k2: Ya know, this was originally about a page and a half long when I first cut it off from part three. Now it's, well…6. Aheh. Funny how I managed to expand it, I was rally worried about the size when I first started. I sure hoe peeps enjoy the show. Really. Ugh, some bodies gotta.
111break111
What Now!
Ch.9 pt4-Conquers
PG-13
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TK stared at Kari, watching her for any sign of life that he could find. She just sat there, staring at nothing.
Her eyes showed nothing, no love, no compassion…no hope. She had lost all sense of hope; she was desolate inside. Without hope there is no light and TK had robbed her of her hope. HE had brought her into despair. His despair. The despair that he had hidden for so long, the despair that he had tried to snuff out by putting on a happy face. The despair that TK had thought didn't even exist and yet did somewhere deep in his heart of hearts.
Without hope there is no light. Darkness brings despair and despair vanquishes the light.
What have I done?
You have freed her, child, freed her from her own trappings.
I told you to stay out of my head. TK thought dully. HE turned his head to face the creature he was beginning to find rather repulsive. "Get away from me."
"You are fighting me again, why do you subject yourself to the pain?"
"I'm just…so confused." TK murmured, his hand absently moving to his side where Patamon lay to scratch the little guys head.
Just let go the thoughts that bring in the confusion. Release yourself from the burden of responsibility. Embrace what is to be your destiny.
"But…is this truly for the better? Look at her."
Stop questioning me!
"Why?" TK asked, his voice growing hard. "You will not control me!"
Yes, yes, no one controls you. The voice inside TK's head became soothing now, lulling. TK shook his head and his hand began to rub his temple again. I'm not controlling you; I am only trying to help you. I freed you, remember? I am just trying to help you keep the headaches away. Stop thinking those nasty thoughts, thoughts that will cause you pain and only serve to confuse you even more. The light is the enemy, remember? False hope is all you ever receive, what has hope ever done for you? It never once restored your family, it never once gave you peace of mind. Hope is always dashed, despair is the only truth. And you have given the gift of despair to Hikari, the child of light.
"Perhaps…maybe your right." TK murmured, his hand falling away from his head.
Patamon moaned but remained still.
"I just…keep thinking that something isn't right. That something's wrong."
"Everything is wrong." The dark master replied aloud. "You are here to set things right once more. Your brother and your friends can no longer keep you from your destiny, you have seen to that."
Destiny. The lone word seemed to echo through TK's head.
Yes, child, destiny. To bind the dark world to the digital one forever, paving the way to world of light, to give the same gift to all your loved ones.
"TK!"
Kari!
TK turned sharply, Kari had called out to him. She was no longer sitting in a semi trance, she was now holding herself tightly, her eyes squeezed shut.
"What is it Kari?" TK asked
"It hurts!"
"What hurts?"
"The darkness! It's so powerful! It…it…hurts….!"
She fights strongly, her will refuses to be set free. Help her.
"Your sure…that will help?" TK asked
"Yes. She will soon discover you did right by her."
Are you…sure?
Would I lie to you?
Would you? TK's head fell into his hands and he moaned a little. "My head hurts!"
Stop denying me Takeru. You know I'm right.
I…I guess.
"TK!"
"I'm right here Kari!" TK quickly snatched up her hand, "I'm right here."
"The pain…."
"Ignore it Kari." TK murmured, "Push it aside. Forget everything Kari, only listen to my voice. I will help you. We both will."
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"Gabumon?" Gatomon asked as she stared, wide eyed, before them. "How many humans do you know that can reach the digital world?"
"Not many, Gatomon." Gabumon replied, "I am pretty sure that our friends are the only ones."
"And yet that is what we thought before Ken showed up too."
"This doesn't make sense. Who is that other digimon with them? I have never seen one like him before, but then I had never seen a pegramon before either."
"Who are they?" Gatomon's question was rather redundant, seeing has how Gabumon already asked a similar one.
"I have no Idea."
Before them, just outside of the cave, a little off to the left was a sight that astounded the two digimon. Two humans, a girl around the same age as TK and Kari, and another older girl, much older girl, seemingly about the same age as…Joe? Or Matt? …Stood before a large bluish gray centaur. He was lean yet muscular. He had long black hair with two horns on the side of his head. He also had black strips along the horse like body and a few on his face as well. A face that was quite human like otherwise. That, and he had sharp canines, similar in nature to fangs. For a tail he had what appeared to be a lions tail that was also bluish gray with a black tuff on the end. In his hands was a staff, similar to Angemon's rod but with a circle at the top with some sort of design. IT almost reminded Gabumon of Pixiemon's staff….
"I'll tell you one thing." Gatomon stated in awe, "I have never once, not in a million years, seen that digimon in Myotismons encyclopedia of digimon lost and present in the digital world."
"Waitaminute!" Gabumon hissed, "I think I do recognize him! He's one of a kind; there are no others like him! He looks like the word of mouth description of Sendalamon!"
"Sendalamon?" Gatomon was shocked at this news. She had heard rumors of his existence but never more then that. HE was a legend told to frighten younger digimon. "Bt if that's true," Gatomon murmured, "Then the gates of darkness are true also!"
"And he's supposed to be guarding them."
"Do you think this means the angel of death and destruction is true also?" Gatomon asked, fear making her hackles rise.
"I don't even want to know." Gabumon answered, "Let's just hope that one is just a legend."
"Well, since we think we know who he is, who are the two humans?"
"Not a clue."
Gatomon and Gabumon inched closer to the exit of the cave, glad for the rocky outcropping that was able to hide them so well. They were able to see the two girls easier now and they were definitely different in age. They had been having a strict staring contest; none of them saying a word, and when the younger one spoke it startled the two digimon who had been staring at them intently.
"I don't want to hurt you." Her eyes were downcast, her wild green hair hiding her eyes from view. She was definitely young, maybe about thirteen. She seemed to like bright colors, though, she had a pink shirt on with bright purple shorts and white open toed sandals.
"Yeah, she may not want to hurt you," The second, older girl stated offensively, "but believe me. I won't hesitate to retaliate if you even take one step closer to her!" Her crimson red hair matched her fiery attitude perfectly. It was about mid-length, seemingly reaching just below the shoulders but when she moved suddenly, feigning forward, her hair trailed after her and showed that it was longer in the back to about butt length and was gathered at her shoulder blades in a gold clasp. She was about Joe's age for sure, she had a rather large bust but not too large and she was dressed awfully funny for a human. It was strange to see a human wearing a dark blue dress that reached her ankles, yet had slits up to the hip on each side. Beneath the dress were bright pink leggings and she wore dark purple knee boots. On each wrist was a gold band and another gold band was around her left arm. Two light blue ribbons seemed to be attached to the armband, however, and the last accessory she seemed to be wearing was a gold choker. She seemed to be aggressive and amused at the same time, however, as the feigning motions she made were slightly comical in nature. But you could see in her bright green eyes that she was nothing but serious.
"NO!" The younger girl cried, looking up quickly. "Enera, stop it. I will not allow you to hurt him, you know that!"
'Enera' stopped her fancy footwork and looked down at the smaller girl apologetically, "I'm sorry Misshra."
The mysterious blue gray digimon seemed to temporarily forget the girls as a sudden awareness kicked in and he turned his head curiously towards the cave. A movement neither Gabumon nor Gatomon noticed right away. At least, not until he spoke that is."
"What do we have here?" He asked as he slowly started towards the cave. "I see you! Come on out!"
"Enera, stop him!" the younger girl screeched as she saw what he was suddenly attracted to.
"Right!" The older girl rushed, quicker then any human the two digimon had ever seen, and jumped landing smack on the digimon's back and clapped her hands firmly on his head.
"DIGI DRAIN!" She practically screamed, as energy seemed to seep out of the digimon and into her through yellow rivulets similar to electricity. As she did this victim seemed to freeze, his eyes rolling back into the back of his head and then he collapsed, the girl easily stepping off him as he did. She landed in a crouch, smirked, and stood. She turned and gave a cocky wave to the younger girl, a sheepish expression arriving like a mask hiding the true mischief one could see dancing in her eyes.
"Well…I didn't hurt him did I?" And with a toss of her head over her shoulder she called out; "Stop hiding and get over here you two, we won't bite too much!"
The young green haired girl shook her head into her right hand and looked back up in exasperation. "You are such a moron Enera." She hissed, "Don't be so rude!"
"Don't be so rude." Was the snide mocking reply of the older….
"She cannot be human." Gatomon hissed at Gabumon. "There's just no way!"
"You can say that again." Gabumon murmured, his eyes as wide as Gabumon's.
"So…should we trust them?"
"We have nothing else to loose." Gabumon replied as he began to move away form the cave.
"Except our lives." Gatomon growled.
Gabumon hesitated in going further, looked over his shoulder, and smiled kindly at Gatomon. "I don't think they want to hurt us."
"Oh, don't worry!" Enera replied enthusiastically, her eyes still dancing, "We wont' hurt you. But that doesn't mean we wont annoy you."
The green haired girl shook her head again, more exasperation hovering over her like a cloud.
Gabumon shrugged his shoulders at Gatomon and then continued over to them leaving Gatomon to her own devises. Not wanting to be backed into a corner if anything does go wrong Gatomon followed, but at a much slower, more cautious, rate.
When they had revealed themselves fully the red head looked at them closely, smirked, and nodded her head to the other girl who was also examining them.
"I knew it!" She stated, smiling, "What are you two doing here? Where are the others? Is Yammato okay? I mean, that was a really nasty fall, I wish I coulda done more but well needless to say I was stopped before I could get close enough. And then 'ol Sendalamon here had to arrive. Needless to say he's been doing a good job of keeping the two of us out of the dear dark one's way. It took me forever just to get this far."
The two digimon stared at the girl in surprise and Gatomon stepped forward irritably.
"Who are you and how do you know so much about us?"
"Oh! I am so sorry!" The girl replied, "My bad. I have such bad manners, I know."
"That, and you ramble like a lunatic when you're nervous." The red headed Enera replied, grinning impishly.
"Shut up you!" the girl hissed before turning back to Gatomon and Gabumon. "Sorry, I should know better then to do that. Anyway, I'm Misshra Crow and this is Eneramon, my digital partner in this world. I am the tenth digi destined by your standards. Technically I'm the first."
"Third lame brain!" Eneramon corrected her.
"Never mind that for now." Misshra said quickly, waving her hands off as if it were nothing. "Enera's just…over things! Right Enera!"
"They'll find out sooner or later anyway." Eneramon grumbled as she crossed her arms.
Gatomon and Gabumon just continued to stare at her. Now she made no sense.
"Never mind." Misshra stated, "Just tell me where everyone else is."
"Why should we?" Gatomon cried, baring her claws.
"We were actually trying to find a way back to them," Gabumon replied, ignoring Gatomon, "though we had hoped this tunnel would lead us to TK and Kari."
"What do you mean 'lead you to TK and Kari'?"
"Well, you see, our friends-."
"No, you don't get it. We already know about TK." Eneramon stated sharply, "Are you to tell me that you lost Kari? That TK has her?"
"Uhh…yes." Gabumon murmured
"Oh no." Misshra's eyes were wide and she stumbled where she stood. "This is…this is bad. This is very bad. We have to…oh, no!"
"Misshra, snap out of it!" Eneramon quickly went to her partner's side, shaking her shoulders sharply. "It's going to be okay, we just have to get there before they do! AS far as we know Kari is still fighting the darkness!"
"Right." Misshra murmured, "We need to get to the top. Get there before Mr. Sinister sends them out."
"Are you as confused as me?" Gatomon whispered to Gabumon.
"Yes, I believe so." Gabumon replied.
"Good. Now what?"
"I have no idea."
"Great."
"Come on, we gotta hurry!" Misshra stated as she turned to face the mountainous rock in front of her. "After all, that's where everything will take place."
"What's 'everything'?" Gatomon asked
"I don't know the details." Misshra replied over her shoulder, "All I know is the ending results. And they are bad."
"How bad?" Gabumon asked
"Let's just say that if we don't; hurry, the end of all worlds will be the result."
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Ken stared at the sheer drop, wide eyed, as Davis held him away form the grumbling ground.
"Well, I think you have successfully fond out what happened to Gabumon and Gatomon." Davis stated as he patted his friend on the back and turned around. "Tai! Over here! Me an' Ken found something!"
"What is it?" Tai demanded as he ran over to them, "What did you find?"
"The ground is very weak over over here." V-Mon replied.
"What's wrong with Wormon?" Tai asked quickly as he saw the green digimon holding tightly to the leg of a still frozen Ken Ichijouji. "And Ken?"
"That's just it." Davis said, "The ground is real weak and Ken's the one who discovered that. The hard way."
"Needless to say, If Davis and I hadn't been here we woulda lost Ken too. And with him not being a digimon, with as far down as that pit goes…."
Tai walked over to see what they were talking about as V-Mon trailed off. What he saw was darkness. Nothing else.
"Not good." Tai murmured, "Matt is not going to like this."
"Like what?" Tai turned around quickly to see Matt leaning against Sora, sweat beading his head as he struggled to stay on his feet.
"Matt!" Tai shouted, "Your under orders by Joe! You're supposed to be resting!"
"What did you find?" Matt asked, ignoring Tai."
"Look." Tai replied grimly, knowing he wasn't going to get a positive reaction if he harassed his friend. Matt stepped away from Sora, leaning instead on his staff, and hobbled over to stare down the deep dark hole. He closed his eyes and shook his head, knowing full well what this meant.
"Just what we needed." He glanced over at Ken who was still staring at the hole and glanced at Tai. "He okay?"
"We're gonna have to rope off this are, metaphorically speaking of course, so no one else gets to close. We almost lost Ken."
"I see. You think there's a safe way down?"
"Dunno, we just found it."
"I think it's a safe bet to say no." Ken, finally registering the world around him, stepped away from the whole and looked at the others with narrowed eyes. "For one it's too deep a whole. Two, the way the rock bed is crumbling away I would have to say that someone created it down below. Three, like I said, the rock bed is crumbling away. We would have to go down the side of the mountain and find the entrance that way." He looked back at the hole, then turned his head over to Matt. "I'm sure they're okay."
"Yeah." Matt murmured, pain filling his chest. First his brother, now Gabumon. Who else was he supposed to loose? "We need to focus now. On Kari and TK." Matt glanced at Tai, at Sora, his best friend and his girlfriend. Then he glanced back at the hole, wishing he could see for himself if the two missing digimon were okay.
"Matt." Tai stepped closer to the blond. "I am only going to say this once. If you don't listen then all I am going to say is I warned you."
"Yeah? What?" Matt asked, closing his eyes.
"You need…to rest."
Matt glanced at Tai. He saw Ken and Davis standing next to him, both looking at him uncertainly but with much concern in their eyes.
"You're going to where yourself out more Matt." Tai continued, "That leg is painful, I know it is. You're ignoring it just like your ignoring Joe's orders. You're going to wind up gaining permanent damage because there is no way to fix it properly. Now, are you going to sit down and rest, or what?"
Matt glared at Tai. He continued to glare as he looked at Ken and Davis, who were sure to help Tai if they had to. Then he lowered his head, shaking it. "I'm beat." He replied "In more ways then one."
"So is that a yes?"
"Yes." Matt sighed irritably.
"Thank goodness." Sora murmured as she walked forward, "I was afraid I would have to tie you up once Tai managed to pull through with his threat."
"Knowing you, that's exactly what you would have done." Matt stated with a forced grin. Sora smile and the two of them made their way over to an outcropping of rocks where Matt could sit and elevate his leg easily and they could both relax.
"What are going to do Tai?" Ken asked softly from the older teens right.
"I dunno." Tai replied softly. "Things aren't going to well, as you've noticed. And things have only gotten worse now that…." Tai bit his lip and squeezed his hands into fists. There was only so much he could hold in, only so much he could hide. As much as he wanted to leave things be he really despised Matt and TK right now. He knew his feelings were invalid, however, and managed to push them aside. Matt had no more control over Kari as Tai himself had over her. And TK, well…if what he had seen of TK was any indication of what he'd gone through then there was no way TK was in total control of his own mind.
"Tai?" Davis hesitantly tapped the brunettes shoulder, "Hello, earth to Taichi!"
"Ken. Tell the others what you and Davis found." Tai ordered quickly, startling Davis and causing him to fall over backward. "Tell them to meet Matt and I over by the rock cropping that he and Sora are resting at, we need to have a group meeting, all suggestions are welcome."
"Right." Ken bent down and picked Wormon up then headed off to find the others. "You too Davis. It will be quicker that way."
"Uh…sure." Davis stated as he stood up and walked off, glancing at Tai uncertainly over his shoulder.
Tai turned around to briefly survey the area around him. All the others were spread out along the cliff side looking for traces of their missing companions. The top of the mountain, if you could really call it the top considering the fact that the rock face that Angemon had blown up was still standing a good thirty extra feet above them, wasn't all that large to begin with and with it being cut down a size by the explosion, having had the two digimon disappear on this side of the rocky avalanche, it wasn't hard to search the area. It's just that no one knew what else to do.
Tai turned back around to where Sora and Matt had gone to 'rest' and saw Sora sitting with Matt's head in her lap. With the way he was positioned, with his leg elevated at a height in which he would be absolutely unable to actually sit, let alone get up by himself, Tai could only assume that Sora had pushed Matt to lay down and elevated his leg for him, stopping all protests and sitting down by him so he had something soft to lay his head on.
The fact that Matt looked extremely grumpy especially irritated, only seemed to confirm Tai's theory and he was forced to grin. Must be an interesting discussion those tow are having, albeit that it seemed to be one sided at the moment considering the fact that Matt was pretty much sulking.
Tai glanced back at the thirty-foot rise and began chewing the side of his bottom lip, the gears in his head beginning to turn once more.
Maybe if I climbed up there I could see the terrain better….'
It was a thought, but one that didn't seem to hold much weight really. TK and Kari weren't anywhere in the digital world….
Shrugging the thought aside Tai headed over to Matt and Sora, seeing as how everyone was beginning to gather round and, once everyone was settled, he started the meeting.
"Alright. Now that we know what just happened to Gatomon and Gabumon it's time we focused back onto the main problem. TK and Kari."
"Shouldn't we try and look for Gatomon and Gabumon?" Cody asked quickly.
"That's just it." Tai stated, "Now that we know what happened to them we can set up a search party after we discuss what step we take now. The portal to the dark world is closed now; we have no actual way of getting to TK and Kari. With them in the enemies hands we have big problems."
"So…how are we supposed to find them?" Mimi asked
"That's what the meeting is about." Tai replied "Any suggestions?"
No one said anything, though they all looked at each other for a suggestion and then Mimi stood up, a thought occurring to her.
"What if we all focused our energies in a single point where the portal was. Maybe we can at least open a small hole!"
"That's not a bad idea." Tai said
"Except that it would be impossible." Izzy broke in, "I already stated that the portal has been totally blocked off. Nothing could reopen it. We would have to create an entirely knew portal from scratch and we don't have the resources for that. What we need is Gennai."
"FORCE BARRIER!"
The sound of a battle cry startled the digidestined and they all sprang up, looking around frantically. Well, all except for Sora and Matt that is. Matt tried to jump up but Sora hugged his head firmly into her chest protectively. Matt, feeling as if he were going to suffocate, flailed his arms about until Sora looked down and saw what she'd done. Thoroughly embarrassed she released Matt quickly, her cheeks beat red, and looked anywhere but at him to see a shiny transparent semi-sphere encircled around them. The sound of laughter reached their ears and they saw a tall dark haired woman standing before them. Behind her, in the ruins, a greenish yellow light flashed brightly and three figures walked out. TK, Kari, and Angemon.
