Digimon: A Bigger Threat
Episode 3
"When Courage Is Lost"
By: Shmeilia Rockie
Author's note: I do not own Digimon, or any of the characters. Keesma, Garz, and Zarg are mine, though, so please don't use them. Oh! And this is where y'all get to know Garzie and Zargie! *Squeezes them until all six of their eyes bug out* ...Oh, sorry... And just so everyone knows, Davis is my favorite character. I abuse him, even though I love him. Why? *shrugs* This was a dream! I don't know! Maybe it's like that old saying 'You always hurt the ones you love'. Anyway, enjoy. I'm sorry I'm too lazy to re-write these first couple of episodes. I think they're getting better, but I'm too close to the action to tell.
Davis collapsed, near the verge of death. Keesma, the Demon Queen had stopped his heart in a last attempt to get him to surrender his soul to her. And it had worked. She fluffed his hair gently, taking real notice of the strong boy for the first time. He wasn't really that bad. It was that nasty soul of his that had gotten in the way. But now she was in control. That was her body now, and she had to admit, she'd picked a good one. She lifted his head and put her finger to his lips. "Good boy, Davis. Now, you shall have your reward."
* * * *
"I'm worried, TK" Kari clung to his side.
The two of them along with Gatomon, Patamon, and Veemon had searched for Davis for hours, but with no luck in finding any sign of him. Things were looking bad.
Veemon collapsed on a nearby rock. "It's too late. He's gone, I can feel it."
Patamon flew over and rested beside him. "Don't give up yet, Veemon. There's always hope."
Veemon glared at him. "It ATE him. I think it's safe to say that he's probably long gone by now."
"I don't like you saying those kinds of things," Gatomon said, crossing her arms. "If that happened to Kari, you know I wouldn't give up until I knew for certain that she was okay."
"Poor Davis, he seemed so frightened," TK sighed.
"You would be too. Did you see that thing? Nasty!"
"I'm just glad you're okay, Kari."
"That's sweet, but you shouldn't say such things." Kari took a step back from him. "You make it sound like Davis doesn't matter. He may not be the nicest person in the world, but he desirves someone caring about him."
That didn't sound quite right. "You like him don't you?"
Kari was definately caught off guard by that question. "What? No! I-I mean...He is my friend, but you know that you're the only guy for me."
There was a silence, in which they stared at each other, lost in their own thoughts. "Do you mean that, Kari?"
"Of course I do," she whispered. "You should know that by now."
Kari let TK come back into her bubble. He put his hands on her shoulders. "I do know that, Kari. Sorry. It's just...I don't know. Davis and I were never the best of friends."
She sighed and put her head to his chest. "I wish Davis wouldn't pick so many fights with you. Over me. I feel responsible for all of them."
"You're not."
She whipped her eyes that suddenly were overflowing with tears. "Thanks, TK, But...Oh, why am I crying?"
TK brought her closer to him. "I know you're worried about Davis. He is your friend, after all...Mine too...You should be worried about him."
"I, uh, hate to interrupt this wonderful little moment," Gatomon said, staring unblinkingly up at them. "But I think we should split up and give one final search outside of the area."
Kari sniffed. "Alright, but you know what Cody said about splitting up."
"It's okay. I'll go with you to protect you, and Patamon will go with TK-"
"Hey," Veemon interrupted rather loudly. "What about me? Who will I go with, huh? Davis is g-GONE!" He began to sob histerically. Patamon patted him on the back, but didn't say anything.
TK sighed. "You can come with us, Veemon."
Kari traced the pattern of one of the Megadigimon on TK's new golden armor. "I don't want to leave you. I have a very bad feeling about all of this."
TK had to be strong for her. "It'll be okay, Kari. Just have hope. We'll find Davis."
"We're gonna find him DEAD!" Veemon wailed.
They ignored him. "It will be alright. You'll see."
"Okay. But I hate leaving you."
"Sheesh, Kari. You act like we will never see each other again." TK laughed, but it was only an attempt to lighten her mood. It worried him as well, and there was a distinct feeling of evil lurking about in the surrounding mist. What if he never saw her again? He couldn't bare to even think about it. Suddenly, he leaned over and kissed her lightly on the lips. "Take care, okay?"
"You too," she whispered. Then they parted.
* * * *
Soft, deliciously warm nothingness. Like falling alseep by a fire on a cold night, wrapped in a big quilt, and listening to the wind blow outside the door. Davis had never been happier just being there. Not thinking, not feeling, or anything. He existed-had always existed-there in the quiet darkness. Nurtured by something he could not see, but loved and needed more than anything else...For there was nothing else. But suddenly, something began to bring him out of this happy, peaceful existence. And it angered him.
"Master! Master! Oh, Master, you must wake!" A high, scratchy voice called from beyond the warm darkness.
Davis waved his hand dismissively and rolled over in his comfortable bed, desperately trying to hold on to the wonderful dream. "Go away! I'm not goin' to school today."
Something slimey tugged on his arm, but he jerked it away. "Master, please...DAVIS!"
"What?" he sat up in bed. It wasn't his bed, as he'd been expecting. His heart beat strongly in his chest and his insides were in perfect working order. Everything seemed all right. Keesma had kept her promise. No more pain, no more empty lonely feeling-for the first time in a while-and that's all he could really remember. Everything since arriving in the Digital World felt blurry in his memmory, almost like a dream. But looking around the dark bedroom chambers, he could tell it hadn't been a dream after all.
Suddenly, his gaze snapped to the thing that had been adressing him. It was nasty bug-like creature with way too many eyes and legs, that should have frightened him. But at the moment, it just looked stupid. And rather familliar, for that matter. Davis never forgot a face, especially one as ugly as that. "What the heck are YOU?"
"Garz, Master," he answered. Davis just blinked at him. "I'm your loyal servant. Along with my brother Zarg. We're your minions, sire."
Davis snorted, trying to contain the urge to start giggling. "I have...Minions?"
He grinned. His mouth overflowed with needle-like, green teeth. "Oh, yes. Many minions. All eagar to serve."
"But wait a second. I don't get it. Why do they want to serve me? I'm just a kid."
Garz threw his clawed hands into the air. "'Just a kid'? Oh, no, Master Davis. You are much, much more!"
"And why's that?"
"You have great Queen Keesma living inside you. Her life-force is flowing through your veins! She chose you to be the vessel in which she works her master plan. You MUST feel honored."
The thought of her inside of him was disturbing. He wrinkled his nose. "I don't feel any different."
Garz moved closer to him. "Can't you feel the power surging through you?"
"...No."
Disappointed, he stepped back a bit. Suddenly, out of nowhere, there was another one beside him. This one looked more like a rookie Digimon than a demon. (A lot more cute, if you could say that. Far less legs.) "Ah, brother Zarg, you're back."
"What is going on?"
Garz pointed up at Davis. "Master dosen't feel like a king."
"No?" Zarg asked.
Garz shook his head. The two slowly turned to stare at urgingly him.
"Can I get you something, Master?" Zarg asked quietly.
Davis hopped out of bed. "Yeah, I'm hungry. What's there to eat?"
They roared with laughter. "That was Master's problem!"
"Keesma must be weak!"
"Master must feed! Master must feed!"
Davis had no idea what was going on. "Was it something I said?"
Zarg clapped his hands and in came another, disgusting demon. This one looked a lot stupider. "Feed, Master!"
"Where's the food?"
Another round of laughter errupted from them. Garz said through his chuckles, "No food...Feed from...dark demon energy...Make Keesma strong again!"
Davis's eyes went wide. Zarg told him, "Touch the demon and you will absorb it's energy. That is what you are hungry for. That is all you need."
It was true, Davis realized. Something stirred inside, washing him with a deep, intense hunger. Following that, his body also begun to ache for it. He bit down on his tounge and hesitantly put his hand on the ugly, slimey thing's head. It broke down into a dark mist and was sucked into his fingertips. The starving feeling calmed and a deep satisfaction filled him. It was power! "Wow! That feels GOOD!"
"See!" His two minions grinned their ugly grins.
"MORE!" Davis barked.
They waved their hands and spoke in unison. "No, Master. Too much dark energy is bad for your body. It's like poison if you get to much at once!"
"Hmph!" He crossed his arms and pouted like a little kid.
Zarg said, "How about we show you your castle, Master Davis?"
His face lightened. "Yeah, okay!"
"First, we must get you clean and dressed. You cannot be our king looking like THAT!"
Davis looked down at his dirty, sweaty cream colored shirt and made a face. He ran his bare hands through his now rather greasy aburn hair. (He'd grown it out a bit and now looked even more like Tai.) "Yeah, I feel nasty."
So, the two demons rushed him off into an elborate bathroom to get cleaned. They handed him a few towels and an orange fuzzy bathrobe and left him to his privacy. The room must have been as big as his whole apartment back home. It was decorated in platinum and grey marble. Hundreds of candles lit the area around a small pool-sized bathtub (Yeah, I know that sounds funny), but other than that, it was fairly dark. In looking around, Davis realized that there was only one frosty mirror that barely reflected anything. He approached it slowly, and the reflection of the boy in it seemed strangly unfamilliar. It was those eyes. They seemed so strange, so... sad... He touched the mirror gently with one finger, almost afraid it would bite him. He ran his hand slowly over the face in the glass, then brought it to his own face. Strangly, the reflection did not mirror his moves, but instead just stared at him with those screaming eyes. The boy pressed his hands to the glass and mouthed something, but Davis couldn't understand it. Disturbed, he turned away and decided not to think about it. He sould have, for the boy would never return to him again. He sadly closed his eyes in defeat and disappeared.
Davis leaned over the edge of the empty bathtub. Suddenly, it magically filled with an opaque liquid that looked like milk but smelled like mint. Fluffy bubbles spread across the surface like an out of control fungus. He reached into it and swirled his hand around. Perfect. Not too hot, but not too cold. "I think I'm gonna like this king stuff!"
* * * *
When Davis had gone into the room and shut the doors, Zarg turned to his brother. "Everything's working smoothly!"
"Yes, my dear brother. Let the cleansing process begin!"
They joined hands and did a little dance. "Soon, Keesma will be strong enough to overpower this foolish boy and rule again!"
They cackled quietly.
* * * *
"So, Cody," Ken spoke up for the first time in hours. They were so used to the silence that the sound of Ken's voice startled even him. "Where are we going now?"
Cody had been waiting for that question. Now he took a deep breath. "Well...This takes a little explaining."
"We're not goin' anywhere fast," Yolei told him. "Go ahead."
He cleared his throat. "A few years ago-"
"Oh, goodie, we get to hear a story! How wonderfully exciting!" Hawkmon exclaimed from atop Yolei's helmet, a bit of a sarcasticasm in his voice.
"Shut up and let Cody talk, all right?" Yolei glared up at him and shook her fist as an unspoken threat.
"Anyways," Cody began again. "A few years ago-in Digi-time, of course-a portal opened up from who knows where, and out came thousands of demons. The leader, Queen Keesma, put off so much dark energy that it basically blew up the Digital World-kinda like the world's worst nuclear explosion-and killed everything."
"Except us," Armadillomon added.
"How'd you know that what was going to happen ahead of time?" Ken asked.
There was a slight pause, as if the Digimon didn't want to remember. Wormmon spoke up. Quietly. "We all had the same dream that warned us about it. There was a guy-I don't remember what he looked like, but he seemed nice-and he told me where to go. He promised us you'd come back, even though it would take years because of the time change. And the next day, it happened, just like what he said."
Everyone lapsed into silence to think about that. "Yeah, okay. That's strange," Yolei said. "I've heard about that kind of stuff happening and never believed it before."
Cody picked up where he had left off. "So after...after everything blew up...Keesma built herself a castle at the edge of the Digital World, and declaired herself the rightful ruler. But...on the opposite edge of the world appeared another castle-A great golden, jeweled castle, with no one in it- just appeared, as if to challange Keesma. Of course, this infuriated her, and she vowed to take it from..." He trailed off, and stared blankly into the distance. His thoughts, it seemed, had become too quick for words.
"From?" everyone asked in unison, leaning in.
"I'm not quiet sure," Cody admitted, snapping out of his trance. "I think from the people responsible for the stuff in my head. They left that part out. Anyway, to keep her from getting control of it, the American Digidestined were summoned before she could do anything. With the same power that transformed us into the *coughs* MegaDigidestined-as I am now thinking of us-they became the Freedom Spirits, the castle's powerful gardians."
"Okaaay, so we need to go there?" Ken asked.
"Yes."
"What for? Are we going to ask for their help?"
"No...I mean yes...Ugh, no, they can't leave the castle, but yes, there are a few things we need to get from them."
"What kind of 'things'?" Yolei demanded, getting a little frustrated with all the cryptic stories.
Cody shrugged. "Once again, dunno."
Yolei threw her hands up in the air and roared.
* * * *
Clean and much more refreshed, Davis felt like a new man.
Of course, all he now had to where was that stupid orange bathrobe. Those dumb minions did away with his Digidestined outfit and didn't even provide him with shoes, or slippers, or anything! And that stone floor was unimaginably cold.
He poked his head out of the bathroom to see Garz and Zarg just standing there with big grins on their ugly faces and their hands behind their backs. "What are you two doin'?"
They laughed nervosly. "Nothin', boss!" Zarg answered.
Garz tugged on Davis's arm, pulling him out of the room. "Come on, Master, we've got SOOO much to show you!"
They pushed and shoved Davis along from room to room, talking rapidly and not really giving him a chance to take it all in. They were like two kids taking their Dad through an amusement park. "Over there is where your loyal minions 'sleep' although that's not quite what they do..." "I think you've already seen the dungeons..." and "Oh, lookie out the window, Master! Quite a lovely view of the end of the DigiWorld! Don't you think?"
Finally, they stopped in a grand, but poorly lit throne room. All the light came from a spinning white sphere in the very center of the room. And immeditately Davis felt drawn to it. He carefully approached it. "What's that?"
There was a reluctant pause. "Are you sure you want to know?"
"Well, of course I want to know. This thing, it's..." He reached toward it.
"No!" the two brothers yelled together. "Don't touch it, Master. It no like you!"
"What?" They were starting to get annoying. All he wanted to do was look at it a little closer. What was the harm in that?
Zarg looked distressed. He shook his head and muttered something in a strange language, then slowly said to Davis, "M-Master, it's not yours."
Oh, that ticked him off. "What do you mean it's not mine? I own everything in this castle, don't I? Well? DON'T I?"
They cowered in fear. Zarg really regretted even opening his mouth. He'd known it was a mistake when he'd done it. "It belongs to Great Queen Keesma!"
Davis lowered his voice to a deadly whisper. "As far as you're conserned, I am Keesma now, so therefore this...THING...belongs to me. Along with everything else in the Digital World. And if you ever say anything like that again, I'll eat you for dinner. Understand?"
Zarg swallowed hard and nodded. He made a funny whimpering noise that sounded like a sick puppy. It felt good to have that kind of power over something. Now he understood why Ken had enjoyed being the Digimon Emporer so much.
Just for the heck of it, he loudly repeated, "Understand!"
"Yes, sir," Zarg squeaked.
Davis smiled to himself. "Now that's better. So what is this thing? Why doesn't it 'like me'?"
They looked at each other and whispered in that hissy language. Finally, Zarg cleared his throat. "It's Keesma's power-orb-thing. It's what she used to get us here. Only she can use it. If we tried, we'd blow up. It used to belong to..." he cringed. "The POWERS. The ones who can't be named. Keesma stole it."
Garz quickly added, "Master, in time, you will become strong enough to use it, but until then... If you don't want to blow up, I think you ought to stay away from it."
"So, uh..." Zarg despirtely searched for something else to talk about. "Now that you've seen the castle, what d'you think?!"
Davis looked around and shrugged. "Nah, no big deal."
Zarg's mouth dropped open, and Garz snickered.
Davis turned back to the Orb and stared at it like a little kid drools over candy before dinner. "This is all that interests me. Nothing else is that important."
A smile spread across Zarg's face. "But...What about the Digidestined?"
Oh, yeah. THEM. "What about them?"
"What are you gonna do about 'em?"
He sighed. "Do I have to do something about them? They're not hurtin' anything."
Garz caught on. "Do you understand the power of the Digidestined, Master?"
Davis blinked. Power? "Huh?"
"The power of even the weakest Digidestined Crest is stronger than the dark energy of a hundered demons."
Davis's eyes went wide and an evil light came into them. (You know, kinda like what happened to Ken in 'The Genesis of Evil') "Really?"
"Oh, yes. And the Crests of Hope and Light? Why if you had even one of them...you could, well...rule everything! Not even the Powers could stop you from doing whatever you want!"
"Hmm," Davis walked over to his throne on the opposite side of the room. He'd already forgotten about the Orb. Drapped across the seat was an orange coat with black dimonds and a fuzzy collar, like the one on his flamey jacket. He took note of it, before tossing it aside to Garz. "Go get TK"
"Who, Master?" Garz asked.
Davis rolled his eyes. "Hope, you idiot. Go bring me the bearer of the Crest of Hope!"
"But what about Light? She's the one that has-"
"Don't touch her!" Davis snapped. "When I am...a bit more presentable, I will send for her. And then you won't harm or even frighten her. You got it?"
"Do you want me to treat Hope that way too?"
He waved his hand. "I don't care what you do with 'Hope.' Just don't kill him, all right?"
Garz and Zarg saluted, and in smiling, Zarg's slimey tounge rolled out of his mouth. Davis smacked his forehead. He had idiots for minions.
Garz clapped his hands giddily and ran off. "Can I get you something, Master?" Zarg asked.
"I'm hungry again. Bring me more dark energy."
Zarg's eyes lit up. All three of them. "Okee, Master. For now, you have a demon for a little snack. And how about after that, I bring you the energy from a Lower Crest?"
"Mmm, sounds tastey. What's a 'Lower' Crest? I didn't know there was a difference."
"The Lower Crests: Friendship, Knowledge, Reliability, and Sincerity. They don't have as much power as the Upper Crests: Light, Hope, Love, Kindness and Courage. You are operating on the Crest of Courage, which is an Upper Crest. It's stronger than the Crest of Friendship-a Lower Crest- which you also have, but aren't currently using."
In one ear and out the other. "Okaaay..."
"Anyways, I could probably...maybe get you, oh, say, the Crest of Knowledge?"
"Sure. Whatever. But you better not screw it up."
Zarg flailed his arms about. "Oh, no, no, no, Master! Of course not!"
There was a pause in which Zarg just stood there having a brain lapse, or somethin'. (A translation error? I love those!) "Well?" Davis snapped. "Get!"
Zarg said no more, but disappeared in a puff of smoke.
Davis sighed. "Finally! I thought they'd never leave. Now I can have some peace."
"Would you like me to leave as well, My Pet?" It was her! Dressed in gold, and her purple hair done up in a bun, she had to be the most beautiful thing Davis had ever seen. Fifty times more wonderful than Kari could have ever been.
"Keesma!" Davis scrambled to her lovely feet and kissed them repeatedly. To be in her presence made him complete again. "No, no, my lady. Please, don't leave. I have long awaited your return."
She lifted his chin so he stared into her fathomless eyes instead of her toes. He looked away, feeling unworthy of her. "Did you miss me?"
"Of, course. I need you, Keesma."
This made her chuckle. "You do, don't you, My Pet? Now, get up and kiss me for real." She grabbed his collar and pulled him into a drawn out, warm kiss. It could have lasted forever, but she made sure it didn't. She broke away and whispered, "Now, how are you enjoying my life?"
Boy, that was a no-brainer. "I love it."
"Good. I'm proud of you. How are Zarg and Garz treating you?"
"Ah, they're enthusiastic. I'll give 'em that. But they're so annoying!"
"I see. Yeah. So tell me, what are you planning to do with the power I have so graciously given you?"
Davis shrugged.
Keesma turned around to leave the room and rolled her eyes. "Don't you have any ambition?" She left, and Davis quickly followed. "You need to get RID of the Digidestined!"
"But why? They're not hurtin' anyone."
"Not yet..." Keesma said. "But they will. Believe me, Davis. They're plotting against you."
"E-even Kari?"
She stopped so suddenly that Davis almost ran into her. She spun around and stuck a long finger in his face. Her eyes burned red with anger. "Especially Kari. I want you to bring her and that boy TK to me. Do you understand?"
"Yes!" Davis squeaked. "I sent Garz to get TK. He should be back very soon!"
Keesma smiled a wicked smile. "Good boy."
Now that Keesma and Davis are working against the Digidestined, what will become of them?
Find out in Episode 4: "The No Hope Campaign"
Author's note: Don't you just love these end narrations? Ya know I do!
Episode 3
"When Courage Is Lost"
By: Shmeilia Rockie
Author's note: I do not own Digimon, or any of the characters. Keesma, Garz, and Zarg are mine, though, so please don't use them. Oh! And this is where y'all get to know Garzie and Zargie! *Squeezes them until all six of their eyes bug out* ...Oh, sorry... And just so everyone knows, Davis is my favorite character. I abuse him, even though I love him. Why? *shrugs* This was a dream! I don't know! Maybe it's like that old saying 'You always hurt the ones you love'. Anyway, enjoy. I'm sorry I'm too lazy to re-write these first couple of episodes. I think they're getting better, but I'm too close to the action to tell.
Davis collapsed, near the verge of death. Keesma, the Demon Queen had stopped his heart in a last attempt to get him to surrender his soul to her. And it had worked. She fluffed his hair gently, taking real notice of the strong boy for the first time. He wasn't really that bad. It was that nasty soul of his that had gotten in the way. But now she was in control. That was her body now, and she had to admit, she'd picked a good one. She lifted his head and put her finger to his lips. "Good boy, Davis. Now, you shall have your reward."
* * * *
"I'm worried, TK" Kari clung to his side.
The two of them along with Gatomon, Patamon, and Veemon had searched for Davis for hours, but with no luck in finding any sign of him. Things were looking bad.
Veemon collapsed on a nearby rock. "It's too late. He's gone, I can feel it."
Patamon flew over and rested beside him. "Don't give up yet, Veemon. There's always hope."
Veemon glared at him. "It ATE him. I think it's safe to say that he's probably long gone by now."
"I don't like you saying those kinds of things," Gatomon said, crossing her arms. "If that happened to Kari, you know I wouldn't give up until I knew for certain that she was okay."
"Poor Davis, he seemed so frightened," TK sighed.
"You would be too. Did you see that thing? Nasty!"
"I'm just glad you're okay, Kari."
"That's sweet, but you shouldn't say such things." Kari took a step back from him. "You make it sound like Davis doesn't matter. He may not be the nicest person in the world, but he desirves someone caring about him."
That didn't sound quite right. "You like him don't you?"
Kari was definately caught off guard by that question. "What? No! I-I mean...He is my friend, but you know that you're the only guy for me."
There was a silence, in which they stared at each other, lost in their own thoughts. "Do you mean that, Kari?"
"Of course I do," she whispered. "You should know that by now."
Kari let TK come back into her bubble. He put his hands on her shoulders. "I do know that, Kari. Sorry. It's just...I don't know. Davis and I were never the best of friends."
She sighed and put her head to his chest. "I wish Davis wouldn't pick so many fights with you. Over me. I feel responsible for all of them."
"You're not."
She whipped her eyes that suddenly were overflowing with tears. "Thanks, TK, But...Oh, why am I crying?"
TK brought her closer to him. "I know you're worried about Davis. He is your friend, after all...Mine too...You should be worried about him."
"I, uh, hate to interrupt this wonderful little moment," Gatomon said, staring unblinkingly up at them. "But I think we should split up and give one final search outside of the area."
Kari sniffed. "Alright, but you know what Cody said about splitting up."
"It's okay. I'll go with you to protect you, and Patamon will go with TK-"
"Hey," Veemon interrupted rather loudly. "What about me? Who will I go with, huh? Davis is g-GONE!" He began to sob histerically. Patamon patted him on the back, but didn't say anything.
TK sighed. "You can come with us, Veemon."
Kari traced the pattern of one of the Megadigimon on TK's new golden armor. "I don't want to leave you. I have a very bad feeling about all of this."
TK had to be strong for her. "It'll be okay, Kari. Just have hope. We'll find Davis."
"We're gonna find him DEAD!" Veemon wailed.
They ignored him. "It will be alright. You'll see."
"Okay. But I hate leaving you."
"Sheesh, Kari. You act like we will never see each other again." TK laughed, but it was only an attempt to lighten her mood. It worried him as well, and there was a distinct feeling of evil lurking about in the surrounding mist. What if he never saw her again? He couldn't bare to even think about it. Suddenly, he leaned over and kissed her lightly on the lips. "Take care, okay?"
"You too," she whispered. Then they parted.
* * * *
Soft, deliciously warm nothingness. Like falling alseep by a fire on a cold night, wrapped in a big quilt, and listening to the wind blow outside the door. Davis had never been happier just being there. Not thinking, not feeling, or anything. He existed-had always existed-there in the quiet darkness. Nurtured by something he could not see, but loved and needed more than anything else...For there was nothing else. But suddenly, something began to bring him out of this happy, peaceful existence. And it angered him.
"Master! Master! Oh, Master, you must wake!" A high, scratchy voice called from beyond the warm darkness.
Davis waved his hand dismissively and rolled over in his comfortable bed, desperately trying to hold on to the wonderful dream. "Go away! I'm not goin' to school today."
Something slimey tugged on his arm, but he jerked it away. "Master, please...DAVIS!"
"What?" he sat up in bed. It wasn't his bed, as he'd been expecting. His heart beat strongly in his chest and his insides were in perfect working order. Everything seemed all right. Keesma had kept her promise. No more pain, no more empty lonely feeling-for the first time in a while-and that's all he could really remember. Everything since arriving in the Digital World felt blurry in his memmory, almost like a dream. But looking around the dark bedroom chambers, he could tell it hadn't been a dream after all.
Suddenly, his gaze snapped to the thing that had been adressing him. It was nasty bug-like creature with way too many eyes and legs, that should have frightened him. But at the moment, it just looked stupid. And rather familliar, for that matter. Davis never forgot a face, especially one as ugly as that. "What the heck are YOU?"
"Garz, Master," he answered. Davis just blinked at him. "I'm your loyal servant. Along with my brother Zarg. We're your minions, sire."
Davis snorted, trying to contain the urge to start giggling. "I have...Minions?"
He grinned. His mouth overflowed with needle-like, green teeth. "Oh, yes. Many minions. All eagar to serve."
"But wait a second. I don't get it. Why do they want to serve me? I'm just a kid."
Garz threw his clawed hands into the air. "'Just a kid'? Oh, no, Master Davis. You are much, much more!"
"And why's that?"
"You have great Queen Keesma living inside you. Her life-force is flowing through your veins! She chose you to be the vessel in which she works her master plan. You MUST feel honored."
The thought of her inside of him was disturbing. He wrinkled his nose. "I don't feel any different."
Garz moved closer to him. "Can't you feel the power surging through you?"
"...No."
Disappointed, he stepped back a bit. Suddenly, out of nowhere, there was another one beside him. This one looked more like a rookie Digimon than a demon. (A lot more cute, if you could say that. Far less legs.) "Ah, brother Zarg, you're back."
"What is going on?"
Garz pointed up at Davis. "Master dosen't feel like a king."
"No?" Zarg asked.
Garz shook his head. The two slowly turned to stare at urgingly him.
"Can I get you something, Master?" Zarg asked quietly.
Davis hopped out of bed. "Yeah, I'm hungry. What's there to eat?"
They roared with laughter. "That was Master's problem!"
"Keesma must be weak!"
"Master must feed! Master must feed!"
Davis had no idea what was going on. "Was it something I said?"
Zarg clapped his hands and in came another, disgusting demon. This one looked a lot stupider. "Feed, Master!"
"Where's the food?"
Another round of laughter errupted from them. Garz said through his chuckles, "No food...Feed from...dark demon energy...Make Keesma strong again!"
Davis's eyes went wide. Zarg told him, "Touch the demon and you will absorb it's energy. That is what you are hungry for. That is all you need."
It was true, Davis realized. Something stirred inside, washing him with a deep, intense hunger. Following that, his body also begun to ache for it. He bit down on his tounge and hesitantly put his hand on the ugly, slimey thing's head. It broke down into a dark mist and was sucked into his fingertips. The starving feeling calmed and a deep satisfaction filled him. It was power! "Wow! That feels GOOD!"
"See!" His two minions grinned their ugly grins.
"MORE!" Davis barked.
They waved their hands and spoke in unison. "No, Master. Too much dark energy is bad for your body. It's like poison if you get to much at once!"
"Hmph!" He crossed his arms and pouted like a little kid.
Zarg said, "How about we show you your castle, Master Davis?"
His face lightened. "Yeah, okay!"
"First, we must get you clean and dressed. You cannot be our king looking like THAT!"
Davis looked down at his dirty, sweaty cream colored shirt and made a face. He ran his bare hands through his now rather greasy aburn hair. (He'd grown it out a bit and now looked even more like Tai.) "Yeah, I feel nasty."
So, the two demons rushed him off into an elborate bathroom to get cleaned. They handed him a few towels and an orange fuzzy bathrobe and left him to his privacy. The room must have been as big as his whole apartment back home. It was decorated in platinum and grey marble. Hundreds of candles lit the area around a small pool-sized bathtub (Yeah, I know that sounds funny), but other than that, it was fairly dark. In looking around, Davis realized that there was only one frosty mirror that barely reflected anything. He approached it slowly, and the reflection of the boy in it seemed strangly unfamilliar. It was those eyes. They seemed so strange, so... sad... He touched the mirror gently with one finger, almost afraid it would bite him. He ran his hand slowly over the face in the glass, then brought it to his own face. Strangly, the reflection did not mirror his moves, but instead just stared at him with those screaming eyes. The boy pressed his hands to the glass and mouthed something, but Davis couldn't understand it. Disturbed, he turned away and decided not to think about it. He sould have, for the boy would never return to him again. He sadly closed his eyes in defeat and disappeared.
Davis leaned over the edge of the empty bathtub. Suddenly, it magically filled with an opaque liquid that looked like milk but smelled like mint. Fluffy bubbles spread across the surface like an out of control fungus. He reached into it and swirled his hand around. Perfect. Not too hot, but not too cold. "I think I'm gonna like this king stuff!"
* * * *
When Davis had gone into the room and shut the doors, Zarg turned to his brother. "Everything's working smoothly!"
"Yes, my dear brother. Let the cleansing process begin!"
They joined hands and did a little dance. "Soon, Keesma will be strong enough to overpower this foolish boy and rule again!"
They cackled quietly.
* * * *
"So, Cody," Ken spoke up for the first time in hours. They were so used to the silence that the sound of Ken's voice startled even him. "Where are we going now?"
Cody had been waiting for that question. Now he took a deep breath. "Well...This takes a little explaining."
"We're not goin' anywhere fast," Yolei told him. "Go ahead."
He cleared his throat. "A few years ago-"
"Oh, goodie, we get to hear a story! How wonderfully exciting!" Hawkmon exclaimed from atop Yolei's helmet, a bit of a sarcasticasm in his voice.
"Shut up and let Cody talk, all right?" Yolei glared up at him and shook her fist as an unspoken threat.
"Anyways," Cody began again. "A few years ago-in Digi-time, of course-a portal opened up from who knows where, and out came thousands of demons. The leader, Queen Keesma, put off so much dark energy that it basically blew up the Digital World-kinda like the world's worst nuclear explosion-and killed everything."
"Except us," Armadillomon added.
"How'd you know that what was going to happen ahead of time?" Ken asked.
There was a slight pause, as if the Digimon didn't want to remember. Wormmon spoke up. Quietly. "We all had the same dream that warned us about it. There was a guy-I don't remember what he looked like, but he seemed nice-and he told me where to go. He promised us you'd come back, even though it would take years because of the time change. And the next day, it happened, just like what he said."
Everyone lapsed into silence to think about that. "Yeah, okay. That's strange," Yolei said. "I've heard about that kind of stuff happening and never believed it before."
Cody picked up where he had left off. "So after...after everything blew up...Keesma built herself a castle at the edge of the Digital World, and declaired herself the rightful ruler. But...on the opposite edge of the world appeared another castle-A great golden, jeweled castle, with no one in it- just appeared, as if to challange Keesma. Of course, this infuriated her, and she vowed to take it from..." He trailed off, and stared blankly into the distance. His thoughts, it seemed, had become too quick for words.
"From?" everyone asked in unison, leaning in.
"I'm not quiet sure," Cody admitted, snapping out of his trance. "I think from the people responsible for the stuff in my head. They left that part out. Anyway, to keep her from getting control of it, the American Digidestined were summoned before she could do anything. With the same power that transformed us into the *coughs* MegaDigidestined-as I am now thinking of us-they became the Freedom Spirits, the castle's powerful gardians."
"Okaaay, so we need to go there?" Ken asked.
"Yes."
"What for? Are we going to ask for their help?"
"No...I mean yes...Ugh, no, they can't leave the castle, but yes, there are a few things we need to get from them."
"What kind of 'things'?" Yolei demanded, getting a little frustrated with all the cryptic stories.
Cody shrugged. "Once again, dunno."
Yolei threw her hands up in the air and roared.
* * * *
Clean and much more refreshed, Davis felt like a new man.
Of course, all he now had to where was that stupid orange bathrobe. Those dumb minions did away with his Digidestined outfit and didn't even provide him with shoes, or slippers, or anything! And that stone floor was unimaginably cold.
He poked his head out of the bathroom to see Garz and Zarg just standing there with big grins on their ugly faces and their hands behind their backs. "What are you two doin'?"
They laughed nervosly. "Nothin', boss!" Zarg answered.
Garz tugged on Davis's arm, pulling him out of the room. "Come on, Master, we've got SOOO much to show you!"
They pushed and shoved Davis along from room to room, talking rapidly and not really giving him a chance to take it all in. They were like two kids taking their Dad through an amusement park. "Over there is where your loyal minions 'sleep' although that's not quite what they do..." "I think you've already seen the dungeons..." and "Oh, lookie out the window, Master! Quite a lovely view of the end of the DigiWorld! Don't you think?"
Finally, they stopped in a grand, but poorly lit throne room. All the light came from a spinning white sphere in the very center of the room. And immeditately Davis felt drawn to it. He carefully approached it. "What's that?"
There was a reluctant pause. "Are you sure you want to know?"
"Well, of course I want to know. This thing, it's..." He reached toward it.
"No!" the two brothers yelled together. "Don't touch it, Master. It no like you!"
"What?" They were starting to get annoying. All he wanted to do was look at it a little closer. What was the harm in that?
Zarg looked distressed. He shook his head and muttered something in a strange language, then slowly said to Davis, "M-Master, it's not yours."
Oh, that ticked him off. "What do you mean it's not mine? I own everything in this castle, don't I? Well? DON'T I?"
They cowered in fear. Zarg really regretted even opening his mouth. He'd known it was a mistake when he'd done it. "It belongs to Great Queen Keesma!"
Davis lowered his voice to a deadly whisper. "As far as you're conserned, I am Keesma now, so therefore this...THING...belongs to me. Along with everything else in the Digital World. And if you ever say anything like that again, I'll eat you for dinner. Understand?"
Zarg swallowed hard and nodded. He made a funny whimpering noise that sounded like a sick puppy. It felt good to have that kind of power over something. Now he understood why Ken had enjoyed being the Digimon Emporer so much.
Just for the heck of it, he loudly repeated, "Understand!"
"Yes, sir," Zarg squeaked.
Davis smiled to himself. "Now that's better. So what is this thing? Why doesn't it 'like me'?"
They looked at each other and whispered in that hissy language. Finally, Zarg cleared his throat. "It's Keesma's power-orb-thing. It's what she used to get us here. Only she can use it. If we tried, we'd blow up. It used to belong to..." he cringed. "The POWERS. The ones who can't be named. Keesma stole it."
Garz quickly added, "Master, in time, you will become strong enough to use it, but until then... If you don't want to blow up, I think you ought to stay away from it."
"So, uh..." Zarg despirtely searched for something else to talk about. "Now that you've seen the castle, what d'you think?!"
Davis looked around and shrugged. "Nah, no big deal."
Zarg's mouth dropped open, and Garz snickered.
Davis turned back to the Orb and stared at it like a little kid drools over candy before dinner. "This is all that interests me. Nothing else is that important."
A smile spread across Zarg's face. "But...What about the Digidestined?"
Oh, yeah. THEM. "What about them?"
"What are you gonna do about 'em?"
He sighed. "Do I have to do something about them? They're not hurtin' anything."
Garz caught on. "Do you understand the power of the Digidestined, Master?"
Davis blinked. Power? "Huh?"
"The power of even the weakest Digidestined Crest is stronger than the dark energy of a hundered demons."
Davis's eyes went wide and an evil light came into them. (You know, kinda like what happened to Ken in 'The Genesis of Evil') "Really?"
"Oh, yes. And the Crests of Hope and Light? Why if you had even one of them...you could, well...rule everything! Not even the Powers could stop you from doing whatever you want!"
"Hmm," Davis walked over to his throne on the opposite side of the room. He'd already forgotten about the Orb. Drapped across the seat was an orange coat with black dimonds and a fuzzy collar, like the one on his flamey jacket. He took note of it, before tossing it aside to Garz. "Go get TK"
"Who, Master?" Garz asked.
Davis rolled his eyes. "Hope, you idiot. Go bring me the bearer of the Crest of Hope!"
"But what about Light? She's the one that has-"
"Don't touch her!" Davis snapped. "When I am...a bit more presentable, I will send for her. And then you won't harm or even frighten her. You got it?"
"Do you want me to treat Hope that way too?"
He waved his hand. "I don't care what you do with 'Hope.' Just don't kill him, all right?"
Garz and Zarg saluted, and in smiling, Zarg's slimey tounge rolled out of his mouth. Davis smacked his forehead. He had idiots for minions.
Garz clapped his hands giddily and ran off. "Can I get you something, Master?" Zarg asked.
"I'm hungry again. Bring me more dark energy."
Zarg's eyes lit up. All three of them. "Okee, Master. For now, you have a demon for a little snack. And how about after that, I bring you the energy from a Lower Crest?"
"Mmm, sounds tastey. What's a 'Lower' Crest? I didn't know there was a difference."
"The Lower Crests: Friendship, Knowledge, Reliability, and Sincerity. They don't have as much power as the Upper Crests: Light, Hope, Love, Kindness and Courage. You are operating on the Crest of Courage, which is an Upper Crest. It's stronger than the Crest of Friendship-a Lower Crest- which you also have, but aren't currently using."
In one ear and out the other. "Okaaay..."
"Anyways, I could probably...maybe get you, oh, say, the Crest of Knowledge?"
"Sure. Whatever. But you better not screw it up."
Zarg flailed his arms about. "Oh, no, no, no, Master! Of course not!"
There was a pause in which Zarg just stood there having a brain lapse, or somethin'. (A translation error? I love those!) "Well?" Davis snapped. "Get!"
Zarg said no more, but disappeared in a puff of smoke.
Davis sighed. "Finally! I thought they'd never leave. Now I can have some peace."
"Would you like me to leave as well, My Pet?" It was her! Dressed in gold, and her purple hair done up in a bun, she had to be the most beautiful thing Davis had ever seen. Fifty times more wonderful than Kari could have ever been.
"Keesma!" Davis scrambled to her lovely feet and kissed them repeatedly. To be in her presence made him complete again. "No, no, my lady. Please, don't leave. I have long awaited your return."
She lifted his chin so he stared into her fathomless eyes instead of her toes. He looked away, feeling unworthy of her. "Did you miss me?"
"Of, course. I need you, Keesma."
This made her chuckle. "You do, don't you, My Pet? Now, get up and kiss me for real." She grabbed his collar and pulled him into a drawn out, warm kiss. It could have lasted forever, but she made sure it didn't. She broke away and whispered, "Now, how are you enjoying my life?"
Boy, that was a no-brainer. "I love it."
"Good. I'm proud of you. How are Zarg and Garz treating you?"
"Ah, they're enthusiastic. I'll give 'em that. But they're so annoying!"
"I see. Yeah. So tell me, what are you planning to do with the power I have so graciously given you?"
Davis shrugged.
Keesma turned around to leave the room and rolled her eyes. "Don't you have any ambition?" She left, and Davis quickly followed. "You need to get RID of the Digidestined!"
"But why? They're not hurtin' anyone."
"Not yet..." Keesma said. "But they will. Believe me, Davis. They're plotting against you."
"E-even Kari?"
She stopped so suddenly that Davis almost ran into her. She spun around and stuck a long finger in his face. Her eyes burned red with anger. "Especially Kari. I want you to bring her and that boy TK to me. Do you understand?"
"Yes!" Davis squeaked. "I sent Garz to get TK. He should be back very soon!"
Keesma smiled a wicked smile. "Good boy."
Now that Keesma and Davis are working against the Digidestined, what will become of them?
Find out in Episode 4: "The No Hope Campaign"
Author's note: Don't you just love these end narrations? Ya know I do!