let Marcus, Rika, and Greg stay at the studio with Mr. Oakenfold while the rest of us looked for Kari. We'd call them if we needed backup.

Rika

We basically had the studio to ourselves, but without Matt, there wasn't much use working on the album. So, I came up with an idea. I'd been studying Sheena Easton on the side, and I talked the idea over with Paul. "So, you basically want to put out a solo bonus track of your own?" he asked. "Of course. Bucket Head shouldn't have all the fun." "Bucket Head being..." "T.K.," Greg chimed in flatly. "All right, what'd you have in mind, love?" "'Sugar Walls'." Paul looked surprised."'Sugar Walls', eh? Do you even know what that song is about?"

I grinned. "Of course I do." "Then what's it about?" Greg asked. I whispered something in his ear and giggled. "No... I'm out, then." Marcus wanted to know, so Greg whispered it in his ear. "You mean it's about a vagina? Get me the beat, I'm in!"

Greg

Somehow I knew Rika would be doing this. In fact, I've given her a new nickname. The Queen of Smut. Seems to me she's thinking with her "sugar walls" all the time. I sat in with Paul while Rika recorded. We had to use some session musicians to fill in for the rest of the band. After a few hours of practice, we were ready for a take.

["Sugar Walls"

Written by Prince Rogers Nelson

Performed by The Teenage Wolves

Lead Singer: Rika Nonaka (Melissa Fahn)]

When she gets the cue, the keyboard player plays the opening bars. The song really heats up, and then kicks in as the band starts playing. The instrumentation is upbeat alternative rock, with emphasis on the guitars. This song was included in "The Filthy Fifteen," a 1985 list of fifteen songs cited by the Parents Music Resource Center (the organization responsible for the now common parental advisory stickers) because of its sexually suggestive lyrics. No wonder Rika, our own bad girl, wants to include it on the album. She applies a fresh coat of lip balm to her lips. Since Kari is missing, Renamon and K.D. Lang fill in on backing vocals (reluctantly, in K.D.'s case). Agumon and Veemon act as percussionists.

Rika:

My sugar walls
My sugar walls

Where I come from there's a place called heaven
That's the place where all the good children go
The houses are of silver, the streets are gold
But there's more where you come from, my sugar walls

Backing:

My sugar walls

(Rika: Ooooh!)

My sugar walls

Rika looks like she's enjoying this far too much as she prances around the studio, carrying on so. From his drums, Marcus likes what he sees, and he non-verbally lets her know.

Rika:

Blood races to your private spots

Lets me know there's a fire

Rika/Backing:
You can't fight passion when passion is hot
Temperatures rise inside my sugar walls

Rika:

Lemme take you somewhere you've never been
I can show you things you've never seen
I can make you never want to fall in love again

Rika/Backing:

Come spend the night inside my sugar walls

Rika looks directly at Greg and leans in towards her mic. She seductively purrs, "Take advantage, it's alright." Renamon rolls her eyes.

Rika/Backing:

I feel so alive when I'm with you
Come and feel my presence, it's reigning tonight
Heaven on earth inside my sugar walls

Lemme take you somewhere you've never been
I can show you things you've never seen
I can make you never want to fall in love again
Come spend the night inside my sugar walls

Rika once again addresses Greg, "I can tell you want me, it's impossible to hide. Your body's on fire, admit it! Come inside." Greg looks absolutely livid, as Rika continues to dance around.

Rika:

Ahhhhhhhhh (Backing: my sugar walls) oooooh
Come inside (Backing: my sugar walls) , my sugar walls

(Backing: my sugar walls)
Come spend the night inside my sugar walls

My sugar walls

(continue to fade)

Matt

We searched all over Paris, starting with all the usual spots and going from there. I had to think, "If I were a woman and I wanted to hold another woman hostage, where would I go?" Even when we split up, we had a hard time. She wasn't at any of the major tourist attractions. We checked over Disneyland Paris twice. We didn't bother to ask the police, because this was none of their concern.

I was so glad to have Sora with me. We rode in a car together, and I made the somewhat bold move to be upfront with her. "Um, Sora... a few days ago, in Germany..." "You don't have to tell me, Matt. Commander Sampson told me, and I forgive you." "Wait, what?" "I've been in the same situation before, and it's OK. Somebody helped you come to your senses, just like Biyomon did for me." "Whoa... you're the best." She just smiled.

Kari

Angewomon and Blossomon went at each other. The only problem is that although Floramon had used Dark DigiSoul to Digivolve, Blossomon was a Data type. That put my partner at a disadvantage. "Come on, Angewomon!" I cheered. "Pollinosis Shower!" Blossomon called, as she unleashed her pollen. Soon, Catherine and I were sneezing, sniffing, and looking for something to deal with our runny noses. Even Tactimon was sneezing. "Keep up the- a-achoo!- good work," he said. Then he created a DigiPort and escaped. "Holy Air!" Angewomon created a ring of energy force that paralyzes Blossomon and cured Catherine's and my allergies. "Thank you!" I called to her.

"Heh, you think you're so hot, but let's see how you like this! Thorn Whip!" She used her whip to strike at Angewomon. It started getting pretty bad for her. Personally, I was in a state of terror. I tried bringing myself to a point where I could use Hikari Wave, but I couldn't. I closed my eyes, trying to escape. "Oh Tai, what would you do if you were here?" I thought of what he might say. "Kari, why did you get yourself into this mess?! Now Mom and Dad are really going to kill me." That didn't work. I was so stupid. Maybe Catherine was right. Maybe I was too naïve and trusting for my own good. I felt the tears welling up in my eyes as I dropped to my knees and yelled to the sky. "I'm sorry! I'm just not strong enough!"

Immediately, Yolei's voice came to my head. "That's enough of that nonsense! Of course you're strong enough! You're the strongest person I've ever known. And if you think I'm gonna sit by and let you run on yourself like that, you can just think again! We'll fight it together, Kari. The darkness will never beat you, do you hear me?!" I looked around, but she wasn't there. I did see Catherine, and she was just as troubled and as scared as I was. And yet, she was still going along with it. Blossomon and Angewomon kept attacking each other, so I went around them and got to my "enemy". I narrowly dodged the organic shuriken that were flying around.

When I arrived, Catherine had her head in her hands and was gently sobbing. I put my arm around her shoulder. "It's all right." "Hmmm?" She looked up. "Kari? But- but what are you doing over here? I am your enemy. My heart is filled with darkness." "It must be the darkness of fear. You really don't want to do this, do you?" She shook her head.

Blossomon butted in. "Of course she does! She wants me to be more powerful, don't you?" "I was a fool!" "You'll be an even bigger one if you're not 100% in this with me. Now finish the job." "But I-" "Just do it!"

Catherine turned back to me. "Don't you see what I have to deal with? I'm afraid it's too late for me. I'm evil." "No you're not, Catherine. You're not evil, you just had a huge lapse of judgment. If you were really evil, you wouldn't be scared right now. You'd be too focused on killing me." "But ze Dark DigiSoul-" "The Dark DigiSoul doesn't matter. You're not evil. There's light inside of everyone. Some people or Digimon hide it better than others. You and Floramon had a good idea, but a terrible way to execute it. Real power doesn't come from darkness, it comes from light and virtue."

"Lies! Lies! Lies!" Blossomon screamed as she pounded Angewomon harder and harder, wrapping her up in her thorny vines and slamming her against the building. I rushed back to my partner's side. "Angewomon! No!" "It's all right... Kari... I'll be fine." I stared at her with concern. "You're hurt. I've got to do something to help you." I clenched my fist and struck whatever pose I could think of in a way to channel some more of my DigiSoul to her, but it didn't work. Blossomon let out an evil chuckle. "You fool. You think your pathetic, useless power of light will save your Digimon? Catherine and I are lost causes, so destroy us if you can." I turned towards the enemy, with determination. "How dare you say that, you overgrown weed! Nobody is ever a lost cause! Years ago, before she was Angewomon, Gatomon was part of Myotismon's army. She tried to kill me every chance she had, but she turned her life around! Wizardmon and I filled her life with hope and meaning. She turned away from the darkness, and you can, too! There's light in everyone, and I intend to prove it!" "And how can you be so sure?" the flower snarled. I felt the power well up inside of me. The fear was replaced by light and drive, and my voice gained an echo. "Just watch!"

The power of light exploded inside my heart, and I became fully covered in neon pink DigiSoul. I opened up the sensor again, laid my free fist against my heart, and then raised it up and brought it down along my arm. "DigiSoul! Full... Charge!" The power transferred from me to Angewomon.

"Angewomon Digivolve to..." Angewomon got on her feet, did some sort of mystic dance, and then became covered in pink light as she flew around without her helmet. She transformed from an angel into a serpentine dragon with ten wings, a lion-like muzzle and two horns. "Magnadramon!"

She was beautiful, just like when she'd Digivolved to release the Golden Digi-Eggs in Colorado, when we helped Willis. She gracefully lowered herself down to my level. "Want a ride?" she asked. I smiled and nodded, then climbed aboard. The two of us rose into the air and flew towards Blossomon. Her vines weren't long enough to grab us, and even if they were, they were too slow. "Catherine! Get out of the way!" I called down. Catherine ran off while Magnadramon prepared an attack. "Blossomon! Your wickedness is about to be vanquished by a baptism of fire! Purifying Fire Tornado!" She spewed out fire that formed a static tornado on impact. Blossomon screamed. "Yeah!" I cheered. After she'd taken enough damage, Blossomon reverted back into Floramon, who fainted. My Digimon lowered me to the ground, and I jumped off her.

Catherine just stared in awe at what had happened. I approached her. "Catherine. If you're really that concerned about the darkness in your heart, I can purify you." She looked relieved at the idea. "You would? Merci, merci." In a way, she reminded me of Mimi, so I was happy to help her. I concentrated and tapped into my Crest's power. All of a sudden, I swung my right hand up so my palm was facing inward. The Crest of Light insignia stenciled itself in on my hand. I brought my hand down and gave the chant. "With the power of light, I'll make the darkness depart...and break the chains that bind your heart!" I charged up a purifying sphere in that hand, pouring in my DigiSoul. I took the hand and drew it back up to my side. "Hikari... Soul... THERAPY!" I thrust my extended right hand forward, firing the attack like a Mind Crush. The image seemed to go negative, while the sphere hit Catherine in the center of her body. Then, her negative image shattered. "...Merci..." She fell to her knees as the image went back to normal.

Magnadramon roared in jubilation, then powered down to Gatomon. I called the others on my Digivice. "This is Kari. I repeat, this is Kari. I've got Catherine with me, we just got into a fight. Everything's OK. We're at the Palais de Justice. That's the Palais de Justice. Over." Then, I laid down on my back and waited. Purifying people's hearts takes a lot out of you.

T.K.

We got the message from Kari and went to the Palais de Justice to find her. Gatomon greeted us at the door and led us to a courtyard, where Kari and Catherine were asleep or recovering. "Kari!" I ran to and knelt by Kari's side. She faintly opened her eyes. "T.K... I'm so glad to see you." "What happened?" "Catherine was a little confused and made a deal with the Bagra Army. She used the same power Matt had and Dark Digivolved her Digimon to Blossomon. We fought her again... and Magnadramon and I won." "Wait, Magnadramon?"

Gatomon came closer. "DATS has the video, and you can watch it later. I'm so proud of Kari. She nearly cracked, but she never gave in." I let out a faint smile. "That's my girl." "Come on, we've got to get these girls out of here," Matt directed. So, we helped them up and took them back to the studio.

Kari

After resting for a while, I called Yolei on my cell phone. "Hello?" "Yolei, it's Kari." "Kari. Hey, what's up?" "Nothing much. Just finished bringing Gatomon to Ultimate-level. I really want to thank you for slapping me that day." "Huh?" "The day Gatomon and Aquilamon DNA Digivolved for the first time. Your words gave me inspiration and the will to go on." "You're welcome, but why would you bring that up now?" "Just watch the recent battle video. You'll see."

Izzy

I reviewed the battle between Kari and Catherine at headquarters with Yolei and Commander Sampson, and it was remarkable. "Prodigious. Magnadramon referenced the books of Matthew and John in the New Testament, and Kari was able to use a technique very similar to T.K.'s to purify Catherine. In fact, I would guess it's nearly a carbon copy, with the exception of one word being used. Hmmm..." "Are you developing any hypotheses, Koushiro?" Commander Sampson inquired. "Yes. Yes I am. There's always been a connection to the inner will of the human when bringing a Digimon to a new level of power. I've yet to experience it myself, but where there's life, there's hope. This will definitely require more research." "Indeed."

"I'm just glad Kari was able to fight on her own," Yolei said. Kudamon jumped off the commander's neck. "Yes, there's a great inner strength that girl has. Sometimes, she just doesn't realize it."

Kari

That night, at the Takaishi chateau, we invited Catherine, Floramon, Sora, and Biyomon to join us for dinner. She told us the whole story. "And that has lead up to now. T.K., I appreciated yours and Tai's kindness when rescuing me that Christmas. I was a fool to let Tactimon play with my heart the way he did. Can you ever forgive me?" "Of course, Catherine," T.K. answered.

Floramon spoke up. "It's kind of my fault, too. I was impatient, and ungrateful for the Champion form I had. I wanted to play the system, and I was wrong." Veemon had an answer for her. "I know how you feel. I think my Champion level's too big, but I learned it was a real powerhouse, and it really helped me. But one of these days, we're both gonna reach Ultimate the right way." "Yeah!" We toasted to that day.

That night, and the next day, we learned and practiced this Sheena Easton song Rika liked as a bonus track. I think she was still dealing with Marcus cheating on her in Zurich. Marcus tried to make an excuse. "Are you still sore over that? Look, I said I was sorry." Agumon tried to correct him. "But Boss, you never said-" Marcus quickly covered Agumon's mouth. Rika cocked her hip to the side. "Your Digimon's right, you know. You never did apologize." "Eh, whatever. I'll play drums for this one."

"So, who's going to sing lead? Do you want it, Rika?" I asked. Rika shook her head. "Uh uh. I think you deserve it, Kari. After all, you kicked butt out there. You deserve some kind of reward." "Gee, thanks."

["Swear"

Written by Tim Scott McConnell

Performed by Kari Kamiya (Lara Jill Miller)]

This time, the entire band is happy to participate. Rika switches to backing vocals with Catherine, K.D., Sora, Anya, Gatomon, Floramon, Renamon, and Biyomon. Kari takes her spot up front as the lead vocal while carrying a tambourine. The instrumentation and arrangement is a bit harder rock than the well-known New Wave-styled Sheena Easton cover. Gaomon acts as engineer while Paul Oakenfold produces. The guitarists make last-minute tuning adjustments to their guitars, while Marcus gets behind the drums. "And don't forget, Marcus, even though Kari's lead on this track, the lyrics apply mostly to you," Rika says. "Yeah yeah," Marcus grumbles. After he gets the cue, Marcus starts pounding out the beat with his drumsticks. The song gets underway as Kari taps her tambourine. She then puts it down.

Kari: (spoken)

I won't bother asking what you've done
But the rumors all point to something going on
See, the past is the past and I'm not gonna dwell
But I better not catch you with someone else
So I'll put it to you once, but never again (Backing: Swear)
If you want to be a lover, if you want to be a friend (Backing: Swear)

The girls and female Digimon take five fingers and put them to their hearts, then slowly thrust their hands forward.

Kari: (spoken)
Then take five fingers and put it to your heart (Backing: Swear)
S-W-E-A-R

Kari/Backing:
Hand over heart and

Kari:

Swear that you love me
Swear that you need me

Get a judge and jury

Bible in your hand
Gotta tell the whole truth
Nothing less than that, boy

(Backing: Swear) That you love me
(Backing: Swear) That you need me
(Backing: Swear) That you want me
(Backing: Swear) Tell the truth

Kari/Backing:
Hand over heart and

Kari:
Swear that you love me
Swear that you need me

Swear!

T.K. lays down a mean guitar solo. On the producer's side of the studio, some of the non-participating Digimon jam out to the song, and it looks like even Kari's starting to get over the fact the song is so... well, 1980s.

Kari:
(Backing: Swear) That you love me
(Backing: Swear) That you need me
(Backing: Swear) That you want me
(Backing: Swear) Tell the truth

Kari/Backing:
Hand over heart and

Kari:
Swear that you love me
Swear that you want me

The girls get to the spoken part again, with Rika looking directly to Marcus while making sure her voice is still being picked up by the mic. Indeed, most of the girls are looking directly to their boyfriends in the studio.

Kari/Backing: (spoken, a bit faster than before)
I won't bother asking what you've done
But the rumors all point to something going on
See the past is the past and I'm not gonna dwell
But I better never catch you with someone else
For I'll put it to you once but never again
If you want to be a lover, if you want to be a friend
Then take five fingers and put it to your heart
S-W-E-A-R, Don't lie!

Kari:
(Backing: Swear) Do I need a judge and jury?
(Backing: Swear) With a Bible in your hand
(Backing: Swear) To make you tell the whole truth
(Backing: Swear) Nothing less than that
(Backing: Swear) Should I strap a lie detector
(Backing: Swear) To your heart, to your heart, to your heart
(Backing: Swear) Can I make you tell the whole truth?
(Backing: Swear) Cross your heart, cross your heart, cross your heart
(Backing: Swear) That you want me
(Backing: Swear) That you need me
(Backing: Swear) That you love me
(Backing: Swear) Tell the truth, tell the truth, Don't lie!

After the song ends, they wait three seconds in silence. Paul's voice comes over the PA. "Well done, well done. Three minutes, 47 seconds." Kari lets out a confident smile. "Perfect."

Author's Notes:

For those who didn't know, the two main voice actors in this conflict, Lara Jill Miller and Philece Sampler, both started as actresses on NBC shows. Lara was better known then as Samantha "Sam" Kanisky on Gimme a Break! and Philece was part of the casts of both Days of Our Lives (as Renée DuMonde from 1981-84) and Another World (as Donna Love Hudson from 1987-89).

Kari's Hikari Soul Therapy chant is closer to the one the YTV dub of Pretty Cure uses for Rainbow Therapy.

I wrote Tai's lines, but Yolei's "mental pep talk" actually came from the Digimon episode "Opposites Attract", written by Terri Lei-O'Malley, Jeff Nimoy, and Bob Buchholz. Great writers, all of them.

The Palais de Justice is an actual building complex in Paris. Security is maintained by gendarmes, members of a branch of the French Armed Forces, in charge of public safety, with police duties among the civilian population. Naturally, the Bagra Army evacuated it and used it for their own purposes.