Chapter 45: Into the Under Realm
Bloom could only watch as her best friend took the risk of diving into the pit to chase after Brandon after he fell. Unable to see where they were or if they survived.
"Taren! Are you okay?" Snapped out of her thoughts to hear Sky call out to Taren who embedded his keyblade to the wall and to her relief was okay.
Taren did not seem concerned of his situation when he was not fast enough to save Brandon, nor Stella. "Yeah, somewhat alright." Before he could say something else to respond, the trio hear Layla's scream.
"Disgusting!"
Not wasting any time then stand around, they rushsed over to help Layla, Taren was closest as he was able to break free by swinging himself over and lep to the cavern she was in. There they found her stuck to a wall in web like a fly caught in sticky paper. She was unable to reach for her Digivice stuck under the webbing.
"Hold on, Layla!" Sky called out while rushing over to save her.
Layla was grossed out and struggled. "Eugh! This is gross! Eugh!"
"We're gonna get out of there!" Taren helped Sky pull the substance out to break her free. But it was easier said than done when they were having a hart time.
Just let us get this off."
"Damn! This is strong!" Taren struggled and lifted his foot to the wall.
"My wings! My wings please!" Layla did not want her wings to be pulled out when she thoguht they were gonna tear them off. The bile comes free, and Layla falls into Sky's arms.
"There… no harm done. I would have easily used a Cure to heal you." Taren would have easily fixed up the damage if it happened but luckily she was okay.
Feeling relieved to be free of the webbing, she gave both Sky and Taren a hug for what they did to help her
Bloom would let this slide for giving her thanks to them and tries to be a little jealous "How are you feeling?" Came over to check on Layla after she was stuck. "You okay?"
Layla glances at Bloom who was concerned for her. "I'm much better now, but what about the others?"
Taren sighs as he felt the blame for this, yet he was certain that he saw someone before that platform Brandons stood in collapsed. "The platform they stood collapsed and they fell."
"Stella jumped in after him." Bloom sprinted to the edge to find out where they are and hopefully they were okay.
"But Stella can't fly." Layla stated when both Bloom and Stella had used so much of their magic, they could barely transform to defend themselves. Understanding that it be too much fo a risk to take a jump at such a long drop and even Taren could not have enough of his magic to carry them safely to the bottom or how deep it was.
"I- I- I can't do it, I'm still too weak." Bloom stuttered as she did not want to risk it, feeling too scared to make the jump until she felt her hand grasped by Taren.
"We'll find them and no doubt they be safe for sure." He assured her and hopefully they find them.
Sky nodded to agree before an idea came to him. "Taren, Layla, can you two carry us down?"
Layla decided to give a try to fly, her wings fluttered, but barely a foot above the ground and fell to the ground.
"Guess not." Taren could see this as a problem.
Layla groaned and still had some of the bile on her wings stuck. "Nope, still can't fly."
Decided to find another solution to reach their friends before something happens to them. "We have to find a way down. And quickly."
"I could use my keyblade magic to use Flowmotion, but no idea how far down and only able to carry one person without risk of using too much of my magic." Taren explains about the limit of his powers. Even if he did had enough energy for the time, would have to repeat it for each of them.
Bloom knew that he was right and if only they had the others who could help like Mal, she had a stronger magic to control with longer experience and Flora to give them a boost if Taren could not use a cure spell to replenish all the time. She lend a helping hand to Layla getting back up on her feet. "I'll take care of it." Layla uses her magic to conjure, the others watch Layla make a crane out of her magic.
The yougn keybalder had to admit that her magic was impressive. "Okay, that's pretty cool."
"Woah." Bloom was awed and relieved that now they can use something to climb down.
The first person to use it was Sky when he grabs onto the crane's rope to lower him down to the bottom of the pit. Bloom decided to go next, then Taren before Layla follows them. Further down, they could see the bottom of the pit through the mist and debris, even the the remains of the creatures that attacked them was found
"That's what's left of the tar monster." Sky said after reaching the floor and calls out for his friends when there was no sign of them. "Brandon!"
"Stella! Brandon!" Bloom calls out their names but no response from them at all and started to grow worried if something happened to them. "Oh no, oh guys, they're not here."
"Good, that means they're still alive." Sky found no sign of them lying around, the only conclusion could be that the two either walked. He turned to see Taren who was looking at the debris and something on his mind. "Something the matter?"
Taren looks over to him and shared something on his mind. "Yeah, just something that bothered me. Just felt like I saw someone hiding in the caverns before Brandon fell."
"You saw someone?" Sky asked him if he was certain.
Taren wasn't sure what he saw but felt like the platform didn't collapse on its own or his mind was playing tricks on him. "Dunno, wether I was seeing thing or not, or could be another of those monsters."
"Then we better keep our guard up." The prince suggested and not like the idea if someone was following them.
Layla searched the area and ould barely see through the mist when she spotted two shapes. "Hey, look. There they are."
"Stella?" Bloom called out for her.
"Brandon!" Sky yelled to his friend and squire.
"We're coming, guys!" Taren followed them, only to find the two figures were only rocks and debris when the mists cleared.
"Oh, thank goodness, it's just a couple of boulders." Layla was relieved it wasn't the two.
A sound caught Bloom's attention. "Woah, what's over there?"
Taren wonderd what she found. "What is it?"
Decided to find out, the redhead went to the source of the sound that became more clearer, like the sound of running water. "Hey, it's an underground river."
The others rushed over to see for themselves and indeed was a river below them. A dreaded thought came into their minds of where exactly their friends are.
"You don't think…" Taren did not want to finish the sentence but knew the answer.
"They must have fallen in there." Sky finished and shared their concern for Stella and Brandon, hoping they be okay when they find them.
After Stella and Brandon falling down the pit, they were fortunate to avoid the hand landing of the solid ground, but now ended up being swept away by the river. They once again fall through a waterfall and a large water below them, Brandon holds a hand over Stella's mouth just before they fall in. They are pulled along with the current to make their way back up to the surface to breath with Brandon gasping for air before Stella.
"Hold on." Stella coughing out water while Brandon grabs a hold of her. They continued to be pulled along by the river and Brandon tries to swim against the current but it was no use and fell into mini waterfalls. As Brandon contineus to swim to fight the currents, Stella notices they are heading for a big rock up ahead and wanrs him while she was helpless without her powrs. "Brandon! Do something!"
Thinking fast, Brandon pushes them to swere around around it instead and found smaller rocks they could use to grab on to. "Hold on." Reached out his hand to grab the closest rock as they pass it, but accidentally let's go of Stella in the process. "Stella!"
Desperate to not get swept away, she called out for her boyfriend to help. "Help! Brandon-Ugh!"
"Gotcha!" Brandon was able to catch Stella's hand and pulled her to him. "Don't worry, we're okay now."
But Stella did not think so and spat out some of the water from her mouth. "My hair's a mess and I've swallowed half the river!"
"At least it's mountain spring water." Brandon tries to assure her.
But things turned out much worse for them when a large wave of water hits them and Stella is almost pulled away, but Brandon catches her in time. It would be more difficult for him having a hard time keeping a firm grip on the rock and keep Stella by the hand. "I don't think I can keep this up much longer."
Feeling his fingers slipping due to the rock wet and the force of the water against him.
"Brandon, hold on!" Stella encourages him to keep a hold on as he can.
Brandon struggled with the limited strength he has and tries to think of a way out of this situation. "Can you transform?"
"No, not yet. No!" Stella wasn't sure if she could do it, but Brandon feels they have no other way.
"There's no way to get to shore."
With no other option and either take the risk, or be swept up by the river and uncertain if they can last long with the currents or anything that lives down here. "Just hold onto me, Brandon."
Another wave hits them and this time, Stella was pulled from Brandon's grasp. He realised she was pulled away and cried out to her. "Stella!"
Stella struggled to keep her head up up with the currnets. "Brandon!"
Brandon decided to let go of the rock and swim after Stella to save her before she gets pulled towards the whirlpool.
The struggling blonde desperate to swim against the currents but was not strong enough. Calling out for Brandon but unable to find him against the splashing water. "Brandon! Help!"
Rose from the surface was Brandon who was able to reach for her. "Stella! Take my hand!" He grabs a hold of her before she gets sucked into the whirlpool.
"Brandon!" Stella was relieved to be with him again.
Brandon pulled out a device in his hand and aimed it up high. "Hold on!" The Demolecularizer T29 as one of the new gadgets and uses it's grappling hook feature to hook onto a piece of rock.
While they were nolonger being sucked in, but Stella realises they're not making a budge. "Why is the current so strong?"
"We're trapped in a whirlpool." Brandon told her.
Being in a dangerous situation Stella thought of something to say to Brandon. "Brandon?"
"Yes?"
Gazing upon him with a hopeful look. "No matter what happens, don't let go of my hand."
That was something Brandon would never do to her and vowed to protect Stella. "I promise." Unfortunately, the rock start to crumble away and weakened the hold on the hook as the two were pulled in deeper into the whirlpool.
"BRANDON!" Stella cried out in fear for her life.
"Hold on!" He told her before the rock breaks completely, and they are sucked into the whirlpool. Pulling the two to who knows where through the other end of the current.
The rest of the Winx were thinking of their friends and wondering what they were doing, while also hoping to be safe. Hana was welcomed into their dorm to look after her while both her father and brother were away, Flora was in the room with her while Riven is sitting on the balcony attached to Flora and Bloom's room since he didn't have much to do.
Hana was resting on Bloom's bed to decided to do some reading a book about magic after completing her homework while Piff was sleeping on thr top lf her head which she did not mind after playing with the Pixie, finding the knowledge interesting while surprise to find out they had a barrier for non-magical creatures. It could be due to her inherit traits from her parents as it was mentioned by Tecna and Faragonda which could make sense.
"Hana, you alright in there?"
The young auburn teen looked up to see Flora checking on her. "Yeah, just been looking at some of this stuff while I thought to pass the time. Anything from the others?
Flora softly shook her head. "No, but I'm certain they be fine and also know your brother isn't hard to beat."
Knowing she was right about them and still hopes they be fine. "Yeah, I can tell from how he's like dad. Hopefully dad and uncle Riku be safe from their trip. But, if your not busy… could you show me some your magic like using plants?"
Flora smiles and thought it be a good chance to bond with the young sibling to know Taren's family more. "Sure thing. I'll be outside, if you need anything just give a heads up or if Piff is awake." Flora walks out but doesn't notice him there while he sat by the balcony. She watches Tecna and Timmy talking on the quad below.
"Don't worry, Tecna. Faragonda and Saladin have picked the best team." Timmy assured the concern Techno fairy from worrying too much of their well being.
Tecna knew he was trying to make her feel better but still unable to help but worry for their safety. "I know that's logically correct but for some reason, I'm still worried."
"I fully trust Sky, Brandon, and Taren. They've been through worse, so no worries." Timmy said and both hug each other.
Flora did not know what they were talking about but seem to be much better.
"He fully trusts Sky and Brandon?"
Flora is surprised to see Riven right next to her and almost didn't see him.
Riven didn't take notice and knew what Timmy was thinking. "They picked the best team? I know Taren is with them but still hope so."
"Sorry Riven, I didn't see you there." Flora said.
Riven didn't seem bothered by it. "It happens."
"I mean, I just thought you'd be with Musa." She thought when she knew Musa be thinking about him.
Riven was not sure why she thought he be with Musa. "Huh? What? Why?"
"She's really worried too." She told him.
Riven looks at Tecna and Timmy hugging, started to think of his feelings for Musa and remembered how he treated her back then when he was under the spell of the Trix
Flora thought she may have kept it to herself from him and decided to leave. "Sorry Riven, I didn't mean to disturb you. I'll just-"
"No!" Riven cuts her off and walks to the door. "I- I- I'll go, I've got something to do anyway."
Flora watches him leave and began thinking of both Taren and Bloom, hoping for both of them to be okay.
Earlier with Taren, Sky, Bloom, and Layla were thinking of a way to go after Stella and Brandon when they realise the two were swept up by the river.
"So? What do we do now?" Sky pondered if anyone had any ideas in mind.
"Well, I for one am going for a swim." Bloom did not want to stand about to find out if they survived or not. She was about to make a jump for it but Sky grabbed her arm before she could do so.
"Hey, Bloom, wait!"
Taren would agree with him and thought she was crazy to do something like this to go after them. "Sky's right, that's rivers too strong even for you and no idea where it would go."
make it back. We'll complete the mission." Sky understood that they were on a time limit and knew they be fine. "Come on, let's keep going."
Taren nodded and reached out to caress Bloom's shoulder to give some comfort while she was a little down about this, she glances up and apprecaites Taren's gesture and went with them. She leans into his embrace and whispers to him.
"I hope they're okay."
"Don't worry, we've been through a lot, Bloom. I'm sure they'll be fine." Taren assures her while mentally hoping their friends be fine.
Elsewhere in the Under realm, Stella and Brandon were washed up on the beach, unconscious while holding each other's hands after they got dragged by the currents of the waterfall. The two remain unaware of two native humanoids that have found them by the beach, their skin was beige and had large bulbous eyes, three fingers on their hands, consisting of a thumb, an index finger, and a third large finger where humans' middle, ring and pinky fingers are located. One was a skinny with blue eyes, short red hair and the rest in a ponytail, the other was a strong built male with black hair, a mark painted across his face and armed a club over his.
The redhaired male found the two with their hands holding each other and sighed with a warm smile on his face over the sight of the two must be in love. "Ah, so young, and in love. Isn't that sweet?"
The larger male didn't seem to share his companion's idea and look at them with suspicion and begins poking Stella with his club to find out if she was alive or wake up. Only to get a reaction of the blonde's startlement.
"Woah!" She sat up and looked alarmed, while Brandon wakes up as well to find out they got company.
"Who are you?!" Brandon demanded to know, only to be hit by the large dweller's club and knocked him out.
The squire would regain conscious and found himself strapped to the back of one of the two dwellers as he walked. "What the?" He found Stella on a stretcher and also tied up like him while the larger fella dragged her along.
"Hey, do you know your crystal?"
Brandon had no idea what he was talking about and no time to ask questions. "Put me down! I can't walk on my own!"
"Relax, you already tried to escape three times." The small red haired humanoid explains as he feels Brandon struggle.
"Brandon, are we still in the whirlpool." Stella asked, suddenly looking paler than her natural color and made Brandon worry something was wrong with her.
"Hold on, Stella, you're gonna be just- eugh!" Suddenly the male who was dragging him tripped and fell over.
Slowly gets back on his feet and groaned before he exhaled. "Look at the crystals over there, lately they've had this lovely blue-green glow to them." Pointing to wards the crystals that glowed bright. "That means an important event is about to occur in Downland."
Possibly the name of this place the natives referred to but so many questions in Brandon's head while he and Stella were stuck with them. "Downland? Is that where you live? And what do these crystals have to do with it?"
"You see, at the time of our birth, each of us is linked to a particular crystal. The colour of your crystal reflects on the events that happen-"
"Will you stop it! Enough already with your idiotic crystal nonsense! No one else but you believes it!" The larger male scolded him as he was explaining about the crystals to Brandon.
His companion did not seem to take heed of his interruption and spoke to Brandon. "You know, Abrupto wasn't always like this. He used to have a girlfriend named Ex, but she left him rather abruptly." Gave out a chuckle while making the one named Abrupto annoyed upon the mention of his former lover. "His girlfriend was very nice, although not nearly as nice as mine."
Abrupto held his hand up to stop them. "No! Not again! I don't wanna hear about the princess. When are you gonna wake up? You keep this up and not even a one-eyed frog will want to marry you."
"So, you're not engaged to the princess?" Brandon asked them when suddenly the other dweller's legs began to shake and once again falls over.
"Ouch."
Abrupto didn't waste a moment and walked away then help his companion up but to do it himself.
Brandon could hear him sigh with care and a dreamy state. "I dream of her every night. She's such a lady, she's pure as an underground stream, elegant as marble, and bright as gold. Giving a detail description of the princess he was in love with. "Soon you'll see the royal palace." He told them and continued onwards until they reached the end of the tunnel. "Look!"
Brandon looks over his shoulder and saw a brightly glowing palace, amazed of the structure and the amount of crystals to make the place glow so bright. They were taken towards the palace and hopefully do something to help Stella in her condition before whatever it was could get worse.
"Stella!"
Stella slowly wakes up and found the blurry image of Brandon in front of her as her eyes fluttered. "Hey! Stella, are you alright? How you feeling, Stella? You still look very pale."
It made Stella worry upon being told about her skin when it was once a lively colour, now turned a yellow-grey. Still weak and only lifted one of her hands to her face. "Oh dear. Oh, what's wrong with my face, I've never felt this bad in my life." Slowly rose up and rubs her head with Brandon beside her and one of the natives that brought them to the palace.
"Do you have a headache?" Brandon asked out of concern for her.
"No, but I'm totally exhausted." Stella complained while she still felt weak.
"Would you please get that urn over there? There's water in it." Brandon spotted the large urn and got up to bring it over to help Stella while she was looked at. Brandon found it heavy and slowly carries it over.
"Don't worry, I won't hurt you." Stella barely gave a glance to the the strange humanoid who conjures a bright gold energy, and runs it along the length of her body.
"You're a fairy, aren't you?" The stranger asked her after some study on Stella.
"Why? Is that what your light just told you?" Stella asked him.
"No. I knew you were a fairy when I saw how sweetly you were holding your boyfriend's hand." He said with glee while Brandon was able to bring the urn over, and watched him dip his hand with the sponge.
"Thank you." He thanked brandon who sighed in relief until… "Now, put it back exactly where it was please."
After barely carrying the large urn full of water, Bradon groaned and picked it up again while Stella was taken cared by their carer.
"Yours is the power of the stars, the sun, and the moon." He convirmed to the blonde who nodded weakly as it meant her powers were weakened without the touch of the sun for being this far down that long. "Ours is the opposite, you can't stay here very long."
Brandon puts the urn back by the door, but was alarmed by the sudden cry of their carer. "No! What are you doing?"
Unsure what was his problem as Brandon gave a simple response. "What? This is where I found it?"
But Brandon noticed his head shake with disagreement and grabs the urn. "Here! This is where the princess wants it." Moving the urn over a little to the right. "Just like this."
"Wow, your princess must be something else." Brandon thought if she was some perfectionist or something.
"Oh, she's beautiful. I'll introduce you to her shortly. Oh, where are my manners. My name is Sponsus, I apologies for Abrupto's behaviour but he's not bad sometimes."
Musa was standing alone in the middle of the school grounds while she was concern for her friends and wondering what's going on or if they were in trouble. In the middle of her thoughts about them when Riven approaches the surprised the fairy of music to see him. She honestly did not expect Riven of all people to find her but tries to hide her surprise from him.
"What do you want?"
Riven ignored her tone and could hardly think of a simple response but. "Nothing."
Musa averts her gaze to hide from him. "I'm not worried."
"No, but, if I'd gone, we'd be back already." Riven agreed with her as he would have done something to help them, he was startled when Musa ran into him to cry into his chest and hugs him. Riven was unsure how to appraoch this and tried to hug her, before groaning and dropping his hands.
Flora stood by and watched the moment with Musa in tears and concern for them. In honesty, she felt the same and always worried for her friends, wishing for both Taren and Bloom to be safe and had this fear something would happen since the moment Taren, along with both Ben and Mal fought against Tezzeret and ended up in serious injuries. She looked back at Musa and Riven and can tell the two care for each other, but no idea how to open up to one another.
"It's amazing, they're so much alike." Flora decided it be better to leave them be and walk away, comes across Kiko, hopping about. Flora noticed him appear to be a little bored and lonely since Bloom went off on a mission with the others and maybe decide to give him some company back to her dorm. "Come on up.
Kiko jumped into Flora's arms, and onto her shoulder, nuzzling into her hair to show Flora the bunny's appreciation. "Thanks." She could bring him back to give some to Hana to play with as well.
"Flora!"
The fairy of nature turns around to see Mirta coming over, alongside Mal to her surprise was here. "Hi, girls. I didn't think you be coming over Mal."
Mal gave a soft smile on her face and thought it was no big deal to her. "Eh, I came over when I was visiting Cloud Tower for something the headmistress wanted to talk with me. Luckily I had a ride here. Anything we missed?"
"Well, I might as well fill you in on what's happened lately back at my place." Flora told them to fill in on what happened in the recent events.
"Probably something to do with my dad after he left with the others." Mirta was interested to know where the rest of the group have gone to.
"While we have some time of relaxing between studying, it be a good chance to let Palmon out of the Digivice.
"Palmon?" Flora asked her in curiosity.
Mal smiles and held her digivice, materialising before them was a a green, bipedal, Mandrake-like Digimon with a tail and small bumps lining its back. It has large, root-like feet and foliage-like hands. Each hand has three purple-tipped vines that act like fingers. The top of its head is adorned with a pink and yellow flower with a long, yellow stamen with a red tip to give a tropical look. "Ah, so good to be out in the sun."
"Flora, Mirta, meet Palmon."
Flora was amazed to see a living plant creature who was but the size of a child and realised Mal's Digimon changed like Taren's partner. kneeling down to greet Palmon with a warm smile. "Well, hello, Palmon. Not sure if you remember me, but I'm Flora."
Palamon smiles and responded back to her. "Hi, I remember you being nice back in the island and gave my leafs a bright colour when I was Tanemon! Now I'm a grown tropical flower!"
"Well, I'm sure we can get something to help out for you since I'm an expert on plants." Flora smiles and sees Palmon looking at Kiko on her shoulder with a curious stare. Obviously she never seen a rabbit, nor met Kiko before.
"What's that?"
"That's Kiko, Bloom's pet bunny. Just be glad you don't have carrots on you, or he be after them a lot." Mal told her out of a sense of humor. Decided to make their way back to the school to explain on everything that's been going on.
Unknown Location
Meanwhile somewhere in the region of space, Lea was checking out the Ebon Hawk since they took of and on their way through their unknown destination, the chakram wielder was impress by the designs and liking this ship a lot. "Got a nice ship, gotta give my compliments to Sid on his hard work."
"It looked all worn out when we found it, but was no difficult to get it rebuilt and added some upgrades to the ship." Sora told him while keeping his focus on the controls. "Namine suggested to give it a clean up and taken some time to know the controls."
"Whoever built it had to be a geinus or had advance tech in its time." Riku added when he sat next to Sora.
"So exactly where is this place you mentioned on the transmission? Something about a planet in the Magic Dimension?" Lea asks them.
Sora glanced over to give his friend the detail of their mission. "Well, so far Headmistress Griffin heard the Fallen Blades had a base on a planet named Dyamond."
Catching Lea's curiosity upon the mention of the name. "Dyamond? Think I heard of it but never been there. But what I was told by Knut, "it use to be a nice place before a single witch turned the whole planet a frozen wastland."
The two glanced over to Lea if they heard him correctly. "You mean one single witch do that to an entire planet?" Sora asked, however it was not unheard of when the Ancestral Witches turned Domino into a frozen planet with just the three of them.
This did not sit well with Riku and felt the need to be on alert when they arrive. "Must have been years ago, but better keep our guard up. Cid said that this ship was given a cloaking tech, but its only limited so better use it right."
"Looks like we're here." Sora pointed towards the screen when they returned to normal space and approaching a planet, most of it was covered in snow, but what caught their attention was the entire planet was encased in a web-like structurue and surrounded by large crystals. "Wow, look at that."
"Yeah, according this those structures are made up of pure crystals. Imagine how Scrooge would react if he was here with us." Riku said and can picture the old duck wanting to bring some home for profit.
"Better keep it between us for now. But let's head down to the surface to land and find out." Guiding the ship through the debris to make their way down upon the surface and find out what could be so special about this world.
"Anyone know how long we've been walking in these damn caves?" Taren asked, feeling his legs were a little tired out from all the walking through the caves.
Sky could not agree more with Taren when they were not sure if Layla has any idea where they are. "Layla, we've been walking for hours. Are we lost?"
Layla stops to look around the area for anything that she remembers from her previous visit and looked towads the path that she seems vry certain. "I remember this passageway." The group follow her down the path, but little do they being watched as a figure stepped out of the shadows.
"Aw, the little fairies looking for their friends? How sweet… and revolting." Stepping out of the shadows was none other than Kefka who had followed the group and kept a good distance from them. "Should have made certain their friends went ka-splat had they not fallen into that river, but oh well. Least it makes things more fun." He chuckles and narrows his eyes with a devious smile on his face. "And I know just the thing to make this more fun for the kiddies. No doubt ol' Darky and those Trix be thinking of something else for them."
When Stella thought things could get worse than losing much of her strength and magic with no sun, but when the Trog named Sponsus offered to help by brining them to the princess, who she learned was an extreme perfectionist after seeing one petal wilted and went berserk. But the moment she laid eyes on Stella's boyfriend cause of his perfect features she proclaimed him to be her new husband. Stella fowed to stop this wedding but was too weak and thrown out of the palace by the gaurds, yet she refused to leave.
"Hey! Still here?" Stella looked up to see the female Trog princess with a slim figure with long black hair, hazelnut eyes, a yellow skin tone, and war paint-like paint on her cheeks. She wears a pale red gown and an orange shawl around her arms, has a small crown on top of her head and wears sandals on her feet. "My fiance pays attention to me only. Now leave!"
Seeing him held against his will by the two four-armed gaurds standing by the doors, Stella refused to accept this from someone who would take him from her. "I'm not leaving without Brandon!"
"Stella, it's okay! Just get yourself back up to the surface! You can't survive down here!" Brandon told her with concern for her well being.
"See, my sweetheart totally agrees with me. Face it, sun girl, you're no match for me." Amentia said in her belief that he agreed to be hers. Turns around and makes her way back to the palace with Brandon the guards to follow her before the doors close. Stella groans and admit he had a point when she was no where near the strength to help him nor use her Solwing to summon. The only thing she can do is try to get to the surface, regain her powers and find her friends to rescue Brandon before it is too late.
"Come on, Stella. You've gotta get above ground." She told her self and hoping Brandon can hold out until she comes back.
"Never! Do you hear me? Never! I won't marry you today, I won't marry you ever." Brandon proclaimed to the princess that he would never marry her when he was held prisoner. However, she doesn't seem to take any notice of his lack of any affection… or any interest in her at all.
Amentia paid no attention when she stood by the statues of the previous kings and queens, some had different heads of those who were from a different species. "The crown is for you, my love. I found my prince." Wraps her arms around the headless statue with a dreamy smile.
Brandon wasn't sure if she really was serious about it. "Huh? But I'm an Uplander?"
"It's a tradition here in Downland, a princess can choose whoever
she wants to be the man of her dreams." Amentia explains to him of her people's customs.
"Yeah, well, for me it's more like a nightmare." Brandon disagreed with her idea of them being together.
"Ah, Brandon, you are my one true love." She began making kissing noises with her lips and comes towards Brandon to kiss him, but the brunette refused and decided to make a run for it.
"No! Stay away from me!" He runs up the stairs towards the thrones to get as far away from the crazed princess as he can and give statement that he wasn't into her. "Listen, I love Stella. Understand?"
But this seems to make Amentia only want him more. "How I love a strong willed man!" She gushes. "You will make such a great King once I get you on that throne. Come here, my honeybun."
Amentia makes her way up the stairs and makes more kissing sounds, but Brandon jumps off the platform. Thinking he had the chance… only to find Amentia reappear in front of him with incredible speed. She held up her arms to him, only for Brandon to back off from her.
"You can't marry me, I'm not a trog." He tried to make a statement of their two species so different. He walks backwards while the princess follows him.
"Ah, but here in Downland, a Princess' wish is law." As she told him when Brandon bumped into one of the statues. "Come, Brandon, we'll be together forever." Amentia once again tries to kiss Brandon, but he jumps out of the way before she could pounce on him. Taking this oppurtunity to run and try to escape, but again, Amentia appears in front of the surprise Brandon who pulled the breaks of his heels and takes cover behind a statue instead.
"No! That'll never happen!" He made it very clear to her.
This time Amentia began to see that he was not very interested in marrying her. You really won't marry me?
"The one for me is Stella." Brandon made certain as Stella was the only one for him.
"Well then, guards!" She calls for the two guards who respond to her call. "Bring Stella back to the castle."
"Yes, Majesty."
Brandon thought he finally got through to her at all. "Ah, now you're making sense."
"Keep her from getting above ground. She won't last long down here."
"No, you can't do that!" He knew it could be fatal to Stella if she can't get any sunlight for long.
"Yes I can." Amentia told him. "However, you could change your mind."
With no other choice for the sake of his girlfriend's life, Brandon in reluctance accepted her offer hand in marriage for Stella's life. Hoping she can forgive him for this. "Alright, I'll marry you."
Meanwhile Taren, Bloom, Sky, and Layla continue their trek through the caves where water is dripping with the sound echoeing around them.
Layla found the sound relaxingWhat a beautiful sound.
Bloom could agree with her as she listens to the sound of the dripping. "It's amazing. Musa would love it if she were here, wouldn't she?" Asking the boys of what they think of it.
"Well, gotta admit, it does feel a little relaxing." Taren said.
Sky smiles. "Yes, it's music to my ears." However a new sound, only more of a roar and growls. "Huh?
Approaching them were two large Tar monsters coming from behind and making their way to the group.
"You gotta be kiddin me!" Taren said.
"Quick! Let's get out of here!" Bloom yelled and made a run for their lives with the mnsters chasing them, little did they know a golden pair of eyes glowed in the dark and the sound of swords unsheath as a tail slithered.
They ran as fast as they can to outrun the two monsters, but they did not seem to slow down or tire out while the teenagers could not run forwever if they find a way to stop them.
"Sky, think we need some extra help on this." Taren told him and pulls out his Digivice.
"Right!" Sky pulled out his medallion to summon Caliba for help.
"Bloom, can you transform?" Layla asks the redhead while they were running.
Bloom tries to transform but still not strong enough. "Sorry, I need more rest. But I could use Sorceral to help if we can find a place to summon our Titans.
"In that case we should use the alternative." Layla decided to go with the idea.
"Look, there's a cave." Sky spotted a cave that could be a way out or to outsmart the monsters.
Taren looks back and notice one of the monsters shoot out spikes from its back and saw Bloom about to be shot, but he jumped in the way and called out his Keyblade. "Reflect!"
Bloom saw him behind and deflected an attack that was for her, smiling at him for the save. "Thanks, Taren." But she was far from safe when the monsters crawl towards them when Agumon appeared and attacked.
"Pepper breath!" He spat out a ball of fire towards the monster and watched it throw itself about with the flames hurting it.
"Thanks, Agumon." Bloom sighed in relief of Agumon's rescue.
Sky draws his lightsabers and summons his Titan. "Prepare for batle, Caliban!" Both their Titans stood beside them with Caliban aiding his user to attack one of them when it launched its eyeless jaws at them. The beams of his sabers made some cut, only to make it cry out in pain and anger when it lashed out its tail to attack to throw him to the ground.
Layla backs up when one of the monsters corners her to the wall behind her and was trapped. "If only I could transform." She couldn't risk Gomamon to fight and get hurt with no water to use his attacks. But something else she remmembered, something Faragonda gave her before they left Alfea. "Faragonda's seeds!" Almost forgot about them and could use their magic to help. She reached for her pocket to taked out the seeds and throws them. "Take this, you monsters!"
Tossed them towards the monster, but unfrotunate for her nothing happened as they were not growing. "No! There's not enough light for them to grow!"
Taren struck one with his keyblade magic and heard Layla's cry of the seeds not working. "We're too far below to get any light! And I can't make enough with my magic!" One of the monsters tries to take a bite out of her but was clubbed in the head by his Light's Rebellion.
"Hold on, I've got all the light you need!"
As if their prayers have been answered was Stella in her Fairy form and restored to her natural state, descending from above illuminating with bright light to shine the caves than the crystals.
Bloom could not be any more happier to find her best friend safe and alive. "Stella!"
Stella flew towards the monsters to lend a helping hand for her friends. "Let me handle this!" Using her magic to first attack two monsters to make the first strike, throwing them off their feet.
Taren felt much stronger now and gave a hand to Stella. "Here's a boost, light!"
Layla saw them using their light magic and noticed the seeds beginning to grow. "Hey, the seeds." The seeds grow into blue plants illuminating when affected by the light, shine brightly and causing the remaining monsters to disintegrate.
"Pretty." Agumon stepped towards the plants and looked at them.
"Nice work, Stella." Sky commented to Stella and happy to see her.
"Man, talk about perfecting timing." Taren smiles and sees his girlfriend running towards her.
"Stella!" Bloom being so happy to see Stella again and runs over for the two gave each other a hug.
Darker growls in frustration when he tries to use his monsters to stop them from getting closer to his lair, but underestimated them when they appreat to summon creatures to fight alongside them. Before he would let out his anger, something else caught his attention. "Hmm?" Something unknown to him was approaching them, felt the sense of darkness and powerful, decided to observe and see what happens.
Agumon suddenly stopped what he was doing and felt something that made his senses go off, staring towards the cave they came from and growls.
Taren and Bloom noticed a sudden change of his behaviour. "Hey, buddy, are you okay?" He asked his partner.
"What's the matter?" Bloom kneels down to stroke his head.
"Trouble." Agumon said, confusing the two as Gomamon appears and was the same.
"Gomamon?" Layla thought what was the matter with him and knew the look on their faces which means there was trouble. "Guys, somethings coming and I think its making our Digimon tense."
"More monsters?" Sky asks and prepared himself for battle.
A loud hissing roar echoed the caves and before anyone could know what it was, a large object shot past them and slammed into the walls had it almost got Bloom and Sky before Stella pulled them out of the way.
"What was that?!" Stella shielded her eyes from the dust with Bloom beside her could see something through the dust clouds.
"Are you alright?" Taren called out but saw a large snake tail in the way when the dust settled, it was moving and thought to be a giant snake when at the end of the body was in fact a a humanoid female with blu skin, long green, she wore a light bikini top and arm around the waist and her nect. While they realise the purple-scaled tail was its body, he noticed this creature had six arms and each one holding a sword.
"What is that?" Layla questioned in fear of the large monster who did not show a friendly aura around it.
"Whatever it is, its obviously not here to say 'hello'." Taren summoned his keyblade for battle as the serpantine creature circles around in its coils. "Layla, stay close with Gomamon. This one seems very strong." He can see the way it was staying at them and growls through the grinding teeth.
Sky decided to attack while the female monster was focus. "We'll take it down, Caliban!" Calls his Titan to attack alongside him, but their opponent spun around and had the advantage with her six swords to clash against their weapons and even Sky's lightsabers. The prince was swatted to the ground by the large tail.
"Sky!" Bloom called out when he was hit.
Caliban attacked once again, only to geta cut on one of its right arms and ended up skewered by the rest of the swords. Forcing the Titan to return to the other world and weakened his user.
Sky grunted and tried to get up, but rolled to the side to avoid the multiple swords that struck down to the ground. Getting up and seeing the six-armed monster growl at him.
"Strike Raid!"
"Pepper Breath!"
Given the distraction needed, Taren and Agumon used their attacks on the monster. She howled in anger and turned towards them when felt a beam of light hit her tail.
"Why don't you pick on someone your own size, lady!" Stella yelled and only saw the lamia monster sizing her up with the lower half rising. Making Stella think twice on what she said. "Uh ho!"
"Stella!" Bloom grabs her arm and pulled out of the way before a sword could slice her in half. "We got to get out of here!"
"How? That oversize snake lady has us trapped!" Stella told her when it had its tail covering the escape routes.
Sorcerel flew about and used herself to distract the monster.
Taren rushed over to help Sky up with Layla helping him out. "Thanks. Layla? Did you ever seen this before?"
But Layla shook her head. "No, I never seen this monster before."
"I think… I have… but can't tell what." Taren said as he knew it looked strangely familiar but had no time to think when their lives were on the line. Tries to look for Agumon, and found him blasting away at it "Agumon!"
The snake woman launched herself at them and drew her swords, Taren swiftly grabbed Agumon after he made an attack and deflected each strike. Grabbing his Digimon partner before a tail swatted them hard and thrown across the room.
"Taren!" Bloom cried out to him, hoping he was okay. Sorcerel flew in and blasts her magic at the monster's face, only for a moment when she was distracted, one of its swords came from below and struck the surprised Titan through the chest and vanished after she was defeated. Bloom realised this monster was stronger than she thought, ignoring the loss of her strength and her friends' plea to stay where she was to run over to Taren to stay by his side to lend her support. Spotting the tail swooping over and slides under through the gap below with the tail swung over her by several inches above.
The the multi-armed female notices and attempted to strike down at her with her swords, however Stella took the moment ti surprise her using the staff to unleash a wave of light towards her and gave Bloom the moment to join up with Taren and Agumon to find them getting up, but a little bruised up.
"Are you alright?" She asked her boyfriend if he wasn't injured but took a hit.
"Y-Yeah. We're fine." He assured her to not get over concern for him.
Agumon felt bad for his partner for taking the hit. "Sorry, I didn't she was that strong."
Taren didn't seem mad but smiled to know Agumon was not hurt too badly. "No worries, glad your okay." But they saw it coming towards them when she had an opening to strike and they had to react fast. "Quake!" Slamming his Light's Rebellion to cause the boulders to burst from the ground to block the swords but only delayed it for now after protecting Bloom and Agumon from the assault.
Snarked as the green-haired creature decided to go around for another attack. Taren held up his keyblade when they saw it coming from the side and clashed with her swords, Agumon helped him using his signature attack to try forcing it to sliver backfor distance and protect Bloom.
Taren thrusted forward and used extra boost to unleash a barrage of strikes with his keyblade, it worked after forcing his opponent back a few feet and clashed with some of her swords trying to cut him down but easily distracted with the small Digimon attacking with his claws, but she intercepted the assault and used her tail to swiftly swatted the two like a bat, sending the two partners flying back with Bloom able to throw herself ti catch Taren in he arms before stumbling backwards.
Layla could only watch and knew the seeds would not do much to help them now, but needed to do something to stop the monster attacking her friends when they were giving it their all.
"Layla, we gotta help them!"
She looked towards Gomamon who wanted to help out after seeing his fellow Digimon almost got hurt by the monster. Layla felt it was time to do something than stand about.
"Your right, they helped us out and its time we repaied the favour. After all, we're partners." She stood beside Gomamon and felt the power surging from her Digivice glowing. Catching everyone's attention of what was happening, including their attacker who stopped her attacks to see Gomamon beginning to glow.
"Gomamon Digivolve to…" Gomamon began to grow in size, growing extra fur allover his body, his flippers became large paws, tusks extended from the upper jaws and a large horn sprouted from his forehead. In this new form, he was cross between a walrus and a polar bear.
"Ikkakumon!"
"What the-Is that… Gomamon?" Stella just witnessed Layla's little partner suddenly grew enormous.
Taren was amazed to see the first time and pulled out his Digivice to know more about this Digimon.
Ikkakumon
Champion Level
Type: Vaccine
Special Attacks: Harpoon Torpedo, Heat Top, Northern Lights
"Champion level? So that means he's in the next level?" Bloom asked while she was in amazement after seeing the transformation
"Let's help him out. Cure." Casting a healing spell to regain their strength and ready to help them out.
"I figured this be a good place to show Gomamon what he can do in his champion level, so let's take this snake lady out." Layla proclaimed.
Stella smiles and liked the confidence in Layla. "You got it." decided to give her help and an idea in mind. "Hey, you overgrown leatherbag, here's a little sunshine for ya! Solwing!" Casting a blinding light towards the creature's eyes and summoned her Titan to fly towards her face as she tried to catch it but finding it too small and fast than she thought. Oblivious that Ikkakumon was sneaking up on her to take the advantage over the confusion, throwing his entire body forward with his head aimed to the upper body, slamming her against the wall and cried out after impact.
She coughed out and gasped for air from the impact, groaning in pain by the surprise attack because she let herself be distracted by the avian Titan. Feeling herself freed, but stumbles and growled towards the large Digimon for the assault. Lets out a roar with rage, coiling the tail make another attack.
"Pepper Breath!" Agumon unleashed a barrage of fireballs as many as he at her back with Taren using Firaga to assist his partner and Sky to join for a combo attack, the keyblader used Flowmation to avoid the swinging swords and leaping across the room ti avoid staying in one spot. Getting her attention for Sky use one of his sabers to swing across the mid-left arm and severed it, along with the upper right arm as well. While Taren took out the lower left arm when he appeared from behind and swung his keybkade upwards in a crescent-shaped wave.
She cried out in pain as she now was down to three arms left, but it wasn't for the loss if her limbs when a set of sharp teeth sunk into the layers of her scaley tail. Spun around to find Ikkakumon bit down on her tail to prevent any attempts to escape, growls in anger and was going to force him to let go using her swords to stab his head when suddenly he lowed his head with the horn aimed towards her.
"Harpoon Torpedo!" The horn from his head blasted off in the air, the horn split open to reveal a missile inside as flew towards the startled sworduser in the chest and made a loud explosion. Staggered and confused, trying to regain her senses of what happened while trying to get out of the smoke to finish them off. Now realising to have severely underestimated them when assumed to have been weakened with little magic until one of them was able to restore her strength and two Digimon that are more powerful, especially with a skilled young keyblade Bearer at their side
"Now's our chance!" Taren decided take his turn and let Agumon jump on his back to sprint towards her, struck against her back and vanished before she retaliated with one of her swords, then appeared and aimed for her tail with both their attacks and again appeared above her before vanished when she almost had them with her jaws. Taren was high above and pulled back his keyblade when it was cloaked in electricity and the combination of his Dragon Flame. "Thundara!
Yelling out the command of the technique, swining down his keyblade from above with a bolt of lightninig streaking down in the shape of a dragon and engulfed the her body with it, the bolds of electricity surging through her body as she screams in agony from the attack. The attack ceased, her body was charred and burned by the lightnining, most of her hair stuck out and half conscious of what was happening around her.
"Alright!" Stella cheered for them.
"They're amazing!" Bloom watches in awe of how strong Taren had gotten.
"Stop!" Taren conjured a spell to make her body slow before any attempt to retreat or attack could happen. "Now Ikkakumon!"
"Right, Harpoon Torpedo!" Using the same attack as before finish off the monster's terror. The explosion was strong from the impact of the torpedo and made the serpentine monster to drop her remaining swords and fell to the floor.
"Way to go!" Layla sprinted towards Ikakkumon who glowed and returned to his rookie level while in her arms to hug him. "You were amazing!"
"Gotta admit, that little guy had a lot of surprises." Stella smiles and turned to Taren. "What about Agumon? Does he turn into something strong?"
"Not sure yet, but be fun to find out." Taren said while he studied the creature and felt it was indeed known to him by a name he heard from.
"Is it… over?" Bloom asks to be certain.
The prince came close to be certain and not wanting to stick around for her to wake up. "Think so, lets get out of here before-" Suddenly a bright light engulfed the creature's body and vanished along with her swords. "What the… what just?"
"It vanished." Stella was surprise when she found no trace of it. "I don't get it."
"I think I know what it is." Taren stepped forward to what he had to say to them. "I thought that creature looked familiar but thought I was imagining it until now. It was a Marilith."
"A Marilith? What's that?" Layla asked when she never heard of such name before.
Sky wanted to know as well if Taren was familiar with the creature. "You know what they are?"
Taren nodded to his question and would have mentioned it but didn't considered that it was possible to see one in this dimension. "Only heard the name from the books during my training and found some from Yen Sid's books, but never seen one up close until now. They were usually a summoning type like our Titans and maybe the Grimm. Usually a Fire-Elemental type and known to be a dangerous foe in battle. I never thought there be in this place."
Hearing about them as a summon from Taren, Sky want to ask him another question. "So its a summoning creature? sure was string ti take us all on at once."
"So it wasn't sent by Darkar?" Layla asked them.
Taren shook his head to believe this was his doing. "No, clearly she was summoned to attack anyone like us, but who and why?"
"But if it was from your dimension, how did something like this Marilith as you call it round up in this place?" Stella wanted to know.
"Maybe she was part of Tezzeret's army and one of those who escaped capture took refuge down here." Bloom shared what she believed with the others and can easily see it as a perfect hiding spot with many tunnels to get lost to avoid capture form the enforcers. The caves near the Downland may be the perfect place to hide unless they chose somewhere with these dark creatures lurking within the caves.
"That could be possible, we better stay on guard for any more surprises." Sky suggested and watch out for any signs of creatures like the Merilith or anything than just Darkar's monsters in the caves.
"Well, I guess we owe you one Layla and your Digimon did a great job." Bloom thanked Layla who nodded, then turned Taren with a dreamy smile with a kiss on his cheek before wrapping her arms around his. "And you were so brave to fight off that monster while also protecting me."
Taren gave a sheepish smile and blushes as she nuzzles her head to his shoulder. "It was nothing, really."
Agumon looked confused of the way his partner seems to behave like that. "Why is your face turned red, Taren?"
Stella could not help herself but grin and kneels down to tell him. "It's one of those boy things, I'll explain later."
"Oh, come on! She had them where they were and suddenly these fairies had Titans? But one of them has a Digimon? Didn'tsee that comin'"
Kefka watched the battle when he unleashed the Marilith as one of his summons to attack them, only to be defeated by them when they were able to turn the tides against her. However, this did not made the jestor angry. Far from it, it made him more giddy and excited like a child with a wide grin on his face. "Titans. Keyblades. Digimon. This just got a lot more fun than I imagined! Ooh, I want to see more thrilling action, drama and fun!" Watching from afar and noticed the Domino princess lovingly gaze upon the keybearer who she obviously has fallen for.
"Plugh! Except for that! Too mushy! Wonder what the old bag of bones is doing? Shouldn't he be making some trouble for them for taking out those pets of his?"
To answer Kefka's question Darker was indeed angry after an unkown creature he never seen before attacked them and not only failed, but defeated witnessed by the young keyblader and princess Layla's pet when it transformed into a beast to attack. Not even his own creatures were a match to the intruders and made sport out of them, even the wielder of the keyblade proved to be more than bothersome than he realised.
In a fit of rage, his body glowed and created a strong series of tremors across the caverns to crush them before they could reach his palace.
When everyone thought it was over, they were wrong as the cave started to shake and the floor beneatht their feet cracking.
"Now what?" Taren thought they could at least get a break from the crazy moments.
"It feels like an earthquake!" Sky yelled when he saw the cracks below them expanding.
"What do we do?" Layla exclaimed in panic.
"Uh, running might be a good idea!" Stella suggested and not want to stay to be flattened by the rocks.
"Good idea!" Taren grabbed Agumon in his arm and ran with the rest of the group to avoid being crushed by the rocks above them. Running further into the caves, but stopped when they found out that the cave splits into three directions.
"Which way?" Bloom asked Layla if she can remember which one to take.
"This way!" They run down the path Layla pointed to escape the tremor, hoping to have escaped the monsters this time, at least until they can find the Pixies and save brandon.
Brandon was having the worst day of his live with Amentia following him around and trying to kiss him "Kiss me!" She tried to kiss him but he jumped out of the way. "Kiss me, kiss me, give me a kiss! Give me, mwah."
Brandon wasn't sure how much time he can keep this up and hoping his friends come to save him in time from this nightmare.
The group barely made it out alive and finally found a way out, but their way back in was now sealed up from the tremors.
Taren sighs and clearly no way of getting back in any time soon. "No good, even if we did take these rocks out, it could take days."
"Guess that's out of the question." Sky said.
This did not go well for Stella when hearing the bad news. "Now what do we do? There's no way we can get back in there."
Sky came up with an idea and turned to Stella. "Stella, can you teleport us into the cave using your sceptre?"
The idea of getting in with Stella's sceptre could save them the trouble when it was used to travel between worlds and locations. However they see Stella shaking her head as she gave her response to Sky. "Nuh-uh, no way, not unless you want to end up in that creep's bathroom."
"In other words, Stella needs to know the destination very well. Or teleporting could land us anywhere." Bloom stated to Layla who had obviously had no idea about Stella's ability.
Taren nodded his head. "She's right, and if we took the risk, we would have ended up somewhere in a worse situation." An idea came up to his mind that could help their journey much easier and quicker. "I did do some study on using summoning for help."
Bloom gave him a bright smile for the help. "Taren, that's great!"
But Taren wasn't done and explained about the limits of the spell. "Hold on, in order to cast a summon, I have to think of the person or being to help us with a limit of it be the role they be giving. It's practically new and still working on it. So better safe that for last if need to while we have our Titans and Digimon to help."
Listening to Taren explaining about his summon and understood where he was going with, Sky can see how much Taren has improved his knowledge and abilities from the battle and maybe a good idea to save the best for last when needed. "This isn't going to be easy. Layla, you think you can guess how far underground the citadel is?"
Hearing Sky ask her and took a moment to think of where they could go, made her way to the edge and carefully studied the area below them. "Let's see, I'd say its below the bottom of this valley. But I'm not sure."
But for Sky, it sounded like a good idea with what little they have to make an alternative route. "Then let's get down there. It's too risky to use the Demolecularizer from up here."
Within the dark chambers was a group of terrified small pixies with bat-like creatures flapping their appendages around the cages, screeching and scaring the pixies.
"I find the sight of those monsters most unpleasant. Eugh." One piex who had pale purple hair styled in curls and a Victorian-style outfit in purple, white, and blue with a blue bow in her hair. Wearing pink make-up that makes sharp points above her eyes, a fair skin tone, and violet eyes. Her wings are purple with a purple glow.
One of the pixies walked towards the creatures to drive them away. has a long, wavy, curly bottomed orange-gold pigtails, bangs, and rosy, slightly tanned skin with big amber eyes. "Go away you horrible creatures! Leave us alone!"
Another who appears to be very futuristic by her attire has blue eyes and blue mullet styled hair with a light blue streak down the middle spoke to the pigtailed pixie with her arms crossed. "You've been shouting at them all day, and what has it done, other than overload my audio inputs?"
"They're so ugly it's unbearable." The first pixie said with disgust.
"Well, listen to this, if you're not too overloaded. At least I'm doing something to drive away those revolting things." She told the tech-wearing pixie with her hands on her hips. "So instead of sitting there in your standing code-
"Standby mode." She corrected.
"Whatever! Now help me! And let's both of us give them a piece of my mind." She argued while the second pixie simply got up and yawned.
"It's a nightmare, an aesthetic nightmare."
"I swear, if I hear another shout, I'll reboot."
The pixie in the victorian dress appears to reach the limit of her self control and gripping her gloved hands. "For goodness sake's, STOP IIIIIIIIIIIIIIIITTT!" Screaming so loud it caused the room to shake and scaring away the Shadow creatures fly away, much to the relief of the pixies.
The pig-tailed pixie smiled with confidence of what happened. "See, shouting was the solution."
A bright pink haired pixie with even cut-straight bangs with a key-shaped sceptre walks over to the edge of the cage looking sad, while another with dark magenta hair in a long pink dress with green head band with roses on her hair came over to put a hand on her shoulder.
"Lockette, what's wrong? Are you okay?" Runing over to the one named Lockette with something on her mind.
"We'll end up like the others. Won't we?"She said and pointed to the next cage there is a floating hat and boots. The pixies hug each other in hopes of escaping and reuniting with their friends.
Darkar was observing the pixies he has held captive in the cage and saw them embrace each other in fear and sadness. "How touching. Of course, it's your own fault. And now, I've been forced to call in an expert."
Rising from the ground was a mass of tar, taking the form of a cobra outside of the pixies' cage. It hisses and slithers its way towards the terrified pixies who have huddled together.
The chattering pixie did not show any sign of fear and stood up for them. "Don't worry, the energy cage will protect us."
However, the barrier had no effect on the snake and easily passes through the cage. Moving around the pixies who are scared but did not dare make move.
"Keep still, no sudden moves."
The snake slithers around the quivering sound pixie who was too terrified to look at it.
"Insolent pixies." Flickering its tongue towards her to get a reaction from her before moving to the next one with the flower headband. "Your silence deeply annoys me." Moves towards the first the one who talks more than others to test her will.
"Yes, so sweet and brave." Extends its tongue towards her face to scare the pixie with its extended fangs. But then noticed the one with the key in her hand who looked more scared than the rest. "Let's try you."
One glance of its tongue and fangs was enough to break her confidence and squealed. "Alright, I'll tell you everything! Our village is-
"Quiet!" She was stopped by her fellow pixie who spoke out to intervene. "Don't you get it? Without us, he'll never find the village! That's why he needs us alive."
"You'll be the first to go." The snake made a vow to the pixie who it believes to be the leader of the group and made its leave with nothing out of the pixies. For now.
"We'd better watch our step, it's easy to slip on the sand." Sky cautioned to the group with no telling how steep and dangerous the sand could be with one small slip should they climb down.
"I don't like the sound of this place. But there's nowhere else to go." Layla reluctantly made her choice to go with their idea in order to save her pixie friends.
Stella glances over the edge and saw how far down it was. "Woah, looks pretty bright down there. Anybody got sunscreen?"
"Stella, it's okay if you don't want to go back underground." Bloom assured her it would be her fault because of her limit of no sun light.
"Hey, I'll go first, if you want." Stella assured her until she felt a little nervous of going back down after what happened the last time.
"Stella, it's probably not good for you to get out of the sunlight, right now." Sky told her. "Play it safe, wait for us up here."
"No, I can do it." Stella made up her mind and began climbing down first. "And I'm not waiting for anyone. I won't leave Brandon in the clutches of that fish faced tramp."
"Hold on!" Before Stella could begin climbing down, Layla stopped her and found large planks of wood. "I just found a faster way to get down there.
Taren had a pretty good idea and started to smile of liking this.
"WHAAHOOO!" Taren was having a great sliding down with his plank of wood, thinking it was like a board and surfing, only on sand. But he took a glance over to see Layla was really good with hers and now to slide down like a pro. "Okay, that's pretty cool!."
Sky caught up to them while Layla was ahead of them, swaying and steering her board left and right. "Hey, you're pretty agile!"
"Boards have always been my passion." Layla proclaimed.
"Yeah, but have you ever met another pro surfer?" Taren took them by surprise when he flew passed the two in between and jumped, performing a few tricks. "I've been surfing since I could walk!"
Layla and Sky found that as a challenge and made a graceful stop when all three of them made it to the bottom.
Sky looked up and found Bloom and Stella coming down. "I hope you brought enough passion for everyone."
They find Bloom and Stella having more trouble sliding down the valley then they realised. Taren did offer Bloom to ride with him but she politely declined and wanted to try out herself. Bloom was somewhat able to ain control over her board and jumped to turn around with her back facing them and slides to a stop. Making a soft bump to Taren who caught her, much to her appreciation of him before giving a smile of confidence to Sky.
"What were you saying about passion?" She asked the blonde haired specialist.
mething about the rocks when he picked up a fragment. "Hey, look, you were lucky, Stella. You could have broken your neck. The rock here is dangerously brittle, but this is the perfect spot for us."
"The Demolecularizer." Bloom realised and thought it be perfect use for them. "Do you think we should go in pairs?" She thought and maybe pair up with either Stella, or Taren.
"Yeah, one of us could go after Brandon to save him." Taren would agree, not knowing Bloom mentally squealed and hopes to go with him.
"Sorry, guys but not a good idea and better stick together for now." Sky told them. "The magic will only last 25 seconds, and there's a lot of rock to get through. Are you guys ready?"
Taren shrugged his shoulders. "Better make this quick, Sky."
Sky nods and turns on the demolecularizer.
This however, made Stella feel uncertain about this idea. "Umm, are you sure that dehumidifier is safe?" Not giving her an answer and held on to each other to make this work, Sky activates the gadget, and it begins to flash.
"Bloom, if something happens, you can have all my outfits!" They were all engulfed in a flash of light and vanished.
Elsewhere in the caves was nothing until Sky manifested first and followed by Taren who checked himself for anything that was not left to his relief. "Ooh, everything seems to be here."
Bloom emerged next to him, she was able to land on her feet to gather her breathing and seems okay. She spotted Layla who jumped and landed next to them. "How much time left?"
"I have no idea." Sky could only answer.
"Oh, I knew it! Stella's still too weak." She told him until a bright light appeared before the group and vanished. "Stella!" Bloom cried out starts banging on the cave wall when she believed they lost Stella again "No!"
Suddenly another blue flash and Stella was able to make it through, only to fall and land on the startled Taren who was unfortunate to be used as a cushion for her fall.
"Stella." Bloom was relieved, although could say the same to Taren.
"How horrible." Stella complained while she was relieved to be back with the group.
"Do you mind, getting off me?" Taren mentally muttered thinking this become a habit of being used as a cushion for anyone to fall on him.
Realising where she landed and smiled. "Oops, sorry."
"Stella, are you alright?" Bloom came over to help them up.
"There was this worm and it passed right through me."
Bloom spotted something and picked it out of Stella's hair. Much to Stella's disgust of quivered from the sight of a worm she picked up.
"Was it this one?" Bloom could not help but found it amusing.
The sigh of it mad her jump to her feet. "Eww yuck!"
"Oh, so it wasn't a big scary worm you saw?" Taren gave a tease to the blonde much to Bloom's amusement of her reaction.
"To thank you, Brandon had better buy you some new shampoo too." Sky suggested to Stella who seems to like the idea.
"Yes, apple-scented, that'd go with the worm." The group laughed at her joke.
"Guys!" Layla called out to them.
"What?" Bloom asked her.
"Incredible! We've already reached the Shadow castle." Layla stood by the cliff edge and spotted the Shadowhaunt castle that caught everyone's attention. Unlike any traditional castles, this one was hung upside down and had rivers going upwards instead of down.
"Looks friendly." Bloom commented
"Plenty of sunshine." Stella added.
Taren would let them have a moment of humor, but had a very bad feeling about this place that made his body cry out 'danger'. Least of all they made it this far and hopefully rescue the pixies from this Darkar, and then save Brandon from a forced marriage. When they heard about what happened, he can only imagine the horrors the poor squire must be facing.
Well, here is the latest chapter and our heroes have reached Darkar's castle, but seems they have some problems such as poor Brandon in the clutches of a love-crazed princess (or just plain crazy) to force him into being her husband. The keyblade masters have reached Dyamond and curious to wonder what they may find down there. I have some ideas in mind for a surprise and will reveal them soon!
I decided to give a reason why Taren could have used a summoning but be too risky and no telling what could happen until it be used for an emergence and leave it for a surprise. But who he will summon is for you to find out as I have something for a surprise ^^
I hope you enjoyed the little twist I made of introducing the Marilith and based the design from the Brotherhood anime, plenty of ideas to come than just the snake lady. and now all their Digimon partners are rookies and will son gain their Champion forms when they will face interesting opponents, decided to allow Gomamon to be the first to digivolve to give the others a chance, but Agumon, Gabumon, and Palmon will have their turn shortly. I figured to end this chapter up to the castle and the next part they will be in for a surprise of some old faces.
Just a point out, this story wont focus on all of the season, some will have their own adventures while it would stay in canon for now but some changes I have in mind. Especially with Kefka in this story arc, things will be a bit different.