Chapter 19: Escape into the Darkness
"So, the Digidestined have had their first confrontation with the cursed Digimon." Balthesar lowered himself to peep into the ball of light that served as their window to the outside world. He watched as Nightmaremon easily defeated PhantomWizardmon.
Melchior floated over to watch beside Balthesar, "It appears they have also run into a few new faces. This Luciedmon is unknown to our database."
"Most likely the work of that one," Balthesar spat out the words as if they brought disgust to his mouth. "We cannot risk waiting any longer."
Melchior rotated to peep into another ball of light. "It seems that the first child is taking steps to return to his group."
"Excellent. How goes the reprogramming process Gasper?"
A third tablet spun around from the other side of the room. It was using a large computer system. Beside the system was a cylindrical container with a small ball of light held within it. "Programming is complete. This digimon's ready to be returned to the first child."
"If it is complete, then why has it not turned back into an egg?" Balthesar pressed his words in a demanding tone. Even without a face it was obvious that he was angry.
"I'm uncertain." Gasper seemed to cower in the wake of his superior.
"Uncertain?" Balthesar maintained his tone. He brought himself closer to Gasper, as if it would make his message clearer, "You mean to say that we, the creators of the Digiworld cannot make this digimon's program whole again?"
"This digimon is different," Gasper replied in caution, "It was created by the Fates using data from the children."
"Ah, yes, the Fates! They always did have an interest with making their things protected from our ways." Balthesar spun around and moved to another computer terminal. "If it is that, then we will simply deliver this spark." He activated the terminal and opened a channel to someone, "Darius!"
A calm, cold sounding voice replied to Balthesar's call, "Yes, master?"
"We have a job for you. Come here at once."
- File Island -
Joe lead the group as they reached the edge of the desert. They had been running from Nightmaremon for hours. Even though there no longer were any signs of pursuit, they all agreed that getting out of the desert should be their priority.
Sora and Izzy were at the back of the group, helping PhantomWizardmon keep up. Luciedmon would frequently drop back behind them to check for any pursuing digimon.
Joe stopped as he entered some trees at the edge of the desert. He turned around to face the group as it entered the forest, "Okay, we've finally made it out of the desert." He looked at his watch, "We better find something to eat and get ready to sleep."
Izzy looked at his own watch. It told him that it was 9:06 PM, which meant it should have been dark. The sun, however, didn't seem to set anymore. Does this mean it is dark on the other side of Digiworld? He decided not to think of it and returned his attention to the matter at hand.
Luciedmon ran to the group and looked around, "We should be able to get fruit from those trees."
Palmon looked up at some trees that Luciedmon had pointed out, "Poison Ivy!" Long vines shot out of her hands. They flew into the trees and snagged at the fruit they bore. When she retracted her vines they brought with them a dozen pieces of fruit.
Mimi smiled and grabbed the fruit from her friend's hands, "Nice work, Palmon!"
"Thanks, Mimi!" Palmon smiled and sat down.
TK looked at the fruit.While some seemed to be normal enough, others looked like they came from another planet. He grabbed one that was colored a bright blue with spikes on the top. "Uh, do you have any alternative food source?"
Luciedmon took in the smells in the air and concentrated on them. He could smell many things. Digimon prowled about, looking for fruit that may have fallen on the ground. A distance away he could sense water. "There's a stream a bit away from here." He looked at TK who seemed interested, "Should be fish there."
Sora walked over to the fruit pile and grabbed an apple looking piece. She took a bite and gave no sign of disgust to its taste. 'We can't all go. We should send some to fish and have the others stay here to watch out for Nightmaremon."
Joe nodded and looked at the group. "Okay, Izzy and I will go with our digimon and Luciedmon to fish. You guys collect more fruit and keep an eye out for any trouble."
The others nodded. Joe turned around and addressed Luciedmon, "Which way?"
Luciedmon took another sniff of the air and waited a moment to make sure he was correct, "That way." He pointed his nose to a heavily covered path.
Izzy looked at it for a moment and sighed, "It'll take a while to trek through that." He looked at his watch and noted that time was quickly passing by, "but there's no sense in waiting here. Let's go."
The small group began to make their way into the forest. As they passed into some bushes, Kari yelled out, "Be careful! Bring back lots of fish!"
- Magi Chamber -
A tall, well built man stood outside of the door that led into the Magi chamber. He had long, purple hair and wore silver armor that looked as if it were just polished. He carried a sword in a sheath on his back. He pushed a button to the right of the door and waited for a response.
A deep voice answered his call, "State your business."
He grinned, they asked me to come and still ask for my business? He tapped a key on the pad next to the door and spoke, "This Darius. I am here as ordered."
The intercom remained silent for a few moments before the voice came back again, "Understood. You may enter."
As the door slid open he took note of the Android digimon that controlled the security systems inside the chamber. The droid ordered him to halt as he made his way in. "what is it?"
"I'm sorry, sir," the droid spoke almost as if it had a scared feeling, "But all weapons must be left here while speaking with the Magi."
Darius looked at the table the droid pointed for a moment then gave the droid a cold look. His red eyes pierced into the droid and made it float back to the wall. Darius took his sword and slammed it onto the table. He continued to make his way to the Magi and mumbled, "Paranoid sack of bolts."
As he got to the center of the chamber, a light turned on and shined on him. Three tablets dropped to floor and stopped a few inches short of the ground. Darius looked at each before speaking, "You called for me?"
One of the tablets, the green one, moved forward and to the side to reveal a cylinder case holding a small ball of light in it. "We need you to deliver this to someone."
Darius walked to the case. The three tablets followed him closely as he got closer to it. "What is it?"
This time the blue tablet spoke, "It is the First Child's digimon."
The red tablet moved closer and brought the casing out of the barrier that protected it. "As you know, the First Child's digimon was destroyed by LordDevimon. Unlike other digimon, this one didn't become bits of data that floated away."
The green tablet broke into the conversation, "We believe it has to do with a program the Fates placed in it."
The red one spun to look at the green tablet, "Gasper! Do not interrupt me!"
Gasper floated back a few inches and tilted downward in a sort of bowing motion, "I'm sorry, Balthesar."
Balthesar turned around to once again address Darius, "We have reprogrammed this digimon so that it could turn back into an egg and hatch. But as you can see, that didn't happen."
Darius shook his head, "I don't care about the little details. Who is it that want me to take it to?"
Balthesar turned on a map, "Isn't it obvious?" A red dot appeared on the map of File Island. The dot moved a bit over time, "The First Child."
"What will that accomplish?" Darius spoke impatiently.
The blue tablet, Melchior answered his question in a calm tone, "We believe it will make the digimon whole."
The case with the ball of light began to shake. As it began to shake harder the table it rested on also shook. Darius could feel the floor begin to shake as well. Balthesar turned around to look for the source of the shaking, not knowing that the case was the cause, "What is happening!?"
Gasper shouted, "The case! Look!"
Everyone turned and looked at the case. The glass began to crack and the ball of light was slamming into its sides. Melchior didn't hesitate, "Darius! Take it now!"
Darius moved to pick of the case. As his hands moved in to pick it up, the ball broke free, sending glass in every direction.Darius jumped back and covered his face from the incoming glass.
Balthesar hissed as the ball tried to make its escape. "It has escaped! Platomon, sound the alarm!"
The droid that manned that security system hit a button. Red lights began to flash and sirens rang through the room. The ball of light frantically searched for a way out, but found no such way. ArmorTankmon smashed through the wall, answering to the alarm.
Balthesar moved to the side of the room and shouted, "ArmorTankmon! Capture that ball of light!"
ArmorTankmon spun on his treads to locate the ball. He saw it trying to get away from him, "Roger!" He changed the ammo in his right cannon arm and pointed it at the ball, "Firing EMP Net!" He fired.
A net of energy shot out at the ball. It quickly dove downwards to avoid it's grasp. The net passed over it, harmlessly. The ball quickly moved to its right as a door slid open. It stopped and shot off in the other direction as a dozen droids entered through the door.
Balthesar commanded the droids, "Arm stun shock!" He pointed at the ball of light, "Target and fire!"
The droids all clicked a switch on their weapons to set them to stun. they aimed at the ball and fired as they willed to. Blue streaks of energy burst out of their weapons and at the ball. It spun in circles to avoid them and corkscrewed as it approached a wall.
ArmorTankmon armed his own stun weapon and joined the droids as they tried to disable the ball. The blue streaks shot past the ball is it made an impressive ariel ballet and slammed into the wall, making burn marks and the occasional dent.
Darius moved a bit closer to the ball and prepared to suppress it with an energy shot. He suddenly heard Balthesar yell a command, "Concentrate your fire! All at once!"
Darius spun his head around, "No! Don't!"
It was too late. The droids all fired at the same spot in perfect unison. The beams formed into one giant shot that exploded when it met the wall. The force of the explosion pulled the wall apart, revealing a hole to the outside.
The ball quickly escaped out of the hole and flew away into the night sky. Balthesar cursed, "No! No! No!" He turned around to speak to Darius, "Darius! Follow it! Make sure it finds its master! If not, disable it and take it to him yourself!"
"Yes, sir!" Darius called his sword to him. The blade lifted off of the table it was on and flew into his hand. He grabbed hold of its handle and leapt out of the hole. He caught flight and began to chase after the ball.
Balthesar watched as Darius disappeared in the distance. He looked around him at the pieces of glass and metal on the floor. He hissed at the droids around him, "Clean this up! And fix that hole!" He moved to the center of the chamber where the other two tablets waited for him. They rose upward into the ceiling as the droids began to clean up the mess.
- File Island -
Night had come strangely to File Island. In the distance the sun could still be seen, yet it was dark around the forest. Joe, Izzy, Gomamon, Tentomon, and Luciedmon moved through the forest. Each carried a pile of fish.
Joe let his arms relax. The pile of fish he carried dropped to the ground and dragged along the dirt. Izzy ran up to him from behind and gave him a hard look, "You know." He pointed with his free hand at the the fish that were collecting dirt, "we have to eat those."
Joe didn't look at Izzy, "Don't worry," he said in a reassuring voice, "Any germs will be killed when we cook them."
Luciedmon laughed as the two began to argue about whether or not the fish would be sanitary enough to eat. Something snapped from a distance away. His ears twitched as they picked up the far off sound. "Wait!"
Joe and Izzy stopped arguing. Izzy walked over to the wolf-like digimon, "What is it?"
Luciedmon remained silent. He listened closely as the sounds came to him. "There's something moving very strangely. It's not close to us but..."
Luciedmon was cut off as an explosion rocked the ground. Light blasted through the night sky and tore through the little holes between leaves to paint the forest with a white glow. A burst of wind blew Joe to the ground. His fish dropped from his hand and scattered all over the place. "Oh no!" Joe cried, "The fish!"
Luciedmon lifted Joe onto his back, "forget about it!" He lifted Gomamon onto his back as well and ran towards the explosion, "Looks like something's happening at camp!"
Izzy ran to try to keep up, but was unable to reach Luciedmon's speed or agile movements to dodge trees. He signaled Tentomon, "Come on! We have to get there as soon as we can!"
Tentomon dropped the fish he carried and flew after his human friend. Luciedmon had gotten so far ahead they could no longer hear him moving through the trees. "I hope we get there in time."
Izzy nodded as he ran through some bushes, "If we don't," Izzy paused for a second as he pushed a low branch out of his way, "Luciedmon and Joe will."
- Digidestined Camp site -
"Phantom Fist!" PhantomWizardmon launched several shots into the trees. The blasts exploded as they ran into trunks, sending light in the sky. The darkness of the night sky hid the target. Although it had not revealed itself, PhantomWizardmon was sure it was Nightmaremon.
Sora cried out as a strange noise came from behind her. She spun around and pointed, "It's over there!"
"No!" TK cried, "It's over here!"
Laughing came from all around them. They instantly recognized the laugh as Nightmaremon's. "What's wrong? Feeling a little scared?"
TK held Kari tightly, "Don't worry, I'll protect you!"
Nightmaremon laughed, "That's right. Let your fear overtake you, Kari!"
Gatomon jumped out at the dark shadow that was barely visible in the darkness, "Leave her alone! Lightning Claw!"
Nightmaremon shaped part of his body into a shield and blocked the attack. Gatomon's scratch harmlessly banged off of the shield. He changed the shield into a larger, ball shaped mass and punched her away. "Don't fool around with me! Your petty attacks are useless!"
Gatomon flipped back to her feet and hissed, "We'll see about that! Gatomon, digivolve to..." Gatomon accessed the energy within her. She concentrated it and let it flow through her body. As she prepared to let it loose she suddenly felt it all leave her at once. Her body became weak and her digivolving process shut down. "What?"
Nightmaremon's eyes glared through the trees a bright red. He laughed in a low tone, "What's wrong?" He twisted part of his body into a spike and pointed at Kari, "Looks like your master's too scared to allow you to digivolve."
Gatomon looked back at Kari. She was shaking in TK's arms and covering her eyes, "Kari?"
"As long as she's useless to you, why don't we get rid of her altogether!?" Nightmaremon sent his spike flying towards Kari and TK.
Patamon tugged on TK's sleeve, "TK, come on!" TK tried to pull her away but was unable to move her.
"No!" Gatomon cried out and began to run towards her, "Kari!"
"Blood Moon!" Luciedmon leapt over the trees and appeared in the night sky. His horn glowed bright red. He howled and sent a blast of red energy from each horn at the spike. The spike plowed through the first blast. The others twisted around and tried to disperse it.
The spike expanded, breaking their grip and sending them, aimlessly into the sky. Luciedmon remained in the air and acted quickly. He took in a deep breath and formed a larger red ball of energy in his mouth. He shouted, "Luciedmon charge!" and fired the shot at TK and Kari. He directed the ball with his eyes and made it fall short. The ball exploded in the ground near TK and Kari and sent them flying into the air just as the spike reach were they were standing. Luciedmon mon ran and caught them as they fell back down.
"Thanks, Luciedmon!" TK shouted as the wolf carried him to safety. As Luciedmon let them off, TK saw Joe and Gomamon waiting for them behind some bushes. "Joe!"
Joe nodded and pulled TK and Kari into his hiding spot. Mimi and Palmon were already with him. "Is everyone okay?" he asked as he checked TK for wounds.
Everyone nodded as Gatomon and Patamon caught up. Gatomon was catching her breath when she finally got to them "Geez! Why'd you run off like that?"
TK looked around and noticed that their number was a little low, "Wait, where's Sora and Biyomon? Are they still fighting Nightmaremon?"
"Hardly," Sora's voice came from above. She was holding onto Birdramon's leg. Birdramon returned to her normal form and let Sora down. "Where's Izzy, Joe?"
"He's a little ways back. He should get here soon," Joe said as he pointed to a path that had been cleared when Luciedmon rushed to their rescue.
A loud crashing noise broke the silence as Nightmaremon pushed over trees. He could now easily attack the Digidestined. "There you are!"
Luciedmon blocked Nightmaremon's path to the children, "You'll have to get through me first!" He turned his head back, "Joe, take the others and find Izzy. Once you do, run away from here!"
Joe nodded, but then shook his head, "What about you?"
Luciedmon jumped over a sweeping attack by Nightmaremon, "I'll be fine! Just go!" Luciedmon ducked under another attack and rushed forward.
PhantomWizardmon flew overhead and fired his Phantom Fist attack into Nightmaremon's back side. "I'll help you!"
Luciedmon shook his head in a regrettable manner, "No."
"Excuse me?" PhantomWizardmon seemed shocked by the wolf's reply.
"If the Digidestined are ever going to defeat this monster they'll need your knowledge of him." Luciedmon stepped to the side as Nightmaremon attempted to crush him. "You better hurry if you're ever going to catch up with them."
"I understand." PhantomWizardmon flew off. He shouted as he began to speed up, "thanks for everything!"
"Looks like it's just you and me now, Nightmaremon!" Luciedmon growled out his words and prepared for anything that Nightmaremon might try.
"Is that so? I'm afraid your wrong!" Nightmaremon began to transform into another form, "I believe you know who this is." Nightmaremon turned into a monster that stood on a platform with wings. The creature itself had wings, those of a demon as well as a demonic aura.
"Lord Blazer!" Luciedmon quickly over came his fear, "Your tricks don't scare me!" Luciedmon launched himself at the shape. "Mad Luciedmon!"
As Luciedmon neared him, Nightmaremon changed back into his true form. He spread himself around Luciedmon and enveloped him inside his dark body.
Luciedmon broke out of Nightmaremon's grasp as he closed the gap in the top. "Prepare yourself, monster!" Luciedmon again charged at Nightmaremon.
Nightmaremon grinned with a an evil look on his face. He stretched out part of his body and shaped it into a whip. He lunged forward with it, "Nightmare trap!"
- Distance away -
"Izzy!" Joe shouted as he waved to his friend.
"Joe?" Izzy replied as the others made their way to him, "Where's Luciedmon?"
A roar cried out from the forest. The howling noise was unmistakable. It echoed through the dark sky and sent shivers down the Digidestineds' backs. Joe shook his head as he feared the worst, "Luciedmon stayed behind."
"No..." Izzy's words trailed off as he thought about what could have possibly happened to him.
Everyone remained silent in contemplation of the recent events. Sora looked around at her friends who had gone through so much at such young ages. "This isn't doing him any good."
"What's that Sora?" Joe asked.
"Moaning his death." Sora continued, "He sacrificed himself so that we could carry on." She walked forward and turned around to address the entire group at one. "We owe it to him to continue our escape."
Joe took a step forward and cheered her on, "You're right, Sora!" Joe looked at the group, "This is for every digimon that has had to sacrifice all for our mission!"
"Let's go!" TK shouted with his hands up in the air.
Everyone cheered and nodded. They moved swiftly through the forest as the night sky continued to hide their existence.