Here's the continued Control Realm Arc, on time for once. Thanks to all the reviewers and enjoy the fic.
'Uh.' I let out a groan as I landed on my back with a huff. Moaning slightly I moved so I was kneeling on the melting snow and looked round. Trees covered in frost and icicles surrounded me and the night sky glittered overhead through the branches. Any other time I would stop to admire such a lovely winter wonderland but today I had to move. Standing I quickly climbed into a tree and checked my Digivice. It was pointing ahead and to the left slightly. Looking in that direction I saw a mountain rising out of the forest with a jagged peak jutting upwards. 'Why is it always mountains?' I asked the forest rhetorically.
'Whys what mountains?' I looked down at the voice and smiled.
'Well hello, It's been a while.' I greeted dropping down to land beside the little white dog Digimon. -SnowDromon, cute white dog Digimon, who explore the coldest regions of the Digital World. They may be rookies but their Icicle Howl attack will freeze any foes in their tracks. – SnowDromon moved over to lick me in greeting but paused. 'I can smell her, I knew I could.' He said excitedly as he started to bounce and run around me happily his tail wagging so rapidly it was a blur. Still hyperactive, I thought with a mental sigh. Then is words sunk into my brain.
'Whoa, smell who?' I asked confused. He skidded to a stop and looked at me.
'My partner of course, you smelt like her last time I saw you but different. This time I can smell her scent on you.' The little pup told me eagerly.
'Your partner, who is she?' I asked. I already had a suspicion here as to her identity and someone was going to pay.
'Cassidy, her name is Cassidy Hall.' He answered innocently. I gasped though I wasn't that surprised. Oh someone was going to pay all right. Cassy was a Digidestined?
'For the, SnowDromon that's my cousin!' I snapped standing. No way was she going to be placed in the same kind of danger as us. Cody was one thing, he was resourceful and smart but Cassidy was innocent and naïve.
'Aw, we don't have to fight. I just want my partner.' SnowDromon whined his floppy ears dropping along with his tail as he made whimpering sounds.
'Hey, I didn't mean you couldn't meet her. I'm glad that she's got a good partner but I want her to be safe.' I told him picking him up for a hug.
'Well then, isn't having a Digimon a good thing? Having someone else to look after her couldn't hurt and that kind guy of yours said I could pass as a human dog.' SnowDromon said wagging his tail as he gave me a hopeful look.
'Oh, I guess your right.' I admitted seeing his logic and not having the heart to fight against him. 'Listen, I've got a job to do but it's a secret so can you keep the Digidestined of my trail for a while? Ken will recognise you from the time we met you when battling Millenniummon so you shouldn't have a problem.' I instructed. He frowned but nodded.
'I'm sure you have a reason so okay.' He told me trustingly before scampering off. I grinned. At least Cassy had a great partner, I thought as I took of heading to the mountain.
Again, what was with portals to other dimensions being located in creepy caves in tall mountains? I entered the cave and looked around. The sunlight was bouncing of the ice-coated walls giving the cave a faint rainbow glow. Unfortunately I could tell that further into the tunnel this gave way to dark damp rocks and eerie drops of water from the ceiling into stagnant puddles that gave of a smell no one had ever identified. Sighing to myself I left the welcoming large entrance cave and walked further into the darkness. My prediction proved to not only be correct, what a surprise there, but bested by the addition of what seemed to be digital bats flying around and dim light given by glow moss that appeared occasionally around the puddles of water. Lovely, such a warm, comforting place, I thought sarcastically. For some reason when I was on my own and scared I had a tendency to make sarcastic comments to myself, I never did figure that out. I continued along my route easily keeping an eye out for the tell tale signs of a portal, you didn't tend to miss glowing holes in the air mind. I paused when I came to a cavern that had two tunnels coming off it. I looked at my Digivice but it pointed right between them so that was no help.
'Sakura?' I jumped as I heard Ken's voice and frowned seeing him standing in the right-hand tunnel. I hadn't heard his approach, which was weird cause this cave made everything echo.
'Sakura.' I looked shocked to see Ryo standing in the left-hand tunnel. Again I'd missed his approach, something about this was off. Almost like they weren't really there…my mind jumped back to the Time Temple in the desert, could these be the same things that were guarding my Digi-Egg?
'Choose Child of Possibility, choose which path you'll take.' I gasped as I recognised the voice from my vision. I'd forgotten about that one what with the latest rescue Ken one I'd been having. So this is what it meant. My indecision was dangerous because I didn't have time to spare. But which path was the right path? Calm down, I told myself firmly, in the vision you were choosing the path you wished to follow forever. Ryo's path would lead to him, a portal to his world maybe? Ken's path would be the one that lead to the Control Realm. It was the one that lead to a life with him. Now I was certain that that was the life I wanted. I turned to the fake Ken who smiled.
'I'll tell them where you went, it's been decided that the Digidestined with crests may know of the Control Realm.' Fake Ken told me before vanishing. They couldn't of told me that before I did a dramatic escape plan and probably got Ken mad at me?
'The Emperor couldn't be mad you, I doubt Ken will be.' Fake Ryo rolled his eyes. 'And I'm not fake.' He added smiling. I froze looking at him.
'You, your…' I stammered sliding to the ground shocked. He nodded kneeling beside me and supporting me so I didn't collapse completely.
'Yeah, you were right about my path leading to the world I'm in. I left because I was so angry with them for what they did, but now I've grown up and I know they did what they had to. I forgive them because I realise it must of hurt them to do it but I've got a new life over there and I don't want to leave it. I'm glad you and Ken are together now, I was pushing you enough.' He chuckled as he helped me to my feet.
'Ryo?' I said questioningly so he'd turn. He did so and was instantly met by my fist sending him down to the ground as he landed on his but. He held his cheek with wide eyes as he looked at my angry stance.
'You couldn't have sent us an email at least!' I screeched furious. How dare he! How dare he! How dare he! He gulped and started to inch away from me.
'My D-terminal broke and the portal would of closed before I could get to you and get back otherwise I would off!' He protested honestly shaking slightly. I took a breath and extended a hand to help him up.
'Never, ever, pull that stunt again, do you hear me?' I warned narrowing my eyes. He nodded instantly as I helped pull him up.
'I hear you, but I'm probably not coming back so mute point.' He admitted casually. I frowned but nodded.
'It's the principle of the thing, and I guessed.' I said pushing my hair out of my eyes.
'Well at least I can rest knowing you can throw a punch, jeez I think I lost a tooth.' He moaned his eyes light with humour.
'Only one, I need more practise.' I retorted causing him to laugh. He turned and started to head up his tunnel.
'See yah!' He said pausing to give me a thumb's up and a wink before running off to return to his dimension. I frowned realising I wouldn't see him again but sighed and walked on up my tunnel. I had bigger problems to deal with, mainly my crest and protecting the Digital World.
I felt a grin creep on my face I dropped down a small step to enter a wide cavern. It wasn't big, just slightly wider than the rest of the tunnel but I could see the portal straight ahead. Straight ahead, too easy, I noted frowning. Ah well, I couldn't stay there forever. I took a step further out and sensed danger instantly. I dropped to the ground to avoid the dart that went overhead. If I hadn't sensed it with my powers I'd never of dodged it. Huh? There was something beneath me. I brushed away the remaining dirt to see what I'd uncovered and was startled to see a tile with a dart on it. I pressed it hesitantly and another dart flew out from the wall over head. Carefully clearing some more of the dirt I found another tile nearby, this one with a fire symbol on it. Deciding not to test that one I backed away to the side of the room. There was no help for it, I realised grimly. Ken was so going to flip when he heard about this. I took a breath and started to walk straight across the room. Every step was careful and precise, echoing heavily of the walls. My eyes were pealed for the slightest sign of the tiles on the ground. I used my powers to sense when something bad was going to happen to tell me when I was nearly about to set off a trap and avoid it. 'The others would have heart attacks if they watched this.' I muttered laughing slightly as I moved around a tile. My path was mostly straight only slight dodges needed to avoid most of the tiles. Looking round the room I saw it could test just about everyone's crest. You could either bravely walk straight ahead or smartly avoid the traps. It was designed to make sure only the worthy Digidestined entered the Control Realm. I had no idea what to expect but there was only one thing to do. I stepped though the portal easily as vanished from the Digital World.
What will Sakura find in the Control Realm? What surprises are still in store? Who else is there to meet? Find out, on the next, The Possibility of Kindness.