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Episode 8: So, Who is it?

Night had fallen, and Keekomon had fallen asleep from all of her complaining. The person who had chained Felina against the wall had lengthened the chains so she could sit. She had the strangest feeling that it was because of Gathomon.

She’d heard that someone had returned, another human and digimon. She didn’t know who, but she didn’t truly care either.
Felina glanced over at Keekomon. “I wish I could sleep.” She sighed, and lay her head back on the wall, and closed her eyes.
Please hurry, Matt…

“So, are you gonna tell us what she was planning?” Sora asked, looking at Dayakyumon.

Night had fallen, and now the group was seated around a fire that, yet again, Justin had rigged.
Dayakyumon sighed, then began, “She’s working for a person, or rather a shadow of a human child, named Judi Nikajo. She was sent to spy on us, and she is one of three children who hold a Dark Crest.”
“A what?” Tai asked.
“A Dark Crest, it’s one of the three types of crests here in the Digital World,” Metamon said. “The other two are Combination Crests, and the Regular Crests.”
Dayakyumon nodded. “Yea. Her Crest is called Shadow. I have no idea why. It seems that her friend, Zack, is the one who took Felina and Keelamon. He and his digimon fit your description, Tsunomon. His crest is Darkness. The other one is their master or mistress, whichever. And it turns out her crest is Cruelty.
“It also happens that she has been here for a very long time. Longer then even us. But, it seems that she hasn’t aged in the slightest. Same as with Zack, and the other person. From what I can tell, she’s been here sense the original DigiDestened.”
“You mean, Alana’s parents?” Kyle asked.
Dayakyumon nodded. “Yup. And guess what else she knew about them? She knew that they were the heirs to the throne of the DigiWorld.”
“So it is true!” Val and Justin both said at the same time.
“She is the princess!” Val said.
Dayakyumon nodded. “Yuppo.”
“Does she know she is?” Mimi asked. “Because if she does, she needs a new wardrobe…”
There were a few smirks here and there, but no one laughed.
Poisomon looked to be in deep thought. “But, who killed her parents?”
Dayakyumon smiled. “As it so happens, our little orange haired friend did. She and Shantamon caused them to get into a car crash when Alana was three…or two. Only, her plan back-fired when Alana survived.”
“But, what happened to the others in their group?” Joe asked.
“My guess is that they’re all dead,” Dayakyumon said. “And that none of them had children. If they did, they all would have been killed.”
“Did her memories tell you where the castle is?” Tentamon questioned.
Dayakyumon nodded. “Yup. And, it’s where the Bladeramon thought it was.”
“So, do we go after Felina tonight, or do we wait?” Tai asked.
“We wait,” Kyle said.
Tai sneered. “It’s not your place to decide.”
“We wait,” Nathan said. “We’ll meet Alana, Horkamon and hopefully Mimicmon at the rondevu point just before the castle.”
Tai frowned, but nodded.
Strangely, Matt had been silent the entire conversation, but suddenly he spoke up, “Why are they trying to find Mimicmon?”
Tsunomon looked up at Matt, but said nothing.
“She has her reason’s,” Nathan said, and Justin nodded.
“Why do you guys always keep everything a secret from us?” Matt asked.
Kyle crossed his arms. “Because you’re idiots.” Anthylamon smirked.
Nathan glared at Kyle. “Keep your trap shut, or I’ll boot you,” he then turned to Matt. “We should tell you more, but…we can’t. Perhaps, one day, you’ll find out.”
Matt frowned, but there was nothing he could do. It was their design weather or not to tell them.
Izzy sat, silent then said, “But what drove her to do it?”
“What? Who?” Val asked, blinking.
“Jessica. What could have made her want to do that?”
“When I read her mind, I came across some memories of her childhood. She and Alana both had horrid lives before coming here. But, it seems, that Jessica’s drove her to become a Dark DigiDestened,” Dayakyumon said. She shook her head sadly.
Sora blinked. “Well, I guess that might drive someone to be evil…”
“Un-evil,” Nathan replied automatically.
“Huh?” Mimi and Sora asked at the same time.
Nathan shook his head. “Never mind.”
“Whatever…” Mimi sighed.

Alana and Horkamon had walked around a bend and were now looking down at the Dittomon Village. The outside walls were made of bamboo trees, and it created a fence that went all the way around the village.

They walked down the hill, and were greeted by a Dittomon, who looked up at them with large eyes.
“Who are you, and what do you want?” he squeaked.
“I’m Horkamon, and this is Alana,” Horkamon said, motioning at herself and Alana. “We’re here to find Mimicmon.”
The small monkey head and feet blinked. “Mimicmon? Why…he’s…”
“I’m right here,” a slightly squeaky voice said. The monkey stepped out from the gates. When he saw Alana, he blinked, confused. But, when his eyes landed on Horkamon, his brow furrowed. “What do you need?”
“We’ve come to find you, Mimicmon. We need your help,” Horkamon said.
“I have no DigiDestened. What could I possibly do for you?” Mimicmon asked.
“Mimicmon, another human…Felina--”
The monkey cut her off. “No. I won’t get involved. Not again. I was my fault he died, and I can’t—won’t do it again. I’m not strong enough.”
“But, Mimicmon, if we don’t go after her, she could end up like Sean! Dead! Doesn’t that--”
“NO! I won’t be the cause of another’s death! I’ve had enough!”
“Enough of what? Enough of your foolishness?!” Alana yelled suddenly. “It’s not you who killed him! It was ME! It was my fault that Sean died! I had the power to heal him, and I DIDN’T!”
Mimicmon blinked, then bowed his head. “I see you haven’t changed in the least. At least he could make you smile.”
“I’ve forgotten how,” the blonde growled. “Now, please, help us!”
“Why are you asking me for help?! You’re the one who hates humans! Why save this one! She’s just like the rest!”
The blonde relaxed. “Because…she’s the Digi-Empress.”
“What?!” Horkamon and Mimicmon yelled.
“She is. The way she walks, and speaks. It’s like she’s talking to a court of people and Digimon.” Then suddenly, it was like someone else was speaking. Not Alana, nor anyone the Digimon had ever seen. Or in that case, heard. “The Crystal Castle is where she was born, but when the raid came, we had no way to save her and her parents. As one of the guards, I was told to send her to Earth, the alternate world of this one. I was told to watch over her. But, then…then they came to Earth. I had no other choice. She had to be reborn on Earth so no one would find her. I used the Crest of Hatred, and destroyed the Digimon that were coming after her. Unfortunately, that destroyed the DigiWorld too.
“That was when Deathramon showed up. My Digimon, Spikemon, had DigiVolved into her. She reeked all Hell on Earth, but didn’t destroy it. Instead, it was the DigiWorld which suffered,” suddenly, Horkamon noticed that Alana’s eyes had become a crystal clear blue, and that her hair was pulled up into a bun, and that it was brown. She was wearing a silver uniform with a Crest sign
on the chest. It looked like a curved shape, and it had a small dot a the tip of the curve, and a strange ice-cream coned shape next to it. It was a gray-magenta color. “I was told that I would be banished, because I had done such a thing, but he stood by me, and told them to give me another chance. The Empress was born again, though I often wonder if she is my own child,” the voice stopped speaking, and Alana collapsed to the ground. Her hair transformed back to normal, but she was still in the uniform. When she stood up again, looking slightly lost, there were three different Crests on her armor.
One was the one that had been there before, but the next one was Hatred.
The other on e was unknown, just like the first.
“Alana,” Horkamon said, amazed. “What…?”
Alana blinked, then looked down at her armor. “What the hell?!”
Suddenly, a stick that was laying nearby floated over to the group of three, and began to etch something in the ground. Letter by letter, a message was written.

If this note makes it to you,
My dear Alana, it means I’m dead.
Your father and I wanted you to
Know that you’re the Empresses
Personal Guard. Your job is to
protect her. That is the first Crest;
Protection. The next Crest is Hatred.
It’s a very powerful weapon, so use
It with caution. The final Crest is
Imagination.
Another thing; you’re linked to the
Digital World, which means whatever
Happens to you, will have an effect
On this world. There is also the chance
That you may be the Empress.
Near the end of the war, your father
and I were appointed rulers of this world.
But, only because the true rulers-my
mother and step-father- were killed.
I leave you with my armor, and your
Father leaves you with this.
Good luck, my daughter. And, please,
Finish what we have started.

--Holder of Protection

Alana blinked, then spotted a small blood-red stone laying next to the note. She reached over and picked it up, and the note blew away, covered by the sand.

It was heavy, and cold. She turned it as she held it to the sunlight. Inside was what looked like a baby dragon.
“This is down right strange…I feel like someone from ‘Lord of the Rings,’ or something,” she murmured.
“What is that?” Horkamon asked, walking up beside Alana.
“It looks like an egg…or a rock…wonder why dad wanted me to have this…”
Mimicmon peered at it from the other side. “If I didn’t know better, I’d say it’s one of the sacred gems.”
Alana turned her face and looked at him. “What’s that?”
“The sacred gems are rocks, or rather, eggs, that give a DigiDestened the power to be reborn again.” The Digimon shrugged.
“Wait…” Horkamon said. “Didn’t the note say that you are the Empresses Guard, but that you might also be the Empress?”
Alana blinked, then nodded. “Yea, I guess it did.”
“This is messed. So, which is it? Are you the Empress, or is Felina?” Mimicmon asked.
Alana shrugged. “Dunno.” She stood up, and began to inspect the armor she was wearing. Suddenly, she found herself wondering how to get out of it, when, it disappeared.
“What? Where did it go?” Horkamon asked.
Alana smirked. “I think I know,” she closed her eyes, and imagined herself in the armor. Suddenly, she felt its weight on her body. She opened her eyes. “I can control where it goes, and weather it’s on me or not.”
Horkamon smiled slightly. “I guess there is one plus to this.”
“I’ll come,” Mimicmon said suddenly.
“Huh?” Alana asked.
“I’ll come. If you are the Digi-Empress, I want to be there to do what Sean wanted to do. To protect you.”
“Thank you, Mimicmon,” Alana said. She closed her eyes, and the armor disappeared.
“C’mon. Let’s get you into the village before anything we don’t want to happen happens,” Mimicmon said, then led them into the village.

Felina sat silently in the dark chamber. She’d finally fallen asleep, and was dreaming about Matt. Her thoughts were more absent then she’d suspected, because suddenly the scenery had changed from the DigiWorld, to Earth.

“Matt, where are we?” the dream Felina asked looking around.
“I don’t know,” he replied. He also looked around.

Matt lay next to a tree just outside of the two groups. His eyes were closed tight as he began to dream. Suddenly, he found himself in the real world. Next to him was Felina.

“Matt, where are we?” she asked.
“I don’t know,” he replied. He glanced around.
The two were in a field, and a large town was in the distance. Felina looked at the grass, and closed her eyes. When she opened them, she smiled. “We’re in the field near where my house used to be!”
Matt blinked. “What do you mean?”
“I mean, over there’s the main town! And this way,” Felina pointed right, “is the way to my house.”
Suddenly, she broke off at a run.
Matt blinked, then followed her.
The two ran for a few moments, then suddenly, they entered a clearing. A nice sized brick house stood on the far side of it. In the back-ground, one could hear the ocean waves crashing against the shore.
Felina’s smile widened, and she turned and looked at Matt. “That’s it! That’s my house! C’mon! Let’s see if my mom’s home!”
Matt nodded, and followed her to the house.
When they reached the white painted door, Felina reached out, and grabbed the handle. She pulled the door open, and ran inside.
“Mom! Dad!” she waited a few seconds, then her shoulders slumped. Suddenly, she seemed to brighten up. She ran up the stairs that were to the left.
Matt followed, though somewhat slower.
“Mom! Dad! You home?" she was near a room that was down the right hand side of the hall.
She went quiet, and closed her eyes. “I don’t understand…they were always here…where are they…?”
Matt walked up behind her, and placed his hand on her shoulder. “Felina, is it just me, or do you act real?”
“Huh?” Felina asked, turning to face him. “What do you mean?”
“I mean, this is my dream, right, but don’t respond like I’d want you to,” Matt explained.
Felina blinked. “But, this is my dream…isn’t it?”
Matt frowned, and pulled his hand off her shoulder. Suddenly, her took off one of his gloves, and placed his hands against Felina’s face. It was warm, and the flesh was real.
“This is no dream,” he said, pulling his hand away. He looked down at it. “Somehow, we’re linked by our dreams.”
Felina nodded. “And, I’ll bet anything Alana’s behind it.”
“What do you mean?” Matt asked, looking up at the blue-haired girl.
“If she’s not, then who is? How else would we be able to talk in our dreams to each other?”
Matt blinked. “Maybe…but maybe we’re here for another reason…”
“Like what?”
Matt shrugged. “I Dunno…”