No I don't own Digimon, Toei and Saban does, so don't bother suing, unless you want a few pennies and a bottle of nail polish. You definitely want to read the first two acts of Darkness rising and the hour of the wolf to get the history and general storyline of this one, or you will be lost. Lots of Out Of Characterness in this one too. This fic though it doesn't quite make R status, gets a bit disturbing and does imply sex, though I refuse to get more graphic than a kiss. So if you think you can't handle that, go click on the back button and find a funnier, lighter fic. I recommend Operation: SLEEPOVER by Fruitloop Trooper. So don't flame, you have been warned. For the rest of you who are staying, I hope you enjoy this.
All flames that do come will go into my furnace.
Darkness Rising, Act 3
"Ogremon!"
Matt gazed in shock at the virus Digimon, who was supposed to be his sworn enemy. Then again, Ogremon softened up quite a bit when he met Mimi and Joe on their flight from MetalEtemon and Puppetmon. But that still didn't explain why he would be helping them. What possible reason would there be motivate Ogremon to stick his neck out for him and Gabumon?
"Why Ogremon? Why help us? Especially since they're going to be hunting for you just as determinedly as they're going to be hunting for us." Gabumon asked amazed.
"Not now. We've got to get moving. Your "friends" are already after us. If we aren't fast, we'll be fast food." Ogremon said, clearly reluctant to answer the question.
Matt wondered what else he could be hiding.
"They're nearby. I can sense their souls from here."
"You sure Kari?"
"Would I lie?"
"Of course if it would get you in our master's favor."
Joe smirked darkly. Yes, they were close, very close. He could sense them now too. A champion level Digimon, along with a rookie, and something that's power was off the scale. Matt. He had definitely achieved his full potential. Making him and his Digimon extremely valuable to Eviltarimon. Digimon linked to humans only got more powerful as their human's strength increased as well. And Matt's strength had increased exponentially. Still they were no match for the powers of Kari, their Digimon and him combined. The master would be pleased.
Kari was concentrating deeply, Joe noticed. What could she be up to? She better not botch the mission, or their heads would decorate Eviltarimon's battlements. Her psychic abilities were more pronounced than anybody else's, except maybe Tk's, and that gave her an edge in this hunt. She could sense the prey before anyone else, Joe noted bitterly. He was not going to let her claim this prize all to herself.
"What have you found out?"
"They're moving off. At a rapid pace. They know we're coming."
"Well duh. If I was them, I'd be leaving in a hurry too." Joe said snidely. It wasn't a problem however. They could just teleport themselves to the renegades' location and capture the whole lot. He smirked at the thought of what he was going to do to the foolish Digimon who had interfered in their little "recruitment" drive. Things that would have made even Myotismon shudder. He licked his lips. So many possibilities, all of them cruel and nasty, just the way he liked it. Matt and Gabumon weren't to be harmed of course, the master had expressly ordered that, but he was going to have so much fun with their savior.
"That's not what I meant." Kari said obnoxiously, smoothing her simple black shirt. She stopped fussing with one of the creases to add, "That's not what I meant at all."
"Then what did you mean?" Joe asked, getting irritated. If she didn't mean that they already knew they were on their tails, then what did she mean? Kari's round about answers were really getting on his nerves. He wished he had been paired with Mimi. At least with her he could have a little fun on the side. But his pet had been paired with Izzy. Who knew what they were doing? Joe's hand clenched involuntarily. It was no fair. He just had to get the little brat.
"Matt knows exactly where we are, even though he's not aware that what he's sensing is us. We must be cautious." Stated Kari, as if the fact was the most obvious thing in the world. Joe hated when she rubbed her psychic abilities in his face; it was such a put down of his own abilities. Oh yeah, it was not his day.
Kari began to move in the renegades' direction. She had a pensive, almost bemused look on her face. She was definitely looking forwards to the challenge. And so was Joe. After all, Matt was one of them, even if he didn't want to admit it. The master would convince him otherwise however. He, and his little digimon too, would… be…theirs.
In unison they vanished into thin air.
This would be fun…
Matt scowled darkly. For sometime he had been getting the weirdest sensations from the forest around him. Especially from two somethings behind him. He could feel the pressure of their power on his mind and gagged at the sheer foulness of it. His guts rearranged themselves into knots as suddenly the powers got closer. Much, much closer. He had a sneaking suspicion that their pursuers had just caught up to them.
"Gabumon. Ogremon. Listen up, we don't have much time…" Matt whispered, afraid that he would give away their exact position "…we have company. Two of our "friends" just found us, and this time we don't have surprise on our side. Any suggestions? Cause now would be the time for it."
"How do you know they're here already? Did you see something?" Gabumon asked, also whispering. His brown eyes were wide open in fright. Not surprising, after what just had happened. Matt was freaked as well. He wasn't taking this "Digidestined over to the dark side" thing calmly either.
"I've been sensing stuff ever since the close call with Eviltarimon, especially two dark powers behind us. I wasn't sure before, thought maybe I was too worked up and imaging things, but when they got real close, real fast, it became pretty clear that this psychic radar was for real, and we had trouble ready to strike. It also became clear how they were able to find us in the first place."
"So they'll be able to track us wherever we go? Not good. Not good at all." Ogremon said alarmed.
"I don't think it works like that. The farther away I get from a certain power, the more the sense of it fades. If we can get far enough away from them, they shouldn't be able to find us."
"What about the Digivices? They can be used to track people too."
"The Digivices don't have that much range. Get fifteen kilometers away and they can't track you either."
"Fifteen kilometers is a long way off Matt. How do we get that far away from them if they're pursing us the whole time?" Gabumon said, pointing out the one fatal flaw in the idea.
"I don't know Gabumon, I just don't know."
"You won't get the chance to find out!"
Joe!
Total blackness swallowed the forest, leaving a small spot of light where Ogremon, Gabumon, and Matt stood horrified. As Matt stared, out of the shadows stepped Joe, Gomamon, Gatomon, and…Kari. Of course, the darkness was Kari's handiwork. She was the Digidestroyer of Shadow after all; she could easily plunge an entire forest into total blackness.
"Gomamon Warp-Digivolve to AquaDemamon!"
"Gatomon Warp-Digivolve to Dryadramon!"
Matt was sickened as he saw the two, twisted Mega Digimon take shape. AquaDemamon was a ghost like Digimon, black with eyes like hot coals and a mouth full of sharp jagged teeth, and Dryadramon looked like she had come straight from hell itself. Humanoid with scaly snakeskin, huge bat-like wings, a spiked tail, and fire for hair, demon would have described her better, than Digimon ever would. Matt found himself hypnotized by the venomous yellow eyes that were sunk into her skull. He had to be wary. These four were capable of anything.
"I suggest you make it easy on yourselves and just give up. We won't do anything to you if you surrender. Well most of you…" Kari added with a sneer in Ogremon's direction.
"Oh I'm so relieved!" Matt shot back sarcastically. Suddenly an overwhelmingly putrid power forced his way into his consciousness. Oh no, not him…
"Very good you four. You've done well cornering our lost lambs here. And locating the one whom dared to try to destroy my crystal obelisk. You failed by the way. Not even a scratch on my precious toy. You shall not be so lucky. Joe, I leave it to you to teach this oaf some proper manners. Bring him to my villa, he shall learn respect of other peoples' property when we are finished." Eviltarimon said as he glided in.
"At once my Lord." Joe said, an evil glee shining in his dusky eyes. Matt's blue eyes widened. He had never seen Joe look like that, ever. Mentally he cursed the evil Digimon with words that his parents had told him never to use. If it hadn't been for that accursed fiend and his obelisk, Joe and the others wouldn't have wound up losing their souls. They wouldn't have wound up losing their lives in the first place. It was WRONG. Matt promised himself and his friends silently that this monstrosity would not be allowed to continue. That this would be set right. He would see to it personally.
"No! No! Put me down! PUT ME DOWN!" Ogremon screamed. Joe had been lifting him with his mind, and at his protest slammed Ogremon face first into the dirt.
Matt was rooted to the spot. He had to do something! But he felt his body had been remade in iron. He couldn't move!
Joe gazed at the fallen Ogremon in contempt. He lifted one hand, which now crackled with the fire of his black and silver aura, and casually shot thousands of tiny spears of razor edged water. Ogremon roared with pain as the spears sliced into him at every angle. Eviltarimon laughed appreciatively as Ogremon lay whimpering on the dirt.
"Leave him ALONE!" Matt howled in anguish.
"I think not, my soon to be servant. I'm having too much fun watching your dear friend Joe slice him slowly to tiny pieces!" Eviltarimon chuckled as Joe launched a fresh assault on the helpless Digimon. "In fact, I think your attitude needs a major adjustment. Kari. Joe. Take him. It's high time he and his pet kept their appointment with the crystal obelisk."
Matt narrowed his crystal blue eyes. Like hell he would submit to him. He'd rather die first. He saw Kari and Joe coming at different angles, auras blazing. Dryadramon and AquaDemamon also advancing. He prepared himself to fight, but these were his friends. They couldn't control themselves; Eviltarimon held their souls hostage. He couldn't blame them for their actions. He'd rather kick Eviltarimon's but all the way to doomsday, but with his friends in the way and ready to tear him to pieces on the dark lord's command, his options were limited to say the least.
A flicker of movement caught Matt's eye. Ogremon was half up, and crawling slowly to his side. He was slightly relieved. Ogremon was a tough Digimon and fortunately Joe had been only playing with him, he hadn't shown any of his true power. But if they stuck around, that would sure change quickly.
An image formed in his head, clear and detailed. It was the lake where Gennai lived, on the continent of Server. Placid, beautiful, and at least a thousand kilometers away from File Island. He wanted to be there, not here, facing down a force he couldn't bring himself to fight. An ocean away was a place that was safe for the time being. If only he could bring Ogremon and Gabumon there. If only.
Matt felt himself dissolving and moving at the speed of thought away as two hands, one with black and silver fire crackling from it, the other with white and pink fire, shot towards him. Too late. Matt was too far gone. He dimly heard someone shrieking "NO! NO!" and then everything went white and empty.
He was gone.
Eviltarimon clenched his hands into pale fists. He was gone. He was gone! So far away, that not even someone with the talents of Kari and Tk put together could find a trace of him. He felt the fear sweat trickle down his back and neck. The Seeramon's prophecy was coming true. Bit, by bit, it was coming true. If that renegade Digi-brat managed to destroy the crystal obelisk, and the souls were reunited with their physical selves…it would be disastrous. Eight Digidestined, fully at their potential, and the eight most powerful Megas in the Digitalworld, would be able to accomplish what all others could only dream, his destruction.
He looked at the kneeling Digidestined, his Digidestroyers and Digimon, and saw for the first time what they were. A ticking timebomb. His to command, but maybe not for long. He shuddered inwardly as he thought…
Sometimes things seem more out of control than I believe them to be.
No wisp of his inner turmoil showed through however. His face was impassive, carved from stone. When he finally did speak, his voice was like the glacier ice, cold and grating. He uttered only two simple words. Words that would be the catalysis that began a reaction of tragic proportions to the Digiworld.
"Find them!"
Matt appeared on a bluff of a cliff that overlooked a serenely beautiful lake. Forest ringed its sandy shores and everywhere was the scent of fresh pine. This was Gennai's lake. Matt inhaled in the rich forest scent, as he looked over the waters. This place brought back bittersweet memories of a kooky old wise man that had taken them in, fed them, and helped them in so many ways. A single tear tricked a crooked path down his cheek, and Matt didn't bother to wipe it away. It was for his friends whom he had lost, and hoped to find again. Someday.
Matt began casting his mind out, searching for Gabumon and Ogremon. They had to have made it across with him, they had to. Suddenly he felt two familiar presences nudge their way into his consciousness. They were close by. Threading his way through the trees, sensing the presences grow stronger and stronger, he cautiously approached something that could be a trap or worse. Matt's relief was palpable when he found only Gabumon and Ogremon. Though Ogremon looked a little tipsy.
Matt really looked closer. Ogremon seemed less green than he usually was, and the warty skin was all cold and sweaty. If Matt didn't know better, he'd say Ogremon was going into shock due to loss of blood. In fact, he was! Joe must have hurt him worse than he thought. And since there was no medic around, Matt figured he better do the next best thing, try to heal Ogremon himself. After all he had been able to mend himself. But it might not work, or kill, a Digimon. Could he take that chance?
"Ogremon, you don't look that good. If you want, I could try to heal you…" Matt started hesitantly.
"But…" Ogremon said, catching the holding back in Matt's voice. The big guy wasn't as dumb as he looked.
" I've never tried this before on any other Digimon. Only myself. It might backfire."
"Well, I'd never have got this far is I didn't take any risks."
"Alright…"
Matt slowly summoned his abilities and let them flow into Ogremon. Their skin began to crackle with his silver and blue aura, as Ogremon's many cuts shrunk and disappeared from sight. With a gasp, Matt stopped. It was done. The wounds were gone.
"Thanks kid. I guess I owe you another debt. Someday I'll repay you…I promise. Ogremon's honor." He turned and started to leave, lumbering into the deep woods of Server.
Matt watched as the fading figure finally disappeared into the dense underbrush. He finally understood why Ogremon had put all on the line to save him from Eviltarimon's machinations. Friends wouldn't do anything less.
"Matt, I don't get it…Why did he save us? He could have just turned his back." Gabumon asked confused, still in the dark about what was going on.
"Honor wouldn't let him do otherwise. And neither would Friendship."
Matt turned to the lake, a soft breeze ruffling his spiky blond hair. He began walking down to the water's edge, Gabumon right beside him. Soft pink petals wafted by and tickled his nose and eyelashes. It was so peaceful. He just hoped it could last.
The Yokomon village burned brightly as Sora watched indifferently. They had questioned the inhabitants about the whereabouts of Matt and Gabumon, and were met with such impudence. Apparently word had spread like wildfire over the Digiworld that they worked for Eviltarimon, and no one would talk to them. Until properly convinced. Tai had enjoyed putting the Yokomon on the hot seat one by one, until convinced by fear they finally started to talk. And still, what colorful language they'd used. They had told them quite bluntly that Matt was not on File Island, at least not in their area. Sora believed them. A quick scan of the area hadn't revealed anything of importance, just some cowering Digimon, who probably didn't know anything anyway. But nothing was to be left to chance; the master would be most displeased if it was. Tai and Agumon had gone after them.
Just in case.
Biyomon was also enjoying the warm fire, and the death screams that came with it. She also was totally unaffected by the cries, the pain of her sister Digimon meaning nothing to her. It had been a good idea of Tai to erupt the village into flames before he left. It had been way too cold before. And very boring.
Sora felt two presences appear behind her. Tai and Agumon must be back already. The Digimon around here were so pathetic. Didn't anyone have any backbone?
"Did you find out anything?"
"No, they knew nothing. No matter, the renegades won't stay hidden for long." Tai answered, as he wrapped a strong arm around Sora's waist and pulled her close "It's only a matter of time."
"It better be. The master does not like failures."
"Then we will not fail." Tai said as he planted a smoldering kiss on her cheek. Sora looked at him with a savage grin, as he ran his fingers slowly through her hair and did something particularly enjoyable. Tai's eyes were equally as full with the destructive lust as her, something that made him even more alluring. Someone she must have. They locked in a passionate embrace in the firelight, framed by scenes of death.
They wouldn't fail.
In both their missions.
"So you have finally come. I've been waiting for you."
Matt stared at the image of Gennai hovering above the lake. The old man was looking at them in kindly amusement, though Matt had no idea what was so funny. As Gennai gently smirked Matt and Gabumon disappeared suddenly from the lakeshore. They reappeared in Gennai's living room.
"You mind warning us when you're going to do that, huh Gennai?" Matt growled, a little peeved. It didn't help things when Gennai started laughing softly from his spot in the alcove. Matt scowled even darker. It was not funny!
"Sorry, but then it wouldn't be a surprise, now would it?" Gennai said, still snickering a little.
"I've had my fill of surprises, thank you very much." Matt grumbled in response. It had not been a pleasant day to say the least.
"So, you've had a run in with the Digidestroyers…" Gennai began, offering a cup of tea to Matt who took it gratefully. He had a few sips, letting the bitter liquid soothe his frayed nerves. Gabumon took his a few seconds later. The canine Digimon also relaxed visibly after a drag from the cup. Matt was beginning to feel better in the safe surroundings.
"… I'm surprised you managed to get away. The Digidestroyers are a tough bunch…"
"We had help from Ogremon. If it wasn't for him we'd be toast."
"Yes. Anyway it's lucky you did. Eviltarimon will do anything to get his hands on you two. He's tearing apart the Digiworld right now just looking for you. If he gets you, he will have supreme power, and he will defeat the prophecy that now threatens to destroy him…"
"Excuse me Gennai, I don't mean to be rude but…" Gabumon said " …What prophecy? Would someone please tell me what's going on?"
"Certainly Gabumon." Gennai said. " It goes like this…"
The search had not been going well. Matt apparently had vanished off File Island altogether, and could be anywhere in the Digiworld. Logically he would have gone to Server, but Server was a large continent. It could take months to search it. Eviltarimon had not given them months.
Problem.
Izzy stared down from Infinity Mountain. Cold black eyes surveyed the landscape intently, looking for any sign of his friends down below. A spark of light caught his eye. The Yokomon village. It and the surrounding area were an inferno of flames. An eyebrow quirked. Tai must be having fun; fire was his specialty and no one else could set ten square kilometers ablaze just by thinking about it. Ironic really, their abilities were somehow connected with the elements of life, and yet their purpose was death.
"See anything interesting out there Izzy." Drawled a voice like smoke and honey. Izzy didn't need to turn around to find out who said that. Only one in the Digiworld could own that voice.
Mimi.
She tossed her luxurious golden brown locks from her shoulders, and sultrily walked to the edge of the cliff. Palmon silently followed, not saying a word. After their "recruitment" the Digimon had barely said anything, but that didn't matter. What mattered was that they served Eviltarimon unfailingly…and unquestionably.
As it should be.
Izzy refocused his eyes on the forests. A cruel and maniacal smile lit upon his lips. A plan had come to him, beautiful in all its ruthful details. The perfect way to draw out Matt Ishida. The bonds of friendship would be his destruction. He looked at Tentomon with interest. Yes, friendship would destroy him, and Eviltarimon would be there to pick up the pieces. He continued smiling as he looked at Tentomon, and basked in the absolute ironic nature of the plan, laying on and refining the finishing details. It was perfect.
Soon Matt, Izzy thought. Soon.
"I never realized…I never knew…" Gabumon stuttered, stunned at Gennai's story.
"Believe it young one. Through the crystal obelisk, Eviltarimon controls your friends. And he seeks to put that same kind of control on you. If he succeeds, the hopes and dreams of everyone here will be shattered, and there will be no way to stop him because he has all of you. But, for now there is a chance of success, even though slim. There was a prophecy…"
"Isn't there always." Matt said dryly.
"…That foretold of his destruction by the hands of his former servants and the two that that will release them from bondage. To fulfill that prophecy you have to destroy the crystal obelisk."
"I'm sensing an "if" here." Matt mumbled peevishly.
"Oh Matt… Lighten up…"Gabumon sighed.
"He's right Frosty. Brooding about this won't help anybody." Gennai said condescendingly, like a father to a small child. Matt kind of wished that his dad were there. He might have been aloof and sorta rough, but he had been always there when Matt needed to talk. He really missed those father/son chats and he could use one now. Suddenly he sat up with a start. What had Gennai called him?
"Frosty…?"
"Sorry…"Gennai said sheepishly. "I needed a nickname and that's the only appropriate one that comes to mind. Considering your powers and all…" He trailed off.
"What about my powers? What do you know of them." Matt said astounded. A chance for an explanation on why he had the darn things; something he wouldn't give up for all the candy on both worlds. He leaned forward eagerly.
"Well…your abilities draw off the forces of life itself. That's why you have such power, and that's why Eviltarimon wants you so badly. He already controls death, now he wants total control of life too, so he can twist it into a grim parody of its former self. But life is not unchanging; each of your souls is unique in its own special way, and so your powers and what you represent is unique too. For example Tai represented Courage before he was changed, did he not? His spirit was fiery, untamed, and wouldn't back down from any challenge. He was Courage, and so his powers suited what he represented. Fire. Fire is bold and unafraid and wild, like courage. Besides, with that hair, anything else would just not have done. You Matt, are Friendship. You're cool but protective, nourishing, and mostly level headed. That's why you have a affinity with Ice, as you might have noticed…"
"Yes, I have. But what's the deal with the psychic element. You know, the telepathy, telekinesis and teleportation and all that." Matt asked, his head spinning.
"Ah yes. That. Well, the connection to life itself is psychic in nature. But it's such a powerful link…er…there are side affects, to understate the case."
"Like visions of the future…?" Matt trailed off. He coughed slightly. The dream or more accurately vision that he had had, had foretold that Eviltarimon was after him, his friends had changed for the worse, and his fate if he didn't manage to escape for the evil tyrant. It had also been so disturbing, that he had unconsciously leveled a square kilometer of forest while sleeping and nearly killed Gabumon in the process. It was not something he wanted to go into detail about.
"Sure, anything's possible. Why…You've been having dreams perhaps…?" Gennai interrogated, a genuinely concerned gleam in his eye. He was worried about him. It was nice to know that Gennai was worried. But still…no way he was going to delve deeply into that particular memory. It was just too freaky.
Gabumon scuffed his foot on the floor and scratched his head delicately. Gennai instantly got the message. Now was not a good time to go into that particular subject. Instead he turned the conversation to a much more mundane and aromatic subject.
"Now I can see that you boys are tired, dirty and…" he wrinkled his nose at the next part "…very odorous. That's why I took the liberty of arranging futons for both of you, new clothes for Matt, and most importantly a bath that you can get into right away." Gabumon winced very slightly. He doesn't like baths very much, noted Matt. Says that if he takes one, his fur will get stinky. Matt smirked a little. It was a tinge too late for that now.
Gennai obviously wasn't finished yet, cause then he added "In the morning, we can discuss this more, and help Matt explore his new abilities a bit. Help him learn to use them. It may be the only hope we got in staying alive through this mess. In the meantime…" he pointed to a door that lead to the bedchambers and the much dreaded bath.
Matt was in agreement with this. Learning to use his powers could be their and their friends, only chance at salvation. Not to mention the ticket to getting some serious payback on Eviltarimon. All he had to do was destroy the crystal obelisk, a difficult task at best. But who said it was going to be easy? Oh well, he could mull over the problem while soaking away the grit and sweat from the escape.
Gabumon began to sneak towards the door opposite the door to the bath. He was not looking forward to his little dip. But Gennai had the senses of a hawk, and before he could go five steps, Gennai roared…
"Bath! NOW!"
Gabumon just whimpered.
Thunder and lightening roared, as an elegant villa was battered by nonstop rain. The winds howled as Tk sat on a rocky ledge and probed the equally restless winds of life. Tk could feel that they had taken on a darker tune. His friends must have been very busy indeed to cause such a shift. He summoned up a goblet of nectar as he contemplated where his dear brother had gotten. To Server no doubt, but where?
Where would he feel safe? Where could he hide, so it would be next to impossible to find him? A million places of course. Matt knew the Digiworld as well, if not better then the rest of them. He had been to places, none of the others had ever heard of. Tk took a sip. Randomly running about was not going to do any good to anybody. They needed a plan.
Something shattered his concentration. It was the unmistakable feeling of a summoning. Perhaps one of the others had found something. Maybe Kari had been given information by one of the spirits she had been coercing for hours. Maybe not. In any case, the master wanted to see them immediately.
Whether about good news or bad was still debatable.
Matt stood in front of the large standing mirror and brushed his hair to its normal spiky look slowly. Behind him, Gabumon still slept on one of the futons, looking a million times better than the night before. Matt smiled at the memory. Gabumon had refused to set one paw in the bathroom, even after when Gennai had said that he had smelled worse than a Skunkmon, and had to be dragged, screaming every step, and thrown into the water with Matt. The look as he hit the water was absolutely priceless, but his sulleness the entire night afterward was not. Matt just hoped he was in a better mood after he woke up. He quietly admired his clothes and had to admit that Gennai actually had good taste. He wore calf high boots made of dark leather, with dark blue pants and an evening purple shirt that tied up at the neck. To top it off, a hooded midnight blue cloak with silver threads woven throughout, gave the impression that Matt was wrapped in the night sky. To say it bluntly, it was pretty cool. Matt saw something flicker in the mirror. It was Gennai standing in the doorway, a painfully grave look in his eyes. Matt immediately understood that they needed to talk.
In private.
Making sure that they were far enough away so they wouldn't wake up Gabumon by accident, Matt sent a questioning look at Gennai, who only scowled deeper. Whatever it was, it was serious.
"How's Gabumon?"
Matt was a little thrown by that question. Not the thing he thought he'd hear but he went along anyway " He's fine. Worn out from last night's escapades, but fine. He's sleeping it off right now. He'll be up soon."
"Good. Matt, I'm going to be blunt with you on this. Lately I've been receiving reports of acts of extreme violence from File Island. Whole villages simply wiped out after they were questioned about your and Gabumon's whereabouts. File Island is in ruins. There's almost no one left standing, and those who are left are being hunted for whatever knowledge they have about you. Your friends are responsible for the carnage."
"I know." Matt said softly. Warm liquid began running down his cheeks as he thought about all the Digimon that had paid the ultimate price because of Eviltarimon's dark desires. That grief exploded into anger that resulted in a truck sized hole, as his fist released Matt's pent up rage into a nearby unlucky wall. A startled yelp was heard from the other room. Matt swore silently. Great, he had wakened Gabumon up.
"Please don't do that. It costs a fortune to have these walls detailed, don't ya know." Gennai said, scolding but understandingly. Matt blushed. Punching a hole through Gennai's wall had been a little extreme.
"Err… Sorry…"
Reclining back on his ornate throne, Eviltarimon considered his opinions. It had become quite clear that Matt was not on File Island but on Server, somewhere on that vast continent. It was nearly impossible to search that place quickly and he had been running out of ideas. Fortunately Izzy had not. He had set upon the one surefire method to find Matt. A method that involved one that lived underwater, and that was the epitome of irony for the Digidestined and Digimon of friendship. A method that would provide an interesting drama to boot.
He watched with interest as his Digidestroyers put the final touches to the "plan". His red eyes gleamed brighter as he beheld the finished product. It was perfect. No one would be able to guess its true purpose. Until too late.
It was time to bag his prizes.
To be continued…
So what did you think? It took longer to finish this cause I had to intern at a nearby lab for a week. But I'm glad I did; I met the most interesting person. A blue eyed blond from shipping and handling who…guess what… was named Matt Ishida. No joke. He sat down at my table during the lunch break and we talked about current work and our pets. He said he had a canine companion who he was separated from at thirteen. Strange, huh? It gets weirder. And no I am not joking. When he got up to go back to work, I noticed he had something that kinda looked like a pager on his belt. I must say, this was the freakiest of all the freaky coincidences of my life. Now that I'm done with my tale of the weird encounter at work, I have to announce that I'm holding a little contest for my readers. If you can guess what Izzy's plan is, then you get a mention in the next act. I've hidden little clues all over the fanfic, so you just have to go looking for them. Fun, no? Just send your answer in via review.
ShannonL.