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: Nothing really to say here. Finally reaching the end of this fic. If I had to guess, there might be about 5 chapters to go. Really looking to finish our headcanon as a whole, so I'll try to update this once or twice a week. Having gone back over the work, there's some inconsistencies that will be fixed, but nothing major in itself. Thanks for reading :) I apologize if some line breaks don't appear-there seems to be some issues with ffnet's formatting. ^^;
Chapter 12 - The Powers That Be
Barbamon stroked his beard and looked at the young girl before him. She lay sprawled across the floor, almost an equal mix of human and creature. She stirred and clawed at the floor to find the ability to stand, but her webbed fingers either stuck or slid as she willed them to push her body upward.
"Don't fret, you'll adjust to that form soon enough," Barbamon said.
Hikari looked up at her captor. She knew she was better than this—so why was she being held against her will? More importantly, why was she now turning into one of Dagomon's creatures?
Of course, she noted. The pact I made for the crest of sin. They want me to be their queen and I suppose, looking like them would make me more acceptable. Damn that Dagomon! Damn you, Hikari... speak your mind!
"Damn Dagomon!" she repeated aloud. Her lips, now forming a thick line around the sides of her mouth, weighed heavy as she spoke. "I will not have another person or fish-frog or whatever walk all over me!"
Barbamon raised one of his bushy, gray eyebrows as the fish-girl of light stood.
"What do you want with me?!" she demanded.
Barbamon tapped his staff. Hikari felt the vibrations as it hit the cold, tile floor. The gem at the top, above Hikari's head, sparkled beneath a snake skull ornament. "You are a powerful tool here in the dark area, Hikari. A being of pure light. My group aims to not let Lucemon reformat this world... and you are one of the keys, the most powerful I dare say, to stopping him. Out there, in the city of Dis below my temple, you will surely die. Much like your friends will die. After all, Belphemon will soon awaken. His body knows no end to hunger, bloodlust, and destruction. Even I wouldn't bother with him. Why do you think he's been asleep all this time?"
Hikari took a moment to understand his words. How was she some magic key? Just because of her light. Being used... as a tool... again. I can't.
"I won't let you use me. I won't let you protect me. I'm going to find my friends."
Barbamon let her walk a few steps before speaking, "...are they really? You dare call that boy playing superman and that young man with hate even I am envious of, your friends? One of them will turn on you, Hikari. The powers of darkness will consume them, eventually."
"I can take care of myself, as I said," Hikari huffed. She reached for the doorhandle and whined when her fingers stuck to it. She struggled to pull her arm away and when she finally did so with a pop sound, she left behind a slimy, undersea mucus.
Hikari thought she would throw up, but instead she turned to Barbamon. Was he right? In this form, did she really stand a chance? Then, she figured, that Barbamon and Belphemon had a few of the crests of sin they needed, and she may as well stay here. She had to remember, she had brawns, no matter what retarded fish-frog she was becoming.
Ken took out his D-3. He could see one dot running far away from him, which was Yamato, and then another, stationary. He moved closer to Hikari's location, crossing a moat, and found a temple. The temple loomed above the city of Dis. The temple resembled a mosque, with large, black dome at the center of it's octagonal walls. All of the lines were clean and sharp, but not in the light color one would expect if they were, say, in the Real World. The building was bright red, like burning coals, and it glowed.
Just as Ken started up the temple stairs, a Digimon manifested itself in front of him. It was almost three times Ken's height and had the head of a ram with a human-like body. Glowing, purple eyes stared down at him.
Neither said a word for some time until Ken tried to step past. The Digimon called out: "Do not ignore the presence of Mephistomon, human!"
A large hand clasped Ken in his entirety and brought the two face-to-face.
"I hear you made a deal with the devil," it said. Ken wasn't sure if he was hearing the voice in his head, outside, or all around. He wriggled in the demon's fingers, but this only made Mephistomon squeeze tighter. "Do you recall the reason you took this shape?"
Ken nodded. "I needed... power."
"...the reason you took this shape the first time, flesh-trash."
"I... I needed... power..."
Mephistomon released his grip slightly. "Do you know why I have appeared to you?"
"N-No... Aren't you working for Daemon?"
"I handle all of his dealings, but I must say I am infuriated. He went behind my back. So, I'm here to offer you something better."
"I don't want anymore deals with anyone!" Ken cried when the demon began crushing him again. He wondered how long it would be until he blacked out.
"You will make this deal with me, when all is said and done, and you see where this future awaits you."
Ken squeezed his eyes closed. He faintly saw the image of someone... a little baby with bright, lavender bangs and jet black hair. She had his eyes. And his current attire.
Yamato realized, once he was doubled over and out of breath from running, that he had no idea where he was going. He didn't even know where to begin to hunt for Lilithmon and reflecting in a moment of clarity, he realized she had nothing to aid in their quest except to subdue Yamato's own hatred. For a while.
He was back in the Murky Marshes and the stench of rotting fish entered his nose. To normal people, this would be a bit off-putting, but Yamato remembered how Bukamon's breath smelled just like that until Jou started shoveling mints down the Digimon's throat.
Jou...
Yamato looked back. He didn't see the city anymore.
Should I go back...? Am I lost?
"Oh, don't bother yourself with that. We both knew I would come after you, eventually. After all," Lilithmon paused to raise her hand and extend her nails to attack. "You took my crest and if I don't get it back for Lord Daemon, we will both know places worse than Hell.
Ken wondered when his mother started acting strangely. Always tired. Always not making sense when she spoke. He remembered a bottle next to her bed. The pills made her sleepy, but they kept her out of pain.
"Momma," he started one morning. "Dad and Oniisan left for school already. I'm hungry. Momma?"
Ken, at the meager age of four, tugged on his mother's sleeve. She wouldn't budge. He stormed off in a huff to the kitchen and grabbed a chair to reach the counter. He looked around for one of the open canisters that he knew held cereal and pulled it to him. He ate a piece here and there, but the food didn't satisfy him. He wanted his mother.
"Momma," he called.
She stepped out of her room in a robe, stumbling a bit.
That's right, Ken recalled. She tripped on the stairs... broke her leg.
"Is that all, human?" rang Mephistomon's voice. "Or have you forgotten where the very essence of this form... the attitude, the appearance, the apathy... comes from?"
No, I don't know. I don't remember. I was too little.
"Well, try harder before I lose my patience."
Ken was a few years older. He could reach the cereal on his own now, but his mother hadn't changed much. Sam was in his room, probably studying again. He was always so smart. Ken wished he would share his books so he could learn, too.
The six year old made his way into his brother's room, the room which would later become his own, and waited at the door. He knew better than to interrupt.
"Why did you know that?"
Ken shook his head and stared at the floor. He let his toes take in the soft carpet of the bedroom.
"What are you doing?" Sam demanded. "You're messing up my concentration!"
"I just... wanted to read, too..." Ken started.
Sam laughed and twirled around in his chair. The glow of the computer monitor surrounded his silhoutte, even when he stood. Sam grabbed Ken by the arm, nearly yanking it from the socket. "You want to play, then?"
Ken looked around nervously. He followed his brother into the kitchen where they gathered up dish soap, a straw, a container. Everything Sam needed to play, Ken guessed. He was too distracted by the fact his brother handed him something of his own without yelling a single word.
Ken trotted behind his older brother. "What are we doing?"
"Making bubbles," was all Sam would say.
Sam... this isn't the Sam I know. I don't understand. This is the day we blew bubbles together. The day he told me how only I could do it. How kind I was-!
Sam took the bubble mixture and a straw, with the end frayed out, in hand. He unlocked the patio door and stepped outside. "Come on."
Ken was so uneasy. Why? Why did he feel such malice from his older brother?
This isn't Sam! This is just a trick, isn't it, Mephistomon?
"I've no reason to trick you, child. These are but the fragments of many you've buried deep in your heart."
Why are you doing this? I already know what a wicked person I was... what I've become. I had to. I didn't have a choice this time!
"You had more than enough choice, you just didn't have the confidence in yourself. Do you realize now why that is? Why you think you, a mere human, can control powers even the greatest of Digimon can't control?"
Why are you doing this? Ken repeated.
"This is so your child doesn't become another menace like you."
My child...?
"If you stay as you are now, the darkness will consume you. You've already drawn the blood of a comrade. How long until you destroy them both and then yourself? This isn't the same as before, is it? You harbor a guilt from your previous foray and now, that will consume you, too. And there is no Wormmon to save you."
I don't understand! Ken screamed in the monster's arms. Mephistomon threw him to the ground.
"This is your last chance. Give up the powers you've gained. Or do you still lack confidence in yourself?!"
Ken went back to that moment. He remembered blowing bubbles...
But Sam didn't tell him he was kind. Sam told him the truth, that he hated him. Sam, previously an only child, could no longer stand Ken trailing behind him like a dog. At that statement, Ken vaguely recalled his mother in hysterics over the phone—a nieghbor's dog had been fed antifreeze. All the while, Sam had just grinned. Ken didn't understand it then.
"You're no better than a dog," Sam said and grabbed Ken by the chin. Ken was too young to fight back well, so all he could do was grip his brother's arm helplessly as his throat was squeezed. He choked for air, but only tasted the lemon scent of soap in return. Every breath was wasted until he couldn't hold on anymore. Ken's vision blurred. Everything smelled strange.
He heard, distantly, the sound of the patio door opening and closing again. Then, the lock. Sam had locked him out.
Ken continued to try to breathe, but he only coughed up bubbles.
"That's how you make bubbles," Sam told him.
Hikari saw that sunset approached once more. She wondered if her brother was looking for her by now, or if anyone noticed any of them missing. Barbamon seemed content for some time, just sitting on his throne. Occasionally he would whisper with a Vilemon about something or other.
She looked out from the balcony. She could hardly make out the city with her vision turning so poor. She thought, if she leapt into one of the many moats, maybe she would see better under the water.
"Lord Daemon, your highness," came the voice of the Vilemon.
Hikari turned and the great, balcony doors slammed shut. She saw momentarily through the windows as the curtains settled, that Daemon had appeared in the room.
"What brings you here?"
"You know what I need, Barbamon. Hand over the two crests you're carrying."
"I don't even have them. Maybe take the Crest of Envy from that child, there?"
Hikari couldn't see, but she felt Daemon's eyes on her momentarily.
"Where did you put Sloth and Pride, Barbamon?" The response didn't take long as Daemon figured it out for himself. "You put them on that rampaging monster?"
"What better place to hide them from you, or Lucemon, or those humans, then on a killing machine?"
Hikari stepped back and then turned to look out at the great marshes beyond the city. The crests were inside Belphemon, the sleeping giant.
If only I had Angewomon, I could fly there in an instant. I wonder... if I am truly becoming the Queen of the Fishfrogs, then maybe I could...
Before Hikari knew it, she had raised herself from the balcony and was floating far across the city. The entire act felt completely natural to her. Of course, Dagomon's power would grant such a simple thing as to fly. She wondered what else it could do! She formed a ball of darkness in her hand and held it, waiting for just the right moment, like a kid with rock waiting for a passing truck.
Yamato readied his fists. "Well?"
Lilithmon lowered her once-prepped hand and chuckled. "My, you've got some fight in you."
"We need these crests, so I'm not handing this over to you."
"Don't try to act all high and mighty," Lilithmon sneered. She wrinkled her nose and raised an eyebrow. "Remember, I know everything about you now. I wouldn't act so cocky."
Yamato rushed towards Lilithmon, but she floated effortlessly above him and he stumbled. He cursed under his breath and looked up. A ball of darkness was hurdling towards them.
Hikari, not looking very much like the girl Yamato knew, landed just as the blast tossed Lilithmon back into the marshes. He could still see her amber eyes somewhere under the layers of gray scales and her now distorted mouth.
"H-Hikari."
"I guess I'm here to save you for a change," she said. Well, she said telepathically.
Yamato had to blink to shake the amazement from his face. He didn't mind the more confident Hikari, but he also didn't like being shown up by her, either. "Right... T-thanks."
Fuck's sake, I hope she doesn't stay like that forever. Not just because she's some kind of mer-creature, but Taichi would probably put Ken and I's heads on spikes.
"Belphemon," Hikari said. "In the lake. He has two of the crests. We're so close to accomplishing our goal."
Yamato glared over at the pool. Lilithmon still hadn't surfaced.
"Have you seen Ken?" she asked.
"Last I knew, he was looking for you," Yamato replied. He didn't take his gaze from the water. His prey lay wait underneath the waves.
Hikari took out her D-3. Ken wasn't too far off. Yamato wished he could do the same—but the detection power on his digivice was long lost when Gabumon lost the ability to evolve.
A great, high-pitched squeal-roar rose from the water as it erupted in front of them. Lilithmon, now drenched in underwater weeds and murky water, held her fists to her side in outrage. She extended both claws.
"This... thing has the power to down the likes of me?!" she roared.
Yamato snickered to himself.
Hikari grinned—as best as one could with a fish mouth. It looked more like she'd been hooked.
"Why, yes," Hikari said triumphiantly. "I can do a lot of things with Dagomon's gift. Although, I wouldn't take the luxury of killing you away from Yamato—even from my position a few feet away, I sense the hate he has for you. I find it would be amusing for you to be killed by a human with nothing special at all."
Yamato wasn't sure to make of Hikari's ramblings. She was smart and perhaps while provoking Lilithmon, she was provoking him as an added consequence. Either way, Yamato didn't waste time. He dove into the water.
"The girl has discovered her gift, it seems," Daemon chuckled. "We're both out of luck here. I'll be leaving now."
Barbamon stood, like a great, wise wizard, and tapped his staff. "You're not going anywhere. I will make sure that niether you, those humans, or Lucemon succeed. This world shall remain as-is, Daemon."
The demon lord turned to face his older counterpart. "Don't think you can stop me."
"Those children will claim your Crest of Wrath soon enough. I feel it, drawing you to a better suitor as we speak."
Daemon coughed in disgust and then proceeded to disappear into the floor. "I'm going after Lilithmon, not that you need concern yourself with my affairs any longer."
Barbamon chuckled. He was wise, old, strong. There was nothing anyone could do to change the outcome of this always stagnant world. However, he then noticed several large shadows appearing around him. They circled him and attacked in an instant, sending him exploding into a million shards of data.
Ken threw open the doors. He didn't find Hikari or the crests they sought, but he did see the imprint of Daemon's portal and held his D-3 up to follow it.