Author's Note: Without further delay, here is the final chapter of Dark Tamer.
Disclaimer: I do not own Digimon.
Chapter 10: Ryo's Journey
After the long and arduous quest in the Digital World, the group of Digidestined and the two Tamers returned to Ken and Yolei's apartment. Their Digimon were all worn out, all except for Cyberdramon that is. The dragon man Digimon sat in a far corner of the room and kept to himself. The rest of the group all sat down on the various pieces of furniture in the living room, all except for Ryo. Ryo remained standing and saw that all eyes were on him.
"Well, I guess you all have a few questions about me," Ryo deduced. "Questions like what exactly happened to me after the D-1 Tournament, and how I ended up in Rika's world. I think the best way to answer those questions is to just tell you the story of what happened. At the end of my battle with Moon=Millenniummon, he blew up his castle with the intention of sending the both of us to the far future, but something went wrong and I wound up in the past, and I mean the far past. I woke up in a barren wasteland with almost no memory of who I was or how I got there. The only thing I remembered was my name.
"Not long after I woke up I was found by Monodramon. Monodramon told me that he was sent to find me and take me back to the one who sent him. I followed Monodramon and soon met one of the gods of the Digital World, ENIAC."
"Hold on!" Izzy interrupted. "ENIAC, as in one of the first computers ever built?"
Ryo nodded. "That's right. ENIAC created the Digital World along side another of the first real computers ever built, Antanasoff. But they didn't just create one Digital World; they created all the Digital Worlds that exist in every reality. I guess I should also mention that time in all the Digital Worlds hadn't yet synced up with time in all human worlds, and that ENIAC was around eons ago by a Digimon's perspective, even though both it and Atanasoff were built in the 1940s. Anyway, ENIAC told me ZeedMillenniummon had started a war with him in the far distant future, and for reasons it could not understand I was the only one who could stop him. So ENIAC assigned me Monodramon as a Digimon partner and charged me with the task of fighting Millenniummon and stopping him from taking over the Digital World of the past and all realities.
"So Monodramon and I started traveling all over time and space with ENIAC's help. Our quest took us from the distant past to a whole bunch of alternate realities, and eventually into the distant future. During my quest I ended up recruiting other Digidestined and Tamers from alternate realities, including alternate versions of Tai and Matt. Over time I began to regain the memories of who I was. It was a long and bloody battle…and as it went on I suffered some pretty hard losses. Eventually I ended up fighting Millenniummon in person again and I learned the truth about our connection. Then Monodramon merged with Millenniummon and became an egg, but I think you know that part of the story already.
"After Millenniummon was defeated once and for all, ENIAC gave me a choice. It could either send me back to the world where I originally came from, or send me to another world. Back then part of the reason why I chose to go to another world was because of the truth about the D-1 Tournament and how I was lied to by almost everybody. But the truth is after all I went through and after learning the truth about my connection with Millenniummon, I didn't feel like I was a part of my old world anymore. Maybe I never was, maybe I was just some cosmic glitch created to balance Millenniummon, who was also an anomaly. Either way I felt that I couldn't go back, so I decided to go to another world for a fresh start. And that's how I ended up in Rika's world."
"Why didn't you tell me where you really came from?" Rika suddenly asked. "Why didn't you tell any of us?"
Ryo looked at Rika and saw her looking at him with slightly hurt eyes. It was a moment before Ryo spoke again.
Ryo shrugged. "To be honest…I didn't think you'd believe me. I mean what sane person would? It all sounds so ridiculous when you think about it. You'd think I was a total nut if I told you I came from and alternate version of Earth and fought a war through time and space. Especially since the world where I came from was only what you knew as a T.V. show. I have to admit I was a little freaked out when I saw that. Though I hoped that what happened in the T.V. show reflected what actually happened in this world, because it would've meant that things turned out well for Ken. And from what I can see now, things really are turning out how they did in the show."
"Wait, do you know what happens to us in the future?" Yolei suddenly asked.
"All I'll say is that you and Ken might want to think about getting a bigger apartment after you get married," Ryo answered with a knowing smile, causing Ken and Yolei to raise an eyebrow.
"So what do you plan to do now?" Ken asked.
"That's a good question," Ryo replied as he rubbed the back of his head. "I'm not sure how Rika and I are going to get back to her world, so I guess I'll stay here for awhile."
"If you like I can try and figure out how you and Ms. Nonaka can return to that dimension," Izzy suggested.
Ryo nodded. "I'd appreciate that."
A bit later, Ryo was out on the balcony alone looking up at the moon. His thoughts were disturbed when he heard the door open. Ryo turned to see Rika standing behind him.
"What're thinking about?" Rika asked.
"A lot of stuff," Ryo answered. "My journey through time and space, ending up back here in this world after all these years, the nature of my existence… Where's Viximon?"
"She's inside with Cyberdramon. The poor girl is a lot shyer than when she's Renamon. The other Digimon were bugging her and Cyberdramon saw she wanted them to leave her alone and scared them off. I never thought he could be so protective of something so cute."
"Deep down inside Cyberdramon is a real softie."
"…Did you really mean what you said to me on the fortress?" Rika suddenly asked. "That stuff about you being in love with me for years?"
Ryo blushed. "Yeah, I meant all of it… There is one other reason why I ended up in your world that I didn't mention in there. Remember how I said I teamed up with other Tamers and Digidestined from alternate worlds? One of the Tamers I teamed up with was an alternate version of you. We wound up working together pretty closely during my journey, and somewhere along the line I ended up developing a crush on you. So when ENIAC offered to send me to another world, I asked it to send me to a world where I could meet you."
Ryo's answer caused Rika to blush a bit. It flattered her somewhat that Ryo could've chose to go to any world and the reason he ended up in hers was simply just to meet her.
"Um, so why didn't you ever tell me how you felt?" Rika asked.
"Well, you were pretty unapproachable back then," Ryo answered with a small laugh. "Even now you can still be an ice queen sometimes, no offence. But…I guess the real reason is because I still felt out of place in your world. Of course I don't think there's any world out there where I'd fit in. Heck, I don't think I fit in here in the world we're in now and I just happened to be born here. The bottom line is I didn't think you could ever love a person like me."
"…I don't care about where you come from," Rika declared after a moment, surprising Ryo. "I mean sure, I was shocked when I found out you came from an alternate reality. It made me wonder if you really were who I thought you were. But the truth is in the end I don't care who or what you are or where you come from. All that matters to me is that I've fallen in love with you."
Ryo walked up to Rika, and after the two stared into each other's eyes for a few moments, they embraced and their lips met in a passionate kiss.
Two days later Rika and Ryo were staying at Cody's apartment. Rika took the modest guestroom that Cody had while Ryo took the couch. That afternoon there was a knock on the door, which Renamon answered. The ones at the door were Ken, Yolei, Davis, and Izzy, along with their respective Digimon. They were a bit surprised to see Renamon answering the door instead of one of the apartment's human occupants.
"Hey Renamon," Davis greeted. "Is Cody in?"
"He stepped out for a moment," the fox Digimon answered.
"Are Rika and Ryo in?" Yolei asked.
"C'mon in guys!" Rika's voice called from inside.
Renamon stepped aside to allow the group entry. When they entered they saw Ryo and Rika sitting on the couch watching T.V. Cyberdramon meanwhile was sitting in a nearby corner eating half of a raw steak. Ryo turned off the television as the four sat down on the couch across from them.
"So what's up?" Ryo asked.
"I believe I may have found a way for you to return to your own dimension," Izzy answered. "I've been thinking about how Ms. Nonaka was able to come here through the Dark Ocean, and it occurred to me perhaps that realm might be a connection to both our worlds. So theoretically we should be able to find the portal to your world through there. So if you wish, Ken can open up a portal to the Dark Ocean and we can start looking for it."
Ryo exchanged a look with Rika before turning back to the others. "Thanks guys, but Rika and I have been talking and we've decided to stay here for awhile."
"How come?" Ken asked.
"Well, Cody told us about some of the stuff that's been going on here," Rika answered. "About how Kari disappeared and how T.K. ran off, and now you've got this thing with the Seven Lords. So we want to stay and help."
"You don't have to do that," Ken told them. "This is our problem. You guys don't have to get involved."
"But we already are involved," Ryo disagreed. "Barbamon came to our world and captured me. Who's to say that the rest of the Seven Lords won't come to our world too? We won't feel safe going back until we help you take them down once and for all."
"Well then, we're glad to have you help us," Ken told them with a smile, and with that the group began talking about what to do about the threat of the Seven Lords.
At their cave lair in the Digital World, Daemon, Lilithmon, and Beelzemon were in a chamber kneeling before a white glowing orb on a pedestal. Daemon was speaking to the orb and had just finished telling it about Barbamon's betrayal.
"So Barbamon was planning to use the powers of Millenniummon against me," spoke a child-like voice from the orb in an amused tone. "I can't say that I'm surprised. I did admire his ambition, but the old fool could never learn his place no matter how many times I had to educate him. Perhaps it's best that he is gone, but it also means I am still trapped here in the Dark Ocean."
"Do not worry my lord," Daemon assured the voice of his unseen master. "The powers of Millenniummon may be lost, but we shall find another way for you to escape. In the meantime I have another plan to destroy the Digidestined."
"Have you found out where the Children of Hope and Light are yet?" the Master asked.
"Regretfully no my lord. Though we have sent agents to find them. For now I have a plan to destroy the founding leaders of the Digidestined, the Children of Courage and Friendship."
"Hmm…I suppose those two could be a problem. Their Digimon can become a being similar to Alphamon. Very well Daemon, proceed with your plan. But be warned that I will not tolerate another failure."
With that, the light of the orb faded and the three demon lords got to their feet. Beelzemon left the chamber to work on his bike, leaving Daemon and Lilithmon alone.
"So what do you have planned to destroy the Children of Courage and Friendship?" Lilithmon asked sounding intrigued.
"It's very simple. I'm going to turn them into enemies," Daemon answered. "By the time I'm through with them, they're end up destroying each other."
DARK TAMER – END
Author's Note: Well, that's the end of Dark Tamer. I ended up finishing it a lot quicker than I expected. It was fun doing something that dealt with Ryo's backstory, and with Millenniummon, who is a pretty interesting villain in my opinion. As you've probably guessed, Rika and Ryo will be "guest staring" for the remainder of the Demon Crisis series. Afterwards I'll return them to their world, but the return to their world will be another story all together. Actually that story won't focus on them, but on Takato and a major crisis that occurs in the Tamer's world. Rika and Ryo will show up in the middle of that crisis, and they'll bring Ken and a few of the other Digidestined along for the ride.
Oh you never will believe what I have planed for that story. If you thought I put T.K. and Kari through a living hell in Digimon: Home by the Sea, wait until you see what I have in store for Takato and Jeri. It's at least a hundred times worse than anything you might expect, because I'm pretty confident that no one will expect the little twist I have in store. Though I think I may have said too much already. First things first though, I have to finish Demon Crisis, and there are still two storied left to go. The next story will focus on Tai, Matt, and Sora, and will feature Daemon as the primary villain.
So stay tuned for Demon Crisis Book 3: Wrath
In the meantime, please review this story and let me know what you think.
Update from 12/8/20: If you're reading this, it means the version of the story you've just finished is an updated version from the one I had originally posted a few years ago. It's all part of my current project to update all of my old Digimon fanfics so that they're closer to the level of quality of my more recent works.
Of course while the edits I made to the previous stories were more of what you'd call cosmetic, this story ended up getting some small but pretty significant changes. It all has something to do with some material I found on the videogames Ryo had originally starred in before showing up in Tamers. I ran across the material in question this morning as I was reviewing Ryo's backstory in preparation to edit this story. I really wish I had discovered what I did back when I posted the story years ago, but hindsight is twenty-twenty.
Anyway, if you're a new reader to this story, than you can just ignore this little author's note. As for any returning readers, I hope the changes I've made didn't surprise you too much. Either way, thanks for reading.
~The Count