Due to StarCraft 2 servers being down for a day, I actually managed to finish this on schedule. Yay! Enjoy!
Disclaimer - I do not own Digimon.
Chapter 9 - The Dark Side Has Cookies
Phoenix stared at the brick wall in front of him. This was the fifth time in an hour he has hit a dead-end, and it was getting on to his nerves. After delivering the crests to Gennai, he had returned to the Real World only to find the Takashi residence empty. Feeling bored, Phoenix and Lupusmon had decided to go out for a walk.
Now he regretted ever stepping outside.
Phoenix realized that Lupusmon had gone quiet beside him. "Something wrong?" he asked his partner.
"I sense something," Lupusmon said surveying the rooftops, "It felt like- Look Out!"
"Soul Chopper!"
The wolf Digimon tackled Phoenix, sending both of them into one of the many large rubbish bags scattered around the alley. The attack barely missed the duo. A metal chain wrapped itself quickly around Lupusmon, lifting him off Phoenix.
"Lupusmon!" the boy cried out.
"Maybe I should kill the puppy. LadyDevimon only wanted the boy alive," Phantomon said. The Grim-Reaper Digimon had a group of Bakemon with him. "Get the boy," he commanded. Multiple ghost Digimon started closing in on their target.
Phoenix felt the D-Ultimate vibrate on his wrist. "Lupusmon!" he shouted as he raised the device up into the air. A bright light was released, stunning the approaching Bakemon. Phantomon watched with surprise as his captive started to glow.
"Lupusmon digivolve…WarLupusmon!"
Phantomon still had WarLupusmon wrapped in his chain, but the Adult form was too heavy for him. The captive and capturer fell to the alley floor, making a loud thud in the process. WarLupusmon recovered quickly, breaking free from the chain and driving his sword cleanly through Phantomon's chest. The Bakemon watched as their leader digitized, his data being collected by Phoenix's D-Ultimate. WarLupusmon turned his attention to the ghost Digimon, waiting for them to make their move.
"That was a really entertaining performance," a voice echoed through the alley. Everyone turned towards it. A giant monkey man was standing on the roof, his metallic body shimmering in the moonlight.
"I gave Phantomon a chance to prove himself, but it looks like I must take matters into my own hands," MetalEtemon said. He jumped off the roof and landed in front of WarLupusmon, striking a pose in the process. "LadyDevimon grows impatient. She wants you immediately."
WarLupusmon charged forward, hoping to catch the monkey Digimon off-guard. He slashed his blade across MetalEtemon's torso, only to be left with half-a-blade.
"Fool! My Chrome Digizord is stronger than your pathetic weapon," MetalEtemon gloated. Raising his fist, he attacked the now defenseless Digimon.
"No. 1 Punch!"
Phoenix ducked as WarLupusmon was sent flying over his head. The Digimon hit the brick wall that stood at the end of the alley hard. Phoenix watched in horror as his partner reverted back to Lupusmon. The wolf Digimon was unconscious and covered in a layer of bruises. As Phoenix rushed towards Lupusmon, he heard MetalEtemon shout out an order.
"Knock him out!"
Phoenix felt something hit him from behind and his world turned black.
"Phoenix?" Takeru shouted as he entered the Takashi residence. The house remained silent.
"Is he here?" Hikari asked as she walked through the door. Takeru shook his head. He was starting to get worried. Nobody has heard or seen Phoenix for a while now. He and Lupusmon would usually spend the evening watching television. It was their way of relaxing after spending the day searching in the Digital World. But it was now close to 9pm.
Takeru sat on the couch. His begin to wonder if this was how his mother felt when she found out of his adventures into the Digital World. Hikari sat beside him and held Takeru's hand.
"I'm sure Phoenix is fine. He is with Lupusmon after all," she assured as she squeezed Takeru's hand. Takeru turned to look at her.
"You care about him a lot don't you?" Hikari asked. Takeru only responded with a nod. "We will find him tomorrow, I'm sure of it," she reassured the blond.
The two sat there in silence. The sound of the fridge echoed from the kitchen. Takeru finally decided to speak up.
"Hikari, do you only like me as a friend?" he asked.
"What? Why are you suddenly asking that?" Hikari replied, caught off guard by his question. Takeru decided to press harder.
"This afternoon in the park. Was it because you only see me as a friend?"
"No!" the girl shot back. Takeru's blue eyes were still locked on her.
"Fine!" she shouted, giving in to his piercing gaze, "If you really want to know the truth… I like you Takeru, much more than just friends." Takeru's eyes widened in shock at her sudden confession. Hikari quickly continued, preventing him from speaking up.
"But I don't want to force you to return my feelings. I ju-" Takeru silenced her by placing his finger on her lips.
"Silly girl. I like, no love you because you are you, and not because fate or destiny," he said as he leaned closer to her. Hikari's face started to flush red. Her heart felt like it was going to jump out of her chest. The feelings intensified as the boy of her dreams planted a kiss on her lips.
The girl froze in shock as she felt the warmth on her lips. She quickly recovered and started kissing back. She wrapped her arms around Takeru's neck, savoring the moment. The need for air finally forced them apart. Takeru wrapped his arms around Hikari's waist.
"So, does this mean we are a couple now?" he asked.
The last thing Pinochimon expected to be doing was guarding a prisoner. Those kinds of jobs were usually given to the grunts. But LadyDevimon instructions were absolute., and Pinochimon wasn't about to disobey a being of her power.
"Is he awake?" LadyDevimon asked as she entered the cell.
"Nope," the puppet Digimon answered, "whatever MetalEtemon did to him sure was effective."
"Wake him, the Master wants to met him," LadyDevimon ordered. Pinochimon silently gulped. He didn't fear LadyDevimon, despite her power. But the Master was a whole different ball game altogether. The grunts under his command would shiver in fear at his presence.
Pinochimon poked the prisoner with his mallet. The prisoner stirred. His hands moved to rub his eyes, only to find his wrists shackled to the wall.
"So, this is the boy that you captured?" a voice asked. Pinochimon watched as a black figure stepped out of a dark portal. He and LadyDevimon quickly bowed at his feet.
"Master," they said in unison. The Master motioned for them to rise. He walked towards the prisoner, studying him in the process.
"Where is the Digimon that you mention in your message?" the Master asked.
"We placed it in another cell," LadyDevimon replied. The Master nodded.
"You were right LadyDevimon, this boy is perfect candidate. If we can tap into his latent energies, he would become unstoppable," he said.
"Whatever it is you are planning, there is no way I will help you," the boy shouted. His eyes stared defiantly at his captors. The Master ignored him.
"I want him ready by sunrise. Use this," he ordered LadyDevimon. Taking an object from his pocket, he placed it in LadyDevimon's hands.
"It's the Crest of Darkness. I created it using the dark energies Devimon acquired," he explained, "with it; this boy will become a tool of destruction. One that I will wield." The Master opened the portal and stepped through it, leaving LadyDevimon and Pinochimon alone with the prisoner.
Phoenix watched as LadyDevimon slowly approached him. He was starting to fear the object she held in her hand, but he tried his hardest not to show it. He tried to break free of his shackles, but they were tightly bolted to the wall. He still had his D-Ultimate with him, but Lupusmon was nowhere in sight. Without his partner Digimon, the device was useless.
LadyDevimon placed the Crest of Darkness around his neck. As the crest rested on his chest, it glowed. Phoenix screamed in agony as pain shot through his body. It felt as if his chest was on fire, the pain intensified with each passing second. He felt himself slowly blacking out.
Pinochimon stared as the boy went limp. The crest around his neck had stopped glowing.
"Did it work?" he asked out loud. The boy raised his head. His face lacked emotion and his eyes were dark red instead of ocean blue.
"I think it did," LadyDevimon said.
This chapter so far was the hardest for me to write. Mainly because I suck at writing romantic stuff.
Oh and a major thanks to all of you who have read my story thus far. You guys rock :D