Madison Exclusive Chapter INCOMING

. . .

Madison

. . .

When Madison opened her eyes, she found herself floating in some strange void. A world of swirling colors, not unlike the sky above her prison in the Digital World. She tried to move, but found her body lethargic, unresponsive.

"Am I dreaming?" She questioned, voice echoing in the void.

But there was no response, as she slowly started to drift in the sea of nothingness. Floating between wisps of color, wondering when she'd wake up from this. Almost wishing she wouldn't, fearing a return to uncertainty. A return to what could be more of Mephistomon's public torment.

What felt like hours were passing by, as she drifted with her arms crossed. No longer in control of where she was going, as if some kind of current were pulling her through this void. It gave her time to think with a clarity she'd never experienced while sleeping, but those thoughts were hardly pleasant. Focusing almost entirely on her partner, fearing for her safety and wondering what she might be going through right now.

"Oh Tsu..." She muttered, looking down at her hands. "I wish... I wish I knew how to reach you." She just felt so helpless here, surrounded by Mephistomon's minions, unwilling though some might be, she doubted any would actually help her.

She found herself laying back, as if she were on the surface of water, staring up into an empty sky. She thought about her home, her brother and father back in the real world, how worried they must be right now. Madison thought about her room, her desk, her notebooks full of ideas and little drawings, silly sketches and unfinished song lyrics. A more childish part of her wishing she could just forget about all this and write something fun or happy.

"Hmm, I never did get to finish that song..." She realized, thinking back to that night. When she'd opened up and sang for her partner, how relieved it made her feel to have her voice heard. Despite Mephistomon's torment, and how he humiliated her, she wouldn't let him take those memories away from her. "I... I want to sing for you again." She thought, smiling as she closed her eyes. "To show you that everything's alright..."

"Huh?" Madison blinked awake, suddenly laying in her bed once more. Coming back to her senses as she looked towards the nearby vanity, "I guess it was just a dream..." Before she started to sit up, "What the-" Feeling something tumbling down her chest, something that must have been left on top of her.

Her eyes widened, as she saw an eerily familiar notebook resting in her lap. It sent a chill down her spine, spotting her pen tightly tucked in the bindings. "How... How did this get here?" It wasn't just some replica, the little doodles around the edges told her that much, as did the pages upon pages of notes tucked away within. Even the teeth marks in her pen looked familiar.

Had they taken this from the real world? Was this some kind of illusion and they were just messing with her? Or was she still dreaming? All questions swirling around in her head. He fears of this place growing, as she looked towards the nearby window, and the latch she had carefully worked on loosening in her spare time. "Maybe... Maybe I should-"

A knock sounded at the door, followed by a familiar voice. "Breakfast time!" Gazimon announced, "You awake?"

"Y-Yeah!" She called back, a moment later he opened the door and stepped through with a trey of food. She quickly jumped out of bed, holding up the notebook. "Do you know what this is?"

He stopped, quirking an eyebrow as he eyed it over. "Uh... Some paper? Wait, where did you get that?" He questioned confused.

But she shook her head, "I... I don't know, I just woke up and it was here... Listen," She quickly turned and started tucking it away under her pillow. "Don't tell anyone about this, okay?"

Gazimon tilted his head, before shrugging. "It's just some paper, whatever." And set her food on the vanity, "Anyways, enjoy the food."

Madison watched him walking towards the door, like he was eager to leave. "What you don't want to share again?"

Causing him to stiffen, as another voice sounded outside the door. "Sharing eh?" Madison freezing up as she recognized Myotismon's voice. "I wasn't aware you'd been given such a privilege." As he turned and stepped into the doorway, staring down at the now trembling rookie level. "I wondered why you were suddenly so much more enthusiastic about this guard detail..."

Gazimon stepped back, legs shaking so bad he fell and landed on his butt. "P-Please sir I-I was just-" Before Myostismon cracked a malicious black and red whip to life out of thin air, made of pure energy. "No please!" Gazimon cried, cowering and covering his face and body with those big arms. "I'm sorry! I won't do it again!"

"Indeed," Myotismon narrowed his eyes. "You won't."

"STOP!" The moment he raised his arm, Madison ran between them. "I offered him the food! He didn't do anything wrong!" Would he really whip this servant over something as simple as a meal? She wasn't going to sit and wait to find out.

"Well he should have refused." He answered simply, "Now move, or you will be moved." Looming over her with a menacing shadow.

But she planted her feet, glaring up at him. "I will NOT!" She barked back. "He's done his job just fine, there's no reason to hurt him!"

"Making an example of a fool taking more than he's owed is reason enough." The vampiric digimon replied, "Last chance, move." There was a malice in his eyes, barely restrained, like he wanted nothing more than to tear her limb from limb. While behind her, Gazimon cowered, waiting for what he assumed was an inevitable beating.

"Not happening." Madison replied firmly, clenching her hands into fists.

Myotismon shook his head, "So be it." But the moment he raised his arm, Madison bolted. Running right between his legs and out the door and into the hall, "What are you-"

"Gazimon RUN!" She shouted back, "I broke the window lock! GO!"

"W-What!?" He exclaimed, head bolting right up. Watching as Madison made a run for it down the hall, sprinting further away at full speed.

Myotismon forgot all about Gazimon, following her back out into the hall. "You tried this before, foolish human." He scoffed, body dispersing into a cloud of bats that began chasing after her.

"And I've seen your bat trick before too!" She was almost there, taking a longer stride with every step, desperately trying to reach the target before he reached her. The windows up ahead, with those massive oversized curtains hanging loosely on their bars.

"The window?" He thought, closing in on her. "Is she going to jump?"

"NOW!" Her arms outstretched, the moment her fingers touched the fabric she pulled down hard. Ripping the fragile cloth right off its railing, causing the mass of oversized sheets to fall down over the storm of bats nearly smothering them against the ground. "HA!" She laughed out of spite for the cruel servant, turning and continuing her sprint.

But she was already running out of steam, having never been the most athletic, making it this far already had her wheezing for breath.

Myotismon was forced to reform properly to tearing through the curtains, "How clever," He narrowed his eyes sharply. "But you'll not escape me that easily!" He summoned his whip once more, lashing out at her with the crimson energy stream.

"Agh!" She stumbled forward, the whip narrowly missing as she ducked beneath it while covering her head. "Anyone ever told you that your Dracula costume sucks?!" She was trying to goad him, keep him focused on her, and she was evidently doing a good job so far.

"I'm done playing games brat!" His ire achieved as he summoned a second whip, lashing at her with both of them. This time, one caught her by the leg, causing her to trip and fall flat on her face. Myotismon reeled her in while she continued struggling. "Not so smug now are you?" He questioned, lifting her off the ground before grabbing her by the neck. "And for the record, I don't even know who Dracula is."

"S-So bad costume, and stupid? AGH!" Her goading earning her a hard slam against the wall.

"You think you've saved that runt?" He scoffed, holding her up higher. "Nowhere he can run will save him, and now I'll make you watch as I-"

"HEY!" Myotismon's eyes darted back down the hall, "E-Stun Blast!" Gazimon cried, firing off a pale green bolt of light from his mouth.

Taking Myotismon by surprise, the blast struck him right in the face, causing him to stumble back. "Gngh! How dare you!" He sneered, whip snapping, "You should have run when you had the chance!"

He fired another blast, but the whip cut right through it. Grabbing Gazimon and binding his arms to his sides, "Gah! L-Let me go!" He cried, as the whip started dragging him right back to the vampiric digimon.

Madison watched, still in shock that he'd come back for her. "Stop it!" Desperately trying to think of a way to help him.

Myotismon lifted him up by the ears once he was in range, eyes narrowed sharply. "You should have been more grateful for your position, mutant freak," He scoffed, "Now you- Ow!" He flinched suddenly, feeling Madison bite down on his hand. "You disgusting little creature!"

"You aren't going to touch him!" Madison declared with an uncharacteristic fire in her voice. Kicking off Myotismon's chest with both feet as his grip loosened. She lunged for Gazimon, grabbing him with both arms as they fell from Myotismon's grip. Her mind racing for a way out of this, eyes clenched shut. "Please, someone, anyone! I just don't want him to get hurt! Please let me save him!" But suddenly the weight of her fall shifted, and she felt the furry creature wrapped in her arms suddenly vanish. Her eyes bolted wide open, searching for any sign of him before she hit the ground and tumbled across the rug. Sitting up as she looked around, "What the- Where is..."

Myotismon appeared equally confused, eyes searching their surroundings. "What was that? What did you just do?"

But Madison wasn't quite sure herself, "I... I don't know." She replied, shaking her head.

He didn't seem convinced, but he turned towards the window, taking a deep breath and sighing heavily. Before, "Get up." He ordered sharply.

She set aside her own confusion and folded her arms as she looked up at him. "So what now?" The teen questioned after standing up. Expecting nothing less than to feel the lash of that whip herself after what she'd done.

"Come with me." He said simply, walking along back towards the room she was forced to stay in. Stopping briefly by it to close the door, before he continued walking.

Madison followed behind him, unsure where he was leading her. It wasn't the usual route they'd go to the main hall, and she found herself groaning in annoyance as they came upon the first flight of stairs she was forced to climb. Her legs aching from the run around she'd put Myotismon through, not that she regretted it. Though the conclusion had left her with probably just as many questions as him.

After ascending a few stairs, he opened a door leading out onto a large balcony. It overlooked much of the massive gothic palace, and sat directly under the moonlight. Myotismon didn't say anything as they arrived, simply tucking his hands behind his back and slowly starting to walk along the railing.

While Madison watched him, before slowly looking up at the moon. "So why are we here?"

"Tell me, are all humans like you?" He ignored her question.

Madison quirked an eyebrow, "What do you mean?"

"Are they all so..." He seemed to struggle for the right words, "So spectacularly infuriating." Putting a venomous emphasis on those words, hands clenching into fists.

Madison crossed her arms over her chest, "You dragged me and my partner here, are keeping me prisoner and still won't let me see her." Her voice carrying its own venom. "So yeah, I'll be taking every opportunity to make your lives harder."

He turned back to her, eyes narrowed sharply. "Do you have any idea how easily just a single one of Mephistomon's servants could end your life? How quickly I could end your life?"

"I know how dangerous Digimon are, if that's what you're asking." She replied, shrugging her shoulders. "I witnessed first hand what Dragomon can do..." Before shaking her head, "And I was right there when Devimon forced Tsu to turn into Devidramon." Remembering how scary it was. "I saw what she was capable of..." Before glaring back up at him. "I didn't leave her then, and I won't now."

Myotismon held her gaze for a moment, Madison could feel that same pressure in the air between them. Before he closed his eyes, releasing a heavy sigh and shaking his head. "Thank you, for stopping me from destroying Gazimon."

Madison blinked, not at all the response she was expecting. "You're... Thanking me?"

He turned and began walking towards the edge of the balcony, stopping at the railing and staring up at the sky. "Would it surprise you to know that I was once as powerful as the Dark Lord?"

"Really?" Madison wasn't quite sure she believed that, having given him the runaround so easily. "And now you're his... Butler?"

Earning what almost sounded like an amused chuckle from the vampiric digimon. "Something like that..." Before holding up one hand in front of his face. "You know, Digimon live multiple lives if their cores aren't destroyed." He stated, "Even then, sometimes the code can persist... But I think it goes even further," His eyes drifting up to the stars. "Beyond all of this."

Well he was certainly getting existential, "You mean the Digital world?" Madison asked as she joined him at the balcony.

"No, beyond this world and yours." He continued, "It's just a feeling, but I feel like I've lived a thousand lives... And in more than I'd care to admit, I am the Dark Lord." A faint smirk crossing his lips. "Before I reached this level, I had plots, plans to amass my followers and cover the entire Digital World in darkness."

He almost sounded like he longed for that life, "And what changed?" Madison asked, leaning on the railing. "Mephistomon win the coin toss?"

"Cute." He scoffed in response, "But no, I was simply... Tired, when I digivolved." He answered, "In that same moment I knew what I was supposed to do, knew I would be a great and terrible villain... But, I also knew, somehow... That I would lose." Shaking his head, "I would cause misery, I would destroy a number of digimon and probably humans too... And then someone like you, or your supposed friends, would come along and defeat me before my plans could truly come to fruition."

Was he trying to make her feel sympathetic for him? "And how did you end up becoming the servant of the new Dark lord?"

"When Mephistomon appeared from another sphere of the digital world and started asserting his rule, I was curious." He said simply, "I wanted to see how things would change, but I also noticed that I'd started to get weaker..." Holding up both hands, "Whether it was my inaction or some strange higher power trying to balance things out, I am a shadow of what I could have been..."

An interesting theory, Madison could agree that much. But she also didn't know nearly enough about this world to speculate on any of this, and she didn't have any reason to believe he'd tell her the truth. "And this has something to do with... Gazimon?"

"His impudence and your stubbornness fanned something inside of me," He explained, lowering his arms. "That part of me that demands blood and conflict... And I almost did as I might have done in a past life." He turned to face her once again, "So I'll say it again, thank you for saving him... Though I'm still not entirely sure how you did it."

Madison couldn't help but laugh a little at that, "Yeah uh, same here... To be honest I can't even say for sure if he's been saved, I don't know where he went."

"Indeed," Myotismon didn't seem quite satisfied with the response, but could tell she wasn't lying. "You said you've seen Devidramon, and you still believe your partner can be saved from the darkness inside of her?"

The bluntness of his question took her by surprise, before Madison lowered her head, thinking on the matter for a moment. "I... I was able to get through to Devidramon, I brought Tsu back, but... I don't think its about saving her from the darkness." Though she still sounded unsure, "There are Digimon like Gazimon, and well... You here, when I first arrived I wrote you all off as being monsters, evil." Before shaking her head, "But I don't think it's that simple."

"Bold of you to assume I am not evil." He pointed out, "Even bolder to assume Tsukaimon is the one you must reach..."

Causing her to blink, "What?"

But he ignored her, "So you want to save us all then?" Chuckling at the very idea, folding both arms over his chest. "Free us from the terrible tyrant Mephistomon?"

It sounded silly when he said it like that, but- "I do." She replied honestly.

"And what about your partner?" He questioned, "Would you leave her in his clutches while you lead us all to safety in a great exodus?" His tone still mocking.

"Why do I have to choose?" Madison asked, frowning sadly up at him. "Why can't I reach everyone, and bring her back too?"

Myotismon simply shook his head, "I think Mephistomon's very existence is proof enough that Fate is not so kind, and after all you are only human."

She released a small, scoffing laugh. It was funny, in a miserably comedic kind of way... Just how pathetic she was here. "Yeah, just a little human, unlike you Digimon I bleed when I fall down." Thinking about her embarrassing display on that stage as well, "I'm weak, I get emotional and break down easy, I'm totally insignificant to you guys..." Before Myotismon saw something in her eyes, a spark that was almost... Familiar to him. "But I'm still here, and that means I've got a chance."

"And there's that disgusting optimism," He sighed, shaking his head. "I truly do hate you, but I can respect your tenacity... However misplaced it may be."

"Well, the only reason I'm still here is because of someone else," She answered, smiling softly. "It'd be a waste if I didn't try my hardest..." Thinking about her notebook, an idea coming to mind. "Can I go back to my room now? I... I have something I need to do."

"Very well, this nausea is getting unbearable anyways..."