Disclaimer: I do not own anything in Hamtaro.

AN: I looked over Hamtaro: Search of the Ham-Star Crystals, and realized it could be much better. So, I have decided to redo it. Thanks goes to Awesome Rapidash for helping me!

The sky was blanketed with clouds and it was cool and slightly windy. It looked like it was going to rain soon, because it just looked so gloomy. Even the squirrels and other animals were getting inside to stay out of the incoming storm.

Laura was in her room with two other girls, her best friend Kana and a new girl who moved in half a year ago named Christy. Of course Hamtaro was here too, and Kana brought over her hamster, Oxnard. Christy didn't have a hamster, but she did want one of her own. However, her mother only wanted to get fish, so she wouldn't be able to get a hamster for a pet.

Christy sighed a little bit, as though the upcoming weather was somehow affecting her mood. Laura gazed at the girl curiously. "Is something wrong?" she asked, carefully putting her hands through her short brown hair, trying to avoid her yellow hairclips.

"I was wondering the same thing," Kana agreed, turning her gaze to the blonde haired girl, and holding her glasses. "You've been acting like this since lunch."

Oxnard looked over at Hamtaro, holding a sunflower seed closer to him. "She's been like this since lunch?" he asked his friend, though the girls couldn't understand him. "Maybe the food didn't taste good?"

"I don't know, Oxy," Hamtaro admitted softly.

Christy looked at her two friends and couldn't help sighing again. "I'm sorry. I didn't mean to worry you. I'm just worrying about next week's math test. You know math isn't my best subject."

"Why didn't you say so earlier?" Laura asked with a smile.

"Yeah, we can help you study for it," the brown haired girl with the glasses offered.

The blonde haired girl smiled a little. "You would do that for me?"

"Of course, we're your friends after all!" Laura said her smile widening.

Christy returned her friend's smile, her chocolate brown eyes shimmering with happiness. "Thanks. That really makes me feel better." She was about to continue when she saw that Hamtaro had walked up to her. She lowered her hands to allow the orange and white hamster to jump in her palm.

"Aw! Hamtaro is so cute!" the blonde gushed happily.

Hamtaro seemed to return the smile as he rubbed his face with his paws saying "Kushi-Kushi." Oxnard walked up to her too, and Christy added, "You're cute too, Oxnard."

The girls giggled and spent the rest of the time talking and laughing and playing with the hamsters. As it was getting closer to five o'clock however, the slight taps of raindrops could be heard on the rooftop and tapping on the windows.

Christy looked over to the window, seeing the raindrops falling to the ground. "It's starting to get wet out there," she murmured slowly. "I better get home just in case it decides to pour since I don't have an umbrella with me!"

"I'm sure dad wouldn't mind driving you home," Laura piped up. "I'll go and ask him." The girl with hair clips got up to head downstairs.

"Do you want to study some time tomorrow?" Kana asked the other girl curiously.

Christy thought about it for a second and nodded her head. "Yeah, tomorrow is a good idea. I might be able to make it some time in the afternoon."

Not long after the blonde said that, Laura returned to tell her friend that she had a ride home. Christy thanked the brown haired girl happily and then told her what she and Kana said they were going to do about studying.

With a smile, Christy headed to the door. "Bye! I'll see you tomorrow! And thanks again!"

Rue listened to the rain outside while he smoothed his red robe with his paw. He started to pace the wooden floor of the tree fortress, not knowing what was going to happen now. But whatever happened, he knew that he had to be strong.

He gazed out of the cell for a moment, which didn't look out of the ordinary. But he knew better than that. If it was so simple, he could have walked out at any moment. An invisible barrier protected the door, which would not allow him to leave, and it would give him a nasty shock if he even attempted to do so. And he didn't need his white fur to stand on end at the moment.

The white hamster blamed himself for not being strong enough to defeat the ham-ham that lived in this fortress. If only he had the power to stop him. But compared to the owner of this fort, Rue's powers did not match up. If he wasn't alone, he might have been okay. But now, he was trapped.

Even then, Rue made a difficult decision since he came here. Just in case the evil hamster found out that he knew something and caught him, he wouldn't tell him what it was he needed to know. He'd simply refused it! There was no way he was going to let that wicked hamster have his way!

Movement from outside the cell caught Rue's attention and he turned, his eyes narrowing at who he saw. A hamster covered in gray fur and wore black robes stood just outside. "Valen."

Valen looked at his prisoner with his crimson eyes. "Are we feeling cooperative today?"

"I told you the last time! I'm not going to tell you anything!" Rue insisted, crossing his paws.

The gray hamster smirked at the other ham. "Oh, really, you might reconsider when you see who I brought with me today." He reached out and pulled another hamster into view. It was a female hamster with white fur and gray spots on her ears and forehead. She clad a green robe. She gazed at Rue sadly causing him to gasp.

"K… Kururu!"

"I… I'm sorry, brother," the girl ham said softly. "I tried to run away when he came to capture me. But, I…"

"Are you sure you want to stay silent?" Valen suddenly asked. "Because I could very well hurt your sister if you do not tell me!"

A defeated look filled Rue's eyes. Even despite his earlier resolve, there was no way he was just going to stand there and let Kururu be harmed in any way. He loved his sister too much to do something like that! "Fine…"

Kururu lowered her head sadly as Valen laughed evilly. "Now that is more like it. Now then, you know the human girl I need yes? Tell me about her and where she currently lives."

Rue shook his head at first, wishing he didn't have to respond. But with Kururu's life on the line, he knew he didn't have a choice right now. He closed his eyes for a moment, seeing the girl that he saw in a vision some time ago. She was a girl who had short blonde hair and brown eyes and was petite. He apologized to the girl, and opened his mouth to tell Valen what he needed to know.