In the deep, deep blackness, the blackness of the void, 'neath the parched, thirsting lands where no thing remains free. the Dark Lord grew impatient. The Evil Emperor that was once again had caught him many digimon, and the two irritating humans and their digimon awaited Dark Rings with them - but the human was taking too long over making new Rings. THE DARK LORD WANTS MORE SLAVES NOW! He was disgusted with this incompetent beast of the human race. But his black heart flooded with evil anticipation as he viewed his pride and joy, his brainchild. or rather, brainchild-to-be. His future ultimate weapon. the beast of the sea.

Chapter 4 - The Discovery

Tai woke up to a growling stomach. He groaned, and Agumon looked at him sympathetically. Matt was already awake, sitting on the cliff edge and conversing with Gabumon in a low voice. Since they had been unable to use the Digiport, the pair had decided to look for another one. They had wandered around in circles until midnight, when Agumon suggested they sleep up here because of its good vantage point. Tai said he didn't think a room with a view was necessary, thank you; but Gabumon explained that if any enemies - or friends - came looking for them, whoever was on watch would see them long before they arrived. Funnily enough, although they had gotten severely lost when looking for a way home, they found their way up to an ideal camp easily enough. However, despite arousing their suspicion, the night seemed to have passed peacefully. "Morning, guys," Tai greeted his friends. Gabumon looked mournfully up at him. "What's the matter, Gabumon?" he asked in concern. "Need. food." the digimon said. All four burst out laughing. But Gabumon's remark seemed to have reminded Agumon of something. "Gabumon," he said excitedly, "The. others must have food, mustn't they? Otherwise they would be dead by now - I certainly wouldn't be able to last five days without eating!" "I guess it is five now." Gabumon began ponderously, then noticed the boys watching them curiously. "Who on earth are you two talking about? Have you made some friends?" Both creatures lowered their heads. "Yes," Tai caught the muffled answer. Sudden realisation hit him, and he reeled backwards in disgust. "Eeewww! I didn't know you went in for that kind of stuff!" Matt scrunched up his face in distaste. "Yeah, well, it's not as if you've never looked at one of the others - or any girl, for that matter - in a certain disgusting fashion!" Agumon rallied angrily. There was a long, embarrassed silence. Finally, Tai sighed, laughed, and started walking slowly off. "Come on. We'd better get going. You've shared enough of our food; now we're going to try some digimon food!" he said. Matt followed him eagerly, and both digimon sprung after - but not before they shared a secret, amused glance. Their partners still didn't know the truth of the matter - but it could wait. For now, they were enjoying the secret joke.

"This is stupid," Tai burst out angrily around mid-afternoon. "I've heard of people walking round in circles, everything being familiar; but I never thought of this!" Matt shook his head glumly. They had walked until mid- morning, but had been forced to turn back by instinct - none of the area was familiar, the trees were bare and scraggy, the land was dry and cracked. But even though they had turned around and walked straight back in the direction they had come for nearly five hours, growing increasingly tired and hungry, the landscape had not changed at all. Angrily, Tai looked around. The horizon was brown and flat from every angle, and although the sky was dark with clouds it did not look as though rain had visited this place for years. No sign of life added a decidedly creepy effect - not even carrion digimon birds soared overhead. Agumon shivered. "I don't like this," he admitted, "but I think there doesn't look to be any way the Dark Lord is going to let us back home." There was a depressed silence as they all stood in a circle. Then Gabumon spoke. "What if we pretended to be really angry at him? You know, walk right into the darkness? Then he'll be assured that we're coming straight into his "trap". Then we can try to find the other two - Agumon and I can't digivolve unless we get some food, and we need some help anyway." "Worse than that, we wouldn't be able to actually defeat him with all the wild digimon left. We need all of the Digidestined and all the wild digimon just to penetrate whatever defences he's got in the form of evil digimon." Matt said. A determined expression crossed Tai's face. "Well then, it looks like we have no choice. We must head straight for whatever direction feels the most evil." It was replaced by a look of pain and sorrow. "Besides, I'm really getting hungry!"

Each of them knew easily which way to go - the darkness flowed from it like a hurricane of evil. At first, they talked as they walked; this gradually lapsed into a still, deathly quiet. Suddenly, as if the endless desert they walked on had been whipped out from under their feet, they found themselves in a dark forest. They stopped, and Gabumon cried out. "So there was no desert! That was just an illusion!" "But then if it's been taken away, that must mean." Tai said slowly as realisation hit them all. They had come to their goal sooner than they had expected. The gloomy atmosphere was rudely interrupted by a loud cry of fright and pain. It was close by and female -Tai and Agumon clenched their fists in anger and Gabumon ran forward; but Matt caught him by the scruff of the skin he wore. "Ssssh!" He hissed. Cautiously, the four crept on together, moving on hands and knees through scratchy bushes and sharp thorns. A crash stopped them in their tracks, for it came from an area only metres ahead. Carefully, Tai and Matt parted a window in the solid mass of undergrowth.

The forest abruptly ended. Lying in the centre of a whirl of images and landscapes, all confused but all dry and evil, was the remains of a great fortress. It had belonged to the Evil Emperor, but had been destroyed thoroughly - or so they had thought. Now, several vast openings leading underground were visible. Bare sand leaked onto deep water, which suddenly ended at black-streaked rock. A flock of Devidramon circled overhead, their warning roars barely audible. But the thing that drew the foursome's attention was a battle, going on all over the wreckage of the fortress. Ogremon lunged forward at a small, red-brown digimon, which darted out of the way just in time. "Lyomon!" Gabumon said softly. Leomon slashed the air with razor claws and roared fearsomely. On both Ogremon and Leomon Dark Rings were clearly visible. Lyomon skidded around and cried desperately, "Flamethrower!" A thin trickle of fire dripped sadly from her mouth. The digimon giants laughed, and Ogremon launched himself at her again. Panting heavily, she glared at him, too tired to run any more. Ogremon grunted - Tai noticed burning slash marks on the side of his face. "Still wanna fight?" Lyomon was breathing too heavily to answer, or just couldn't be bothered; she lifted her lip in a half-hearted snarl, baring long fangs briefly. Ogremon laughed and drew back his arm, holding the club. Lyomon had hung her head, and did not notice the thick weapon until it hit her in the side and sent her flying. She landed on her side near where Tai and Matt were hiding. Leomon picked her up bodily and carried her by the scruff down one underground entrance. The boys let the prickly bush fall back into place. "That's it, we have got to get back home." Matt said. Tai looked awkward - he clearly didn't like the idea of deserting Lyomon and whatever others needed their help. "The Dark Lord won't let us," Agumon said, shaking his head. A troubled look passed between him and Gabumon. Tai sighed. "Look, you two, what's up? There's something you're not telling us about this." The digimon turned to them. "OK," said Agumon, "We'll tell you. Lyomon and Megmon, they have friends." Tai grinned. "Friends as in, a couple of digimon somewhere around here?" Gabumon looked at him witheringly. "No," the fur-skinned reptile said bluntly, "friends as in human partners. Their names are Nabruine and Siathuri." "Or as they prefer to be known, Nabu and Thir." Agumon added. Tai and Matt stared at them. "Nabu and Thir? Here? With digimon?" Matt asked incredulously. Neither of them seemed Digidestined material - both wore a lot of black, Thir sporting a spiked dog-collar and flared jeans as well. But then, it linked up with their mysterious disappearance three days ago. and even before then, they had been seen with very strange stuffed animals. Matt cursed. Of course, how could he have been so stupid? He had actually seen Lyomon in Thir's arms one time at school, and had forgotten about it! "But what exactly are they doing here?" Tai asked. Gabumon explained. "They went on a mission deep underground to try to free the digimon that the Dark Lord keeps locked up waiting for Dark Rings. The Evil Emperor and him are working on a new, more powerful design; which is why they haven't used any on digimon for so long. But Thir, Nabu and Megmon got caught in the act. Lyomon ran away - she said she felt awful about it, that was when we were about to try and get through the Gate yesterday." There was a stupefied silence. "So what you're saying is that if we want food, which they presumably have, we have to go down there and rescue them?" Tai asked slowly. Agumon and Gabumon nodded happily. Tai sighed despairingly - he would have preferred by far just to sit back on that hilltop until someone came and rescued them, but there they were. It was obvious that they had no choice - the digimon needed food to fight, and the only way to get it was to free the girls. "We'll rest here for a while, just until dusk," he decided. "Then we'd better get this done."

The setting of the sun was noticeable only by the darkening of the nearly black clouds which swirled overhead. The foursome had made themselves as comfortable as they could in a nest of prickles and roots, and had dozed fitfully for a few hours. Now they were stiff and aching all over, and desperate for food. Together, they peeled aside once again the scrubby bushes, and revealed the dark, forbidding entrance surrounded by pillars of stone. Just as Tai stepped out towards it, there was a bellow from inside. Hurriedly, he leaped for the safety of the shrubbery - and just in time. Ogremon was on the rampage again, and he sprang forth from the shadows to stroll casually past the boys, down a path which they could not see but which clearly existed by the ease with which the digimon travelled. In one huge, deformed fist he dragged a bundle of chains, but still no Dark Rings, Tai noticed with relief. They waited until he was out of sight and earshot, then Matt said quietly, "OK, so that entrance is too dangerous. How about there?" And he pointed to a dark overhang, shrouded by weeds and cruel, sharp twigs. Agumon bounded out before anyone could stop him, and peered into it. They waited with bated breath. Then at last he beckoned cheerfully to them. On Tai's count of three, they ran to the opening together and crawled in. It was dark and slimy inside. Agumon was the first in, and Gabumon the last. "Urrgh!" Tai complained as his hand squelched into a pool of grime. "Watch out, it gets a bit. Ahh!" Agumon's voice cried out ahead of them. "Agumon, what is it?" Tai shouted, slithered forward on his belly. He pushed off from the smooth sides of the tunnel to try and gain speed and catch up with his digimon - it worked surprisingly well. "Ow!" His head slammed into something in the dark, but he kept on moving, and gathering speed. "Tai, slow down!" The thing yelled. It was Agumon. Too late, Tai realised they were sliding head-first down a steep, slippery tunnel, with no clue as to where it would end. At the entrance to the cave, Matt and Gabumon crouched fearfully, listening to their companion's screams as they rocketed down, growing fainter and fainter. In the barely existent light seeping in from outside, Matt saw Gabumon's face turn to him. "You're right," he said, "there's nothing else for it. But I'm pretty sure there's at least five better ways to get there." And he grabbed Gabumon tightly around the waist and threw himself sidelong down the slope. "Tai, I'm gonna kill yooooouuuuu." His voice echoed down after the other two. Before long, though, they had passed completely out of hearing, and the cave entrance seemed to fade once more into the background.

"Oof!" Tai said as the breath was knocked out of him. He turned his face sideways to avoid squashing it into Agumon's rear any longer, and breathed deeply. "Ooowww." he said. He had landed flat on his stomach, and was regretting it. ".aaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaahhh!" Two voices wailed down from the tunnel. Tai groaned. "Oh no." WHUMPH!

They were in a large tunnel, deep underground, Tai thought several minutes later. Their eyes had adjusted to the darkness, and as they walked along he could see on either side of him rows of thick, metal bars. Hulking shapes loomed inside, some only as high as his ankle, some twice as tall as he was. Occasional eyes glowed out from behind the bars, and they always hurried past those. "This must be where the Dark Lord keeps his digimon," Gabumon whispered. The same thought ran through all of their heads - were the digimon surrounding them waiting for Dark Rings, or were they already slaves of the Dark Lord, hungering to get at them and rip them to pieces. "Gabumon?" A high, rasping voice called out of the darkness. They stood stock still, their hearts beating - what new enemy was this? "Agumon, is that you?" another voice asked. This one was squeaky and almost certainly belonged to a cute digimon - a voice like that had to. With this, Agumon and Gabumon ran forward. "Lyomon!" "Megmon!" The boys could vaguely see them in the dark, reaching through the bars and nuzzling against them. Then another voice, one they felt they knew from somewhere, called out with interest. "Lyomon, who's this? I didn't know you had a friend." "That's disgusting, Megmon, stop it!" A fourth new voice rang out. Unable to restrain their curiosity any longer, the boys stepped forward to see the occupants. "Tai?? Matt??" The first voice said in disbelief. It belonged to a girl with long, blonde hair streaked with black dye, and a bright red fringe. She stood up, and they saw a black T-shirt, fingerless gloves, jeans and a red neck-tie. "Thir! So you two really are here!" Matt said. Sure enough, sitting lazily next-door was Nabu, a girl with short black hair, black trousers, a baggy navy sweatshirt and a black cap worn backwards. Tai was suddenly very aware of his school uniform. Both of them were staring wide-eyed at Tai and Matt. "All right, all right, so now you all know the others exist." Lyomon's voice reminded Tai somehow of his sister's digimon, Gatomon. "Now come on, hurry up and let us out so we can finish what we came here to do." "Whoa, wait a minute," Tai stopped her. "That's suicide. You can't just wander in and free everything. You have to plan it first." "Yeah, and besides, we're starving here!" Matt whined. Not surprisingly, everyone agreed. "So, um. how does this work?" Agumon asked. Thir turned around and held her hand through the bars to Nabu, who produced from her pocket something metallic and gave it to Thir. Then Megmon arose. She stood on two legs, and looked a little like a pale green lizard, with designs on her face and a wavy patch down her back, large front claws and two long, straggly ears. "First you have to press these buttons," she said. Nabu, once prompted, came and lifted her high up; she reached through and tapped two buttons above her head. Tai and Matt jumped to one side as two small pillars rose from the centre of the floor. "Now use this key!" Lyomon said, tossing them the piece of metal. Tai caught it with the expertise of a good soccer-player, and saw immediately the hole in the pillar where it fitted. He slotted it in, and heard a smooth, gentle scraping sound behind him. The bars lifted, and the girls and their digimon jumped clear with relief. "Now we just have to get out," Matt groaned. As one they looked at the gaping, slimy hole which (they saw now) was cleverly hidden behind a mound of chains and broken Rings. Agumon sighed, and took the lead again. "At least now we don't have to try and crawl up there with all hell chasing after us," Nabu said gloomily. Slowly, they trudged down the dark passageway, carefully avoiding the piercing eyes of the other caged digimon. "Now you see why we have to free them," said Thir passionately, gesturing to the damp on the walls, the unhappy or fierce expressions of the creatures, the black darkness. Matt nodded slightly, but Tai shook his head in bewilderment. "Girls," They all heard him mutter scornfully. Nabu gave him a playful shove, and Agumon only just caught him before he hit the filthy floor. "So who's gonna go first?" Lyomon was sitting - she could not stand with the position of her huge forepaws (her body structure was similar to Gomamon's) - by the dripping entrance. No-one stepped forward. "No way am I going," Nabu said bluntly. "Uh-uh." Matt shook his head, and Gabumon backed away from the opening. Nabu yanked Megmon back from where her curiosity had led her - nearly entirely up the tunnel. Megmon laughed in delight as she slid down backwards. "All right, looks like it's me again," Tai sighed. "I'm right beside you," Agumon reassured him. The climb was almost unbearable. They only managed it because of all four digimon's strong, huge front claws, which they dug in to pull them and their partners up. Finally, though, they made one last heave each, one last stumbling run, and collapsed in the shelter of the spiky, bare undergrowth.

"Now doing that every day would keep us all fit," Megmon said brightly as she peeled lumps of slime off herself. The others all turned and glared at her, panting too heavily to say anything. Put off, she stuck out her tongue childishly at them, and chuckled. Too exhausted to reprimand her, Nabu flopped back, barely noticing that she had done so right up against Tai. No watch was posted - they were all too tired, and besides it did not look - or smell, affirmed Lyomon - like anyone had been here recently except themselves. They were all asleep, huddled together for comfort and warmth, in minutes.