This is a side-story to The Dead Princess, so please give that a read.

Just a warning, this tale will be very dark.

The Fall of Light

Chapter I

Twilight

The little girl sat against the headboard, hugging her knees close to her chest. Her bed was large and adorned with a puffy pink spread that draped over the edge. A fluffy carpet lined the floor, leading to a closet full of dress-up clothes. A dresser sat against the wall, large and engraved with chiseled flowers and swirling vines. Two shelves filled with black and red books, and even her first makeup table. A small tray at her bedside contained her midday meal: fruits, vegetables, bread and what she suspected was wine.

A giant room in a giant castle. More clothes than she could imagine, food brought to her by servants. What little girl didn't dream of this? What little girl didn't stay up late, wishing with all her might that something like this would happen? It was a dream come true: she was a princess.

And all she wanted was to go home.

She remembered the Chosen coming to her rescue atop the center, her brother throwing her the digivice, Wizarmon jumping in front of her and Tailmon…

But she had thought that Myotismon would kill her, not use Wizardmon's death to distract the Chosen, snatch her and Tailmon and leap through a Digital Gate. Even then, she thought she would be in a prison cell.

Her eyes drifted to her locked door and then to her windows, shut tight. She was a prisoner, but why was he treating her like a royal guest?

She continued to stare through the stain glass windows to the night sky. "There are still stars in this world too."

The white cat at her side stirred. "I thought the same thing when I came to your world."

The girl giggled despite herself and stroked her friend, her partner. "At least he let us stay together."

The cat scowled. "I don't think he had a choice. Since we both touched your digivice, we're connected. If we were separated for too long…"

She was cut off when the door opened and a Floramon entered. Her eyes drifted to the tray. "Lady Hikari, Lady Tailmon," she gasped, "You must eat."

"We're not hungry," Tailmon hissed.

Hikari's growling stomach betrayed that statement.

Floramon sighed and shut the door behind her. "Just as well perhaps," she said, "Lord Myotismon requests your presence for dinner."

Hikari crossed her arms. "I'm not going."

"He insists," Floramon said, "And it's not wise to cross him."

Tailmon sighed. "She's right. We'd better just do it."

The girl was not going to rush. She slid off of the bed and inched forwards.

"Oh dear," Floramon said, "You haven't changed your clothes!" She frowned, "And I assume you haven't bathed either."

Hikari glanced at her outfit: the same sleeveless yellow top and red shorts "I don't want to change."

Floramon sighed. "You have been here since yesterday, and you are Lord Myotismon's guest, you must make yourself presentable."

Despite Hikari's protests, the Floramon pushed the little girl into her private bathroom. She turned on the faucets. "Now, remove your clothes."

The young girl shook her head. "I'm not doing it with your watching me!"

Floramon chuckled. "You may think of me as a female, now hurry, dinner will be ready soon."

Her brother would not give in; her brother would resist until the very end. He and Agumon probably would fight their way out of here and destroy Myotismon too!

But she was not as strong as him; plus she did smell…

She slowly pulled off her clothes and stepped into the bathwater. Floramon scrubbed lavender-smelling soap over the girl. "Here is some words of advice, don't make the Master angry."

Hikari would try to do everything she could to make him angry!

"Why don't you tell me about your world?" Floramon suggested as she rinsed Hikari's hair.

"Why should she?" Tailmon snapped, from her perch near the windowsill.

Hikari had been about to, but snapped her mouth shut. Tailmon was right, why should she tell Floramon anything? She was a bad guy!

But she did reminder Hikari a little of her grandmother.

After the bath Floramon led the girl to the closet. "Now which dress would you like to wear?"

Hikari stared at the row of garments in her closet. "I…I don't know."

Floramon smiled again. "I took your measurements yesterday when you arrived, so they should all fit."

The little girl shook her head; all the dresses looked so adult. Floramon pulled one from the closet. "Here, what about this one? And I'll help you with your makeup as well."

"Mommy doesn't want me wearing any yet…"

"You are the royal guest of a king," Floramon chuckled, "I think she would understand."

A few moments later, Hikari studied her reflection. An eight-year-old girl whose short haircut had been styled into slight curls, face done up with makeup and wearing a long-sleeved, black dress with a full skirt stared back at her.

"You do look beautiful," Tailmon admitted, "I just wish we were going out to dinner with your family."

An image filled her mind, of her brother and parents around a table with her seat empty. Tears came to her eyes, but she held them back. She had to be brave.

She and Tailmon followed Floramon through the halls and into the dining room. A large table sat on a polished floor that reflected the candle light from above. A banquet of food lay before her, and her stomach growled again.

He was there too, standing at the far end of the table. "Ah," he smiled, his fangs glistening in the light, "Welcome. " He waved at the spread of food, "I hear you haven't eaten since yesterday. I hope this satisfies you."

A Bakemon pulled out her chair. Hikari sat down like she had seen the Disney Princesses do. Tailmon hoped into the higher chair beside her like Miko did at home. Another Bakemon placed a plate of food in front of them.

"Now enjoy," Myotismon smiled.

She wanted to refuse, act out in the only way she knew how; well, she could cry and throw a tantrum, but when she did that at home her parents just made her sit in time out.

But her empty stomach and the smell of the roasted meat was too much for her. She dug into her meal in a very un-princess like manner.

"So my dear," Myotismon said, sipping a goblet of wine, "Have you enjoyed my hospitality so far?"

Reality snapped back into Hikari's mind. "No, I haven't!"

He frowned. "I see. What hasn't been to your satisfaction?"

"Everything!" she said, "I don't like it here."

Myotismon smiled again. "But you are here, and the sooner you accept it, the better it will be." He smiled even more, "My princess."

"I'm not your princess!"

He sighed, "Why do you think I went all the way to Earth to find you?" He pointed at her, "That Crest that you still wear so proudly around your neck…"

She grasped at the pink object.

"…the symbol of your power. You are the Light, and I must snuff it out so Darkness may prevail."

"Then kill me!" she shouted.

Myotismon blinked and even Tailmon gasped. "Hikari…"

"You're not scared?" the vampire asked, "Afraid?"

The little girl shook her head. "Mommy said that when you die, you go to see the angels!"

Laughter erupted from Myotismon's lips. "So it seems courage runs in your family. Your brother gave me no shortage of trouble before I went to your world and now that I think of it, wasn't your father the one who organized the prisoners into that failed rebellion?"

He marched over to her side of the table. He was so tall, like an evil giant. "I never had any intention of destroying you, my dear," he smiled, "I am the Darkness and yet…" He reached forward, but his hand hesitated, "…yet I am drawn to the Light. If it had not been me, then Piedmon surely…"

His fist clenched tight. "But now that you are here, he will be coming. Let us hope he will be too busy dealing with your brother to find us."

Hikari's heart thudded against her chest. "My brother's coming?" she gasped.

Myotismon's palm struck her across her mouth. A welt formed on her cheek and tears came to her eyes, but she did not cry out. She would not let him see that he hurt her. Her head twisted back and stared him in the face.

"Get rid of that foolish hope right now!" he roared, "You belong with me, and tomorrow I will make certain of that." He leaned closer, "That backbone of yours will be broken, my dear."

He motioned to the Bakemon. "Take them back to their room."

Hikari pushed herself away from the table and marched after the ghost, Tailmon following close behind.

Once in their rooms, Tailmon jumped onto the bed. "I can't believe you!" she gasped, "You're so much stronger than I thought!"

Hikari shook her head. "I'm not strong."

"But you stood up to Myotismon!" her partner gasped.

The little girl tried to feel strong, tried to feel brave, but her hand touched her cheek. Pain ripped through her face. Then the brave child broke and the scared little girl emerged. She fell onto the bed and curled into a ball, tears erupting from her eyes.

"I want to go home!"

To be continued…