Digimon: A Bigger Threat
Episode 5
"The Truth Revealed"
By: Shmeilia Rockie
Disclaimer: I DO NOT OWN DIGIMON! I own Garz, Zarg, and Keesma.
Kari and Gatomon were falling through a chute, and they had no idea where it went. They couldn't even see where they were going, for it was pitch black.
Gatomon fell away, down a different path. "Kari!"
Kari turned over onto her stomach so she could see behind her, and the chute promptly ended. She fell on her butt.
The air was a bit stale, and she couldn't see at all where she was. There wasn't any sound, save her own breathing. She hugged her knees and waited. Just what for, she wasn't sure.
Suddenly, someone lit a torch. Her eyes strained to see who it was, but the light stung. She got on her gaurd. "Boy, do you look like you need a friend."
That voice! "Davis?"
Finally, her eyes came into focus. It really was him! She ran to him and gave him a bear hug. "I thought you were dead!"
"Nope, still here."
"How did you survive after that thing ate you?"
He tried to look disturbed. He rubbed the back of his neck. "Well, um, Kari, the truth is...I-I really don't wanna talk about it."
"Oh, okay. I'm just glad you're alive."
He put his arms around her and drew her close to him. "I've really missed you, Kari."
She looked into his eyes. They seemed wrong somehow, like they were lacking something important. She looked at his jacket. That too was different. Digidestined clothes are determined by the subconsious, and right now Davis looked like...Frankly, Kari thought he looked like a pimp. And that wasn't a good sign. "Are you all right, Davis?"
He stared down at her, and suddenly she got the chills. "I've never been so right in my entire life."
Kari actually felt afraid for her life. He had a hunger in his eyes. A hunger for her. She'd always known Davis was obsessed with her, but until now it hadn't been a problem. "Davis, I-"
He smiled with some unkown satisfaction, then turned to leave. "Let me show you around."
"Uh, okay." She reluctantly followed him.
A door opened from what had been a soild wall not moments before. This didn't seem surprising at all to Davis. "I hope you like my castle, Kari. All I have is yours."
What was he talking about? Suddenly Kari's mind snapped to her Digimon. "Davis?"
He stopped, but didn't immediately around. "Yes?"
"Where's Gatomon?"
There was a pause. Davis bit his lip and slowly, calmly answered, "She wasn't with you?"
Duh. "She was, but I lost her."
He snorted and resumed walking. "That was a little irresponsible of you, now, wasn't it?"
What was his problem? There was definately something wrong with him. Normally he'd be tripping over himself trying to help her.
He lead her to a dining room. "Please stay here, Kari. I'll have my friends serve you."
"But where are you going?"
He thought about that. "Let's just say, I have a little business to attend to."
"Oh, all right." She stepped into the room and sat at one of the long tables.
* * * *
"Follow, follow, follow, follow, follow the Yellow Brick Rrrroad!" Hawkmon sang in his cute little accent as he floated along. This was all too funny to him.
Yolei tried to contain her building anger. She shook with the effort. "Shut up, Hawkmon, before I smash your beak in!"
He clapped his wings together and batted his eyes. "Oh, but this is all too exciting!"
"Okay, one more sarcastic remark, and I'll...I'll..."
"Do nothing of the sort!"
Ken burst out laughing. It was nervous laughter. Everyone stared at him, and he waved his hand. "I-I'm sorry, guys...But you two fight just like an old married couple!"
They looked at each other, then at Ken, and started laughing as well. So did Armadillomon. Cody looked at Wormmon with a raised eyebrow, and Wormmon shrugged. "Beats me."
Cody shook his head, but a smile forced its' way onto his face. "Guys, come on. We need to go."
The castle was visible now, as were the Freedom Spirits who gaurded it. There were quite a few American Digidestined. They transformed into great angle-like beings (quite taller than they should have been) with three pairs of pure white wings. The sight of them was rather breath-taking.
The two Freedom Spirits who gaurded the only entance wore silver armor and what looked like the U.S. flag draped across each of them. They held golden scythe-like staffs that looked especially imposing. Yolei noted to herself how familliar those two looked. It was hard to tell from that distance.
Everyone fell silent. The games were offically over.
Most of the Freedom Spirits ignored them as they approached. Only the two at the doors seemed to even be paying attention. Not realizing this, Yolei stepped up to the golden doors to knock. Two scythes simultaniously fell millimeters from her face. She blinked, screamed, and fell backwards.
"Halt!" Said the first one in a booming, echoing voice.
The other one picked up right as the other stopped, "Only those with pure hearts and true intentions may enter this holy ground!"
Yolei gasped. She couldn't believe it, but she knew those two. Or at least she used to. She'd dated both of them. "Michael? Willis?"
"No!" Everyone gasped.
Michael and Willis were bearly recognizable. Their hair was wild from the wind, and they had cat-like eyes.
Willis declared, "The kids you used to know are gone. We serve a higher purpose now."
"We've waited for you, Megadigidestined," Michael said. They withdrew their scythes in unison, and floated effortlessly to the ground. "Please, follow us. Time is critical."
They held out their hands and the doors burst open. The kids felt a tigling sinsation as they passed through the doorway. They felt instantly refreshed, well fed and clean.
"Woah," Ken yelped. "Our clothes. They're back to normal."
Cody and Yolei looked down and saw their normal Digidestined outfits.
"What's the deal?" Yolei was just getting used to her nifty dress.
The doors slammed shut.
Willis smiled slightly. "We are humble here. There is no need for you to overimpose yourselves."
Cody wanted to crack about the fact that Willis was still in full armor, but decided it was best if he didn't say anything.
"Megadigidestined, we are at war."
"Haven't we always been?" Cody asked.
"This time the fight has gone too far. Boundries have been broken, innocent lives lost. We cannot let it go on."
"This is the last game, friends. We play for keeps."
"What are we supposed to do?" Ken asked, egar to help.
They ignored his question. "One of your own has fallen to the wrong side."
"Who?" Everyone shot a glance at him, and he shook his head.
"Davis. You must bring him back, Kindness."
Ken's eyes widened. "Me? Why me?"
"You've been down his path. Only you truely know what its like to be possessed by the powers of darkness."
He got quiet. "You mean when I was the Digimon Emporer, don't you?"
Michael nodded once. "That was not a pleasant experience, but you've grown from it. Now you must help your friend in his time of need."
Ken took a deep breath. He got tired every time he thought about that awful part of his life. "How? How can I help?"
They came to another set of doors. Willis held his hand out to them. "This is the Throne Room. Here is where everything makes since."
When the doors swung open everyone-kids and Digimon alike-gasped for the beauty of it all. Everywhere they looked they saw glowing, shining jewels in wonderful patterns over the walls and the celing. The walls were made out of a iridescent material.
Their minds were blown away. There really is no describing how beautiful it was. Only Michael and Willis remained focused.
"Darkness wants only to destroy. You Megadigidestined, along with us Freedom Spirits are here to rub out that destruction. Life must prevail."
That was all they needed to hear. Suddenly, their task was crystal clear. "What do we do?"
"You need to unlock the ability to Morph Digivolve."
"Morph Digivolve?"
"Each of you must merge with your Digimon partner. Then the powers of your Digimon will increase ten-fold."
"Unfortunately, that means you and your Digimon will be one. You will never see each other again, save in your most peaceful dreams."
The kids looked at their Digimon. This couldn't be happening. They just got their friends back, and now they must say good-bye for good?
"We will do whatever it takes to beat evil," Wormmon said to them.
"Yeah," Armadillomon joined in enthusiastically, "We'll whup 'em good, no matter what!"
"All right, then," Cody said with a heavy heart, "If you're willing to do it, so am I."
"How exactly do we 'Morph Digivolve', anyway?" Yolei demanded.
"You will know when the time is right!" They boomed in unison.
She flinched. "Okay, okay! I get it!"
"Don't rush us, that only wastes time!" Willis waved his staff and a hologram appeared in the air. "This is the Power Orb. The evil demon queen (known in this realm as Keesma) stole it from the all-worthy Powers That Be. She needed the power of an upper Digidestined crest to power it to it's potential, so she forced Davis to give up the Crest of Courage. She has not yet come to full power, and you must not let her-"
Cody held up his hand like he was in class. "Wait. What do you mean, 'come to full power'."
Willis made a frustrated face. Michael explained, "When she reaches the height of her power she will completely possess Davis. As of now, he is still in control."
"Oh."
Willis continued, "Her real goal is to control the Crest of Light, the strongest crest."
There was a collective gasp. "Kari!"
"Kari is within Keesma's grasp even as we speak. That is why you must not interrupt us. When she has total control of Davis's body, she'll, at least in theory, be able to take any crest at will, sparing the Crest of Light. The only way you'll defeat her is if you Morph DNA Digivolve."
"Which one of us will do it?" Ken asked quietly, somehow already knowing the answer.
"You, Kindness."
"Figures," he mumbled.
"Why can't I do it?" Yolei whinned, then added, "Or Cody?"
"Only Kindness has the...strength to endure the strain of taking on three extra minds."
"Three minds!? Wow, I'm glad I'm not doing it, then."
"Yolei!" Hawkmon scolded.
"Oh, yeah, sorry, Ken. That didn't sound right. I'm sure you can handle it. Should be no problem, right?"
Ken sighed, and closed his eyes. The idea of having four minds was rather disturbing. "I'm not sure."
Michael put his hand on Ken's shoulder and smiled warmly. "Of course you can. The Powers themselves picked you, and they are never wrong. Have confidence! You're on the winning team."
"But my DNA Digivolving partner is Davis. If he's...evil...How can I Morph DNA Digivolve?"
"Do you really believe that Digivolving is that limited? You'll just do it with someone else. No big deal."
"Oh, all right."
Willis had gone across the room while Michael gave that pep-talk to Ken. He returned now with three items. "These are gifts that should assist you in this quest."
He handed Cody a wooden staff with the Crest of Reliablity engraved into it. "You know how to use this."
Cody took it gently and bowed his thanks.
He held out a long golden chain. "Kindness, these are magical chains that can bind demons. You will drive Keesma from Davis and then put this around his neck. That will seal her from ever repossessing him."
Ken looked sick, but he took the gift anyway.
Then Willis turned to Yolei, who looked left out. He smiled at her. "Dear Love, don't start crying."
She blushed with embarrassment. "I won't cry!"
"Of course not. You're stronger than that. Here, this is yours." He draped a golden necklace over her head.
Yolei stared questioningly at it. There was a heart-shaped vile of sparkling, pearly green liquid dangling at the end. "What's this?"
"It heals all minor injuries."
"Cool!"
"Nothing life-threatening, mind you. Just cuts and punctures."
"Still...thanks! I'd hug you, but...No."
"Now," they announced, "You must be on your way."
* * * *
Davis entered the Throne Room, where TK lay in agony on the floor. Dark energy rings slowly drained his strength away. Davis bent down to his level. "How's it goin', Hope?"
TK made a disgusted face and refused to look at him. This, of course, only made Davis laugh.
"Aw, what's wrong? Gettin' tired?"
Nothing.
Davis assumed that TK could hear him very well when he lowered his voice. "Kari is here."
TK's eyes went wide with fury, giving him away.
"I'm going to make her mine, and there's nothing you can do about it." Davis was trying to make TK give up hope, and in consequence, his crest.
TK just shook his head, but he looked defeated.
"Garz! Zarg!"
Immediately, they were standing in front of him. "You bellowed, sir?"
"Serve Kari in the Dining Hall."
"What do we serve her, Master Davis? Surely she does not want to eat demon energy!"
"Duh, give her human food!"
"Oh, how could we have forgotten?" Zarg said shrugging as they left.
* * * *
The wind moaned inceassantly. Veemon burried his face in his hands and cried. All his friends were gone, eatten. He had no reason to go on. "What do I do? What do I do?"
He hadn't expected an answer for that, but he got one. *Do you really want to know?*
He looked around, on his gaurd. "Who's there?"
Nothing.
"Great. Now I'm hearing voices."
*You know who I am. We've talked before.*
Veemon gasped. It was the guy from his dream! "Where are you?"
*Inside your heart. Outside. I'm everywhere.*
Weird. "What do you want me to do?"
*Turn to your left and look. What do you see?*
Veemon looked in that direction. Nothing. Wait, there was something. A tiny dot that turned into a castle when he squinted at it. "Is that a castle?"
*Yes. Go to it, Veemon. I will give you futher instructions when you arrive.*
"Okay..."
There was silence once again. Veemon took a deep breath and started towards the tiny dot.
* * * *
Kari was driving herself insane wondering what had happened to Gatomon. She must have been awake for 24 hours now, and fatigue was starting to wear on her nerves. She knew she shouldn't have, but she partially closed her eyes and rested her head on the table. She stared into the warm glow of a candle off to her left. What was that nagging feeling playing around the edge of her mind? It had something to do with Davis. She didn't exactly feel very safe around him now, and she couldn't figure out why. She had no idea it was because he was possessed by the embodiment of darkness and evil.
As she slipped into the world in between dream and reality, voices began to whisper to her, "...come, child, join us...become a survant of our Master...with your power, you could do whatever you want..."
She gasped and jerked awake. "What was that?" Suddenly, she had an overwhelming desire to get out of there. She stood up, torn between the need to run and the feeling that she should be waiting for Davis.
Zarg and Garz choose that moment to waltz in there wearing waiters' outfits, and carring trays of bread and fruits. Of course, Kari took one look at them and screamed. Who can blame her? They're seriously ugly.
Davis wasn't really done torturing TK, but when he heard the object of his desire scream her lungs out, he came running. He skidded to a halt in the doorway. "GARZ! ZARG! You two are the biggest idiots in the entire Digital World!"
"Whaaat?" They whinned. "We didn't do nothin'!"
He bonked both of them on their heads, and their eyes got spinney. "You're scaring Kari!"
Kari was very confused. "Davis, you know these things?"
"Oh yeah, they're my min-" He caught himself and laughed nervously, "Uh, my friends."
"I'm sorry to say, they look a bit like demons."
"DEMONS!" he yelped, looking nervously at the two, and silently urging them not to say a word. "They are not demons! They're...uh, de-mon...YEAH! They're Digimon!"
She sat back down. "Funny Digimon...they don't even look like the same species."
Davis sat at the head of the table. "Aw, they're weird like that. Don't mind them. All they want is to please you."
"Okay," she sighed. He was looking at her with a dreamy expression on his face, making her nervous. Garz and Zarg plopped the plates in front of her and scurried away. She timidly reached for a piece of bread, but stopped. "Aren't you going to eat anything, Davis?"
The very thought of human food turned his stomach, even though he knew he still needed it. "Nah, I-I'm not that hungry. I already ate before you got here."
"Oh."
Davis watched Kari eat, and all he could think about was how beautiful she was in the soft candle light, almost as beautiful as Keesma. She didn't look at him, but kept her eyes on her plate. That was so boring... Soon Davis found himself overcome with exhastion. Slowly, he let his eyes fall shut.
Kari felt a chill in the air. A strange, muffled voice called out to her, and with great fear she realized that it was coming from Davis. His eyes were closed in concentration. "Kari?"
Oh, no. She knew the truth. The reason he'd been acting funny, and why he had that look in his eyes. "Yes?"
His eyes snapped open, and they glowed with an eerie red light. Kari felt the chill go down her spine. Davis was not in there. He talked in a slow, deadly tone, "Give me your crest, Kari."
"What?" She froze like a cat in headlights.
"I won't play games with you." He weakly got up out of the chair and stood over her, shaking with the effort to stay standing. "Give me your crest."
"No!" The urge to run finally won over her, and she took off like a frightened rabbit.
Davis, (or I guess Keesma) grabbed her arm with a surprisingly strong grip. "I won't let you-" Suddenly, he let go and doubled over in pain as the real Davis resurfaced. "What's wrong with me?"
She instinctively bent down to help him. "Davis? Is that really you?"
"Of course its me," he panted for breath. "who else would I be?"
She wrapped her arms around him and cuddled him like he was a child. "I know this is going to sound bad, but I think you're possessed by a demon."
He squirmed, trying to get away, but she held him tightly. "No! I'm still in control! I have control over her!"
Kari rubbed his back, and he sobbed once. He was shaking uncontrolably. "Shh, Davis, calm down."
He looked pleadingly at her, and she saw the complete Davis one last time. "Why? She said I was still in control, but she's just using me! I can feel her inside, trying to take over. She's like a tidal wave, I can't stop her! I can't stop her!"
"Her? Who are you talking about?"
He didn't respond, but buried his face on her shoulder and cried. She hugged him tight and rocked gently back and forth, determined to help him. Whatever was doing this had no right.
Slowly his sobs died away, and his shaking calmed. He pulled away to gaze into her eyes. She still had her arms around him, and they were awfully close. Without warning, he pulled her into a kiss. It didn't last very long, because she pulled away and slapped him. It was her natural reaction, she didn't mean to do it. He stared at her with furious eyes. "Kari what's your problem? Don't you love me?"
This was the moment Kari had dreaded for as long as she'd known him. She didn't really love him, but she couldn't bring herself to tell him.
He didn't give her a chance to respond before he pinned her to the wall with a force she didn't know he had, and kissed her violently. As he moved to her neck, she knew she was in trouble. She hit him as hard as she could, but it didn't matter. Panic swelled inside of her. "Stop, Davis! Please! I don't love you!"
That stopped him. He grabbed her face and stared into her eyes for what seemed like an hour. "Fine, Kari. I understand. I'm not good enough for you."
"No! That's not it at all, Davis. It's not your fault. I-I just don't love you."
He growled. "Then it'll give me even more pleasure to make you watch as I destroy the one you do love."
"No...you've got TK locked up somewhere, don't you?"
He didn't respond, but twisted her arm behind her and pushed her into the hallway. He led her into a large, dark room, and threw her to the floor. He pointed to where TK lay in agony, trapped by the dark force feild. His Megadigidestined armor fizzled slightly on and off. "There is your love. I am draining his energy."
"No! TK!" TK recognized her voice and weakly opened his hollow eyes. His blue lips formed a few desprate words, but no sound came out.
"Oh, yes, Kari. Now, since he can't kiss you good-bye, I'll do it for him."
Davis grabbed her collar and once again forced her to kiss him, making sure TK saw it. Then he jumped into the force feild, and reached into the blue jewel on TK's helmet.
TK screamed, and that was the end of him. He fell lifeless to the floor.
"No!" Kari shrieked. "You monster!" A wave of pink energy swept the room, throwing anything not bolted down against the wall. Kari floated, suspended in the air. Her hair waved in a mane around her, her eyes flamed with the pink energy. She wore a simple silk dress with the Crest of Light on the front, and little, clear, slip-on shoes. The destruction of her true love drove her to her Megadigidestined transformation.
Unfortunately, the forcefield protected Davis from the blast. "Temper, temper, Kari." He opened his hand to reveal his prize: the Crest of Hope, the second strongest crest. In an impulse he later couldn't really explain, he swallowed it.
And that was the end of Davis. He dug his fingers into his temples as he fought to keep himself from falling away from the swirling universe. Evil itself laughed at him from the inside, and in a millisecond he realized just how much he'd been used. "No! What have I done?" Last famous words. With the Crest of Hope, Keesma now had enough energy to overwhelm him.
Darkness fell over his eyes, and his hair went white. 'He' smiled, as Keesma gained total control "Finally! I am back!"
"You will pay for this, beast!" Kari yelled in an unhuman tone. "For TK and for Davis."
"We'll see, Light, we'll see." Then he disappeared.
* * * *
Gatomon finally woke up. She hit her head when she fell. Now, she reailized she was chained to a pillar.
Opposite her, also strapped to a pillar, was Patamon. He was concious, but he had his eyes closed.
"Patamon, what's going on? Where are we?"
"He's gone, Gatomon."
"Who? Veemon?"
Patamon opened his eyes, and tears glittered there. "What? No, I don't know where Veemon is. I-I'm talking about TK."
There was a pause. "Are you sure?"
He nodded. "I can feel it."
Will Kari get her revenge, or will Keesma get her too?
Will the others get there too late?
Find out in Episode 6:
"Possession"
Episode 5
"The Truth Revealed"
By: Shmeilia Rockie
Disclaimer: I DO NOT OWN DIGIMON! I own Garz, Zarg, and Keesma.
Kari and Gatomon were falling through a chute, and they had no idea where it went. They couldn't even see where they were going, for it was pitch black.
Gatomon fell away, down a different path. "Kari!"
Kari turned over onto her stomach so she could see behind her, and the chute promptly ended. She fell on her butt.
The air was a bit stale, and she couldn't see at all where she was. There wasn't any sound, save her own breathing. She hugged her knees and waited. Just what for, she wasn't sure.
Suddenly, someone lit a torch. Her eyes strained to see who it was, but the light stung. She got on her gaurd. "Boy, do you look like you need a friend."
That voice! "Davis?"
Finally, her eyes came into focus. It really was him! She ran to him and gave him a bear hug. "I thought you were dead!"
"Nope, still here."
"How did you survive after that thing ate you?"
He tried to look disturbed. He rubbed the back of his neck. "Well, um, Kari, the truth is...I-I really don't wanna talk about it."
"Oh, okay. I'm just glad you're alive."
He put his arms around her and drew her close to him. "I've really missed you, Kari."
She looked into his eyes. They seemed wrong somehow, like they were lacking something important. She looked at his jacket. That too was different. Digidestined clothes are determined by the subconsious, and right now Davis looked like...Frankly, Kari thought he looked like a pimp. And that wasn't a good sign. "Are you all right, Davis?"
He stared down at her, and suddenly she got the chills. "I've never been so right in my entire life."
Kari actually felt afraid for her life. He had a hunger in his eyes. A hunger for her. She'd always known Davis was obsessed with her, but until now it hadn't been a problem. "Davis, I-"
He smiled with some unkown satisfaction, then turned to leave. "Let me show you around."
"Uh, okay." She reluctantly followed him.
A door opened from what had been a soild wall not moments before. This didn't seem surprising at all to Davis. "I hope you like my castle, Kari. All I have is yours."
What was he talking about? Suddenly Kari's mind snapped to her Digimon. "Davis?"
He stopped, but didn't immediately around. "Yes?"
"Where's Gatomon?"
There was a pause. Davis bit his lip and slowly, calmly answered, "She wasn't with you?"
Duh. "She was, but I lost her."
He snorted and resumed walking. "That was a little irresponsible of you, now, wasn't it?"
What was his problem? There was definately something wrong with him. Normally he'd be tripping over himself trying to help her.
He lead her to a dining room. "Please stay here, Kari. I'll have my friends serve you."
"But where are you going?"
He thought about that. "Let's just say, I have a little business to attend to."
"Oh, all right." She stepped into the room and sat at one of the long tables.
* * * *
"Follow, follow, follow, follow, follow the Yellow Brick Rrrroad!" Hawkmon sang in his cute little accent as he floated along. This was all too funny to him.
Yolei tried to contain her building anger. She shook with the effort. "Shut up, Hawkmon, before I smash your beak in!"
He clapped his wings together and batted his eyes. "Oh, but this is all too exciting!"
"Okay, one more sarcastic remark, and I'll...I'll..."
"Do nothing of the sort!"
Ken burst out laughing. It was nervous laughter. Everyone stared at him, and he waved his hand. "I-I'm sorry, guys...But you two fight just like an old married couple!"
They looked at each other, then at Ken, and started laughing as well. So did Armadillomon. Cody looked at Wormmon with a raised eyebrow, and Wormmon shrugged. "Beats me."
Cody shook his head, but a smile forced its' way onto his face. "Guys, come on. We need to go."
The castle was visible now, as were the Freedom Spirits who gaurded it. There were quite a few American Digidestined. They transformed into great angle-like beings (quite taller than they should have been) with three pairs of pure white wings. The sight of them was rather breath-taking.
The two Freedom Spirits who gaurded the only entance wore silver armor and what looked like the U.S. flag draped across each of them. They held golden scythe-like staffs that looked especially imposing. Yolei noted to herself how familliar those two looked. It was hard to tell from that distance.
Everyone fell silent. The games were offically over.
Most of the Freedom Spirits ignored them as they approached. Only the two at the doors seemed to even be paying attention. Not realizing this, Yolei stepped up to the golden doors to knock. Two scythes simultaniously fell millimeters from her face. She blinked, screamed, and fell backwards.
"Halt!" Said the first one in a booming, echoing voice.
The other one picked up right as the other stopped, "Only those with pure hearts and true intentions may enter this holy ground!"
Yolei gasped. She couldn't believe it, but she knew those two. Or at least she used to. She'd dated both of them. "Michael? Willis?"
"No!" Everyone gasped.
Michael and Willis were bearly recognizable. Their hair was wild from the wind, and they had cat-like eyes.
Willis declared, "The kids you used to know are gone. We serve a higher purpose now."
"We've waited for you, Megadigidestined," Michael said. They withdrew their scythes in unison, and floated effortlessly to the ground. "Please, follow us. Time is critical."
They held out their hands and the doors burst open. The kids felt a tigling sinsation as they passed through the doorway. They felt instantly refreshed, well fed and clean.
"Woah," Ken yelped. "Our clothes. They're back to normal."
Cody and Yolei looked down and saw their normal Digidestined outfits.
"What's the deal?" Yolei was just getting used to her nifty dress.
The doors slammed shut.
Willis smiled slightly. "We are humble here. There is no need for you to overimpose yourselves."
Cody wanted to crack about the fact that Willis was still in full armor, but decided it was best if he didn't say anything.
"Megadigidestined, we are at war."
"Haven't we always been?" Cody asked.
"This time the fight has gone too far. Boundries have been broken, innocent lives lost. We cannot let it go on."
"This is the last game, friends. We play for keeps."
"What are we supposed to do?" Ken asked, egar to help.
They ignored his question. "One of your own has fallen to the wrong side."
"Who?" Everyone shot a glance at him, and he shook his head.
"Davis. You must bring him back, Kindness."
Ken's eyes widened. "Me? Why me?"
"You've been down his path. Only you truely know what its like to be possessed by the powers of darkness."
He got quiet. "You mean when I was the Digimon Emporer, don't you?"
Michael nodded once. "That was not a pleasant experience, but you've grown from it. Now you must help your friend in his time of need."
Ken took a deep breath. He got tired every time he thought about that awful part of his life. "How? How can I help?"
They came to another set of doors. Willis held his hand out to them. "This is the Throne Room. Here is where everything makes since."
When the doors swung open everyone-kids and Digimon alike-gasped for the beauty of it all. Everywhere they looked they saw glowing, shining jewels in wonderful patterns over the walls and the celing. The walls were made out of a iridescent material.
Their minds were blown away. There really is no describing how beautiful it was. Only Michael and Willis remained focused.
"Darkness wants only to destroy. You Megadigidestined, along with us Freedom Spirits are here to rub out that destruction. Life must prevail."
That was all they needed to hear. Suddenly, their task was crystal clear. "What do we do?"
"You need to unlock the ability to Morph Digivolve."
"Morph Digivolve?"
"Each of you must merge with your Digimon partner. Then the powers of your Digimon will increase ten-fold."
"Unfortunately, that means you and your Digimon will be one. You will never see each other again, save in your most peaceful dreams."
The kids looked at their Digimon. This couldn't be happening. They just got their friends back, and now they must say good-bye for good?
"We will do whatever it takes to beat evil," Wormmon said to them.
"Yeah," Armadillomon joined in enthusiastically, "We'll whup 'em good, no matter what!"
"All right, then," Cody said with a heavy heart, "If you're willing to do it, so am I."
"How exactly do we 'Morph Digivolve', anyway?" Yolei demanded.
"You will know when the time is right!" They boomed in unison.
She flinched. "Okay, okay! I get it!"
"Don't rush us, that only wastes time!" Willis waved his staff and a hologram appeared in the air. "This is the Power Orb. The evil demon queen (known in this realm as Keesma) stole it from the all-worthy Powers That Be. She needed the power of an upper Digidestined crest to power it to it's potential, so she forced Davis to give up the Crest of Courage. She has not yet come to full power, and you must not let her-"
Cody held up his hand like he was in class. "Wait. What do you mean, 'come to full power'."
Willis made a frustrated face. Michael explained, "When she reaches the height of her power she will completely possess Davis. As of now, he is still in control."
"Oh."
Willis continued, "Her real goal is to control the Crest of Light, the strongest crest."
There was a collective gasp. "Kari!"
"Kari is within Keesma's grasp even as we speak. That is why you must not interrupt us. When she has total control of Davis's body, she'll, at least in theory, be able to take any crest at will, sparing the Crest of Light. The only way you'll defeat her is if you Morph DNA Digivolve."
"Which one of us will do it?" Ken asked quietly, somehow already knowing the answer.
"You, Kindness."
"Figures," he mumbled.
"Why can't I do it?" Yolei whinned, then added, "Or Cody?"
"Only Kindness has the...strength to endure the strain of taking on three extra minds."
"Three minds!? Wow, I'm glad I'm not doing it, then."
"Yolei!" Hawkmon scolded.
"Oh, yeah, sorry, Ken. That didn't sound right. I'm sure you can handle it. Should be no problem, right?"
Ken sighed, and closed his eyes. The idea of having four minds was rather disturbing. "I'm not sure."
Michael put his hand on Ken's shoulder and smiled warmly. "Of course you can. The Powers themselves picked you, and they are never wrong. Have confidence! You're on the winning team."
"But my DNA Digivolving partner is Davis. If he's...evil...How can I Morph DNA Digivolve?"
"Do you really believe that Digivolving is that limited? You'll just do it with someone else. No big deal."
"Oh, all right."
Willis had gone across the room while Michael gave that pep-talk to Ken. He returned now with three items. "These are gifts that should assist you in this quest."
He handed Cody a wooden staff with the Crest of Reliablity engraved into it. "You know how to use this."
Cody took it gently and bowed his thanks.
He held out a long golden chain. "Kindness, these are magical chains that can bind demons. You will drive Keesma from Davis and then put this around his neck. That will seal her from ever repossessing him."
Ken looked sick, but he took the gift anyway.
Then Willis turned to Yolei, who looked left out. He smiled at her. "Dear Love, don't start crying."
She blushed with embarrassment. "I won't cry!"
"Of course not. You're stronger than that. Here, this is yours." He draped a golden necklace over her head.
Yolei stared questioningly at it. There was a heart-shaped vile of sparkling, pearly green liquid dangling at the end. "What's this?"
"It heals all minor injuries."
"Cool!"
"Nothing life-threatening, mind you. Just cuts and punctures."
"Still...thanks! I'd hug you, but...No."
"Now," they announced, "You must be on your way."
* * * *
Davis entered the Throne Room, where TK lay in agony on the floor. Dark energy rings slowly drained his strength away. Davis bent down to his level. "How's it goin', Hope?"
TK made a disgusted face and refused to look at him. This, of course, only made Davis laugh.
"Aw, what's wrong? Gettin' tired?"
Nothing.
Davis assumed that TK could hear him very well when he lowered his voice. "Kari is here."
TK's eyes went wide with fury, giving him away.
"I'm going to make her mine, and there's nothing you can do about it." Davis was trying to make TK give up hope, and in consequence, his crest.
TK just shook his head, but he looked defeated.
"Garz! Zarg!"
Immediately, they were standing in front of him. "You bellowed, sir?"
"Serve Kari in the Dining Hall."
"What do we serve her, Master Davis? Surely she does not want to eat demon energy!"
"Duh, give her human food!"
"Oh, how could we have forgotten?" Zarg said shrugging as they left.
* * * *
The wind moaned inceassantly. Veemon burried his face in his hands and cried. All his friends were gone, eatten. He had no reason to go on. "What do I do? What do I do?"
He hadn't expected an answer for that, but he got one. *Do you really want to know?*
He looked around, on his gaurd. "Who's there?"
Nothing.
"Great. Now I'm hearing voices."
*You know who I am. We've talked before.*
Veemon gasped. It was the guy from his dream! "Where are you?"
*Inside your heart. Outside. I'm everywhere.*
Weird. "What do you want me to do?"
*Turn to your left and look. What do you see?*
Veemon looked in that direction. Nothing. Wait, there was something. A tiny dot that turned into a castle when he squinted at it. "Is that a castle?"
*Yes. Go to it, Veemon. I will give you futher instructions when you arrive.*
"Okay..."
There was silence once again. Veemon took a deep breath and started towards the tiny dot.
* * * *
Kari was driving herself insane wondering what had happened to Gatomon. She must have been awake for 24 hours now, and fatigue was starting to wear on her nerves. She knew she shouldn't have, but she partially closed her eyes and rested her head on the table. She stared into the warm glow of a candle off to her left. What was that nagging feeling playing around the edge of her mind? It had something to do with Davis. She didn't exactly feel very safe around him now, and she couldn't figure out why. She had no idea it was because he was possessed by the embodiment of darkness and evil.
As she slipped into the world in between dream and reality, voices began to whisper to her, "...come, child, join us...become a survant of our Master...with your power, you could do whatever you want..."
She gasped and jerked awake. "What was that?" Suddenly, she had an overwhelming desire to get out of there. She stood up, torn between the need to run and the feeling that she should be waiting for Davis.
Zarg and Garz choose that moment to waltz in there wearing waiters' outfits, and carring trays of bread and fruits. Of course, Kari took one look at them and screamed. Who can blame her? They're seriously ugly.
Davis wasn't really done torturing TK, but when he heard the object of his desire scream her lungs out, he came running. He skidded to a halt in the doorway. "GARZ! ZARG! You two are the biggest idiots in the entire Digital World!"
"Whaaat?" They whinned. "We didn't do nothin'!"
He bonked both of them on their heads, and their eyes got spinney. "You're scaring Kari!"
Kari was very confused. "Davis, you know these things?"
"Oh yeah, they're my min-" He caught himself and laughed nervously, "Uh, my friends."
"I'm sorry to say, they look a bit like demons."
"DEMONS!" he yelped, looking nervously at the two, and silently urging them not to say a word. "They are not demons! They're...uh, de-mon...YEAH! They're Digimon!"
She sat back down. "Funny Digimon...they don't even look like the same species."
Davis sat at the head of the table. "Aw, they're weird like that. Don't mind them. All they want is to please you."
"Okay," she sighed. He was looking at her with a dreamy expression on his face, making her nervous. Garz and Zarg plopped the plates in front of her and scurried away. She timidly reached for a piece of bread, but stopped. "Aren't you going to eat anything, Davis?"
The very thought of human food turned his stomach, even though he knew he still needed it. "Nah, I-I'm not that hungry. I already ate before you got here."
"Oh."
Davis watched Kari eat, and all he could think about was how beautiful she was in the soft candle light, almost as beautiful as Keesma. She didn't look at him, but kept her eyes on her plate. That was so boring... Soon Davis found himself overcome with exhastion. Slowly, he let his eyes fall shut.
Kari felt a chill in the air. A strange, muffled voice called out to her, and with great fear she realized that it was coming from Davis. His eyes were closed in concentration. "Kari?"
Oh, no. She knew the truth. The reason he'd been acting funny, and why he had that look in his eyes. "Yes?"
His eyes snapped open, and they glowed with an eerie red light. Kari felt the chill go down her spine. Davis was not in there. He talked in a slow, deadly tone, "Give me your crest, Kari."
"What?" She froze like a cat in headlights.
"I won't play games with you." He weakly got up out of the chair and stood over her, shaking with the effort to stay standing. "Give me your crest."
"No!" The urge to run finally won over her, and she took off like a frightened rabbit.
Davis, (or I guess Keesma) grabbed her arm with a surprisingly strong grip. "I won't let you-" Suddenly, he let go and doubled over in pain as the real Davis resurfaced. "What's wrong with me?"
She instinctively bent down to help him. "Davis? Is that really you?"
"Of course its me," he panted for breath. "who else would I be?"
She wrapped her arms around him and cuddled him like he was a child. "I know this is going to sound bad, but I think you're possessed by a demon."
He squirmed, trying to get away, but she held him tightly. "No! I'm still in control! I have control over her!"
Kari rubbed his back, and he sobbed once. He was shaking uncontrolably. "Shh, Davis, calm down."
He looked pleadingly at her, and she saw the complete Davis one last time. "Why? She said I was still in control, but she's just using me! I can feel her inside, trying to take over. She's like a tidal wave, I can't stop her! I can't stop her!"
"Her? Who are you talking about?"
He didn't respond, but buried his face on her shoulder and cried. She hugged him tight and rocked gently back and forth, determined to help him. Whatever was doing this had no right.
Slowly his sobs died away, and his shaking calmed. He pulled away to gaze into her eyes. She still had her arms around him, and they were awfully close. Without warning, he pulled her into a kiss. It didn't last very long, because she pulled away and slapped him. It was her natural reaction, she didn't mean to do it. He stared at her with furious eyes. "Kari what's your problem? Don't you love me?"
This was the moment Kari had dreaded for as long as she'd known him. She didn't really love him, but she couldn't bring herself to tell him.
He didn't give her a chance to respond before he pinned her to the wall with a force she didn't know he had, and kissed her violently. As he moved to her neck, she knew she was in trouble. She hit him as hard as she could, but it didn't matter. Panic swelled inside of her. "Stop, Davis! Please! I don't love you!"
That stopped him. He grabbed her face and stared into her eyes for what seemed like an hour. "Fine, Kari. I understand. I'm not good enough for you."
"No! That's not it at all, Davis. It's not your fault. I-I just don't love you."
He growled. "Then it'll give me even more pleasure to make you watch as I destroy the one you do love."
"No...you've got TK locked up somewhere, don't you?"
He didn't respond, but twisted her arm behind her and pushed her into the hallway. He led her into a large, dark room, and threw her to the floor. He pointed to where TK lay in agony, trapped by the dark force feild. His Megadigidestined armor fizzled slightly on and off. "There is your love. I am draining his energy."
"No! TK!" TK recognized her voice and weakly opened his hollow eyes. His blue lips formed a few desprate words, but no sound came out.
"Oh, yes, Kari. Now, since he can't kiss you good-bye, I'll do it for him."
Davis grabbed her collar and once again forced her to kiss him, making sure TK saw it. Then he jumped into the force feild, and reached into the blue jewel on TK's helmet.
TK screamed, and that was the end of him. He fell lifeless to the floor.
"No!" Kari shrieked. "You monster!" A wave of pink energy swept the room, throwing anything not bolted down against the wall. Kari floated, suspended in the air. Her hair waved in a mane around her, her eyes flamed with the pink energy. She wore a simple silk dress with the Crest of Light on the front, and little, clear, slip-on shoes. The destruction of her true love drove her to her Megadigidestined transformation.
Unfortunately, the forcefield protected Davis from the blast. "Temper, temper, Kari." He opened his hand to reveal his prize: the Crest of Hope, the second strongest crest. In an impulse he later couldn't really explain, he swallowed it.
And that was the end of Davis. He dug his fingers into his temples as he fought to keep himself from falling away from the swirling universe. Evil itself laughed at him from the inside, and in a millisecond he realized just how much he'd been used. "No! What have I done?" Last famous words. With the Crest of Hope, Keesma now had enough energy to overwhelm him.
Darkness fell over his eyes, and his hair went white. 'He' smiled, as Keesma gained total control "Finally! I am back!"
"You will pay for this, beast!" Kari yelled in an unhuman tone. "For TK and for Davis."
"We'll see, Light, we'll see." Then he disappeared.
* * * *
Gatomon finally woke up. She hit her head when she fell. Now, she reailized she was chained to a pillar.
Opposite her, also strapped to a pillar, was Patamon. He was concious, but he had his eyes closed.
"Patamon, what's going on? Where are we?"
"He's gone, Gatomon."
"Who? Veemon?"
Patamon opened his eyes, and tears glittered there. "What? No, I don't know where Veemon is. I-I'm talking about TK."
There was a pause. "Are you sure?"
He nodded. "I can feel it."
Will Kari get her revenge, or will Keesma get her too?
Will the others get there too late?
Find out in Episode 6:
"Possession"