Chapter Three: Hell is an Uphill Climb

Author's Note: I'm not dead! Isn't it amazing!? Life has just been too much. I finally have some free time to type. I just finished writing the third chapter today. (Sunday Feb. 9th.) So, how've my loyal reviewers been? Good I hope! *Hands out Sorcerimon plushies* Enjoy them and enjoy this chapter! :) And BTW, I need a website with all the 02 scripts. If you know of one could you send me the URL? I'd greatly appreciate it! Would anyone mind copying the Myo and Dark Master arcs for me if they have them? I'll gladly pay you shipping! :) And also, this chapter went differently than planned. Nooo…!

Kyer: The 'whatzit' promises to leave Wiz alone for the time being. I suggest keeping your bazooka handy. :p

FlamesheRuby: You changed your name again! Amazing! :) Chapter three is here. It's reason to celebrate don't you think? And about the door, Phantomon was on strict orders not to harm her. But these orders weren't Myotismon's! :) Heheh…

Vandegatomoncat: Aww…but cliffhangers are fun to write. But I'll give you this much, they're highly annoying to read!

AthEnA1999: Yup. They sure do. But Daemon is really fun to use because of the fact he's around for about three episodes and then randomly ceases to exist. Much Myo in this chapter! :)

LuvLuvG: You're back! Yup, wild guesses are usually the best ones. Thanks for keeping up with the story!

The figure, the one who was presumably Daemon, held her very close to him. So close she felt as though she'd die if he didn't let go soon. The cold aura surrounding him was too much for her. His ice-cold fingers rubbed against her arms as he spoke.

"The easiest thing to do would be to kill her, remove the Dark Spores and dispose her body. It wouldn't kill nor weaken her if we killed her then removed them."

"That may be true, Daemon, but if she dies the Dark Spores would weaken considerably. They wouldn't provide as much power as if she were alive."

"Then how many do we take? How much do we risk until the withdrawal kills her?" Piedmon asked.

"One apiece; just one. One to build our power upon. One to help Piedmon rebuild his empire, one for me to help me to destroy the Digidestined once and for all and of course, one for you, Daemon. One for you to give power to your minions of darkness."

Her voice shaking uncontrollably, not so much from the coldness still surrounding her but from fear, she asked a question. "W-what e-exactly a-are Dark S-spores?"

Myotismon smiled at her. "A Dark Spore is a little invention of mine. One of which you were the guinea pig for. A seed of darkness if you will. The one thing controlling you. Slowly taking over you. Controlling your thoughts." He nodded to Daemon. "I truly hope this won't hurt…"

No matter what he said it did hurt. It felt as though her body was being ripped in two and her soul was being released. If this didn't stop soon she would die. But as soon as it started the pain stopped. Daemon released her from his grip and let her fall to the ground. Purple light shone from something in his hand; a small orb of light that looked oddly beautiful.

"This, my dear, is a Dark Spore," Myotismon said. "It holds unimaginable power, power it's been collecting from you and another Digidestined. One who will be far more easy to bend in the future."

"W-what…?"

"His name is Ken. The boy genius I believe. You know the one don't you?" She nodded uncertainly. "His Dark Spore had taken full control of him. He now proclaims himself The Digimon Emperor. I'm mildly impressed by his actions so far. Once the Digital World is his I plan to withdraw the Spores, and use their power to finally kill the Digidestined and take over the Real World."

Her brain was sagging with this information. A Digidestined, bending to the will of one of the worst Virals to curse the Digital World? It was crazy! It seemed impossible but yet…

"What's h-his Crest?"

"I'm glad you asked. His Crest is Kindness. It seems absurd now. He, the one killing Digimon everyday, the Keeper of Kindness."

You must return the one in darkness to his true self…Kindness will release the golden radiance… It all made sense now. Ken was the one in darkness. His Crest will release…Just what exactly was the 'golden radiance?'

"But, my dear, I do know that your partner has been reborn. He will not be dealt with as delicately as before. If he does get in my way, I'll destroy him for good."

Silence. That's all that greeted Allimon as he opened his eyes. The apartment was silent. Wouldn't Star have left a note or any other sign if she'd left? He was deeply worried. This wasn't like her. She wouldn't leave like this.

His eyes scanned the room. Nothing seemed out of place. Nothing was missing either. But wait! This letter wasn't there when he'd drifted off.

Wizardmon,

Your partner is safe. For the time being anyway. We are holding her in the Digital World. Do not try to find her if you value her life. She will be returned to you when the time is right. Good day.

No signature could be seen. Who could this possibly from? How had they gotten in without him knowing? 'Do not try to find her if you value her life.' Who would give such a warning? Surely the Vampire couldn't be back. Could it possibly be another evil? A new evil the Digidestined had never faced? Had Kari or any of the other Chosen been abducted as well? There was only one way to find out.

Daemon paced the study impatiently. This was taking to long. Myotismon and Piedmon had already gotten their taste of the Spores but his was yet to come. If they were planning to not give him one he'd be done for surely! But they wouldn't dare. Besides, he happened to be the only one who wasn't a sprit. The only one who could actually hold the girl. Pathetic as she was her beauty was obvious. It was also obvious why she'd been chosen those four years ago.

"Master, she's ready for the extraction. It will proceed when you are ready."

"Commence it immediately."

The plan wasn't working. Try as he might he couldn't Digivolve. She wouldn't be alive when she was sent back. Allimon knew it! It must be the Vampire. Who else would take her? She was going to be lost. Just like Sorcerimon…

~*~

Had it been months since Gatomon had forgotten him? Had it been years? All he remembered is he'd been saved by a figure. A figure he never had the chance to thank.

"Are you okay?" The figure had asked.

"Yes. I- Thank you."

"Of course. It's the least I can do." The figure replied.

And with that the figure had vanished. Not leaving a trace, no clues as to who he was. But all that had changed. Changed with that one arrival at the castle.

"Is he to your liking, My Lord?" Phantomon had asked.

"He's more than to my liking. If we train him enough, he will become a formable weapon and servant. More powerful than even you."

And so his savior's training had begun. But he wasn't all Myotismon had thought he was. He was a playful prankster. One who was not about to be ordered by a Viral.

"Still distraught over the pathetic cat I see," Came the annoying voice. "It was going to happen sooner or later and you know it. Get over it."

"Maybe I would if I was a insensitive bastard like yourself. Then maybe I'd forget her!"

"Touchy, touchy. But face it, you never did care about her before, did you? She was just a way to get power." Phantomon said, his voice taunting him.

Wizardmon closed his eyes and tried his hardest to block out the specters' words. But it wasn't working.

"Phantomon, Lord Myotismon requires your presence," Came the voice of his savior.

The figure turned back to Wizardmon and grinned. "I've saved you once again. Am I setting a trend or what?"

The familiar voice rang through his head. "I thank you. You didn't have to do that."

"No one deserves to be tortured by that malicious bastard."

His savior stepped into the light to reveal an almost copy of himself. His pale blond hair was shorter than his own and pulled back by a pure-white hair tie. His ice-blue eyes showed neither malice nor anger but purity and veracity. His pale skin appeared paler next to his robes of white and aqua. Silver stars replaced the familiar moons on his gloves and boots and the sun staff was substituted for a snowflake.

"Thank you…" Wizardmon trailed off.

"Sorcerimon."

"Wizardmon. You have my gratitude, for now and then," The data wizard bowed.

And without a word to the latter, Sorcerimon left. Whether Phantomon had caught up with him or not to repay him for his trick was not found out.

~*~

Pain. Consuming pain. The sort of pain she thought would rip her to pieces. The back of her neck was damp. Was that blood? She surely didn't smell blood. But what if it was?

"Ah, I see you're up, what a pity. Piedmon and Daemon had wished to say farewell before they departed to their respective domains but I'll give you their 'fare thee wells' myself," The dreaded voice said.

"If you plan to kill me and/or drink my blood will you please do so now. I'm not in the mood to hear your voice and deal with you."

"I'm insulted, my dear! I certainly mean not to kill you. Daemon would rather do that himself, I only mean to offer you some help. To help you be free of all the pain in life. To give you power beyond that which you cannot dream of. But if you truly do insist…"

The familiar cold feeling claimed her. The feeling of her mind being blissfully wiped of all cares and feelings swept over her. Twin stabs of pain sunk deep into her neck. She could feel the vein being punctured as Myotismon withdrew his fangs and began to lick away the warm blood. This was the last thing she remembered before the world was plunged into blackness.

~*~

Sorcerimon hadn't lasted long as a Vaccine; SkullMeramon quickly whipped him, literally, into shape. Before long he had Dark-digivolved into a Viral known as Doromon. He treated Wizardmon terribly and seemed to forget everything. All he seemed to remember was being one of Myotismon's servants. But then it happened.

The one digimon that his master feared came to visit. And not in the jovial sense either. He came looking for revenge.

Daemon had always hated Myotismon. Always. It had dated back to when they had been newly digivolved into their current forms. They had fought over a trivial matter and Myotismon had won. But this only added to Daemon's fury with the vampire lord. The majority of Daemon's army had abandoned him to join the ranks of the Nightmare Army that was currently sweeping Server up in a storm. Daemon had always thought Myotismon at fault.

But now age-old grudges and age-old victories were not any good. The stationed guards had been no match for Daemon's most faithful servants. LadyDevimon and SkullSatamon had wiped them out with one attack each. Cries of agony could be heard even within the walls of the great castle. Wizardmon had been praying to any and all of the Digital gods that Gatomon was all right when he had run into the demon and his servants himself.

"A little wizardmon is it now? Would you lead me to your master o little one?" The demon digimon asked, his tone taunting him.

Trembling but still able to keep some composure Wizardmon lead the three Virals down countless corridors and stairwells to reach his master. The throne room was in an uproar as Wizardmon lead his three "captors" within it. Myotismon seemed to be prepared for the entrance of the Virals but seemed enraged with the wizard for leading them into his throne room. Seeing the glint in his eyes signified that he'd be in for the whipping of his life.

"What is your business here, Daemon? I have little time to talk."

"There shall be no talking, vampire. I come here seeking retribution. One of your most loyal servants has killed one of my most loyal and truly powerful generals. I highly suggest that you find this servant or you and your entire castle shall be destroyed within the hour."

"You may talk big, Daemon, but what makes you think that one of my servants killed your general?"

"Because, you arrogant bastard, I found this where she was supposed to be keeping guard!" He held up a velvet bat insignia. One that Wizardmon recognized instantly as Doromon's.

"It is mine, Daemon. You will not harm my master or any inhabitants of this castle! I'll destroy you myself!" And with that he unsheathed his sword and charged straight at the Mega.

Obviously expecting it Daemon raised a single hand and whispered the words, "Unholy Flame." The fireball consumed Doromon and he dissolved into tiny bits of data and was gone. Candles flicked out and with that Daemon and his guards were gone.

~*~

"Allimon warp-digivolve to…Wizardmon!"

TBC...