I do not own anything.
Chapter 2: My Kingdom for a Guitar
"That's it I give up." Matt said slumping back in his seat and stuffing his guitar back into his bag.
"I figured you were gonna do that." His best friend Tai said holding his back pack over his head like a shield. "Look on the bright side though at least you didn't get any…"
Matt pulled out his guitar again to show the food stains all over the instrument. Matt's face was a mask of semi-controlled fury. "I'm pretty sure it was on purpose." He said answering Tai's unspoken question.
The two where currently sitting on one of the school's tour buses as it raced back to Odaiba. Their entire grade had a field-trip scheduled to the newly built Higuchi Observatory. Everyone was excited save for Matt who saw it as simply a waste of time. That quickly changed once they actually got there, everyone stared in awe at how massive the entire facility was. The moment the tour began Matt found himself mesmerized by all that he saw, models of planets, galaxies, holograms projecting stars, and all the blue prints for rockets and space shuttles laid out before his eyes. Before he knew it he'd wondered away from Sora and Tai and the rest of the group to explore on his own.
By the time he realized he was by himself he immediately thought about turning back to find him but decided against the idea liking the quiet time he had. Eventually he did meet back up with everyone at the huge telescope they'd been talking about earlier. He'd arrived right in the middle of the lecture given by one of the astrologist.
"Did I miss anything important?" he whispered to Sora who was busy laughing alongside Tai.
"Oh!" Sora nearly jumped, surprised at seeing him. "N-Nope, nothing too important I think."
Matt simply nodded his head not saying a word. The first thing he saw when he entered the gigantic room was Tai and Sora laughing and chatting. He should have felt angry at seeing this but he couldn't, instead he felt happy seeing his two closest friends smiling. He figured they were probably together when he'd gone off on his own. Through one way or another all kinds of couples had formed to watch the stars shoot across the "sky".
The rest of the field trip went by like clockwork save for one thing, everyone was still full of energy. That was how the three hour bus ride back home became hell for everyone. Everything was being thrown from food, trash, and words. All Matt wanted on the ride home was peace and quiet, instead he found he and Tai ended up with the worse seats; right in the middle of everyone's cross fire.
"How much longer till we're back home?" Matt growled trying to wipe all the stains off his guitar.
Tai looked at his watch. "I'd say about twenty-five minutes or less."
A second later a bottle or fruit juice splashed all over Matt and his guitar. Finally reaching his limit he stood up and turned to face the unruly mess. "Hey!"
He was met with a chorus of denials and pointed fingers and a few snickers. The bearer of the Crest of Friendship glared at one boy in particular; a tan-colored with brown eyes just dripping with venomous joy.
"Kinoshita." Matt growled getting up from his seat until Tai stopped him.
"Save it for the concert." The brunette said. "Don't give him what he wants."
Deciding to take his best friend's advice Matt sat down but not before casting a deadly glare at the peach haired boy.
"Sorry about the guitar." Tai said offering him some towels to wipe the stains off.
"Don't be it's just….does this one look good enough?" Matt asked showing Tai his black, red and peach colored guitar. "Too classic?"
"Uh I really don't exactly know what to say." Tai stated. "What's the big fuss anyway Matt? You've got at least two other guitars lying around your home."
"Yeah but I want to find the right one." Matt snared at his now stained instrument. "This one has been rolled out leaving me with three others. When I show up on stage I want to look as good as possible."
"So you're saying you want people paying more attention to the instrument than you? That's fine." He joked much to Matt's chagrin.
"I'm serious here Tai. I want to blow that cackling jerk out of the water." Matt said turning his head back. "You remember all my other guitars and I need you to tell me which one looks the best."
"Can't you have Sora or T.K. do this kind of thing?" Tai whined.
"Sora's too busy with tennis practice and T.K. has been running around like crazy with Davis and the others." Matt stated.
Tai groaned into his seat. He cared about Matt and wanted him to make a splash at the Rock N' Royal but in the past few weeks he'd been taking it a little overboard no thanks to a healthy number of other bands bugging him.
Now what was the Rock N' Royal? Well as it was simply called, the ultimate battle of the bands in pretty much all of Japan. Divisions were based on age range meaning teenagers would be going up against teenagers and big-time rockers against more big-time rockers. With his popularity growing Matt's band was one of the obvious contestants. The problem was the popularity of the Teenage Wolves had also drawn a fair number of rival bands eager to take them down. One such band was Penalty, its lead singer, the cackling jerk Kinoshita Fujino, who Matt was fighting the urge to hit as hard as he could.
Well at least we don't' have some crazy digimon trying to conquer the world. He thought putting his headphones back in.
Just as he closed his eyes he heard one of his classmates in the back shout something about monsters fighting on a beach in New York City.
"Ken are you sure you're feeling okay?" Wormmon asked for what was probably the seventh time that day.
"For the last time Wormmon I'm fine." Ken said typing on his computer like there was no tomorrow.
Wormmon wasn't convinced. Ever since the news reports and calls they'd gotten from Willis Ken had been put on edge. Indeed everyone could tell the former Digimon Emperor was planning on tackling whatever new threat this was alone. It wasn't surprising, whenever it involved Control Spires Ken always felt it was his responsible to solve it. Wormmon realized that one day it was possible he was going to get himself killed so he resolved to always make sure he stayed by Ken's side.
Even when he pushed him away like he was doing now.
"Damn it!" Ken snarled banging his hand on his desk. "Nothing! Not one thing in the network or…" Ken nearly passed out in front of the computer giving Wormmon a near heart attack.
"Ken!" he said immediately rushing to his partner's side. "Ken! Ken!"
"Huh?" Ken slowly shook his head. In the corner of his eye he saw his digital clock reading thirty minutes past mid-night.
"You have to get some rest. You can figure out what's going on with everyone tomorrow but they're going to need you at your best." Wormmon stated dragging Ken's sleeping trucks before him.
Ken smiled lightly at his partner's devotion and didn't put up any argument. Once he was dressed out he all but collapsed on the bed with Wormmon curled up by his side.
He dreamt he was walking along the shoreline of a beach. The blue-haired genius had no idea how he got there, what he was doing there or even why he was walking, he only knew someone was waiting for him. The night air was chilly yet Ken didn't feel the need to wrap his arms around himself to stay warm. Eventually he came to a few rocks overlooking the water with one person sitting on top them, watching the waves rise and fall. As Ken got closer he could get a better look at the figure, it was his brother.
"Sam…" Ken breathed breathlessly.
"Ah Ken." Sam said cheerfully waving to him. "I was wondering when you were going to show up."
Still stunned Ken took a sit next to his brother and watched the waves go back and forth.
"How are you here?" Ken asked.
"I'm here because someone still hasn't paid for their sins." Sam said off offhandedly. "Someone's using your Control Spires again aren't they?"
Ken immediately went on guard at his brother's words. "H-How do you know about the Control Spires?"
"Oh ya' know, you can see a lot from the afterlife. Watch the people you care about live their lives…and screw up miserable." From out of nowhere he pulled a sparkling sea shell and held it to the moonlight. "Kind of like you little brother. Tell me, why did you build those damn things anyway?"
Ken felt his gut all but clench at the mention of his past. "I…it…it was a stupid mistake I never should have made."
Sam merely shrugged. "Still why'd you make 'em? For that matter how'd you make 'em? What'd you use? Did you have to pay anything for the materials?"
Ken was growing increasingly uncomfortable with his brother's probing. Oddly though he couldn't exactly remember much about the Control Spires' inner workings. It was strange, he knew locations and working details but whatever he tried to focus on how he made them or where he even came up with the idea his mind always came up a blank. For a while he'd thought that was a good thing but ever since New York he'd been wrapping his brain around them but still kept coming up with nothing.
"You have to admit though, they do look pretty cool." Sam off stated.
The moment the words left his mouth Ken looked up to see a Control Spire right in the middle of the ocean. It stood out in the darkness, almost overpowering the night with its sheer presence.
"How did…"
"They look just like the obelisk from ancient Egypt only they were built to worship one god…you Ken." Sam said still not looking at his younger brother.
"W-What did you say?" Ken asked shocked at the accusation. "They were built to give power to the black rings!"
"Were they? Or were they built as monuments to your ego?" Sam finally turned to face him. His eyes were suddenly cold, dark, and piercing. "Think about it little brother, they're the first thing your eyes will spot, tall dark, powerful, and eye-catching. They're just like how you always wanted to be."
"No, you're wrong." Ken retorted suddenly feeling sick.
"No, no Ken I mean it was pretty spectacular." Sam threw his arms out in a grand motion. "The All-powerful Digimon Emperor!" he chuckled lightly sending chills down Ken's spine. "It was nice act Ken and you played the part better than anyone else ever could have. You crowned yourself emperor of the Digital World without knowing one thing about. Talk about hubris."
Slowly Ken felt himself itching further away from his brother. "How do you know about the Digital World? You've never been there."
Sam seemed to ignore his question in favor of returning his interest back to the sea shell. "You thought you were a king, a god with absolute power but you were defeated…by a bunch of kids!" Sam's laughter was even darker and colder than before. "Ken it was so amazing to watch. You know what they say, the bigger they are the harder you fall!" Behind his glasses Ken saw something flash through his eyes, something that made him want to run as far away as possible. "My mistake it wasn't just those brats, it was also your ignorance. Heh, ignorance and pride seem to go hand in hand don't they?"
Ken clenched his fist tightly. "Skip to the point already."
"You were ignorant of everyone around you, mom and dad, hell your own partner who stood by you. All you cared about was yourself." His voice suddenly dropped to a near whisper. "Still all you care about is yourself. It's really sad huh?"
Having enough Ken shot to his feet. "You're wrong! I know I've made mistakes but I'm trying to make up for them! I-huh?" Ken realized two things; one his brother was gone and the water had risen to just a little above his knees. "What the hell?"
At last Ken felt the water's coldness hit his body in full. It started at his legs nearly making him collapse then it hit his body. He wanted to move but found his legs were rooted to the spot. Looking out to the water Ken saw the Control Spire still stood except now there was a tidal wave brewing, strike that, barreling towards him yet he still could not move.
As he stood there frozen Ken couldn't help but think back to Sam's words; I'm here because someone still hasn't paid for their sins. Just before the black water washed over him Ken could have sworn he saw a cloaked figure watching from above the spire, laughing at his fear and doubt. The next thing he knew the cold black water slammed into him.
"Davis slow down!" Jun yelled catching Davis who was about to trip down the stairs out of their apartment. "One of these days you're going to run head long into something harder than you!"
Davis grunted half-ignoring his older sister's words. "I'll slow down once we get to school!"
Jun groaned at his younger brother's stubbornness almost wishing she had the power to calm him down. "I know you're in a hurry to stop, whatever those things in New York were but you can't do that if you go charging off in every direction. You could get yourself, DemiVeemon or someone else hurt!"
That was enough to cause Davis to slow his pace at least enough for Jun to catch up with him. Things had been different since the defeat of MaloMyotismon, after the battle Jun found Davis and gave him the biggest bear-hug she'd ever given him followed by his parents nearly squeezing the life out of him. Davis had mostly come clean about his activities as a DigiDestined leading to one long night of arguments and counter arguments between him and his parents. Surprisingly Jun joined in on his side of the argument when his parents were telling him he could no longer continue his duties. The goggle-wearing youth had chalked it up as due to two things; his sister had a new found respect for him and two she found DemiVeemon to be too irresistibly cute to kick.
"She's got a point Davis." His partner put in peeking out from Davis's bag. "You need to relax a little." He flashed him a smile. "With everyone working together I'm sure there's nothing to worry about."
Finally Davis hung his head, taking in the warm spring air. "You're both right but I guess I'm just a little tired. I thought since Arm-"
"That huge spider-thing that you guys stopped a while ago?" Jun injected.
"Yeah that, I thought we'd at least get a little break but I guess not." Davis wasn't really as angry as he made everyone think. He just trusted his gut and lately his gut had been telling him he had to act fast before things got worse like they usually do. "Besides I should be thinking about how I'm gonna kick Kawata Jr. High's butt this Friday." He grinned.
DemiVeemon and Jun smiled at Davis's new soccer centered train of thought. Seeing serious Davis was interesting but seeing their soccer-obsessed and goofy Davis always brought a smile to their faces. Despite this Jun still couldn't wipe away the frown that had been on her face almost all morning.
Inside she knew it wasn't because her little brother was most likely going to be throwing himself in harm's way again, it was for something a lot more childish she knew. "So…Matt and the others are going to be…helping you search right?"
Davis shot his sister a sideways glance. "Yeah, why?"
"Oh nothing!" Jun said smiling sheepishly. "Just remember to say hi to him for me!"
Davis shook his head at his semi-obsessed sister. He thought she'd gotten over the blonde haired rocker but apparently he was wrong. "I thought you were into Joe's brother."
Jun hand-waved his statement off as a "mild infatuation" earning a snort from Davis. Once they arrived at the school Jun bid her brother off before heading off in her own direction of the school while Davis hurried to his friends likely waiting in the computer room.
"Hey guys! I'm…Ken?" Davis's eyes went slightly wide at the sight of his closest friend.
From a distance Ken might have looked normal but up close one could see the bags under his eyes and the red slightly around the edges. Davis's fellow DigiDestined all looked at their leader in naked concern.
"Guys stop it." Ken said suddenly. "I just had a little nightmare last night, nothing more." Despite his confident voice Davis knew there was a shaky edge to it.
"Care to define it?" T.K. asked.
Ken's mouth all but sealed itself shut. He couldn't possibly tell them the details could he? He knew they wouldn't hesitant to help him but this was a small voice kept yelling at him to keep quiet. One look from Yolei though and he almost thought about coming clean completely. "It was just a nightmare, nothing more. I promise you I'll be fine tomorrow morning."
No one believed him however not even Davis was willing to question him further, the blue-haired genius simply looked too miserable. Once he left Wormmon poked his head out of a bag.
"How bad is it?" Kari asked sadly.
Wormmon's eyes told them all they needed to know. "He woke up screaming, it took him a while to calm down but…" Wormmon's eyes grew darker. "I think it had something to do with water. He skipped his morning shower and nearly shrieked back when his mother offered him a glass of water."
"Water…" Kari's voice was nearly a whisper. It couldn't possibly be the Dark Ocean…could it?
Kari carried that thought with her through the rest of the day, not telling anyone. She didn't feel like speaking about it until Izzy brought them all together after school.
"They're have been five more Control Spires appearing all over the world." He stated pulling up images on the computer screen. "All of them have appeared in city harbors; Hong Kong, Rio, Los Angeles, Saint Petersburg, and even Sydney. All of them with digimon fighting around them, preferable dark marine-type digimon."
"Have they been fighting each other like they did in New York?" Tai asked watching two digimon brawl in in front of the Control Spire, completely ignoring the missiles and artillery shells being aimed at them.
Izzy nodded grimly. "Yes, it's always the same one side attempting to defend the Control Spire and the other side attempting to destroy it. Same types too."
The discussion continued for another hour with everyone having a different opinion on what to do. Some like Davis and Matt wanted to act immediately only to be countered by Joe and Cody that they didn't even know what to do. Naturally it was decided a trip to the Digital World was an order.
"Damn it!" Davis slammed his fist into the railing angrily. "We've asked almost everyone we know and still nothing."
"Just relax Davis." Yolei said rubbing her forward in annoyance. "We've been all over the coastal sector, there's nothing here."
"There has to be something!" Davis challenged. "Every digimon attack has been by a water type digimon so there's got to be something at the bottom of the sea!"
Yolei growled deeply jumping off of Aquilamon. "Cody's been searching for hours Davis! If there's anything else to be found, it isn't being found today! Right Ken? Ken?"
For the first time the two looked up see their friend was no longer among them on the platform. They both looked at Aquilamon and Exveemon.
"He wondered off a little while ago while we were searching the skies." Exveemon answered, there was something troubling about the way he spoke. "Davis he had this dazed look in his eyes."
After hearing this the two chosen children circled the oil rig finding said boy on the opposite end, staring down at the water. His posture was rigid and still as a statue, even when they called out to him. Without a word Ken took steps towards the railing, eventually hopping over the railing.
"KEN!" They both shouted running at full speed with their digimon behind them.
A green blur beat Exveemon and Aquilamon to the chase, grabbing Ken and flying him back up to the platform.
"Ken have you lost your mind?" Stingmon yelled. "Do you have any idea what could have happened to you?!"
To Stingmon's horror he saw the faraway look in his partner's eyes. It took a good shake from him (and Yolei screaming at him) to finally snap him out of it. He stared back at all of them confused. "What is it? Did you guys find something?"
"Find something?" Yolei's voice carried both anger and sadness that made Ken's heart wrench in pain. "Ken you jumped over the railing! If we weren't fast enough you know what would have happened!"
Ken's eyes widened in shock at her statement. Was he really a second away from committing suicide?
"What happened? Did you see something?" Davis asked.
"I-I think I did." Ken answered. "I saw something in the water, I couldn't tell what it was but I kept looking at it and I guess I just blacked out."
Five sets of eyes met each other, concern clear in all of them. Davis shook his head in frustration at the recent turn of events. "Let's call the others so we can call it a day." He wanted to keep searching but deep down he knew nothing more could be done. More important than that he knew keeping Ken around would only lead to more problems.
"So Izzy has Matt been busy lately?" Jun asked off offhandedly staring out the window.
Izzy couldn't help but raise an eyebrow at her question. Jun had "volunteered" to join him in guarding the computer lab. When she came back Izzy felt like turning her away but a combination of begging and unwillingness to continue arguing made him agree on the promise she didn't touch anything. To Izzy's hidden surprise Jun had been mostly subdued and more interested in questioning him about the Digital World and what it was like. When she finally ran out of questions she simply turned towards the window and remained silent. "Besides the Control Spires he's been worried about the Rock'N Royal, keeps saying he's trying to find the best guitar possible."
At the mention of a guitar Jun's eyes lit up like Christmas lights. Izzy watched her hand go to the large bag she'd brought in and kept close. He'd already theorized what was in the bag however he wisely decided not to reveal what he knew.
The two red-haired youths turned their attention to the computer screen as it light up with brilliant blue light. Jun stared in amazement while Izzy couldn't help but smirk a little at the girl's awe-struck face. His smirk died when he saw the exhausted looks on everyone's faces and the sullen look on Yolei's face.
"What happened?" Izzy asked the group.
Davis clenched his fist tightly and looked like he was ready to scream an answer but Cody beat him to it. "We couldn't find anything. We agreed we'd try again tomorrow."
Jun shot Davis a look that simply said "tell me later" and surprisingly Davis gave no counter glare or anything. Yolei stuck to Ken like glue and T.K. kept a close eye on Kari. Just as everyone was leaving Jun caught up to Matt.
"Whatever this is you guys can beat it right?" Jun asked hoping her voice didn't sound fearful or pleading.
Matt looked into the girl's eyes. He could see the small spark of fear swimming there, fear for her little brother and probably for him too. Naturally he put on the same confident smile he did for T.K. when they were younger. "Of course we can beat it. Jun we've faced a whole lot worse than some giant squids." Matt had to admit he liked seeing a smile return to Jun's face, when it wasn't the fan-girl crazed smile he found it enjoyable. "And don't worry about your little brother, me, Tai, and everyone will be keeping an eye on him."
"That's a relief." She sighed happily. "If someone wasn't watching out for him God knows what that idiot would get himself into."
"Comes with being the leader." Matt chuckled remembering Tai when they were younger and more hot-headed.
"Say um Matt," Jun started "I was wondering …"
Matt waited for her to finish but it never came. Instead she simply waved goodbye and was down the stairs faster than possible carrying such a large bag under her arm. Matt shook his head realizing there might still have been some of that fan-girl crazy in her. As he walked away he hoped whatever of it was left would be out grown.
