Disclaimer: I don't own Digimon.
A/N: This chapter sort of pays homage to my favorite season, Digimon Frontier. You'll all know what I mean when you read it! I feel like I'm always apologizing now for how long it's taking me to get new chapters out, but I am truly sorry, and I'm doing my best!
Following the Footsteps of Destiny
Chapter 297: The Ancient Queen
Ryoko Ishida
Cyber, Western Hemisphere, Digital World
Ryoko had to admit that traveling inside the mouth of a large whale was definitely a new experience for him, but despite their unique method of transport, the mythical city of Abacus wasn't at the forefront of his mind.
Naturally, his first concern was Takara, whose current mental state had him more than a little worried, and of course the absence of their goggled-headed leader had him feeling sick to his stomach, but on top of that he was completely flabbergasted at the ridiculous behaviour he had witnessed only moments ago from Sam and Mickey.
As far back as he could remember, the friendship between Mickey and Sam had always been nothing short of predictable, but you wouldn't have known that was the case with the way the raven-haired Digidestined had taken such offense to Mickey's attempts to get away from him. If there was one thing Ryoko had always counted on, it was the solid relationship between Sam and Mickey, but apparently even that wasn't a reliable source of comfort anymore.
I don't get it. We fix one issue, and then another one pops up. I know there's no such thing as a perfect friendship, but things are just getting way out of hand. Not like I'm one to talk, though. For years I wouldn't give Dai the chance he deserved, but now that the two of us understand each other better, I was hoping the dynamics of our team would grow stronger. Except...that's not happening. If anything, the bonds we all share as friends are constantly at war with one another. There just seem to be more and more obstacles that keep getting in our way, and the more we allow those barriers to affect us, the more tempting the darkness becomes in our hearts...
"Hey, Glowmon, mind giving us a bit of light?" Matty suddenly asked, interrupting his thoughts. "It's kind of gloomy in here."
"What were you expecting? Sunshine and fresh air?" Alopemon said dryly, his fluffy tail twitching in annoyance. "We're sitting in the mouth of a giant whale digimon, in case you've forgotten."
Matty's mature response was to stick his tongue out at the little rookie, and eager to help out, Glowmon said, "Sure, I don't mind! Luminaire!"
Immediately, the space around them lit up with a pale glow, and glancing around at the group huddled in the centre of Whamon's jaw, Ryoko was quick to make note of who was acting a bit on the unusual side. Next to him, Takara was sitting quietly with Dovemon in her lap, and every so often the female Digidestined would glance uncertainly at her parents, her expression indicating that her mind was a whirlwind of unwanted thoughts. Across from him, Sam had stubbornly seated himself next to Mickey and Halomon, and clueless of what was going on between the two, Matty and Celestimon had cheerfully occupied the space on Mickey's other side.
Takara's parents were standing off to one side with his father, Izzy, Centarumon, Ken, and their partners, and upon witnessing Glowmon's attempts to brighten the atmosphere a bit, Tai smiled and said, "It shouldn't be too long till we get there. At least that's what Centarumon says."
"Speaking of which, how are we going to breath in an underwater city?" Sam asked, glancing curiously at Izzy.
Before Izzy could reply, Centarumon stepped towards them and said in his regal voice, "The city does have plenty of oxygen. It's surrounded by a closed in dome that keeps the waters of the ocean at bay. You enter and exit the city via cylindrical tubes that intersect in a network of tunnels, sort of like a subway system in the human world. They've got some sort of fancy technology that allows them to keep oxygen levels safe inside the dome, but how exactly it works is beyond my understanding. Regardless, I can assure you that you'll be quite safe in the city, and there will be plenty of fresh air to sustain you."
"Well, that's something at least," Mickey sighed, resting his chin in his palms, his face glowing eerily in the light emitting from Glowmon's body. "What's the city itself like?"
"There are many canals weaving through the brilliant architecture of the buildings, and there are a lot of pools, ponds, and fountains scattered throughout the city. There's also enough greenery to satisfy those who live upon the land, and flowers are in abundance. It's quite an impressive sight, I must say. I think you'll quite like it."
"And the digimon who live there?" Ken asked, holding Wormmon close to his chest.
"They're all very friendly, and I think they will be eager to catch a glimpse of some humans."
Ryoko raised his eyebrows, and crossing his arms over his chest, he said, "And the queen? Gennai was pretty tight-lipped about her."
"Oh that," Centarumon laughed, shaking his head in amusement. "Let's just say she's got quite the personality. Don't let her noble elegance fool you upon first sight. She's a strong digimon, and she's got a sharp tongue to boot. Despite her bold behaviour though, she's also very kind and fair. She treats her subjects well, and they love her for it."
"Sounds kind of like Kara when you get her going," Matty joked, earning himself a gentle elbow to the ribs from Mickey.
Beside him, Ryoko made note of Kara's faint smile, and though she didn't say anything, he could tell the female Digidestined appreciated the younger twin's efforts to cheer her up.
She's trying to stay strong, but how much more can she take before her strength gives out?
If she couldn't hang on, it wasn't like Ryoko could blame her. On the outside, he knew he appeared calm, but on the inside he was sick with worry. He knew exactly how Takara felt, since they had already almost lost Dai once because of him, and it was plainly clear she was blaming herself for the goggle-headed leader's dangerous situation.
Which is why it's so important that she doesn't put that extra weight on her shoulders. That only makes things worse. I know that from experience, but how do I get that across to her without pushing her further over the edge?
It was a tricky situation, but somehow he was going to have to solve the current dilemma going through his head if he wanted to be of any use to Kara.
But how do I get her to listen to me?
"How much longer?" Celestimon asked, wriggling impatiently in Matty's lap. "I wanna see the fountains!"
"DarkAngelicmon's presence is definitely getting stronger the closer we get to the city," Halomon informed them, looking up at his partner. "I can't say for sure where exactly he is, though. The city must be huge!"
"The city itself is grand, though the population isn't that large. It's certainly not overcrowded," Centarumon informed them. "I suspect we should be arriving any minute now."
Ryoko let out a soft sigh, and putting his arm around Takara's shoulders, he once again turned his attention to Sam and the twins. Mickey was still avoiding Sam's eyes, instead choosing to converse in low tones with Matty, and staring at his knees with a frown on his face, the raven-haired Digidestined pinched his lips together as if to prevent himself from saying anything he might regret later.
They were certainly acting very oddly, but before he could think carefully on the matter, Whamon suddenly opened his mouth a bit and said, "We're here! Time to disembark!"
"Thank goodness for that," Tentomon said in relief, wilting slightly in the air. "It doesn't smell the best in here."
"Hey now, I take offence to that!" Whamon joked, pretending to sound offended.
Laughing softly, Sora said, "Come on, everyone. I have to admit, I'm curious to see what the city looks like."
"Same here!" Biyomon piped up, leaping into the air. "I wonder if they've sent someone to meet us."
"I'm quite certain they have," Centarumon stated, moving towards the opening to Whamon's mouth. "Follow me."
Ryoko quickly climbed to his feet, and following the others out of Whamon's open mouth, he almost ran into his father when he caught a glimpse of the city that stretched out beyond the holding area where several tubes connected with the city. The buildings looming in the distance looked as if they were made of a silver material that sparkled with hints of gold, and the architecture was ancient in appearance, making the city itself look as if it had been around for eons. Chances were, the archaic structures had been around longer than he could comprehend, though it was plainly clear they had advanced technology, if the materials used to create the city were any indication.
Instead of roads to drive on, all of the streets were flowing with clean water, which instantly reminded him of the beautiful canals in Italy. Along the edges of the waterways there were sparkling sidewalks to walk on for those who didn't fancy a swim, and everywhere he looked there were pools and fountains of crystal clear water gleaming in the numerous plazas that lay nestled beneath the tall buildings. As Centarumon had assured them earlier, there was plenty of greenery, including delicate white and gold flowers and large trees with silver leaves. There were also a lot of golden bridges crossing over the canals and stairways that weaved about the buildings, taking you to different levels of the city. It looked like a place where both land digimon and aquatic digimon could live comfortably, which instantly put him at ease.
Up above, a transparent dome did indeed keep the waters of the ocean at bay, allowing them a view of all the aquatic life stretching out for miles beyond. Though they must have been fairly deep underwater, somehow the light of the sun was still able to penetrate through the waters of the ocean to reach the regal city, giving them a clear view of the ocean floor beyond. It was probably due to another technological advancement he likely wouldn't understand, but that was just fine with him. He was content to enjoy the beauty of the city without needing to know all the details. How exactly it managed to thrive under water was a mystery for another day.
Wow, Centarumon wasn't kidding. This place is like something out of a fantasy novel.
Behind them, Whamon was lounging in a vast pool of water inside the holding area, which was large enough to house two of the large champion, and beyond that, Ryoko could see where the tube they had entered the city through intersected with other cylinders that weaved around the dome in a complicated roller coaster of transparent tunnels. It was a breathtaking sight, and attempting to take in his surroundings, Ryoko could do nothing but stare.
It was one of the most moments where he couldn't help feeling a bit overwhelmed by his surroundings, and though he wanted to speak, there were no words to accurately describe what he was seeing.
Everything just...shines...
"It's beautiful," Sora murmured, reaching out to take Tai's hand. "To think all this time we didn't even know it existed."
"The digimon here look pretty happy," Gabumon commented, nodding his head towards a group of Divermon, who were lounging in one of the pools close by.
Upon closer inspection, Ryoko realized Gabumon was right. All of the digimon in the area seemed relaxed and at ease with their environment, including the ones that were swimming through the canals. On the surface, it didn't appear as if there was anything out of the ordinary going on, but unfortunately looks could be deceiving.
"Who are those digimon?" Mickey asked, pointing to a group of what looked like baby digimon swimming through the canals up ahead.
"Those are Pukamon," Centarumon replied, glancing to where the older twin was pointing. "And the digimon in the pools are Divermon and Otamamon, of course. There are also a lot of Swimmon, Orcamon, Dolphmon, Crabmon, and Gomamon that live here, just to name a few, and you'll even see a few MarineAngemon floating about."
"Who's that coming toward us?" Takara asked, pointing towards an approaching dgimon. "And...uh...is he on a surfboard?"
"That would be the queen's advisor, Surfymon," Cantarumon replied, stepping forward. "He is here to greet you and to take you personally to the palace to meet with the queen."
"He looks a little...well, Matt-like," Tai joked, earning himself a raised eyebrow from the golden-haired Digidestined.
Ryoko glanced curiously at his father, who turned to Tai and said dryly, "What's that supposed to mean?"
"You know, frown on his face, lone wolf attitude, that sort of thing," Tai replied, grinning in return and earning himself a sharp elbow to the ribs.
Centarumon laughed in response to their antics, and nodding his head, the centaur digimon said, "Well, I cannot deny that is a fairly accurate description. While he may be a bit of a lone wolf with far too much pride, who prefers not to gather in groups like many of the townsfolk, the safety and well-being of the queen's citizens is his top priority. He cares more than he lets on, and he would give his own data to protect every last digimon here. It's the perfect job for him, whether he will admit it or not."
"So he's also like you, Ryoko," Matty teased, making faces at him.
Ryoko merely rolled his eyes in return, and turning his attention to the approaching digimon, he proceeded to study the aquatic draconian digimon with interest. Surfymon had to be at least an ultimate, judging by the look of him, and his armoured body was mostly blue in colouring with some hints of red and yellow. A prominent horn stuck out of his nose, and straddled on a metallic surfboard, he appeared to be a cyborg type digimon.
At this point, the digimon in the immediate area had become aware of the humans standing at the edge of the holding area, and gathering around they proceeded to whisper and point excitedly at the spectacle. Clearly they were very interested in seeing humans, and coming to a stop in front of them, Surfymon said calmly, "Good to see you back again, Centarumon. And these humans must be the Digidestined."
"That's right," Centarumon replied, giving a slight bow. "I've brought them with me just as Gennai instructed. Hopefully we can get to the bottom of what is going on here."
"The queen will be pleased," Surfymon said gruffly, pausing to take in their apparences. "She's expecting you. If you would all follow me."
"We'll do whatever it takes to make sure the city and its citizens remain unharmed," Izzy spoke up, joining Centarumon. "The less who are involved, the better."
Surfymon gave the computer expert an approving nod, and motioning ahead, he said, "That's good to hear. Follow me, the castle is this way."
"I'll be waiting here for you guys to return," Whamon called out to them, floating leisurely in the massive pool that connected the city to the network of tubes. "I might head out every once in a while to stretch my fins, but other than that I'll be around."
"Sounds great. Thanks, Whamon!" Agumon called out, waving a claw in return.
There was a series of goodbyes, and then trailing after Surfymon they proceeded to make their way towards an impressive castle that looked as if it was situated on a large hill in the distance. It seemed to rise above the tiered city itself, and it looked to be made of some sort of platinum material that sparkled with a rainbow hue.
As they passed by the townsfolk, there was a lot of pointing and whispering, and some of the digimon were even bold enough to call out greetings. Ryoko was quick to return the greetings with a friendly hello or a wave, and falling into step next to Sam, he nudged the raven-haired Digidestined and said in a low voice, "Everything okay?"
Sam had a frown on his face, and glancing at the older twin, who was walking up ahead with Matty, he said, "I guess so."
"That didn't sound very convincing," Glowmon protested, fluttering next to his partner.
Ryoko had to agree, and exchanging a look with Alopemon, who was walking beside him at a brisk pace, he said, "Don't worry about it too much. Mickey's just embarrassed. I'm sure he'll come around in a bit."
"I hope so," Sam murmured, letting out a deep sigh. "I just...I dunno. It's not like him. Something feels off."
Ryoko wasn't quite sure what to say to that, and looking past the twins, his eyes settled on Kara and Dovemon, who were walking just behind Surfymon with the adults. As much as he was concerned about Sam and Mickey, there were more pressing matters to deal with, and knowing what was going through the female Digidestined's mind at that moment, he wished he could impart some wisdom upon her.
There was no denying he was beyond frightened for Dai's safety, but at the same time he was still able to think clearly, allowing common sense and logic to guide him. That wasn't something he had been able to do before when he was at odds with the goggle-headed leader, and the result of his inability to act rationally had almost cost them Dai's life. Knowing now what he hadn't known then, he wanted Kara to be able to do the same, but that was easier said then done when she hadn't quite yet come to terms with her feelings for the goggle-headed leader. Not to mention all the other insecurities that were no doubt floating around inside her head.
But how can I show her how dangerous our feelings can be if we don't use them wisely without pushing her further away?
"The castle is so pretty!" Biyomon called out as they started up a long elaborate flight of stairs to reach the entrance to the castle. "Not to mention the view."
"Did anybody else notice the way the water in the fountains, pools, and the canals had a sort of green tinge to them?" Tentomon asked, hovering along after his partner. "Or was it just me?"
"I saw it," Ken replied, moving slowly up the steps. "If I may ask, Surfymon, is that light what I think it was?"
"If you are refering to the faint green glow that is emanating from the water here in the city then you are correct," Surfymon informed them, pausing to turn and glance at Ken. "That would be the light of the Spirit Chip that is situated somewhere beneath the city."
Normally, Ryoko was fairly quick to pick up on any oddities of that nature, but he had been so busy worrying about Sam, Mickey, and Takara that he was a little embarrassed to admit to himself that he hadn't noticed the green glow. Reflecting back on the digimon he had studied in the nearest canal as they swam along, he could recall something being a bit off, and that explained it.
I wonder what's beneath the city that would allow the light to leak out all over the place. Some sort of waterway? A system that disperses the water around the city?
"How is the glow of the Spirit Chip able to reach to all corners of the city like that?"Agumon asked, looking confused.
Surfymon turned towards the castle again, and continuing up the stairs, he said slowly, "I will let the queen explain. We have kept her waiting long enough."
Though he wanted to ask more questions, Ryoko held his tongue, and following the others through the huge golden doors leading into the castle, they moved across the shiny floor towards what he assumed would be the throne room. Inside, the great hall was massive, with silver lights and chandeliers appearing to float in midair, and glancing towards the gilded throne at the other end of the room, he froze when he spotted a beautiful female digimon that appeared to resemble a mermaid sitting in the chair. Behind her, the entire wall was a cascading waterfall, with bright windows peaking behind it. She made for quite the breathtaking sight, and bowing towards the female digimon, who had to be a mega, Surfymon said, "Presenting Her Majesty, the queen. AncientMermaidmon."
The rest of the Digidestined and their partners must have had similar thoughts, because all of a sudden Ryoko found himself bowing along with the others. Sora was the first to straighten, and taking a step forward, she said, "It's an honour to meet you, Your Majesty."
"The honour is all mine," the queen replied, inclining her head slightly. "Welcome to the ancient city of Abacus. Since the dawn of the Digital World, I have ruled over this underwater haven and all those who dwell within it, and never before has the darkness that dwells upon the surface ever breached the walls of this dome, until now. The situation has me concerned, as I'm sure Gennai must have informed you."
"Yes, he did explain the basics to us, and we're more than happy to help rectify the situation however we can," Izzy said politely, holding his laptop under his arm. "Would you mind giving us your version of what has happened so far?"
"I'd be happy to," AncientMermaidmon replied, leaning forward in her chair. "Gennai holds all of you in high regard, and from what I've heard of your past deeds here in the Digital World, I have no hesitation in admitting that the praise is well warranted."
Ryoko took a step forward, and gazing at the female mega, he said simply, "You know our whole story then."
"I know many things, including the history of the Digidestined," AncientMermaidmon said softly, her head tilting towards him. "Though we may live far removed from those upon the surface, we are not so ignorant as to ignore what goes on above our waters. The Powers of Darkness have a vast reach. We are not immune to them simply because we live beneath the sea. If I am to be the queen my subjects deserve, then I must be ever watchful over the Digital World as a whole."
"You said you've been around since the dawn of the Digital World," Ken said slowly, gazing at the female digimon with interest. "Your knowledge must be extensive. To have been around for so long...that must mean you would remember the Age of Light and the Dawn of Darkness. You would know about what happened back then."
AncientMermaidmon was silent for a moment, her unseen gaze lifting towards the elaborate crystal ceiling, and tapping her trident lightly against the side of her throne, she said in a reflective manner, "You speak the truth, but I'm afraid that is a tale for another day. What I know of the past will not help you in this current situation, especially when it comes to the Ruler of Darkness and this DarkAngelicmon of yours. Much of their past is shrouded in secrecy even from me, and I am certain that their deeds have no relation to the ancient past. To the past, yes, but not to the beginning of the age."
So in other words she's not going to tell us anything about the Age of Light or the Dawn of Darkness.
Truthfully, Ryoko was a bit annoyed, since he was curious by nature, but it made sense. Right now Dai and the Spirit Chip were their main focus, and anything related to the ancient past could wait. He had expected such a response, even if it wasn't the answer he had wanted.
Understandably, Izzy looked disappointed as well, and suppressing his urge for more Digital World knowledge, the computer expert said, "We will save that conversation for another day, if you would be so kind as to allow us to visit your city again sometime."
"Most certainly," AncientMermaidmon replied, her lips twitching into a small smile. "As I'm sure you're aware, I'm appalled at the way our enemies were so brazenly able to breach the walls of my city, and I will not let this crime go unpunished. It is truly an embarrassment, and I will not allow anyone to threaten the safety of my citizens. I am disappointed in myself for having allowed such a thing to happen. Truly after all these long years, I have let down my guard."
"It's not your fault," Mickey said earnestly, his amber eyes sparkling in the light streaming through the windows beyond. "The Ruler of Darkness isn't like any digimon we've ever seen before. He's not only ambitious, he's secretive and very intelligent. He knows what he's doing, and I think his plans are far more grand than what we know so far. Unlike Myotismon and the Dark Masters, he's a bit of a wild card, and that's what makes him so dangerous."
"And DarkAngelicmon isn't your average flunky either," Sam added, stepping up beside Mickey. "Far from it."
"Indeed, I cannot argue with you there," AncientMermaidmon replied, her tone growing thoughtful. "Gennai has told me much about this DarkAngelicmon. A digimon who used to walk with the light, a heart so strong he chose to dedicate his life to humans...For one with such a noble character, it would have taken something drastic for him to have fallen so far into the darkness."
Wait a minute...
Ryoko held his breath, and pushing past him, Takara moved to face the queen and said in a trembling voice, "Do you have any idea how such a thing could have happened?"
AncientMermaidmon was quiet for a moment, and swishing her tail back and forth, she said calmly, "There is only one scenario I can imagine that would explain how such a strong digimon could have succumbed to the darkness, and that is if he had sacrificed his soul for the sake of another."
Though there was no one else in the room other than themselves, Surfymon, and AncientMermaidmon, Ryoko couldn't help feeling as if there was something stirring inside his heart. The air seemed to buzz with some sort of electricity, and there was an odd sense of excitement to it. There was a certainty that they were so close, right on the edge of discovering the truth, and unable to look away from the female digimon, Takara whispered, "Is that possible?"
"Would you not do the same if someone you loved was about to lose themselves to the darkness?" AncientMermaidmon asked, her unseen gaze never wavering from Takara's face.
Takara's sharp intake of breath seemed to echo across the room, and placing a comfortable arm around his daughter's shoulders, Tai said firmly, "I think the answer is obvious, and there isn't a person or digimon in this room who would argue that. If what you say is true, then it's even more important for us to reach DarkAngelicmon."
"But first we need to get Dai back and find that Spirit Chip," Agumon butted in, reaching out to give Takara's leg a reassuring pat.
"Then let's get down to business," AncientMermaidmon replied, brandishing her trident. "I want those ruffians out of my city as soon as possible. I assume you noticed the faint green tinge to the waters that flow from this city?"
"We did," Ken confirmed, moving closer to stand with Izzy. "We assumed it was the light of the Spirit Chip."
"You assumed correctly. As I'm sure you've probably guessed, the waterways, fountains, pools, and canals within the dome are all connected by a vast system that redistributes water throughout the city. Because they're all connected, the light seems to travel with the flow of water, causing the glow to spread throughout the land. It's a mist like substance, which we suspect is caused by the seal surrounding the Spirit Chip to react with the water."
"So the Spirit Chip must be underground then?" Izzy asked, immediately picking up on the hint.
"That's correct. The Spirit Chip appears to be located somewhere within the vast waterway that exists beneath the city, which generates the flow of water that fills all of the archeological structures that require its use. The water creates mist, and it's that mist that seems to be reacting with the barrier, allowing the green glow to travel. If you can locate where exactly the Spirit Chip is located, you will probably find your leader. Since we have not seen them here in the city, I believe DarkAngelicmon and his allies must have already made their way beneath the city."
"They're holding Dai captive down there," Alopemon snorted, rolling his eyes. "And I bet you anything they're hoping we'll lead them to the Spirit Chip, since I can guarantee they don't know exactly where it is anymore than we do."
"They don't need us to lead them to the Spirit Chip," Matt said seriously, holding up his Digivice. "Dai's D-Coder will react with the Spirit Chip because of the Crest of Courage. They could use him to get there themselves if they wanted to, but that's not what they're aiming for, since even if they did get there before we do, they can't do anything to the Spirit Chip without Kara. For all we know they could have already reached the Spirit Chip. What's really important is the fact that they know we have Dai's signal, which will lead us right to them and the Spirit Chip, allowing them the chance to steal it. It's a petty obvious trap, but also an effective one."
"A bold plan, to be sure," Surfymon murmured, looking mildly impressed.
"It's not about secrecy this time," Centarumon sighed, shaking his head. "They have what we want, and they know we're willing to stop at nothing, including giving them the Spirit Chip, if it means getting Dai back."
"A terribly disgusting and absolutely despicable act!" AncientMermaidmon scoffed, slamming her trident into the ground, causing everybody to jump. "I shall have them skinned and sauteed for breaching the walls of my city!"
Ryoko raised his eyebrows, and grimacing slightly, Surfymon said apologetically, "Please forgive the queen. She has...er...a bit of a temper."
"Temper, my fins!" AncientMermaidmon shot back, tossing her head. "This is not the time for diplomacy, Surfymon. Our city is in danger!"
"Yes, my queen," Surfymon sighed.
Ryoko exchanged a look with Matty, who was trying hard not to laugh, and hiding his own smile, he did his best to rearrange his features into a more neutral expression. He was starting to see what Gennai had meant when the robed figure stated 'you'll see for yourself' with regards to AncientMermaidmon, and while she obviously loved her citizens, she could be a bit of a hothead when her temper got the better of her.
We'll have to make sure not to get on her bad side. Talk about scary...
"So, what's the plan?" Biyomon asked, looking up at her partner.
Izzy held up his Digivice, and motioning for everyone to gather around, the computer expert said, "We've already got Dai's signal, and judging by the faint glow, he definitely has to be somewhere beneath the city, just like AncientMermaidmon said. As discussed before, Dai is our first priority, therefore we will follow his signal first. We'll need to be cautious though, since we know we're going to be walking into a trap. Keep your eyes open and stay alert for anything that appears suspicious."
"And what do we do once we get there?" Glowmon squeaked, his large eyes growing even wider.
"We rescue Dai, of course," Tai said bluntly, his tone firm. "And we'll do whatever it takes to make that happen."
"Not much of a plan, but that's nothing new with you," Matt teased, laughing softly. "It's worked before. Why not now?"
"And then we go after the Spirit Chip?" Halomon guessed.
Tai pointed to Kara's D-Coder, which along with Sam's was glowing brightly, and said, "That's right. If they haven't already found it once we reach Dai, we follow the green light."
Sora and Izzy held out their crests, which were also glowing, and though Dai wasn't with them, Ryoko had no doubt that both the goggle-headed leader's D-Coder and the Crest of Courage that was inserted inside of it were both glowing.
"In reality we don't really have a choice anyways," Sam said, crossing his arms over his chest. "We need Dai first before we can get the Spirit Chip because we can't even break the first seal without the Crest of Courage. That seal has to be broken before anything else can be done, and to break that seal, we need Dai."
"Well that settles that then," Izzy said calmly, nodding his head. "I guess we'd better get going."
"I will have Surfymon show you the main entrance to the underground waterways," AncientMermaidmon said, lounging in her throne. "While you scour the city below, Surfymon and I will maintain watch for anything unusual from above. We will keep an eye out to make sure the citizens of Abacus remain safe."
"Sounds like a plan," Ken said, giving a small bow. "We'll be on our way then."
For some reason Takara looked frightened out of her wits, and Ryoko was quick to pick up on the female Digidestined's obvious reluctance. AncientMermaidmon must have sense something in the Takara's behaviour as well because all of a sudden she motioned for the girl to come forward.
Though she looked startled, Takara did as she was asked, and placing her hand upon the female Digidestined's head, AncientMermaidmon said gently, "Be brave, Child. Your heart will be your strength, and all will be well."
For a moment, Takara seemed unable to speak, and fighting back tears, the female Digidestined nodded once and whispered, "I will."
With that Surfymon proceeded to lead them from the throne room, and glancing back at the queen, Ryoko felt a sense of admiration. The ancient mega obviously knew Takara was the owner of the Spirit Chip, and though she could have faulted the female Digidestined for the current chaos in her realm, she had not done so. Instead, with those simple words, she had instructed Kara to walk tall, hold her head high, and fight for the one she loved, and having done so, it cemented the fact that the female mega supported their efforts.
The queen was perceptive and wise beyond the many years she had ruled a kingdom, and she knew more than she let on, but most importantly, if she was right about DarkAngelicmon, then there was still a chance they could reach the fallen angel and bring him back to the light where he belonged.