Disclaimer = I don't own Digimon (!) apart from the characters Naomi, Riku, Nori and Tao

A/N: Continuing to stay on top of this one :D

Chapter 21

Koji had slept, knowing that the group's possessed companion was safely restricted within a bent metal pipe thanks to Lobomon. Sleeping was not exactly top of his list of things to do, but with Zoe and Tommy looking exhausted from trying to escape Jokermon's grips, it seemed like the right thing to do. To rest. It was even more peaceful when he slept soundly almost as soon as his head hit the ground.

Only to be woken by a frantic sounding Zoe who was shouting, "Naomi! Naomi? Wake up you two, she's gone!" Quickly, she began to shake the two boys awake. "What happened? I thought you said she wouldn't be able to escape, Koji!"

He saw that the metal pipe had been twisted out of its bent shape. "How did she?" Koji mumbled, rubbing his eyes.

"Look!" Tommy exclaimed, waving the others over. "The ground is moist over here, so we can see the footprints of Naomi's hi-top trainers."

The trio looked down at the prints that had been left by Naomi and nodded in agreement that they would start to trek in the direction their new friend had gone in.

As they started to walk, Tommy look at his D-Tector and wondered if they could track Naomi as an individual, but with Zoe being the one holding Naomi's D-Tector, it was a useless idea.

"Do you think that Jokermon will be able to awaken the royal knights?" he asked the others, stepping over the tracks that beginning to fade.

Zoe glanced over her shoulder at the young teenager. "Jokermon strikes me as the kind of villain that isn't that powerful. They're the type who will rely on the strength of other Digimon to do the dirty work. If you ask me, Jokermon isn't powerful enough to resurrect or awaken the knights. I think stronger forces are at work here."

"The Digimon we've encountered… They have mentioned that each royal knight will require a Digital Essence in order to be awaken to the full potential. Aside from all of that, I'm pretty sure that Jokermon is also trying to hinder our chances as legendary warriors by possessing us. Like Naomi is now."

A smile crept across the blonde's face. "You've really grown up a lot, haven't you Tommy?"

"So have you, Zoe."

"Really? What makes you say that?"

Tommy shrugged his shoulder dismissively. "It was just a feeling really."

The answer was unfortunately not thorough enough for Zoe to simply let it go. "Koji- do you think I've changed?" She walked alongside Koji who tried to hide the expression on his face. "What is it?"

Laughter echoed from Koji's mouth as he could not hold it back any longer. "Apart from being a touch more paranoid, you're still the same Zoe. You and Naomi share the paranoia, it's cute."

Zoe felt the colour flush to her cheeks which forced her to look down at the ground. "The footprints, I can't see them anywhere…"

The two guys echoed they couldn't either. They looked helplessly around them, wondering what direction Naomi may have gone in. They were close to the edge of a forest as they could see the bright sunshine breaking through the trees.

"I suppose this is going to get a lot worse for us pretty quickly," Tommy whispered.

"Why Tommy? What's wrong?" Zoe reached out and touched his arm.

"We've forgotten about Ophanimon... Her Digi-Egg was being looked after by Naomi, but when we got her back-""She didn't have the Digi-Egg…" Zoe cupped her hands over her mouth. "Then we have to find out where Jokermon is hiding."

Koji lifted a finger up to point off into the distance. "You don't suppose that we're heading for the dark zone, because that structure there looks like the perfect lair for an evil Digimon."

Over in the distance, there was a tall and thin building that stuck out like a sore thumb. Towards the top of the building, it seemed to branch out into two curving sections. From a distance, it resembled a jester's hat, making the trio know that they were heading in the right direction.

-o-

Having followed a path out of the ravine that lead to a reunion with Beetlemon, J.P, Takuya and Riku were keen to make their way to the Forest Terminal. They found themselves approach a dark zone. The sky was darkening as if a powerful storm was brewing. One that could break at any moment.

"What do you think this place is called?" Riku asked, sticking close to J.P.

The eldest looked around nervously, wishing that his jacket was not sleeveless and also had the ability to zip up. But it was a gift from Zoe and that had to mean something more to him.

Takuya strode out ahead of the other two. "I don't like this… Doesn't it seem almost too quiet?"

"Yes." Riku nodded, before standing up straight. "But it's going to be just fine. It will be alright, won't it?"

The youngest heard rustling to the side of the forest path. The bushes were browning as if completely dehydrated. There were gaps that allowed for Riku to almost see straight through. Riku didn't see anything at first. It was only when he approached the bushes carefully that a Digimon burst out and grabbed the boy around the waist.

"Riku!" Takuya screamed, immediately holding up his D-Tector. "Execute spirit evolution!"

Riku kicked and wriggled in the Digimon's grip. The Digimon had clawed feet like a dinosaur but it was covered by an illustrious red martial arts inspired garb. It had a face of a fox, with yellow eyes darting between Agunimon and the spirit-evolving man.

"It has wings?!" Agunimon exclaimed when he noticed the two amber coloured wings on the Digimon's back. "Pyro Dart!"

As Agunimon went to throw a flame dart at their attacked, Beetlemon shoved the hand off course. The dart flew away in the wrong direction.

"Before you have a go at me Agunimon, you could have hit Riku!" Beetlemon snapped loudly. "Now what do you want?"

The Digimon dipped its head. "I'm Buraimon, and I believe that there is nothing you can do to stop me now. The boy has a heavy price on his shoulders and I aim to gift him to the highest bidder."

"Highest bidder?" shouted Agunimon. "He's not for sale."

Buraimon tutted at the fire warrior, crouching down low in preparation to lift off. "That- Agunimon- is not your decision to make I'm afraid." The creature pounced off the ground, slamming a foot down onto Agunimon's head in the process.

Beetlemon tried to follow, following Buraimon's plan in using Agunimon's head for extra height. "Sorry Agunimon!" The thunder warrior latched onto Buraimon's clawed foot, trying to stop it from escaping.

"Help me!" Riku screamed as he was jostled about in the flurry of flight.

"Riku, hold on! Beetlemon bounded up into the air, but having not spirit evolved for years now, he tumbled through the air. "Riku!" he screamed through the pain in his back and reaching out to the flying Digimon that was carrying Riku. The pain was enough for Beetlemon to return back into J.P.

Takuya dropped down on the floor near J.P. "Naomi going to kill me, isn't she?"

"Well you never know," J.P grunted, easing himself up from the floor. "I might take the blame for that one if you really want to stay in her good books." He winked playfully at the other guy.

"It's not like that, J.P." Takuya appeared more flustered than ever.

Unconvinced, J.P knew he could provoke a reaction. "So you wouldn't mind if I perhaps… made a move?"

Silence, a big pause whilst Takuya pondered the decision. "Of course not… Why would it matter?" He scratched the side of his face, tracing the curve of his jaw. "I mean, it's not like there's anything going on between me and Naomi."

J.P laughed. "Who said anything about Naomi? Though it is funny how you almost immediately thought of her when I mentioned making a move without specifying a person."

"Oh knock it off, J.P. This is not the right time! We have to go rescue Riku before Naomi finds out." Takuya pointed to a tall building nearby. "I'll bet that'll be the right place to go. And whilst we are on the topic of girls – don't act like you're no better. Those feelings for 'Zee' have come right back, haven't they?"

"Well maybe we can all just double date instead then? Unless she decides she prefers Koji more now. After all, you're clearly into Naomi so you are off limits."

-o-

Across the plain, Koichi and Nori were also making their way towards the jester hat shaped building of which rumours indicated were where Jokermon was hiding.

"How do you feel after your first spirit evolution, Nori?" Koichi asked, smiling at the other boy.

Nori stuffed his hands into the pockets of his baggy shorts. "I can't explain it. It was weird. Being in another being's body and then fighting felt almost like a second nature. What did you feel like when you first did?"

Koichi inhaled long and slow. "Well my story was slightly different to the others' first spirit evolve. But it worked out alright in the end. I got my brother back."

"Wait. So you and Koji- you guys didn't really know each other before?"

"Not really..." Koichi said, trying to smile a bit. "But you'll get used to spirit evolving soon enough." Some shouting caught the pairs attention and they turned to see J.P and Takuya running towards them. "It's Takuya- and J.P!"

Koichi and Nori exchanged broad smiles, waiting for the other pair to catch up. "Where are the others- Tommy? And Naomi? Angewomon carried you guys off together after the dark field."

Takuya scratched his elbow nervously. "Well you guys lost Riku..."

Nori stepped closer to the boy. "That wasn't our fault- we just got separated and... wait, how do you know?"

"He might have been kidnapped by a Digimon called Buraimon who plans to sell him to the highest bidder."

Nori didn't have a clue what to say. None of it made any sense. "You really aren't joking- despite the fact that sounds so unbelievably made up..."

"I wish it were made up, Nori. Honestly I do."

Seeing the argument only minutes away from breaking out, J.P and Koichi exchanged a quick glance that they knew meant they should intervene in avoiding an argument. J.P clapped a hand on either boy's shoulders.

"Right guys, let's head for the tower, shall we?"

-o-

Tao writhed in his place, struggling to free himself from the trap of which Jokermon had left him in. The Digimon had given him