A/N- Helloooo!!!! Hey guess what!!! My sister just said that Mount Olympus grew on her nose…overnight!!! Amazing!!! I've always wanted to meet Zeus…

Ha ha ha. Anywho. Nice to see all of ya again…er…you know what I mean. ;)

Right, so…on wif da show!!!!

Chapter 9

Under the Ice

The raging blizzard died by the end of the morning of their second day in the Digital World and the Tamers were finally able to leave the cave.

Rika stepped out into the frozen wonderland and looked around. It wasn't as cold as it had been the day before. Looking back, Rika saw the Tamers stepping tentatively out after her. Ai, Mako and Suzy were huddled together on Kyubimon's back, but each of them looked determined to help out.

Ryo was talking to Cyberdramon about something and Takato and Jeri were muttering to Kazu and Kenta. They were obviously afraid of what they had been told the night before. Henry walked over to Rika with Alice at his side.

"We should start moving, Rika," Alice said when they reached her.

"If we stay in the same place for to long we'll be easy targets for the Devas," Henry added. Rika turned away from them and looked back at the snow-covered desert.

She had so much to think about, but no time to do it in.

The Devas had been enough trouble as it is…but to have to fight another, sixteenth, Digimon that was stronger than all of them combined… She shivered and folded her arms, a classic defensive move. She was starting to regret her decision about letting the kids tag along. What if they got hurt? It would be all her fault.

Shaking her head, Rika turned back to Henry and Alice. They had been watching her with somewhat worried expressions.

"Hey, everything okay over here?" Ryo had stepped up beside Rika now and he was looking between her, Henry and Alice. Rika glanced at Ryo and nodded.

"Yeah," she said. "Everything's…fine." Then she turned to the others and whistled loudly.

"Let's go! We can't stand around here all day!" She called. The Tamers moved towards her and the others.

"You mean we're finally gonna go find some action?" Terriermon said eagerly. He hopped onto Henry's head and pointed ahead of him.

"Lead the way!" The Tamers chuckled and started walking.

*~*~*~*~*~*

"Takatomon, what'll happen if the Devas find us?" Guilmon asked. Takato looked down at his friend and smiled reassuringly.

"We'll fight and win," he said.

"That's right," Terriermon said. "You're not gonna let some mangy old Deva scare you, are you?" Guilmon shook his head.

"Nah, I was just thinking about Suzy and the others. I mean they are awfully small," Guilmon said thoughtfully.

Henry looked back to where Suzy was riding Kyubimon along with Ai and Mako.

"I don't see why Rika let them come along," he said angrily. "She should have respected my decision and told Suzy to go home!" Jeri put her hand on his shoulder and smiled.

"Don't worry Henry," she said kindly. "Rika won't let them get hurt. And besides, do you really think Suzy would have gone home anyway?" Henry groaned and walked on. They were right, but it still didn't make him any less angry.

A little way away from them, Kazu and Kenta were walking beside Ryo, trying to talk to him over their chattering teeth.

"S…so do y…you think we'll find the other D…Digimon?" Kazu asked.

"Yeah. Do y…you think M…MarineAngemon is okay?" Kenta added. Ryo chuckled and shook his head at them.

"I'm sure the other Digimon are fine. They can take care of themselves. You just need to have a little faith in them," he said.

"So…does that m…mean you think we'll find t…them?" Kazu shivered. Ryo nodded and looked ahead again.

"Don't worry, we'll find them soon."

Rika was walking in silence, trying to think her problems over. Calumon had huddled himself against her breast inside her jacket. She strongly suspected that he had fallen asleep in there.

The snow was knee deep and Rika was soaked right down to the bone. But she ignored the shivers that were running up and down her spine and walked on. She had so much under her care. So many lives that she was taking into battle. If any one of them got hurt, she would be held responsible. If not by them then by herself.

If Alex and Koronamon couldn't even scratch this Zihuralamon guy, then how was she supposed to destroy it?

"Got a lot on your mind, huh?" Rika started out of her thoughts and looked to her left. Alex had moved in step with her and she was looking at Rika with general concern. It was odd, but she felt like she should be trusting Alex, like she could trust her. But why? She had never seen this girl before in her life. And oh, that annoying resemblance! She had to ask. The curiosity was driving her nuts!

"You look very familiar," Rika said suddenly, catching Alex off guard. "Have we met before or something?" Alex gazed at her for a second then smiled and shook her head.

"No, maybe I just look like someone you know," she suggested.

"Hmm…" Rika held her arms around the bundle that was Calumon and walked on, Alex at her side.

"You know, Rika. It's easier to deal with something if you talk about it." Rika glanced back at Alex and then looked away again, a frown creasing her brow.

"Don't you have to go check on Koronamon or something?" She asked in annoyance. Alex ignored this comment and tried again.

"I want you to be able to trust me, Rika," she said pleadingly. "I want to be your friend." Rika dropped her gaze and stared at the snow under her feet as she walked. Why did she feel guilty about saying what she had said? It didn't make sense. It wasn't like she had a reason to trust Alex. They didn't even know each other…and yet. Shaking her head slightly, Rika looked back up and sighed.

Ryo had trotted forward and was walking beside her now.

"Well, you're in a cheery mood. Everything alright, Pumpkin?" He said, grinning cheekily. Rika smirked at him and shook her head.

"Everything's just…peachy," she said sarcastically. Ryo frowned in mock agitation.

"Now, now, Rika. You know it isn't nice to lie," he said teasingly. Rika raised an innocent eyebrow at him.

"How do you know I'm lying?" She asked. Ryo chuckled and grinned at her.

"I know because you would never use the word 'peachy' if you were being serious." Rika smiled and looked up at the sky.

"You know me to well, Akiyama," she said, closing her eyes leisurely. "Way to well."

They walked on in a pleasurable silence for a while until Rika saw a flash of darkness in front of her eyes. She shut them and stared into that color you see when your eyes are covered. Not so much black, but more a color…waiting to be black.

But the instant her eyes were shut, Rika saw a surge of colors and pictures. She saw the Digital World, shrouded in freezing snow and razor-sharp, deadly ice. She saw a hole in the ground that lead to a raging river of frigid water. It ran red with what looked horribly like…blood. The images of her friends, her mother, her grandmother…they all flashed before her, to fast for her to grasp the pictures with her mind. Colors and blackness. A swirl of confusion, pain and fear.

And then, through all the different image and colors, Rika saw one solid form, approaching her with an incredible speed.

It was an unyielding force of darkness shooting towards her. In a flash of black, it was upon her. A face so horrifying…so perpetually frightening that she screamed in fear. The face of the evil creature opened its mouth wide and flew at her as if to eat her, to suck out her soul…her very existence. The last thing she saw was the long rows of sharp, jagged teeth…

But just as soon as it had appeared, the face and the images all vanished and Rika's eyes snapped open in shock.

She was lying on her back in the frozen snow, a cold sweat running down her forehead and cheeks. Gasping for breath, Rika felt herself being pushed into a sitting position. The second she was sitting upright, Rika buried her head into her knees and took a few deep breaths to calm her self down. She felt dizzy and sick to her stomach.

"Rika…Rika!" She looked up and came face to face with Ryo. He grabbed her cheeks when her head started drooping again and he held her face towards his.

"Rika, what happened? Are you okay?" He gazed at her anxiously, concern etched into every fiber of his being. "Speak to me!" Rika blinked hard to clear her vision and then she looked around her.

The Tamers were all staring at her in a mixture of shock and confusion. Renamon was trying to get them to back away a little, while Henry told them to "give her some air".

"Rika," Ryo said, more gently this time. She looked up at him again and took another deep breath. Her lungs seemed to be on strike. They flat out refused to provide her with enough oxygen.

"W…what happened?" She murmured.

"You fainted," said Alex's voice. Rika turned her eyes to her for a second and then looked at Ryo again. She had seen an image of his dead body, lying at the bottom of that blood red river…but here he was, holding her in alarm and concern.

Had her scream been real?

"D…did I…scream?" She asked slowly. Ryo and Alex glanced at each other briefly.

"Yes," Ryo muttered. "Right before you fainted." Pushing Ryo off her, Rika stumbled to her feet. She was still slightly dizzy, but she wasn't nauseous anymore, so standing wasn't a problem.

"We have to get away from here," she said quietly. "It's not safe here."

"It's not safe anywhere in this world, Rika," Renamon said reasonably. Rika shook her head.

"No, you're wrong. There is one place we can go where no one will find us."

"Where's that?" Takato asked.

"Tornado Valley," Rika said matter-of-factly.

"Tornado Valley?" The Tamers all chorused.

"Hey, yeah!" Kazu said eagerly.

"That's were Jijimon and Babamon live!" Kenta grinned.

"Exactly. We can stay there for a while until we figure out what to do. It's safe there and I know they won't mind us camping out there for a while," Rika explained.

"Hang on, Rika," Henry said, folding his arms. "What are you talking about? Who are these Jijimon and Babamon people?" Kazu and Kenta grinned at each other.

"They're an old married couple. They're at Mega level and they love to cook!" Kazu said excitedly.

"Not to mention they have a bath!" Kenta added. Takato and Henry looked at each other skeptically.

"An old married couple?" Henry asked, quite unconvinced.

"Yeah," Rika said, shaking off the last of her lightheadedness. "The live in a place called Tornado Valley. The wind blows really strongly over there, so you can't go out much."

"Of course they've solved the problem of indoor boredom," Renamon chuckled.

"What do you mean?" Jeri asked.

"They fight with each other for entertainment," Rika explained. "They're strange, but they're a nice pair of Digimon."

"Well then, it's settled. We're going to Tornado Valley!" Takato said, raising his fist into the air. The Tamers all murmured their own little comments, most of which comprised of, "going insane already," or, "stupid Goggle-head."

The marched away from the dent in the snow Rika had made and moved towards Tornado Valley. They walked on for an uneventful hour before they came to a spot that had slightly different textured snow. Kazu took a tentative step onto it and slipped immediately. Takato tried to grab him but he slipped to, pulling Guilmon down along with him. The three of the skid slowly along the smooth coldness that was an ice covered river.

Rika's eyes widened and she took a step away from the ice, stepping right back into Ryo.

"What's the matter, Wildcat?" He asked.

"We have to go around it," she said quickly. Ryo seemed more than confused at this.

"Around it? But it'll be quicker if we just go across," he said logically. Rika shook her head vigorously.

"No, we have to go around!" She was desperate and the Tamers were all getting confused.

"Please!" She cried urgently.

"Okay, Rika. Calm down. We'll go around if it means that much to you," Henry said, slightly alarmed.

"You're not going anywhere!" Said an evil voice. The Tamers moved instinctively together.

"Afraid are you? So pathetically weak, you humans." A massive black Digimon appeared out of the snow, bearing his long rows of jagged teeth at the Tamers. They huddled closer to each other. The Digimon laughed evilly and bore down on them, lashing his whip-like at them.

Takato lifted his red and gold D-Power and the small screen appeared.

"Hazeramon," he read. "Mega level. A Virus Beast type Digimon. His attacks are Curse Crusher and Dark Destiny." He looked up at Hazeramon and gulped.

Hazeramon was at least twelve feet tall and covered in midnight-black, shaggy fur. His eyes, barely visible under his mane of orange hair, were a blinding yellow. His long, bear-like arms and claws had rings of fiery red going down them in spirals. He had four arms each ending in scissor clawed paws.

A long, dark grey tail, that seemed leathery and furry at the same time, swung menacingly behind him. It was tipped with what looked like three revolving blades that curved into a point. The blades were serrated on both sides and were heavy silver.

His huge burly legs were sprouted with blades and spikes, each sharper and more deadly than the last. He had a row of smaller spikes under each eye and his muzzled mouth was hanging open.

He roared at them, much like a Tyrannosaurus would.

"You destroyed my brothers and you defied my Master. These are unforgivable crimes. You will all be destroyed!!" He roared again and whipped his tail over his head. The blades started spinning, giving off a super-sonic squeal. The Tamers cried in pain and covered their ears.

"Renamon!" Rika shouted. "We have to do something!"

"Right!" Renamon braced herself to Digivolve. Rika looked up at Ryo and Alex who were standing beside her, each holding their D-Powers. Takato, Guilmon, Henry and Terriermon were all at the ready too. They all raised their D-Powers together.

"Bio-merge Activate!"

A bright light surged around them as five humans and Digimon merged into five different beings.

Sakuyamon and Justimon landed side by side in front of Hazeramon. Gallantmon landed on Justimon's other side and Megagargomon landed beside him. The fifth figure belonged to that of an Angel.

Her hair was a deep red and it flowed gently with the wind. She looked very much like a blue and green version of Angewomon, but her helmet completely covered her face and she had golden crossbow in her hand. Kazu and Kenta gazed up at her as she landed on Sakuyamon's right, folding her three pairs of wings at her back. Jeri raised her D-Power in awe.

"SacreAngewomon. Mega level. She's a Divine Vaccine type. Her special attacks are Shaman Crossbow and Sacred Divinity." Jeri looked up at her in barely suppressed awe.

"That's…incredible," she whispered, as if to speak loudly in the presence of such power was a sin.

Hazeramon growled angrily and took a step forward, his revolving tail whirring angrily.

"Let's turn off his little toy, shall we?" Sakuyamon said.

"It would be my pleasure!" Justimon raised his arm and a long blade of red light grew from it. Gallantmon's arm morphed into a lance and SacreAngewomon shouldered her crossbow.

"It's been a while since we did this, Koronamon," Alex smiled. "And I must say, I've missed the thrill!" All five Digimon leapt into the air and raised their weapons.

"Curse Crusher!" Hazeramon slashed his tail through the air and it soared towards Gallantmon. He gasped and braced himself for the hit, but it never came. Megagargomon had grabbed Hazeramon's tail and they were now wrestling with each other, each trying to push the other back.

"You will all pay for your insubordination!" He shouted and threw Megagargomon into Gallantmon.

"Why do they always want to do it the hard way?" Rika groaned.

"Just thick headed I guess," Alex chuckled. The spring on her crossbow pulled itself back and three large arrows formed on it. She took careful aim and in a flash of blue light the arrows were shot forward.

"Shaman Crossbow!!" SacreAngewomon shouted and the three arrows all became huge dragons made entirely of blue and silver light. They raced through the air and struck Hazeramon in a blazing ball. He yelled and spread his arms in a vicious gesture, throwing off the flames. His tail stopped spinning and the whistling noise stopped.

"Alright, let's show this over stuffed teddy bear how to really fight!" Justimon and Sakuyamon flew after Megagargomon and Gallantmon. They surrounded him in a wide spread circle. SacreAngewomon filled the last space and all five of them attacked at once.

"Amethyst Wind!"

"Thunder Clap!"

"Mega-Barrage!"

"Lightning Joust!"

"Shaman Crossbow!" Justimon and Gallantmon's attacks combined into a blazing surge of electricity. It formed a huge ball and shot towards Hazeramon. The raging tornado of Sakuyamon's attack merged with the three roaring dragons and the flames were fanned into a thunderous inferno.

These two attacks collided with Hazeramon directly in his face and just as the explosion erupted, Megagargomon's missiles burst in the center. There was a loud sonic boom and then everything went quiet as the attacks created a blinding dome of white light that spread across the plain.

The explosion settled and as the light dissipated it revealed Megagargomon shielding the, still human, Tamers from harm. The others were standing in the swirling air and watching the still form of Hazeramon on the ground.

There was a low groan and Hazeramon shifted on the ground. He pushed himself up slightly and coughed.

"Impossible…" he croaked, his once deep voice now almost destroyed. The Tamers moved towards him to deal the finishing blow, but he raised his tail in defiance. The blades started spinning and the deafening whistle broke the eerie silence.

Rika, Alex and Ryo, who had taken the worst of the explosion, were to weak to hold their mega forms and in a wave of light, they were on the ground, their Digimon partners beside them.

"You will never defeat me!" Hazeramon shouted, spinning the blades faster and faster, making the whistling grow louder. Rika covered her ears and shut her eyes. The noise was vociferous. She opened her eyes, straining to keep hold of her consciousness. Hazeramon laughed at them and spun his tail even faster.

"We have to stop him!" Gallantmon yelled, covering his ears.

"Right!" He and Megagargomon stood upright and faced Hazeramon.

"Shield of the Just!" Gallantmon shouted.

"Gargo-Missiles!" Megagargomon yelled. The two powerful attacks burst on contact with Hazeramon's furry stomach and he screamed in pain.

The whistling stopped and the Tamers were able to stand again.

Hazeramon was disintegrating.

"You humans haven't finished with me yet…" He growled softly. "Dark Destiny!" Dark grey clouds covered the sky and there was a crackle of lightning. A long beam of red and black lightning shot from the sky and it hit the ice, sending bits of it flying. Hazeramon disappeared and the sky cleared. Rika stepped up beside Ryo, who was lifting an over excited Monodramon into his arms.

"Tell me," she said, feeling tired but relieved. "What was the point of that last attack?" Ryo grinned at her, but their smiles faded when they heard a loud crack. The Tamers all turned to the source of the noise.

Hazeramon's attack had split the ice and it was cracking at an alarming rate. The battle had put the Tamers in the very center of the river and the ice was cracking in several directions.

The image of the bloody river under the ice flashed in front of Rika's eyes and she gasped.

"Everyone get off the ice!" She shouted. They scrambled for the safety of the snow, slipping and sliding as they went.

"Koronamon!" They all turned. Alex had stopped moving and was standing as still as she could. Her face was etched with fear.

The ice had cracked under her feet and it wasn't stopping.

"Alex, don't move," Henry said quietly. Koronamon took a tentative step towards her, but the ice cracked even more and he froze. A small trickle of water spread around Alex's feet more seeping from under the ice. There was one last almighty ripping noise and Alex disappeared in the water.

"Alex!" Koronamon and Rika ran out onto the ice and dove into the water after her.

"Rika wait!" Renamon followed her in, the ice closing rapidly after her.

"That girl is trying to get herself killed," Ryo fumed as he ran to follow them. "I just know it!"  He and Monodramon jumped into the raging river and as they went under, the water froze over, allowing no further passage through.

The remaining Tamers stood in total shock as they stared at the place were six of their friends had disappeared.

"What do we do know?" Jeri asked urgently. Henry shook his head solemnly.

"Nothing, there's no way we can get through there. We'll just have to hope that Rika and you remember what Takato and I told you guys about the water."

"What, you mean that if you believe you can breathe the water then you can?" Kazu asked.

Henry nodded and sighed.

"Hey," Terriermon said suddenly. The Tamers all turned to him. "They know that we're going to go to Tornado Valley, so maybe we should go wait for them there." The Tamers looked at each other and there was a general murmur of agreement.

"Terriermon's right," Takato said. "They'll be fine and as long as they have Rika, they'll be able to find Tornado Valley."

"So, then let's go!"

*~*~*~*~*~*

Rika felt a hand close around her wrist and when she looked back, she saw Renamon. Ryo was swimming towards her as fast as he could. The current was to string to swim against, so he was going with it. He was upon them in a mater of seconds and moments after that, the four of them reached Koronamon. He was cradling an injured, but very conscious, Alex in his arms.

Rika was straining to hold in her breath and she was running out of air.

Not yet…she thought. It can't happen so soon!

*~*~*~*~*~*

A/N-Helloooo! I guess I can't really call this a cliffy since they're on the exact opposite of a cliff. Or should I say 'in'? Heh heh. Anywho. Send in those reviews!!!

Thank you to all of you who are reading this! You guys are da best!

By the way…can anybody PLEASE tell me what Tuzeremon's attacks were. I put them down in 'Kira's Chapter' but I deleted that one from my story and now I can't remember his attacks! Please, I need them! Also, if you could send me the names of the Devas you have already seen and any others I might have mentioned. It would be much appreciated. Fanks!!! See ya!!