Enter The Light

Part Seventeen: The Return

Standard Disclaimer Thingie: As always, plot mine, characters and merchandise and money not. Don't steal, don't sue, don't forget to moo.

It had been a long and exhausting afternoon, and Miyako was half asleep by the time she returned to her room, her eyes half-closed by the time she opened the door. She would have fallen asleep the moment her head hit the pillow, but something was nagging at the back of her mind – as though she had forgotten to do something – and so she didn't undress or fall into bed.

Her head was beginning to hurt, especially behind her eyes. She rubbed her forehead and sank wearily into a chair near the window.

"Is something bothering you?" Hawkmon questioned, concerned, and she nodded.

"I'm not sure what," she answered, "but my head is hurting and I feel strange."

"Lack of sleep," her partner concluded, but he still peered at her with a bit of worry in his eyes. "You should sleep."

Yawning, Miyako shut her eyes part way and felt herself slip down into a half-awake state. "I wonder if it's magic," she said, or perhaps only thought; she was too far from awake to know the difference. She extended her magical senses, seeking out something out of the ordinary. She found the usual sort of blockers in the spells of protection that covered the walls and the rooms, and she sensed the magic of the other spell-casters in the palace.

Sensing nothing strange, Miyako let her mind and her magical senses wander even farther. The grounds were empty, and the gardens were clear of anyone or anything with magic. She let her magic wander back to her own room and then she moved it in the other direction, spilling out the window in her room and wandering along the outer walls and the paths leading from the gates and there, on the path, she sensed something strange that she could not easily identify.

It was not exactly cold on the path, but nor was it warm, and Shijo shivered. Maigo had fallen asleep beside him on the wooden bench. A few patrols of guards had gone up and down the path, but they hadn't noticed the boys on the bench. Shijo wondered if that was luck or some reflection of his brother's still-hidden magic.

He opened the bag his mother had given him, wondering if he ought to have persuaded her to let them go, if he ought to have told her that the stranger that had advised him and provided for his transportation was the Dark Bandit when he was not, and how it was that his mother had given in so easily, so easily accepted the idea that Maigo might be a mage of some sort.

She had accepted it all with such ease that Shijo was left wondering if she really understood what it was he was asking. He had shown her the digivice and he had explained to her all that he could without sounding crazy and he expected that she believed him because he had thrown in a reference to the Dark Bandit rather than a dark and mysterious stranger. Maigo had stayed silent but watched his brother with wide eyes, knowing the truth. Shijo told himself it wasn't entirely a lie – he suspected it was the truth.

Their mother had prepared a small bag with a jacket for each boy and a few coins so they might be able to buy themselves something to eat a bit later. She hadn't bothered with any other necessities, but had told Shijo to keep an eye on his brother and to do his best to stay out of trouble.

He removed his brother's coat now and draped it over his shoulders to keep him warm, and then put on his own jacket. He was resolved to stay awake for as much of the night as he could, though he knew that he'd likely succumb to sleep before long. He felt a bit of guilt in the pit of his stomach, but pushed it aside – he was doing what needed to be done.

The digivice was heavy in his pocket, and he took it out again and turned it over in his hands, wondering who had lost it and why they had not returned for it. It made no noise and showed no sign of life – and he wondered what it was for. A thousand thoughts went through his mind.

He didn't realize he had fallen asleep until he heard a noise and awoke. It was nearly dawn, but still dark, and a small shadow was on top of the back of the bench, two eyes peering down at him in the night. Shijo jumped and backed into the corner of the bench, fear suddenly coursing through his veins. He could feel Koromon stir at his side, and then he remembered his brother and stood up abruptly.

The shape seemed startled by the sudden movement, possibly more startled than he, and it fell backwards on to the ground. "What do you want? What are you?" Shijo hissed, unwilling to speak aloud in the night.

"Easy, boy, I'm a friend," said the shape, composing itself. It was some sort of digimon, and a flying one at that, for it easily fluttered back to its perch on the bench. "My partner's on her way, she'll help you. What are you doing out here in the cold?"

"They wouldn't let us inside," Shijo answered simply, and poked his brother. Maigo rubbed his eyes and sat up, blinking in the darkness and yawning.

There was a light in the distance, slowly coming closer, and as it did the shape carrying it became clearer. It was a young woman that Shijo vaguely recognized – she must be Chosen, he had concluded by the time she was close enough to be seen clearly. And she must be a mage as well, for she carried a light that came from a flame which was not attached to a candle but held in her hand.

She stopped a few steps away from the bench, holding out the fire so that she might better see the boys. Maigo stared with open-eyed astonishment at the floating flame. "Is that magic?" he asked, his sleepiness forgotten. "Can you teach me?"

The woman was taken aback for a moment. She squinted at the boy for a moment. "Maybe not I, no," she answered then, and turned to see his brother. "You're – Shijo, right?" she asked. "What – why are you here?"

"We found this," Shijo answered, removing the digivice from his pocket once more, "In the ruins of the prison that was destroyed. I – he said it belonged to the Chosen. I brought it here – I knew the princess might be interested."

Her eyes wandered down to the object in his hand and then her eyes grew wide in her face and her skin seemed to grown paler. For a moment, she didn't seem able to speak, and then she said, "He who?"

Shijo glanced toward his brother, then opened his mouth to tell the same lie he had told their mother. Before he could, though, Maigo spoke up, saying, "A stranger in a black cloak. He said I might have magic. I found it."

The woman turned and faced Shijo. "Was it the one - ?" she began and he nodded.

"Yes," he said. "The very same."

"I see," she said, and was silent for a long moment. "Hikari's gone," she said finally, "but there are many here who will be greatly interested in your find. Come with me – I think Taichi should hear of this."

They picked up their belongings. Shijo took the small bag, and Maigo put on the jacket his brother had draped over him while he slept.

"Ah – the source of your information," she said after they had walked a few steps. "I think he should stay a secret, for now…."

Shijo nodded. "I understand. We told Mama that it was the Dark Bandit."

An amused smile appeared on the young woman's face, and she nodded. "That's perfect," she said. "Absolutely perfect." Listening intently, Shijo thought that she might be laughing to herself.

If the outside of the palace was impressive-looking, the inside was even more so. The entrance hall had the highest ceilings Shijo had ever seen, and the carpet was so rich and luxurious looking that he felt an immediate urge to take off his shoes so that his toes might feel its soft texture. He tried to suppress the desire to stare with wide eyes and gaping mouth, but mostly failed. Maigo, too, stared openly at the size of the hall.

The woman who had found them curled her fingers into a fist and extinguished the flame she had been carrying. They followed her through the entrance and into a large hall with polished wooden floors and beautiful stained-glass windows at either edge of the hall. Doors made of a dark wood were on both sides of the corridor. Shijo felt as though he would be lost within minutes.

After a few moments' pause the mage led them through a door into an already well-lit room. A fire roared comfortably in a massive hearth, and candles were scattered around the room. Two large, comfortable-looking dark blue couches faced the fire, seated on the edge of a dark green rug. The walls were a comforting old stone gray, with a few tapestries hung on them to keep out the cold. The windows were covered with dark red curtains that seemed to stretch from ceiling to floor. Shijo guessed that the single room was larger than his entire house.

"You can wait here for now," the woman said. Seeing their hesitation, she added, "It's all right to sit on the couches, you won't harm them. Get some rest if you can. It may be a little while before you can be seen. He's not the best in the early morning, but once I've gotten through to him why you've come, he'll want to see you."

Both boys stared at her with wide eyes, and she sighed. "There's nothing to be afraid of." They nodded instinctively, eyes still wide.

"Uh -," Shijo began. "What – I don't completely understand…."

"I know," she answered, nodding sympathetically, and sitting down on the couch. She gestured for them to do the same, and they did so, seeing that she had given definite permission now. "The digivice you found belongs to a friend of mine. We're not sure where he is, and we fear he might be dead or badly hurt. We also didn't think he was ever at that prison, but your discovery changes that."

"He wouldn't have left it behind on purpose, right?" Maigo asked, his eyes still wide.

"No," she said, shaking her head. "He definitely would not have."

"You should get some sleep," Mimi said sympathetically when they passed in the halls. Miyako only yawned wider.

Iori was combing his hair into place when she arrived. He smiled a brief smile. "I hear it went well last night. You have a nephew. Congratulations."

Briefly she blinked at him, realizing that in the rush of the early morning, she had forgotten her sister and the newly arrived baby. Iori nodded sympathetically, assuming her confusion was due to exhaustion. "You should get some sleep now, you know."

Miyako composed herself and shook her head. "No," she said. "There isn't time. I need to see Taichi. Or rather, I have someone here who needs to see him, but I ought to explain things to him, first."

Iori sighed deeply and nodded. "Wait here," he said, gesturing toward a comfortable chair near the door. "He's nearly finished breakfast."

"Thank you," she said, but didn't sit for fear of falling asleep in the chair. She paced instead, and wandered to the window to briefly peer out at the gardens below. It was still early, and the gardeners were not at work yet. A few people could be seen running through the grounds, hurrying to their work in other locations. The skies were blue, the sun only just beginning to rise in the east.

Miyako shut her eyes, tried to focus her magic so that she might sense Ken if he were nearby, but she was either too exhausted to be of any use or he was not there. The only magic she could feel was far below, where the wizards and mages were working. Koushiro's own aura was strong – he was rarely asleep.

In the room where she had left the boys, Miyako could vaguely sense the magic that the younger boy held, still mostly hidden. It would likely not be long before his magic broke free, as hers had, and she wondered about how another mage might have sensed her before she had broken free.

And as for the digivice that Shijo had brought, what did it mean? It was, like the sword in the forest, no proof either way to Daisuke's life or death. What did it mean? That he had been at the prison – presumably before its collapse – or that someone had brought his digivice there. But who? And why?

Miyako was too tired to try to think much more on the situation. A pain was developing in the front of her head, and she decided it might be best to leave such thoughts to those who were awake and better able to consider them.

Iori reappeared, his usual solemn expression in place, just as she turned away from the window. He nodded, briefly, once, and she followed him.

It was still early when Shijo was awakened by the sound of the door opening. He and Maigo had fallen asleep on the soft couch in front of the fire, but they both awoke now, mostly rested after the long nap.

A woman who was not the same as the one he had seen before was in the door, looking upon them with a sympathetic gaze. She had shorter, brownish hair and wore a pale pink and yellow dress. She had a kind smile, and Shijo was immediately inclined to trust her.

"Hello," she said, and her voice was soft and kind. She smiled pleasantly and carried a tray in her hands. "I guessed you might be tired, so I brought you some breakfast."

The sight of the warm bread and tea quelled any fear that Shijo might otherwise have felt. He got to his feet and bowed low as his mother had told him he must do. Maigo mimicked his actions and then took some bread quickly off the tray lest it disappear if he did not move fast enough.

"Maigo!" Shijo admonished his brother, but the woman chuckled softly.

"It's all right," she said. "He's hungry. Take some for yourself. And some porridge, too. It's fresh and hot."

She set the tray down on a low table in front of the couch. There were two steaming hot bowls of porridge and two cups of hot tea beside the freshly baked bread, and the smell of it all was enough for Shijo. He sat, taking the bowl in his hands.

The woman had been carefully feeding the dying fire with a bit of wood kept in a metal basket beside the fire, and now it was a blazing warmth once more. She sat in a chair across from the boys and waited while they ate.

Since he had started first, Maigo finished first, and he said to the woman, "You haven't got magic, have you?"

"No, I don't," she said. "No magic at all. I leave that to the wizards. I hear that you might, though."

"That's what they said," he answered. "I'm Maigo. Is there someone here that can teach me?"

She smiled. "I'm Sora," she told him, "and there are definitely mages and wizards here that can teach you all you need to know, and more."

His eyes grew wider. "I could really be a wizard?"

"If you have the magic, they can teach you everything there is to know."

This possibility was enough to keep the younger boy's thoughts entertained for a few minutes.

"I didn't know he wanted to be a wizard," Shijo said then, a new realization coming into his mind. "It's all he's talked about for the last few days, but he never mentioned it before."

"I think everyone wants to be a spell-caster at some point," said Sora. "If it's a possibility, then it's even more exciting."

"Did you want to?"

She nodded. "When I was a child, I hoped that I'd discover I had some magic in me. I don't, though, and so now I wish for other things."

Shijo rummaged in his pocket and removed the digivice. "Do you know whose this is?" he asked.

Just as the mage who had found them had done, Sora's face turned paler and her eyes grew wide. It was a brief transformation, though, and then she shut her eyes and nodded. "Yes," she said. "We all do."

"What should I do with it?"

She shook her head. "That has yet to be decided. Keep it safe, with you, for now." She got to her feet and said, "Come with me. You both could use a bath."

It had begun raining on the second day after they had arrived, and it was still raining now, on the fourth day. Takeru felt restless and alone. There was nothing for him to do here, which hadn't disturbed him in the least when he'd agreed to come. He had agreed not only out of concern for Hikari but also out of a concealed desire to see the ocean.

From his bedroom window, he could see the waves splashing on the rocks below, stirred by the storm. He paced, then stopped because it made him feel silly.

He had not seen Hikari since they had come. When they had first arrived, she disappeared in search of her mother, a sudden sense of purpose and awareness seeming to come forth in her for the first time. It was only because Takeru had spoken up at just that moment that she remembered to tell him to find something for the boy to do, and to tell him to listen to Takeru. He'd arranged for him to a bath and some food, which surprisingly hadn't altered his appearance too much, and then, feeling suddenly tired and listless, had asked the kitchen staff to find something for him to do.

Since then, Takeru had not seen him, either, but nor had he heard of any complaints from the servants, so he assumed all was well.

He was, however, bored.

There was a light tap at the door.

Holsmon landed, de-evolving as soon as his passengers had disembarked. He was exhausted after the long flight, even though both he and Miyako had slept the entirety of the previous night.

They were standing at the edge of the sea, a sight which none of those now present had seen before. Miyako looked out across the waves, seeing no sign of an end, and felt the cool ocean breeze rustle her skirts. The air smelled like fish and salt and water, a comforting sort of a summery smell, even though it was only spring. The sun was hidden beneath clouds, but slowly beginning to emerge in the sky.

Shijo stared with wide eyes, wondering what further sights would impress him, for he had seen more amazing things in the last two days than in his previous lifetime. "The ocean," he breathed in one exhalation.

"Amazing," Miyako agreed, smiling down at the boy she had transported all this way, wondering what role he had to play in all of this. What had made Ken chose him to awaken? He had said he had memories of the boy – but what memories? How was he connected?

"Is that what we're searching for?" Koromon spoke up, the only one who was not staring out at the water and waves with amazement. His eyes had been distracted by a different sight.

A single carriage pulled by a single Monochromon lumbered slowly along a distant path, driven by a figure that in the distance could not be easily described. No other servants rode along on the back of the carriage to attend to its inhabitants, and only a small amount of luggage was strapped to the top.

Miyako pulled her digivice from the pocket of her skirt. It was silent for a moment. She poked at it a few times experimentally, and it began to beep, slowly and steadily. "Seems that way," she said. "Hawkmon? Have you strength to fly to them?"

The bird digimon saluted with one wing. "I will find out and stop them if it is the case," he answered, and took to the air.

The carriage had been slowly rumbling along for hours now, having lulled Takeru into a sleepy state. Outside, the sun was bright and the air was clear. Distantly, the ocean waves splashed against the cliff-rocks, but the sight of them had ceased to amaze him.

They were traveling once more, and once more Hikari was silent, lost within her own thoughts. If a visit to her mother had helped her in anyway, she had not said how, and Takeru was reluctant to ask. She had volunteered no information, only told him that she would be leaving the next morning.

"Should I come with you?" he had asked, and she had shrugged in a way that he was becoming accustomed to now, for her attention was not entirely in the present.

"If you wish. I will take him with me," and by him she had meant the slave boy that had been thrust into her care, "because I don't think it wise to leave him here. I don't know that I'll ever return."

And so he had decided it would be better to go with her. He had done nothing in the time spent there besides peer out at the ocean waves in the distance and watch the rains pour down. Now, on the day she had chosen to leave, the sky was clearing and the rains had ceased. He felt his eyes close; the silence made him tired and the gentle rocking of the wagon calmed him.

There was a continuous yet faint high pitched noise that repeated over and over. The carriage stopped and Takeru forced his eyes open, realizing as he came to wakefulness that the sound was that of his digivice. He followed Hikari once more from the carriage in time to see Hawkmon alight atop the roof.

"She's coming," the bird reported in response to the as yet unspoken question. He yawned, tired from the flight, and gestured with one wing toward the ocean.

"Is there news?" Hikari questioned at the same time Takeru peered toward the ocean.

"Who is with her?"

"There is and there isn't," Miyako said to Hikari's concerned question. "This is Shijo," she told Takeru, who now recognized and remembered the boy. "He and his brother found something."

The young mage glanced quickly toward Takeru before she nodded to the boy in question to reveal what it was he carried. Shijo stepped forward, pulling his hand from his pocket and holding out the object.

Hikari went pale, as all the others had done, and Takeru, too, felt the color drain from his own face. She seemed unable to speak, and so he said, "Where? Where was this found?"

Shijo glanced toward Miyako briefly for assurance. "In the ruins of the prison," he said.

"The prison?" Takeru echoed. He felt weak-kneed and sat on the cool grass, uncertain of what to think. "But – how? When?"

Hikari said nothing, though the color was slowly draining back into her skin. Shijo still held the digivice out and she reached out, slowly, to take it.

"We've come to no conclusions," Miyako answered, eyes not leaving Hikari as she held the object in her hand. "Like the sword, it proves nothing, whether he is dead or alive – only that he is not well. He wouldn't leave it behind."

"No," he said when Hikari still did not speak. "Never."

Hikari closed her eyes and breathed deeply. Miyako could see her aura strengthen briefly, then fade. She was exhausted, still. "He lives," she said, simply.

Takeru sighed deeply and fell backwards in the cool grass, disbelieving.

"You're certain?" Miyako asked.

"His life is connected to this object," Hikari said, eyes still closed. "He lives; I can still feel him, somehow. Takeru doubts me, but I am certain."

"Is this magic?" Takeru asked, propping himself up on his elbows. "Is this magic or is this just hopes and wishes?"

She opened her eyes and turned sharply to face him. "Hope is your department, Takeru," she said, speaking directly. "I speak the truth."

He shook his head. "I don't think you lie. But the mages - ."

"The mages do not know what they are looking for," Hikari interrupted simply. "They do not possess the right sort of magic, and they do not know what to look for."

"Or perhaps they cannot find him in death," he answered quickly, then his eyes grew wide and he stopped himself, covering his mouth with his hands.

Hikari said nothing, only shook her head and sat herself in the grass.

Miyako was silent, but her eyes had turned from Hikari, and she now was almost glaring at Takeru. He shook his head and got to his feet. "I don't want to believe it," he said, his voice soft. "Hikari, I…."

She had stood, abruptly, and he stopped his words. Hikari held up a hand, shaking her head. "No. Not now, Takeru. Something is coming."

Almost as one, all three Chosen turned their heads in one direction, away from the sea. A cool breeze darted across the plains, and the grass rustled like the waves of water. Shijo followed their motions but could see nothing.

"Moving fast, too," Miyako said, glancing toward her partner, noticing then the boy who sat in the driver's seat, still loosely holding the reins, having dispassionately watched the entire proceedings. A strange shiver ran down her spine, but she knew not what it meant nor what to do with it. "I will shield you," she said to him and Shijo. "Stay close to the carriage."

"Are you ready?" Takeru asked of his partner, who had also been perched on the carriage roof, watching. Patamon nodded.

A vicious sort of laughter could be heard then, and a dark space opened in the ground. From out of the darkness rose a tall creature with long, spindly arms and legs wrapped in white bandages and dark leather straps. A weapon of some sort was held in one hand, and he laughed with a riotous, maniacal laughter that inspired fear in the minds of all that heard it.

"Who are you?" Takeru asked, but he only laughed and began to fire his weapon. Loud bangs could be heard, and little bits of fire appeared rapidly in the ground only a short distance from the carriage. Instinctively, Takeru leapt back, throwing himself to the ground and reaching immediately for his digivice.

"Patamon evolve! Angemon!" shouted his partner almost before he had finished thinking.

The enemy laughed, harder, and fired his weapon again. Takeru brought his arms up to shield his face, knowing it was a useless sort of defense, and his partner produced a long wooden rod, which he spun in rapid circles, deflecting the tiny missiles with ease.

Another burst of laughter, another burst of missiles, this time aimed toward the carriage. Miyako concentrated, raised a shield, and they bounced off harmlessly, creating a bit of outrage in their attacker.

"Snake Bandage!" he shouted, the first thing they had heard come from him that wasn't laughter. The bandages extended from his outstretched arm, leaping toward Hikari, who froze, momentarily stunned.

"Hikari!" Takeru shouted the warning a moment before he saw the light grow stronger, and he shielded his eyes.

"Tailmon evolve! Angewomon!"

Having been intercepted, the bandages fell weakly to the ground, their power gone. The enemy digimon laughed harder, though, and fired his weapon into the air. "Send in the troops!" he called amidst the laughter and the miniature explosions.

"Who is he?" Takeru asked, confused. "What does he want?"

"Don't know," his partner answered. "He's angry and crazy, it seems."

The air seemed to shimmer behind him like the air in desert heat, but it was not that hot and these plains were no desert. "More come," Miyako warned, sensing the coming danger a moment before it made itself visible in the form of two huge red Tyrannomon.

"What are those things?" Shijo wanted to know, his eyes wide and his voice quiet.

"Dangerous," the mage told him. "We're outnumbered. Not that that matters, of course. We've been outnumbered before. But it makes things a bit difficult."

"YAH HA!" laughed the lead digimon again, and fired his weapon again. Miyako cursed mentally and struggled to raise a shield once more. One of the missiles hit the side of the carriage, embedding itself in the wood of the open door and sending little splinters of wood flying in different directions.

The Tyrannomon attacked simultaneously, each choosing to throw a bright red flame directly toward both Takeru and Hikari at the same time. It was quick thinking on their part that sent each running in different directions just quickly enough to avoid the blaze.

Their partners attacked as quickly as they evaded, engaging the Tyrannomon, keeping each of the red dinosaur digimon occupied. The leader, however, was a different story. He laughed continuously, firing repeatedly toward the carriage with such unending power that Miyako felt herself weakening rapidly, unable to maintain a shield under the continuous impacts.

"Run!" she shouted to those she was protecting, and Shijo launched himself away from the carriage at full speed. Miyako brought both her arms up to protect her face and waited.

She became aware of some sort of power building behind her, a rift in the fabric of space that was breaking, rather than bending as it had done so for the appearance of the Tyrannomon or the digimon that had preceded them. Whatever it was that was coming this way was breaking free, it was not being brought to this place. Curious enough to forget her imminent danger, she turned her head.

It was like no digimon she had seen before, a blue streak that flew across the sky at a speed powered by rage, and it shouted no words but an angry battle cry born of hurt and anger. With a forceful jolt it slammed into the bandage-covered leader of the attacking digimon a second before its missiles collided with the carriage, setting it aflame.

The Tyrannomon deleted almost simultaneously. Takeru turned and saw the carriage set ablaze and Miyako emerge from the smoke, coughing, pulling splinters from her hair as she lead the others away from the danger. She turned to see the battle, and his eyes followed her gaze.

"Do you believe now, Takeru?" Hikari asked quietly. He turned and stared at her as though he didn't quite understand.

"YAH!" shouted the bandaged digimon just as Patamon set himself down atop his partner's head, tired. Tailmon flopped in the grass, leaning against Hikari's feet.

"X-Laser!" shouted the mysterious blue digimon. It was a lizard type, with a dragon-shaped head and fierce eyes, blazing red with anger. It chest was white, and with gray markings in the shape of an X. Two white wings exploded from its back, keeping it aloft as it rose higher and easily evaded the missiles. A single horn, sharp as a blade, rose from its nose.

"You mean you think he - ?" Takeru asked, shaking his head.

"Does he not look familiar to you?" she returned, still watching the battle. The enemy seemed nearly defeated now. The bandages on its shoulder were torn and broken.

"He does, but… Hikari, if he is… then where is Daisuke?"

"Nearby," she answered.

"AHH!" shouted the digimon then, and disappeared. It did not delete, but it escaped, disappearing into nothingness the same as it had arrived. A glow surrounded the blue, flying lizard.

V-mon appeared briefly in the grass, looking tired, and then he, too, was gone. Another bright light appeared, and they all turned to the source of it.

Near the carriage, not far from Miyako, the light faded, and Daisuke stood where the slave boy had once been. And then he stood no more, but collapsed to his knees and was unconscious.