Digimon: Death of Akume

Chapter 3: The Ring

"What did you just call me?" The Emperor asked Sokkia

"I called you what you are, Ken. You are my brother." She replied, no feeling in her voice.

"I have no sisters. I only have one older brother, and he is an idiot." Ken replied.

"I know, Ken. Why do you think you are the smartest one in your family? Why do you have black hair while neither of you parents do? I know why. You were adopted. Just like me. I'll tell you the story, if you like." She replied smugly, although still being held captive by the Ogremon.

Just then they arrived at the prison.

"Not just yet, Sokkia." Ken said to her, then to the Ogremon, "Knock her out." Before Sokkia could protest, an Ogremon fist came down on her head, knocking her out cold. "Bring her here, I have a special place for her." The Emperor said with an evil laugh.

***

Sokkia awakened to a dark cell, her face was covered in dirt, and her clothes in Digi-sludge.

'Where's Akume?' Was her first thought. She was incredibly loyal to her friend. When she remembered what Tai had done, Sokkia let loose a howl of anguish and hatred. Only then did she realize she was chained to a wall by her wrists and ankles. She looked out at the doorway to the cell. A face was looking in at her, Ken's face.

"Ken." She said loudly. He gave a cackling laugh.

"I take it you don't like the accommodations, judging by that howl." Ken said to her. Sokkia didn't answer him, she just stared at the little Digimon behind him. The small Digimon backed off, frightened by her evil glare. Ken noticed and took note of this. If she wasn't his sister, she was doing a very good acting job.

"I want you to tell me that story now." Ken said to her. Sokkia nodded her head and began.

"Long ago, when you were just a newborn baby, our mother and father were taking us on a long trip and we were headed for the airport. It was very stormy and our flight had been canceled until the next day. We were on our way home and we were on a rural road to avoid traffic. There was no one around for a half mile. The rain had picked up and visibility was zero. When we saw a dip ahead sign, we didn't think much of it, but when we got to the dip," Sokkia stopped and closed her eyes, a pair of tears running down her cheeks.

"Continue." The Emperor ordered coldly.

"When we got to the dip, the car fell down into a four foot deep hole. The road had washed away. Our parents were stuck in the front seats, their buckles tangled, as the water began to come in. They told us not to be scared and told me to get out of the car and get help. They said to take you with me. I did what they said and ran for as long as I could with you in my arms. When I finally go to the nearest house, the people there called the police and paramedics. They told me to take them to where the car had crashed. When I did, the entire front of the cabin had filled with water and our parents had drowned. The police took us to a foster home until we were adopted. You were adopted by the ichijojies. I was adopted by the Tachikawas." Sokkia finished her story.

"That still does not prove that you are my sister." Ken replied.

"You should have a small ring. Inscribed upon it should be the words 'Eternal Intelligence'." She said to the boy.

"How did you know about the ring?" He asked as he pulled it out from under his shirt, he had put it on a black cord and wore it around his neck.

"Because I have one, too. Mother gave them to us the day we each came home from the hospital." She replied.

"If you really are my sister, where is your ring?" He asked her.

"Look at the ring finger on my left hand." She replied. Ken cautiously came over as Sokkia turned her hand in the cuff. He saw it was the same ring. He slipped it off her finger.

"Be careful with that. You don't know how to harness the power yet." Sokkia warned her brother. Ken read the inscription.

"Eternal Intelligence." He said as Sokkia gasped.

"No." She whispered. Ken looked up at her.

"What is it?" He asked her.

"You read the inscription. Now I am one step closer to the center ring." She replied. Ken looked down at the symbol on her ring, then his ring.

"What happens when the little dot makes it to the center?" Ken asked, unusually calm and obedient, almost like a small child.

"I don't know, but I don't think it will be anything good. I was just about to read what it meant when it was time to leave with Izzy for the picnic." She replied.

"Oh." He replied simply. Sokkia smiled softly, he had accidentally cast a tranquility spell on himself. She saw him make all the right moves.

"Give me my ring back, Ken." She said kindly. He gently slipped the ring back on her finger. Sokkia closed her eyes and concentrated on the ring. She reversed the spell on Ken. He never even knew he was under a spell.

"How did you know it was me though?" Ken asked, still rather mellow.

"I saw the soccer tournaments on TV once and your shirt flew up, revealing the ring to anyone who was paying enough attention." Sokkia replied

"I see. So, sister. Will you fight by my side?" He asked her. He now knew she was telling the truth beyond a shadow of a doubt.

"I have a few conditions on that. I will only directly attack Tai and Kari. I am willing to capture any of the Digidestined for ransom. Once I destroy Tai, I will no longer fight with or against you." Sokkia said, laying it all out flat in the Emperor's face. Ken thought about all of this.

"Agreed." He said, then set her free.

"Yuck." She said as she looked down at the Digi-sludge. The Emperor looked down.

"I agree. Let's get you some better clothes and have these cleaned." He said as he lead her out of the cell and down the corridor.

He took her to his room. He had just moved to the Digiworld full time. He pulled out an extra suite. He saw that it was to small so he went to a computer screen and typed in a program. Sokkia walked over to her brother. She looked over his shoulder and at the screen.

"That's a nice suite." She said to him.

"Just add the cape, and… Done!" He said and hit one last button on the computer. The suite he had just constructed appeared in front of Sokkia. "There, now I'll leave so you can put this on. I programmed your Digivice to automatically upload this outfit when you enter the Digiworld."

"Um, one problem with that last one. I don't have a Digivice." Sokkia told him.

"What? Wait, I'll see if I can find it." Ken said as he returned to the computer. "Wormmon, take my sister to another room to get changed. When she's done, bring her back here."

"Yes, Master." The small Digimon said and lead Sokkia to another room. Sokkia changed and came out in the stylish new outfit. She returned to where the Emperor was.

"Found it." He said "Give me your hand." He commanded. Sokkia did as her brother said. He looked at her hand and hit a key on the computer keyboard. Then a Digivice appeared out of Sokkia's hand.

"What just happened to me?" Sokkia asked, near fainting.

"The Digivice had malfunctioned and was infused into your hand when you entered Digiworld for the first time." Ken told her. "The Digivice had gotten stuck in the portal between the two worlds."

"Oh, that makes sense." Sokkia replied, holding the dark purple Digivice. "When do we attack?"

"Eager for battle, huh?" Ken asked his sister. "First you need a new name. One for the other Digidestined to call you. They already found out my real name."

"How about the Digimon General?" Asked Sokkia

"That's good. The Digimon General. Very nice. It will do fine. Now, let's give your introduction." Ken said

"Just one question, How long have I been here for?" Sokkia asked.

"You stayed overnight." He replied. The two Digidestined walked to the arena together to pick out a few fighters for the battle.