Author's note: Do to advice that I received, since Takato and Rika have merged with Guilmon and Renamon, I'll be calling them Takatomon and Rikamon from now on.
Chapter 33:
The Return Home: Part 3
Tai wandered around the small room. "Hey, do you have anything to eat?"
Willis walked over to the fridge. "I think I have some tuna."
"Hey, just because I'm a cat, doesn't mean that I have to like tuna."
Willis chuckled. "Well, what do you like?"
"Got any hamburger?"
Kari walked into the kitchen and lifted Tai up. "You can't eat hamburgers, you've got a cat's body. You have to eat cat food. Luckily, Sora packed some."
She turned Tai around to see Sora putting a bowl of cat food onto the floor. Tai grumbled as he walked over and started to much down. While he ate, Derwood and Sara sat down across from Willis. "Okay, can we get some answers now?"
"What do you want to know?"
"Like what Dark Ryo is doing here?" Sara asked, "Why'd he come to this reality?"
"He wants to look for the entrance to the Ultimate Reality."
"And what is that?" Derwood asked.
"A place where anything can happen, a place where your wildest dreams can come true."
"Really?" Tai asked, "I can see why a nutcase like Dark Ryo would want to get there."
Willis nodded. "You see, at one time, there existed only that reality. The beings there were content and happy, until one day, they began to wonder, if something changed, how would it affect the rest of the reality? They weren't about to let anything happen to their perfect world, so they created other realities to test their theories. Every reality out there, is a result of a change that the inhabitants of the Ultimate Reality made."
"I think I get it," Sora said, "When you're in the Ultimate Reality, you can create other worlds. I see why its so important, but what kind of reality does Dark Ryo want to create?"
"How do you get into the Ultimate Reality?" Female Tai asked.
"The gate was hidden in this world. I don't know why, but it's sealed. So, if we want to get into that reality, we've got to smash through the seal. That would take a lot of reality power to do that."
"Like what Sam, Ryo and I have?" Sara asked.
"You'll need a lot more power then that," he grinned, "A lot more."
"How much more?" Derwwod asked, "What can generate that much power?"
"Millenniumon could," Takatomon said, walking into the kitchen with Rikamon.
"No, he can't," Willis said, "He lost too much power from being trapped being that shield."
The others stared at him. "How did you know that?" Rikamon asked.
"My Crest of Fate," he said, "I can see all."
"Then what does Dark Ryo need to open the shield?" Tai asked.
"Dark Spores."
"Dark Spres?"
Willis nodded. "Yeah. The regular Ryo and Ken were in the desert fighting against Millenniumon when the evil digimon infected Ken with his Dark Spores. Oikawa then used Ken's spore to infect about a dozen other kids. Those Spores act like batteries, to give Millenniumon enough energy to reach a more powerful state and rip a hole into the Ultimate Reality!"
The others were silent until Tai spoke. "You said you could see the future, right? Will Millenniumon be able to do that?"
Willis shook his head. "My powers are conditional. I don't have total control over them yet."
"So you lied?"
"No. I can only see the future if I have a clear perception of the events leading up to it. I knew Hypnos was coming here because of their high power levels and their hunting of the Dark Spore children. I knew you would follow, but I can't see anything past this point, because there are too many variables."
"Variables?" Derwood asked.
"Yeah, the one you call Dark Sora is here."
"What?" Sara and Sam gasped.
"She's here?" Kari asked, "W..what's she doing here?"
Willis shook his head. "I'm sorry, I can't glimpse into her mind, it's almost like she doesn't have a purpose for being here, but I know she is seeking more power. She's probably just looking for a way."
"Of course," Tai said, "That Digimon Queen is a nutcase just like Dark Ryo."
Willis nodded. "You never tell your weakness to your enemy, that is why I told Hypnos I was able to clearly see the future."
Derwood nodded. "So, we've got to get those kids, right?"
"Not yet," Willis said, "There are some things that need to be taken care of first." He walked over to Derwood, Takatomon and Rikamon. "Fate and reality have made the three of you partners. You were able to bio-merge once, you need to be able to do it again." He turned to Female Tai and Agumon, "The two of you must become partners."
"Agumon?" Female Tai asked, "But, I'm partners with a Biyomon."
"I know that. What was the Crest you had in your reality?"
"Love."
Willis nodded. "Then Agumon either has to accept your Crest of Love, but this will mean that you won't be able to be Biyomon's partner anymore, or you have to accept the Crest of Courage, which will mean that Tai won't be Agumon's partner, however, you will still be able to be your Biyomon's partner."
Female Tai and Tai looked at each other. "I don't want to take your partner away from you," she said.
Tai shrugged as best he could. "It's not like we really have a choice. I'm a cat right now, so it's not like I can digivolve him. Wait, Willis, since you have reality powers, can you make me a human body?"
Willis shook his head. "My powers are psychic, not reality. But, that brings me to my third thing." He looked at Sara and Sam, "I'm sorry to say this, but Ryo has been reabsorbed by Dark Ryo."
"What?" Sam gasped, putting a hand over her mouth.
"I'm sorry," Willis said, "We can save him, but Dark Ryo needs to be defeated. But we need a Reality Master, like Ryo was. So, one of you is going to have to drastically boost your powers."
"Just one?" Sara asked.
Willis nodded. "That's all I can do, I'm afraid."
"All right," Sam said, "Sara can do it." The blond girl stared at her. "You've always been stronger then me. Go ahead."
Sara nodded. "Okay, what do we have to do?"
"There's a place in the Digital World, I'll explain more when we get there."
Back in Japan, Dark Sora and Oikawa were sitting down in a coffee shop in the slums of the city. No one noticed them, or even cared, a perfect place to have a secret conversation.
"I know you're not really Sora Takenouchi," Oikawa said, "And I'm pretty sure you're not a digimon, so who are you?"
Dark Sora flashed a smile. "I am Sora Takenouchi, just not the one that you're familiar with."
Oikawa stared at her. "You're from another reality, aren't you?"
"That's right."
He grinned. "To think, there is another reality out there besides just the Digital World. Tell me, how did you get here?"
"On my world, I was a queen," she said, "Infused with the power of Apocalymon, I was the Goddess of the Digidestined. But, then I tried to extract revenge on Tai Kamiya and his sister, and was dethroned. I ended up here because I knew this was where, shall we say, others with reality powers had come to."
"Really?" Oikawa grinned, "More like ourselves. How many?"
"I don't know," she shook her head, "But I can feel him, Dark Ryo. He's the strongest one here."
"Tell me, what are you doing here? In this Reality, I mean?"
"Enjoying being alive for right now," she grinned, "Why, do have something in mind?"
"Actually, I might. Tell me, what are your powers?"
"I can alter reality for myself, and slightly for those around me."
"Explain, please."
"Well," she said, "I can change my reality, like giving myself the power of flight, energy manipulation, morphing." She grinned slightly as her body grew from a sixteen-year-olds into a gorgeous thirty year olds. Her shoulder length red hair grew down to her waist and turned blond. Her yellow tank top and jeans merged into a short, low-cut black dress and her denim jacket became a black scarf. "See what I mean?"
Oikawa nodded. He looked her over, from head to foot. "I really see what you mean."
She raised her finger. "No no, don't touch." Her body began morphing again, this time shrinking until she was five years old. Her blond hair turned red again and her dress turned into an orange dress that reached her ankles. Her black scarf began a thick jacket worn by little kids.
"All right," Oikawa said, "I get the point, hands off. Now, what were you saying about altering other peoples' realities?"
Five-year-old Sora nodded. "I don't have as much control over that as I'd like. I guess there are certain..failsafes, that prevent us from changing reality, while we're inside. No, we can, it just takes a lot of energy and power. Like, I have a limit to my reality powers while I'm here, but if I left this reality, and was still able to keep in contact with it, I could change a lot of things. I could change things here, but only if I could boost my power."
Oikawa nodded. "What exactly can you do?"
She mentioned to the bar, where a man dressed was drinking down a bear. She made a motion with her hands and the man spit out his drink. "What's wrong?" the waitress asked.
"This bear, it's burning up!" he shouted, "It's on fire!"
Oikawa chuckled. "Very good."
"So," five-year-old Sora asked, "What's the job?"
"Come with me," he said.
When they left the café, five-year-old Sora changed back to Dark Sora and they walked down through the slums until they reached an old apartment building. They walked upstairs until they reached the only apartment on the top floor. Inside was a bunch of sophisticated computer equipment, and Mummymon and Arukennimon, in their human forms. They stared at Dark Sora. "Boss!" Mummymon gasped, "You brought a Digidestined here?"
"Don't worry," he grinned, "she's on our side."
"What's she doing here?" Arukennimon wanted to know.
"You see, Sora," Oikawa said, "I'm looking for these things called, Dark Spores. I placed them in some children, and I've bidding my time until they started to sprout. Now, they're ready, and I'm going to use them to create a new body for myself, one with the power to alter reality."
Dark Sora raised an eyebrow. "Really? And what do you want me to do?"
"Help me find them, and you can rule by my side. You'll become a Queen again. What do you say?"
Dark Sora nodded. "All right. What do we do first?"
He looked at Arukennimon and Mummymon. "Well, have any of those kids been found?"
"There's one at the park now, sir," Mummymon said.
"Excellent. You two stay here, Miss Takenouchi and I will handle this."
They ran to the location of the Dark Spore kid. It was a girl with short brown hair, walking down the sidewalk, in a section of town that didn't have any other people around. Oikawa and Dark Sora hid behind a dumpster and watched her walk past. "Who is that?"
"Noriko," Oikawa said, "I remember her. Are you ready?"
She grinned. "Oh yeah."
The two waited until Noriko was in front of the dumpster before jumped out in front of her. She screamed slightly, and turned to run, but Dark Sora was much faster and jumped behind her. "You're not getting away." Oikawa grabbed Noriko and lightly injected a syringe into her shoulder. Her eyelids dropped and she went limp in his arms.
"Watch out," Dark Sora said, "We've got company."
"Where?" Oikawa asked.
The red head grinned as she turned around and saw a familiar blond girl. "Well, well, Alice! Funny meeting you here."
The witch stared at her. "You!"
"What's wrong?" Dark Sora laughed, "You're not happy to see me?"
"Get out of here, now!" Alice shouted, "I'm here to take that girl back to Hypnos!"
"Really?" Dark Sora asked.
"Yes!" Alice grinned as she mentioned to a large dog standing at her side, "This is my grandfather."
"Your grandfather?" Dark Sora gasped.
"That's right," Alice grinned, "I had a digimon partner once, but he was killed by the D-Reaper. I later found out that my grandfather was dying, so I had Dr. Wong use his reality experiments and changed him into a likeness of my former partner." She pointed at Oikawa and Noriko, "Grampa, get them."
The Dobermon charged at Oikawa. He grabbed a metal pipe that was lying on the ground and swung it at the large dog to keep him away.
Alice turned to Dark Sora. "And your little memory tricks aren't going to work on me!"
"Oh, you mean when I told you about Apocalymon?"
Alice glared at her. "Shut up! That's not going to work on me this time!"
"I have Apocalymon's power inside me too," Dark Sora said, "You were infected with Apocalymon's power when you and the Tai from my world were in the desert. Don't you remember?"
Alice clutched her head and fell onto her knees. In her mind's eye, she could clearly see herself and Emperor Tai walking through a desert. They were struggling to stay alive as the hot and arid air flowed over them. Apocalymon appeared in front of them, he wanted to kill them. They somehow beat him, but he exploded, and his power went into Tai and Alice's bodies.
As her memories were returning to her, she collapsed onto the ground. With Alice on the ground, the Dobermon suddenly stopped his attack on Oikawa. "What happened?" he asked, "Why did he stop?" He turned to look at Dark Sora, but saw that she had the unconscious Noriko in her arms. "What are you doing?"
"Taking the power of the Dark Spore, what do you think?" she asked.
"That power is mine!" Oikawa shouted, "Get away from her!"
Dark Sora ignored him and continued to hold her palm over Noriko's closed eyes. Oikawa tackled her away, but his finger nail pierced the back of her neck. She spun around and tried to run at him, but she stumbled. She looked at him, but her vision became blurry. "Wh…what…?"
"You've been poisoned," Oikawa said, "From what I gathered about your powers, you need to concentrate to use them. And I'm betting you can't even see right now, can you? My Venom Infusion attack is pretty powerful."
Alice regained herself. She looked and saw that Dark Sora was lying on the ground, with Oikawa grinning. She walked over to Dark Sora and stared down at her. "You, I'm going to make you pay for what you did to me! You made me remember things, things I wanted to forget!" She kicked Dark Sora in the stomach, then did again. She grabbed her hair and twisted her onto her back so she could stare into her eyes. "You're going to pay!"
She looked over her shoulders and saw the Dobermon charging towards her. "You did this to me! My own granddaughter! Die!" He opened his mouth and breathed out an explosion of fire and black energy. Alice and Dark Sora were hit very badly. The self-proclaimed Digimon Queen had been too badly poisoned to fight back, and Alice was too weak after the trauma of regaining her repressed memories to withstand the attack. Both girls fell into unconsciousness.
The Dobermon ran over to finish the job when he felt a sharp needle in his next. He fell onto the ground as Yamaki walked up to him, throwing a dart gun over his shoulder. Behind him was a squad of Hypnos soldiers. "Load up that Dobermon and Alice. Take them back to base."
Riley walked over to him and pointed to Dark Sora. "What about her?"
"Who cares?" he said, "Leave her. Let's go." They loaded up Dobermon and Alice, then left. Dark Sora lay facing the ground until Oikawa knelt beside her. He checked her pulse.
"Dead. No…a very faint pulse, but she's still alive. I don't think she's going to be waking up any time soon, though. The power to control reality," he grinned, "I wonder if this body still holds some of that power. I'll have to experiment." He swung the girl over his shoulder and walked away as well.
Inside of the warehouse that acted as Hypnos's headquarters on this Earth, Alice lay in the infirmary, being examined by Dr. Wong. "Well?" Dark Ryo asked.
"She unconscious," Wong said, "Give her time, she'll awaken."
Dark Ryo nodded. He turned to Yamaki. "You said she was fighting a girl with red hair?"
He nodded. "Yeah, so?"
Dark Ryo frowned. "I have been feeling another person with reality powers here. I wonder if that was the Digimon Queen Sora. Where is the body?"
He hesitated. "Y..you wanted the body?"
"You didn't take the body?" he shouted, "You fool! I should skin you alive! Find it! Now!" He turned and stormed out of the infirmary.
Yamaki frowned and marched out as well, followed by Dr. Wong. After everyone had left, the closed eyes of Alice suddenly shot open.
"I'm not defeated yet!" Dark Sora's voice shouted.
To be continued…