Me: Man I hate disclaimers. I don't own the usual stuff and to include in that is "Mind Machine" by ATC. This chapter is pretty psychological but I loved writing it. There are some hints from the Sixth Digimon movie in here as well as a little Rukato.
Takato: (blushes) But I thought I was in love with Jeri?
Me: (taps ear) I'm sorry. You were saying something?
Chloe: Let's just start the fic.
Me: Right. There are a lot of stuff from Chloe's past in here so for those of you who actually like my psychic OC, read 'em.
Rika: OKAY, that's enough of you talking! Start the fic!
Amanda: Roger that.
T.K.: You sound like Numbuh Two from Codename: Kids Next Door.
Me/Amanda: Hey, no dissing the show!
Chapter 6-The Past is Present
"Come on Takato—you can do it!"—Lopmon, Azulongmon Explains It All
"It is not the end. It is not even the beginning of the end. But it is perhaps, the end of the beginning,"—Winston Churchill
"Hope, it is the quintessential human delusion, simultaneously the source of your greatest strength, and your greatest weakness,"—The Architect, The Matrix Reloaded
"For many months now, my new target has been you,"—Tom Riddle, Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets
Digital World
Forest Sanctuary
One week later…
Izzy clicked away on his yellow laptop, completely oblivious to his surroundings. He paid no attention to Tentomon buzzing around him or Biyomon fluttering through the trees. Mimi walked by him and sighed.
There he goes into computer dark mode again, she thought. I'm beginning to wonder whether this whole mission was just a conspiracy to get him on the computer. Oh well.
"Holy Nebuchadnezzer!" cried Izzy, his fingers flying across the keyboard. "This is really astonishing!"
"What is?" Tentomon asked him.
"There's a large amount of data gathering at a focal point in the Digital World. It's at the bottom level." He looked over at Mimi. "Meems, can you get Tai, Davis, and Takato over here? This is something they have to see."
Mimi nodded. "Sure."
A few minutes later, the three leaders had gathered around Izzy's computer. The screen portraying the map of the Digital World had a large red dot printed on it. They watched as the dot grew bigger and bigger.
"What do you suppose it is?" asked Takato curiously.
Davis shook his head. "No idea. Think we should send a dispatch squad over there to check it out?"
"That's a good idea Davis but I don't think anyone would like to go," Tai answered him. "Except us probably."
Izzy tilted his head. "What about T.K.'s group? They've been a little antsy for some time because Missingno hasn't appeared. Maybe this will help loosen them up."
"Great idea Izzy," Tai commented brightly. "Say Mimi, can you go and tell them for us?"
"What am I, a messenger?" Mimi grumbled but she did as she was told.
Bottom Canyon
To Rika and Renamon, the bottom level of the Digital World looked the same as ever. However, to the others…well…
"This," said Chloe, eyeing the brown earth, the millions of data streams, and the swirling dust, "Is one of the ugliest places I have ever seen."
Renamon frowned. "I'd hold your tongue if I were you Chloe. This happens to be my home."
"Just being honest." Chloe looked at the multiple data streams and rough stone mountains rising everywhere. "I don't see anything here."
Kari looked up from where she was. "I don't see anything here either." The longer strands of her short brown hair whipped around her. "Maybe the signal was a dud."
"Then we came here for nothing," Rika grumbled crossly. "That's just great."
"I don't know," T.K. frowned. "If Izzy's computer didn't go haywire because of malfunctioning, then there must be something here. Tai and the others wouldn't have sent us on a wild goose chase."
"He's been known to do that before though," Kari reminded him.
T.K. nodded once before glancing over at the Digidestined of Patience. Jacob had been scouting around the mountains. "Anything?" Jacob shook his head. "Then I guess we'd better head back and tell Tai it was just a false alarm."
Rika sighed out of disappointment.
The creature blinked its large eye at the children as they set off to the puffy cloud Azulongmon had provided for their transportation to the canyon. It knew what it had to do.
Heh, heh, leaving so soon? The torment is just starting!
"That was just so pointless, making us come here," Rika muttered under her breath. "I mean, we think we find Missingno or something similar to him and in reality—hey Chloe. What's the matter?"
For Chloe had suddenly stopped walking and was screwing up her face in concentration.
"Are you okay?" asked Patamon curiously.
"What are you sensing?" T.K. added.
"Someone…or something…is coming," she replied through gritted teeth. "It's…no wait. It's already here."
Jacob looked around at the earthy scenery. His brown eyes landed on something that he had not remembered seeing when they first came to the area. "Uuuh…guys?"
"I can't get a good picture of it," Chloe continued. "It's…pretty large."
"Missingno?" Kari asked fearfully.
Chloe shook her head. "No. I'd know if this thing was Missingno. What I'm sensing is…a Digimon."
"Guys."
Renamon narrowed her exotic eyes, scanning the vicinity. Gatomon's ears twitched and she raised them in case there was any sign of movement.
"Guys!"
"What Jake?" asked T.K. finally.
The brown-haired boy pointed at a swirling white opaque mass a few feet away from them. The fog was so thick; they couldn't see the areas behind it.
"What…the…heck?" Rika raised her eyebrows. "That wasn't there earlier."
Datirimon hopped over to the fog but didn't go inside. He lifted his tiny green head. "There's nothing in there that I can see."
"Let me try," said Gatomon. She narrowed her blue eyes at the fog. "Nope. I can't see through it either…but I sense there's something inside that thing."
Rika stared at it, comprehension dawning on her face. "This thing is a Digital Field. They usually pop up back home and wild Digimon come out of them to wreck mayhem." But I don't get it. Why is a Digital Field appearing in the Digital World?
Chloe pulled out her Poké Gear. "Okay, I'll contact Izzy and tell him about the fog." She punched away at the numbers for a while and grinned when Izzy's little icon appeared on the screen. T.K. looked over her shoulder. "Hey Izzy, we didn't find the source of the problem but we did find this crazy white fog. Rika calls it a Digital Field. Anyway, it's sort of—"
Kari screamed and Jacob gasped. Chloe and T.K. looked up, startled. "Huh?"
"Chloe? Are you there?"
"Hold on Izzy," she replied before turning to her friends. "What's the matter?"
Kari pointed a shaking finger at the white fog. "Tha…that thing just…Rika just…"
"Kari." T.K. placed both hands on her shoulders. "Calm down."
"B-but that thing…that fog just swallowed Rika up!"
Chloe dropped her Poké Gear. "What?!" She gazed frantically into the fog. "Rika!"
"Rika!" T.K. cupped both hands over his mouth and called, "Rika! Can you hear us?"
Patamon settled on his hat. "Don't you think that she would answer if she heard us? And where's Renamon?"
"She went in after Rika," Jacob explained. His face was a little pale. "Do you think we should follow?"
Chloe and T.K. nodded but Kari frowned at them. "We can't go in there without any knowledge of what's inside."
"But…"
"Rika will be fine. She has Renamon with her and she's tough as nails."
That last comment struck the pair harder than the first. From what they had shared with Rika, she was only using that tough façade as a reason to hide her pain. Kari didn't know about Rika's father or about his broken promise. The only Tamer Kari knew that had had a bad life was Jeri.
"I…don't…care!" Chloe suddenly burst out. "We have to find her!" She walked up to the Digital Field and glared at it. "I don't care if you're just some dumb fog!" she cried.
As if to respond to her anger, the Digital Field engulfed her entire body in its thick miasma. It swallowed her up, leaving nothing behind.
"CHLOE!" yelled T.K., Kari, and Jacob in alarm. They hurried up to the fog but they could not see any sign of the trainer anywhere.
Gatomon's ears pricked up. "There's…a Digimon…inside that field!"
T.K. tried to rush in after Chloe but Kari held him back. "Don't!"
"I have to Kari! She might get herself hurt!"
Kari shook her head. "At least call for reinforcements first. We might need my brother's help against whatever's in there." T.K. shook his head. "T.K. please!"
"Oh all right."
Rika's eyes narrowed from behind her clear blue sunglasses. She had managed to slip them on when the fog engulfed her. Man this thing is abnormally dense. She frowned down at her D-Power. "There's a Digimon around here somewhere."
Renamon lifted her head. "I don't sense anything yet."
"Stay on your guard Renamon," Rika warned her. She glanced down at the compass of her D-Power. "The Digimon…should be right…there!" She raised her eyes to see a dark shape looming ahead. "What is it?"
Renamon's fur stood on end. "Rika…I sense a familiar presence."
The dark shape crept forward. Rika and Renamon backed away warily. Rika kept one hand on the pouch containing her Modify cards and the other closed tightly around her D-Power.
The fog parted slightly, revealing the creature to their eyes. It looked like a bright purple spider with long pincers and one giant eyeball with a single green pupil. Little red veins ran around the sides of its eye and the creature's arms looked poised to strike.
Rika's face filled with terror as she began to scream.
Chloe squinted through the fog. "Rika! Rika, where are you?" She looked down at the rocky ground and to her surprise, saw the exact same gray pebble she had passed earlier. I'm going around in circles!
The fog continued to swirl around her as she picked up the pace. It was slowly changing to a depressing shade of gray. It's so…gloomy in here. She shivered as the vapors brushed against her legs. I have to find Rika and get the heck out of here.
A piercing scream shattered the silence within the misty vapors of the field. Chloe blinked. "Rika!" she called. "Is that you?"
There was no answer.
What happened to her? Chloe reached for her Poké Gear that usually hung from her belt and groaned when she remembered she dropped it back with T.K. and the others. Now what am I supposed to do?
A sudden scuttling noise brushed past her. Chloe turned around. "Rika?"
A scythe-like pincer lashed out and stabbed her in the back. She made a small cry of "Oh!" before crumbling to the ground.
"Rika and Chloe have been in there for a long time," said T.K. worriedly. He had already sent a message to Tai, informing him of what had happened. "What if…they don't make it out?"
"Don't say that," Kari murmured softly.
"He has a good point Kari," said Jacob seriously. "I mean, how will they know the way out? Chloe's Poké Gear is right here and we don't know what's lurking in there."
Kari flinched. "You're not helping Jacob."
Datirimon hopped around on his two feet. "Hey everybody, did you hear that sound just now?"
"What did it sound like?" asked Gatomon.
"Like a girl screaming." Datirimon frowned. "Like Rika."
All eyes turned toward the Digital Field, which was starting to look quite menacing now. T.K. silently hoped that Rika and Renamon, wherever they were, were safe. As for Chloe…T.K. gritted his teeth as a slight stab of pain clenched around his heart. He did not even want to think about what might happen to her.
Soaring through the clouds together
We can travel on forever
Through the sky you and I
Back to earth again
And we're in a mind machine
The fresh green stalks waved in the gentle breeze, shimmering with morning dew. The sky was a brilliant blue with puffy white clouds gliding along.
This isn't the Digital World.
A boy of about five years old lay on his back, his hands behind his head and his eyes closed. He was wearing a white T-shirt and blue shorts. His messy dark hair spread across his arms and his tanned skin suggested that he spent a lot of time outside.
This is weird! Why is he—?
"Ash!"
Running up to the boy was a little girl, not old enough to be a trainer but certainly a year or two older than the boy. Her unruly black hair had flowers woven through it and her dark eyes glittered. She wore a white blouse tucked into a flared skirt.
It's…me.
The little girl placed her tiny hands on her hips. "Ash Ketchum, this is no time to be taking a nap!"
Ash rolled over. The girl heaved a sigh and shook his shoulder. "Come on! I know you're awake."
He didn't answer. She placed her hands on her hips again. "Ash, the trainers."
"What are you babbling about Clo?"
"The trainers! We're a'sposed to see them go today. Remember?"
He jumped up. "Oh yeah! Did they leave already?"
"No, we have a few more minutes." Chloe flopped down next to him. "Someday, we'll be Pokémon trainers too and then we can go on a journey."
Ash grinned. "Yeah. I'm gonna be the World's Greatest Pokémon Master. Just you wait and see."
Chloe wrinkled her nose at him. "That's kinda hard. Why don't you start small like me?"
Ash laughed. "Well I guess I can. Anyway, you're starting your journey before me but don't worry. I'll catch up to you and be the best!"
Sure you will Ashy boy," piped up another voice. A boy with spiky brown hair and an oversized brown jacket and brown pants emerged. He looked around Ash's age. "The day you become a Pokémon Master is the day we discover if Clefairy are from outer space."
"HEY!" Ash glared at him. "I'll beat you Gary. I'll be sure of that!"
Gary smirked. "Yeah right. You haven't managed to beat me in our school grades so what makes you think you can beat me now? You don't know anything about Pokémon unlike me."
"Just because your grandpa is the top Pokémon researcher, you think you're all that!"
"You have as much chance of beating me in a battle as a Fire Pokémon has when facing a Water Pokémon."
"A very good chance then," said Chloe, frowning at Gary.
Gary stared at her for the first time. "Oh come on Chloe. Don't tell me you actually believe he's going to 'be the very best.'"
"Okay. I won't tell you."
Ash smiled. Gary rolled his eyes. "Hopeless." As he walked away, he called over his shoulder, "You're not going to have your 'big sister' to watch your back forever Ashy boy."
"Ignore him Ash," said Chloe, sticking her tongue at Gary's retreating back. "I know you'll be a master."
"Thanks Chloe."
She smiled. "No problem. Now let's hurry back to the school. It's time to see the trainers off."
"Kay."
I see the things I want to see
I can be all the things I want to be
Is it real or just a dream?
"DIAMOND STORM!"
The showers of diamonds rained down on the purple Digimon but they merely bounced off of its exoskeleton. Rika nervously scanned the Digimon.
"P-Parasimon…Mega Level, Parasite Virus Type…Sp-special Attacks are Electric Bind, Dark Shot, and Digicabolic Steroid," she stammered. "Renamon, this guy is too strong for you to take on alone. We have to get out of here."
Renamon didn't object. It wasn't like Rika to retreat but she knew defeating a Mega in the state she was in was pretty much impossible.
Without another word, Rika pulled a card out of the brown pouch attached to her belt and slashed it through her D-Power.
DIGI-MODIFY!
"Digi-Modify! Hyper Speed activate!"
Renamon grabbed onto Rika and dashed away at incredible speed. Rika hung onto her for dear life, keeping a lookout for any other shadowed figures.
"Rika, I think I see the way out," Renamon called to her.
"Hurry Renamon," she whispered. She looked behind them but Parasimon was not there. "I think we lost him." She faced forward again.
"AAAAAAAAAAGGGGGGHHHHHHH!!"
Parasimon loomed in front of them, poising to strike. He used his sickly green tentacles and lashed out at Renamon.
"DIAMOND STORM!" Renamon leaped into the air and shot glittering white diamonds again at Parasimon's eye. The parasite slapped away the diamonds with the tentacles.
"DARK SHOT!"
The purple beam sent Renamon flying through the fog and to the outside world.
"Renamon!" Rika cried. Parasimon turned his one large green eye on her and lifted its green tentacles. "Hee-ya!" Rika side-kicked them away and took off after her partner.
Parasimon was surprised at the girl's own move but he was far from fazed. He lashed out again with his green tentacles, wrapping them around Rika's arms and legs. Rika kicked and thrashed around but the tentacles tightened around her. She screwed up her face and screamed.
"CHLOE! T.K.! TAKATO! HELP ME!"
Takato felt a strange sensation shoot through his spine. There was no joking it. He had definitely heard her voice. "Rika," he whispered.
"What was that?" Davis asked him.
Takato blinked, feeling a rush of dread. "I heard Rika," he said quietly. "She's…she's in trouble."
T.K. walked around the white fog, trying to see through it. "We have to go in there," he muttered angrily. "There just has to be a way to bring them back."
No sooner had he said that, a yellow fox shot out of the fog and slammed into the ground.
"Renamon!" Henry yelled in astonishment.
The Digimon weakly opened her eyes. Ri…ka… The other Digimon and their partners hurried forward.
"Renamon, are you okay?" Guilmon asked her. "What happened?"
Renamon gritted her teeth. "Ri…ka…she's still in there. He's…back."
"Who's back?" Matt asked in confusion.
"Para…simon."
The Tamers turned pale. "Are you sure Renamon?"
She nodded weakly. The Digidestined glanced at their new teammates in bewilderment. "Who's Parasimon?" asked Davis.
Takato swallowed. "He's a Mega Level Parasite that once tried to invade the Real World with the help of another Digimon called Locomon. He took over Rika's body and forced her to attack me and Renamon." Takato clenched his hands into fists so tightly, the knuckles turned white. "I thought I destroyed every one of them but some must have remained behind. I don't want Rika to go through pain again."
T.K.'s ears caught that last comment. Rika…was this the thing that hurt you so much? Did this thing show you…your father?
Tai was also clenching his fists but for a different reason. Chloe… He didn't care if the others noticed his frightened face, because in reality he was afraid. He was afraid for his young girlfriend. She was not that strong in the mental department.
What's happening to you Clo? What are you experiencing right now?
Come fly with me
Come ride with me
We're in a mind machine
Together we can touch the sky
You and I
We're in a mind machine
Come on and fly with me
Come ride with me
We're in a mind machine
Take my hand you'll understand
The wonders I have seen
In my mind machine
The little girl gave a soft moan as she felt the bruises throbbing on her arms and legs. Her wrists and ankles were chained to the wall like she'd been crucified but she wasn't. She could feel the painful stings of the cuts that had formed on her wrists when she rubbed them back and forth across the chains.
Pain. Such a simple word. Pain was nothing but another part of life. It was part of her life now.
Two years. Two years she had born this pain and suffering. Two years they had forced her, beaten her, and yelled at her…to do what?
The girl smiled sadistically. It hurt to smile.
Her powers…her newfound powers…they had forced her to use her powers for their own biddings. Move things through the air…teleport…levitate…conjure Shadow Balls…stop anything from moving…create shields…blow things up…speak through another person's mind…read minds…form psychic brainwaves…
They exhausted her energy so she couldn't use her psychic powers against them…but they did not know. Oooh, they did not know. She could crush them without even lifting a finger!
No! I shouldn't think like that. I…am…human… she thought. Her wrists lifted and fell with a clatter. I must…remain…human…
A sob burst from her throat but she forced it down. The tears did not come. Her eyes burned with frustration and hurt but she kept them open, kept the tears from falling. Time had hardened her heart. Tears meant nothing.
Her straggly dark hair fluttered around her but she focused her eyes on an extraordinary chemical tube. Floating in the greenish liquid was a strange creature unlike anything she had seen before. It was almost feline in appearance. The scientists were far more interested in the creature's welfare than hers, but she didn't care.
"Whoever you are," she croaked. Her eyes continued to burn. "Whatever you are, don't be like me. Be strong, not helpless. Don't be like me."
"RIKA!" Takato and Jeri called through the fog. "RIKA!"
The Digital Field swirled around, same as before. Davis crossed his arms with frustration. "Why don't we just go in there?"
"Don't be dumb Davis," Yolei snapped. "Do you want to get lost in there like Rika and Chloe?"
"Well it's better than just standing here waiting to see what happens nerdette," Davis retorted angrily.
Patamon flew around to the back of the dense fog. "Don't see anything here…no wait!"
Gatomon and Veemon raced to join him. "Patamon, what is it?" asked Gatomon.
The little flying Digimon was shaking like a leaf. "Wha-what's that?"
Sticking out of the fog was a large eyeball with a green pupil. Little red veins crisscrossed around the eye. A voice spoke from the depths of the fog. "You don't look so strong…."
"WAAAAAAAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHHHH!!" Patamon flew away from the eyeball. Gatomon and Veemon followed him on foot.
"Davis!" Veemon called to his partner. "There's an eyeball chasing us!"
"That's Parasimon!" Henry declared.
No sooner had the words left his mouth, twelve Parasimon, including the one the Digimon saw; surged out of the Digital Field. They quickly surrounded the Digidestined, the Tamers, and their partners.
"Nice welcome," Matt muttered sarcastically.
"Any ideas guys?" Sora asked nervously.
Biyomon nodded. "We fight? There are only twelve of them."
"But they're all Mega," Palmon noted. "This isn't a fair fight."
The others could not help but agree with her.
One of the Parasimon, the largest of the group, laughed evilly. "Your friend…"
"Huh?
Parasimon gestured toward the Digital Field with one of his pincers and all eyes turned toward the mass of white opacity. Rika stepped out of the fog, her head bowed and her arms clamped tightly at her sides.
"RIKA!" Everybody looked relieved to see her…except for Takato. He recognized her still form only too well.
"Guys, wait." They all turned to him. "As weird as this may sound, that's not really Rika."
Ryo looked confused. "What are you talking about Takato? That is Rika."
Takato shook his head, his temper slowly getting the better of him. "Listen, I know what I'm talking about. That's not Rika."
Now the rest of his friends, minus Renamon and Guilmon, were confused. What did he mean that she was not Rika? No one else looked like Rika!
"I…I want…to sing."
The Digidestined and the Tamers turned back to Rika. Her whole body was quivering and she had raised her face. Her violet eyes were blank and empty.
"What the—?" Jacqueline took a step back. "What is she talking about?"
"I…want…to sing."
Rika, thought Takato desperately. No, not again.
"I…want…to…sing," Rika repeated, her eyes narrowing into slits. She balled her hands into tight fists and her body began to shake even more violently. "I…WANT…TO…SIIIIIIIIIING!!"
An array of long green tentacles burst from her back and ten purple pincers curved around her arms. The small flailing tentacles snaked all around her body and purple energy began to form and lash out.
Most of the kids screamed in horror. "Oh ew! What is that?!" Mimi shrieked.
Rika walked about two paces forward. She kept her arms at her sides, her legs moving stiffly as if she were Frankenstein's monster. Her eyes were still blank and empty, but they were now narrowed in quiet dislike.
"You…" T.K. turned and glared at the largest Parasimon. "What did you do to her?!" The Parasimon laughed maliciously. "Answer me!" T.K. was shaking with anger from head to toe. "What did you do?!"
"Same thing that happened last time," the Digimon hissed. "No difference."
Takato stared at Rika, right into her empty eyes. Normally, those eyes would be sparkling with a fire that demanded the urge to battle, but now… His nails bit into his flesh and a white-hot lick of anger surged through his body. How dare he. How dare he do that to her.
"Where's Chloe?" Tai demanded. "I know you know where she is."
Parasimon laughed again. "Oh your pretty friend? She's lost in her own nightmarish past." The purple pincers clicked. "See this?"
An anguished childlike scream erupted from the Digital Field. It was angry, frantic, and desperate. "STOP IT!" Materializing from the swirling fog was the ghastly form of a little girl, writhing and screaming. Her eyes were glowing with electric fury and her dark hair billowed around her shoulders like an angry cloud. "DON'T TOUCH ME! DON'T TOUCH ME! LEAVE ME ALOOOOOOOOOONE!!"
Everybody else gaped at the angry girl in amazement. "Is…is that who I think it is?" Sora uttered.
The girl fizzled out and changed into another scene. Here, she was surrounded by what appeared to be the aftermath of a war zone. The shattered remains of a building lay in a pile of rubble in front of her. Harsh and burning wind blew across the area, feeding the flickering flames that claimed the land. Smoke curled up into the sky. The little girl sank to her knees and pressed her tiny hands to her face. "What am I? What have I become?" Her shoulders shook with the intensity of her tears.
Tai stared at the sobbing girl and his stomach tightened. "Chloe…" He turned away from her quaking image and lunged at the main Parasimon. "YOU!"
T.K. held him back but he too was furious. "You have no right to mess with Chloe's head!" he yelled. "NO RIGHT!"
"Correction," Parasimon hissed. "I have every right. You don't tell me what to do about anything." He rolled his large eyeball at the empty shell of a girl. "Isn't that right Rika?"
"I want to sing," Rika replied in a monotone voice. She walked forward, the purple energy lashing out from her body. "I…want…to sing."
Jeri backed away a step. "Rika, snap out of it."
Rika stepped forward again, bobbing her head from side to side. "I…want…to sing."
The Parasimon came even closer, making the two teams press against each other. They were trapped.
"Okay, guys," said Tai quietly. "When I say the word…"
The Parasimon slowly advanced upon them, including the large one that they had spoken to. Rika remained where she was, humming to herself listlessly.
"Get ready…"
The Parasimon clicked their pincers at them.
"NOW!"
Onward through the atmosphere
Everything is crystal clear
Finally we can see
The world as it should be
And we're in a mind machine
Agumon digivolve toooo…GREYMON!
Greymon digivolve toooo…METALGREYMON!
Agumon transformed into a colossal dinosaur with orange skin, and a metallic helmet covering most of the top of his face. He had reddish hair that stuck out the back of the helmet and broad scaly purple wings. One of his hands was encased in an enormous metal claw attached to the metal plates on his chest.
Gabumon digivolve toooo…GARURUMON!
Garurumon digivolve toooo…WERGARURUMON!
Gabumon became a white-and-blue wolf with razor sharp teeth and fierce yellow eyes. He stood on his hind legs, dressed in blue jeans with metal studs on the knees and a leather strap across his front. His hands also sported leather fingerless gloves with sharp spikes on the ends.
Biyomon digivolve toooo…BIRDRAMON!
Birdramon digivolve toooo…GARUDAMON!
As Biyomon digivolved to Ultimate, she grew roughly to the size of a skyscraper. Long tan-brown wings unfurled and an orange helmet partly covered her head and her long gold hair. She had two massive hands that were free from the wings and a curved eagle beak.
Tentomon digivolve toooo… KABUTARIMON!
Kabutarimon digivolve toooo…MEGAKABUTARIMON!
Tentomon evolved into a simply gargantuan red insect with sharp teeth and pincers lining his mouth. He had four arms and a gigantic red horn jutting out of his forehead. An equally oversized red shell with a blue circle covered the rest of his body, hiding his vast wings.
Palmon digivolve toooo…TOGEMON!
Togemon digivolve toooo…LILLYMON!
Palmon changed into a pink pixie of a Digimon with a tulip petal gun and large green eyes. Long green vines, resembling hair, cascaded down her back and shimmering dragonfly wings rose out from behind her shoulders.
Gomamon digivolve toooo… IKAKUMON!
Ikakumon digivolve toooo…ZUDOMON!
When Gomamon digivolved to his Ultimate form, he became a strange, but enormous, seal-like creature standing on his hind legs with orange fur lining his head. A beige turtle shell covered his back and he carried a massive hammer made of cromedigizoid in one hand.
Floramon digivolve toooo…KIWIMON!
Unlike the others, Floramon did not grow very much in size but she did grow a great deal in appearance. She now had no arms and her whole body was the brown shade of a kiwi. Her face and body was that of a bird and green leaf-like hair stuck out of the beak-like helmet covering her head.
Veemon digivolve toooo…EXVEEMON!
Wormmon digivolve toooo…STINGMON!
Exveemon! Stingmon! DNA digivolve toooo…PAILDRAMON!
Veemon and Wormmon fused together to form a powerful-looking creature wearing a red mask over his face. He had ExVeemon's strong arms and legs, as well as Stingmon's green armor. At his sides were two gun panels.
Hawkmon digivolve toooo…AQUILLAMON!
Aquillamon! Gatomon! DNA digivolve toooo…SYLPHIMON!
Gatomon and Hawkmon fused together into an almost humanlike being with a helmet with wings on it covering the eyes. He had sharp fangs and Aquillamon's bird feet as well as Gatomon's claws.
Armadillomon digivolve toooo…ANKYLOMON!
Patamon digivolve toooo…ANGEMON!
Ankylomon! Angemon! DNA digivolve toooo…SHAKKOUMON!
When Patamon and Armadillomon fused, they took the shape of an enormous silver-and-white robot that towered over the other DNA forms. He had gold lining all around him and the symbol of Hope imprinted on his "skirt." His hands were two golden claws and his feet allowed him to hover above the ground.
"Too bad you don't have enough energy to go to Mega!" Matt muttered under his breath. "It'd be so much easier!"
"Ash isn't here either!" Cody added, watching Shakkoumon rise above the ground. The enormous Digimon cast a shadow the size of a skyscraper over them. "So we can't rely on the Crest of Faith for power this time!"
Davis nodded decisively. "We're on our own this time…versus twelve ugly walking eyeballs."
The Digimon immediately squared off, two against each Parasimon except for Kiwimon. She stayed behind the others to protect Jacob, Jacqueline, and their Digimon.
Tai glared into the spiraling opacity of the Digital Field. "Tell you what guys. I'm going in there to find Chloe and bring her back. I can't stand seeing her like this anymore." He pointed at the sobbing ethereal girl. "Matt, Davis, you two are in charge until I get back out. Any objections?"
"Yeah, one," said T.K. darkly. "I'm going in with you to find her and nothing you say is going to stop me."
Tai blinked. "But Patamon…"
"Doesn't matter. I'm going," T.K. repeated. He turned to Kari, who gave him a quick kiss before nodding in agreement.
The older boy shrugged. "Okay." Quickly, the pair darted forward past the Parasimon and disappeared into the gray fog.
"I have a question," said Jacob to his friends. "Why aren't the Tamers fighting alongside you guys?"
Matt whipped his head around to face the younger boy. "Because I think they have something a lot more crucial to deal with."
"Oh."
As a matter of fact, Matt was absolutely right. The Tamers had no problem with letting the Digidestined do battle with the Parasimon. For one thing, they truly wanted to see their television characters in action, and for another thing, they were too busy dealing with the psychopathic shell that used to be Rika.
The former Ice Queen narrowed her cold violet eyes at her friends, the wind blowing the loose strands of her hair forward. "Don't…get in my way."
"Wake up Rika!" yelled Ryo.
"We're your friends!" Jeri added fearfully.
Her response was shooting a beam of purple energy at them from the spiraling green tentacles protruding from her back. The Tamers leaped backward, barely dodging the blast.
"I want to sing…" Rika said woodenly. "Don't get in my way. I want to sing."
I see the things I want to see
I can be all the things I want to be
Is it real or just a dream?
"PLEASE DON'T!" The little girl collapsed at their feet, her hands gripping their pants legs. "Don't take him away!"
The scientists shook her off as if she was no more than a mere pest. "You don't have much of a say in this case Ms. Device," said the female scientist in a monotone voice.
She lifted her face, smeared with tears and dust. "I can't let you do this. He is my friend. My FRIEND! Do you hear me?" She was trembling with each word.
One of the scientists, the one wearing thick black lenses over his eyes, laughed harshly. "This thing? Your friend?" He gestured towards the chemical tube holding the feline creature. "This creature cannot even speak to you child."
"He is my friend!" she repeated firmly. "He is just like me! Just like me!"
"This creature is a Pokémon," said the scientist cruelly. "And it is a clone of one of our greater creations." Without another word, he turned his back on her. "You are a human being."
She shook her head. "I am NOT human! Not after what you did to me! I am NOT human!" Her small hands closed into fists and she beat at the scientist's back.
At once two grunts seized her and tossed her to the concrete floor. One of them kicked her, causing her to yelp in pain but he ignored her. "SHUT UP YOU STUPID GIRL AND DON'T TALK ABOUT THINGS YOU DON'T UNDERSTAND!"
She curled herself up into a shivering, crying ball as she watched them take away her friend, the only friend she knew after two years of being alone. Yet as the grunts and the scientists took the capsule away, the eye of the creature opened slightly. It stared at her for a long moment before closing again.
"If you ever feel the urge to destroy…then follow that urge. Destroy them all."
"Chloe! Chloe!"
The fog drifted in an endless mass around her. Her hands lay helplessly at her side, the cold mist sweeping past her fingers. She had no idea how long she had been there.
There is a voice in the wind. That voice is calling for someone.
An unknown voice was calling in the distance. She tried to open her eyes, but they did not respond to her brain's commands. She made an effort to speak, but her mouth refused to move. Who is…this vision?
"Is that her? It has to be!" It was a male voice, desperate and filled with courage. It was such a relief to hear a voice that did not demand her death.
He is searching…for someone. He is searching…for a girl.
"Chloe?" Another voice spoke. This one was no doubt younger but the voice filled her with hope and comfort. "Oh my God. Chloe is that you?"
They are searching…for me.
She could feel the pain in her body returning, particularly in her neck. Her eyelids fluttered open but her vision did not appear to be working. She could not see who was there.
Life…is…slippery…
"Chloe!" The two shadowy figures were now beside her. Her sight swam in a sea of colors.
"Are you…are you…?"
The older voice spoke again. "We're here Chloe."
Her dry lips opened to speak. "I…see…an illusion."
"No Chloe," said the younger voice. "It's really us. Hang on. We're going to get you out of here."
She tried to smile. It hurt. "I…don't understand."
"Don't say another word Chloe. We've got you now," said the older voice.
"You…seem…kind."
The younger voice spoke, sounding more anxious than the older one. "Chloe…don't you know us? Don't you remember?"
She tried to move her head but her body would not listen. Her lips moved to speak once more. "Who…am I…I…am…human…"
The images did not come into focus but she could feel that they were worried about something. It was no matter to her, they were not worried about her. With a soft sigh, she closed her eyes and let herself succumb to emptiness once more.
Across from her, T.K. and Tai looked at each other with desperation in their eyes. Whatever Parasimon had done to Chloe, it had made her seem almost insensible. She did not truly seem to be aware of their presence, nor of the fact that she was lying on the cold ground surrounded by gray fog.
"We have to get her out of here," said Tai brusquely. "She's talking nonsense to herself."
T.K. nodded, then frowned. "I'm not so sure that's nonsense though. Maybe it's something that she remembered from her past."
"Maybe, but enough of that." Tai picked her up in his arms. She felt so limp, as if something inside her had already gone. T.K. stroked her hair away from her forehead. Her skin felt so cold and there was no color at all in her cheeks.
"Let's go."
Come on and fly with me
Come touch the sky
"DARK SHOT!" The Parasimon fired a burst of electrical purple energy at the two Digimon flying through the air.
Lillymon charged up her petal-shaped gun and fired a green beam. "FLOWER…CANNON!"
MegaKabutarimon charged up his own horn with bright electricity. "HORN BUSTEEEEER!"
All three beams met in the middle of the sky and exploded on impact. At the same time, another Parasimon lashed out at the two Digimon with his disgusting green tentacles. Paildramon grabbed onto the tentacles and gave a sharp yank. He lifted the purple Digimon clear off the ground and swung him around through the air before letting him slam into the ground. "DESPERADO BLASTEEEEEER!" The bullets rained down upon Parasimon's exoskeleton.
Syllphimon and Garudamon took to the skies. "STATIC FORCE!"
"WING BLADE!"
The Parasimon scuttled around the two attacks, causing them to leave craters in the ground.
Kiwimon opened her mouth wide. "PUMMEL PECK!" A stream of miniature birds, similar to her, shot out of her mouth like tiny missiles. The birds struck one of the Parasimons' eyes, making it ooze greenish blood.
"Nice shot Kiwimon!" Catherine cheered.
Kiwimon closed her mouth and stepped aside. "It's all yours Shakkoumon."
The enormous silvery white Digimon lifted his arms and the symbol of Hope on his skirt garment glowed and opened. "KACHINA BOMBS!" An array of circular disks with razor-sharp edges shot out and slashed at the Parasimon. The severed Digimon collapsed, surrounded by green tentacles and blood to match.
Cody smiled proudly, but Jacob and Jacqueline sighed. He glanced up at them. "What's the matter?"
Jacob shook his head and smiled at his friend. "Nothing. I just wish…" He stopped talking and shook his head again. "It's nothing."
Cody looked at him for another minute before nodding once. "Okay." However, he had a pretty good idea what was bothering the two kids. They had not been able to let their Digimon digivolve yet. I don't get it. They have their crests, their Digimon, and we're surrounded by a lot of danger. What more do they need?
Cody's deep thoughts were interrupted as another Parasimon fired his tentacles at WerGarurumon and a leech-like extension clamped onto his back, sprouting the same skeletal legs as the Viral Digimon. Immediately, Zudomon swiped it away with his oversized hammer to prevent anything from happening.
WerGarurumon launched himself at the main center of the Parasimon. "WOLF CLAW!" With one swift stroke of red light, he sliced right through the Parasimon's body like a bakery cutter through rye bread. The Digimon writhed in pain for several minutes before his legs stopped twitching. "That's one down," WerGarurumon muttered to himself.
Matt nodded decisively. "Good job WerGarurumon."
"Thanks."
MetalGreymon reared back on his legs and opened the gun panels on his metallic chest. "GIGA BLASTER!" Two enormous black missiles with fangs on them shot out of the panels and scored a hit on two of the feral Parasimon. The pair shot out their own tentacles, their eyes rolling in their sockets.
"LOOK OUT!" Davis cried out.
MegaKabutarimon landed in front of the tentacles and grabbed them. He pressed his enormous horn against them. "HORN BUSTER!" The tentacles behaved exactly like wires as the electricity snaked up the limbs and delivered a painful shock to the two Parasimon.
Izzy grinned. "Excellent work MegaKabutarimon. Take it away Joe!"
Joe nodded at Zudomon. "Okay Zudomon, let 'em have it!"
"With pleasure," Zudomon replied, charging up his chromedigizoid hammer. "VULTAN'S HAMMER!"
He slammed the hammer into the ground and a golden arrow of light flew from the impact and struck the two Parasimon. It tore away at their eyes and sliced through their tentacles.
"I think I'm gonna be sick," Jacqueline muttered under her breath.
Come fly with me
Come ride with me
We're in a mind machine
Take my hand you'll understand
The wonders I have seen
In my mind machine
Come fly with me
(song trails off)
The Tamers backed up against each other as three Parasimon closed in on them. Their friends were too busy dealing with the other viral Digimon to notice the situation. Behind the trio, Rika teetered back and forth on her heels as if she was on a swing set. She let her arms swing listlessly from side to side as she hummed a tune under her breath.
"We have to destroy these guys," Ryo muttered heatedly. "Before they start possessing us and our Digimon."
"You mean like Rika?" Jeri whispered, her voice slightly choked.
Takato glanced over at his red-haired friend, feeling a pang of guilt. I can't believe they'd do this to her again. Guess it shows not all Digimon learn from their mistakes.
"Okay guys, it looks like the Digidestined can't help us right now, I have no idea how to reach the Pokémon trainers, and Chloe's lost somewhere in that Digital Field so she can't do anything either," Takato said quickly. "You know what that means."
"Heck yeah," said Terriermon with a big grin. "It's time for us to kick some serious Digimon butt!"
Henry looked at Takato, who shrugged. "What he said."
DIGI-MODIFY!
"Digi-Modify!" yelled Takato, Henry, Kazu, Suzie, and Ryo. "Matrix Digivolution activate!"
MATRIX DIGIVOLUTION
Guilmon Matrix digivolve to…WARGROWLMON!
Terriermon Matrix digivolve to…RAPIDMON!
Guardromon Matrix digivolve to…ANDROMON!
Lopmon Matrix digivolve to…ANTYLAMON!
Monodramon Matrix digivolve to…CYBERDRAMON!
The Digimon skipped their Champion levels (except Guardromon) and transformed into their Ultimate forms. Guilmon became a cybernetic dinosaur with a metal mask and large blades on his arms. He was huge with a large chest plate and a jet pack.
Terriermon's Ultimate form consisted mainly of green-and-white armor with long metallic ears. A rocket pack was attached to his back and he had large cannons in place of his arms.
Guardromon's Ultimate was very familiar. He had white armor with black cords connected to his arms and legs. Humanlike skin showed through.
When Lopmon transformed, she grew taller and skinnier. Her arms extended until they nearly reached to her ankles and her now red eyes flashed.
Monodramon altered himself entirely. He now resembled a ferocious lizard with four wings. A metal plate covered most of his face but his fangs poked out menacingly.
The Digidestined stopped fighting and gawked at the evolution stages in awe. "All you guys do is swipe a card…and they digivolve? Just like that?" Davis said in a hushed voice.
"Prodigious!" Izzy exclaimed. "This must be how the Tamers work their digivolution stages."
Rapidmon flew into the air and charged up a green triangular-shaped beam of light. "Here's something to look forward to. TRI-BEAM!"
Unfortunately, the Parasimon noticed the beam of light (too bright) and scuttled away just in time. The beam of light smashed into the ground, digging up dirt and rocks.
WarGrowlmon chased after one of the Parasimon, using his rocket jets to pick up speed. "RADIATION BLADE!" he yelled, slashing through the air with the blades attached to his arms. Orange streaks of light flew from them and severed the Parasimon's legs.
"Ew, warn me when ya do that," Rapidmon groaned as he flew past him, chasing another Parasimon.
Cyberdramon landed in front of the Parasimon that WarGrowlmon had skewered and slashed through his body. "DESOLATION CLAW!" In one swift stroke, he butchered up the Digimon into a disgusting wriggling mess.
Rapidmon tried shooting the Parasimon again and again, but it was no use. The scuttling bug was too fast. This is way too weird. I'm supposed to be faster than this freak. "Hey Henry! I could use a little boost!"
"You got it!" Henry called. He drew out a Modify Card and then turned to look at Jeri. "Keep Suzie safe," he told her. Jeri nodded, her hands clutching the front of her dress.
DIGI-MODIFY!
"Digi-Modify!" Henry yelled, slashing the card. "Speed activate!"
Rapidmon felt his body glow with an eerie light and he grinned. "Oh yeah! Now this is what I'm talkin' about!" He dashed forward, his body forming little more than a blur. The Parasimon, rather than running away, turned around and fired his tentacles at him. Rapidmon warped around the green tentacles. "I'm just too fast for ya! RAPID FIRE!"
Meanwhile, Andromon, Antylamon, and MarineAngemon were working side by side against the last Parasimon. This one was by far, the largest of the three and he was not willing to back down anytime soon.
"KAHUNA WAVES!" MarineAngemon chirped, sending off a storm of clear blue hearts. The hearts surrounded the Parasimon, holding him where he was.
"BUNNY BLADES!" Antylamon leaped into the air, transforming her arms into two axe-shaped blades. She brought her hands down and red light shot from them.
Andromon changed his right arm into a razor-sharp sword. "LIGHTNING BLADE!"
Despite, these successes, Takato barely noticed his friends defeating the Parasimon in their Ultimate forms. He was too busy staring at Rika, trying to figure out a way to reach her beyond her zombified appearance.
Rika took a step forward, the disgusting appendage on her back quivering slightly. "I want…to…SING!"
Takato wasn't sure what that did besides making the tentacles on Rika's back snake slowly down her arms and legs, until he heard Jeri scream. "OH NO!"
He spun around the see the skewered Parasimon rising up, their bodies still dripping green blood. Their legs and tentacles were slowly fusing back into their bodies. WHAT THE HECK?!
Kazu sweatdropped. "Oh yes, this is a splendid new development."
"Um…ah…" Kenta glanced around at the reformed Parasimon. "Um, you guys aren't mad that we had to skewer your legs are you? Why don't we just talk this out?"
A jet of purple light landed just a few feet away from the two boys.
"I guess you disagree."
MarineAngemon sucked in his chest and blew a sea of blue heart bubbles. "KAHUNA WAVES!" The bubbles expanded into powerful blue shields that scattered to protect the Tamers and the Digidestined.
The largest Parasimon blinked his giant eyeball at them before turning toward Rika. "I think we'll let you handle this little one."
"WHAT?!" the Tamers screeched. There was no way that they were going to fight Rika, not without hurting her.
"Oh I think they're afraid to fight now," Parasimon laughed quietly and reached over to stroke Rika's hair with one tentacle. "Isn't that right Rika?"
"Don't touch her!" Takato yelled angrily.
Parasimon moved his tentacle away from Rika but the girl registered nothing to Takato's outburst. "Don't…get in my way," Rika whispered, her eyes narrowing. The legs sprouting from her back began to spin in agitation and a purple blast of energy landed a few feet away from the Tamers. "Don't get…in my way."
"GUYS!"
The Tamers and the Digidestined turned away from Rika and the invading Parasimon to see Tai and T.K. racing out of the Digital Field towards them. Tai was carrying an unconscious Chloe in his arms.
T.K. stopped short and stared at the reforming Parasimon. "How on earth…?" He glanced over at the Digidestined who had once again taken up the task of fighting the Parasimon before they reformed completely.
The redhead stood as stiff as a bored, but the tentacles continued to spiral around her back. Jeri and Suzie shuddered and turned away in disgust. Henry, Kazu, Kenta, and Ryo exchanged a worried look, but Takato could not look away from his friend. Without any other thought, he deliberately walked out of the shield and started towards her.
"Takato! What are you doing?!" Henry exclaimed in shock.
Takato ignored his best friend's exclamation and continued to walk forward until he was about a foot away from Rika. Then he stopped and stared hard into her violet eyes.
There was no life behind those once-piercing orbs that radiated haughtiness and the urge to battle. If I could just reach her…
"Rika," he whispered. She registered no response. "Rika, don't you remember me? It's me Takato." She did not even blink. "Y'know Takato?" She appeared not to have heard him. "Gogglehead?"
She gave no real response but her tentacles spun even faster.
"I know you're in there Rika," he whispered, continuing to stare into her lifeless eyes. "I know this is not you."
Rika's eyes narrowed. "Don't get in my way. You…know…nothing."
Well at least she said something different for a change, Takato thought. He took another step forward. "Please Rika, try to remember."
Her eyes widened and for a minute they changed back into the familiar eyes he knew so well. "I…Takato I…" Then something passed over her and her eyes once again became blank and expressionless. "I want…to…"
"Don't finish that sentence Rika," he commanded firmly. Her eyes widened but she seemed to listen. However, Takato could see the Parasimon behind her were too busy fighting against his friends and the Digidestined to listen.
T.K. looked down at Chloe who was lying in Tai's arms. She had not stirred one bit as they ran from the Digital Field and despite the noise of the battle; she still did not wake up. He pressed a hand into her own icy cold one. Come on Chloe, he thought. I don't know what Parasimon showed you inside that field but we need you here now. I promise whatever happens, we'll make it right. Just…wake up!
A soft cloud of breath emitted from the girl's mouth. T.K. stared down at her and moved his hand to her forehead and to his astonishment, he felt it growing warm with life. "Chloe?"
Tai glanced down at her and saw that her chest was finally moving up and down normally. "She's…awake…?"
In response, Chloe drew another breath in and her eyes opened blearily. "Oooh…what…happened?"
"You're okay." Tai's face shone with relief. He lowered Chloe onto her feet. "What happened in there?"
Chloe frowned, struggling to remember. "I have…no idea." Her lapis eyes widened at the sight of Rika and the tentacles protruding from her back. "THE HECK?!"
The Parasimon lashed out at the Digidestined with their green tentacles. "Watch out guys!" yelled Ryo. "If they slap an appendage on your backs, you'll turn out just like Rika!"
The Digimon nodded and steered their partners away from the raging parasite insects. Chloe brushed her dark hair out of her eyes. "Rika…what have they done to you?"
Takato took a step towards his former friend. "Rika…please wake up."
In response, the tentacles on Rika's back lashed out and wrapped around Takato's arms and neck. He gave a choked cry of astonishment.
"LET HIM GO!" T.K. yelled, Kari holding his arms back. "Rika, stop that!"
Takato grimaced and twisted in his confinement. Chloe wanted to use her psychic powers to free him, but she did not have the strength.
I…can't even read her mind…there's…nothing there…
"Fight it Rika!" yelled Takato; despite the pain he was feeling from her tentacles. "I…know…you're in there!"
Rika's eyes flashed, but otherwise registered no recognition. WarGrowlmon raced up to her and charged up his razor blades. "RADIATION BLADE!" He sliced right through the tentacles holding Takato, careful not to hurt his partner.
By now, the remainder of the Parasimon fought fiercely against the Tamers' and the Digidestineds' Digimon partners. Although the Digimon put up a good fight, it was clear that the Mega levels were steadily gaining energy from Rika's wrath.
"DARK SHOT!" cried one Parasimon, firing a blast of snakelike purple energy.
DIGI-MODIFY!
"Digi-Modify!" yelled Ryo, slicing a card through his D-Power. "Avenging Knight activate!"
Cyberdramon raised his hands and two spears appeared out of nowhere. He hurled them at the Parasimon, skewering two of them and sticking them to the ground. They squirmed but could not get up.
DIGI-MODIFY!
"Digi-Modify!" cried Kazu. "Power activate!"
Andromon charged up his cannons and fired. "GATLING ATTACK!" The two cannons scored a direct hit on the two trapped Parasimon.
Another Parasimon leaped onto his back. "Watch it Kazu!" called Ryo. "Digi-Modify! Goliath Activate!"
Cyberdramon grew to the size of an oversized hill and grabbed onto the Parasimon clamped on Andromon's back. He pulled him off and slashed him with his claws. The Digimon writhed in pain for about a second before disintegrating into meaningless data.
Meanwhile, Rika's tentacles tried to wrap around Takato again, but he leaped to the side. Chloe darted towards her, slowly, and used what little energy she had left to bind the tentacles together. Rika whirled around and, using the back of her hand, slapped her away.
Renamon landed next to Chloe. "Are you all right?"
"I'm fine," said Chloe, her face stinging slightly. Due to her lack of energy, her breath was coming out in short gasps. "I'm just…worried…about Takato."
The main Parasimon clicked his pincers. "Go on. You've always wanted to beat Matsuki to a pulp on more than one occasion. Here's your chance."
Rika narrowed her eyes and she balled her hands into fists. "That's right," said Parasimon. "He's standing in your way. Don't let him stand in your way."
Takato raised his hands in protest. "Rika don't listen! It's a lie!"
POW! Her fist slammed into the side of his face and he felt the force push him to the ground. He cried out in pain, his friends echoing his cry in distress.
Rika's eyes widened and for a moment her face looked almost normal. "Ta…Takato, I'm sorry!" she exclaimed, walking towards the downed boy. "I…I didn't—AGH!"
Takato had leaped to his feet and slugged her in the stomach. She doubled over in pain. His eyes were narrowed in anger but his stomach tightened in sadness. "So you wanna fight?" he hissed. "Then bring it!"
Rika raised her head, her eyes once more blank and emotionless. Her hands once again curled into fists. "With…pleasure…"
Needing no more persuasion, Takato dashed at her but Rika sidestepped him. She reached behind her, grabbed his hood, and yanked. "Waaaah!" He slipped and fell. Rika dragged him back to her and deposited him in a heap on the ground. Takato sprang to his feet. "Why are you doing this?"
"Don't get in my way," she replied woodenly. She reared back her fists and punched him in the arm and the stomach. He sank to his knees and winced.
"Is he nuts?" Rapidmon asked as he flew past the pair, shooting beams at the Parasimon. "He's gonna get the stuffing beaten out of him, put back in, and beaten out again!"
"Concentrate more on your fight and less on Takato's!" Henry griped impatiently, but he too was very worried about his best friend.
Chloe got to her feet shakily and tried to move toward Takato but T.K. intervened. "No Chloe."
"But I have to help—"
"I know that but I also know that he doesn't want help. This is something he has to do on his own. He might be the only one who can reach Rika." T.K.'s azure eyes looked determinedly into her own.
She sank to her knees, her eyes wide and staring. But how will he reach her? She looked back at Takato worriedly. His own friends were too busy fighting the reformed Parasimon to help him and even if they did, Rika would only attack them as well. Oh Rika…open your eyes.
Rika hauled Takato to his feet by the front of his shirt and pulled her fist back. "Don't get in my way!"
"Snap out of it!" he yelled, shoving her backwards but not before she delivered a well-placed kick to his side. His knees hit the floor.
Rika stared down at him coldly and kicked him in the stomach. He squirmed and collapsed on the ground. She kicked him again.
"Stop it Rika!" cried Jeri. "You'll kill him!"
The Tamer ignored her friend's cry and kicked Takato again. He sucked in his breath sharply as her stud-covered heel made contact with his chest. Parasimon laughed. "That's it. Take all your anger and hurt out on him. Finish that pathetic human off."
"NO RIKA!" Renamon commanded. She leaped in front of Takato. "Don't make me hurt you."
Her partner wavered slightly. "Rena…mon?"
Parasimon's eye glowed. "No! She is just someone who wants to stand in your way. Remember last time?"
"I…remember…" Rika's eyes closed and her whole body began to shudder. The tentacles writhed to free themselves behind her and a purple beam shot out of the appendage and sent Renamon flying. "Nothing will stand in my way."
"RENAMON!" yelled the other Tamers. Antylamon leaped into the air and grabbed the fox Digimon before she got too blasted off into space.
Rika turned back to Takato who had risen to his feet. "Rika listen to me!" he yelled at her. "I know you don't wanna do this! This isn't you!"
"You…know…nothing…" She dashed at him but this time, he sidestepped her. She whirled around and attempted to punch him but he managed to block it. "Don't…get in my way."
"I'm not trying to get in your way," he protested. "Don't listen to Parasimon Rika! He's nothing but a liar!" She lunged and he pushed her back. "I know you would never hurt Renamon on purpose!" He raised his hand to slap her across the face.
Rika grabbed his hand and caught him with a backhand, causing his body to spin around. Then she kneed him in the gut. He doubled over, but managed to slap her with his other hand, compelling her to step back.
Takato coughed up a little blood but he wiped it away and looked at Rika. She had a large bruise rising on her cheek, but unlike him she was pretty much unscathed. "I'm sorry Rika!" he called to her. "But if you're gonna kill me, I have to hurt you!" He ran at her and attempted to slug her in the stomach again but she recovered from his slap and caught him with a sidekick. He fell to the ground, gasping in pain.
"Takato!" cried Jeri.
"Hang in there!" added Henry, swiping cards to keep Rapidmon in the fight against the Parasimon.
Rika walked over to the fallen Tamer and grabbed his throat with both hands. She lifted him up with surprising strength and began to choke him steadily. Her blank eyes narrowed in anger. "Do…not…get…in…my…way."
Takato gasped and struggled to speak. "Listen to me!" he rasped. "You have to…stop this… Don't listen to Parasimon! He's…just trying to hurt you!"
His former friend continued to tighten her grip on his neck like a hangman's noose. Takato struggled to pull her hands away from his throat. "Rika, let go of him!" yelled Chloe angrily. She tried to use her telekinesis to help Takato but she still had no energy left. "Please…stop."
Rika increased the pressure on Takato's neck and he stopped struggling. His arms went limp at his sides. "Ri…ka…open…your eyes…don't…"
She narrowed her eyes into slits. "I…want…to…"
Takato's eyes shot open and he felt his body fill with newfound strength. I still have enough…for this! He lifted his hand and curled it into a tight fist. "I know you're in there somewhere Rika. I know you shouldn't finish that sentence. So…WAKE UP!!" He slammed his fist as hard as he could into her face.
The Tamers emitted cries of shock but they were nothing compared to Rika's cry of pain. She let go of Takato instantly. The surprising force of the punch sent her stumbling backwards and crashing back onto the rocky earth. The disgusting parasite clamped onto her back cracked and shattered, sending pieces flying everywhere. Her eyes fluttered for about a minute before closing.
"RIKA!" Ignoring the sore throbbing in his neck, Takato ran over to her and lifted her body to a sitting position. "Rika, say something! Anything!"
"RIKA!" cried T.K. in alarm. He dashed over to the two Tamers, helping Chloe run along with him.
Takato lifted her head until it was almost in contact with his and he brushed away the loose strands of hair from her face. His hands came in contact with the bruise from his punch. "Oh Rika, I'm so sorry," he whispered. "Please wake up."
Rapidmon chose to chuckle. "Y'know, if they were only an eighth of an inch closer, than from far away they could almost look like they're kis—"
"Rapidmon!"
Chloe stared down at the still girl for about a minute before a silvery tear trailed down her cheek. She touched the tear lightly and reached out to dab it onto Rika's forehead. Almost instantly, Takato felt the girl's body fill with a healing warmth. He and the other Tamers looked at Chloe in shock. "You can heal people with your tears?"
She nodded. "One of my hidden talents…and practically the real reason I own the Crest of Life." Her hand drifted over to T.K.'s, who gripped it hard. Please work.
Takato continued to gently shake Rika's body, all the while calling her name. "Please wake up," he whispered. "Please?"
"I'm really starting to think that the best way to wake her up is to slap her a few times then—"
"Rapidmon…"
"Or maybe they could just kiss each other. That always works in the movies."
"RAPIDMON."
A small cloud of breath issued from Rika's mouth. The others looked down at her hopefully. She coughed and opened her eyes. Uuughh…my back hurts and so does my head. And I think I must be blind 'cause I can't see a thing.
"Rika," Takato whispered again. "Are you okay? Say something."
Rika's vision stopped swimming around and eventually shifted back into focus. WHAT THE—?! The first thing she noticed was Takato's hands on her shoulders, shaking her. His face was so close that she was sure if one didn't know any better, they could almost be… Her eyes narrowed into slits and her right hand curled into a tight fist.
"GOGGLEHEEEEAAAAAD!!"
POW!!
Everybody's mouth, save for the Digimon that didn't have visible mouths, flew open in shock. Only Rapidmon chose to laugh hysterically.
"RAPIDMON!!"
"Aw come on Henry. You knew that was coming!"
The force of the punch had sent Takato backwards, making him let go of Rika instantly. He immediately regretted that last action because she flopped back onto the ground. Holding a hand to the side of his face, he whispered, "What…what was that for?"
"That—" Rika said in a scornful voice. "—was to answer your question and for leaning over me like that. WHAT THE HECK WAS THAT FOR GOGGLEHEAD?!"
"I'm sorry…but look, I was worried about you."
"Worried about me? Ha, you didn't need to lean over me like you were going to kiss me or something. This isn't some enchanted princess play!"
Takato sighed. "You know, you're lucky I decided to save you! I was risking my own neck here and for someone who isn't even grateful!"
"Then you shouldn't have tried to fight me Gogglehead! That's just like you; running out into a battlefield regardless of the consequences. Did you ever think that Parasimon or I might have hurt you? Oh wait a minute, you thinking…that's a new one isn't it?"
"You know you're really pushing it Rika. I am not in the mood for your smart remarks and typical insults so why don't you just can it?"
"Why don't you?!" Rika shot back.
The Digidestined and the other Tamers sweatdropped heavily. Renamon coughed. "Ahem, aren't we supposed to be fighting the Parasimon, not each other?"
As for Takato and Rika, all thoughts of rescue and viruses had gone clear out of their heads. They were on their feet and electricity sparked between their eyes. "If it was such a burden for you to save me Gogglehead, then why'd you bother? You could have just stayed 'safe and sound' back in the sidelines."
"Maybe it was a better idea to leave you to Parasimon!" Takato snapped angrily. "Or maybe Ryo should've come to your rescue instead."
"Maybe he should have!"
Takato felt a thin sliver of jealousy course through his stomach but he suppressed it. "Then why did you call out to me instead of him in that Digital Field?"
Rika flushed crimson but she stood her ground. "I did no such thing! You're making it up!"
"Am not!"
"Are too!"
Takato turned away from her. "I'm not gonna waste my breath on a statue like you!"
"That's good so my ears don't have to hurt listening to your voice!"
The largest Parasimon chuckled evilly. "What do they call fights like this? Oh yeah, lover's spat."
As one, both Takato and Rika turned to look at the viral Digimon in disbelief. "WHAAAAAAAAAAAAT?!"
"Oh dear," muttered Renamon.
"Gogglehead, we'll finish our argument later," Rika said to Takato. "I'm just gonna delete this thing." She took a step forward and glared at the Parasimon. "Nobody controls my mind and gets away with it!" She grasped her Digivice tightly in one hand and took a card from her pouch with the other. The card instantly turned bright blue.
The Tamers nodded knowingly. "Rika's back."
DIGI-MODIFY!
"Digi-Modify!" cried Rika, slashing the blue card through her D-Power. "Matrix Digivolution activate!"
MATRIX DIGIVOLUTION
Renamon Matrix digivolve toooo…TAOMON!
Renamon transformed into a very humanlike Digimon with her traditional fox face. She wore a large hat with a purple cloth over her head. A thick white gown with long sleeves covered her body. The yin-yang logo was still imprinted on her chest.
Taomon levitated into the air, her long sleeves flapping in the wind. "Come and get me big boy," she said smoothly to the main Parasimon. Her cool blue eyes narrowed slightly.
"DARK SHOT!"
Taomon dodged the move effortlessly. "THOUSAND SPELLS!" Thousands of red cards flew out of her long sleeves and exploded onto Parasimon. He scuttled away from the cards, not feeling much due to his bony exoskeleton.
Rika slashed another card through her D-Power. "Digi-Modify! Power activate!"
Taomon floated above Parasimon, feeling the surge of energy entering her. She withdrew an enormous paintbrush from her sleeves and waved it through the air. "TALISMAN OF LIGHT!!" As the brush streaked across the sky, a Japanese character flew down to Parasimon, embedding itself into his exoskeleton and killing him from the inside out.
"NOW GUYS!" Rika yelled.
Takato nodded and turned to WarGrowlmon. "He's all yours buddy! Digi-Modify! Power activate!"
Henry also slashed a card through his Digivice. "Digi-Modify! Power activate!"
WarGrowlmon and Rapidmon felt the effects of the cards run through their digital veins as they fired their main attacks at the other Parasimon. "ATOMIC BLASTEEEEEEEEEER!!"
"TRI-BEEEEAAAAM!!"
The red-orange beams from WarGrowlmon and the bright green beam from Rapidmon combined to form one gigantic colorful beam of light. The beam seared straight through the last five Parasimon, killing them off instantly.
"Excellent!" Tai called to the pair.
Takato blinked. "Uh…hey…where are the other Parasimon? I thought there were more than just those six."
"We took care of the rest of 'em while you were dealing with Rika," Davis replied nonchalantly. "And now that she's back to normal, there's no chance of her resurrecting them again."
"I see," said Henry. He grinned. "Nice work."
Heh. Heh. I figured Parasimon would be too easy to take down, thought Missingno as he watched the children ascending the cloud transportation made by the enormous blue dragon. Oh well. I got what I wanted. He chuckled lightly as he eyed the young red-haired Tamer with the blond Digidestined and the raven-haired trainer stepping into the cloud.
Oh this is just the beginning. Things are going to get worse children. Much worse.
In Azulongmon's cloud transport, the Digidestined and majority of the Tamers talked in serious voices. They were glad that the Parasimon had been defeated but their growing suspicions about Missingno's true intentions kept the excitement out of their mouths.
Takato looked over at Rika, who was standing next to Renamon near the side of the cloud transport. After a minute, he walked over to her. "Um…Rika? About what happened earlier…I…"
"Thank you."
He blinked as she turned to face him. "F-for what?"
"I remember everything that Parasimon did to me and I remember everything I did remember?" She crossed her arms and closed her eyes. "So…I guess…thanks for saving me."
"Oh!" Takato put his hand behind his head. "Eh…no problem."
Rika nodded. "About what I said earlier in the last battle…Takato, I'm sorry."
"Wh-what?" Takato stared at her. "You don't need to be sorry. I'm the one that should be sorry. I hurt you."
She shook her head hard. "I hurt you. Or rather, we hurt each other. Anyway, I didn't mean to yell at you and punch you. I just…just…"
"You weren't yourself," he replied, placing a hand on her shoulder. "You were possessed by Parasimon and frankly, with the awkward position we were in, I don't blame you for punching me. All's forgiven."
Rika straightened up and nodded. "Thanks. Now will you do something for me Gogglehead?"
Takato blinked. "Uh sure. What?"
"Take your hand off my shoulder."
"Oh!" He blinked and snatched his hand away. "S-sorry Rika." He walked away from her, brushing past Chloe and T.K. The pair glanced at him for a minute before heading over to Rika.
"How are you feeling?" Chloe asked her.
Rika shrugged. "Better. Not great, but better." She sighed and pulled out her Digivice to look at the surface. "I tried to fight it. I really did."
T.K. and Chloe both placed their hands on her shoulders. "We know you did," said T.K. with a small smile. "And you're back with us. That's all that matters."
"And not matter," Chloe added softly. "If you ever need someone, we'll be here for you."
Rika bit back a smile. "You guys are great."
They stood there in silence as Azulongmon flew them back to the safety of the Forest Haven, heedless of the noise of their teammates. Despite the growing fear of the viral danger outside, the trio felt a strange kind of peace whenever they were together. No words were needed to be said, and no gestures were needed to be made to signify the closeness of their friendship and love.
Yet little did they know that this one shining moment was meant to be etched in their minds forever…for in the next few days, nothing would ever be the same again.
Alexis: Parasimon has been resurrected and destroyed, but who's to say that Missingno doesn't have another trick up his sleeves. Speaking of which, does he even have sleeves? Anyway, the battles are just beginning so stay put on the Saga of Destiny!
Me: Hmmm…
Rika: What?
Me: That chapter wasn't too interesting now that I think about it. Then again…you probably liked beating up Takato.
Rika: I did not!
Alexis: Really? Why not?
Rika: (blushes) I mean, it was fun.
Chloe/T.K./Alexis/Ash/Amanda: RIKA LIKES TAKATO! RIKA LIKES TAKATO!
Rika: I…DO…NOT!
Takato: (walks into the room) What happened? What'd I miss?
Me: (shakes head) Forget it. It'd be too long to explain. Let's move it people!