"Rika, just try on this one dress. Please, Rika, just one dress." Rika's mother begged of her daughter. "Please, dear, just try it on. You can't wear jeans all the time."

"Mom, just accept that I hate dresses. Gosh, just leave me alone!" Rika shouted, causing people in the store to look at her. Rika's mother stared at her, amazed at how angry her daughter looked.

"Rika, please, don't do this. Stop screaming. Please, Rika, just try on one!"

Rika looked at her mother, amazed at how dense she could be. "I hate you, mom! Just leave me alone! I hate you!!!!!" Rika screamed as she ran out of the store.

"Rika, come back! Rika....."

~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ *

Rika sat on a park bench, tears streaming down her cheek. She looked up at the slowly darkening sky, aware that it would be dark soon. "Mom's going to be worried........." she thought to herself, almost letting some emotions show.

A shape came out of the darkness. "Rika, your mother is very worried about you. Please, go home." Renamon said. Rika shook her head.

"I can't go home. she's never going to change, Renamon, she's never going to understand me."

Renamon sighed. "Then I will stay with you. It is not safe here. Come, we will find somewhere safe." Rika nodded, realizing that Renamon was right. The park was not safe at night.

Renamon's original idea was to take Rika to Guilimon's little cage-home-thingy, but upon arriving there, Guilimon was nowhere in sight. The gate was open, but there was noone around.

"I'm sure Guilimon wouldn't mind us staying here, Rika," said Renamon. Rika nodded. They lay down on the floor, falling asleep almost immediately.

Sometime during the night, Rika woke up. A bright light was shining in the corner of Guilimon's cage. Rika went near it, using her hand to shield her eyes from the light. As she approached it, she felt a strange feeling come over her. part of her told her not to go near the light, but the other part of her wanted to. Faintly, she heard Renamon calling her, but she paid her no mind. Finally, she stepped into the light.

"Rika.........no......oh, what has she gotten herself into?" Renamon sighed. "Rika........."

~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ *

When Rika woke up, she found herself in a small room. She shivered, realizing just how cold the room was. A feeling of dread came over her. She knew who had brought her there. Somehow, HE had come back. And he wanted her. Rika took a deep breath and looked around the room, trying to find some way out. There was a door, but it was locked.

"Let me out of here! What do you want from me?!?!?!" she cried, pounding on the door.

Out of the shadows came a figure. Tall, thin, mysterious, he approached her. "You know what I want, Rika. Remember, we're made for each other. Our hearts are cold. Together, we could be great," he said.

"No, I, I've changed.........I've learned to care......I'm not like that anymore......" Rika whispered.

"Have you? I saw you today with your mother......you haven't changed at all. Oh, sure, you've learned to appreciate Renamon, but that doesn't mean a thing. You're still just as cold hearted as ever, still afraid to let anyone get close to you."

Rika stared at him, wincing with every word he spoke. Deep in her heart, she knew he was right. "What do you want from me?" she repeated.

"You know Rika.........I want you. I want you to be my tamer. With my power and your skill, we could crush them all. No more devas, no more enemies, we could destroy them all. Together."

Rika took a shaky breath. Part of her wanted to say yes......to join him and become his tamer. But part of her knew it was wrong. "Renamon..." she whispered, picturing her partner, her friend.

"Forget Renamon," he hissed, growing impatient. "I'm tired of your procrastinating, child. Give me your answer. You can join me willingly or I can force you to. What do you say? This could be your chance for greatness. You could show them all. Henry, Takato, your mother......"

Rika shut her eyes, wishing that she could just disappear. "I, I'll join you..." she managed to spit out.

He grinned. "I knew you would, Rika. You know that we will be great together. We'll show them all. Together, we will be unstoppable.

Rika looked up, staring into his eyes. Her eyes narrowed and an evil look came over her face. "Yes, Icedevimon, we will."

~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ *

"Ok, we have to find Rika, and fast," Henry said. Takato nodded.

"Renamon, do you know what that light was?" Takato asked.

Renamon nodded. "Ofcourse I do. it was a portal to the digital world." Takato frowned.

"So you're saying Rika's in the digital world?" he asked. "And how did a portal open?"

"Someone must have opened it. Portals just don't open on their own," Terriermon said.

"Is Rika gonna be ok?" asked Guilimon. Renamon looked up.

"I hope so boy, I hope so........." Takato answered.

"We have to figure out what to do guys. We have to go to the digital world and rescue Rika," Henry said.

"But how do we open a portal?" Takato mused out loud.

"Henry, couldn't your dad do it?" Terriermon asked. Henry grinned.

"Terriermon, that's the best idea you've had in a long time!"

"Um...thanks...I think......"