Digimon Fan Fiction ❯ Return of the Kaiser ❯ Ultimatum ( Chapter 2 )

Disclaimer: I do not own Digimon or any of it's characters. I own only my muse, Raven, and the storyline.

Kagome: All right, chapter two, this time from Ken's point of view.

Raven: Here's where the summary comes into play.

Kagome: Yep, here Ken is given an ultimatum and is faced with the hardest decision of his life.

Raven: *splutters* Hey! You aren't supposed to tell them what's going to happen.

Kagome: *exasperated sigh* Yes, but they need something to go on, or else they might not read. Besides, the title kind of gives it away too, you know.

Raven: *defeated groan* Oh, all right. Now, may we please continue this fic?

Kagome: Yes, we may.

Raven: *sarcastically* Thank you. Now………on with the fic!

Chapter Two: Ultimatum

Ken groaned as he opened his eyes, blinking furiously against the blinding sunlight that had entered his room. He snarled and cursed whatever God made the sun rise so that it shone right through his window in the morning.

Rolling over, he glared at the clock. Shit, it was only 7:00 in the morning. It should have been illegal for people to be forced to wake up that early. Whoever thought that 7:00 was a logical time for humans to be up and about should be dragged out into the street and shot………multiple times.

Sighing in defeat, he bowed under the cruel weight of the early morning sunshine and crawled out of bed, absently tucking the covers back up around his sleeping Digimon. Minomon just murmured something unintelligible in his sleep, and curled back up under the blanket.

Ken smiled slightly at the cute scene on the bed and then went to rummage through his closet for something to wear for the day's activities. He had to meet with the other Chosen, both old and new, in the Digital World for their monthly picnic there.

He rolled his eyes, depression already beginning to set in. After all, he was one of the only single people in the group, and didn't want to see the couples fawning over each other again. Once they had all come out and been accepted, they no longer had any qualms about publicly showing their affection in front of the rest of the group.

The only other single person in the group was Yagami Taichi, and everybody knew that he was straight as an arrow. So was just about everyone else, he thought wryly. Hikari was with Takeru, Miyako was with Iori, Mimi and Jyou were dating, Sora and Koushiro were engaged, and Yamato and Daisuke were the favorite couple. That left Ken and the older Goggle Boy without a companion.

Ken shook his head, as if trying to shake his dark thoughts out of his head, but they remained, almost palpable, as if he could reach out and grab hold of the darkness. Suddenly, he was frightened, and he didn't understand why. He just had the premonition that something bad was going to happen today, something that he was powerless to stop.

Trying to shake off the tingling sensation crawling up his spine, Ken hurriedly got dressed, awoke his sleeping Digimon partner, and opened the portal to the Digital World. They had all agreed to meet at 9:00 in the usual place, but Ken enjoyed arriving earlier than everyone else, allowing himself to bask in the peace and warmth that covered the land.

Once he arrived in the Digital World, his faithful companion Wormmon by his side, he set out at a steady pace for the forest, seeking out the small copse of weeping willows in its center. The ex-Kaiser loved this place, for it was his secret place. He had never brought any of the other Digidestined to the Heart of the Forest, not even Daisuke.

In the small grove of trees, their leaves dragging on the ground, he sat down and closed his eyes, taking his time to enjoy the serenity he found there. His bliss did not last for long, however, as he felt a great evil approach him.

Startled, Ken leapt to his feet and fled the Heart of the Forest, with only two thoughts running through his mind: avoid the fatal darkness, and keep it out of the small grove he had just occupied. Unconsciously, perhaps, he knew that should the darkness be permitted into the Heart, it would eat away at it and kill the entire forest, feeding off of its life-giving energy.

However, his flight was futile, and the chilling darkness rapidly overcame him, wrapping him tight in its embrace. He struggled to escape, but it was useless. He could no longer see Wormmon or hear his terrified cries; he was suspended in the never-ending darkness, and the Darkness was all there was.

Ken, the Darkness whispered to him, slithering icy-cold across his skin. Ken, you disappoint Us. Disappoint? Us? Ken was lost and confused. Who had he disappointed and why? Did he really want to know? No, he decided firmly, he did not want to know anything. Ignorance was bliss.

The Darkness apparently cared nothing for his wishes. You were the Kaiser, it hissed, you had power beyond imagining, yet you threw it all away. For what?! For a few pathetic humans. You let your weakness out, and it was your downfall.

Ken shook his head, almost frantically, denying. No! he cried. I was defeated by the Light, and I liked it. Those humans are children like me, and they helped me.

The Darkness just laughed and drew tighter around him, choking off his air supply until he couldn't breathe. Oh no, it murmured, We aren't about to let you go that easily. We're here to give you an ultimatum, Ken, and you'd best think twice before refusing it out of hand.

Once the Darkness had Ken's attention, it loosened its grip enough for him to breathe and continued. We do not do this to hurt you. We do it to save the Digital World from a greater evil that even We of the Mother Darkness dare not name. To do this, the Digimon Kaiser must reclaim his throne. He does not need to hurt innocent Digimon, but he must instead protect them from other forces.

Ken shuddered, not sure he believed the Darkness, but not able to do anything about it at the moment. The Darkness continued, trying to soothe the bluenette wrapped in its embrace. If you wish, you may choose one Digidestined to be your constant companion. But no more. The others may know of what you're doing, but they must not be allowed to interfere, or the Digital World will be lost.

With that final cryptic warning, the Darkness receded, leaving Ken laying curled up on the grass, trembling in fear and shock, Wormmon burrowed against him, trying to soothe the terrified boy.

Kagome: All right people, end of Chapter Two.

Raven: Well, well? *jumping up and down* What did you think? Huh, huh?!

Kagome: *bops muse on head* Uresai! We won't find out if you don't quit your babbling, got it?

Raven: *rubs head* Ow! That hurt! *notices glare from Kagome* I got it! I got it!

Kagome: Good. *glances at muse* I didn't hit you that hard, and you know it!

Raven: *grins cheekily* Yeah, but I did a good acting job, didn't I?

Kagome: ………………………

Raven: Uh huh. That's what I thought. *turns to audience* Anyhow, read and review please! Five reviews, and I'll give Kagome the next chapter so she can post it for all you wonderful people. Arigato! Ja ne.