Disclaimer: I don't own Digimon. Or any of these characters... well, actually, I do own one character. And the background for this story. But that's not really quite as relevant, seeing as I'm kind of writing it...

A/N: Okay, so I lied... I definitely am not going to have this story done by the end of the summer. I'll aim for the end of the year. I think that's doable.

I'm going to really focus on this; I've actually started planning a sequel, so a lot of things in this particular chapter will come the most into play in that story (if I decide to really go forth and write it). Hopefully, my style of writing won't suffer.

I've been planning this chapter (and just about everything from here to the end) since the beginning, so the major events are all supposed to occur. This was the last sort of "Lots of talking, info giving" chapter until about the end... and I have to admit, it'll also be much harder for me to write from here to the end. The story is also now two thirds of the way done!

I hope you enjoy it.



Revelation

TK could have sworn that he had heard Kari's voice somewhere, as his mind rested somewhere in that world between sleep and awakening. More unconsciousness than sleep he realized, now that he was a little bit more aware, but at least he had some sense of self. It still felt like some huge part of him was missing though... it reminded him of Patamon had sacrificed himself against Devimon. He had felt this feeling briefly, right before Patamon had reverted back to a digiegg.

But he felt a little too restless and uncomfortable to be dying. Which meant he had to be awakening, out of the darkness... or maybe not.

His aching head spoke louder than anything else around him, but the hard floor he was lying on and sensation of coldness around his neck made him remember that he was still in his nightmare. All the thickness and feeling of the darkness had vanished from directly around him, but it was still present. However, it was not threatening... it simply existed, as it naturally should.

He groaned, rubbing his head and almost expecting to feel the fabric of his hat, or the gentle paws of Patamon grasping on, but then he remembered that he had given his hat to Kari, and Patamon was not there, and he was not in the Digiworld or the normal world, but...

Everything hit him at once, and he jumped in realization. With a sharp intake of breath, he opened his eyes and shot up.

Clank

He was in a small cell, surrounded in three walls of stone and a set of bars as the fourth. He could not quite see beyond the bars, due to the lack of lighting and his eyes not adjusted to the darkness, but of what he could see, there seemed to be some sort of bar door that only had a simple latch keeping it locked...

So I have been captured... I have to get out of here.

Immediately, TK hopped to his feet. And felt the weight around his neck and heard the sound of chains clanking.

His hands flew to his throat, making contact with not the skin of his neck, but the metal of a cuff. Whipping his head around towards, he saw the outline of a thick chain firmly attached to the wall, leading up towards him.

The dull realization sunk into him, and he let himself slump down against the wall. Of course the bar door had a simple latch. Even if there had simply been open space instead of bars, he could not escape without some sort of picklock. Now, he was left to the mercy of his captors.

Ignoring the fact that he had been chained to the wall, he tried to survey the situation. In the last however many hours it had been since he had been drawn into the realm of the Dark Ocean, he had mostly been running for his life, doing his best to avoid and escape from those dark beings. Then there was that amount of time he had spent hiding in the abandoned apartment... and now, here he was in a dungeon.

Somehow, he did not think his chances of survival were any different than when he had been chased through the underground utility tunnels... but he felt that he had to wonder. He had thought he was going to die, but he had been captured instead. Why was that? Had there been a reason to keep him alive that he had not thought of yet?

It left him with nothing to do except maybe shout at whoever might be there in the dungeon and wait.

Then he remembered that everyone else was coming to help him.

In the space of a few moments, TK's heart leapt with relief and joy, then stopped again as he realized what might happen. However, true that the others would be in danger, especially not knowing what sort of other things were in the realm of the Dark Ocean, he knew they were his only choice at escaping and possibly making it back home.

Something rustled from beyond the bars. TK sat up and squinted, trying to see what it was. Despite his weariness, he felt a little paranoid after having been chased after by dark beings for most of his waking hours. And after having lived in the normal world with the shadows at the edge of his mind, he knew that being alert and watchful could mean a world of difference.

However, this thing also made a slight clanking noise, which he recognized. It was the same as the chain that bound him; perhaps it was another prisoner like himself.

"Hello?" he called out.

The moment he had sounded his voice, he recognized that the source of the noise included a dark presence. Unlike the maliciousness of those who had chased him... Spawn, were they called? This presence seemed benign.

But there was no answer. Instead, another presence, a different one, scampered closer, making scratching sounds against the stone floor.

TK received the impression that something sinister was peering in at him. He automatically pressed himself to the wall, instinctively trying to escape the gaze of whatever being it was that found him interesting.

Feeling desperate, he reached for his D3, only to discover that it was not there.

His eyes widened in shock. He suddenly remembered his last attempts at resistance, those moments before his capture back in the abandoned apartment. He had been forced to drop what he had been carrying... that hand axe, and his D3. And there was no reason as to why the Spawn would bring it with them to give it back.

The D3 had been his main kind of weapon against the darkness, and so without it he was somewhat powerless. It only made sense that he did not have it with him now.

Dejectedly, he slumped back against the wall. Curling himself with his arms around his knees, he distantly heard the movement of the creature looking in at him, as it crept back and forth against the bars. He quietly looked down at his shoes in response, willing the creature to leave.

He heard it slowly shuffle away. Apparently, it had lost interest... or perhaps, it would soon return. TK sighed in relief, then sat staring at the outline of his feet, which were starting to focus and become clearer as his eyes slowly adjusted.

Idly, he reached up for the metal cuff around his neck and felt it, trying to see if there was any possible way for it to come off. Letting his fingers pass over the smooth, cold surface, he could not help himself but wonder... how everyone else was, and how they were faring. As he touched a strange groove in the metal, he somehow thought of Kari, and his last sight of her.

Through the mirror, she had watched... until that powerful being had destroyed it. But not before it saw and recognized her for the power she held. TK tried to recall what the being had said... having been under so much stress, he found it slightly difficult to think of the exact words. But he did remember that the being had seemed pleased. It was not a reassuring fact.

Understanding that the groove in the metal was likely how the cuff came undone, TK left the collar alone to gaze around more. It only made him feel more helpless as he did so, knowing his situation and how little he could do... he tried instead to ignore his surroundings and think positively. It had done him well many times, but he had some doubts after everything he had been through so recently.

Closing his eyes, he attempted to think and believe that all things would come to a close and be all right. Nothing in the darkness could always last... dawn followed the night, after all. He knew what that dawn would be – when the others did manage to save him. They were his only hope at this point.

It was then that he realized how cold he was, as though there was a light chilled wind passing through the bars of his cell. He shivered slightly; the air felt moist as well, which gave the feeling of ice mist blowing on his face. He briefly wondered where exactly in the realm of the Dark Ocean he was... maybe beneath the sea itself?

There was a loud, echoing bang. Then he heard them. Footsteps. These were sharp and confident, the sounds of a victor coming to flaunt over the conquered. He wondered if this was a guard of some sort, or perhaps even someone else, then let his intuitive sense tell him what to believe. A strong influx of fear came into him almost automatically; this being would not be kind.

The footsteps grew louder, echoing down what seemed like empty stone halls. It made the building sound hollow, as though nothing existed at all except for the being walking... and TK in his cell.

Gradually, the sound came closer. TK took in a tense breath, hugging himself tighter with his head placed in his knees.

Then it stopped.

He was aware of someone large and formidable staring at him.

"So, the Child of Hope is finally here And awake. Quite an impressive fight you put up too."

TK opened his eyes and lifted his head sharply, ignoring the clank of the chain and glaring at the figure through the bars, trying to remember where he had heard the voice before. "What do you want?" he asked in low tones, but with as much venom and strength as he could muster.

The figure gave a deep laugh. "I was told you were a defiant one. I expected nothing less."

"Who are you?!"

"I am shocked that you do not remember me. I was overjoyed when I discovered that the target was someone I had met before, though relatively briefly, I must say."

The memory suddenly hit him. Only some months earlier, when fighting close to Christmas time, the group had banished a certain enemy into the dark world...

"Daemon," TK stated, his eyes suddenly widening.

"Aha, now you remember," the digimon laughed. Then his figure carefully undid the latch of the bar door and practically floated victoriously into the small cell.

Daemon was as TK remembered, only with the tint of grey that came with being in the Dark Ocean and a more than satisfied look in his eyes. Even his cloaked exterior did not hide demonic glee that seemed to emanate from him, and though TK had grown used to digimon appearances over many years, he somehow felt unsettled by the feeling of the regalia covering the true being within. The wings and horns did nothing to help.

Daemon was behind this...?

"So then, Child of Hope. Lord Dragomon and I give our pleasure. Welcome, welcome, to this humble abode in the dungeons," Daemon announced, almost mockingly as he gestured around the cell.

TK raised an eyebrow. "Sorry to say this, but I think this room needs some better interior decorating," he said conversationally. He gingerly picked up the chain and motioned towards it. "I mean seriously, who likes having this sort of thing in their kitchen? Not that this room would make a very good kitchen."

Daemon was not amused. "Cute, child, very cute. Have you been enjoying your stay then?"

TK dropped the chain. "Well, what do you think?" he glared, and his hand absentmindedly found its way up to the metal cuff around his neck.

The mocking tone turned to seriousness. "Why don't we drop these ridiculous formalities then?"

"Gladly."

Silence rang between them. Now that the initial contact was over, TK could feel the tension in the cell, as he sat face to face with the one who was most likely the perpetrator behind everything that had happened to him. The dreams, the darkness, the manhunt... he wanted answers. He wanted to know why, just why...

But he was not in a position to ask anything. The only thing he could really do was sit and hope that the worst Daemon planned for the moment was interrogation.

"I'm sure you are confused and frightened. But I have no intention of... easing your anxiety. It would not do you very well in the long term..." Daemon chuckled. "Rather, nothing would do you very well in the long term."

Daemon was hinting towards what TK expected, regarding his captivity. Nonetheless, he found himself shaking.

"Any particular reason for that?" he asked in a low voice, trying to sound as depressed and scared as possible. Maybe Daemon would be more appeased and would give some more answers... assuming TK would be able to see the others again. Then curiosity got the better of him, as he recalled a statement by Daemon from only a moment earlier. "And... who's Lord Dragomon?"

"Why, the lord of this realm, the Dark Ocean," Daemon answered, who, to TK's surprise, seemed happy enough to reply to his question. "And as a reply to the other question... it will not take long for you to understand."

The digimon took a couple steps forward, stepping in an ironicly dainty manner in opposition with his appearance. TK wondered if the booming footsteps from earlier had been only an effort to increase the fear of those surrounding, but his thoughts shot back to the more immediate issue.

If anything, Daemon seemed comfortable and confident in his victory, and wanted to intimidate the boy before him.

"I have come to inform you of your role and your destiny. It would do you well to know... and then of course, when next we meet the Child of Light, we can tell her how bravely you walked to your fate."

TK raised an eyebrow. He was already suspicious. "When next you meet the Child of Light? You're planning to meet her?"

A chuckle. "Of course. She is the special addition to the original plan, after all. A most valuable opportune moment to finish everything and end everything."

His mouth grew dry. The dark ocean had targeted Kari before. And to finish and end everything with something involving her...

Suddenly, before he quite knew what he was doing, TK had shot to his feet, the mad idea of running forward, breaking the chain that kept him by the wall, and somehow wringing Daemon's neck coming to him. "Why bring her into this?! What is it that you want with her?!" he shouted, anger coursing through him.

Daemon looked taken slightly aback. "Goodness, how protective the Child of Hope is of the Child of Light. Indeed, Lord Dragomon truly meant it when he said you would have to be taken care of before going after the girl."

"Answer me!"

TK wanted to know. Kari had been taken by the Dark Ocean before, but these denizens of the darkness still wanted her. He had never been told why. Did Kari know? Did she want to know? What was it that those of the Dark Ocean really wanted?"

Daemon practically rolled his eyes.

"It is not I that wants the girl, though she would make a fine addition to the levels of power within this world. Lord Dragomon desires her."

TK yelped. "What?!"

What in the world...?

Daemon seemed to ignore him. "Personally, I do not see what he sees in her aside from her power of Light, but seeing as how he is the Lord of this dark realm, he would want a queen of light beside him. Perhaps he believes he can tame her. Then again, I never did think he would be the type to lust after human females..."

TK felt sickened. It was all a matter of power. And Kari was trapped as the target in the center of everything.

"No..." he shook his head, staring at Daemon in horror. "No! That's just... ugh, no!"

Daemon spared him a glance, and chuckled. "Well, it was worth telling you the truth to see your reaction. Maybe I should tell you everything else? Seeing as you will barely have the time to contemplate it all?"

TK still felt disgusted by the revelation of what these digimon planned for Kari. "You know what, I don't care," he glared and spat. "I have an idea of what's going to happen, but whatever does happen, you're not touching her."

"So says the Child of Hope, who has no control over the actions of his enemies. Is his hope strong enough to act upon what he says, I wonder?"

"What?"

"How amusing it is... hope. That which can fuel the fires of courage, pull allies together, and save the souls of the damned... but how pitiful it becomes when the damned carry hope, but it does not truly exist. When a dying man still has hope that his lord will come to save him from certain death... the captured live their lives believing that one day they will be freed when all they can do is stay enslaved until the end... the hope one has in unrequited love, how it can transform even the kindest person to one seeking vengeance against his rival... the hope people have for peace and safety, when war devours their world. Hope asks for miracles, for fate to twist into her hands and change in favor of her. And when fate and destiny turns against her, she can do nothing but provide something to comfort the pathetic masses, giving them the fake belief that the world can change."

TK felt his blood freeze each time Daemon said the word hope. It made him feel as though that which he exemplified, that trait of hope, was being defiled and twisted in ways he had never thought to realize. Unfortunately, he could see some of the logic in Daemon's words.

He glared. "So what is the point of telling me all the bad sides of my crest?"

Daemon's eyes glinted slightly. "Hope exists for more sides than just one. It is only a matter of tipping the scale in the right direction."

The digimon's words sounded ominous to TK. He dared to keep looking directly into Daemon's eyes, heart pounding as he attempted to think of exactly what Daemon was implying.

"Do you understand yet?"

TK clenched his fist and tried not to betray his fear. "No."

The evil digimon seemed to be smiling. "Let us speak of it in another way. You are the shield that protects the light. But, that light is our goal, is it not? So, that shield must be removed."

TK felt a chill creep up him as he realized what Daemon was saying. He grit his teeth, keeping his eyes level with the digimon's. "Then..." he began, trying to shoot down any fear that sprang up within him, "Why am I still alive? Why did you go through all that trouble to capture me?"

Daemon's eyes glinted.

"A shield for light can only be used for light. But if melted to its barest essentials, it can be forged anew for any side. Including the dark. And that makes it a very powerful tool for whomever wields it."

TK's eyes widened in horror as what Daemon had implied lit on him.

The digimon laughed. "You realize it, do you not? With you as our weapon, the greatest obstacle for us is nullified. The Child of Light will be in the possession of Lord Dragomon, the other Digidestined doomed to destruction, and the world of Light fated to belong to us."

"No!"

TK straightened, eyes cold and glaring as anger surged through him, directed at the digimon before him. "What makes you think I would work for you?! Because I never will! And there is no way you'll be able to control the other realm!"

To his shock, Daemon chuckled. "You remind me of Jigomon. He once said that of this realm. He was wrong." With that, the digimon made a small laugh. Beyond that, TK thought he heard a low growl from beyond the bars of the cell.

Then Daemon recovered himself. "Obviously, we know you would never willingly work with us. So we are not even attempting controlling you."

TK blinked. Who's Jigomon? This realm? What are they doing with me?

"No..." Daemon continued, "With only yourself, especially unwillingly, you hold much more essence and power that you realize. And if we harness it..." he smiled suggestively.

It was then that some of the Daemon's words dawned on TK.

Melted to its barest essentials... forged anew...

"You needed me alive," he stated, suddenly aware of his own mortality. "Because what you wanted was my life."

Daemon laughed. "Finally, you understand. So of course we could not kill you... yet."

"... yet?"

That word had been whispered, as more fear crept into TK's heart. He had half been expecting this, since he had been taken captive and not killed directly, but it still made the situation much more real to hear the truth from his captor.

The digimon in question was looking at him with both a sense of curiosity and malice. Daemon seemed to be calculating just how much should be said... or maybe he was deciding the best way to torment the boy before him.

However, the moment of silence soon passed.

"You shall be retrieved an hour before dawn," Daemon stated, pacing closer to TK. TK in turn backed himself as far as he could, until he had flattened himself against the wall. Daemon only continued forward. "For to work the ritual of power correctly, it must happen as the night ends and becomes the day. As Lord Dragomon controls the ocean, all shall go according to plan.

"Do not fear. Or maybe you should."

TK already knew what those words meant.

"You mean that by dawn, I'll be dead," he spat. "Don't try to cover it up using fancy words."

The digimon was silent for a moment. "I suppose it works better to blunt with such a defiant child as you. But you would do well to remember whose cell you are sitting in and who it is you speak to."

TK shut his mouth, almost afraid of the repercussions. He felt tempted to shoot back, to dare Daemon to kill him on the spot as he was already slated to die soon. He did not feel that there was much worse that the digimon could do to him, if it would all end in the exact same thing.

It felt strange being the defiant and reckless one, dealing with Daemon.

Then without warning, Daemon lifted a claw and gently stroked his cheek.

TK recoiled, but the digimon had already begun speaking in low, hungry tones, as though to himself. "Such a strong, worthy soul... powerful blood, a true living embodiment of every flavor and emotion that hope holds. So much of the light, though I wonder what would happen should the darkness become dominant... so very different you would be. How simple it would be to twist the essence of that you hold dear for different purposes. But oh, the power you hold within you... and soon, it shall be ours..."

And Daemon retreated from , turning swiftly with a flourish of the cloak he wore.

TK watched, shivering, as Daemon practically floated in a ghost-like manner towards the bar door. His eyes had adjusted well to the darkness, and with the clear image of Daemon at the edge of the cell, there was nothing more TK wanted than for the digimon to leave and never return, and for something to prove Daemon wrong to appear. That ray of hope, maybe an appearance by a friend, the arrival of the other Digidestined, if he could be that optimistic... or, on the other end of the spectrum, which was looking much more likely, the time to accept his inevitable fate.

Then Daemon stopped, still facing the bars away from TK.

"I would make a deal with you."

TK looked up suspiciously. Why would Daemon suddenly offer to make a deal when his target was already sitting chained in the dungeon before him with an impending execution, and completely helpless to do anything?

"Accept your death. Do nothing to counteract it. And when a certain child comes... do not warn her. Let her come to us. Do this, and when all the fighting is over, I will personally make sure every Digidestined's life is spared if possible."

Daemon turned to face him, eyes intent.

TK had no choice in the death. It was the plan of Daemon and this Lord Dragomon that it happen. But it was what Daemon had said afterwards that struck him the most.

They knew the other Digidestined were coming, or at least trying to. But it had been Daemon in that abandoned apartment who finally brought him to his knees when the Spawn had failed. And Kari in the mirror...

The evil digimon had guessed correctly. TK was close to Kari, starting from that young age when the two of them had been thrown into the Digiworld adventure together. And it meant that she would be among anyone who came into the Dark Ocean. But why was Daemon so sure that Kari would be in the Dark Ocean?

Then he remembered his last contact with his friends. They had spoken of access points, and even a last ditch effort of infiltrating a tower that had a portal access to the Dark Ocean. But if that tower was being watched by the evil digimon they said they wanted to avoid, and if the access points did not allow them through, then it meant... everyone was in grave danger.

The entire operation was being transformed from something to save him into a deathtrap.

And Daemon was aiming to make sure only Kari made it through the portal into the Dark Ocean.

In his mind, TK recoiled at the realization. He also felt that if he lived, he would have to thank Ken for hanging around them, because he seemed to have rubbed off his sense of logic and reading between lines.

And the 'making sure the Digidestined were spared' part? They would be locked away forever, with the absolute power of the Dark Ocean looming over them. They would be alive. Not free.

TK looked straight into Daemon's eyes.

"Hell no. But thank you for letting me know I'm also going to be the bait in a trap set for my closest friend, I'll be sure to let her know so she can escape."

Without warning, Daemon leaped forward.

Pain erupted from TK's left shoulder, but the presence of Daemon's face inches from his own reduced what might have been a scream into a garbled choke.

The vengeful eyes of the evil digimon bore into his own. "One too many times you have jibed at me today. You would do well to not give me any more cause to spill your blood," Daemon rasped, into TK's ear. "After all, your blood is far too important to waste."

With a low chuckle, the digimon pulled back, leaving only one arm extended out. Narrowing his eyes, he viciously yanked back his bloody claw, withdrawing a loud gasp from the boy before him.

In return, TK could only stare trancelike, in an almost mesmerized state, at the claw with his own blood dripping off of it, while feeling something wet trickle on his skin from the pain in his left shoulder.

The two exchanged stares for a few moments, the only sounds in the room being gasping breaths and a slow drip.

Then finally, Daemon turned with a flourish of his cloak and retreated from the cell, slamming the bar door behind him.

As the digimon's footsteps echoed away, TK slumped down against the stone wall, feeling helpless. A slow realization was dawning on him, as the reality of what was going to happen began to sink in. What Daemon had said, what would be in store for everyone, and the plans of Dragomon...

The pain in his shoulder only made it seem more real.

Wordlessly, he brought his right hand up and touched his left shoulder. He ignored the sting and spasm that came, as he had expected, but the dampness of his shirt in that spot gathered most of his attention. Drawing his hand back in front of his face, he looked at his wet fingers that looked a stained black in the darkness of the cell.

"Heh," he let his head roll back to hit the stone wall behind him. "I really am going to die," he spoke to no one in particular, staring at the ceiling. He had accepted that fact earlier, but somehow the idea of going down while fighting, like he had believed earlier, did not quite match up with the reality of being a sacrifice in some sort of ritual. Execution sounded like a better term.

Absentmindedly, he wiped the blood off his fingers on his shirt. The shirt was already stained red in one spot, and as he was going to die soon, he saw no reason to keep formalities. He almost laughed at the thought of keeping his shirt clean at a time like this. He had how long... he had no idea, all he knew that when the hour before dawn came...

"Here, friend."

Something white rolled into cell, gently hitting the far wall next to TK. Surprised, he shifted his position, pulling the chain with him so he could reach the object. Reaching, he picked it up, and as he felt it in his hands, he realized that they were bandages.

"Bandages?" he asked to no one in particular.

"Aye. You'll need them, if you expect to keep your arm."

TK's head shot up as he held the roll in his hand, glancing around for the deep voice he heard. "Wait... who are you? And... you gave me the bandages?"

As he looked, he realized that he could see a figure moving in the cell across from him.

"It comes from a technique of mine. I am like you, a prisoner here." The digimon paused. "I suppose you expected others to be present."

TK sighed sadly. "To be honest... yeah."

"I am sorry to depart to you this news, but... you and I are the only ones here."

TK jumped at the news. He did not quite expect the digimon to say that. "What happened?" he asked.

"They came to the end, and passed on... never to return unless this realm regains its vitality and hope. But... enough of me chattering. Bind your wound... Daemon is a cruel character."

Wordlessly, TK began using his right hand to tug his left arm out of its sleeve. Wincing at the pain, he gently eased it out, letting his left arm stay limp as he did so. As he finally managed to pull his shirt up off of his shoulder, letting the damp fabric lay in a clump against his neck, he sat and stared for a moment, thinking about what Daemon had told him.

The side of evil was using TK to strengthen themselves. They would gain some sort of power, or something that would give them the upper hand in the never ending war with the side of good. And by doing so, they would remove the protection to another major source of power, while removing a major threat as well. TK felt that maybe he should be flattered that Daemon considered him an obstacle and a threat, but he knew it only meant more danger and trouble for him.

What scared him more was the role Kari would play. She was the one those of the Dark Ocean wanted... he still felt sick when he thought of the reason as to why. And the fact that Daemon and Dragomon were using him to reach her made him feel worse. He would be the one that led to her downfall...

Unable to clearly see his wound, TK chose instead to wrap his entire shoulder instead. Placing the end of the bandage in his mouth, he gently led the roll down and under his arm, gradually binding the cloth around the entirety of his shoulder and upper arm. As he finished, tying off the loose ends, he glanced back out past the bars.

It was hard to tell, but he thought he could see another set of bars, and a figure moving there. Cautiously, he crawled forward in an attempt to make out who might be there, careful to not use his left arm and dragging the chain along behind him.

Before long, he felt the chain grow heavy, and the sound of it against the floor vanish. He grimaced slightly at the pressure at his throat, and stopped where he was. He was closer to the bars now, and his vision would continue to adjust.

He could barely make out the outline of a thin figure with long pointed ears and a single horn. The rest, he could not see... although, he noted to his sadness, he could tell this being had been restrained just like himself. And then realized that the dark, but benign presence he had felt earlier... it belonged to this digimon.

"Thank you," he spoke. "My name's TK."

The figure nodded. "It is a pleasure to meet you. I am Jigomon."

TK blinked. He remembered that name from the meeting with Daemon.

Jigomon seemed to take the moment of silence as though he expected it. "Yes, I am the one Daemon referred to... you must have done something rather spectacular for him to pay this much attention to you."

TK winced slightly. "I'm a Digidestined. I think we all get a lot more attention than we ask for."

"You truly are a Digidestined? And... hope. You stand for Hope."

It was more of a remark of surprise than anything else. TK was surprised as he heard the reverence suddenly imbued in Jigomon's voice.

"It... it is an honor to meet you. And I am sorry for you."

TK was aware of how sincere this digimon sounded. "I... I guess..."

He found it hard to acknowledge what he knew would soon come, and swallowed a couple times. Then, after a brief silence, he decided to break it. "So..." TK began, pointedly deciding to keep his mind away from his upcoming fate, "What's your story?"

Jigomon seemed to understand the aversion to what would happen, taking the opportunity to change the subject for TK's sake. He sighed slightly. "A very long time ago, I was once a simple digimon who lived in the Dark Ocean. It was peaceful then... it saddens me to think of what it must be like now."

Inside, TK felt an automatic surge of hatred pass through him. He had always abhorred anything to do with the darkness, and to think that this digimon used to live there... but, then why was Jigomon in the dungeons? Was he a spy, or someone else not to be trusted...? Or was he something else?

TK had not shown any difference outwardly, and Jigomon continued. "Anyway, we digimon who lived in this dark realm had always been threatened by those who thought to use the power of darkness against others. And one day, they all gathered together under some leader that promised them prestige and power to war against us. They called their leader some sort of a god that would lead them to the truth of what darkness was and what it could do..."

Jigomon shuddered. "That was Dragomon. From then on, our world changed. The sea itself became hazardous, we dared not go near it for Dragomon's army had control over it; but ocean was our source of resources and life, we could not continue for long. But... the war that followed...

"I was young and naïve. Somehow, I became a leader in the war, winning battles for the digimon, stopping advances, becoming proud of my achievements... and forever holding the hope that we would expel Dragomon from this realm. It is a hope I still carry with me."

Jigomon paused to look through the bars to TK. TK was suddenly reminded of himself for some reason. It took him a moment to remember that this was a native of the Dark Ocean he was talking to.

But then, he remembered running through the streets, seeing the ruins of buildings, the apartments that had not been touched in years, wondering if anyone had ever lived in them. Perhaps, Jigomon knew about them? Had he ever lived there? TK found himself filled with questions he wanted to ask. The other things he wanted to know, that he would never dare speak to Daemon about; he felt an urge to understand the history of this realm.

And maybe, if he did see Kari or Patamon or Matt or the others again, he could tell them so they would be warned about the Dark Ocean and what it had been.

Jigomon continued. "Eventually, we lost the war. The survivors were scattered. I led the resistance for a long time, but... well, I no longer know how long it has been since I was captured."

There was a brief silence. Then the digimon shifted and crawled forward a bit. "You must pardon me for being curious, but... please, tell me what the world outside is like, from your perspective. As much as you know..."

TK stiffened slightly. He was unsure how much he wanted to tell Jigomon; he still did not quite trust this digimon, but having heard the story, he wanted to believe that everything had happened. It explained a past that showed from what he had seen during his flight in the city. And if everything was true... then his respect for Jigomon would be among the highest he had for anyone.

Quietly, he closed his eyes. He thought instinctively for a moment, trying to choose.

With his heart leading him, he knew.

"What was the Dark Ocean like the last time you really saw it?" TK spoke softly, looking up sorrowfully at the one across the dungeon hall with a feeling of reverence. "I don't know if what I'm about to tell you will be really depressing or what you expected."

Jigomon was silent for a moment. "The majority of the city was still standing. Much of the populace lived in terror; many had already fled and gone into hiding. We were assisting them of course... Dragomon's army enjoyed entering into the heart of the city to flaunt their victory every now and then in the twisted manners they would. And the corrupted darkness... it was beginning to seep everywhere, though it had only successfully encompassed all the beaches last I saw."

TK could hear from Jigomon's tone that he hated how much the Dark Ocean had been changing. It only made the job of telling him how it was now more difficult. And Jigomon looked almost desperate to know what had happened.

"I think the city's abandoned," TK answered truthfully. "The only signs of life I saw were... well, the Spawn that Daemon sent after me. The apartment I hid in looked as though no one had touched it for years. Um... is the 'corrupted darkness' what's covering these cells?"

"Yes."

"... it was most definitely everywhere. At least, everywhere I went in this world."

Jigomon had gone quiet. TK was suddenly aware of the coldness of the dungeon, and what he now knew as the corrupted darkness flowing in and out of the walls, merged with the fibers of the shadowed plane. It only served to spread the feeling of melancholy and despair that TK realized was coming from Jigomon. It was like a tool to put forth the negativity of the realm.

"Our world was beautiful once," the digimon crumpled into the corner of his cell.

TK nodded, thinking about home. "What was it like?"

Jigomon's eyes suddenly glinted as though in memory, and to his surprise, TK saw a flash of gold. "The silver moon... it used to shimmer in the sky, only the faintest light, which made our days and nights wondrous and night more mysterious. Our cities bustled with the night activities, where life dwelled and digimon danced, in happiness and jollity. The sea held celebrations and peace for us, and the pure mist was told to circle those meant for each other. The scene of the full moon over the sea, a light mist over the waves and the shapes of the deep and peaceful Mermon as they came to the surface, singing. We would come out while the light was fading, to watch the moonrise in its glory. All in the days before Dragomon came to power, harnessed the darkness of our world, corrupted it for his own uses... now, the Spawn are all that are left of the weakest of those who turned to Dragomon's side."

TK could only stay silent, as he thought about what the Dark Ocean must have been like, a very long time ago. As he pictured the scene in his head, a feeling of peace and serenity filled him, and gave him an almost beautiful sense of what he realized had been a way of life, once.

Just like all the fun times he had ever had at home, with friends and family.

"It must have been... really amazing," TK quietly admitted.

Jigomon smiled. "Yes... it truly was. A time long past, now though. Maybe..." he turned to look at TK again. "Maybe, you will live long enough to see it in its full beauty once again."

TK let out a breath of sadness. "Maybe..."

The digimon turned sharply towards him. "What are you saying? Have hope, friend. You are, after all, the Child of Hope."

"But, from where we are now..."

"Hope exists for all people, whether from the darkness or the light. For both sides as well, evil and good. Only the scales of fate decide whom hope will assist. But you come from both the side of light, and good. Perhaps it is more inclined to help you."

TK lowered his head, thinking and wondering. "I don't know any more. I'm supposed to be dead by sunrise. If my friends come to help me, they'll end up dead too. And Dragomon will have Kari."

"Do you still have hope?"

He turned his head sharply. "What?"

Jigomon was giving him a hard look, his golden eyes now more visible and glowing slightly with determination. "Daemon may have been correct about certain things involving hope. But things come to pass. All things, good and bad, come to an end. The world of darkness fell to Dragomon. Are you going to let the same befall the world of light?"

TK's eyes widened. "Of course not!" he retorted.

"Then will you let go of your hope?"

He suddenly realized what he had been thinking for a while, ever since he had started being plagued by that darkness of the Dark Ocean. It was as though many things that made up who he was had been slowly sucked away throughout his ordeal.

He took a deep breath. It was still difficult to make himself believe in the trait that he had carried proudly for years, especially now. "I was chosen to hold the Crest of Hope. It's hard for me to remember why sometimes, especially right now when everything seems to be headed in such a bad direction. But... I'm kind of in the middle of something pretty big right now. If anything..." he smiled. It was the first true smile he had had in what felt like a long time. "I have the hope that Daemon and Dragomon aren't going to win everything. If I somehow make it out of this alive, that'll be the first step in fixing this balance between the two sides of the worlds."

Jigomon's eyes widened slightly, as though testing him. "And if not?"

It was a subject TK did not want to think about, but he knew it was something that more than likely might be a reality. "Dragomon isn't going to get his hands on Kari, for one thing. And everyone else... they're strong. And there are many more Digidestined now than there used to be. They'll be able to end this. I... I'll just be with them in spirit, I guess."

The digimon chuckled kindly, and nodded. "That's more like it. If even I, the last remnant of a lost society kept alive for Dragomon's entertainment, could keep hope that one day the world could return to the way it once was, then you, the Child of Hope and one of the legendary Digidestined, should be able to as well."

However, at Jigomon's words, TK suddenly felt a burst of pity and anger. He knew what would happen to him, but Jigomon's fate...?

Whoever this Dragomon is... is a sick and twisted digimon.

"I'm going to find some way to get you out of here too," TK pulled himself closer to the bars, the strain at his neck feeling more evident. "At least I'll try to. That's another thing to hope for too, right?"

Jigomon's eyes dimmed with an emotion TK could not quite place. It took a few moments for the digimon to compose himself. "Thank you, Digidestined," his voice quavered. "I appreciate it."

He still had hope for the future of the world, but never any for himself.

"Tell me more about this world," TK suddenly found himself asking. It was a way of keeping his mind off of what would come, and the fact that he was interested in what the Dark Ocean had once been. Not to mention, he wanted to know anything he could if he managed to live.

Jigomon pulled himself away from the wall he had slumped down upon, dragging the chain with him. He stopped roughly the same distance from the bars that TK was in his own cell. Nonetheless, TK thought that it felt a little less lonely; he could ignore that he had had no food or drink in a while, and it was a little more bearable. Maybe, he could pass the last hours of his life happily.

"I will gladly tell of it," the digimon answered. It seemed as though he was barely holding in the excitement of being able to speak to someone again, with a person who had seen the world outside of the dungeon in more recent times. "But please, I would also like to learn more about your world."

TK blinked in surprise. "My world?" He noticed that he could now see Jigomon's outline much more clearly. His eyes must have adjusted, finally.

Jigomon looked slightly embarrassed. "My peers always thought I was the odd one, but I had a fascination with the light and everything to do with it as a young digimon. And we always heard tales of what the legendary Digidestined might be like. And... it will give me something to think of until my time is gone."

TK nodded, aware that Jigomon could see his movements and knowing that he needed no verbal confirmation. Still, the way that Jigomon spoke at the end... it reminded him of the situation both were in.

We're all fighting against the same enemy. Dragomon is the true enemy... Daemon was never even here before we sealed him. But Daemon is still working with Dragomon.

The digimon that used to live here were victims of someone abusing the power of darkness. I guess that Jigomon is a dark digimon, or might be one since he's from here, but... he's not bad. He's almost like me. Maybe the darkness isn't so bad... it's just easiest to use for power. And so this realm, the Dark Ocean...

This world is what happened when the defenders lost, and now Dragomon's in power. The normal light side of the Digiworld... and back home too... they could end up the same way.