Brought Together In Darkness:
Part 3
By: ArtikGato
Disclaimer: In an alternate universe somewhere, I'm sure something like me owning Digimon would be possible. But not here. Which is why I'm working to construct a machine that will let me skip dimensions...
Author's Notes: Still a Kekari fic, still a bit angsty, still set in the Dark Ocean, ect. Don't worry, next chapter will be the end. All this bad angstyness will end, and there'll actually be some romance next chapter! Yay! Well, with that said, on to part three!
"Ken, what made you go to the Digital World without Wormon?" Kari asked. They had been sitting in silence for way too long, and it was really bugging Kari. Ken looked at her. "Did something happen to you?" she asked. He took a deep breath, and then decided to tell her.
"Yolei," he replied. She looked surprised.
"What'd she do?" Kari asked.
"She didn't do anything...it's my fault for not telling her in the first place," Ken replied, avoiding Kari's eyes.
"Tell her what?" she asked. He let out a sigh.
"That I was falling in love with her," he finally replied. Kari gasped, in shock. After that had sunk in, she realized why Ken was so depressed.
"Oh no...she's with Izzy," she said. Ken swallowed a knot in his throat.
"Uh huh," he replied, his voice beginning to waver. She looked at him, and realized there were tears in his eyes. This was very serious.
"I'm sorry, I shouldn't have asked," she replied. He shook his head.
"No, it feels good to tell someone. I told Minimon, but he doesn't understand at all," Ken replied. Tears were starting to fall from his eyes.
"It'll be ok," she said, trying to comfort him. Am I seeing right? Is Ken Ichijouji crying? Poor thing, his heart must be broken...I don't know what that feels like, because I've never loved someone like he loved Yolei. "It'll be all right Ken," she repeated. He wiped away his tears, and sat there, looking ashamed and in pain.
"Sorry...I don't know what came over me," he replied.
"No, it's ok, everybody needs to let out their emotions sometimes," she replied. He looked up after a moment.
"How about you? What made you go to the Digital World without Gatomon?" he asked. She felt a little embarrassed. His problem with Yolei was far more serious than her stupid fight with Tai...
"Tai and I got into a fight before school today...there was a lot of yelling...and name calling...I'll just leave it at that. And, it's like he blamed me for everything," she started. Ken looked confused.
"Why did you guys fight?" he asked.
"A few days ago, my family was driving home from having dinner out, and...we got into an accident. The car was totaled, but everyone managed to get out ok...except my Dad. He had to be rushed to the hospital. It turns out, his right arm is broken, and several of his ribs. He has to have surgery to fix all this...and the procedure is really, really risky. He was going to have the surgery today, so everyone was on edge...but my Mom told us to go to school, and she'd have us notified when the surgery was over. Before we left, Tai and I got into a discussion. He started out trying to make me feel better, but in the end, he ended up blaming me for the accident, and I finally just got fed up, and ran out. I waited all day for a phone call or something, but I got nothing. Then, to make matters worse...Davis and TK wanted me to go to the Digital World, but I was depressed, and I knew I'd only be a burden. I didn't want to talk to anyone then, and I didn't want to go home either. I ended up going to the Digital World, any way," she said, and let out a sigh when she was done.
"He shouldn't have blamed you," Ken said. Tears welled up in her eyes.
"I know...but he did, and I can't help but feel like it IS my fault," she replied.
"How could you be responsible? It's not like you put your hands over your Dad's eyes and made him swerve and hit a car, right?" he asked.
"Actually, my Mom was driving," she replied.
"Well, in that case, your Mom's eyes?"
"Well...no I didn't-" she started.
"Well, all right then. What was it, a head-on collision?" he asked.
"Yeah, neither driver saw the other coming," she replied.
"Then it's not your fault. Why do you think that you're responsible for it?" he asked.
"Because I always do...I always feel like everything bad that happens is my fault...I don't know why, but I do." she replied. He was silent for a moment.
"Any particular reason why?" he asked. She shook her head.
Tai sighed.
"I really shouldn't have yelled at her," he said.
"Well, I'll have to agree with you on that, but right now, all we can do is sit tight, and wait for her to come back," Gatomon said. Tai nodded, and looked outside. The sky was still cloudy, like it had been all day, and the last of the light was fading. I hope she'll be ok...and I hope she can forgive me.
Kari woke up to the sound of footsteps and low babbling outside of the cell. She opened her eyes with a start, and stood up. Those creatures were just outside the door. She took up a defensive stance, and looked in Ken's direction. He was awake, but had yet to stand up, if he could stand up. The door opened, and a creature stepped inside.
"Child of light, the master wishes to see you," he gestured to Kari. Kari stayed where she was.
"Yeah, well I don't want to see him," she replied, anger in her voice.
"Tough. Now, you'll either come, or we'll drag you," he replied. Kari noticed that Ken had stood up, and was walking around the back of the creature.
"Make me," she said, and took up a defensive stance. He glared at her.
"I would, but the master doesn't want you to be hurt," he replied.
"I'm not coming," she replied. Ken walked up, silently, behind the creature. He growled.
"You're making my job VERY hard, now come or else!" he exclaimed. Just then, Ken lunged forward, and grabbed the creature from behind. In an instant, he had him in a headlock. The creature struggled in Ken's grip.
"All right, what are you, and what does your master want with us?" he asked, sounding almost like the Digimon Emperor. The creature choked, but managed to answer.
"I am Gesappemon..." he choked out. "And what my master wants doesn't concern you," Ken tightened his grip, making the monster gasp. "I don't know! I don't know!" he squealed. Ken slackened his grip, and the Gesappemon gasped in air. The door opened again, and four of the Gesappemon jumped on Ken, making him release the Gesappemon from his grip. They pushed him to the floor, and turned on Kari. In an instant, they had surrounded her, and the one that had been in Ken's grip a moment ago held up a claw toward Ken's head. He snarled in rage.
"No! Don't hurt him! I'll go with you!" Kari shouted. Ken looked at her, surprised. So did the Gesappemon. He snickered, and a smirk spread across his face.
"All right," he replied, and with that, the Gesappemon led her out of the cell, and closed the door behind, leaving a dumbfounded Ken to ponder what had just happened. They pushed Kari through the dark halls of black marble, and back into the giant room she and Ken had been in when they first came to this place. Sitting on his throne of black marble, was Dragomon. She was pushed before him.
"Ah, Digidestined of Light, so good to see you. I trust you've had a pleasant stay in the dungeon?" Dragomon asked, and laughed. Kari glared at him. Rage and hatred burned in her glare. He smiled. "Enough small talk, I've had you brought before me, so we can make a deal," he said. She looked surprised. This big ugly monster wants to bargain? There's got to be a catch. "Here's what I'll do, if you stay here and become my Queen, I'll set your friend in the dungeon free. Or, I'll set you free...and kill the one in the dungeon. Which will it be?" he asked. She looked sickened.
"Neither," she replied, trying to contain the hatred in her voice. Dragomon smirked.
"Fine, then you both shall suffer...and since you are unwilling to become my Queen, I shall have to take what I need from you, and then I will have no use for you," Dragomon said.
"What do you need from me?" she asked, frightened.
"What do you think I need? Your power! You by far possess the most power of any Digidestined. With that kind of power, I would be unstoppable," Dragomon replied.
"Power?" she asked.
"You do not realize it, but your power is immense, it far surpasses that of any Digidestined. Not even the Digidestined of Hope surpasses your power, because you draw your power from the light, which is everywhere. The others draw their power from things that are rare and hard to find, but you, you draw your power from light, which is everywhere. That makes you very powerful," he explained.
"And just how do you plan to get my power? It's not just something that you can take!" she pointed out. Dragomon smirked.
"Ah, but it is," he replied. She gasped.
"What do you plan to do?" she forced herself to ask, fearing the answer.
"Why, I shall drain you of your powers," he simply replied, and motioned to two of the Gesappemon. "Put her on the platform," he said. They obeyed, and shoved her forward. She protested, and wouldn't allow herself to be moved toward the platform. Finally, Dragomon got fed up, shot out a tentacle, and seized her by the stomach. He lifted her up, and placed her on a large, metal platform. As soon as his tentacle let go of her, she made a move to run forward, but a large, glass cylinder dropped around her. She ran up to the edge of it, and pounded on the glass.
"Let me out!" she screamed. Dragomon laughed.
"Sorry, but you're not getting out of there until you've been drained of your powers," he said, and shot out another tentacle. This one hit a button. She pounded on the glass frantically, but was suddenly struck by electricity, and forced to the center of the cylinder. The electricity kept coming, shooting through her body like knives. She screamed, in pain, and suddenly, started to glow. The light shot from her, and filled the cylinder. The cylinder of glass didn't break, though, and the electricity kept coming. The Light was all drawn somehow up, and out of the cylinder, into a small crystal ball of sorts. All the light was drained from the tube, and encased in the crystal ball. The electricity stopped, and Kari slumped to the floor, no longer glowing. She was barely conscious, and weak beyond imagine. The glass cylinder lifted, and five Gesappemon ran up to her, picked her up, and took her away, back to the cell. They opened the door, and tossed her inside. She had no strength left, so all she could do was fall to the floor. Ken rushed up to her.
"Are you ok?" he asked. She shook her head, and groaned.
"They took it," she whispered. All she could do was whisper.
"What?" he asked.
"They took my Crest....my crest of light," she whispered, and passed out. Ken shook her, trying to get her to wake up, but to no avail. She looked pale, even in the eerie blue light, and almost lifeless. She was still breathing, though. He walked over to her wall, and picked up her backpack. He slid it under her head, gently.
"Makeshift pillow," he said, half-smiling, and went back to his wall, to sit.
There was a flash of light, which woke Tai up. He looked around, surprised. He heard a groan from above him, and looked up there, expecting to see Kari. Instead, he saw a little white ball, with small ears.
"Who are you?" he asked.
"Tai, don't you recognize me?" the little thing asked. He shook his head.
"I'm Snowbotamon, the Micro form of Gatomon," she said, her voice barely audible. Tai gasped.
"What happened?" he asked.
"All my strength left me...something must have happened to Kari," she said, her little eyes filled with tears. Tai's were too. He swallowed a knot in his throat.
Kari's eyes opened. She looked around, and realized that she was still in that wretched cell. She didn't have much strength, but at least she was conscious. She tried to sit up, or even move, but couldn't. So, she groaned. Ken looked at her, and realized she was awake. He walked over to her, and knelt down beside her. She realized that her head was propped up on something soft.
"Makeshift pillow," she said, and smiled weakly. Ken looked concerned.
"Are you all right?" he asked. She couldn't tell.
"I think so," she replied.
"What happened?" he asked. She swallowed a knot in her throat, and spoke.
"They put me in a glass cage...and blasted me with electricity...and then they drained all of the power out of me," she said, trying to put her experience into words.
"What do you mean, 'drained your power'?" he asked.
"They...he...Dragomon, he told me that because of my crest of Light I was very powerful," she replied.
"Why's that?" he asked.
"Well, Digidestined draw their power from the power of their crests...like your crest, Ken. You draw you power from the Kindness in other people's hearts. Kindness is what gives you strength. Davis, for example, draws his power from both Courage and Friendship, making him twice as powerful as both Tai and Matt, because he draws his power from both," she started to explain.
"So...you draw your power from the Light?" he asked.
"Yes, but it's not only the Light in the world, but the also the Light inside people, the same way you draw your power from the Kindness within people," she continued.
"Light inside people?" he asked, a little shocked. She nodded.
"Every person and Digimon has light inside of them, in their hearts. I just have a little more than normal people, which I why I was given the crest of Light," she explained. Ken nodded, in understanding.
"So, what did Dragomon take?" he asked.
"My Light...my crest...my power, everything," she replied, tears springing into her eyes.
"How?" he asked. She shook her head.
"I don't know...but he did," she replied, and groaned. "I don't have any strength left," she said.
"Because there isn't any light down here?" he asked. She nodded. "Well, what about the blue light over there?" he asked. She shook her head.
"Not enough," she replied. He thought for a moment.
"Wait a minute, everyone has light inside them, including me, right? Why don't you just borrow my light?" he asked.
"I can't just 'borrow your light', it doesn't work that way," she replied, and, suddenly, passed out cold.
"Kari?!" he asked, but got no reply. She's out again...and this time it could be for good. If she doesn't have her power any more then...if she doesn't get it back, she could die. He swallowed a knot in his throat, and felt tears spring into his eyes. He looked at her limp form. I can't let her die.
Well, that concludes Part Three! Just one more to go! To all Kari fans: *takes a deep breath* sorry sorry sorry sorry...ah, you get the picture. Review if you liked it, please! Oh, and there will be a LOT less angst and more romance in the final chapter!!