Myotis: Merry Christmas(Or anything else you may celebrate)!…This one took a while. But GOD I'm in a good mood!

Sarah: Wow…you must be. What happened?

Myotis: Well, at my town, on the third Thursday of every month, at the public library, we have an Anime Afternoon. Basically we go there after school and watch various kinds of anime. Anyway, I am rather shy in the real world. So it's hard for me to be friendly. I somehow, by an act of God, was able to make a lot of new friends. On. My. Own.

Sarah: Whoa, good job. For someone like you, I'd guess that's a pretty good accomplishment.

Wraithmon: Yeah…he's so bloody introverted he can't even speak to people half the time.

Myotis: Did you say something, Wraithmon?

Wraithmon: …No.

Myotis: I thought so. Now then, to the reviews…

Lady Azura: Again, glad to see you still like it…hey, another cookie! Eats happily

CalliCallMePrincess: Heh, I'm glad you're happy, anyway. I'm also glad that you are liking how the story is progressing! So, anyway…you'll find stereotypes of people wherever you go. But that doesn't mean that they're malicious, right? And although I don't know you or your friend personally, it seems like you'd be a lot of fun to hang out with. Thanks again for reviewing!

Hey 0: Glad you like it. Anyway, Megido is connected with a LOT of things. You'll see soon enough.

Myotis: Okay…now then, as legality so painstakingly requires me to so…or Sarah in this case.

Sarah: Myotis does not own Digimon, only his characters. He also does not own any music that may be mentioned to set the atmosphere in the story. Note- If he doesn't know the exact title of said theme, he will try to explain what it is…with difficulty.

Myotis: Right then…to the main event.


Digimon Tamers: Life's Pain and Death's Comfort

Chapter Six:Powerof the Dark


(Music: Okage Shadow King- Desert)

The Tamers and their Digimon partners continued on their long trek southward. Rika spotted a large stone structure off in the distance.

"I think I see it. Is that it?"

She pointed towards it, and Henry looked ahead.

"Yeah, I think so. Come on, everyone, it's just ahead."

They picked up the pace. Terriermon was currently wondering why everyone had been so quiet to this point.

"Geez, you guys are depressing today. I bet Cyberdramon would be more talkative."

Renamon shot him an icy glare.

"Sometimes people don't feel like talking and just want to think. Where you not aware of that?"

"Ouch."

They hurried onward, until they came within only a few feet of the shrine. The Shrine of Secrets certainly seemed to have an appropriate name, as it did not reveal much at all at first glance. It just looked like a large, stone-cut building with no entrance. At the very center of the wall they were facing, there was writing in the same mysterious language that was on the Key of Secrets' effect. Without a word, Henry raised the stone to the writing. There was a bright flash, and more symbols appeared on the door. The new began to fuse with the old. It looked even more complicated. Takato voiced this quite loudly.

"Man, how are we supposed to understand all of that…?"

To her and everyone else's shock, Rika found she could understand it.

"…The Wisdom of the Earth shall be Revealed, and the power of Dark Secrets will be Restored to the Soul of the Demon King…enter at the fate of existence."

(Music: Live A Live: Prelude to the Demon King)

Her fellow Tamers gawked at her. Henry, just barely able to pull himself together, stuttered out a question.

"Y-you can u-understand that?"

"Yeah…I don't know how…let's just go…"

(Theme: Final Fantasy V: X-Death's Castle)

The stone parted, and a doorway formed. Without another word, the six of them continued on to the shrine's interior. The hallway was very dark, but was also dimly lit by blue flames from torches on the walls. They did not radiate heat. Henry wanted to find out why, but this was obviously not the time. At the end of the hallway, the shrine seemed brighter. They stopped for a break for a moment. A few moments later, they heard hurried footsteps and…claws? They could also hear what sounded like someone calling them.

"Wait a moment! Wait, I said!"

They spun around, and to their surprise(And Takato's instant fury), saw Ianu and Dreadmon running to them. Takato immediately blew up.

"YOU! What do you want now? You going to make this harder for us?"

"Quiet, fool. Although I'm sure it's undeniably hard for your clearly weak mind to comprehend, I am here to help."

Takato wasn't sure if he should be more confused or insulted. Henry, however, was baffled.

"I don't get it. Why help us? Doesn't that contradict your whole reason for bringing us here in the first place?"

"An interesting point. However, the fact is that I cannot touch the sword. I never said it was impossible for me to help you obtain it."

"Okay…normally, I'd welcome help with open arms, but what happened to your 'I have no interest in being friendly with you' mantra?"

"I have undergone a considerable change of heart."

"Ah. Well…okay then, I guess…but wait, you seem different. Your eyes, your height, not to mention your clothes…"

"What you see is my true self. The earlier version you met was simply a projection of my younger self."

"Okay…"

Takato then got between them, not liking this at all.

"Hold it! After all the junk you've pulled, you think you can waltz in here and say you changed your mind about not being friendly? I don't buy it one bit."

"I'm sure. The inability to trust is one of many human flaws, after all."

"AGH! Enough with this 'human' stuff already!"

"Fine. Takato, was it?"

"Yeah…"

"I will…attempt to be less hostile. I hope you will not incite me to act otherwise."

"So long as you don't pull anything…"

"I will not."

"Fine. You can come…for now."

Not saying anything more to the angry Tamer, Ianu turned to Rika.

"…Rika. Nice to see you again."

"…Hi, Ianu."

"I…would like to speak with you later, if you don't mind."

"…Sure."

"Thank you. Now, let us proceed. Dreadmon, I trust you brought it?"

"Of course, Lord Ianu."

"…Please stop calling me that."

"(Sigh)…I shall try."

Dreadmon then extended his right arm and opened his clenched hand to reveal a beautiful, sparkling blue gem. There seemed to be lights inside of it.

"With this, we may enter the inner sanctum of the shrine…but it will be quite a while until we must use it."

He then closed his hand, and the light vanished as if it had never existed. It was as if Dreadmon's very touch could smother all light…

Takato, slowly trying to lighten up, looked around the room.

"Okay…where to now, if anybody knows?"

There where three passageways, not including the corridor they had emerged from. Ianu stepped forward and held his hand aloft.

"Allow me."

He closed his eyes, and his hand began to glow a dark green. Seemingly by it's own will, his hand made a violent turn towards the easternmost hallway. Remaining in his position, Ianu began to speak softly.

"…Nothing. Nothing there at all…"

His hand then jerked to the center hall.

"…Traps…and poisonous plants. Do not even think about going there…"

Then it gently swayed to the western hall.

"…It is a long way away, but the King of Secrets is in this direction. I am sensing multiple presences, most likely monsters. This is our way."

Everyone stared at Ianu, somewhat astonished. Well, except Dreadmon, who seemed to be looking at nothing in particular, with his usual, stone-like gaze. Takato, suddenly vary curious of this mysterious young man, wanted answers.

"How did you do that? Just what are you?"

"Again, what I am is none of your concern…yet. As for how, I was born with that power, along with many others. It is a form of long-range sight…performed by concentrating every last thought to seeing whatever is in the direction of your hand."

"Whoa…"

With nothing more to say, the quiet enigma began to walk through the western hall with Dreadmon close behind. Rika began to follow, along with Renamon, who seemed agitated about something. Terriermon was hiding behind Henry's head.

"Terriermon, what are you doing?"

"T-That guy…and his Digimon…give me the creeps."

"Calm down. From what I just saw, if he wanted you to be afraid of him, he could do much worse than that. Let's go."

Henry then followed the others. Guilmon tugged at Takato's shirt.

"Takatomon, how'd he do that? Is he a Digimon?"

"…I seriously doubt it, boy. But it looks like he'll be SOME help, whatever he is…"

The two followed the rest down the hall. They joined them, with Rika snapping at them for falling behind, and they all walked onward. Ianu seemed to grow tense as the passage came to an end. Uneasy, Rika looked to him.

"…What's wrong? You act like something's gonna jump you at any second."

He answered without even turning to her, as if the slightest movement could be fatal.

"There is. I hear a very…odd…sound just ahead. I don't think I'm familiar with it."

"Oh, man…"

The four Tamers and their partners prepared for the worst. They found the source of the noise in a large, well-lit room not far from where the hall ended. All, save for Ianu and Dreadmon, were shocked at what they saw. A pair of large, snarling creatures, which looked like huge wolves with a pair of snake tails and six legs, faced them with feral eyes. They stood still, but continuously snarled and growled. Rika brought out her D-Power.

"Ravager Beast. Class: Demon. Element: Darkness. Powerful creatures that attack anything that is not of demonic origin. Their six legs and strong muscles add extreme power to their fighting capabilities. They have a dire weakness to light or powers of the Holy element…Joy."

Takato seemed unnerved. Henry was getting his cards ready, which was a good idea. Surprisingly, Ianu stepped forward, stretching his arms.

"Don't get so worked up. I shall take care of these fools."

Takato now was getting a bit steamed.

"Hey, you're pretty full of yourself. Don't you mean, 'Dreadmon shall take care of this'?"

"No."

"Wha…"

"I need the exercise, and there is no reason for Dreadmon to waste his energy on such lowly beings."

"I…you…Are you crazy?"

"(Sigh)…Just watch."

(Theme: Shadow Hearts Covenant: Europe Battle)

That said, the thin boy stepped forward, and stared directly at the Ravager Beasts. They both looked down at him, growling louder than ever. One of them began to bark at him.

"Hmph. What do you mean, 'You'd best leave before you die, small one'? Are you sure you shouldn't be the ones backing down?"

At that remark, both of them roared, and got ready to attack. The poor, foolish monsters were not ready for the next event. With speed exceeding that of a rushing gale, Ianu leaped forth and delivered a powerful kick to the jaw of one of the Ravager Beasts, and before the other could react, it got slammed in the face by his elbow. Both were sent spiraling across the room. The one that was kicked did not move. The other, however, staggered back to its feet, and at Ianu, snarling viciously. It began to glow with a red aura. Rika, Takato, Henry, and the Digimon stared at this in disbelief. Dreadmon stood with his arms crossed, his solemn gaze fixed on the battle. Ianu then spoke.

"The aura means that it is enchanted. I suggest you all take cover. This is going to get dangerous."

Dreadmon nodded and began ushering the 'audience' into the hall, and stood in front of them as if he was a shield. They could still see, however. A pair of large, bat-like wings, similar to Dreadmon's, only more physical, Burst from Ianu's back. He took flight, and rose to the top of the shrine. He stretched his arms wide apart, then brought them close together, extended away from his body and aimed to the Ravager Beast. He then began what sounded like chanting in gibberish to the others, except Rika could understand him.

"Come to me, latent darkness. Come forth to merge with my will, and be as a grand fear. Daemonial Flare!"

As soon as the chant was finished, spheres of dark light began to swirl around his hands and converged on to them, creating an orb of blackness. A cruel grin formed on Ianu's face, and the orb blasted off of his hands, which kicked back as if he had fired a gun. The black ball sailed towards the Ravager Beast with astounding speed, and made contact. In less than a second later, the creature was enveloped in a half-sphere of inky blackness. Howls of pain could be heard, and with the darkness cleared, there was not a trace of the monster. The other Tamers and Digimon stared on with a mix of amazement…and horror. This thin, seemingly frail young man had done something the likes of which they had never anticipated. The youth in question slowly descended from the air down to the ground, his wings gently beating. Once he landed, his wings disappeared. He turned towards his companions.

"…What are you staring at? Let's go."

(Theme: Live A Live: Prelude to the Demon King)

He turned and walked to the end of the room, where yet another hallway awaited. Rika looked at Dreadmon, a bit shaken.

"Dreadmon…what did he just do?"

"That was a low-level darkness spell. Daemonial Flare, I believe. Let us follow…"

Awestruck, confused, and for the most part, frightened, the remaining six followed the mysterious Tamer and his silent partner.


Myotis: Okay…done. Expect a huge battle in the next chapter! I really hope you liked this, as usual. Please review! Thanks again for reading.