Disclaimer: I don't own any parts of the Yu-Gi-Oh, Digimon or Pokémon franchises. All copyrighted materials belong to the appropriate owners. This is a non-profitable story, written purely for entertainment.
Blank, The Memory Game
.: A Tactless Tales Production :.
Chapter 2
Decisions, Ash…
"She's succeeded."
"I know, Kaiba." Rika contemplated with arms crossed above her chest. Distracted lavender eyes barely acknowledged the other presence in the room, staring blankly at the ancient symbols carved into the bronzed walls. One question surfaced from her pool of gathered thoughts. Did the little runt really have enough backbone to go through with the sacrifice?
"You realise," Kaiba dropped his arms to his sides and turned to her. "He will be searching for you."
Of course she knew this already. She had no response for his redundant information.
"And he's destined to defeat you upon his return."
She chuckled at this. Kaiba's affinity for myths and legends grew more ridiculous by the second. Was he aware of how much he offended her choice of allies every time he spoke this way? She turned to him, sincerity plagued in her chilly gaze. "Why must you always persist in believing that nonsense? The mere fact that he had to be revived pokes at the flaws in your faith."
Kaiba folded his arms and shut his eyes. She could tell he was re-thinking his precious scriptures, shifting and churning its words to keep it in line with his sense. One wrong prediction should've been enough to blemish the trust he had in it. But instead, he chose to dance around the many potholes in the text, stubborn to open his eyes to the truth around him, pointlessly deceiving himself in his desperation to be right.
A corner of his lips lifted. His eyes dawned with a new realisation. It looked promising. "We'll see."
She should've expected as much. He turned away, white cape whipping around behind him. "Are you going to find him?" She stopped him in his stride.
"Have you already forgotten that I'm no longer under your order?" He said, not turning to face her. "My whereabouts are none of your concern."
"Kaiba," she stopped him again. "The Digital World was in perfect order before you arrived and polluted it with your monsters. As you've so dearly pointed out, you're of no use to me anymore. You may take your leave of this place now. And don't forget to take all your filth with you." She lowered her eyes. "I suspect you can accomplish that with your own free will. I'm not interested in getting involved, and I'm sure you wouldn't want that either."
Kaiba remained still, thinking for a minute before walking away silently.
ooOOoo
Ash had a look of worry in his eyes as he investigated the card in his hand. The brownish-orange texture inside its thick, black border represented more than just a colour. Cards of this nature were categorised as 'Effect Monsters'. How could his best friend ever be categorised as a 'monster'?
Like any other Duel Monsters card, this one possessed three blocks of information. The centre block held the card's visual description. The image of a round, yellow face stared back at him with small blackberry eyes. Two rosy patches decorated its puffy cheeks. He imagined that's where most girls drew the idea that it was cute. Its narrow, black-tipped ears stood in 'v' form, pointing upwards toward the top block of information.
"Pikachu…" He read the name in a longing whisper. One moment he was sleeping peacefully by Ash's ear, the next he was trapped in this frame of thin cardboard. No matter how much he thought of it, Ash knew he wouldn't understand how it all happened.
Rather than looking at the problem, he had to consider solutions; even if the only solution insight seemed selfish?
What she proposed was a trade off, one damned fate for another. Ash didn't know any soul that deserved to be in Pikachu's situation, least of all Pikachu. But his life promise to protect his Pokémon meant that didn't matter.
He glanced over the card once more then lifted his eyes. His hand balled into a fist. His mind was made up. He placed the card face down on top of his deck before pocketing the small box holding the pack of cards.
ooOOoo
Ancient riddles were carved into the curved walls of the room, depicting olden day customs and tales. Or at least that's what Ash always thought of the Egyptian drawings and symbols. They said that the civilizations that lived back then were primitive but this evidence proved otherwise.
He shook his head. His focus was misled. What he should've been worried about was the prominent figure at the centre of the golden shrine.
A purple cloak was draped down its unmoving form and over its heels. As Ash climbed the short staircase that led to her, he realised she wasn't that tall at all. They were in fact roundabout the same height, his league cap adding a little extra to his five-foot-four stature.
Even as he came within steps of her presence, she hadn't made her awareness obvious. For some reason, it didn't seem right to interrupt the silence just yet. He held a wrist beneath his waist and simply marvelled at the circular chamber before his eyes came back to rest at her.
Her auburn hair was shaped neatly behind her ears, a bun tied high up with spiky tips pointing to the ceiling behind her. "So you've made up your mind," she concluded, lifting her head a little.
Ash flinched at the abrupt start, but quickly realised that the teenage girl's voice was nothing to fear. She seemed calm enough. He waited for her to turn and face him, but it never came. "Yeah, I-I'll … do it," he said, not accustomed to talking to a person's back. "But only if you promise to free Pikachu like you said you would!"
He almost quivered as she slowly turned to him. Her movements were slow, yet unexpected. A cascade of reddish-brown locks hovered about her brow, the tips barely touching her thin eyebrows. She had two long bangs falling before her ears; one dedicated to each ear. Her lavender eyes conveyed little emotion, concealing all but a calm severity in her firm gaze.
"Succeed, and I will." Her lips appeared to be the only flexible part of her face.
Ash considered her expression. Her face was of a faint scarlet complexion. Seeing as her words came calm and her tempo smooth, he could only assume it was her natural tone and not an indication of anger or some other emotion. He nodded, though still a little unsure of something. "But, how do I know you can even help me at all?" he was almost afraid to ask.
"Are you not aware of who I am? I'm the Digimon Queen," Rika informed him matter-of-factly. "Know this, and you know I can help you."
Well, it was the only hope he had. He couldn't afford not to believe her. "Okay then," he nodded.
End of Chapter 2