Disclaimer: I do not own Digimon.
Chapter Forty-Six: Spirited Away
Glimpsing in the shadows, the outline of a girl slowly appeared. Little by little. Hour by hour. As if slipping between day into night, light into shadow, and then warping into a still grayness the girl returned. Rei watched with great interest within the deeper layers of the ocean. She seemed concerned, but not all the more startled. But it was no wonder.
The Dark Ocean itself had a remarkable effect upon humans. In fact, it was a most brutal process.
The first thing that would happen is the human would feel a haze over them, robbing them of their sense of emotions, practically confusing them. The second effect would be walking around in a stupor or an illusion that made everything darker than it seemed. Then came the hallucinations and transfiguration of the residents of the outer layers of the Dark Ocean. And lastly, the sense of danger fled them until they were caught. When they were all the screams and wailing and tears would not save them from being dragged into the dark ocean depths, going numb, then their flesh being devoured and stripped from them until they were nothing more than data floating in there, among the countless souls of other unfortunates.
Still, they served their purpose. By pooling all the negativity in those waters Rei was able to call out to other humans throughout earth and bring them over. It had been sometime since he had been able to do this, but, this Digidestined would be a good test of the current system. The only way she had out was if she had a strong connection with someone else on earth, but who could a dull sem-introverted girl like her ever have a strong connection with? She would probably fail just like all the others.
He closed his eyes bringing in the salty sweet scent of the Ocean. A jilted lover. A sensational artist. A darling daughter or sure-footed young man. An elderly parent or even a whiny toddler crying for his mom. It did not matter no matter what they did. Not one of there loved ones had any idea where they were, and so they were never able to escape and became one with the Dark Ocean.
Hikari Yagami, the chosen child, would unfortunately be no different.
He glanced over at King Ygdrassill enjoying herself watching her. "It's in a different area of the Dark Ocean, one she does not recognize from her 'dreams'," she grinned.
"That makes sense," Rei said crossing his arms, "As the one who called her here is a servant of Cthulusmon. He must have really been motivated by your dangerous warning the last time she was here," Rei smirked.
"Is that why Rei," Ygdrassill said still watching entertained by Hikari Yagami trying to find her way, "You sent Cthulusmon to the deepest part of the Dark Ocean to do 'maintenance on the domain'?'
Rei held out his hands chuckling. "It's out of my hands," he said. "If he does come back while she is still here that will be a problem," he frowned. "I can't have him getting to her too early. She still has a purpose she has to fulfill. I can't let the two of you do as you would like with her anytime soon. But, if this makes her stronger…" he said leering towards her, "...then perhaps my sealed power will be released sooner rather than later."
They watched Hikari look inside a dark tunnel, a strange presence beckoning her closer, Rei remained surprisingly calm just knowing what dark viral forces awaited inside for her. Fortunately, they were restricted.
"All right," Ygdrassill groaned, "I'll bite. Even if Cthulusmon is down in the deep layers of the dark ocean, won't he rush to her once one of his servants goes to get him?"
"About that," Rei winked pointing over to the tunnel, making it easily translucent showing a few digimon seemingly enchained with dark spirals, "Do you see those Dark Spirals my dear?"
"Yeah?"
"They are restricting the true form of the formless ones," he said. "Being bound like that they will not be able to communicate with Cthulusmon."
"I suppose," Ygdrassill said biting the tip of her finger, "But I think you made this too easy for her. Where's a viral Digimon to get her and finish her off?"
"Hmm," Rei mused thinking about it. "Let's just do this," he said snapping his fingers as an Airdramon formed in front of him, even with a matching dark spiral to fool the girl.
"Your target," he said pointing towards Hikari and the other creatures. "Come out from the southern skies and dive bomb her and the prisoners," he said. "It doesn't matter if a few are lost, it only makes all of this all the more authentic."
With a nod, the creature circled around the backside of a mountain clouded in fog. The girl and the creatures didn't seem to notice either.
"Every time I see this girl," Rei said curiously, "She always has surpassed my expectations. Even the first time meeting her," he said recalling her eyes, glancing at his arm immediately after to make sure it knew it's place so he wouldn't have to tear it off again.
"What will you do," Ygdrassill said with a curious stare, "If no one comes for Hikari Yagami? If we can't let the Dark Ocean have her what will you do with her?"
"I'll just have to take her back myself," Rei said. "She'll probably end up thinking it was a nightmare or something like that anyway. However, it will be a major set back."
"A set back?" Ygdrassill said, Rei feeling her eyes study him.
"Oh!" she said jovially. "Do you mean the fact that Hikari Yagami's Digimon has yet to go mega with her influence?"
Rei nodded his head. "I thought that the particular data with that information would only have been seen by myself," he said. "I'm surprised you intercepted it. I had it heavily encrypted."
"Is it really any surprise? I am made from this data," she said. "To me it's like a human understanding biology. It's just a patch of digital flesh," she said looking at her hand. "Because, that is all I am. Digital Data and whatever impressions Homeostasis had of her sister," she said gripping her fist. "No!" she said defiantly. "I am her sister. No matter what anyone says," she said determined.
"That's quite a bold statement," Rei said waiting for Airdramon to make his move. "However, as you saw from the data Homeostasis had to force Tailmon to mega Digivolve to Magnadramon. Until she can reach that level herself with her power, we are nowhere near where she needs to be."
Ygdrassill put her hands behind her back humming a song, although one a bit too creepy for even Rei's tastes.
"I wonder though," she said, "You seem quite confident Hikari will fail."
"Oh, I am sure of it," he said.
"Why?" She said humming even more.
"It needs no explanation," he replied instantly. "It doesn't matter what kind of bond anyone has. No one can come into this domain unless we take them...and no one can escape my domain unless I let them."
"But what about...him?"
"Him?" Rei said questionably. "What makes you think that HE will show up? They haven't seen each other a few years and were not in communication with each other. Even if they are together again, that bond has grown stale. The odds of him showing up are next to nothing."
"-But," she countered holding up a finger, "It's not zero. There IS a chance."
"One current in a million," Rei snickered.
They watched as Hikari vanished into the dark tunnel, following dim lit lights.
"She's going inside right where the messengers are?" Ygdrassill asked. "By herself?"
"She must be able to hear them," Rei noticed. "They were the ones that called her after all. Let's just hope she doesn't remove those dark spirals around there arms."
"Heh," Ygdrassill grinned. "If the formless ones get there hands on her it's all over."
"Then let's not let that opportunity happen just yet," he said snapping his fingers as the Airdramon unleashed a hellish dark flame upon the tunnel. Not long after Hikari and the disguised formless ones in the form of 'Hangyomon' ran with her.
"Let 's make it a bit dramatic, shall we Airdramon?" he said snapping his fingers again.
The dragon beast lunged forward blasting away a few of the Hangyomon with flames.
"Well, how's that?" Rei winked towards Ygdrassill playfully.
"You left too many survivors," she said shaking her head.
"Ah, a pity I've disappointed you," he said snapping his fingers again, the Airdramon blasting away a few more until there was just a handful left.
They watched, there attention focused on Hikari as she fell to her knees to the ground.
"I think she's saying something," Ygdrassill whispered.
Rei closed his eyes concentrating on her voice. He imagined she would be crying for help or Homeostasis or…
-His thoughts were interrupted as he heard her voice clear as day cutting through the Dark Ocean…
"...I need you…Taichi…Tailmon...Takeru-kun!"
His eyes opened suddenly, a slight disturbance troubling him.
"What is this?" he wondered as he glimpsed on an overhead hill as a boy fell through into the dimension along with Tailmon and Patamon.
He stared awestruck hardly able to believe a human had actually connected with another in his domain.
"...It's a miracle, isn't it?" Ygdrassill smiled. "You don't really seem to believe in those, do you Rei?"
He watched, overjoyed as Hikari called out to him. As if relieved she was ok this boy Takeru called out 'Digimental Up' and in a brilliant light Patamon changed shape into a flying horse, 'Pegasmon' Rei believe it was called.
"Really?" Rei said grinding his teeth.
"Rei?" Ygdrassill wondered tugging his sleeve. "What's wrong?"
"Do you remember when you infiltrated the heavenly realm? Wasn't this one of the creatures you saw while you were there?"
"I was busy fighting the Digimon Sovereign," she said focusing on it. "But, Piedmon did say he saw these armored beings with the power of certain crests."
"Sure enough," Rei conjectured, "It surely is one of the beings that the Dark Masters had to destroy in order to enter the central tower. They were called the guardians of the tower. And, from what I heard from you my dear Ygdrassill Hikari told you about how her and the other newer Digidestined could have their Digimon change form. Perhaps the destruction of the guardians awakened the possibility of the Digidestined having that power."
"Isn't that something?" she said. "Wow. It's almost as if they were a fail safe in case the heavenly realm was infiltrated, huh?"
Rei leered over towards them irritated, but keeping his composure. "You could say the Digital Creator one upped me," he admitted. "But, he won't be able to do that very much longer," he said. "The name of the game is patience. I'll find my opening, cut through it, and tear him, and all he stands for into tiny digital fragments," he grinned.
They watched as Airdramon flew around seeking to take them down, but, Pegasmon swooped around the mountain and came at him diagonally shooting out a needle rain attack, injuring his head.
Of course, this only infuriated him even more as he roared out in fury chasing them.
Tailmon seemed to climb aboard, pointing to the tower, Rei watching curiously as in a dazzling silver blazing light it shattered the lighthouse décor. It was quite a pity, as it fit quite nicely in the dismal environment.
"Rei, look!" Ygdrassill shouted.
A pink light shone down away from where the tower once had stood, and, magnificently Tailmon jumped into it and she digivolved into Angewomon, Ygdrassill a bit transfixed by the light.
"A present from Homeostasis maybe?" Rei smirked.
"No, I think that's her own power," Ygdrassill countered. "To think she could use it in your domain Rei," she giggled. "That's got to be so embarrassing!"
"It does tickle my nerves a little bit," he said keeping his cool.
It only took a distracting silver blaze attack followed by Angewomon completely obliterating Airdramon, dark spiral and all with a 'Heaven's charm' to seal the victory for the Digidestined pair.
"They actually did it!" Ygdrassill called out cheering for them. "Way to go! Hikari! Takeru!" she waved, though Rei knew they could not hear her.
Sometimes he wondered which side she truly was on, not that any of it mattered. As long as he could toy with her emotions she could easily be controlled. Human empathy must have been something fairly new she had learned from Hikari when she had been visiting her.
He opened his mouth pausing looking at her. "Could it really...be a coincidence?" he said to himself. He shook his head with a scoff. No, it couldn't be. Beneath the facade of the human girl appearance and emotions was a demented monster seeking the destruction of all things digital.
She chuckled to herself grinning wickedly in their direction. "Rei, if they free the Formless Ones they're going to be in a lot of trouble," she teased.
"Oh, I almost forgot about that," Rei said, the thought having slipped his mind.
Angewomon opened up her hand and the Dark Spirals fell off, Rei a bit stunned they came off so easily.
"Ahh, now they've done it," Ygdrassill chuckled with a grin.
They watched as the Hangyomon revealed their true selves, the Digidestined on edge.
One of them grabbed Hikari by the arm, Rei and Ygdrassill entertained by her reaction.
"Really, Rei?" Ygdrassill giggled holding her stomach trying to hold back her laughter as they talked with her. "A bride? Her?"
"Interesting isn't it?" Rei said studying all of their reactions. "We know how demented Cthulusmon is, but for them, his servants? After being abused by him for so long as slaves they've taken on his nature. If Angewomon or Takeru were not there," he said, "I would have stepped in by now. Or maybe I would have had you step in instead."
"Good call," Ygdrassill agreed. "Who knows what they would be doing if they weren't there?"
"Probably what Cthulusmon would do," Rei said. "In fact, by their very words they want to use Hikari to give birth to an army to defeat him."
"Yeah, just look at how terrified she looks!" Ygdrassill noticed with delight. "A shame that Angewomon had to ruin it."
"It truly is," Rei sighed with a smile. The Formless Ones retreated to the ocean, a strange cryptic message left for the Digidestined.
"For the time?" Ygdrassill said tugging on Rei's sleeve again. "What time are they talking about?"
"They know one day the human world will be flooded by the Dark Ocean. They anticipate that day, and the day that Cthulusmon will claim Hikari Yagami. After all, if they could not have her, it would be best if their Lord had her instead. You could say it's a twisted form of worship," he smiled.
With that Takeru placed his hand on Hikari's shoulder, and with a smile they both ascended back through a mystical light out of the Dark Ocean.
"And there they go," Ygdrassill said holding out her hand over her forehead to get a better view.
"Yes, and not a moment too soon," Rei said, noticing the currents of the ocean grow unstable. Out of a swirling Maelstrom in the gray and fog the hideous Cthulusmon appeared once again.
He groaned out in hunger as he walked to the shore. He then changed into his humanoid form, his eyes red and menacing. "She was here," he seethed licking his lips. "You tricked me my Lord," he groaned. "You deceived me."
Rei came out from the depths onto the shore. "And it's a good thing I did," he said agreeing with himself, "You would have ruined the growth I saw," Rei said, "and, even more, the strength of a bond that can survive the separation of the Dark Ocean."
"But that's impossible Lord," Cthulusmon protested. "Once someone is here, they-"
"-The Child of Hope and Light have proven themselves as being worthy of being used," Rei said cutting him off. "Rest assured Cthulusmon, as I've promised, once I'm done with them you can do whatever you wish with her. Even marry her, if you want to," he grinned.
Cthulusmon stared at him incredulously. "Marry her my Lord? Why would I do that? I don't want to marry her! I want to relish in her flesh and then devour her!"
"Yes, as in one sick twisted fantasy," Ygdrassill teased. "You're one perverted butler all right."
"And you're one demented little girl," Cthulusmon quipped. "Just how many servants of mine have you eaten today?"
"I think maybe five?" she said holding up her hands.
"Five? I just gave you one yesterday!"
"That was just a snack!"
"A snack? What do you want a full course meal you little-"
'-That's enough," Rei said peacefully, both of them closing their mouths instantly. He stared deeply into the depths of the dark ocean, and to the innermost sanctum door where the powerful barrier sealed his power.
"I've caught a glimpse of the future my dear servants," he said, his trench coat jacket flowing in the wind, both King Ygdrassill and Cthulusmon bowing to him on one knee. "If this 'miracle' you spoke of Ygdrassill is any indication, then, I can tell the prophecy of the angels about these children will produce an even greater miracle than this...and even a greater miracle after that. They will occur," he said, his eyes clear staring through the darkness and fog to his power that practically called out for him in the waves, "and outshine each predecessor before it until at last their blinding light is enough to free my sealed powers."
He grinned staring at his hand, his fingers curling, tingling with anticipation. "And on that fateful day, that will be the last miracle. Then they will be ALL wiped out…"
