Digimon Fan Fiction ❯ Digimon Tamers: Reconfigured ❯ Heart of Darkness ( Chapter 13 )

DIGIMON TAMERS: RECONFIGURED

Disclaimer: Me no own Digimon. Me not smrat enuff.

Narrator: Let's see, Takato moved back into his old house, with Ashley. Later, Henry was watching "The Ring" and found himself completely absorbed by the action. He was pulled into a remote corner of the Digital World, where him and Terriermon took on Samaramon, an Ultimate level Digimon based on the cursed girl. Initially, Henry and Gargomon looked to be vastly outpowered, but after coming up with a strategy to stop Samaramon from attacking them, Henry gained the Crest Card of Knowledge and used it to digivolve Gargomon to Rapidmon. Needless to say, he swatted Samaramon like a fly and they returned to the real world.

THEME

"Heart of Darkness"

(Bakemon's remorse. Revelations of the Past.)

(Fade in on Rika's house. Rika and Rumiko are talking.)

Rumiko: Now, as you know, your grandmother is currently spending some time in China.

Rika: Yeah, so what did you have to tell me?

Rumiko: She sent us a package. It just arrived today.

Rika: And? You said there was something for me?

(Rumiko holds out her hand and shows a necklace with a fox's head carved out of yellow Jade.)

Rika: Grandma sent me (heavy emphasis) jewellery? Mom, she's obviously starting to lose it.

Rumiko: Your grandmother is perfectly sane, Rika. She sent you this because she thought it would remind you of Renamon. And it's not mere jewellery, it's a Spiritual Amulet.

(The Amulet sparkles as Rumiko says "Spiritual Amulet")

Rumiko: Hand-crafted with great care, it is said to bring the wearer great luck.

(Rika looks at the Amulet, sees it shift around to form Renamon's head, then puts it aroung her neck, trying to look indignant.)

Rumiko: It looks great on you. With any luck you will some day pass it on to your daughter.

Rika: With any `luck', Kazu won't notice I'm wearing it and make a smart-ass comment.

[Rika: It is in the cards that Digimon will be right back.]

COMMERCIALS

[Bakemon: Looks can be deceiving, but we're back]

(Fade in on Jeri and Mikiko.)

Jeri: I knew this would happen eventually. I just wasn't fully prepared to handle it.

Mikiko: Do you have a problem with my Taming?

Jeri: From what I've heard, you did pretty well. No, there's something I need to do. Something completely unrelated to you.

Mikiko: What?

Jeri: I need to tell someone that I've betrayed them.

Mikiko: Oh, I see.

Jeri: No, you don't. Believe me, you don't understand this at all. What I have to do now is going to hurt me and the person I'm confessing to.

Mikiko: Then why do it?

Jeri: Because if I don't, I'll feel guilty for a long time.

(Jeri leaves, with Bakemon following her.)

(Cut to Takato and Guilmon heading to the park.)

Takato: Jeri said she had something to tell me. Apparently Henry hasn't informed her that I already know about them.

Guilmon: Why did we have to go alone?

Takato: So that it doesn't look like I've been doing fooling around behind her back too. If Ashley came with us, Jeri would think she was less to blame and this was all mutual.

Guilmon: Oh.

(Takato arrives in the park at their `designated meeting place')

Guilmon: It didn't take them long to rebuild this.

Takato: What do you expect? It was the home of someone who helped save the entire planet. Something like that is worth reconstructing.

Guilmon: Who lived there?

(Takato sweatdrops)

Takato: You did, Guilmon.

Guilmon: Oh yeah.

(Jeri and Bakemon are seen hurrying to get to the spot)

Jeri: Sorry we're late, Takato.

Takato: Hey, I'm just happy to see you, Jeri.

Jeri: Takato, how would you feel if I told you I was… slightly attracted to someone else?

Takato: (thinking) Like you're a whore who can't even tell the damn truth. (aloud) I'd be a bit nervous, but then, we all have our crushes. I like to think that love will prevail in those situations.

Jeri: Takato, you hesitated.

Takato: Sorry, Jeri, it's just kind of a big thing to think about.

Jeri: Well, I have been finding myself… slightly attracted to someone.

Takato: (thinking) Come on and tell me the truth. Don't do this bullshit, just let it out. (Aloud) Oh, well, who is it? Some big pretty-boy movie star? (thinking) Like I don't already know.

Jeri: Takato, I'm not going to lie any more. I'm not slightly attracted to some pretty-boy movie star, I've been going behind your back with Henry.

Takato: Yeah, going all the way behind my back.

Jeri: You knew?

Takato: Yeah, Kazu saw you two in the theatre.

Jeri: Which theatre?

Takato: The one where you two were screwing like there was no tomorrow.

(awkward silence)

Jeri: Okay, is that the one downtown? The neighbourhood theatre? What movie was playing?

Takato: What… what movie was playing? You mean you and Henry REGULARLY fuck in crowded theatres? How many times has this happened?

Jeri: Uh…

Takato: Wait, don't answer that question. I just need to know, can you count the times on the fingers on one hand?

Jeri: Um…

Takato: Fingers on both hands? Fingers and toes? Fingers for tens, toes for ones?

Jeri: I can't remember, Takato. I'm sorry.

Takato: I'm sorry too. Sorry I ever trusted you. Sorry I accepted your bullshit about waiting for the first time. Sorry I ever bothered saving your pathetic life from the D-Reaper so you could betray me like this. Jeri, I'm sorry I ever fucking met you.

(Takato and Guilmon walk away)

Guilmon: That went well.

Takato: Shut up. That wasn't what I wanted to say at all. I just felt so betrayed.

(cut back to Jeri and Bakemon. Jeri is sitting on the ground crying.)

Bakemon: Jeri, calm down. You know he wasn't thinking rationally there. He was mad. Anger can drive people to do terrible things. Believe me, I know about terrible things.

Jeri: I'm not crying because of what he said, I'm crying because I know I deserved it. He risked his life to get me out of that thing before it was downgraded and sent in a harmless form back to the Digital World. If I had still been in there when Doodlebug went into effect, I would have been killed. And how do I repay him? I screw around with his friend behind his back.

Bakemon: Jeri, if I beat myself up over everything I've done in the past, I would have deleted myself by now. Rika was right to be suspicious when I first showed up. I had done absolutely horrific things.

Jeri: You mean you're…

Bakemon: Yes, it was me. I was Myotismon, I was Venomyotismon, I was Malomyotismon. But there was…

Jeri: Why did you lie to us?

Bakemon: I was Myotismon, I was Venomyotismon, I was Malomyotismon. I was responsible for so much torment, so much destruction, so much death. Would you have trusted me if I had just appeared and said that?

(Jeri opens her mouth)

Bakemon: Don't even bother answering. You know that I would have been deleted before I could say another word.

Jeri: You're right. I mean, I don't even know if I can trust you now.

(A fog seems to come over the area)

Jeri: I think we're in the wrong place right now.

Bakemon: What was your first hint? The Digital Fog, Alice watching us, give me a clue here.

Jeri: Alice?

(Jeri turns her head and sees the aforementioned girl smirking at her)

Alice: I didn't send this, but it's proving quite beneficial, wouldn't you say?

(The Digimon in the field appears)

Jeri: Oh no, it's Devimon!

Alice: And that's my cue to get out of here.

(Alice vanishes)

Devimon: Jeri Katou.

Jeri: How do you know my name? What do you want?

Devimon: I have been sent by the sovereign Zhuqiaomon.

Jeri: What does he want with me?

Devimon: He noticed the bond between you and your partner weakening almost to the breaking point mere seconds ago. He felt it necessary that you see what your partner has been through.

(Devimon grabs Jeri's arm. Bakemon tries to grab her hand, but misses.)

Jeri: Where are you taking me?

Devimon: We're just taking a little trip to the past.

Jeri: When?

Devimon: 2004.

(A look comes over Jeri's face as she realizes the significance of the year.)

Bakemon: You promise she won't be harmed?

Devimon: I guarantee it. Jeri will be returned to this time and place.

(Devimon pulls out a device. He throws it to the ground and, in a flash, he and Jeri are gone.)

(Cut to Jeri and Devimon speeding through time itself)

Jeri: How did you do that?

Devimon: I borrowed one of Chronomon's Time Balls. It's programmed to send us to the time and place required.

(Jeri and Devimon arrive in the Dark Ocean.)

Jeri: What are we doing here?

Devimon: This is the area where Viruses are reborn.

(A loud shriek is heard in the background.)

Jeri: We're not in 2004, are we?

Devimon: No, we are currently on December 31 2003. You may recognize the significance of this day.

Jeri: The day of Malomyotismon's revelation and defeat.

Devimon: Correct. That shriek was the deaths of Arukenimon and Mummymon.

(There is a short pause. Then several shifting sounds.)

Jeri: Those are?

Devimon: The battle switching from the Real World to the World of Dreams to the Digital World.

Jeri: That happened pretty quickly.

Devimon: The other worlds' time is not synchronized with the World of Darkness.

Voice: Giga Destroyer!

(Jeri watches as two clouds of data are sucked into the Dark Ocean.)

Jeri: That was Mummymon and Arukenimon, right?

Devimon: Correct.

(Jeri sees something)

Jeri: Oh no!

Devimon: What?

Jeri: Dragomon's heading straight for us!

(Sure enough, the Lord of the Dark Ocean is approaching them. He extends a tentacle and whips it towards Devimon.)

Jeri: Look out!

[Takato: Digimodify! Break Activate!

Computerized voice: Digimon will be right back.]

COMMERCIAL [Commercial Narrator: Next time on Digimon…

(Image: Kazu and Kenta are seen looking directly at Alice)

C. Narrator: Kazu and Kenta try to stop Alice themselves…

(Image: A Golemon jumps in between them and Alice)

C. Narrator: But end up stuck between a rock…

(Image: Guardromon being thrown effortlessly into a wall behind them.)

C. Narrator: And a hard place.

Kenta: He shouldn't be this strong!

C. Narrator: Can they somehow defeat the Mega-powered Golemon?

(Image: Golemon landing on Ikkakumon.)

C. Narrator: Tune in next week for an all new episode of Digimon.]

[Renamon: Time to phase back to Digimon.]

(Reshot of the previous scene with Devimon and Dragomon. The whip completes its course and passes directly through Devimon.)

Jeri: What happened there?

Devimon: It was crucial that we were unable to interfere with anything physical in this world. Otherwise, the world you know could be greatly altered for the worse. They can not hear or see us.

Jeri: Then what was he whipping?

Devimon: See for yourself.

(Jeri turns around and sees a badly-beaten Demidevimon. Dragomon whips out again, and Jeri tries to put herself in the way of the attack. The attack passes harmlessly through her and hits the Demidevimon again.)

Demidevimon: I'm sorry, master.

Dragomon: Sorry? Sorry? You were ordered to find the Child of Light and bring her to me. When you located her but were unable to deliver, I gave you another chance and a Mega-level body, and you had that one destroyed mere hours after you had received it!

Demidevimon: Hey, you take on two Megas alone and we'll see how you fare.

Dragomon: (ignoring Demidevimon's pleas) Meanwhile, I had been too intent on powering you up to notice Daemon's Dark Masters coming out of the Dark Tunnels and taking over the Digital World. Fortunately, the digidestined were able to stop them. So then, I allow your miserable soul to take residence inside the head of a human, I allow you to fashion another Mega stage for yourself, I instruct you to get the Dark Energy by any means necessary, and you create the Two Stooges. Eventually they create a Mega Digimon, Blackwarsomething, I believe, which they immediately lose control of. That accursed Daemon arrives on Earth just as we are gearing up for the final step, and suddenly he's challenging my control in MY DARK OCEAN. After I barely manage to subdue him, you fail, once again, and what little dark energy you managed to gather is destroyed by that damned Imperialdramon.

Jeri: Wait, so Myotismon wasn't really in charge of all this?

Devimon: No, he was just another pawn. And the `pure darkness' destroyed by Imperialdramon's final attack was just the data from the one Dark Spore he had already removed.

Jeri: Then that means the anime…

Devimon: Omitted several important details. Not knowingly, since they could only go on what the actual Digidestined knew, but omitted none-the-less.

Dragomon: Give me one reason I should spare your miserable life.

Demidevimon: I've already died once today?

Dragomon: Wrong answer.

(Dragomon prepares to whip Demidevimon again)

Voice: I wouldn't do that.

Dragomon: Funny, I would.

Voice: Then I suppose you leave me no choice. Turn around.

(Dragomon, Jeri, Devimon, and Demidevimon turn to see the source of the voice. It is a girl with her face hidden in the hood of a cloak.)

Dragomon: Who are you to stop me?

???: You want to see?

Jeri: That voice seems familiar…

Demidevimon: Hey, kid, I don't know what you're doing here, but that's Dragomon, the true Lord of Darkness.

???: I know who he is. I've been here before. I've met his servants.

Jeri: Met his servants? Could that be…

(The girl throws off her cloak, revealing herself to be Kari.)

Kari: And the next time you want to trick me, remember there's no such Digimon as "Scubamon".

Dragomon: It appears your failures are not complete, Demidevimon. After all, you led the Child of Light to me.

(Dragomon extends one of his tentacles and starts wrapping it around Kari.)

Dragomon: And now I get to do something I've wanted to for the longest time.

Kari: Don't count on it.

(Kari starts glowing with mysterious light, which flies in a beam to Demidevimon. Demidevimon is energized and digivolves straight to his secondary Mega stage.)

Jeri: So what happens now?

Devimon: Watch and see.

Malomyotismon: Let her go!

Dragomon: This is the same girl who thrice helped to destroy you. I'd say this is exactly what she deserves, wouldn't you?

Malomyotismon: If I hadn't made the mistake of working for you I never would have been in a position to be defeated in the first place. Crimson Mist!

(The attack is fired at the base of the tentacle holding Kari. The tentacle disintegrates and Kari falls to the ground. Jeri tries desparately to catch her. To her surprise, she is able to.)

Jeri: How did that happen?

Devimon: We are unable to interact with purely physical beings. Kari Kamiya, however, is equal parts physical and spiritual. Meaning she can see, hear, and feel us.

Kari: You saved me. Who are you?

Jeri: I am Jeri Katou. You don't know me, but I know all about you.

Dragomon: I sense an escape from this.

(A tentacle whips out towards Devimon. He is unharmed, but something is knocked to the ground.)

Jeri: Please tell me that isn't the Time Ball for the return to our time.

(Dragomon grabs the item and throws it to the ground. It explodes, shattering him into data.)

Devimon: No, that was just the decoy.

Malomyotismon: Kari, you saved me. Why?

Kari: I said it best in the past. No Digimon is truly evil, they only become that way through some kind of dark influence.

Malomyotismon: You were close. There are three naturally evil Digimon. Daemon, Dragomon, and Milleniumon. The three of them create the influences on the others. Fortunately, Milleniumon has been kept in check lately, by…

(The Time Ball in Devimon's hand goes off. We cut to Jeri and Devimon speeding back through time.)

Jeri: That was amazing.

Devimon: So, now can you trust your partner better?

Jeri: Absolutely. Although, there's one thing that bothers me.

Devimon: Which is?

Jeri: The three influences are Dragomon, Daemon, and Milleniumon.

Devimon: So?

Jeri: So, isn't Daemon's Champion level Devimon?

Devimon: Jeri, take a look at my hand.

(Devimon shows Jeri his hand. It has an outline of a phoenix on the back.)

Jeri: What's that?

Devimon: That is the mark of the Sovereign Zhuqiaomon. All of his servants have it.

Jeri: I never saw it on Lopmon.

Devimon: Lopmon was stripped of everything that came with Zhuquiaomon's service when she found her partner. And you never saw any of the other Devas for long enough to check for the mark.

(They arrive back in the park with a flash.)

Jeri: Bakemon, we're back.

Bakemon: Back? You never left! There was just a flash, and when it cleared you two were positioned differently.

Jeri: Oh, right. We must have come back at the exact same time we left from.

???: Well, this was certainly entertaining, but I have a Tamer to kill.

Jeri: That voice. I remember it from the past.

???: I couldn't do this back then, but you're not invincible anymore. Tentacle Claw!

(The sharpened tentacle stabs through Devimon's chest, deleting him instantly.)

Jeri: Devimon!

Dragomon: And now for you…

(Dragomon starts wrapping a tentacle around Jeri)

Jeri: No!

[Ashley: Don't believe everything you hear, but we'll be right back.]

COMMERCIALS

[Terriermon: Momentai, we're back.]

(Jeri's waist is wrapped in Dragomon's tentacle.)

Jeri: (Thinking) This is terrible. It's just like in the D-Reaper, except he actually knows what pain and suffering are. Fortunately, he made a big mistake.

(Jeri reaches down and grabs her D-Power and a random card.)

Jeri: (Looking at the card) Perfect. Digimodify! Power activate!

(Bakemon glows slightly and fires a Dark Claw at Dragomon. Dragomon flinches slightly, but doesn't loosen his grip on Jeri.)

Jeri: It's no good. I'm useless.

???: Don't ever say that Jeri!

(Jeri turns and sees Takato and Wargrowlmon trying to help free her.)

Wargrowlmon: Let go of her! Radiation Blades!

(Wargrowlmon slashes at Dragomon's tentacle. It remains securely around Jeri.)

Jeri: Takato, what are you doing?

Takato: Jeri, all that stuff I said about wishing I hadn't met you, I didn't mean that. Jeri, you're still my friend and I still love you, although in a more platonic way.

Jeri: Takato, that's it. You wondered why I hadn't told you earlier? I'll tell you why. I still cared too much about you to break your heart like that. Even if it's not in the same way as I love Henry, I'll always love you Takato.

Dragomon: What ideal last words.

(Jeri notices a glow in her right hand)

Jeri: And what ideal words for an escape too.

(The glow turns into a Crest Card, marked with the Crest of Love.)

Jeri: Time to let go. Digimodify! Crest Digivolution activate!

CREST DIGIVOLUTION

Bakemon: Bakemon, Crest Digivolve to…

Myotismon: Myotismon!

(Sequence ends)

(Myotismon surveys the scene)

Myotismon: Ah, this certainly seems familiar. Crimson Lightning!

(Myotismon's Crimson Lightning slashes the tentacle holding Jeri halfway.)

Wargrowlmon: I'll finish this. Radiation Blade!

(The tentacle is removed and disintegrates. Jeri starts falling.)

Myotismon: Looks like someone could use a safety net. Grizzly Wing!

(The bats fly out and Jeri lands on them. Myotismon has them carry her safely to the ground, then disperse. Dragomon turns and sees Myotismon and Wargrowlmon, both ready to stop him.)

Dragomon: He who fights and runs away, lives to kill another day.

(Dragomon fades out.)

Takato: You okay Jeri?

Jeri: I'm a bit shaken, but I've been through worse.

Takato: What happened there anyways? I heard your conversation with Bakemon. What made you trust him?

Jeri: Let's just say I had some help from a fallen Guardian Angel. (Thinking) Thank you, Devimon, wherever you are.

Narrator: Wow, that's changed everything I know. What's Alice gonna try next? And how did she convince Dragomon to help her? Maybe we'll get some clues on the next Digimon: Digital Monsters.

Okay, I won't lie. That one was kind of a strain. Mainly because I basically rewrote Adventure, making Myotismon a pitiful, even sympathetic, character. Actually, I didn't rewrite anything, just changed the background, but that still changed everything we know about Adventure.

The two feuding factions in the world of darkness are my idea. It was kind of inspired by how Arukenimon and Mummymon clashed with Daemon, and by the comments made about the Daemon Corps in general.

The idea of the three controllers is mine, but due to Kari's comments in "Ghost of a Chance", I can't take full credit for it. That said, here are my reasons for their choosing. Daemon because he led an army of Ultimates and had such great powers, as well as because of Devimon's (Daemon's Champion form, according to previous chapter) controlling Black Gears. Dragomon because he was referred to as the lord of the Dark Ocean, and because of the mysterious link between Ken's base (powered by the same dark energy that made up the Control Spires and the Dark Rings/Spirals (NOTE: Author is currently kicking self for not getting Ring/Razen(Spiral) reference sooner)) and the Dark Ocean. Finally, Milleniumon. What do I need to say? The Dark Spores, the insane power, the identification as a Digital God, everything just adds up to him as the third Dark Controller.

Chronomon is the most common name for a fanmade Digimon with control of time, and I still have to claim ownership of him and his Time Balls.

Now, at least one of you is probably wondering how I came up with that "half-physical, half spiritual" excuse for Kari to be able to communicate with Jeri. I advise you to rewatch the following episodes: The Ultimate Clash, My Sister's Keeper, The Crest of Light, His Master's Voice (Actually, see that one again anyways. Damn fine episode even if Jeff and Bob tried to Takari it to death), Opposites Attract, Destiny in Doubt (the pink light, I'm convinced it's related to Kari's old powers). In other words, any episode involving Kari and a mysterious occurance. You should be able to figure most of it out from there.

For this chapter, I tried to keep Jeri's torment to a minimum. Most of the Crest Card episodes involve a very personal struggle which puts the Tamer(s) through hell and back. I felt Jeri's reminder of the D-Reaper's attack was sufficient and had it cut off before she could fall back into the `helpless victim' cycle.

For anyone who I've made curious about the controllers, the following data should help to determine who caused what in Adventure. Devimon = Daemon, Milleniumon's control is largely ignored as he is kept in check, Daemon and Dragomon's servants clash bitterly (implied in fic), The Dark Masters (as was mentioned in the fic) were servants of Daemon, Dragomon and Daemon both busy while Digimon were appearing worldwide. That should help you figure it all out.

Next Episode - "Double Disaster" (Infiltrate Alice's plans. Golemon with Ultimate powers!)