The Guardian Shadow Emerges...

THe panther had kept firing streams of fire but the V-mon was quick and dodged them all. He now had an enhanced boost of speed and was now heightened. The little dragon made a charge for Panthermon and was soon about to make a punch. The panther tried to jump back-- but the move was too fast, even by his tiger-like reflexes. The impact smacked him in the jaw and made the cat fly backwards.

It hit the ground iwth a thud and skidded-- but it quickly rolled and got back to its feet. It seemed graceful-- but the truth was the punch hurt and made the animal release a feral growl.

However, that was when things got interesting. With that growl as it returned to its feet. ... the cat seemed to shimmer in a veil of shadows...

... and vanished.


The panther digimon had vanished from V-mon and Ryouta's sight. The digimon had the ability to become invisible, and otherwise undetectable in the heat of battle as to where it was-- or where it could reappear to sneak up on Vmon.

Zachary looked on, unable to see the cat himself. However, he heard something. Not a sound-- but something in his mind. Words. "Must protect him. Must protect. " It was a small echo, unable to shake from his mind-- followed by the sound of a growl. It was almost like Zachary's own emotions-- when he was hurt by the bullies. They were now heard aloud in his mind.

(Panthermon is now invisible. Unless you can detect him, you must be on alert)

Which to choose... which to choose...

While Ryouta was calm as could be, Veemon was charging up for a mega attack-- and Zachary stunned at to what was happening... the Jaguar creature was stealthed and able to sneak around with ease. He looked for the proper opening. The Veemon was stronger than anticipated as it now was growing stronger and stronger, but even as a feral creature-- the panther knew where to strike.

As many predators and shadowy hunters, they sought the weakest link. In this case, it was the human controlling Veemon. Ryouta. Slowly he crept up-- compelled to think this big brute of a human was another bully to the one he was born to protect.

It was then that the Panther made his move and crept up on Ryouta. It then entered a charge-- coming out of the shroud of his invisibility. Its sprint caused his claws to radiate a dark energy-- a shadow base attack as it attempted to swipe at Ryouta.

But what did this human have up his sleeve?

(Panthermon came out of invisible status and attacked Ryouta with Shadow Claw)

The cat's attack failed-- poorly as it seemed despite the destructive Power V-mon was building up, Ryouta was even stronger in his own way. Not only did he have some sort of forcefield, but he soon was surprised by the use of the 'energy blast' and coin toss that felt like a bullet to the chest.

The panther was thrown clear across the field from the impact, winding him. His claws tore up the ground below him as he was tossed. However, despite the winded state and pain from the impact, the cat still landed on his feet. He growled for the moment, angry at Ryouta.

It was then that Zachary finally got his head together to get what was going on. For some reason, some how-- this creature was trying to protect Zachary-- by targeting anyone around him who seemed a threat. Or so he thought, but the cat was only targeting Routa and his digimon creature. Even though he didn't get what was completely going on-- he knew enough.

With wobbly legs, the panther rose up to do another attack. His eyes glared at Ryouta with misguided hate. Now slower from taking a beating, it began to sprint forward back to Ryota to attack again.

"That's enough!!"" Zachary cried as he ran for them, "STOP IT!!"

THe panther continued his charge-- unwilling to stop till Zachary threw himself between them with his arms stretched out to bar the cat from Ryouta. "STOP!!"

The moment the panther saw Zachary-- he screeched to a halt, but at the same time, the very act of protecting Ryouta and facing the panther caused something unexpected. Right between them, a bright light sparked in between them.

The flash was blinding for Zachary as it went off right in front of his face. Light and shadow seemed to swirl around them, the shadow more reflective of both Zachary and the panther's silhouettes. The panther had stopped and also was baffled by the bright flash-- but it also threw the animal out of the feral haze it was under.

After a moment, the light began to lessen to reveal a swirling sphere of black and white-- and inside was a strange device. Zachary blinked, unsure what it was but he unconsciously reached out to it, as if it was beckoning for him to take it. As his hand made contact with the light, it slowly dissolved and the object fell into his outreached hand.

As the light began to wane, Ryouta could see it as a D-Arc/D-Power digivice, designed with a violet frame, buttons and lanyard connecting to it.

The Panther stood where he was, his only voice just soft growls of alertness, as his eyes soon settled on Zachary, and his gaze eased.

Ryouta's words were enough to draw Zachary away from the confusion as he now held the strange device in his hand, it feeling warm to the touch as he looked forward. He almost fell backwards as he finally recognized the pull at his jacket as he tried to pull him away from the Panther.

However, the Panther now stopped, seeing Zachary in front of him barring him from attacking the human. The cat saw how he was grabbing his jacket-- and still let out a warning of a growl. It was then, the haze of beastly nature faded for the 'digimon' to finally speak.

"Do not... hurt... Zachary..." the panther spoke, hard to tell if it was a warning or a clear statement.

It was when that Zachary blinked, glanced back at Ryouta and then to the panther again. "W-wait a minute? He-- He wasn't trying to hurt me. He was accompanying me. He didn't mean me any harm. You're mistaken..." Zachary explained, and the on guard posture of the cat seemed to slowly changed. His eyes shifted, to be that of a curious cat. "He won't hurt me. Please, please stop fighting."

The panther glanced from Zachary, to Ryouta and his Vmon. The aura of hostility was soon gone as the cat realized the person he was trying to protect was not in any danger-- except from himself. As if an odd change of personality came over him, the panther bowed his head humbly. "I'm sorry. Please excuse my behavior."

Now that things had calmed down, Zachary felt more questions flood his mind-- even as he held the mystery device tight in his grip. "Um... I gotta ask this," he asked, for either the panther or Ryouta and his Vmon to explain things. How do you know my name, and why do you look exactly like the drawings I made of... well you?!"

THe panther, was indeed the spitting image from his drawings. Even more so, the cat knew who Zachary was. He even was so driven to protect him that he attacked someone who was stereotypical looked like a bully. (Sorry Ryouta XD)

Zachary was confused as both he and Panthermon was silent as the two-- Ryouta and his Demi-Veemon it seemed bantered a bit, but it seemed the two had a bit of a rocky relationship even as partners. As the little dragon calmed down, he returned to a smaller state and jumped into Ryouta's bag.

Zachary looked back at the panther, puzzled by how much he resembled the drawings he made. "Just what are you?" Zachary asked the panther.

The jungle cat cocked his head at Zachary's question. "I'm Panthermon... and I was programmed as your protector."

The calm looked seemed to screw up at the sound of what he was told. "I... what?!" Zachary gasped, unsure to what extent what he wanted to express. He turned to Ryouta, perhaps thinking the guy could explain what was going on. All the while his grip tightened on the violet Digivice in his hand.

"I'm your digimon-- your partner and protector. You made me-- your guardian in the shadows." the digimon spoke as if it was a casual statement of fact.

He felt like his brain had been fried from all this information. "I... I actually... created you? You're serious?" Zachary asked.

The cat shook his head a bit, tossing some of the rain off his black fur. "Is it so odd? I know you -- because I came from you." the cat said.

Zachary was baffled by this-- but as they talked, the fog of the 'digital field' was beginning to lift. The light of the digivice had not only cemented the bond between the young man and the panther but it also broke the hold the digital field had over the panther, able to roam free where he wished-- and also if not soon, would ruin their cover.

Ryouta made a fair point. Zachary didn't have any idea how he was gonna hide him-- let alone know if there was any kind of way to 'devolve' him, whatever that meant. "Excuse me? Do I look like I know how to do anything like that? Try taking things back for a beginner here?!" he said, clearly starting to stress as the fog began to clear.

However, the panther didn't flinch in the slightest. He just grasped he couldn't be seen. Simple enough for him. With a soft growl, his form began to shimmer, darkened... and at a glance from both of them, he vanished from sight.

"Is that better?" A soft growl spoke from around them-- coming from none other than Panthermon. "You don't have to worry about me keeping out of sight."

Like Before, he could become invisible-- and be unseen by normal devices. It seemed those rookies whom were larger than most had some tricks up their sleeves as a Renamon could.

With Panthermon now 'unseen', Zachary followed Ryouta-- hoping for somewhere more where they could explain just what was going on and for Zachary to get a general idea what happened. He clutched the Digivice in his hand, hoping he would get some answers.

Even as Panthermon was no where to be seen, out of Zachary's sight, he could still 'feel' him nearby. It was like some sort of idea or thought in his mind. It wasn't creepy as before, now that he knew who and what that creature was. It was almost like someone watching out for him as they talked and moved about to the station. All the while he held on tight to his Digivice, secure in his jacket pocket.

Ryouta was indeed blowing Zachary's mind and all he could was be quiet and listened. At least the stress of attack was over. As they reached the train station, Zachary looked at his Digivice. Having a digimon partner. Fighting monsters that threatened the world around them. Journeys to other worlds... it was both scary but exciting at the same time.

What was once fear was replaced with a sense of excitement. He was so done with things here... and here was a chance. A chance to do more for himself than just school and home. It clearly wasn't a hobby-- but a chance to let his dreams of adventure become a reality. And already, one such dream was real.

"I think I understand what you are saying," Zachary said as calmly as he could, taking a clear and loud breath of air to clear his thoughts. "I mean it still a lot to take in. But wow... are you saying I really did create that panther? "

It was then that the train pulled in. Things returned back to normal and the train began to slow down. Zachary was only two stops down, but the stops were relatively short. "Hey... listen is there a way we can stay in touch? I know all of this has been rushed and chaotic-- but thanks for helping me, on everything here. " he said, a little rushed with the train here. "Hey, can we trade info-- so we can talk later... and its nice to meet someone who I can trust. You know, as friends?" he asked, his tone a bit light as if nervous.