I don't own Digimon.
A/N: We're starting to get closer to the end of Kara's Spirit Chip arc. I'm excited!
Following the Footsteps of Destiny
Chapter 307: Darkness Reborn
Takara 'Kara' Kamiya
Cyber, Western Hemisphere, Digital World
The walls felt like they were closing in around her, but despite her claustrophobic surroundings, Takara remained seated with her head down and her arms wrapped around her knees. Though her heart was bound by the shadows searching for a way to get inside, she didn't feel at all afraid. For the first time in a while, her head was blissfully silent, and keeping her eyes closed, she allowed herself to drift in the empty void where her thoughts used to gather, those musings all but forgotten. Deep inside the darkness of the cave, it was quiet and peaceful, and despite the fact that she was alone, she had no desire to leave the confines of her self-inflicted prison.
There are no expectations here. I don't have to worry about failure or being left behind...
The ground was hard and dry, and burying her face further into her knees, Takara wrapped her arms a little more tightly around her legs to block out the dim light attempting to sneak its way past her defences. She was neither cold nor hot, and there was no breeze or the sound of water dripping in the distance to disturb the silence in the air.
It was exactly what she had been looking for all along.
The perfect place to hide.
Here, I don't have to prove myself to anyone. I don't have to live up to someone else's ideal. It's too hard trying to be something I'm not. I just want to rest. I just want to sleep...
It was a wonderful idea. Better to sleep forever than to deal with all the problems that awaited her outside the cave.
Nobody knows I'm here. I can finally be alone.
Drifting in the darkness was easy, and without anyone else to worry about, she no longer felt a strong desire to make everything right. After all, the others would be fine without her. They were more than capable of saving themselves. They didn't need her.
I doubt they ever needed me.
But if that was true, then what was that sound? Was it a voice calling from the distance?
Who would be calling for me? Nobody cares about having me around. I'm not helpful or useful...
Whoever it was, the sound was starting to annoy her, and slowly lifting her head, she squinted suspiciously into the darkness. As far as she could tell, there was nobody in the cave with her, and yet the voice continued to call her name from somewhere far away. At first, she was tempted to follow it, but before she could do so another voice that was much closer began to whisper quietly in her ear. This voice was an incessant hiss that sounded much more sinister than the previous voice, which had sounded warm and full of love. Despite that, though, for some reason she didn't feel at all afraid. This new voice had much more presence, and before she knew it, she was answering its call.
What do you want?
"Come, take a walk with me..."
Takara wasn't sure what made her do it, but before her mind could fully register what was happening she found herself slowly climbing to her feet. Previously, the cave had appeared completely closed off from the outside world, but as her eyes strayed to the east, she spotted a narrow passage that seemed to lead further underground. The harsh voice in her ear was telling her to take that path, and moving almost as if in a trance, she slowly headed for the exit.
The further she went, the less she could hear the first voice crying out desperately in the distance, and following the path she slowly found herself moving through a series of mid-sized caves. The first few were empty, but upon entering the fourth one, she froze, her eyes widening in shock. In this particular cave, she found herself gazing at Daichi Motomiya, but he wasn't alone. Her friend, Megumi Takayama, was with the goggle-headed leader, and the two of them were holding hands.
"See? He's already moved on without you."
"No," Takara whispered, her eyes beginning to fill with tears. "That's not true. He wouldn't do that to me."
He wouldn't hurt me like that...
As far as she could tell, both Dai and Megumi didn't even seem to realise she was there, and a moment later they faded away, leaving nothing but wisps of dark smoke behind in their wake. Not once had either of them looked in her direction, and standing there all by herself, she suddenly felt cold and very alone.
"Keep going..."
Unable to stop herself, Takara continued on down the next narrow path, and entering a new chamber, she came face to face with her family. Taysuke and her parents were seated around the table together, but despite the fact that her chair was empty, they didn't seem to notice. Instead, they continued to laugh and joke over dinner, acting for all the world as if she had never been part of the family to begin with.
"They don't need you either. They're quite happy having just a son rather than a troublesome daughter."
"That's a lie! I know my parents love me! That's why they're so worried about me!"
"Are you sure? They don't look worried, and your brother has enough friends. He doesn't need a sister..."
"Stop it!"
Immediately, the heartwarming scene around the table vanished, and rubbing her arms to ward off the sudden chill, Takara quickly scrubbed at her eyes to brush away her tears. Though she had no desire to see anymore, the path continued on, and from what she could tell, the further she travelled, the thicker the darkness grew.
"We're not done yet. There's still more..."
Takara didn't want to listen to that voice anymore, but for some reason she couldn't seem to stop herself from doing so. Before she could even comprehend what was happening, she was already moving into the next chamber, and this time she found herself watching her five closest friends, who were hanging out together after school. Daichi, Ryoko, Sam, Mickey, and Matty were all lounging around what appeared to be Dai's living room, and there was a girl with them who was very clearly a part of their circle. She was laughing and enjoying herself just as much as the rest of the group, and though Takara had never seen the other girl before, that didn't make the message any less clear.
It didn't matter who the girl was. That female hanging out with her male friends wasn't her, and that emphasised the message loud and clear.
"You are replaceable. Anyone would do."
Takara quickly shook her head in denial, and burying her face in her hands, she mumbled, "You're just trying to trick me like Matty."
"Continue on, and you will see..."
That was the last thing Takara wanted to do, but as the faces of her friends vanished into thin air, she left their lingering presence behind and proceeded into the next chamber. This cave was full of people, and it didn't take her long to realise it was filled with all the members of the Digidestined and their families.
The only person missing was her, and not a single person in the room seemed to realise that she wasn't among them.
Am I really not needed?
"From Takahiro Kuroki's team to Daichi Motomiya and those who follow him. There are more than enough Digidestined, and they have their families to support them. Your presence is not required. They don't need your help to save the Digital World."
"I don't believe that! I can still be useful!"
"You are nothing but a burden to them..."
Takara wanted to protest, but thinking back on their earlier fight with DarkAngelicmon and Encantamon, she couldn't deny there was some truth to that statement. Her panic and loss of reasoning had definitely contributed to their lack of coordination in battle, even if she didn't want to admit it. If it hadn't been for her, could they have ultimately won that fight?
They were feeding off my fear and anxiety. If it wasn't for me, none of that would have happened...
"You're starting to see the truth. You're almost there."
Takara had seen enough, but even though she had reached her limit, her feet refused to cooperate with her desperate mind. On she went to the next chamber, and stepping inside, she was forced to endure the image of her digimon partner playing with some other human. It was a different girl from the one who had been hanging out with her friends, which had no bearing on the scene playing out before her. The girl's appearance was irrelevant. What mattered was the fact that Dovemon wasn't hers, and she wasn't a Digidestined.
"It doesn't have to be you. Any human would do as long as they meet the requirements. You are not special. You are replaceable. Dovemon doesn't need you. Any partner would make her happy..."
"No!"
The protest burst from her mouth in an agonising scream, and dropping to her knees, she quickly squeezed her eyes shut to block out the image of her digimon partner. The whole time she sat there rocking back and forth, the voice continued to whisper in her ear, leaving her unable to resist its call. The darkness was starting to scare her, and covering her ears, she whispered, "Go away."
"We will never go away. We are a part of you. If you want to silence us, you must overcome yourself."
Takara slowly opened her eyes, and upon discovering she was alone again, the breath she had been holding escaped from her mouth in a strangled gasp.
It wasn't peaceful here, and it definitely wasn't quiet. Even now, that terrible voice continued to taunt her, and try as she might, it refused to go away no matter how much she attempted to ignore it. Being alone was terrible, and even if she was a failure, she didn't deserve to be forgotten.
I need you. Mom...Dad...Dovemon...Dai...
They were all out there, her friends included. She needed all of them, even if they didn't need her.
Where are you? All of you. Please, find me...
As she sat there in the darkness with her arms wrapped around her legs and her face buried against her knees, she thought she heard that voice again. The warm and loving voice that was trying so hard to reach her. It was the voice of somebody she knew. Somebody she cared about.
Somebody she wanted so desperately to save...
Sora Kamiya
Cyber, Western Hemisphere, Digital World
Despite how much she wanted to hurry, Sora knew they needed to be careful while moving through the narrow corridors leading them closer to the central chamber, and squinting through the green mist leaking out of the pipes lining the walls, she called out, "I assume we must be getting pretty close now that we can see the effects of the Spirit Chip more clearly?"
"That's correct," Izzy called back from the front of the group. "The green light has definitely gotten brighter, and you can see the mist coming off the water. Judging from our position on the map, we'll be arriving at the central chamber soon."
Those words should have been a source of comfort, but instead they only made her feel even more anxious. There was no telling what kind of position Takara was in, and the thought of what could be transpiring without her knowledge scared her.
My daughter needs me, but instead of being by her side, I'm always racing to catch up. I've blamed myself for it, but I know that's not the right thing to do. All this time, I've been taking her strength and confidence for granted, thinking that she's left me behind. I realise now how wrong I was. No matter how strong we think we are, we always need somebody beside us. She needs me as much as I need her, and even if we haven't said so in words, the truth is, we've been walking hand in hand this whole time...
Because the secret to great strength and confidence came from being surrounded by the love and acceptance of those who would never give up on you, even if you gave up on yourself.
Kara...please...Let us be the strength of your resolve...
"Do you guys really think DarkAngelicmon's okay?" Mickey asked, glancing nervously over his shoulder as they made their way through a large chamber that was filled with thick, green mist.
They were taking a slightly different route from the one Spritemon had chosen, since according to Izzy it would shave off a little bit of time, and keeping his eyes on the path up ahead, the computer expert said, "He didn't appear to be injured, if that's what you're worried about."
"He's fine," Celestimon grumbled, pouting at the older twin. "It wasn't like I was aiming for his heart or anything."
Mickey didn't appear convinced, and exchanging a look with his own partner, who was clinging tightly to his neck, the older twin said, "Are you sure?"
"Of course I'm sure! I can sense him, remember? He's already back on his feet again and following after us. I was just trying to protect you!"
Mickey's face immediately softened, and holding out his arms, the older twin said gently, "I know, and I really appreciate it. I just don't want to see you getting all upset just for my sake."
"Like partner, like digimon," Halomon joked, smiling in amusement as Celestimon immediately cuddled himself into Mickey's arms.
"You're all nothing but trouble," Matty grumbled, wrinkling his nose at the trio. "Seriously, and that includes DarkAngelicmon. Back me up here, Sam."
"Well, I have to admit, it's kind of hard to argue that," the raven-haired Digidestined replied, giving Mickey a look.
The older twin blushed under Sam's intense gaze, and rolling his eyes at them, Ryoko turned to Izzy and said, "Are you sure this is going to take us to the same entrance Spritemon used to reach the central chamber?"
"Quite certain. It connects to the same path she used. And a word of caution, Sam. Careful with your D-Coder. You don't want to blind yourself now that the light's getting really bright."
Sam immediately turned the screen on his Digivice towards the ground to soften the glare, and studying the raven-haired Digidestined for a moment, Sora had to admit she was curious about the subtle change in his behaviour towards the twins. Sam seemed unusually protective of Mickey, almost to the point of coming across as a bit harsh, and while he didn't appear necessarily wary of Matty, there was something about his behaviour that suggested he didn't want to risk getting on the younger twin's bad side. It was an interesting set of reactive behaviours she had never witnessed from the raven-haired boy before, and the possible reasons for the unexpected change in his attitude intrigued her. A quick glance at Ken indicated that his son's most recent behaviour hadn't gone unnoticed, but as of yet the former Emperor had chosen to keep his thoughts on the matter to himself, likely due to the fact that he was prioritising the situation with Dai and Kara over mere speculation for the time being.
As should I. There'll be time enough to worry about Sam and the twins later.
"Let's keep moving," Tai urged, the determination in his eyes indicating he was ready to face whatever was waiting for them up ahead. "We don't have time to slow down."
Mickey quickly nodded in agreement, and looking guilty for having brought the party to a halt, the older twin quickly hurried forward with Halomon in his arms to join Izzy, Tentomon, and Centarumon at the front of the group.
Sam, Matty, Ryoko, and their digimon were following along behind, and glancing over her shoulder to make sure Matt, Ken, Gabumon, and Wormmon were still bringing up the rear, Sora turned to her husband and said softly, "What did you say to him?"
"I kind of want to know, as well," Dovemon butted in, her large eyes glimmering with curiosity.
Tai shrugged, and glancing at Agumon, the former leader said, "Just saying my thanks."
"Did he actually accept it?" Biyomon asked, sounding surprised.
Tai looked thoughtful for a moment, and then smiling, the former leader said gently, "I think so."
"Sounded like acceptance to me," Agumon agreed.
Sora couldn't help smiling in return, and once again taking her husband's hand, they quickly picked up their pace to match the rest of the group. As they moved through narrow chambers and large rooms with water flowing through them like a series of interconnecting canals, the emerald mist continued to assault their eyes and obscure their vision. All along the walls, the glowing green pipes lit their way, and the strange beams of light running between the pipes only emphasised the importance of what was waiting for them at the end of their journey.
Takara, Daichi, and the Spirit Chip.
"We're almost there!" Centarumon called out, gesturing towards a doorway up ahead. "This connects with the passage Spritemon and Takara passed through earlier."
"If we go east a little ways and then north, the path should end at the central chamber," Izzy confirmed, pausing just inside the entrance to the corridor before turning to address Sam. "I assume your D-Coder confirms this?"
"It does," the raven-haired boy agreed, making his way to the front of the group. "Let's get going. I bet Dai's going to be real glad to see us."
"I know I'll be glad to see him!" Glowmon exclaimed, his small body beginning to glow with sudden happiness.
Sora couldn't have agreed more, and giving her husband's hand a quick squeeze, she quickly followed after Izzy and the others, her heart beginning to pound frantically in her chest. By the time they reached the intersection that would allow them to turn north, they were practically running, and feet pounding against the floor as they broke into a full on sprint down the north corridor, they burst through the utility door at the end and stumbled into the chamber that stood beneath what had to be the very centre of the underwater city. At least, that was her impression, judging from the map on Izzy's laptop. It was far from the castle, which was to the west, and pausing to catch her breath, she took a moment to study her surroundings.
The room was massive, and studying the glowing panels, instruments, and equipment that were set up throughout various parts of the large chamber that were unfamiliar to her, she figured this was where they regulated the flow of water. Surprisingly, the light was dim compared to the previous few rooms they had passed through, though it was definitely tinged with an obvious green glow. Something about the atmosphere made the waterway as a whole feel as ancient as it likely was, and yet the long crisscrossing beams of light lining the walls also created a bit of a futuristic vibe. Somewhere in the distance, she could hear the faint sound of running water, and all around them the green mist coming from the barrier surrounding the Spirit Chip was hovering faintly in the air. Despite the sound of their heavy breathing, the room felt eerily silent, and though nothing appeared out of the ordinary, she felt instantly like something wasn't right.
Where are Dai and Kara?
"There are four entrances leading into this cavern, including the one we took," Izzy informed them, pausing to let his eyes adjust to the change in lighting. "Everybody stay on your toes."
Together, they stood huddled in a large group just inside the door, and rubbing his hands over his arms as if he was cold, Matty said, "This place looks super weird."
"Plus, it's way too quiet for my liking," Gabumon commented, glancing up at his partner. "What do you think?"
Matt's expression was rather subdued, and crossing his arms over his chest, the former musician said, "I think I agree with Izzy. Something doesn't feel right. We'd better tread lightly."
So it's not just me.
Upon closer inspection, Sora could tell the others looked just as anxious as she felt, and pointing towards something that was closer to the centre of the room, Ken said sharply, "What's that over there?"
"Whatever it is, it looks like there's some sort of blue light coming from it," Alopemon replied, his tail swishing softly against the damp floor. "Think we should check it out?"
"As much as I would prefer not to, I suppose we'd better," Tentomon sighed, moving closer to his partner for comfort. "Dai really should learn to be more careful."
Sora couldn't help smiling at that, and ruffling her feathers, Biyomon scolded, "Stop complaining. Are both Dai's and Kara's signals still coming from this room?"
"Definitely," Ryoko confirmed, holding up his D-Coder for emphasis. "Come on, let's go check it out."
Sora quickly pulled Dovemon into her arms, and as they slowly approached the blue light, she realised it was coming from something that looked like a giant glowing sphere. It appeared to be elevated on a pedestal, and letting out a gasp, Mickey whispered, "I think there's someone inside it."
"Not someone," Tai said grimly, the sphere reflecting brightly in his dark eyes. "One person and one digimon. That's Dai and Embermon."
Dai!
Before Sora could stop him, the former leader raced towards the sphere without any regard for his own safety, leaving the rest of them no choice but to follow. The sound of their pounding footsteps echoing across the large chamber must have alerted Dai to their presence because the goggle-headed leader suddenly looked up, his eyes widening in surprise. Immediately, he moved towards the edge of the sphere, and calling out to them, Dai shouted, "Tai! Guys!"
Tai collapsed against the front of the sphere, and attempting to catch his breath, the former leader said quietly, "You are safe. He kept saying you were, but..."
"You don't even need to explain," Dai sighed, crouching down so they were closer to eye level with each other. "I already know who you're talking about. You have no idea how glad I am to see you guys."
"Same to you," Mickey replied, his lower lip trembling as he moved to stand next to Tai. "We were really worried about you. How..."
Dai gently placed his hand against the sphere, and as Mickey mirrored his action, the goggle-headed leader said, "Hey, don't look at me like that. You know I'm pretty tough. Before you say anything, I know how I got here and I'm not proud of it, but that's not important right now."
"What is this thing?" Tai asked, pushing his hand lightly against the sphere. "It feels...strange."
Reaching out, Dai pressed his other hand against Tai's, and as they both watched the gel like substance moved between their palms, the goggle-headed leader said, "I assume you guys have met Encantamon?"
"That's right," Ryoko butted in, crowding close to Mickey for a better view. "Does she have something to do with this?"
"You bet she does," Embermon snorted, crouching next to Dai. "She's a real piece of work."
Did she make this...thing specifically to keep Dai trapped? I'm assuming that's what it's doing since he's still stuck inside it.
Izzy must have come to the same conclusion, and looking intrigued, the computer expert said, "I'm going to make an educated guess and say this is her work?"
"Bingo," Dai replied, wrinkling his nose in disgust. "It's some kind of water-based attack that she's using to trap us in here. We've tried everything we could think of to escape, but nothing's worked so far. I've been stuck in here this whole time. They only let me out every once in a while, and when they do I'm always under heavy guard. Plus, without my D-Coder..."
"They've taken it from you?" Matt asked, his golden eyebrows narrowing into a frown.
Dai nodded, and pointing towards the floor a few feet away, the goggle-headed leader said, "They've got it under lockdown inside this weird looking futuristic cylinder thing. It's hidden underneath the floor behind you guys, but so far I haven't figured out how they access it."
Izzy immediately moved to examine the floor where Dai was pointing, and squirming his way between Mickey and Tai, Matty said hotly, "Ugh, Dai! I swear, if you get yourself captured one more time-"
"Not like I'm doing it on purpose," Dai interrupted, sounding amused. "Seriously, though. Thanks for caring."
Matty immediately turned red before mumbling something under his breath, and joining her husband in front of the sphere, Sora said quietly, "Where's Kara?"
What have they done to my daughter?
At her words, Dai's expression immediately turned serious, and keeping his eyes lowered, the goggle-headed leader pointed over his shoulder and said quietly, "They moved her over there. She's near the Spirit Chip."
Something about Dai's tone caused a shiver to race down her spine, and taking Tai's hand, she slowly walked around the sphere for a better view. Across the room, she could see the pedestal where the Spirit Chip rested, and since the misty barrier surrounding it was still in place, it appeared to be safe for the time being. There was a small pool circling around the pedestal, and the water was flowing out into small channels that likely carried it to other areas of the waterway. Takara was sitting next to the glowing green lagoon with her head buried in her knees and her arms wrapped tightly around her legs, which made her seem so small and vulnerable. The glowing green surface of the water reflected eerily off her stationary form, and upon closer inspection Sora could tell that there was something moving around her daughter's body. The longer she looked, the more it confused her, and then realising the shifting shadows swirling around the younger female's body were actually thick tendrils of darkness, her eyes widened in absolute horror.
Kara...what's happened to you? How did it come to this?
"Kara, no!" Dovemon moaned, her small body trembling in fear. "Kara, please! Can you hear me? Kara!"
"That...definitely doesn't look good," Sam murmured, moving around the sphere with the rest of the Digidestined and their partners to study Takara's unmoving body.
Dai and Embermon had also joined them on the other side of the sphere, and shaking his head, the goggle-headed leader said dully, "I've been calling out to her this whole time, but it's like she doesn't even hear me..."
Dai...
Next to her, Sora could feel the tension in her husband's body, and unable to take his eyes off their daughter, Tai said in a tight voice, "We need to get her out of there now!"
"What's going on?" Ryoko demanded, glancing at the former leader. "What's happening to her?"
"I think I might have an idea," Matt said grimly, his arm going around Tai's trembling shoulders for support.
Before anybody could ask the former musician what he meant by that, and new voice coming from behind them said in a mocking tone, "I bet you do. A nice little blast from the past, am I right?"
Sora whirled around to face the unwanted intruder, and clenching her hands into fists, she cried, "What have you done to my daughter?"
"Why does everyone keep blaming me for this?" Spritemon complained, tossing her head. "How many times do I have to say it? The girl did it to herself."
"Even if that's true, no doubt you helped fuel the fire," Ken said quietly, stepping forward to confront the little pixie digimon. "I wouldn't celebrate just yet. Kara is much stronger than you think she is."
Ken's right. I know that better than anyone. My daughter would never let it end like this!
Spritemon casually leaned against the pedestal that was keeping the sphere elevated above the ground, and raising her eyebrows, the little pixie said, "We'll see about that."
"You're just lucky I'm stuck in this dumb sphere," Dai shot back, the intense look in his dark eyes shining through the walls of his glowing prison. "When I get out of here, you're going to wish you'd left Kara alone."
"If you get out of there," Spritemon corrected, rolling her eyes. "So now all of a sudden you're acting all lovey dovey? Maybe you should have thought of doing that before the girl ended up falling this far."
Dai...
Sora glanced quickly at the goggle-headed leader, but instead of turning red and getting all flustered over the pixie digimon's accusations, Dai simply gazed back at the female mega and said calmly, "You think I don't know I messed up? Maybe it is too late, but I won't know that until I've tried everything humanly possible to get through to her."
For a moment, there was complete silence, and then looking impressed, Matty said, "Wow, I hadn't expected you to say something that mature. Does this mean you're not being an idiot anymore?"
"Gee, thanks for the vote of confidence. Some friend you are."
"Seriously, though, you get it now, right?" Ryoko asked, his face softening at the goggle-headed leader's bold words. "You understand what we've been trying to say this whole time?"
Dai nodded, and turning to look directly at Tai, the goggle-headed leader said quietly, "Yeah, I do."
"Then let's save her together," Tai said softly, resting his forehead against the sphere. "Sound good to you?"
Oh, Tai...This is why I love you so much...
Dai's whole face immediately broke into a smile, and ignoring the barrier between them, the goggle-headed leader rested his own forehead against Tai's and said firmly, "Definitely. Listen, Tai...There's something you need to know about Yuki-"
"I hate to break up this vomit inducing moment, but you're not saving anyone," Spritemon interrupted, her lips turning up in a nasty smile. "Isn't that right, YukiOnnamon?"
So, we finally get to meet her at last.
There was a slight pause, and then a female digimon dressed in an icy blue gown suddenly glided out of the shadows, her light footsteps hardly making a sound. Judging by her appearance, she had to be a mega, and studying her long dark hair, pale skin, and black eyes, Sora felt a sudden sense of foreboding in her heart.
I've never seen this digimon before in my life, but for some reason she seems so familiar...
"So you're this YukiOnnamon we keep hearing about," Alopemon growled, his bushy tail growing rigid. "Nice of you to finally show your face."
"You talk as if we've never met before," the female digimon said smoothly, coming to a stop next to Spritemon. "Have you forgotten me so quickly?"
Huh?
"What do you mean by that?" Matty demanded. "This is the first time we've ever met you."
"Is it?" YukiOnnamon asked, her voice growing dangerously soft. "Even now I can still feel the terrible darkness from the pit seething within my body. That is not something one can easily forget."
Darkness...the pit...it can't be...
As a collective gasp echoed across the vast expanse of the cavern, Mickey whispered, "So that's what he meant. You...You're Vampiramon."