Original Author: Debbie ( Dai- chan)
Rewriter: Celestra
Helllllllooooooooooooooooooo oooooo! Here is me! Straight from Thornhill! I find my power, Shadow! By the way, My crest usually glows blue-green-turquoise-aqua, not silver.* Singing," No Kimika, no Kimika, no Kimikaaaaaaa!""Hey, in the last part, Daisuke is in the DigiWorld and he gets a power,too!He gets Kari`s power! He has been Tai and Elanna`s best friend since preschool and they are the BEST friends.** Debbie throws her laptop at me. I duck" Missed me!"* Dedication Award goes to . . . * Drumroll* Debbie (Dai-chan)! Bye!( Start reading.) BTW, Kimika is Debbie` s character but me is my character.( My Japanese name is ' Elannika " Elanna" Kamiya' The original name is Elanna but Elannika is my Japanese name.( Matt is my boyfriend, that` s why we care about each other in all the chapters.)( Another message, Elanna/me is an artist.)Oh, and I`m 10. And Gabumon and Raimon care about each other the same way Matt and Elanna care about each other. Daisuke is 11, the same age as Tai.
It was still raining when the four kids and four digimon strolled in the jungle. They seemed not disturbed by the raindrops, welcoming them to their cool thoughts. They were exhausted by the recent battle, but they were determined to find their missing friends. One was extremely worn out from the battle, nearly using all his entire strength to release his hidden power. It had effected him with some physical appearances, maybe forever.
Elanna was helping Tai walk while Sora and TK followed from behind. Because of the irritable pain pulsating in his chest, Tai could not stand without support. If he tried to stand by himself, the pain throbbed worse, always leaving him gasping for breath. Even though he felt a bit humiliated by needing help from the girls, he was thankful that the girls were willing to help, anyway. Elanna had her arm around his waist, his arm around her shoulders, adding her strength to his. Sora did help when Elanna grew tired. TK was silent the whole time, watching Tai with his azure eyes, seeming so serious.
" Stop, Elanna," Tai spoke through clenched teeth." I need rest."
Elanna let Tai sit down, resting against a tree. Agumon also sat by him, looking weary, sharing his pain and exhaustion through the spiritual link. Elanna gazed at Tai with worry. Tai` s forehead was beaded with sweat from his struggle to resist the chest pain. His dusky hair, along with the lone, peculiar bright red strand, was damp from the rain. His eyes were closed, his head leaning on the trunk.
His face was cringed with agony." Why must I suffer this pain?"
" It will go away soon," Sora said, trying to soothe him.
Tai opened his eyes, and Elanna often stared in awe at his strange eyes. She admitted that she missed his old eyes, which used to be brown with impatience and enthusiasm. Now they were blazing red with speckles of orange and yellow, reminding her of a violent fire.(" He is changed, but, still, he is my brother.") Elanna thought.
Tai must have of realized that Elanna was staring at him. He lowered his eyes self-consciously. Again he touched his chest and sighed with soft pain.
TK knelt by him, his eyes soft." I hope that you will get better, Tai." The young boy embraced him gently, giving him comfort. Tai returned the hug tightly, looking grateful. Elanna and Sora looked over to each other and smiled. TK was willing to give the kids his ceaseless support by giving hugs. Hugs seemed like an excellent cure for Tai, even though he was not one who liked to be hugged. TK seemed to have a special grace that influences warmth and compassion.
At Elanna` s side, Raimon shook water from her right forepaw, looking irritated. She muttered," Can`t the rain stop?"
Elanna raised her face to the rain, feeling the streaks they left behind on her cheeks." That` s all right. The rain makes us feel better, especially Tai."
She glanced at Tai, who once again closed his eyes, contented in the company of TK." He is getting better by the minute."
Sora walked up to her, leaving Tai, TK, Agumon, and Patamon behind. She seemed anxious." But I`m worried about his pain.''
Elanna` s eyes were still on Tai. " The pain might be a side effect to his power. It will go away as long as he won` t try to use his power." She was sure that he got the pain after he tapped into his new power, not from his healed burns.
Sora nodded in agreement with her. She gazed at Tai for a moment, then said," I wonder if we have such power as his."
Elanna shrugged uneasily. She wouldn`t want that kind of power. It would be awesome to have such an ability, but she wouldn` t want to be forever changed like that." Maybe. Maybe not. Perhaps Tai is the only one who has power. After all, he is the Master.''
Sora glanced sidelong at her." He is changed. He` s not the same Tai as before."
" I know, Sora, but I believe he is the same Tai inside. He wouldn` t change that willingly. I know him well.''
The raindrops halted falling from above and the clouds were drifting away by an invisible wind. Elanna noticed that Tai had his eyes opened and focused on one point at his far left, as if he was watching something. He was engrossed, which was usual to Elanna. He stood up without any support, no pain passing over his face. The kids and digimon, including Agumon, gazed at him in surprise, then they heard voices coming from the jungle, coming closer.
Always voluntary, Patamon hovered forward to what the voices were. Biyomon, Raimon, and even weak Agumon stood in a half-circle around their human partners, guarding them. Soon, they saw Patamon flying back, an excited expression on his childlike face.
" They are here!'' he said, and as soon as he mentioned it, they saw the other digimon – Gomamon, Palmon, Tentomon and Gabumon running from behind him. Agumon, Biyomon, and Raimon ran to embrace them, glad to see each other again. Soon, the kids – Joe, Mimi, Izzy and Matt appeared, looking thrilled to see their friends. Elanna, Sora, TK and Tai hugged them warmly.
Elanna returned a hug to Joe and looked up to his dusky eyes. In the joy to see their friends safe, No one noticed the changes in the two boys. Elanna blinked in wonder as she saw something unique in Joe` s eyes. Calmness. She saw a thin, pale blue strand among his black-blue hair.
" You have changed . . . like Tai," Elanna said softly.
At her words, Sora and TK looked at Joe as Matt, Mimi and Izzy gazed at Tai, seeing that the two of their friends were changed. Tai gazed over to Joe with puzzlement as Joe stared back with curiosity.
Elanna glanced over to Tai, then turned to Joe." Did you find your power, Joe?"
Joe glanced down to her.(" He is changed like Tai,'') Elanna thought.(" He is not anxious or tense.'') Joe nodded as his dusky eyes again studied Tai, who was gazing back.
The friends stood in awed silence at the two boys. Elanna knew that the silence was making them uncomfortable, but she was also amazed herself. Fortunately, Matt stepped in to break the silence. He spoke,'' We will tell you what happened."
All rested where they were standing, huddled together for comfort and sanctuary. Tai and Joe were strangely silent during the stories, seeming to be in deep thought, Elanna noticed.(" What had happened to them, really? How come they have such power that changed them for some reason? What is the real purpose?") Elanna entered her thoughts about her questions as Matt and Sora continued their stories.
Through his pool of seeing, Myotismon watched the kids in furious silence. His blue eyes were blazing darker then the darkness he was cloaked in. He was gazing at the silent Tai and Joe.(" The Master and the Reconciler have found their powers. They prove to be dangerous to me. They will definitely destroy me . . . ") He thought darkly. His hand grasped into an enraged fist, shaking violently. He would not let his anger take over him because of some wretched kids. He forced himself to breathe, slowing down his rage. Once again composed, Myotismon narrowed his eyes in refection.(" I will personally see to it myself to destroy all the kids at once. The sooner the kids are gone, the better.") He dissolved into the darkness in perfect silence, a sadistic sneer on his pale face.
Mimi glanced over to Tai and Joe with wonder." Is it possible to have powers like that?"
Izzy nodded." Highly plausible.''
" But why?" asked Palmon from her friend` s side." What is the reason?"
Again, the group was lost to the question, not knowing the answer. Elanna could n`t stop her eyes from flickering over to Tai and Joe. She knew the answer had to be in them, but she would not disturb them to find it. She knew that they needed some time to accept the change in themselves.(" It`s possible for us to have to have such power, but it seems that only to get that kind of power is to become what are crests represent.")
She reached into her pink shirt and drew out her crest. Like the other` s crests, her tag was made of polished brass with a glass screen to shield the crest that symbolized her soul. On the blue-green-turquoise-aqua crest, an image was carved into the stone – a perfect heart with one circle inside the heart and another circle in the circle. There were the lines inside the peace sign in the heart, going into the inner circles. The symbol of the Crest of Bravery. Elanna knew she was brave, empathetic and understanding to her friends, but how could she find her power through bravery? Tai and Joe did, though. Tai found his power by courage in order to face himself and Joe found his power through reliability to balance the chaos within.
" Greetings."
Elanna looked up startled with the others at the voice. All immediately recognized the voice – Myotismon` s. Instinctively, the kids huddled closer for protection as their digimon guardians encircled them, facing out. The surroundings were suddenly shifted into unnatural darkness. A dark, ominous feeling filled the air. The darkness seemed to condense into a floating oval opening of darkness, hovering near the group. Two eyes of piercing, icy-cold blue peeked out and Myotismon unasked his face.
He studied Tai and Joe for a moment and almost bowed with ironic respect to them." I see that the Master and the Reconciler have come as the legend told. May I congratulate them?" He shifted closer.
(" Agumon digivolve to . . . Greymon!")
(" Gomamon digivolve to . . . Ikkakumon!")
Myotismon stopped in his tracks. His eyes narrowed in irritation at the fanged white walrus and the horned orange dinosaur standing before him." Don`t you fools realize that you will never defeat me?"
" Nova Blast!" A sphere of orange fire emitted from Greymon` s mouth. Myotismon silently cloaked himself in darkness, and the fireball dissolved as it came in contact. Myotismon again unmasked himself.
Ikkakumon lowered his head and bellowed," Harpoon Torpedo!" Five harpoons emitted from the horn on his head. The harpoons charged toward their target, Myotismon.
" Crimson Lightning!" Myotismon spoke out, and red lightning bolts crackled from his hands. The bolts surrounded the harpoons, and they exploded in midair, raining ashes.
His eyes burning at the group, Myotismon hissed,'' You are to strong together. I must separate you." He began to glow with a sickening green glow.
Elanna moved closer to Tai, afraid to see what would happen. Suddenly, Tai stood up, and so did Joe. Together, they stood out of the circle of digimon, moving as one. They began to glow with strange auroras. Tai` s aurora glowed with dancing flames around his body as Joe` s aurora rippled in the air as waves of a sea. Myotismon hissed shrilly, and his glow blazed stronger. The boys responded back by their auroras brightening intensely. The glows were so bright that the kids and digimon shielded their eyes, turning away.
Elanna risked to look back. The auroras came in contact, and there were two sudden explosions within the blindly glows. There no vibrations, but she could feel the heat radiating from the glows, and she knelt down, shielding her head with her arms. The heat continued radiating, and finally, it cooled down.
Looking up, Elanna saw that the kids and digimon were gone by half. Tai, Joe, Sora and Mimi, along with their digimon, were gone without a trace. Matt, Izzy, TK, Elanna and their digimon were left behind, the only ones left to face Myotismon.
Myotismon appeared pleased at that. His glow dissolved and he held up a hand. Elanna heard Matt and TK running to her as Izzy grabbed on her arm. He huddled close, his eyes tightly shut. Raimon and Tentomon also clustered close, also frightened, still to weak to battle. Reaching out for Matt, Elanna held on his hand and he and his brother knelt by her, huddled up, with their digimon at their feet. Only Elanna was brave enough to have her eyes open. Myotismon gazed at them with disdainful amusement. He closed his hand into a fist.
Suddenly, a quake was felt. A rugged crack broke in the earth, opening wide under their feet. Screaming, the kids and digimon plunged into the dark pit as Myotismon chortled evilly. Their visions went black, then all thoughts were gone.
She opened her eyes to a humming. She laid on her stomach, her head on one side. There was a dim light around the surroundings, but she couldn` t find the source of that light. She sat up, careful to see if she was injured or anything. She was not hurt at all, just soaking wet. Wet? She tried to remember what had happened. She remembered a pit in which she and her friends fell in, and the echo of Myotismon` s horrible laugh. After that, she couldn` t remember the rest. She lost consciousness, and she woke to find herself on a river/beach, the river floating from ahead of her, the water sparkling even in the dim light. That was where the humming came from. She must be beached.
Elanna heard a groan and found her digimon beginning to stir by her side. She remembered about her friends and called out their names." Matt!? Izzy!? TK!?" Soon, her eyes discovered the soft outline of a laying TK and a stirring Patamon near. TK had his eyes closed, looking almost like he was sleeping.
" TK?" Elanna crawled to him on hands and knees, not trusting her balance yet. She touched her fingers of her right hand on his cheeks. He was warm. He was all right. He opened his eyes at the touch, his innocent eyes clouded with quiet confusion.
Elanna grinned with sympathy." Hey, boy. You are all right. You are here with Elanna." She held him close to her chest. She picked him up as she stood up. TK held on to her, his arms around her neck firmly. She stood silent, letting TK look around his surroundings.
" Where is Matt?" TK whispered, sounding worried.
" We will find him, " she said, trying to hide the worry in her voice. The dim light did n` t give enough light for her to be able to see far enough. Her eyes struggled to see in the darkness behind the light." Matt! Izzy!"
She heard sloshing sounds in the water and found Izzy wading through shallow water toward her, Tentomon hovering near. His red hair was dripping, and he was twisting his orange buttoned shirt, looking slightly irritated.
" Are you all right, Izzy?" Elanna asked with concern.
" No injuries at all,'' Izzy replied. He shook water from his hair, spraying on Elanna and TK. They did n`t bother to move, since they were already wet." Just wet.''
Once again, Elanna heard wet footsteps from her other side. Matt walked up to her, also wet. Gabumon was heard muttering bitterly about ' stinky fur'. Elanna gazed at the blond boy with deep concern. Matt caught her eye and smiled reassuringly, acknowledging her that he was okay. Elanna always liked his rare smiles that showed his true soul of tenderness and loyalty. It was a surprise that no one noticed that. Matt saw his brother cringing on her.
" Hey, kiddo,'' he said. TK looked up at his voice and held up his arms to him silently. Matt took him in his arms. Elanna watched them with memories. She remembered that her brother, Tai, hugged her like that when she was little, and he still did it now, but she was not as much off the ground. She and Tai were very close. She began to miss her parents." Are you okay, kiddo?" Matt asked. TK nodded slightly, his eyes lowered. Concerned, Matt gazed up to Elanna.
Elanna fidgeted with her golden hair, meeting his eyes with sympathetic rue." He saw things that are not supposed to be seen for young boys." She remembered TK` s unexpected encounter with a badly injured Tai earlier.
Matt` s grey-blue eyes seemed to harden with regret, unconsciously embracing his brother more firmly. He nodded and scanned around his surroundings.'' Where are we?"
Tentomon mentioned from above their heads,'' It appears that we fell in an underground cave." Elanna noticed that they stood on smooth rocks, slick with green algae. The walls of the cave was seen from behind it, but the river flowed in front of them, swiftly moving. She still coundn`t find the source of the dim light.
Izzy knelt by the river watched the swift currents." The river must have softened our fall and beached us here."
Elanna frowned at that. Why couldn` t she remember falling in the river?
" But how can we get out of here?" Matt sounded impatient.
Elanna put a gentle hand on his arm to calm him." We will continue and search."
Before she could take a step anywhere, Gabumon made a suspicious grunt. His ruby eyes carried as he sniffed the damp air. The kids and digimon waited patiently. They trusted his keen sense of smell." I smell something," said Gabumon.
Raimon also sniffed the air, also having a keen sense of smell. Her black eyes widened in bewilderment." Food?"
Elanna frowned again. She learned from her adventures that she shouldn` t expect that everything happening was real. Not everything was real to the touch. She began to learn the truth behind illusion, and she couldn` t bring her self to believe in Gabumon and Raimon` s sense of smell, even though the delicious scent of food filled her nose.
" Show us where," said Izzy. Before she could stop them, Gabumon and Raimon led the group upstream. Elanna stood still for a while, trying to believe, but she was still doubtful. She followed behind, hugging herself to keep warm from her damp clothing. They did n`t have to go far; for there on the floor, a colorful blanket spread on the ground, covered with silver plates and bowls of appetizing food. Every kind of food you could ever imagine filled every bowl and plate, overflowing. Already, the digimon went straight to eat, wolfing down the food in their vision.
" Matt, I`m hungry," TK said, looking down to the food hungrily.
" Ok, kiddo." Matt sat down with TK in his lap. He reached for a piece of peach pie and gave it to TK, who munched it in.
" Matt,'' Elanna said from behind," It might be an illusion." But Matt did n`t respond at all, watching his brother protectively. He even took a pear and bit in it, looking pleased at the taste.
Izzy looked up to Elanna, shrugging." It may be an illusion, but starvers can`t be choosers, you know." He knelt by Matt and took a boiled, seasoned egg, biting into it.
" Yeah, but soon you might wonder why you're still hungry after an hour." Her stomach suddenly growled, and her hand went to it. Elanna admitted that she was really hungry, and the food looked really tempting to eat. Sitting cross-legged by Matt` s other side, Elanna took some chocolate and slowly ate it, still not accepting the sweet flavor.
All ate in silence, their minds on the food. Soon, their hearing perked at a strange sound. It sounded like faint humming that was pleasant to the ear. They scanned around for the source, until TK gazed up to Elanna with wide eyes." Elanna, look!" he pointed to her chest.
Looking down, Elanna saw a glow from behind her pink shirt. She reached in and drew out her crest. It was warm to the touch, it`s blue-green-turquoise-aqua glow pulsating slowly, illuminating her face.
" Is it responding to something?" Patamon asked, his curious azure eyes on the crest.
The humming got louder until it was buzzing, not shrill to the ear. The glow brightened. Then something responded back. All looked up to see a stone wall with a small square-shaped glow, also pulsating blue-green-turquoise-aqua. The glow brightened and then dimmed, dissolving to reveal a small opening in place of the glow. Elanna` s crest stopped glowing, but it was still warm.
"Has the crest found a way out?'' wondered Izzy, his black eyes on the opening, ever inquisitive.
" It must be," Raimon said, confident." It never failed us."
Elanna gazed at the crest in her hands. She knew the crest never failed her at all. It was part of her. If the crest would fail her, then she would fail herself, too. But why was she feeling so uneasy? She did n`t understand why she was doubting the surroundings and food. It did n`t feel right to her. She felt a warm hand, touching her hand with concern. Looking up, Matt was smiling at her with kindness. Elanna smiled back, modestly, feeling better that someone believed in her. Matt helped her stand, smiling that secretive grin before turning to his brother, who was walking with Izzy to the opening. Elanna sqeezed her crest confidently and let it drop to her chest.
Izzy and Tentomon entered first in the opening, TK and Patamon following behind. Matt and Gabumon entered with Elanna and Raimon by their sides. The group stood in the darkness, letting their eyes adapt to it. But the darkness was to dark to be able to see. The dim light, which was shining from outside, was gone. The group was afraid to leave each other to avoid getting lost.
" Greetings," came a piercing, yet hushed feminine voice from above.
Abruptly, an obscure pearly light shone from everywhere without a source, filling every corner of the surroundings, banishing the darkness. The group jumped at the voice, moving closer to each other.
"Who's there?'' Matt demanded.
The voice sounded friendly, like it was welcoming them." I am Arachnimon, and welcome to my Hall of Illusions.''
" Hall of Illusions?" Tentomon murmured, gazing around. The group was in a sort of lengthened hall, but it was hard to tell, since the light colored the walls the same. The ceiling was so high that they couldn't see it. Elanna suddenly felt like she was standing in a universe of eternal light, where there was no darkness and all peace. She felt like she was lost in an illusion.
" Yes," the voice, Arachnimon, was answering,'' Where anyone can challenge his or her mind and solve my unsolvable enigmas. Pardon me, but I was eavesdropping. At the other side of my hall, there is the way out to outside. Only if you solve my riddles, you may leave this place."
Something in Arachnimon's voice made Elanna grow suspicious." Why should we believe you tell the truth?"
Arachnimon chuckled with polished courtesy." May I greet the Seer?"
Elanna staggered at the words. She felt the supportive arm of Matt around her waist, and she leaned against him, wondering. She suddenly visualized actually bowing respectably at her side as the spoke the words. She remembered that Tai and Joe were called the Master and the Reconciler. Did that mean she had such power like them?
Arachnimon spoke gently,'' Seer, you always see the truth in illusions, but I am telling the truth. The way out is at the other side. All you have to do is enter, solve a riddle, and you are on your way."
Elanna gazed at the boys and digimon. They were gazing at each other, seeming to think the suggestion of Arachnimon over. Izzy met Elanna's gaze and said," We have no other choice."
Elanna said nothing, looking downward. Inwardly, she grimaced. Must they trust Arachnimon? It was true that they had no other choice, but she felt that there must be a way. There must be. Only if she could see it .See. She shuddered all over at the word and inhaled a shaken breath. She gently tore herself from Matt's support and continued her way down the hall, Raimon hurrying to keep up. Her friends moved up with her.
Elanna had her blue eyes down, not seeing where she was going. She simply followed Matt's booted feet as he walked by her side. She could sense that Matt was concerned about her, but she said nothing, did nothing. She was so tranced by walking that she was jostled from her thoughts when she was stopped by Matt's hold on her arm. Looking up, she saw that they were blocked by a dead end ahead, though it seemed impossible to tell the difference from the same colors of the nearby walls.
" I knew it," Raimon hissed bitterly, her long, thin, curly, slender tail twitching. She was as doubtful as Elanna.
Arachnimon spoke again from above, like an announcer," In order to continue on your way, you must first solve a riddle."
" How many riddles must we solve?" Gabumon growled with the same bitterness as Raimon.
" Depends on your willingness." Elanna blinked at that. Willingness? What did that mean? She Arachnimon clear her throat." No sooner spoken then broken."
" Is that the first riddle?" asked Patamon.
No answer responded to him. Patamon gazed to the kids with puzzling azure eyes. Gabumon glanced at Raimon, both confused. Elanna turned to Matt, who was shrugging his shoulders with bewilderment. Even Izzy and Tentomon, the valuable vessels of never-ending knowledge, appeared lost at the riddle.
Then TK tugged on Elanna's shirt and she gazed down to him. He beckoned her to crouch. She knelt to his height, and he leaned to her ear. He didn't whisper, but spoke clearly," Could the answer be silence?"
Arachnimon again chuckled from above." The boy is correct." The dead end dissolved to reveal another part of the hall.
Elanna grinned at TK and hugged him warmly. TK giggled with happiness, and her heart swelled to see the young boy back to himself. Together, the group continued on their way. The hall seemed to ascend, but slowly.(" Perhaps the hall is bringing us to the surface,") Elanna thought with delight. They should be all right solving the riddles, and they would be out of here in no time. Soon, they entered a massive, closed chamber, also glowing with the same, hazy light.
" Now what?" muttered Tentomon.
" Oh, eager to solve another riddle?'' Arachnimon was sounding enthusiastic.
" We just want to get out of here," Matt said, biting the words.
" Oh." The voice sounded offended, insulted.
Elanna tightened her lips." Hey, we must not upset her," she said softly to her friends." She might be the only one who can take us out of here." She gazed at Matt with sharp eyes. He nearly blushed before looking away.
Then she heard Arachnimon speaking with childish gaiety." Voiceless, it cries. Wingless, it flies. Toothless, it bites. Mouthless, it mutters."
" It`s a hard one," said Gabumon.
Elanna feared that the riddles would get harder to solve. She pondered deeply, then noticed Matt was grinning knowingly, his grey-blue eyes sparkling." Matt, do you know?" Elanna asked, feeling guilty to snap at Matt earlier.
Matt nodded and winked at her." Wind."
From above, Arachnimon giggled." Excellent."
All of a sudden, as if a giant digimon inhaled a deep breath and heaved it out, a sudden gust of wind blasted from nowhere. Tentomon screamed with alarm, fluttering his gossamer wings furiously as Patamon tumbled backward over his head and feet.
" Matt!" TK screamed. Because of his light weight, the wind began to lift him off his feet. Matt grabbed on to TK`s hands and tried to hold on as TK` s feet swooped up in the air. TK`s hat flew off as Elanna`s pocket whipped open and her drawing of her beagle, Loxie, whipped around in the air. Her pocket knife, lead pencil, lead and paper pad sketch book was flying crazily, hitting everybody. Matt was strong enough to keep his place, but his feet began to slide forward as he tightened his grip on his brother. Gabumon managed to drive his talons into the ground, keeping a hold. Raimon started to fly upwards, and Gabumon grabbed her long enough for her to drive the metal lightning bolt at the tip of her tail into the ground. Izzy held on to Gabumon` s back as Elanna had her arms around Raimon`s waist.
As suddenly as the gust appeared, it stopped blowing, and everything was calm. TK fell into Matt` s arms, both collapsing to the ground. Tentomon and Patamon gathered their balance and hovered with befuddlement. Elanna pushed back her golden hair from her vision and gazed around to make sure her friends were all right. Her stuff fell beside her, and she stuffed into her open Velcro pocket, which she shut once more. Matt was picking up TK` s hat as Izzy stood up, dusting himself off, looking annoyed.
" What was the meaning of that?" Izzy demanded, gazing upward.
" This is the Hall of Illusions," Arachnimon said," Where you can experience the riddle."
" You could warn us," snarled Matt, soothing his shaken brother.
" You didn't ask."
Matt burst into a standing position, his clenched fists shaking, his grey-blue eyes blazing upward." Why you!"
"Stop," Elanna expressed the word with sharp boldness. Matt returned his glare at her, his face twisted with fury. Elanna`s blue eyes deepened, staring right in Matt` s eyes, unwavering, until he finally looked away. Elanna would never lose her temper to anyone, but she was, too, upset at Arachnimon for what had happened. She knew that anger didn't help anything or anybody. She knew. She had done that, and it hurt her deeper then she thought. She stood up, sighing. She said softly," We must continue, but this time, we will be alert and ready."
She didn't really have the qualities a leader would have – she always leaved the choices up to Tai – but she felt she was now responsible to watch over her friends and take them to safety from Arachnimon. After all, Tai was the leader, and he was her brother. To her surprise, all nodded in agreement at her, even Matt. The wall ahead dissolved into another part of the hall, and the group continued on their way. Izzy, TK, Tentomon and Patamon volunteered to walk ahead, their eyes scanning carefully, but with curiosity instead of caution. The rest walked behind, taking up as back guards.
Elanna heard Matt clearing his throat." Elanna? I apologize."
She glanced sidelongly over to Matt." Why?"
Matt`s eyes softened for an instant, then hardened once again. He gazed downward, uncertain of what to say.
Elanna brought her eyes forward." I know what you feel, Matt. Don't worry. We will get out of here and find our friends. You needn't apologize to me about earlier. I understand."
Out of the corner of her eyes, Matt was smiling, not a secretive grin, but a warm, almost handsome smile that she seldom saw." It's like you can read my mind," he said.
Elanna blushed deeply, shyly gazing back. Then a bitter cold breeze bit her cheek, freezing it so that she cried out in pain. It startled her. Matt held up an arm to shield the coldness from her face, protecting her. He moved his face towards her`s, and gave a gentle kiss where the breeze bit her. The warmness came back to her cheek where he kissed her, causing her to blush a deep scarlet. His ash-blond hair swayed in the breeze. The rest moved closer to them, now cautious.
Elanna heard Arachnimon speaking from above, but something in her voice made Elanna pause breathing. She sounded like she was planning something. But what?" Here is the third riddle. What lives in winter, dies in summer, and grows with it's roots upward?"
" Oh, it's right at the tip of my tongue!" exclaimed Tentomon.
Izzy was quick to answer." An icicle!"
Elanna`s neck hairs prickled." NO!" she shrieked, and then fell into a horrified silence. The boys gazed at her in puzzlement, then they heard cracks from above. Sudden cracks and quakes were present.
" Run!" Elanna bellowed.
At the same instant, icicles of all sizes plummeted from above. Gabumon heaved Raimon out of the way as Tentomon and Patamon dodged icicles in midair. Izzy dove from an approaching gigantic icicle's path, which crashed a few feet away, showering him with bits of broken ice. Matt snatched TK by his waist and shielded him as an icicle crashed behind them, right where they were standing only two seconds before.
Elanna was so concerned about her friends that didn't pay attention to herself. She didn't know that a sharp, slender was plummeting toward her. She noticed it, but too late. She moved out of the way, but not fast enough. The tip scraped Elanna's right upper arm, tearing her t-shirt sleeve and drawing a thin, rugged line of blood among her upper arm.
"Ah!" Elanna gasped, gripping her arm, resisting the sudden waves of pain, her arm numbing form both pain and coldness.
" Elanna!" Matt ran to her, holding her arm gently, offering concern. He put his arms around her in a warm hug, again offering concern, and also support." What happened?"
Elanna shook her head, meaning that she would be all right." Just a graze." She let go of her grip and looked down to her arm. The graze was not worse. She would do fine for now. She squeezed her fist to bring feeling into her numb arm.
" I apologize for any injuries, Seer," Arachnimon said ashamedly, but Elanna grimaced slightly." You'd better be sorry," Matt said through clenched teeth. Arachnimon chose not to answer. Arachnimon was not ashamed, but taunting. Elanna could notice the emotions in voices, as well.
Elanna gazed up, wishing to see what creature the voice belonged to." Why do you try to hurt us? We did nothing to you, Arachnimon."
Arachnimon answered with carelessness," If you want to get out here, riddle me this. This is light as a feather, yet no can hold it for long."
Elanna drew in a sharp breath, stiffening up. She knew the answer immediately." No. No, no, no! I refuse to answer it!''
" Then you will be stuck here forever."
" Elanna?" Matt said with worry.
Elanna gazed to him, then to the others with sorrow." If I answer this riddle . . . " She shut her eyes and shook her head violently." No, I won't! I don't want to lose you guys."
She felt touches on her arms. She shoved them away, but Matt held on her shoulders until she calmed down. Her eyes opened and gazed at him. Matt spoke tenderly," Elanna, it might be our only hope."
" No."
" Do it!"
Elanna bit on her lower lip, shaking her head. Seven pairs of eyes eyed her, pleading her silently. Elanna tried to swallow her sudden dry throat." It must be an illusion. None of this which will happen is real. Not real." Matt let go of her, and she sighed, closing her eyes." The answer to this riddle is . . . one's breath.''
Afraid to know, yet she already knew what would happen, she heard her friends stop breathing and gasping for breathe. Opening her eyes, she saw the group clawing at their throats, struggling to inhale a breath. Their eyes were wide with panic. They could not breathe!
" Give me another riddle!" Elanna screamed, sudden tears forming in her eyes.
" Why?'' Arachnimon asked.
" Please! Anything to save them!"
" It can't be seen, can't be heard, can't be felt, can't be smelt. It lies behind stars, empties and fills holes. It ends life, kills laughter. It's everywhere and nowhere."
Elanna began to pant with panic. How could she answer that?! Behind her, she heard her friends still gasping for breath, but they sounded weaker.(" They are losing their strength! They are going to die because of me!") She was so blind to be unable to stop that digimon. Elanna clenched her fists, angry tears streaming down her face. She was blind to her friends. She was blind to herself. She jolted with recognition. Blind . . .
" Darkness is the answer!" she screamed.
Abruptly, everything went black. She heard her friends panting, able to breathe. Overjoyed that her friends were okay, Elanna nearly sobbed with ecstasy. She reached out for them, feeling the darkness, seeking for a friendly touch. But she couldn't find them. Worried, she felt farther for any solid structure.
" Raimon! Matt!" She waited, but no one answered her." Guys!" Still nothing. She again gazed upward." Arachnimon! Where are my friends?"
Arachnimon's voice changed completely, now scheming." What friends? They are nothing but mere illusions, Seer."
" Why are you calling me the Seer? Who am I?"
" You are the Seer of Bravery."
Elanna shut her eyes to hold back new tears." Where are they?"
" Why should you care?" Arachnimon spoke, the voice coming from behind her.
Elanna popped her eyes open, her body went stiff. Her voice was hard with emotions." I always care. I never stop caring, Arachnimon."
Arachnimon answered back," You are the Seer of Bravery who sees everything. You see the empathy behind courage, hope, love, friendship, reliability, sincerity, knowledge and bravery, or any other quality. You can see the truth past the lies. You are able to see who or what is in people's minds, know and understand the emotions. You can see true souls. You can see the truth behind illusions. You can see the reality. Because of all that, you must be destroyed."
" No . . . " Elanna murmured, slowly shaking her head in disbelief.
" Riddle me this, riddle me that. What have eyes, yet cannot see?"
As Arachnimon spoke the riddle, the darkness slowly lightened up, just enough Elanna's eyes to adapt. She heard a faint clink from behind her, and she twisted around in alarm. She saw a dark figure against the darkness, it seemed to crawl toward her. It made metallic clinks as it crawled. The light brightened, and soon, she could see the figure well. The light reflected off eight metallic legs of a small red spider that was crawling. Two small eyes of deep blue were unblinkingly eyeing her. Elanna gasped, stepping back.
" Needles, storms, potatoes, and . . . you, the Seer."
She felt a cold touch on her shoulder, and she gave out a frightened yell, jerking herself from the touch. The light brightened into a hazy, white glow, and Elanna gazed around. A black web covered a wall, jet-black against soft white. A gigantic spider-like digimon gripped on the web with her six slim, scarlet legs. The other two legs were black claws, tucked under her body. Eight eyes the color of a cloudless sky, but not as innocent, glared at Elanna with loathing delight. Saliva dripped from her two long fangs.
Then Elanna saw her friends wrapped with black web silk, wrapped all over except their heads, looking like cocoons. Even the digimon were covered in the silk. They struggled hard to free themselves, mumbling behind their muffled mouths, which were covered with web silk.
Thousands and thousands of tiny red spider digimon crawled toward her from everywhere, surrounding her inot a circle of scarlet. Elanna began to pant in terror – one of her reactions to panic.
Arachnimon was using a long ago terror of her's – spiders. When she was little, she was in a zoo. She was looking at some spiders from behind the glass when someone purposely smashed the glass, setting all those spiders free. She was little – it still haunted her because of the first time it happened. Thousands of tiny, blue reflected eyes gazed at her, giving her unpleasant shivers all over.
" No!" Elanna whimpered." They're all illusions, illusions . . . " She began to chant the same phrase over and over under her breath.
" A Seer who cannot see," Arachnimon said. She shook her head, sneering." Pathetic. A worthless Digidestined.''
Elanna began to shake with growing rage. She was not worthless to her friends. She was valuable to them, as each one of them was valuable to each other. She would not let that spidery digimon take control of her." It's all an illusion. The spiders are not real. They are not real! " Her crest glowed blue-green-turquoise-aqua, and abruptly, changed to silver. An aurora surrounded her body. The silver aurora was hazy, shadowy, rippling in the air with tiny spiral streaks of black shooting from her body. The aurora reflected off the small spiders, and they simply dissolved into thin air, unable to resist the power of the aurora. Elanna gazed at Arachnimon with hidden rage, the rage she thought she would never have. It hid beneath all the gentleness, bravery and empathy, waiting to be revealed.
Elanna bellowed," You are not REAL! Reflection of Shadow!" A spiral of silver and black light emitted from her fists. The light was so bright that it stabbed pain in her eyes, forcing her to shut her eyes. Even though, her eyes still hurt painfully. She heard Arachnimon screaming in the surroundings of shadowy light, then suddenly she silenced.
The light and the aurora dissolved. Even though her eyes were closed, Elanna sensed that Arachnimon and her spider children were gone forever. Her knees buckled under her, and she collapsed to her hands and knees, panting hard. Her eyes no longer hurt. She heard the voices of her friends speaking out and the running of footsteps. She felt hands holding her shoulders, supporting her, letting her gather her breath and strength.
" Elanna, are you injured?" Matt asked with worry.
Elanna shook her head." No, I don't think so. I am just exhausted." She opened her eyes, gazing up. She saw her friends widening their eyes, involuntarily jerking backward from her in alarm." What? What is the matter?"
Matt frowned in concerned puzzlement." Can you see us?"
Elanna was confused." Yes, Matt, I can see you. I can see you all." Then she realized. She remembered that Tai and Joe received some physical changes since they got their power. She got her power, and she might be changed." Did . . . did I change?"
Izzy gazed at her with amazement." Your eyes . . . they are all white, irises and pupils, too."
" And you have black streaks in your bangs and hair," added Patatmon. Startled, Elanna felt for her hair and brought it into her vision. In her bangs, and in some of her longer hair, there were plenty of thin, black streaks that resembled as if some used a paintbrush on her hair. She gaped at it in awe.
" They must be side affects on you from your power," said Tentomon.
" But it doesn't matter," TK said with confidence as he gazed around the group." She is still our Elanna." He looked to her with brightness in his azure eyes." And you saved us."
" And look!" Gabumon exclaimed, pointing to behind Elanna. She looked upward and saw a narrow stairway sprouting from their feet, opening to the surface." The way out!"
" They way out . . ." Elanna murmured. She stood up with the help of Matt." It was there the whole time. We had to see the truth behind the illusion to find the way out."
" And you did see the truth," Raimon said proudly, grinning at her human friend." You defiantly the Seer!"
With Patamon leading the way, the group ran upstairs, eager to get to the surface. Elanna was left behind, watching them with her new eyes, the eyes of pure white. She pondered Raimon's words." I am?" she whispered, then smiled with her usual gentleness." I am the Seer."
Matt returned to her. He was smiling back, looking not awed at her like the others, but the same smile with the same loyal tenderness. He held out a hand, and, without any modesty, Elanna took his hand. He squeezed affectionately, and, together, they went upstairs to the surface, to freedom.
TO BE CONTINUED!