Chapter 4: The Dark Halves
"Are you coming or not?" Questioned Cortez. I lifted myself to my feet and
stretched the soreness out of my body.
"Yeah. I'm coming." I replied as I made my way to the door. I turned
around, surveying my "home". Surveying the hellhole that I had been cast
into. The room was bare, all the occupied it was my pile of silks in which I
used as a bed, a few torches, and a makeshift table. I turned towards
Cortez, who stood between the door and me. He grabbed the torch that was
pressed into the wall next to the door and turned to leave, but I reached my
hand out to him, laying it on his shoulder. "Come now Cort, why stay with
the light? When the shadow is so much better?" I taunted him. But with that
he placed his hand over the flame and smothered it.
"Moonshade, do you know the way out of here?" He questioned as we began
down the dark hall. Living in these tunnels for all of these years had made
my eyes adapt to the darkness, so I brushed pass him taking his hands.
"I do." I responded as I traced the tunnel through my mind. We walked in
silence for a few moments, but finally it was me who broke the silence.
"Cort, what does your emperor want with me?" I questioned as I guided us
through the tunnels. His grip tightened on my hands before he let them go,
and lifted me off of the ground and onto his shoulder.
"He is, combining multiple worlds. Taking a little from each one, and
destroying the rest. He says that you will play an important role in his New
World, but he has yet to tell me what you are going to be doing." He
replied. I watched his face, which I could see clearly in the darkness. His
eyes began glowing in the darkness, as I could feel him spinning a spell.
"I'm guessing that he is going to need your help with dealing with our
adversaries." He finished. I steered him through the tunnel as another
question struck me.
"Why doesn't he just destroy his opponents? Surely if he can destroy worlds
he can kill a few opponents."
"He doesn't want to kill them. But break their will to live. They are not
nearly strong enough to defeat us, but they do have potential. And he wants
to control them." After Cort answered my question we fell into silence once
again. Excitement flowed through my head, as my first lover carried me
through these cursed tunnels. Carrying me to freedom. This time it was him
that broke the silence.
"Why do you live down here?" He questioned. I was stunned at this, stunned
as my world of pain replayed through my head. I couldn't bear to say though.
All my life people have hated me, feared me. And not once have I harmed
them. The women and children fear me, and every time I'd get close to them
they'd run, screaming for help, for someone to slay the monster. I grew up
in the wilderness, staying away from the many villages that populated this
land, growing up as travelers told stories of a monster that plagued the
world, of a monster that the greatest warriors dreamed of slaying. I bowed
my head as tears trickled down my face once again.
"Moonshade?" Questioned Cortez as we halted to a stop. He lifted me off of
his shoulders and back onto the ground.
"I'd. rather not talk about it." I replied. I turned away, and looked at
the stairs, that led to the surface, but blocking the stairs was a huge
stone tablet, that was put there to block me from exiting, and was protected
by many magical enchantments.
"Come now. You don't have to worry." Cort bent down onto his knee, as I
decided to tell him, to let him into my world. I looked at the symbols
inscribed into the tablet as I began my tale.
"I don't remember my parents, nor do I know how I survived when I was an
infant. But, my childhood was lonely. The people that live here hate me, and
fear me. I remember once. when I was a little girl I had stumbled on two
children in the woods, playing with their dolls." I stopped, as the memory
played before me, it was the first memory I had of interacting with the
humans. Cort placed his hand on my shoulder, comforting without saying
anything. "I can't remember what I was doing when I found them, but I wanted
more than anything to be with them, to laugh with them. So I walked over to
them. They were both young girls that had no cares in the large world. I
approached them, and asked if I could play." I paused again as another tear
trickled down my face. For my entire life I was hunted, chased and cursed to
live in the shadows. "They both turned around, their faces were lit with
joy. But once they saw me they froze with fear. At first I thought that they
didn't hear me, so I asked them again." I stopped once again, unable to
control the tears, unable to beat the pain. Cort wrapped his arms around me,
his warm arms.
"You don't have to continue." He spoke but I pulled away from him.
"No. I want you to know." I answered, finally have someone to talk to, it
felt good, but I wish that I could talk about happier times, but my life had
no happy times, just pain. "The girls began crying. Screaming about not
wanting to die, I moved towards them. Confused as to why they would say
this, the closer I got. The more they cried. And. I was about to touch one
of them when I horse dashed to me, trying to stomp me into the ground. I
went into a tree as a man got off of it, sword drawn, and wanting to kill
me. In a few seconds the man had scooped the girls onto the horse, and leapt
on as the horse took off towards the city. The girls had dropped their
dolls, which I recovered and took back to where I was staying." Cortez began
drying my eyes as I continued telling my story. "That night a few hunters
camped near me, and told stories around their fire. I huddled close to them,
to their warm fire, but remained out of sight. Listening to their stories of
a vicious monster that haunted the woods scared me, but knowing that others
were scarred with me made me feel slightly better. But once the story was
over, another man spoke about how he had seen the monster earlier in the
day, stealing two girls' favorite dolls. It took me a few minutes before I
realized that the monster they were talking about, that they were afraid of
was me. I instantly began crying, but afraid that they would hear me I ran
away, hugging the girls' dolls, the girls that I wanted to play with." I
paused, pulling away from Cortez and drying my eyes, the tears had stopped,
but the pain I felt didn't.
"When I stopped running I lied down, still in tears. And the men had heard
me, thought that I was a lost child, and followed me. I was laying there on
the ground, I didn't notice them, they surrounded me and began throwing
stuff at me, sticks, stones, pebbles from their slingshots. I want going to
run, nor was I going to fight, but then they drew their sword and bows. An
arrow struck my shoulder, piercing me." I moved the fur on my left shoulder,
allowing Cort to look at the scar. "I. got scared and panicked. I showered
them with diamonds. And then ran, leaving the dolls behind. I ran back
towards the town, not meaning to. The men had left toward the city, and I
didn't want to believe that they were talking about me, so I followed them
into the city, they approached one of the houses, still bleeding from my
diamonds, a women came to the door, ushering the men into the house, where
she cleaned their wounds, and they told their tale of how I had tricked them
into thinking I was a lost child, and tried to attack them. It hurt
listening to them, but it hurt even more when I looked through the window,
and saw them give the girls the dolls back." I stopped there, unable to tell
him of how the girls questioned the hunters about if they had killed me, if
they had slain the monster.
I turned away from Cort as I continued my story. "That was the first time I
tried to do anything with them. After that I tried to stay away from them,
but it became a game for them to send hunters out, trying to get the
ultimate trophy, my head. And, I couldn't avoid them entirely. A while later
I tried once again, to talk with the humans. A grown woman this time, who
had stumbled where I lied asleep. She was hurt, so I offered her help. She
allowed me to help her, still afraid of me. But I helped her, she thanked me
and was on her way. I couldn't help but to follow her. She went to a house,
where a great wizard lived, and told him what happened. He told her that I
had poisoned her, and that I had placed those images in her, that a creature
so evil would never help anyone. He "cured" the women of my poison, and
gathered his wizards to hunt me down." I paused, as tears built up in my
eyes, but I shrugged them off and continued. "They found me, and chased me
into these tunnels, none of the men would follow, so they placed that cursed
stone over the exit, and magically bounded it there." I waved towards the
stone that blocked our exit. "Which brings a question to my mind, how did
you get in here?" I questioned. He rose to his feet, moving under the stone,
placing his hands on it.
"Simple. I moved the tablet." He spoke as he lifted with all his might. The
stone glowed as lightning shot from the stone, pulling it to the ground, but
Cort lifted it over his head and tossed it aside. The stone began to slide
back over the hole, but Cort slammed it with his fists and shattered the
symbol on it, breaking the enchantments. Light rushed into the tunnels,
burning my eyes. I threw up my hand and backed away, fleeing from the light.
Cort disappeared up the stairs and called down to me. "Moonshade! Come on!"
I tried to move up the stairs, but the light was so bright, and my eyes that
were cast into this underworld couldn't bare it.
"I can't!" I hollered back, our voices echoed down the tunnel behind me, and
I wanted to leave, but the light hurt to bad. I brought my arms up over my
eyes as Cort made his way back into the tunnel. He took my hands and held me
for a moment.
"Moonshade, fight through the pain, for once we get out of here you can
actually live a life, among people that don't wish to harm you, with me." He
took my hand and led me up there stairs. I opened my eyes as the pain roared
through my head, but the thought of living a life, without having to fear or
be feared out weighed the pain. My eyes were open, but I couldn't see
anything, just a blur of colors. But my ears picked up Cort's voice, as he
stopped and lifted me onto his shoulders once again.
I lifted her onto my shoulders as I felt cold steel press against my back. I
turned to face a man, rising to my feet I could see fear explode on his
face. He was even shorter then the average men in my world, who would at
least come up to my chest. This man was just tall enough to see my belt
buckle, and his sword now pressed against me leg.
"Are you planning on doing anything with that?" I questioned the man. He
stared up to me, and made to stab me, but I grasped his hands, squeezing
them against the hilt of his sword. He hollered in pain as more of these
Half-men appeared. Before me, watching as I crushed this mans hands. I
didn't release until his bones crumbled and his hands were mangled. I tossed
him aside, into the crowd of men.
"Cort. What's going on?" questioned Moonshade. I cocked my head so that I
could see her; her face was twisted in pain and agony, because of these men.
"We have a small welcoming party." I whispered into her ear.
"WHAT ARE YOU DOING!" Screeched an old man draped in robes. I moved towards
him, as other men huddled around him, drawing their blades. These are the
men that have forced her to live in fear, in sorrow.
"I'm giving this tortured soul freedom!" I hollered back at him, more men
poured into the clearing drawing swords, maces, bows, and even peasants came
forth, with their pitchforks in hand.
"Sir, I do not know who you are, but if you think that you are letting that
demon go, you are sadly mistaken." Challenged the old man as he pulled an
old dusty book from his robes, he opened it, and readied himself for a
battle. I released one of my spells, which hid my warhammer that hung from
my back, reaching behind me I gripped the handle I pulled it in front of me.
"I need no spells to win me this battle, if you allow me to leave no then no
blood shall be spilt." I called out. I waited, giving him time to ready an
answer, to think of the consequences of his choices. Suddenly Moonshade let
out a cry and fell from my shoulder. I spun around catching her before she
hit the ground. Tears poured down her face as I lay her on the ground,
everyone stood in silence. Moonshade closed her eyes, as blood began to
trickle down her mane, a small arrow protruded from her neck, and she began
crying in silence, choking on her own blood. Anger surged threw me as I the
sound of another bowstring stretched back. I turned towards the sound as
another arrow flew towards Moonshade, but I snatched it out of the air and
my anger took control.
"Do you have no honor?" I shouted at the archers in the trees, they loaded
more arrows, getting ready to fire a full volley at me and Moonshade, but I
struck first. Concentrating all of my anger on the trees, fire erupted in
the woods catching the archer's trees on fire. And in that split second all
Hell was released. I swung my hammer around my body as soldiers flung
themselves at me, my hammer spun, gaining force, gaining momentum, bodies
flew away from me as screams erupted. The peasants turned to run, but my
magic struck them down as Lightning spilled into the clearing. The mage
began casting spells, not at me, but at his own men, putting out the fire,
blocking my lightning as it flew it him, more men huddled around him, and in
a matter of seconds bodies littered the ground. The only living men left was
me, the mage, and what seemed like five of his bodyguards. I approached
them, plowing my hammer into the closest ones skull, and allowing my hammer
to fall with his body. I reached for my sword, unsheathing it from the
sheath on my leg. Cried Moonshade from behind me, gasping for air through her blood.
The mages swordsmen surrounded me, circling me like a wild wolf does its
prey. They readied their swords, each of them was going to stab at me, a
tactic that I have seen many times before this, it was usually done with
spears, though. I do believe it was once called the circle of death, but I
have survived it before. I tightened my muscles, waiting for that split
second that their defenses dropped the very second that they moved to strike
me down. I waited as they continued to circle me. Finally the lunged, I
brought my sword behind me, blocking the sword from stabbing me from behind,
and in that same second I summoned the wind, commanding it to plow into the
others. Not knocking them down, but ruining their timing, I flung my sword
around, connecting with a few heads, and blocking the other blows. Now, for
the perfect counter-attack, I leapt into the air, spinning as the soldiers
tried to recover from my unexpected defense. I reached my arm out, slicing
into their flesh. I continued spinning until my feet touched the ground, in
which I bent down, dodging the only remaining soldier's sword, and digging
mine into his chest. He fell quickly, and I stood to face the mage. Draped
in his red robes, and clutching onto his spellbook like a priest would his
bible before death.
"You monster!" He snarled as I reached out to him, grabbing him by his head
I lifted him off of the ground and began squeezing my hands together. The
mage dropped his precious book, and flung his fragile hands over mine. He
didn't beg for mercy, but simple screamed in pain as my hands came together,
crushing his skull, and spilling his brains onto my gloves. I his body
dropped to the ground as others entered the battleground, not warriors, but
women, who ran to the side of their husbands and family members. They
starred at me with faces of complete fear. I retrieved my hammer from the
bodies and bent over Moonshade. She was still breathing. Still alive, but
her energy was fading, I plucked the arrow from her neck, being careful not
to break it. Her eyes slowly opened as I removed my soaked glove. She
starred up at me, her eyes so sad, so panicked. I placed my bare hand over
her wound, I concentrated on it, summoned all the powers of magic, called
upon all the Gods my mind could think of, and preyed that she would live. I
couldn't help but to allow a single tear fall from my eye, but as I began to
give up hope, as the screams of the women around me echoed through my head,
she took my hand. My eyes shot open as I removed my hand from her wound,
which had stopped bleeding.
"Co. Cort. Don't let me die." She cried. I lifted her off of the ground,
even though the bleeding has stopped, she was still dying, and I must get
her back to the emperor. Tossing her onto me shoulder I began running down
the path, away from the city, from the crying, from this forsaken place.

Outside of Yamaki's tower.

We stood against the tower's black walls, no one saying anything, simply
watching as Guilmon and Terriermon tossed a ball back and forth. I wasn't
worried about the trip into the digital world. What played through my mind
was when we were sitting at Rika's, debating on what we should do. Leomon
had said that all things living end in death, and that we had all suffered
loses. Rika has lost Renamon, who might still be alive, but she will
probably never know, she has lost her Grandmother, and her Mother, and she
may never know if they are alive or dead. Henry. Henry has lost Suzie, and
can't find his parents. And Jeri, she also can't find her parents. I
scratched the back of my head as I looked over their faces, each one of us
was lost in thought. But I. I'm the only one that has not suffered losses.
It felt wrong to rejoice at the fact that my parents were alive, when this
is over, and we come back from the digital world, I'll be the only one to
return to my normal life. But I couldn't help but to thank my luck. As if on
cue a loud crashing sound broke the silence. The sound echoed through the
streets, and snapped us all away from our thoughts.
"What was that?" Spoke Jeri. She and Leomon walked towards the street that
the sound had come from, and the rest of us followed. As we turned down the
street a boy fell before us, he just popped out of nowhere and fell to the
ground. As we made our way to him another figure appeared in front of us,
this time one that we all recognized, Renamon. Everyone just stood there,
stunned by what had just happened, everyone except Rika.
"Renamon!" She shouted as she ran to her digimon's side. Rika was so happy
once again. All of that sorrow and pain was gone. Rika hugged Renamon, but I
think that this caught Renamon off guard. She simply stood there, as Rika
gripped her. The rest of us had caught up with them, and huddled around
Renamon and Rika.
"I'm back." Renamon spoke, trying to act as if this was a normal thing.
Finally Rika let go of her. The others broke into questions, asking her
where she's been, and an assortment of other info. But I slipped away from
the group and made my way to the boy, who was still lying on the ground. I
reached my hand out to him, as I spoke.
"Hey, you ok?" I questioned. As I spoke to him, Renamon and the others made
their way over.
"He with you?" Asked Rika. But Renamon offered no answer, instead she
pushed me aside and stood facing the boy. Something was wrong, the way that
they starred at each other gave it away, but I stepped back. The boy bowed
his head, as a tear fell from his eye.
"He was." She answered. In one quick move she slammed him hard in the jaw,
sending him sprawling across the ground. She leapt onto him, tossing him
around the ground.
"Renamon!" Cried out Rika, the group scattered away from the fray, as Rika
lunged to her digimon's side, trying to hold her back. Guilmon came to my
side, thinking that I would have answers.
"Takato. Is he a bad guy?"
"I. Don't know." I replied. He didn't try to run, or fight, he just sat
there as she hammered on him.
"Should we help?" Continued Guilmon.
"Help who?" A gunshot rang forth as everyone's eyes shot behind us, where
Yamaki stood, with his gun aimed into the brawl. Everyone froze, even
Renamon who had the boy by his neck.
"Put him down." Commanded Yamaki. He moved his gun towards Renamon as she
tossed the boy aside. "Good. Now I don't know what this is about but you can
deal with it later, now, the program is ready." Renamon looked around,
slightly confused.
"Renamon, there's something wrong with the world, Yamaki thinks that it's
connected to the digital world." Explained Henry. Yamaki turned to leave,
putting his gun back into his pocket.
"There is a lot of energy charged into our system, we can't waste any time
or the energy will be released, you leave now." Yamaki started back to his
tower, Rika and Renamon followed, but the rest of us made our way to the
boy, who lied on the ground. Jeri reached him first, giving him her hand,
and that smile that she always wore.
"Are you ok?" She questioned. The kid looked up at her, at me and Henry,
and at our digimon. He climbed to his feet, rejecting Jeri's help.
"I'm fine." He replied. For a moment we stood there no one saying anything.
"So. What's your name?" I asked. He starred at me for a few seconds, as if
thinking about the question.
"I'm. Cory." He replied, still not looking us in the eyes.
"So what happened?" Questioned Henry. Once again there was a long pause, as
Cory thought about the question.
"She. Came into my world. Which was literally disappearing, I. Helped her
back here." He explained. His world was disappearing? Like ours is now?
"So once you helped her to get back here she decides to attack you?"
Everyone shifted their glances to Leomon this time.
"I.hurt her before I helped her. Please if you want to know ask her." He
replied. I glanced over at Henry, who looked back at me, as we turned ideas
over in our head Rika made her way back to us, without Renamon.
"Guys, we need to go. So what happened with you two?" She spoke as she
entered our circle. Once again we all glanced at Cory, hoping for a
different answer. He looked at Rika, as he once again thought about the
question.
"Please, if she wants you to know she will tell you." He replied. We all
turned to leave, except him, but as we headed back to the tower Jeri called
out to him.
"Are you coming?" She asked. The question struck us all as a surprise, we
looked at each other, and then at him.
"You don't want me. I am no hero." He answered as he turned away. Jeri
huddled us together, and began whispering.
"Come on guys, a little bit of help. He's all ready involved." She
whispered.
"Yeah but what about Renamon?" Rika replied.
"Look what ever we decide we need to do it now. The way I see it, his world
was already destroyed by what ever this is, he probably deserves to come
with us." Henry added. They looked up at me, wanting my input.
"I don't care either way. Sure another person would be nice, but not if
Renamon's going to kill him." I spoke. No one wanted to make the decision,
but finally Rika ended the debate.
"Look. I don't know what you did, but you brought her back to us, and I
intend to repay you, so were not leaving without you, and we only have a few
minutes to go. So if we don't make it it's your fault." Cory turned around
and walked over to us, and together we all entered Yamaki's tower.
"Look, I'm no hero, but if you guys want me to come I will." He looked
around the tower, at the computers, and at Yamaki in the center of the room.
"So. Where are we going?" He asked. Renamon entered the tower, moving behind
us.
"We're going to the digital world." I answered. We made our way to the
center of the room, beside Yamaki.
"Good, the computers have targeted the center of this room, so everybody
gather here." Yamaki moved away from us, and stood against the wall. It felt
odd, for so long Yamaki was an enemy, and now here we, working with him.
"Ok, Tera start the program." Yamaki ordered. Tera moved to from her
position behind one of the monitors and over to a computer, where she began
punching in buttons. The room began to glow, the computers began giving off
a strange purple light, which began to surround us. "Now, I can send you
guys into the digital world, but your data will be too unstable to really
choose a location, so I can't say where you guys will arrive." Yamaki
explained. We starred at him from inside the purple light, as our bodies
grew lighter and lighter. I looked beside me at Guilmon, who starred at the
light in awe. I watched him, as his body became transparent, looking at my
hands I noticed that it wasn't just Guilmon, all of us were fading out.
Still my body grew lighter, as if gravity was repelling us.

Meanwhile, back in the woods of yet another world.

Why must my luck always go sour? Am I not allowed to live with what I want?
Must I lose everything that matters? The thoughts shot through my mind as I
began to lose hope. I kept running along the dirt path, with Moonshade
struggling for her life. I shifted her body over to my other shoulder, but
kept running. The shrine should be up ahead, and he should all ready be
there. My magic is not strong enough to save her, but his, his magic can
save her. I turned off of the dirt path, and into a clearing. Coming to a
stop I studied the shrine. A bronze lion sat before me, with many offerings
lied before it. The statue shined in the sunlight, another god for us lesser
beings to worship.
"Cort. Please.help me." Cried Moonshade. I lay her on the ground and
crouched over her, trying to focus my energies, trying to save her with
another spell. But nothing worked, my magic was exhausted from that last
miracle. But still I tried, once again calling upon the gods for help, for
mercy. Begging them to show her the mercy that the creatures of her world
had denied her. I reached my hand down, grabbing her hands. She tried to
look at me, but her head wouldn't turn, her eyes wouldn't focus. Tears
continued to pour from her eyes as she called my name, begging me to make
the pain stop.
"You! Giant! What are you doing?" Called a voice from behind me. I spun
around, hoping to se the emperor, but no such luck. Instead there stood
three more of these short men, all bald, all wearing the same brown robes,
monks of this god. "Sir. Have you come to pray to Samyar?" The monks moved
towards me, not seeing Moonshade. My mind began to panic as my body started
to shake, I could feel tears pressuring behind my eyes. And as the oldest
monk placed his hand on my shoulder I gave him his answer.
"Prayer will not help me. The gods have forsaken me." I replied. The monks
moved around me, all of their eyes falling on Moonshade. They waited, each
one giving a silent prayer.
"Sir. What are you doing with that creature? Have you slain the demon?" I
rose to my feet as my blood began to boil once more. I didn't have time for
this! I rose to my feet, drawing my hammer. The monks recoiled, not running,
yet. I heaved my hammer over my shoulder, and swung it around at the monks.
But before my hammer struck them they burst into flame, screaming for mercy
from the gods. A small chuckle met my ears, as the men melted into puddles,
my eyes saw a figure standing on the bronze lion. The emperor. Dressed in
his dark clothes, with his purple cape, and his purple glasses. The men's
screams died down, as they became no more then a puddle, with a few scorched
bones.
"Mortals who worship gods will never know the powers the gods contain. He
chuckled, hopping from the statue, and moving over to me.
"Sir. please she's dying." I informed him, gesturing to Moonshade. He
walked to the puddles of flesh, closing his eyes he concentrated his powers.
"I know, I have been following you since you exited the tunnels." I watched
as the puddles began to boil, as spirits were pulled from the remains of
their bodies. I stood in shock, he was there, but didn't save her. Will he
save her now? Or just stand by and watch her die. The three souls cried out
for their god, as the emperor sucked them in, breathing them in as if they
were merely smoke.
"Sir?" I questioned. He turned to face me, his eyes glowed with that purple
haze, the haze that seemed to emit from him when he grew angered.
"O yes Cortez, I was there. You see it was magic that guided the archers
shot to her, he was such a horrid shot." I stood there lost in thought, not
angry but simply confused. "You see, you needed to kill them, for each body
that drops dead, I can gain their soul, and gain powers much farther then
any mortal can dream." He walked past me, chuckling to himself. He
approached Moonshade, who was now quaking, and gasping for air. I could feel
her soul, being parted from her body, she was mere seconds away from death,
and he. He doesn't wish to save her? "You see Cort-" He continued, as the
purple haze spread from his eyes, wrapping around his body and lifting him
from the ground. "The power that I gained, just from the horde that you
fought was incredible, but the screams and fear of their family, as they
watched me feast on the souls, that was the true pleasure. I turned to face
him, not wanting to sit here and wait for her to die.
"Sir, she needs your help." I informed him. He turned, looking down at me
as the haze continued to lift him up, so that he could touch the lower limbs
of the trees.
"My Cort, have you fallen for this creature?" I felt him probe his magic
into my mind, searching for his answer, I didn't dare fight it. "You fool.
Love is a weakness, and we can not afford to have any weaknesses." He turned
away, looking into the woods.
"No. Love is not a weakness." I began, searching for what to say next. "You
sent me here to get this creature, why do you now jest as she rides on the
brim of death?" The haze began to vanish, lowering him to the ground, but
his eyes continued to glow.
"She must die." He spoke. The words rang through my mind. I could feel the
anger turn to grief, sadness, and pain. Everything that I hold dear has been
ripped away from me, my wife, child, even my world, and now my new love.
"Your grief. It's so strong. So pleasing." He spoke, closing his eyes and
resting in my grief. I bent over her body, feeling a tear fall from my eye,
all at once her body stopped, as she fell into death. "Cort, even the
greatest warriors shed tears, don't hold it in, left your grief flow out,
let it out, and allow me to feast on it." He spoke, not seeing me cry, but
sill knowing that I was. I looked over at him, his eyes continued glowing,
even through his eyelids.
"Why. Why did you send me here, why did you send me here knowing that I
would love her, only to kill her?" I questioned, rising to my feet, I
approached him. He turned to face me, opening his eyes, and rising up to
meet my eyes. The haze stretched out to me. I feared its touch, but would
not allow my body to recoil from it.
"Cort. We are a team, I allow you to feel these cursed emotions because I
must eat, but each time I always repay you." The haze stopped, inches away
from me. I continued starring into his eyes, once again lost in his words.
"The mind and body are shields for the soul, the soul can not be free until
both are broke, and both can not be broke at the same time. Her body is
broke, her mind is breaking, and the best time to repair a body is when it
won't resist." The purple haze wove its way around me, never touching me,
and he made his way over to Moonshade.
"So. You will save her?" I questioned. He nodded his head as the purple
haze disappeared. Crouching down beside her he began to speak, mumbling in a
language that I couldn't understand. The haze in his eyes disappeared as he
touched her, it wrapped around them both, and slowly disappeared. The
emperor rose to his feet, and stepped aside from Moonshade.
"All that she needs is a little of your magic, concentrate and finish the
spell." He instructed. I stepped beside him, looking down at Moonshade, and
tried once more to weave a spell, concentrating with all my might on her,
her body, the way she talked, walked, the look in her eyes when we met. The
sorrow in her eyes when she told her tale.
"Cort. Don't let me die." She whispered. I stopped concentrating, and looked
down at her. She was asleep, but breathing. All that remained was a scar on
her neck. The Emperor placed a hand on my shoulder as he began to glow with
the haze once again.
"Good, very good. Now let us return home." He spoke. The haze wrapped around
him, Moonshade, and then me. It was cold, not just on my skin, but it swept
through my mind, chilling my soul. I flinched as a scream erupted in my ear,
and when I opened my eyes, we were no longer at the shrine. The haze
retreated from us, remaining only on the emperor, lifting him off of the
ground. My eyes strained to see where we were, but all I could see was the
haze, all that met my eyes was darkness.
"Go, rest. Tomorrow we have much to discuss." He ordered, with a wave of his
hands light spilled behind me. I turned around, looking down a long dimly
lit hallway, the only light came from the occasional torch hanging from the
wall. I scooped Moonshade from the ground, and started down the hall.

At Yamaki's tower

Light spilled into the room, it grew brighter and brighter, burning my eyes.
I threw up my hands, shielding my eyes from the light. And suddenly it got
dark. I lowered my arms, I was no longer in the tower, or with the others.
It was night, and I was in some forest.
"Renamon!" I hollered. My voice echoed through the forest, but I got no
reply. "Renamon!" I tried again. Did we rejoin only to be split up once
again? I looked around, hoping to see Takato or Henry, but no one was with
me. "Renamon!" I hollered. I began moving through the darkness, searching
for the others.
"Rika!" A voice cried out. I began moving towards the voice, rushing through
the shrubs and other weeds.
"Renamon, is that you?" I cried out. I paused, waiting for a reply. But all
I got was a soft thud to my left.
"Rika, I'm here." Renamon whispered. I turned around, but all that I could
see was darkness. She grasped my hand, whispering to me. "The others aren't
here. We need to rest for the night." I nodded my head in agreement.
"But where?" I questioned. She began walking in the darkness, pulling me
behind her.
"There's a small clearing this way, with a pond, it should provide us a good
place to sleep." She continued. It felt good to have her back, to have her
at my side once again, but I couldn't shrug off the curiosity about what
happened to her why I was gone, but it's best that I don't ask now. We broke
through the brush entering a small clearing.
"Stay here Rika, I will gather some firewood." As she spoke I smiled in the
darkness, it felt really good to have her back. She stopped, waiting for me
to answer.
"Yeah, sure." I answered.

Elsewhere

I pulled myself to my feet, shaking off the cold, and tried to see where I
was. I was in some kind of a forest, but the trees are blocking the
moonlight. Reaching my hands out, I began moving in the darkness, not
knowing what I was searching for. My mind continued to wander, to my family,
my home and my friends that I'd never see again, but ultimately every
thought led to Renamon, and what I did to her. I froze as voices met my
ears. I couldn't make out any words, but there were two people up ahead. I
moved closer, being careful not to make a sound. Reaching the end of the
woods, I could see the figures in the moonlight, on the other side of the
pond were Renamon, and a girl, that I assume is Rika. Renamon dashed out of
the clearing and Rika turned to the pond, I watched silently as she starred
at me, but not noticing me. I. wanted to go to her, but I would only make
matters worse. So I sat there and watched. I crept around the pond, staying
in the shadows, until Rika and I were at the same end of the pond. It felt
good to be near someone, I didn't want to be alone again. But it also hurt
to be near her, just by looking at her face I knew that she was thinking
about Renamon.
I sat there, watching her, as she watched the moon. And before I knew it
Renamon was back in the clearing and she and Rika were working on getting a
fire started. I hide behind a tree as a flame began to burn in their pile of
twigs, and in about three minutes they had a nice size fire going. Its
warmth called to me, tempting me to come closer, but I couldn't bring myself
to do it. I sat there in the dark, watching my breath turn to fog, the only
sound was the crackling fire, but I sat there, closing my eyes as I began to
cry.