The Friends of the Stones

by Debbie Dai-chan

Finally, the Stories of the Ten Digidestined and a new enemy that has a role to play . . .

13. 13 Kim's New Friends

The Friends of the Stones:
Part Thirteen: Kim's New Friends
By Debbie (Dai-chan) and Chicobo, too!


The Reconciler flinched slightly as the sharp force of her hand slapped on the side of his face, stinging hotly. His cheek was turning instantly to an ugly red color. His head swayed a bit at the force, then returned to its bowing position. The Reconciler looked like an mortified child with a hurt guilt showing inside, standing humiliated, his head bowed. However, there was nothing on his soft, but stinging face, nothing that betrayed pain or shame. He meekly accepted the punishment.

Behind him, the Seer and the Warder watched on in silence, their eyes blank. They made no movement to tend to their companion, giving no sympathy or concern. They were like robots, with no emotions or commands to obey. But, however, there was a brief twinkle of immeasurable sorrow passing behind the empty rich brown and raven-black eyes, so quick that Amayamon never noticed.

"Like your dark brother, you betrayed me, Little Reconciler," Amayamon was speaking, gently massaging her stinging hand. "You shouldn't have warned the Digidestined about the curse. Yes, I was foolish to ignore your innate trustworthiness to them, but now that I have complete control over you, the mistake will not be repeated."

Amayamon then reached to lovingly stroke the Reconciler's blue-streaked black mane. She then smirked. "Poor little Reconciler, lost and not knowing what to do to please me." She suddenly grabbed on his chin, her fingers like claws, clutching firmly. "You will please me when you go destroy the Keeper and the Guide for me. Take their Digistones to me, and you will be greatly rewarded. You understand?"

Of course, the Reconciler didn't respond, but now that she controlled him, Amayamon knew he will complete the duty. She let go of his chin, stroking his stung cheek. "Go, Reconciler, and take your brother with you."

The Reconciler turned on his heel and strode past the silent Seer and Warder, the pain forgotten.

Amayamon cocked her head as though she just heard something. A new sneer appeared on her face, and she spoke, "Little Seer." The Seer obeyed, stepping forward in the dim light, awaiting the orders. "It appears that my dear brother and your friends managed to enter the temple to rescue you. Why won't you go ahead and greet them with your new friends? Just play with them, then kill them. They are getting annoying."

The Seer left on a silent command, disappearing in the shadows to gather her new 'companions'.

Amayamon then knelt down and beckoned to the boy. The Warder silently moved forward, and she reached to stroke his violet-streaked fiery hair. "You did great, my little Warder. You cleverly fooled them with your silent helplessness and stole their Digistones. Interesting that your heart-darkness is called as the Fool. Now, that the other Digidestined are here, I have a special duty for you, Warder."

The Warder was silent, unmoving as her gloved hand ran her fingers through his hair.

***

Frankie tugged on his black backpack beneath his white-hemmed cloak as his hazel eyes gazed at the calm ocean. The sun was still high in the sky, and the sunlight reflected off the water was nearly blinding him. Eyes squinted against the bright light, Frankie wondered if all this waiting was worth it. For hours, he and Mimi were strolling on the beach, grasping on feeble hope that Jyou would return.

He gazed over to Mimi, who was standing quite alone near the shore. She had her pink hat off, allowing sunlight to shine on her green-streaked honey hair. Her hazel eyes were hopefully scanning around the ocean, trying to see any affirmation of the black-haired boy. Frankie's heart sank. He knew how much she adored him.

As if reading his thoughts, Mimi gazed over to him, hope still shining on her face.

The russet-haired boy shook his head. "It's all over, Mimi. Joe isn't coming back."

The pink-clad girl's lips tightened, her hands clenched. "Iie. I refuse to believe that. I know he will be back." Her eyes turned to the sea. "I know it."

"Mimi, we have been searching for, I don't know, hours. There's no hope -"

"Don't say it!" Mimi cut him off, whirling around to face him, her hazel eyes flashing. "There's hope for him! I will stay here and wait until he comes back. I know I will. He's our friend. He won't let anybody control him. He is strong in his trustworthiness. He just have to be back." Then her face softened with rue. "You, out of all of us, would understand." Without hesitance, she wrapped her arms around his waist, burying her face on his tan shirt. "I miss him, Hiso-kun."

Frankie quietly rested his arms around her, attempting to hand her support. "I do understand, Mimi-chan. I miss him, too. We will wait here until he returns. After all, I did promise you we will find him."

A chorus of applause from nearby startled Frankie and Mimi. As the boy hastily pushed her behind himself, he saw two children - one Mimi and one Frankie - standing side by side nearby. They looked identical, but they possessed the familiar unseen aura of darkness. The dark Mimi was silent as the dark Frankie grinned slyly, clapping playfully.

The dark Frankie mockingly wiped an invisible tear from his otherwise sneering face. "Gosh, I'm all in tears! The scene is so touching!" Despite the words, his voice was full of mock menace.

The dark Mimi gave him a dirty look. "Please. All those mushy stuff is making me nauseated to my stomach." She was standing beside the dark Frankie, leaning on one foot. Her arms were crossed, and her face was a pure visage of scorn.

"Oh, easy, easy, girl," the dark Frankie winked slyly down to her. "We haven't introduced ourselves yet. It's kinda rude to make personal comments, hmm?"

The dark Mimi said nothing, her eyes glaring to the terrified Mimi, a corner of her lips curling disdainfully. The dark Frankie made a politely sinister grin at the shaken kids as he spoke, "I'm known as the Assassin with my Crest of Nothing." He then paused to jeer to the swiftly whitening face of Frankie. "Nice to meet you at last, Keeper. And this gorgeous girl with me is the Liar of Hypocrisy. We're honored to be created by the splendid Seer."

Frankie narrowed his eyes, observing the dark children. He remembered Kimika mentioning that she created the Betrayer. "So . . . you both are illusions." He straightened, firmly grasping on the idea. "You aren't real."

"Not real?" the Assassin cocked his head silently. "Believe as much as you want, but honestly, we are as real as you are." He took one step forward and sneered lightly at the backing children. "We are actually created by the darkness in your hearts. The Seer simply gave us bodies."

"You're not real," Mimi spoke out with hardness. Although she was anguished, there was bright strength behind her. "We would never create such awful people like you."

The Liar gave out a rude scoff and glared up to the Assassin. "Can't we just go ahead and kill them? The Guide is starting to irritate me."

Mimi's face flushed an angry red, but Frankie quickly calmed her down. His eyes then went into slits at the dark children. "Who ordered you to destroy us? May I remind you that we aren't that easy to be harmed."

The Assassin just grinned amusingly. "Then it will be more fun."

Frankie's hearing abruptly perked up at the whispers of the Liar. She was standing far enough to be unheard, but perhaps she meant to have her words being heard, for he could hear the words, "Bareness of Earth."

Mimi gave out a surprised cry as several brown vines sprouted from underneath the sands, surrounding her, and, all at once, girdled around her, pinning her arms tight to her sides. They raised upward several feet, and Mimi was suspending in the air, hopelessly struggling in the immovable vines.

"Mimi!" Before he could make a step to rescue her, a blockade completely made of blue ice smoothly towered from the shore, rising high, splitting him away from her. He speechlessly gawked at it, then angrily turned at the Assassin. The Liar has vanished, appeared at the other side. "So, you want to fight me alone?"

The Assassin shrugged, his hands behind his back. "Is it obvious? One on one. Seems fair."

The boy seethed, and his body began to react on its own. Hands heading for the other boy's neck, the Keeper lunged for him. For an instant, they came into contact - Frankie's hands around the Assassin's neck and his own hands grasping on the fuming boy's arms, then Frankie's sight went reversed as if he was upside-down. Then his vision suddenly beclouded, meeting the foggy sky as he collided on his back, knocking the wind out his lungs.

Frankie wasted no time to haste to his feet, although he was light-headed. The Assassin was calm, a light menacing grin on his face, quietly watching him. As a pulse of vague pain beat on his back of his head, Frankie wondered why couldn't he sense any danger in the Assassin. Perhaps . . . perhaps he was his own danger? Because he was his darkness, he couldn't sense the danger?

The pain began to strain him, and he could feel lukewarm moisture coming on his hair. His hand went for it, and Frankie's heart nearly paused as the moisture slid in between his fingers. Withdrawing them, he saw blood staining his fingers. The Assassin has opened a wound on his head.

"Aw, are you hurt?" the Assassin was tauntingly worried.

Again, Frankie's temple exploded. It seemed that around himself, he tended to get upset. Frankie pounced after him, yelling, "Heart of Ice!" Spikes of ice soared forward to stab in the Assassin.

But then the Assassin charged forward, hollering, "Silence of Ice!" Icicles of the similar color glided and easily struck the Keeper's ice spikes out of the way. Frankie had barely time to dodge before the Assassin landed a forceful punch upon his face.

The now weary boy tumbled down on the sand, agony pulsing through the left cheek and left eye. Forcing the left eye to shut tight against the pain, Frankie glared bitterly at the Assassin, who was just standing there, watching. But Frankie could see the menace in his identical hazel eyes, taunting him to attack. Frankie hesitated; that's what the Assassin wanted him to do, foolishly battling him, risking his life. It appeared very certain that the Assassin was strong, even stronger than him even. They have the same power. To destroy him was like destroying himself.

It was hopeless to fight himself.

Unless . . .

***

Mimi weakly groaned under the slowly compressing vines around her. The rigidness of the plants dug in her sides and ribs, and she found it difficult to be able to draw in a breath. Below, her corrupted double was standing with a scornful leer on her smooth face. Mimi strained to draw a feeble inhale in her burning lungs and gazed downward to her.

"Why do you want to destroy me? I did nothing to you."

The Liar tossed her head, the honey strands, along with the green tress, teasing billowing among her shoulders, and perused her with one hazel eye. "You created me," she simply answered.

Grogginess began to inch in her mind, but Mimi attempted to resist it. "I would never create such an evil person like you!"

"You lied. That's why your darkness is called as the Liar." The dark girl allowed her power to lower the vines so, still bound, the Guide could gaze at the same level. The Liar cocked her head and watched her disdainfully. "Fight me, Guide."

Mimi hesitated. She longed to slap brutally on her sister's face with all her refusal to believe that there was a dark side to her, so arrogant and deceitful. But now that she met her twin's eyes, she began to wonder if she was to fight the Liar, would it mean she will fight herself? She almost saw herself like the Liar's personality long before, but she had changed dramatically and grew more virtuous than before. Beside, she could sense a heartbeat within the Liar - a heartbeat exactly alike to her, as though the Guide and the Liar were one person.

She couldn't and won't fight her. Mimi dropped her head, closing her eyes.

The Liar made a distasteful growl. "You're so pathetic." She turned away in disgust. "Unbelievable that my own sister is a puny, wretched weakling."

Abruptly, her temper erupted, and Mimi sharply glared up, the simple green aura flaring around her. "I'm not a weakling!!" Her voice was screeching with fathomless wrath. At the same instant, she summoned few of the grasping vines to come loose and sent them thrashing for the Liar. The dark girl had little time to defend herself before the vines powerfully lashed on her torso, so forceful that they drew blood.

Mimi almost winced at the faint wave of pain passing in her body, both from the sight and the link between the girls. But her mind was on the desire to remove the Liar out of her sight. She never wanted to see herself like that again. She was changed. She was no longer the Liar; she was always the Guide.

"Mimi!"

The crucial cry of Frankie pushed Mimi to her attention. Desiring to rescue him, Mimi called forth her power. The vines that gripped around her obeyed her command, loosing themselves, releasing her to the ground. Mimi silently pointed to the ice blockade, and the vines went to break it down.

"You can't save him," snarled the Liar as she stepped close. On her face, there was a painful-looking streak across her right cheek, slightly seeping. The Liar looked fuming, her hazel eyes darkened. "He's not worth your time."

Mimi felt her blood hotly boiling with distaste. "Why won't you just be quiet?"

"Never," the Liar was now sneering. "You always lie to yourself. You just can't be quiet."

The Guide allowed her hand to clench into an outraged fist and flew for the Liar's face. Not to her surprise, the pained scream and the crack of the Liar's nose bone sounded delicious. Without a moment of hesitance, Mimi stepped forward through the already broken-down blockade.

She could see two Frankies - one kneeling on the sand, agonizingly caressing the back of his head, and the other simply standing nearby, waiting. But when he looked up to see her stepping over the rubbish, he sourly scowled.

"Stay back, girl," he warned, facing her. "It's not your fight."

"That does it," Mimi murmured, surprisingly calm. "You must be stopped from hurting my friend. You will pay." With a silent command, Mimi sent the waiting vines toward the Assassin. The vines seemed to possess the same anger she had, and they went vicious as they aimed fierce lashes at the boy. The Assassin shrieked, enraged, as he helplessly defended against the violent plants.

Mimi didn't realize that her desire to get rid of the dark kids was so strong, that in shocked silence, she watched on as one stiff vine mercilessly jabbed itself through the Assassin's abdomen. Somehow, the Keeper nearby gave out a quiet cry as if he was linked to the Assassin and experienced the twinge of pain. The dark boy instantly jerked in stunned disbelief, then slowly glanced over to Mimi. What made her shudder was that he was still having the menace on his sneering face as the last of him just evaporated into nothing.

"Mimi, look out!"

Just as his cry was called out, Frankie's slightly bloodstained hand raised and emitted ice spikes from behind Mimi. They flew past and struck the oncoming Liar before she could attack Mimi. The ice swiftly surrounded her body until she was completely frozen. That moment it happened, the ice shattered into pieces, and the Liar was gone, nowhere in sight. She was destroyed, unable to defend herself from the Keeper's power.

Mimi groaned at the bitter agony stabbing in her chest, freezing her heart, then it was gone. She was obviously shaken. How did that happen? Why did it happen? But then she remembered about Frankie's agony. She ran to his side. Frankie had his hand covering the back of his head, looking pale. Mimi could see that his other hand was slightly bloodstained. "Frankie, let me see."

"It's not that bad," he began to say, but Mimi gingerly removed his hand and took a careful look. The gash wasn't deep, the blood already clotting. The hair around the wound was wet with fresh blood.

"Don't touch it," Mimi sharply ordered as she stood. She ignored his amused smile as she went for her pouch she had dropped during the havoc and dug out a roll of bandages she had stored a long time ago. She was glad Jyou had the chance to prepare her for any injury as she folded a strip of cloth into a compress and pressed it on his head.

"Itai! Careful, would you?" Frankie muttered. He then held the compress in place as Mimi covered his head with several wraps of the bandages. His orange-streaked russet hair appeared more rumpled, covering the bandages. The boy quietly smiled. "Arigatou, Mimi-chan."

"Think nothing of it," Mimi smiled back. She then ran for the shore to soak a ripped cloth band with sea water. She went back, kneeling down beside him, and washed his hands free of blood. Both were silent, the boy watching her hands shaking as she rinsed away the blood. "Frankie," she finally spoke, too quiet, "Did - did you feel a twinge of pain when I . . . destroyed the Assassin?"

Frankie blinked and gazed up to her. "Yeah, I think so."

Mimi nodded, biting on her lower lip. "I felt the same when you killed the Liar. Would it mean that we are bonded to them? Is it true that we created them?"

Frankie sighed wearily. "I don't truly know."

Mimi paused in washing his hands and shakily scanned around the beach, now empty except for them and their dropped packs. "What can we do now? Should we come back for Tai and Kari and the rest?"

Ignoring the pain in his head, Frankie stood up, now cautious. He just sensed a faint wave of peril from nearby. He slowly scanned around for any intruder. Two different sensations of peril he was sensing - one strong, eager and the other deeply reluctant, seeming to struggle with itself inward. They were too familiar. Mimi had her hand over her chest, the sign of she experiencing an essence inside her heartbeat. Her face was darkened with suspicion. He was pretty sure that she was sensing two essences, not one.

As one, Frankie and Mimi whirled around to one side. Two boys stood side by side, one having his arms crossed, his dusky eyes narrowed, and the other darkly standing in silence, his hands into shaking fists at his sides.

"Remember us?" one of the Jyous sneered.

Frankie's hazel eyes flickered to one Jyou, then the other one, then back. Which was the real Jyou? They were clothed exactly the same, having the pale blue lock in their blue-black hair. The dusky eyes were incredibly dark behind the eyeglasses. However, the dangers Frankie sensed in the Jyous were different. The sneering Jyou had hostile peril inside him, and the silent Jyou was struggling with reluctant threat. From the corners of his eyes, Frankie could see that Mimi had her eyes on the silent Jyou. Would he be the real one?

As one, the Jyous attacked, one for each. Frankie's mind raced swiftly, and he summoned his Ice Power to halt the Betrayer. The dark Jyou shrieked in outrage as the ice covered him from the chest down, summoned from underground by the Keeper. He struggled, but his legs and arms were already useless. The Betrayer growled at Frankie, then turned his head to bellow, "What're you waiting for, brother?! Crush her neck!"

Frankie froze as he saw the Reconciler had Mimi in his strong hold. His hand was grasping painfully on her shoulder as his other hand encircled the firm fingers around her delicate neck, preparing to crush her windpipe.

Mimi was unmoving, bravely meeting the dusky eyes with her misted eyes. Frankie powerlessly watched, unable to do anything, as the Reconciler's hand twitched, his face contorted in struggling with something. He seemed to battle himself, contending the corruption, stubbornly refusing to give up. It appeared that he was losing, for the hand around Mimi's neck just squeezed by a fraction.

She gave out a choked cry that sounded much like, "Jou . . .", a single teardrop streaking down her face. The Reconciler seemed to break down; his hands shook, his face possessing a twist of haunted anguish. He loosed his grip, collapsing. Mimi quickly embraced her arms around him, both settling down.

"Reconciler, no baka!" the Betrayer yelled, his eyes flashing.

"Shut up!" Frankie snapped as he commanded the ice to silence him permanently. When the ice then shattered to reveal nothing, Frankie ran to his black backpack and snatched out the bottle of purified water. He then went to his friends' sides. Jyou looked feeble, limp in Mimi's arms, his face twisted.

Frankie quickly drained the half of the bottle's water upon Jyou's right shoulder. He then saw the anguish vanishing from his oniichan's face, replaced by peacefulness. Jyou blinked his eyes, then took a quiet gaze upon Frankie and Mimi. He then made a small smile. "You did it."

Relief heavily waved through Frankie as Mimi thankfully embraced him in her caring arms. Jyou returned her hug, then sat up, his face now guilty. "Goman nasai for what I've done to you."

"It's not your fault, Jou-kun," Mimi reassured, her face still streaked by full teardrops. "You did nothing to us. It was the Betrayer."

"Nevertheless, the Betrayer is me. I created him."

"Forget about him," Frankie said. "You are finally back, that's important to us."

Jyou made a half-smile, a half-frown. "Yeah, I'm finally back, but Kim and Izzy are still in danger. They are still too weak to resist the curse. I knew everything through them, like our minds are connected somehow. Izzy stole three of our stones - I believe they are called Digistones, right? Now that Amayamon has five stones, she will try to destroy us."

"Then we must go and stop her," Frankie insisted, scowling.

"If you are well enough to continue," Jyou said with worry, gazing at the boy's bandaged head.

Frankie chuckled, gingerly touching his head. "A fine work of Mimi's remedy."

As Mimi blushed, Jyou smiled good-humoredly, "Funny, Frankie. Now do you still have my Digistone?"

"In my backpack. Why?"

"Don't let Amayamon get any more of our Digistones," Jyou replied with a concerned frown. He then stood up with the help of Mimi, a bit unstable. Frankie noticed that he was still pale and weary, the reminder that he may be back, but only temporary. "We need to go to the temple. Tai and the others are entering it to get their stones back. If we don't hurry, Kim and Izzy will hurt them dreadfully."

Mimi fearfully gazed over to Frankie. His face grew pensive. "Okay, if you are well enough, Jou-kun."

Jyou made a half-smile. "I will be fine. I know where the temple is, so we must get going now."

The children went to gather their possessions. Mimi remembered something she kept in hopes inside her pouch. Taking it, she then reached out a lengthy cloak, the colors of mingled green, blue, and umber, hemmed with dark grey-blue along the edges. Jyou's cloak that Mimi borrowed from Sora.

Mimi handed it to Jyou. "You might need it. It's chilly lately."

The boy smiled a thank as he clothed in his cloak. It filled his tall, lanky form perfectly. Pulling the hood over his head, he said, "Let's go!" The others followed after him in the forest that was the boundary of the beach.

***
(A/N: This happened at the same time. Just informing ya. ^^)

***

Taichi couldn't remember how long they have been traveling through the forest. It felt like hours, but somehow, the forest grew so thick that he couldn't see the sun anymore. The leaves above were oddly large and easily packed among each other, blocking the sun, allowing only a few rays of the light passing between. Taichi had no idea what time was it. In the Digiworld, his Digivice never displayed time like it did in the home world, and he had learned to rely on the sun and moon. He only assumed that it was either midmorning or noon.

His friends were hunched together for sanctuary and warmth from the increasingly chilly wind. Taichi was pacing beside Akemimon, guarding the front. Yamato and Sora kept back guard. Hikari and Takeru were staying close to each other in the center, protected from all sides. Taichi knew that Akemimon was leading them toward the temple, but where exactly? All he knew was that they were heading north, and Taichi began to feel the coldness that came from the north.

Tugging on his hood to shield his face, he gazed up to the white-clad Digimon. "How long will it be until we get there, Akemimon?"

"Close, Master, close," came the answer. He didn't even look at him.

Taichi gave out an exhale and was surprised to see his breath wisping, cloudy and white. Rubbing his bare arms, his thoughts turned to Mimi and Frankie. He began to wonder if they would ever find Jyou. They seemed optimistic to find him, and not for the first time, Taichi wished them luck. His hand touched Jyou's medicinal bag he volunteered to carry, the second bottle of purified water inside. His hand was ready to grab it whenever Kimika or Koushiro appeared.

He saw Akemimon slowing down, and he paused at his side. Taichi could see something odd ahead. A foggy screen of pale red mist drifted around the trees, so thick that Taichi wondered if he could grab a chunk of it. "What's it, Akemimon?"

"This's the barrier that protects the temple. Nothing can enter or leave it. Only my sister and I can," Akemimon replied.

"So how can we enter?" Yamato asked, scowling bitterly, from the back.

"I will lead you though, but you must be near-at-hand so you won't get lost in the mist." Akemimon then reached a large gloved hand toward Taichi. "Hold on my hand, Master."

Taichi waited, eying the hand with suspicion, then he felt a small hand sliding in his hand. Looking down, he saw his sister grinning upward. She had Takeru's hand in her other hand, and Takeru held Sora's hand, also grinning at him. Sora quietly offered her hand to Yamato. He appeared hesitant, but took it.

Taichi exhaled, then slid his hand in Akemimon's. His own hand was literally dwarfed by the Digimon's hand, grasping gently.

Akemimon stepped into the mist. Taichi couldn't see anything, but just the red mist. Every breath he took in was part of the thick mist, nearly choking him with the moisture. He could feel the mist on his skin, the rich water drops fluidly swelling down his face, but strange as it was, they weren't wet. He wasn't getting drenched at all.

Before he could blink, he was free of the mist. Taichi quickly looked around. He was in the temple. They must be already here. The group was in a kind of chamber with seven or eight tunnels leading out. The chamber was rather dim; he could see only several feet in front. How could they ever 'enter' the temple was beyond his comprehension.

"Akemimon, where should we go?" Sora asked.

Akemimon had the puzzlement on his face as he faced them. "Strange. The temple is different than before. Amayamon must have known about our arrival and tended to fool us." He then faced one tunnel at their far right side. "But I'm not easy to be fooled. We go through there."

The other children had no other choice but to follow after the humanoid. As they walked through the passageway, Taichi was curious about the settings. The walls were plain in design, simple blocks of grey-brown stones set in a perfect lengthwise position, covered by faint films of mildew. The air was cool, but he could feel the uneasiness in it, feel the darkness. There was something wrong here. He just felt it.

They paused into another chamber, this time massive and empty. Taichi could see a single beam of the sunlight - or was it the moonlight? - colored pale yellow, shining from a lone window high in the far wall. Taichi grimaced; they were completely alone in the chamber. Then why did he sense someone nearby, someone dark? It seemed familiar.

"What should we do now?" he heard Yamato mumbling as he went to his side.

The kids were startled as Akemimon made a sharp grunt. He turned to depart so suddenly, his face a visage of rage, leaving the children isolated.

The children were speechless, wondering what just happened, then Taichi saw a surprised look on Yamato's face as the blond turned to face the far wall, eying the darkness that was untouched by the beam.

"What's it, Matt?" Taichi demanded, tensing.

"I smell Izzy . . ." Yamato narrowed his eyes in suspicion. Sure enough, the redhead was standing silently, avoiding the light. Koushiro watched on with a simple curl of his lips, his eyes blacker than the darkness he hid in.

"He's not Izzy, but simply the Fool," came a familiar voice from behind.

The five children whirled around to face the intruder. Actually, there was two, but one of them spoke up. Taichi knew why the presence he had sensed was familiar. It was Kimika. She was walking from the entrance with another Kimika behind. The leading Kimika slowed down in her tracks several feet away, her face deadpan. The other Kimika was simply silent. Taichi felt his heart clenching. Which one was his intimate friend?

"The Izzy you encountered earlier," Kimika was plainly speaking to Sora and Yamato, "is the Warder, but he fooled you."

"Which one are you?" Sora demanded, her amber eyes, as usual, growing rueful.

"I'm the Seer, of course," Kimika answered, shrugging. "I would like you to meet my dark sister, the Stranger." Taichi narrowed his eyes on the silent dark girl, who remained standing behind and at the right side of Kimika. The Seer continued distantly, "You know, her Crest is kinda interesting. Take the word 'Empathy'. Remove 'a' for Affinity, then remove 'h' for Heart, then you get 'Empty'. That's her Crest of Emptiness."

Taichi clenched his fists. He wanted to restore his friend back from the corruption. He risked himself to step close to the two Kims. The Kimika he now knew as the Seer flickered her empty eyes over to him as the Stranger stepped to her side, now at alert.

"Kimika, remember me? Your close dachi? We have been playmates since we were babies. Don't you remember all the fun we have together?" Taichi attempted to help her recalling her lost memories.

Kimika curled her lips, not a sneer, not a grin, not even a smile. "Funny. You should have hated me after what've I done to your oneesan."

Taichi's throat contracted with overwhelming emotions. She wasn't talking about Hikari. Blinking back unwanted tears, he continued strolling closer. "I already forgave you, Kimi-chan. Don't let the guilt remind you."

"Be silent, Master. I deserve the pain." Kimika then watched as the determined boy sneaked closer. "Stay back or I will hurt you."

"You will never hurt me," Taichi said bravely as he took one more step.

"I warned you."

Quick as a flash, the Stranger raised her hand, and a beam of black light with silver spirals around it emitted out. Taichi literally froze as the beam struck him on his chest. Pain was on his mind as he skidded backward against the force, smacking right on the wall behind. Sliding downward, he groaned agonizingly, then he saw someone stepping in front. He quickly saw his face, and his own features lost the color, the pain replaced by immeasurable fright.

"Master, I believe you have met one of my new friends, the Tyrant," Kimika spoke indifferently from nearby.

Taichi instantly remembered him from the battle with Phyrimon. Exact in features and clothes, the only difference in the dark Taichi was the coldness in his dusky eyes, like lifeless ashes long neglected to enkindle back to life, and the sadistic grin on his thin lips.

"Remember me, Master?" the Tyrant's voice was exactly the same, yet it was thickly covered with cruelty. "You almost defeated me. Almost. But remember, you created me, so I will always come back." His sneer then grew darker. "Afraid, are you? You should be, Master. Like your crest is Courage, my crest represents Fear."

"You can't be real," Taichi's voice quivered as he tried to crawl backward, but the wall stopped him.

"I'm real as you are."

"Vigor of Spirit!"

The Tyrant turned his head to face Yamato as his hand raised in front. He spoke the words, "Terror of Fire." A circular shield of red flames appeared in front of his hand. The night rays were simply consumed by the hungry flames. The shield then contracted into a swirling ball. The Tyrant aimed it over toward Yamato.

Yamato leaped out of the way, rolling aside. The ball struck the rock wall where he was moments earlier. His mind on protecting his friend, he began to haste up to his feet when, suddenly, a heavy-soled foot sharply kicked him in his stomach. Yamato gasped in agony, his body reflexively tensing to reject the pain. Then a firm hand grabbed around his neck, forcing him to stand up. The grip was so strong that he choked under the pressure. He was backed against the wall, and slid upward, the hand holding him. His own feet were dangling.

Hands clasping on the arm, Yamato managed to take a good look at his attacker, and his grey-blue eyes widened in disbelief. Meeting his incredulous gaze, the dark Yamato was silent, his eyes hooded like a wolf waiting to pounce. He possessed an aura of contempt, nothing but dislike on his face.

"My Guardian, meet the Outcast of Isolation," the Seer spoke from near.

Tremors of dread shook his body as Taichi helplessly stared at his dark brother. He didn't understand how could he create such horrible fear in himself, but he knew he was always afraid of himself, always used his recklessness to cover his fear. To see his own fear in the exact image of himself shuddered so, and he was powerless to fight him.

A flash of yellow, blue, and green, and Taichi blinked voicelessly as Sora risked herself to pounce upon the Tyrant, wrapping her arms around his neck. The Tyrant was outraged, cursing as he dug his nails in her bare skin. Sora refused to surrender, her face steadfast, her amber eyes now molten gold with fury.

Taichi then saw someone sneaking behind and raised her hand. He had barely time to shout out a warning before a fist whistled through the air and mightily backhanded on Sora's head. She gave out a pained cry as she released her hold off the Tyrant, stumbling back, caressing her throbbing head. The Tyrant gave her a dirty look, then sneered over to the dark Sora.

"Arigatou, Sugar," he said, reaching to fondle her cheek. The dark Sora just leered, jerking her head out from his caress, and faced the Seeker. The Tyrant again glared down to the terrified Master and prepared his attack.

Sora gasped as the Thief of Hatred aimed a robust swing right on her stomach. She tensed her muscles, backing to avoid another punch. The Thief was a fighter of quick pummels. As Sora agonized, the Thief wasted no time. Sneering hungrily, she crouched down and lurched one of her legs beneath her sister's feet. Sora's knees buckled, and she tumbled hard on her back, knocking the wind out from her.

The Thief then pinned her on the stone floor with her own body. Sora's amber eyes were hotly glaring with hatred at the Thief's laughing, ravenous eyes. "Come on, Seeker!" the Thief was taunting, her face close to hers. "Fight me!"

"Never!" Sora bellowed back, struggling, then wailed in pain as one of the Thief's hands caused a sharp blow to her face. Seconds later, she perceived the acrid taste of fresh blood in her mouth.

"Pathetic."

"Leave him alone!" Takeru cried as he saw his brother being choked by the hand of the Outcast on his neck. He hasted forward, shouting, as his body took in the aura of gold. The Outcast simply turned to stare at him with aversion just before a wall of pure silver light appeared before him, separated him from his brother.

Aura gone, Takeru fearfully turned to face the approaching Kimika - no, it was the Stranger. Hikari was beside him, shaken and frightened. Takeru tried to grasp on the hope he was destined to possess, but he could feel it filtering between his tightly-holding fingers, like grains of sand seeping away as he saw the emptiness in the Stranger's brown eyes.

"Savior, Saint," she was speaking hollowly, "I hope you're not leaving before I could introduce you to my other friends, the Trickster of Despair and the Slayer of Darkness."

As their hearts pounded crazily, the youngest Digidestined saw a dark Takeru stepped from behind to the Stranger's left side as a dark Hikari moved to her other side. The Trickster had great despair reflecting in the azure eyes, as if he gave up hope a long time ago. The Slayer possessed the same sadism her dark brother had, her pale tan eyes burning with the desire to kill. The dark children raised their hands, aiming.

"Death of Life."

"Life of Death."

And the Fool of Ignorance observed in dark silence.

And in the exact same moment . . .

"Heart of Ice!"

"Balance of Sea!"

"Essence of Earth!"

The Seer and the Stranger jerked their heads around as spikes of blue ice struck the Thief on her chest, knocking her off the suffering Sora, A powerful jet of misty blue light soared through the air and swiftly evaporated the Tyrant's beam of fire upon Taichi, halting the attack. Vines sprouted through the floor, powerful enough to break stone, and enclosed themselves around the Outcast's waist. He was astonished, letting of Yamato, who slid to the floor, groaning, and struggled madly in the hold.

"Don't fight yourself!" Frankie's voice was echoing in the chamber.

The youngest children quickly came into attack.

"Being of Life!"

"Rebirth of Death!"

The white beam with golden spirals surrounding it blocked the pink-rayed black cross from attacking the Saint as the pink cross simply halted the black beam with golden spirals in its path.

Takeru allowed his Being of Life to surround the Slayer until she was a figure of white and gold. She moved not as she was demolished by the Savior, and then a few white feathers drifting to the floor were the only evidence of her recent existence. Hikari commanded her Rebirth of Death to burn its imprint on the Trickster's chest. He tensed, his mouth open in a silent cry, then slowly vanished, unable to defend from the power, gone forever.

Takeru and Hikari suffered sharp twinges of pain, then they were gone.

Frankie again emitted the icicles to cover the raging Thief before she could do anything. He made sure she will never harm anybody as the ice shattered to show nothing. He heard the injured Sora gasping and quickly knelt by her. She looked terrible, a faint red bruise forming on her cheek and a hairline cut on her lower lip. "Sora, are you all right?"

Sora sat up with his help. "Yeah, I think so."

The Tyrant whirled to face the coming Jyou. "Terror of Fire!" A beam of swirling flames soared to strike him. Quickly, Jyou summoned his dome of pale blue around him and Taichi. The beam vaporized the moment it struck, making a sizzling sound. The Tyrant looked furious.

The dome vanished, and Jyou calmly grinned. "You forget that my power is Water. Balance of Sea!" He fired a sliver of the blue glow from his aura, aiming for the dark Taichi's feet. The beam entwined around him, from foot to head. The Tyrant gave out a raged but panicking yell until he was forever silenced.

Jyou ran for Taichi, who just groaned, his arms clutching around his chest. He sensed a bitter burn in his chest, similar to what he experienced when he first discovered his power, then it was gone. Exhaling quietly, he gazed up to Jyou, who knelt by him, worried. "Arigatou, Joe."

The black-haired boy smiled. "Anytime."

Yamato rubbed his sore neck as the Outcast made a disgusted growl, clawing at the vines entwining around his waist. Mimi appeared in the vision, looking lightly angry, her hazel eyes darkened. "I won't let my friends get hurt by the likes of you."

The Outcast lowered the eyelids over his eyes, much like an assaulting wolf. His voice was full of indifference. "Well, too bad, Guide. Dementia of Spirit!" His raised hands charged out an orb of the starless night sky, targeting for her. Mimi quickly lifted an open hand, and some how, a vine appeared in front, breaking through the stone floor, and swiftly swatted the orb aside. The orb crashed into the wall beside harmlessly.

Yamato was surprised that she did possess hidden strength, especially for her friends, and she definitely had the nerve to harm someone. He watched disturbingly as she commanded the vine to stab through the Outcast's chest. The dark Yamato jerked once, his grey-blue eyes wide, then vanished into particles, the vines now holding nothing but air.

Yamato cringed as a sting of sharp ache burst in his chest, but as quick as it happened, it vanished. Mimi knelt by him, soothing him. "I had to do it," she was speaking quietly.

"You are all fools," The Seer's voice broke through the thick air. Although she was emotionless, she seemed irritated. "You keep forgetting that you cannot destroy your darkness. They're part of you. Now to destroy you, my poor friends."

Beside her, the Stranger raised her arms above her and spoke, "Blindness of Shadow." Her hands glowed with the silver light, growling brighter and brighter until the light was painfully blinding.

Two Digidestined were not going to give up.

"Passion of Fire!"

The Seer didn't even flinch as the beam of savage flames collided on the Stranger's chest, swiftly burned her into red-hot ashes beside her. The light abruptly vanished, leaving all the kids blind for a moment. The Seer dispassionately took a brief glance at where her dark sister had been moments earlier, then she was captured by Yamato from behind. He managed to grab on her arms and pinned them behind her back, forcing her to be vulnerable.

"The water!" somewhere, in the dimness, Jyou ordered.

As his eyes slowly adapted, Yamato could hear the running footsteps coming close that he recognized as Taichi's and Frankie's. He felt the girl in his hold shifted a bit, then his left shin burst with pain from the powerful kick of her heel. Yamato instinctively loosened his hold, then her elbow pummeled hard on his ribs, forcing him to let go.

Disinterested, Kimika turned to face Taichi, who slowed down, a hand behind his back. He held up the other hand, appearing to calm her down. "Kim, please fight the curse. You must find your darkness and fight it!" Behind the silent Seer, he could see Frankie noiselessly slinking close, the bottle half-full of purified water in his hand, ready.

It seemed unthinkable to fool her. Whirling around, Kimika swiftly shot a hand and inflexibly snatched Frankie's wrist in midair. Her empty brown eyes met his alarmed hazel eyes, then she sharply wrenched his wrist, forcing him to gasp and release the bottle. The canister crashed on the floor, spilling out a puddle of water.

Or perhaps the Seer can be fooled. Her body stiffened as Taichi drained the purified water upon her right shoulder. Kimika's eyes widened, her hand limply loosening the grasp on the boy's wrist. The darkness around her seemed to die, vanish. Several emotions flashed across her face - Surprise, Remembrance, Disbelief, Rage, Shock, then, at last, Guilt remained on her face. Kimika blinked, her body slackened.

"Kim?" Yamato went to her side as the two boys stepped back, securing her up by his own hands. "Kim, can you hear me?"

Kimika's brown eyes went soft, too soft, her soul seeming to collapse inside. She stared at him mutely for a moment. Then her mouth opened to speak, but a too quiet squeak came out.

Yamato gently covered her mouth. "Don't say anything. It's all right. You are free."

Obviously, Kimika was shaking inside with heavy shame and misery, and he silently took her in his protective embrace, letting her pour out the guilt she had suffered.

"Is she all right for now?" Mimi asked anxiously.

"I think so."

As Sora came close to cover the grieving girl as her silver-hemmed green cloak broth for her warmth and refuge, Taichi went to make sure Takeru and Hikari were all right. Being young, they were shaken, but bravely held firm. He gave them a few words of comforted congratulations to defeat their darkness alone. He then remembered - Where is Akemimon?

As if was answering his thoughts, a scream of bitter pain rang from the outside of the chamber, vibrating the walls themselves. The nine children instinctively tensed, the weak protecting the weaker. Suddenly, they saw a flash of white - Akemimon! - flew through the portal opening and crashed against a wall. Akemimon groaned, struggling to move, then went limp, his eyes falling shut.

Before any of the kids could come to him, another Digimon stepped inside, her green eyes sneering at her brother. As if she knew the children were here the whole time, Amayamon turned to face them. She took a careful gaze around, then at the scowling Jyou and shaken Kimika lastly. "Well, well, looks like you rescued the Seer and the Reconciler. But you forget one thing. The Warder."

Just as the children realized, they saw a small figure stepping inside, standing by the female Digimon. Koushiro. He then raised his hands, both glowing with the aura of violet, dark as his own eyes. Nine silver lightning bolts crept out from the aura and slunk across the floor like snakes of electricity, preparing to strike with their magnetic fangs.

The bolts moved too fast. One by one, the bolts encircled the children's bodies and electrocuted them. Screams filled the air as the bodies stunned agonizingly, slackened, the electricity just powerful enough to knock the minds to the very edge of unconsciousness. The children limply collapsed to the floor, unable to move a muscle.

Sora struggled to battle the blackness as she watched helplessly as the Warder and the Fool, who cleverly hid in the darkness before, completed their duties ordered by Amayamon. They were collecting the Digistones. That was what Amayamon wanted after all - having the ten Digistones, but why? What was the point to the stones? Her own Digistone was the last one to be collected.

For a brief moment, Koushiro and Sora met gazes. Why, Izzy? Sora wanted to say. Why didn't you fight her? Koushiro simply answered nothing, ignoring her pleading eyes. The two Koushiros arrived at Amayamon, and she again sneered.

"Thank you, Digidestined, for the Digistones. Now I shall use them to control the world." Amayamon then raised her gloved hand. "Now that you are useless to me, I shall destroy you. Farewell."

Sora's mind was slowly filled with blackness as she saw a dark purple glow coming out the Digimon's hand, growing darker and darker. She shut her eyes and silently prayed that she and her friends will survive through this. They have to. The Digiworld needed them. The Digimon needed them. Most of all, Koushiro needed them. They can't give up. They just can't. They were the Digidestined.

She didn't realize that the other children were praying the exact same thing.

The burn marks imprinted on the kids' palms just now scorched.

Then blackness . . .

To be continued . . .