Gato: Yes, I know it has been forever and I promised to update more frequently. If you want my formal apology, go to my profile.
Irie: Guess what!! GUESS WHAT!!
Gato: What?
Irie: My orange and blue cow had a pink and purple baby!!
Gato: Wonderful...more insanely coloured farm animals.
Irie: running around screaming happily
Gato: Guess I'll have to do the disclaimer then. I do not own Digimon: Digital Monsters. I do own Despimon and I suppose I could say that I own the Crest of Hatred as well. OH!! And special thanks for Fanfic Fan for sort of reminding me that this story exists.
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Gato: Since it has been so long since I last updated, I figured I would give you all a brief re-cap of what happened last time. It is important that you remember because this chapter continues directly from the previous one. Also, I know that time is faster in the digital world than the real one (at least, it was in the first season) and I will be using that in my story. Now, for the re-cap...
"...and her crest repaired itself." Izzy concluded the tale of what he, Mimi and Tai had experienced when they visited Sora.
"I didn't notice that..." Mimi whispered.
"So, what do you think it means?" Matt demanded.
"Something from the digital world is affecting Sora. Whatever it is is using her sorrow in order to manipulate her."
"Damn," Tai muttered.
"What are we going to do?" Joe asked.
"I didn't want to leave her alone, but we had to. By staying with her, we were fueling her hatred and making it easier for some digital creature to work its magic." Izzy sighed. "Unfortunately, we can't do anything until she calms down."
"What if the digital creature comes to get Sora or something?" Tai asked.
"Then we'll have to fight harder than we've ever imagined." Izzy replied.
In a dark corner of the Digital World, a palace stood. From a distance it appeared to be a solid structure but in truth, it was woven out of trees. Their trunks and limbs intertwined unnaturally to form the intricate structure. In this strange place, the lair of Despimon, Sora emerged from a small room. Her eyes, now completely dark and hollow, spied Despimon. The Digimon grinned. "Who are you?"
"I am Princess Sora, servant of Lord Despimon and bearer of hatred."
"Very good," Despimon turned to a bird-creature beside Sora. It's once pink feathers had turned a deep magenta. "And you are?"
"Dark-Biyomon, servant of Princess Sora."
"Yes," Despimon's grin widened maliciously, "and Princess Sora, what is your purpose?"
"I serve and uphold the law of Lord Despimon. I will destroy all those who oppose us. Together, we will rule both worlds."
........................
The Digidestined silently absorbed Izzy's comment. Mimi fidgeted with the carpet on Izzy's floor. Matt wished he had his harmonica. Joe polished his glasses repeatedly. Finally, Tai tore his gaze away from the wall, "You're saying we will have to fight Sora?"
"Yes Tai," Izzy stared at his friend, "Unfortunately, that is exactly what I am saying."
"Then why they hell did we leave her alone?" Tai roared.
Kari jumped and turned her soft eyes to her brother, "Tai, please, don't get upset..."
"Upset?" Tai ran a hand through his hair, "I am past upset Kari!"
"Calm down, man," Matt muttered and turned back to Izzy, "Izzy, do you...do you think that if it comes down to us fighting Sora we will have to...kill her?"
"Maybe," Izzy sighed, "if she doesn't kill us first that is."
TK frowned, "Sora would never hurt us, right Tai?"
"I don't know TK. I don't know anything anymore."
The Digidestineds sat in silence once more, each involved in their own thoughts. No one knew what to do next. Even Tai, their "leader", admitted to know nothing. Finally, Mimi spoke, "Should we go back to the hospital and keep and eye on her? I mean if she gets taken while we're all here..."
"Mimi's right!" Tai jumped up, "I'm going back to the hospital now."
"I'm coming with you," Mimi stood and pulled on her thin coat.
"I don't know if..." Izzy began.
"Wait for me," Matt interrupted. Izzy sighed.
"Well, if my brother is going, so am I," Kari called, accompanied by an enthusiastic TK.
"I might as well," Joe muttered.
Six teens stood and attempted to find their bags and shoes amid the jumble of belongings. They ignored the comments of the clever, auburn haired boy.
"Guys, just wait one minute...please..."
Finally, everyone found everything that belonged to them and followed Tai out of the room. Izzy's protests continued to go unheeded. He sighed loudly and glared after his friends. "I'd better go after them..."
Just then, his computer beeped to signify a new e-mail.
......
Princess Sora entered the palace, exhaustion evident in her gait. A pair of elbow blades rested against her arms. Dark-Biyomon followed slowly, her dark feathers ruffled. Princess Sora placed the blades in their appropriate place – on a wall lined with many different varieties of weapons. Dark-Biyomon watched her master's movements with dull, expressionless eyes.
"Come, Dark-Biyomon," Princess Sora called, "we must report to Lord Despimon."
"Yes, my lady."
Princess Sora entered Despimon's main room. The dark Digimon melded into his surroundings. He sat on a throne created from a warped tree stump. Everything in this room was created naturally, with one exception. On the far wall, behind a long table, a computer screen showed a map of the Digital World. Most areas possessed their usual colour, but many were black and grey. Princess Sora approached her master and knelt.
"I have returned, my lord."
"Very good, Princess," the shadow creature turned its eyes toward the screen. An area in the top-left corner lost all colour. Despimon smiled, his white teeth flashed in the torch-light. "I see that you were able to subdue the north-western desert."
"Yes, my lord. They are now servants to your word."
"Did they resist?"
"Yes, Lord Despimon. But, I showed them why resistance is terribly foolish."
The malicious creature's grin widened, "How many did you destroy?"
"I destroyed nearly a dozen."
"And you, Dark-Biyomon?"
"Fifteen, sire," the small Digimon met the sick, green eyes.
"Very good indeed," Despimon murmured, "Any prisoners?"
"No. They all gave in after I destroyed their digi-eggs. Hatred began to flow through them, and we were able to tap into it."
"I applaud both of you. Now, you may go and rest. Tomorrow you will attack the final resisting corner of the digital world. Once that is mine, we will be able to conquer this world in a matter of weeks."
"Yes, Lord Despimon."
......
Tai led his friends into the hospital. The six kids by-passed the frazzled secretary who attempted to write their names on the guest registry. Kari smiled apologetically at the annoyed woman. Tai forcefully opened the door to Sora's room and stopped. Mimi collided with him and fell back.
"Tai, what is your problem?"
When he didn't answer, Mimi shoved past him into the room. "Oh no..." she murmured. The soft moonlight fell through the window onto an empty bed. The remaining digidestined slowly entered the room. Tai remained by the door, his face expressionless. Mimi slowly wandered through the room. "Her bag is still here," she muttered, "maybe she's coming back..."
"She's gone," Tai stated. Several of the other teens jumped. "We were too late."
"It's not too late yet. Maybe we can still save her," Kari said optimistically.
"How can we save her?" Tai turned on his sister. She flinched under his hard glare. "How, Kari? If you have any ideas, let's hear them!"
"Tai!" Matt shouted, "Stop being such an asshole!"
Tai rounded on his blond friend, "I am NOT being an asshole! She's gone! Don't you understand?! Don't you care?!" Tears formed in his chocolate-kissed eyes.
"Of course we care, Tai," Mimi said softly, walking towards him. "That's why we're going to do everything that we can to get her back." Something crunched under her feet. Mimi stopped and glanced down to see the shattered frame of Sora's photograph. She removed the picture from under the shards of glass and placed it delicately in her bag.
"What was that?" TK demanded.
"A picture of Sora's parents," Mimi replied. "She...she threw it at the wall when we were here earlier."
Joe glanced around the small room, "Do you think..."
Izzy's abrupt arrival interrupted Joe. "G-guys..." he gasped. They turned to see the clever, redhead leaning against the door jamb for support. His breaths came in ragged gasps.
"Izzy!" Mimi cried, "What happened?"
Izzy steadied his breath and brandished a piece of paper, "You guys might want to look at this. It's about Sora."
............
Princess Sora lay in her small bed. The last rays of sunlight cast a soft, orange glow in the dark, sparse room. Before, Sora enjoyed sunsets. Now, their beauty seemed trivial. The restless young woman sighed and turned to her partner.
"Dark-Biyomon."
"Yes, my lady?"
"When did Despimon say that we are to move against the south-eastern region?"
"Not until tomorrow afternoon, mistress."
"I see." Princess Sora sighed, "What can you tell me about that region?"
Dark-Biyomon shifted. She sensed the Princess' restlessness, "It is mainly an aquatic region. A variety of Digimon live there. I have heard that Gomamon are the predominant species."
"Very well," she sighed once more, "Is there nothing that we can destroy now? No one to terrify?"
Dark-Biyomon smirked, "I'm sure we can find someone..."
Princess Sora sat up and removed a whip from under her mattress. "You're right, Dark-Biyomon," she said, a cruel smile appeared on her face, "I'm sure there is someone who needs a reminder of Lord Despimon's power. We merely have to find them."
............
"After you all ran out, Gennai sent me an e-mail," Izzy began.
"Does the e-mail talk about Sora?" Tai interrupted, "Is she safe?"
"As I was saying," Izzy glared at Tai, "Gennai told me about this Digimon that goes by the name of Despimon. He is a Digimon that was created from hated, hence his name. He looks like he is made of shadows and apparently has the ability to do some minor shape-shifting. He preys on people's hatred and grows stronger as their loathing increases. What this has to do with Sora," Izzy raised his hand to silence Tai, "is very simple. Despimon is the one that has been tormenting Sora recently. He is the reason she has changed so much. He has been feeding off of her hatred and now he has her in his power."
A long silence followed Izzy's words. "Does," Mimi stuttered, "does that mean that Sora is Despimon's prisoner?"
Izzy played with the paper in his hands. Tai glanced at his friend, "Izzy, is there something more you need to tell us?"
Izzy sighed and nodded. "Sora isn't his prisoner in the traditional sense. She...she's working for him. She's been seen destroying dozens of Digimon in the name of Despimon. Gennai said that she refers to him as 'Lord Despimon'. He's using her to help him take over the Digital World and maybe even the Real World."
"What?" Kari yelped, "But Sora would never do anything like that!"
"She wouldn't have done anything like that before she forgot the importance of love." Tai murmured, "This...Despimon is playing with her emotions. He used all the pain that she's been through to turn her against us...and herself."
"Is there anything we can do?" Mimi demanded.
Izzy nodded, "It's time for us to take a trip to the Digital World."
"Any ideas on what we're gonna do when we get there?" Matt asked.
"Hopefully, not die," Izzy stated bluntly.
"And, not hurt Sora," Tai said.
"Hopefully," Izzy added. All the other digidestineds turned to him. "Listen guys, I know you all love Sora, heck, so do I, but we're already in way over our heads. The fact that she's our friend is going to make it difficult for us to fight her. But, we're going to have to fight, even if it's just in defense."
"He's right," Joe muttered, "This is going to be the hardest battle we've ever had to fight. No matter what, we're going to lose something important to us."
"No." Tai clenched his hands into fists, "We won't lose Sora, and we won't lose anything else. We'll figure out a way to make sure we get her back."
"I hope you're right, Tai," Izzy said, removing his Digivice from his pocket, "I really hope you're right."
............
Princess Sora returned to her quarters, her boredom dispelled. She tossed the whip onto her bed and walked over to the sink. She forcefully turned the handles and shoved her hands under the icy water. The liquid turned red as it ran off her hands. She shut off the tap, the blood of several digimon running down the drain.
Princess Sora glanced at the mirror and smiled viciously. Her eyes, dead and brown, remained vacant. "That was fun, wasn't it?"
"Yes, my lady," Dark-Biyomon's smile matched that of her mistress.
"We should get some sleep," Princess Sora commanded. "We want to have energy for the fall of the Digital World."
..............................
Gato: Yippee!!
Irie: That' chapter was as terrible as a pink and gold fish shaped rug.
Gato: Okay, you have to stop making these strange connections. They make no sense.
Irie: They make sense to me.
Gato: Yes, you, and no one else. Anyhow, I apologize for any rambling, but I am really sick and really tired and I think I might be overdosing on vitamins.
Irie: How lovely. As lovely as...mouth shut by duct tape mmmmm....
Gato: playing with roll of duct tape It's for your own good. Really. Time for reviewer response:
TO DarkMetalAngel of Destruction: Yep, it's evil alright. Don't worry, I'll put in more Taiora. Thanks for reviewing!! PS – your screen name is very long...
TO karone-sakura: I am SO sorry that it took me so long to update. I really am. I'm so glad that you like last chapter, and I hope you like this one as well. I will try to update more often, but life is INSANE!!! Anyhow, thanks so much for the review! It is greatly appreciated.
TO fanfic fan: I said it before - you reminded me that this story existed. Also, your review was one of the sweetest I have received. Thank-you so very much! Yes, my fic is sick, twisted and crazy...but that's how I like it ;) Thanks again for the review!
Irie: Mmmmmmmmmmmm....trying to rip duct tape off her mouth
Gato: Okay, my darlings, I have no idea when I will update next, as I am currently working in eight stories. Am I insane? Why yes, yes I am. Please be patient with me. Ta!