Falling Inside the Black
Summary: Yamato, Hikari, and Ken find themselves being drawn back to the world of Darkness. There, they must traverse the Digital World's Hell to take down the Demon Lords and Dagomon while overcoming their personal dilemmas.
Warnings: Heavy violence, mentions of abuse, incest, and rape.
Pairings: Taishirou, ex-Sorato/ex-Jyoumato, hinted Takari, hinted Kenyako. Also DaemonxLilithmon.
A/N: This is part of the headcanon, but can be read as a stand-alone. The Chosen's Digimon will likely not make an appearance (the Digital World was cut off in 2004).
A/N: Eh, once again, Beelzemon isn't from Tamers. Most of his personality is taken from official profile. Also, this chapter runs a little on the short side, but it was necessary to get certain information across. Next chapter: Dagomon!
A/N 2: Yes, I updated early. I'm working most of the weekend and celebrating for the remainder for Digi-Fes, so I won't have time to update then. Thank you all for the kind reviews!
8 – The Daydream Soldiers' Exchange
The passage at the back of the castle was like a long tunnel. Yamato was still silent. Ken's marching somehow seemed harsher in Hikari's mind and she reflected on her uselessness once more. She had found Yamato, but it had been too late. If she hadn't gotten poisoned, Ken never would have had to take on the extra baggage of being the Kaizer once more. Yet, a piece of her still felt 'left out'. Would she find her own form of growth and change or remain the mindless pillar of light for everyone to admire forever?
"I really wish he would stop clinging to my cloak- Yamato, that's mine!" Ken barked, tugging at his uniform. The blonde would just pick it up again and then walk too slow, driving Ken insane faster than the hate building inside of him.
"It's better than listening to him complain," Hikari muttered. "It's like there's no end to this tunnel. What if that map was a fake?"
"If there's one thing I've learned from being evil- it's that everything is so grossly extravagant, including the dark passages of Digital Hell," Ken lectured. Then he felt his feet being held back and screamed at Yamato once more. It got a giggle out of the blonde, at least, which made Ken smile.
"Do you feel that?" Hikari asked suddenly. Her teeth began to chatter. An ugly green mini-skirt was not the outfit to be running around in the cold in.
"Cold air," Ken noted. He sniffed, smelling ice. "See? We must be almost there."
Hikari pulled the map from her pocket. The dim light bulbs jutting out the walls gave her just enough light. Indeed, they were titled Snow Fields, as Ken had translated. "That explains the cold."
The three reached the end of the tunnel, the long dark, only to be blinded by white as far as they could see. Save Yamato- he was still wearing Ken's shades happily. Hikari held the map as it fluttered in the wind. "I don't see any cities on this map. How will we know which direction to go?"
"Same as the desert," Ken replied. "We'll-"
Ken was cut off by a huge rumbling roar. Yamato curiously peered around the Kaizer's shoulder pads. Hikari looked up from the map. In the distance, snow was erupting like a tidal wave. And smoke.
"A motorbike? In this snow?" Hikari cried over the roar, covering her ears.
The trio waited in the safety of the tunnel while the motorcycle approached. Behind him was a dark cloud, but it wasn't smog. There was an outright horde of Digimon, some grouped several to one bike. Others flew in the sky and further, others jogged. Ken fingered the whip handle- not that, even with his improved Kaizer-ness, it would do any good.
The motorcycle passed them and circled around as the horde came to a halt. A humanoid Digimon in a leather jacket stepped down from the bike. He kicked the stand and looked into the hole. "Come on out! We know you're there!"
"No you don't!" cried Yamato, covering his eyes.
Hikari covered her mouth to stop her giggling.
Ken sighed and stepped out. "We didn't come here to start trouble-! I think.."
"The Digimon Kaizer?!" the Digimon barked. The monsters at his side growled in agreement. "Who else did you bring with you? I garuntee you, you won't be defeating the Daydream Soldiers today!"
Ken pressed his lips unsurly. Yamato and Hikari stepped out with the same anxiety.
"T-That's it?" the general snorted.
"I told you, we didn't come to start trouble."
"Daemon's spread word of the Kaizer's return, but this is pathetic," he laughed.
"Hey! Who the Hell are you anyway?" Ken barked, forming a fist.
"Beezlemon, general of this army against Daemon and his nihilistic plot!"
"...we work for no one!" Hikari confirmed.
"Hmph," Beezlemon grumbled. He turned to two IceDevimon and motioned them over. They proceeded to grab the humans and hoist them onto their bikes. Despite protests and struggles, the group found themselves heavily outnumbered and decided pissing off an army was out of the question.
They weren't sure how long they rode in the snow. Eventually they came upon a mountain. The mouth of the cave was like a large microwave oven and the inside, surprisingly, was kinda warm. A large garage held all the bikes and then, still carrying their prisoners, the horde moved further into the cavern. The place was more like an underground laboratory than say, an ant farm, although the walls were carved out of rock. Brilliant stone of all hues. They came to a main gathering area, probably used for rallies and the like, and tossed their prisoners to the ground.
Hikari looked around herself in confusion. "Why haven't you tied us up?"
"Or killed us?" Ken added.
Beezlemon, who was leaning against one of the glimmering stone walls, looked over to them with a laugh, "I don't kill things weaker than me, especially children." A Aururamon brought him a small hand towel.
"Then why did you bring us here?"
"I want to know more about your situation. If I know more about a friend or an enemy, that is up to you," Beezlemon said. He pulled the large gun from it's holster and began polishing it.
Hikari breathed a sigh of relief. "We're here to find out more about the 7 Crests of Sin and the whereabouts of Lilithmon."
Beezlemon eyed Yamato, who was still sitting on the floor, despite the fact the other two Chosen had stood. He wasn't afraid, but watching the world with some innocent curiosity. Beezlemon longed for many things, and such a mind free of worry sounded better than a good meal after a long hike. "What's with Neo?"
Ken looked down at Yamato. He did look pretty ridiculous in his trenchcoat and those shades. "We're not sure what happened to him."
"He's been traumatized," Hikari snapped, putting her hands on her hips.
Yamato flinched.
"Lilithmon seems to have sunk her claws into him," Beezlemon sighed. "Not much you can do but pray, but that's pretty useless in Hell."
"Do you know where she is?" Ken questioned. The room was mostly a empty space, but he did find a few chairs and brought them over near Beezlemon so they could listen to what he had to say. An exchange of information.
"Just that she's disappeared from her castle. I have a Bakemon that keeps me informed."
"And what are you, exactly?"
"Crusaders of Lucemon. Why are you seeking the Crests?"
"...a dying Digimon told me that we'll need them to approach GranDracmon, in his castle, to discuss what's happening with this world," Hikari explained.
"GranDracmon... no one's seen him for a millenia. If he's even in that castle, only it's prisoner, Huanglongmon, would know."
"We're also seeking to destroy Daemon," Ken specified, knowing that would put him in the rogue Digimon's favor. "He is part of the reason I am what I am now and have been what I've been. He's trying to torture other innocent children and I can't let that happen."
"A torturer of children? Human children? Has he no shame?" Beezlemon mused. "I am wise in my siding, then."
"Also, I'm seeking out the Dark Ocean. Have you heard of it?" Hikari asked.
Beezlemon eyed her a moment. "Yes, it lies beyond this Circle. I'm not sure what you want with Dagomon, but you won't find aid of any Digimon in your plight. He is a being more foreign to this world than you and we want him to remain that way as much as possible."
"Do you know the locations of the Crests?" Ken asked, leaning on his elbows. God, was he tired. He also couldn't get the sickening crunch of Rosemon's body out of his head.
"Lilithmon used to hold the Crest of Lust."
"Used to?" Hikari asked.
Beezlemon stopped polishing a moment to raise his hand. "There, in the childlike one's shirt."
"Ah-" Ken started.
"Yamato?" Hikari wondered.
He looked between them with a frown on his face. "What...? What did I do?"
"N-Nothing, Yamato," Ken reassured. "May I see your necklace?"
"Alright, Niichan," he whispered, slowly pulling the black cord from under his dress shirt. The obisidian stone held a green crest.
Ken pursed his lips at the title. "Whatever happened with Lilithmon... and I beg to never know... Yamato did us a great favor to get this."
"...and the others?" Hikari urged, trying to steer her mind from her friend's predicament.
"Daemon holds Wrath. Leviamon used to hold Envy, but your friend Dagomon got his hands on it. Belphemon holds Sloth. Barbamon holds Greed. I... hold Gluttony. And lastly, Lucemon holds Pride. All are needed to deactivate GranDracmon's gate."
"Won't Daemon need them to enter, too?" Ken wondered.
"Yes. I imagine he has already set out to find the others."
Hikari gasped, "T-Then we have to hurry!"
"Beezlemon..." Yamato whispered. Ken and Hikari looked to their friend.
"Huh?" Beezlemon snorted. "What is it?"
Blue eyes just stared at the large Digimon. Beezlemon scoffed, sensing everything behind the blue glass.
Yamato stuck out his tongue and reached for Ken.
"Get off me!" the Kaizer barked, scooting his chair away. "You said Dagomon lies beyond the mountain, right, Beezlemon?!"
"Then it's settled," Hikari said. "Let's go pay our old friend a visit, Ken."
Ken nodded, but Beezlemon fumed:
"...I cannot go with you. Dagomon is not worthy of my mere prescence."
"At least give us the Crest?" Ken pleaded. "We're all friends in this."
"I've no use for friends. Perhaps if you prove your worth to me and collect all the others... I'll consider it. We'll walk you to the Permeation where our world has fused with Dagomon's and not a step further."
"Have we helped you at all, Beezlemon?" Hikari asked. "Excuse my honesty, but you're being difficult."
"I've learned much about my enemy from you. More than even you realize," he whispered, looking first to Yamato, then to the rest of them. They all had amazing potential and Beezlemon seethed with frustration that they were fighting it so harshly. "However... let me request you eat and stay the night first. Even Daemon must rest."
"Thank you, Beezlemon."
"We'll never forget your generosity."
"...he's only doing it," Yamato started, "Because he wants us to owe him a favor someday."
Ken nodded, "Well, whatever the reason, it's still appreciated."