This is Pathetic Goggle-head!

Chapter 3: The Liberation of Rika Nonaka

By: Flamegaruru

Flamegaruru here! Now this chapter came up fast! (Well, not really, but…) Arigatou gozaimasu for all the reviews! You are the best! Now, where we last left our Tamers, they succeeded in rescuing Renamon and Guilmon from Ice Devimon and Rika and Takato got a little fluffy. Then, to top it all off, Black War Greymon appears and Rika gets abducted! Whoa.

Rika: What's loverboy gonna do about it?

Takato: Rescue you, of course.

Rika: Like I'm going sit around and wait for you to rescue me.

Flamegaruru: However could Rika and Takato be royalty? -_-'

Disclaimer: I do not own Digimon or anything else related to it. The plot is mine, though! Read on!

*********************************************************************** *

Takato Matsuki stood aghast, staring up at the endless depths of the jet-black sky, where, only moments before, the one he loved with his entire heart, had been abducted into the Digital World. His breath came in ragged gasps as his chest heaved with the overwhelming emotions brought into his heart.

Henry Wong, standing a few feet away from his friend, bit his lip as their other friends; creatures called Digimon, short for digital monster, looked downcast.

A slight breeze ruffled Takato's chocolate-brown hair all over as he continued to glower at the sky. His mind felt as if it had been drained from his skull and been washed several times in the public laundry room. He inhaled deeply and closed his eyes in resolute.

Henry awkwardly ran his hand through his mop of blue hair and looked over to where Renamon was.

" Renamon…" Henry started. Tension filled the air as everyone turned to look at Henry.

" We need to find Rika," Takato croaked as Renamon nodded silently.

" Hey, you shouldn't get up," Guilmon leaned down towards the massive mega Digimon lying on the ground.

Takato scuffled over to the Digimon, also. " He's right. You're hurt."

Black War Greymon coughed violently, rattling his black armor. " Leave me alone," he grunted.

Takato narrowed his eyes towards the Digimon. " Rika just saved your life from that vampire-like Digimon and in process was kidnapped! I think that you owe us an explanation!" he fumed, his amber eyes ablaze.

" Takato's right," Henry stepped up next to his friend. " We have questions and you have the answers. How do you know that Digimon?"

The mega-level Digimon's mustard yellow eyes burned. " I don't answer to meddling humans."

" Not even your Prince?"

The entire group swiveled their bodies to look at the minute Calumon, whose ears just shrank.

" What do you mean. 'Prince'?" Henry inquired.

" He's not a Prince! It is not him, so, therefore, I have no allegiance to him," Black War Greymon snarled ominously.

" It is him, and that was the Princess," Calumon whispered.

" I refuse to believe it!" roared the dragon Digimon.

Takato and the others stood by, completely bewildered. Takato stepped forward. " I don't know about this 'Prince and Princess' junk, and frankly, I don't care. The important thing now is to find Rika and you have the answers to helping us!" Takato pointed to Black War Greymon.

The Digimon's eyes narrowed. " You have the arrogance of the Prince. I am not one to boss around. If you can prove that you're the Prince…"

Takato threw up his hands in exasperation. " Just tell us about the Digimon who kidnapped Rika!"

" Please." Renamon's deep voice politely added.

" The Digimon was Karusimon," Black War Greymon replied with contempt. " I thought he wanted me because after, it," Black War Greymon stumbled for a mere second. " He captured me and forced me to do his bidding."

Renamon and the other Digimon had a puzzled expression on their faces as if they were almost putting two and two together, and Calumon shrunk his entire body size and gave a little whimper. Henry pursed his lips, analyzing the situation.

Meanwhile, Takato was nervously wringing his hands together as he paced busily through the grass. I've got to save Rika! Whatever this bunk about the 'Prince and Princess' mush is, I'm sure it can wait for later! I refuse to wait around here forever…

" There's no I in team," Takato stubbornly used Tai's classic line again as he looked at Black War Greymon. The mammoth Digimon stared at Takato for a few moments.

" Well, " Henry said as Terriermon flew onto his head. " We'd better get around to finding Rika. Come on, the computer program at my place will help us find her," he motioned to the others to follow him. Renamon darted between the trees like a lightning bolt, anxious to find her Tamer.

While Guilmon waited at his side and Black War Greymon lying down on the ground, obviously contemplating something, Takato cast another forlorn glance at the sky and looked at the entrance to the digital world…

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ We return to our bold Rika ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Rika moaned as she slowly opened her eyes. Where am I? Her eyes quickly swiveled across the room. It was a dark, drab and dusky place that was pitch black, or maybe it was just the rods and cones in her eyes that were adjusted. A shaded light suddenly illuminated the room and Rika immediately recognized the place as the basement of the house they had been in earlier that day while rescuing Takato. She rolled her eyes. These evil Digimon have got to get a hobby. Come on, this is like out of a horror film.

" I see you're awake, my Princess," a dark and ominous voice filled the room.

" Princess?" Rika skeptically repeated. Her eyes wandered down to her clothes and she gasped. " What did you do to me!?" She screeched.

" Just made you even more beautiful," the voice sounded again.

" Ugh," Rika made a repulsed face as she looked at what she was wearing. She had to admit, even though quite reluctantly, that the dress was a very pretty silk blue. Scaling upwards, Rika noted with obvious relief that her hair was still up. Even though she had a boyfriend, a reluctant flush came over her, Rika still hated to wear her hair down.

" Okay, what do you want with me Creepazoid before I smash your face in?" Rika demanded.

" You haven't changed a bit," the voice carried an odd tone that made the hair on the back of Rika's neck stand up in fright.

" Show yourself, you coward," Rika spat, hiding her fear which she was very good at.

" As you wish," and out of the shadows stepped a humanoid figure.

" I see you don't remember me," the Digimon said.

" Repressed memory," Rika shot back.

The Digimon raised his eyebrow. " Ah, that is no way for you to treat your future husband."

" You're that Myotismon rip-off! You look as bad as he did! Anyway," Rika's eyes blazed. " What makes you think that I would marry you?"

" Destiny," the Digimon hissed. " How could I, Karusimon, not reign over Earth and the Digital World without my bride?"

" You're just a power hungry freak like every other Digimon any Digi-destined has come across," Rika scoffed.

" Yet, I am unlike any Digimon you've faced," the Karusimon oozed and Rika shifted uncomfortably in her chain bindings as he stared at her. " I knew you a millennia ago and this time you won't escape," he softly said and glided over to her.

Rika squirmed in her chains even more as Karusimon slid a finger across her cheek She shuddered horribly.

" I'll be back, my dear," Karusimon said and with that, swept out of the room.

With a look of repulsion Rika struggled in her bindings even though they hurt her wrists. That good for nothing stalker! He won't get me because I've got something he doesn't; girl power! Rika smirked as she wiggled free of her chains and stealthily made her way out of the haunted house.

As Rika tore for the forest her eyes softened. I'm coming back, Takato.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Jenrya's room. Oops. Henry's ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Henry slid into his computer chair and initiated the computer program to hone in on Rika's D-Arc signal. He anxiously drummed his fingers until the blue blip appeared on the screen. He arced an eyebrow. Ah, the irony of it all…He turned around.

" Well?" Renamon demanded.

" Where's Takato?" Henry said.

" He's not here," Terriermon said.

" GAAAAAHH! Where is he!?' Henry freaked out, grabbing his hair.

" How would I know? I thought you were watching him," Terriermon put his hands on his hips.

" Stop your bickering!" Renamon yelled. Henry and Terriermon sheepishly looked at her. " Takato must have gone to the Digital World to look for her!"

" That dunderhead!" Henry groaned.

" Speaking of missing members, where are Guilmon and Calumon?" Terriermon asked.

" Time's wasting; who knows what trouble they'll get into?" Henry said and raced out of his house with Renamon and Terriermon hot on his heels.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Lover-boy; erm, Takato ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Takato's eyes were tightly scrunched under the protection of his goggles. He painstakingly opened them and winced as he got up, for his body was crying in agony. I can't worry about myself now; Rika's the one who's being held hostage!

" Takatomon, why did you take the path less traveled by?" Guilmon whimpered as he wearily got up on his clawed hind feet. (A/N: Who knows where part of Guilmon's line is from?)

Calumon stretched out his ears and flew to the top of Takato's head.

" This was the only way, Guilmon," Takato replied and looked around him. They were at the outer edge of the forest they had previously encountered that day. Up ahead, was the Mansion of Malevolence.

Takato sweatdropped. The Mansion of Malevolence? That is corny, he thought as he read the sign posted right in front of him.

" Takatomon? What are we going to do?" Guilmon asked.

" I'm sure that's where Rika is," Takato replied, pointing to the mansion. The trio marched towards the mansion right after Takato tied his shoes and scolded Calumon for untying them.

Takato was right about one thing; Rika had been at the mansion, although she wasn't now. Rika herself walked through the forest, alert and ready to get out of there as soon as possible. She was quite a distance from Takato. But someone else was close to Takato and was following him…

^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^ The Digital Gate in the Real World ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^

Henry panted as he ran towards the two large oak trees. " This would be a lot easier if you weren't on my head," he scornfully said to Terriermon.

" I need to save my strength to help save Rika," Terriermon retorted. Henry just rolled his eyes.

" Here we are," Renamon said as she leapt down in front of the trees.

" Let's go," Henry said and put on his shades while he held up his D-Arc. The rainbow of light enveloped the three friends and sucked them into the digital world.

Over in the shadows, Black War Greymon exhaled greatly.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Henry in the Digital World ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

" OW!" Henry yelped. " Renamon! Get your claws out of…!" Henry grunted as Terriermon suddenly landed on his stomach. " Everyone! Off of me!"

" Yes, master," Terriermon bowed and rose into the air like a genie.

" Cut it out," Henry said.

Renamon closed her eyes and inhaled the air. " Rika is close. This way," she quietly said and raced off to the west.

" Come, sahib," Terriermon continued floating after Renamon.

" We need to work on your attitude," Henry muttered as he ran after the Digimon.

" Yes, bwana," Terriermon quipped.

Henry leapt through the bushes and slammed into something, bony.

" Watch where you're going, blue-boy!" Rika murmured.

" Rika!" Henry cried out in surprise as he helped Rika to her feet.

" If you hadn't been so slow, we would have found her sooner," Renamon grinned wryly.

" The big kahuna was busy reprimanding my," Terriermon said, hovering in the air with his ears flopping all over.

" Terriermon!" Henry yelled. " I am well past the point of common sense!" Rika blinked several times. Henry turned and looked at her. " Whoa, uh, Rika…"

Rika cut him off with a glare. " I've just been kidnapped, I'm half-starved, I'm tired, I'm missing goggle-head, and I'm wearing a dress. Nothing about this, got it?"

" Yeah," Henry said as Rika swept past him and held out her hand. " What?"

" Your D-Arc can find Takato, can't it?"

" How do you know that Takato is already here?" Henry scratched his head.

" Because he isn't with you, and I think that he would be here already," Rika said, looking a tiny bit flustered.

Henry held up his D-Arc. A red dot hummed in the miniature screen. " Takato's by the haunted house."

" Ugh, give me a break," Rika sighed. " It's not haunted," she said as they started walking towards the house.

" I'm not saying it is. I'm just saying it looks like it's off a Hollywood set," Henry threw up his hands in exasperation. (A/N: Poor Jenrya is getting picked on today! ToT)

" The big cheese is right," Terriermon said. " It is the 'Mansion of Malevolence.'"

" Where does it say that?" Henry skeptically asked.

" On this sign, o head honcho," Terriermon bowed humbly.

Sure enough, it was the sign that Takato and his group came across a little earlier. Henry put his head in his tan hands and sighed.

" Takato and Guilmon were here along with Calumon," Renamon stated.

" Really?" Rika exclaimed.

" And so was the evil Digimon we came across earlier," the Fox-like Digimon added darkly.

At this, Henry and Terriermon stopped arguing while Rika's eyes widened in horror.

" Karusimon? We've got to find Takato!" Rika cried and hurried towards the mansion with the others close behind.

************************ Uh-oh, Takato had better watch out ******************

Takato cautiously poked his head through the rotting door, peering around through the darkness in the mansion. " Come on, guys," he whispered and motioned for the Digi-dudes to follow him.

" Takato, where are we going to look for Rika?" Calumon asked, warily peering around from atop the leader's head.

" The most likely place for a vampire Digimon to hold her; the basement," Takato replied and they carefully made their way through the old mansion.

An eerie glow from torches lit the way for the trio down the hall. Takato's heart was pulsating rapidly in his chest, but he took a deep breath and reminded himself why he was there. At the end of the hallway, a battered looking curtain hung frailly from the doorway. Takato brushed the tattered curtain away and found himself in a duly illuminated room.

Calumon suddenly started to quiver on Takato's head, which oddly felt like an electric massage, and Guilmon growled ferociously. Takato balled his hands into fists and stared determinedly at the Digimon in front of him.

" Looking for the Princess, eh?" The Digimon snarled.

" Who are you and what have you done with Rika?" Takato demanded, shaking with anger.

" I am Karusimon," the Digimon's lips curled upward in a snarl. " As for the Princess, you cannot see her."

" What do you want with her?" Takato boldly took a step forward.

" My, my, you're certainly demanding, as usual," Karusimon smiled sarcastically. "What makes you think that I'm going to tell you everything you want to know?"

" Because bad guys always spill their guts out to the hero before the hero beats them to a pulp," Takato scowled back at the vampire.

" I'll let Calumon tell you, if you survive that is," Karusimon icily said.

" Let's show this rip off what a real Digimon can do," Takato looked at Guilmon who nodded.

" Let's take this battle to somewhere, more open, shall we?" Karusimon said and lifted his hands up to the sky.

" I got a bad feeling about this," Takato murmured.

Outside, Rika gasped as a blinding flash of light burst the through the darkness. Several figures blasted out of the house and landed right in front of her.

" Goggle-head!" Rika rushed towards Takato and was dizzily getting up, as with his Digimon friends.

" Rika?" Takato said, dazed as Rika threw her arms around his neck. " Ack! Rika! I appreciate your concern, but you don't need to choke me in the process!"

" Sorry," Rika said and let go of Takato. Almost immediately, his eyes wandered down to her clothes. " Don't say a word," Rika warned.

" Takato!" Henry yelled and waved to his friend who greeted him with a huge smile.

" Hey, Takato," Guilmon tugged at his partner's shirt.

" What?"

" He's back."

The Tamers and their Digimon stared up at the jet-black sky as Karusimon ominously glided down to the ground in front of them.

" Well what are we waiting for?" Rika demanded. " Let's show him what we're made of!"

" Aye, aye!" Takato agreed as all three of the teenagers whipped out their D-Arcs.

" Not so fast," Karusimon growled. " Darkness shadow!" He cried and spread out his arms unleashing a powerful blast of dark energy towards the Tamers' Digimon.

" Whoa!" Henry cried as he and the others fell backwards.

" Is everyone all right?" Takato asked s he shakily stood up.

" I think so," Rika replied.

" Takato," Guilmon said. " I can't move!"

" Huh?" Takato said in disbelief and moved over to his partner and tried to help him up.

" It's the same with the rest of our Digimon," Henry concluded as Terriermon and Renamon appeared to be in the same predicament as Guilmon.

" This is not good," Takato murmured as Karusimon menacingly advanced to where they stood.

" Come with my, my Princess and I shall bestow upon you the honor of being my Queen," Karusimon offered Rika.

" First of all, you're too stuffy and second of all, I don't like you. For your information, Takato is my boyfriend," Rika defiantly said.

Takato smiled at Rika who grinned back. " And just what makes you think that Rika is going anywhere with you?"

" She has no other choice," Karusimon said.

" We've got to stop him!" Henry said as Karusimon drew closer.

" Gee, where would we be without quick wit?" Rika sarcastically replied.

" Think of something quick! He's coming closer!" Takato anxiously said. (A/N: Evil villains always take their time to get to their enemies.)

" The only chance we have is to digivolve, but our Digimon are weak," Henry stuck out his lower lip in thought. He looked around. " Hey, where'd Karusimon go?"

The group started to look around the forest. " Uh-oh," Calumon sniffed from behind Guilmon.

Takato felt an icy chill blow across his neck and realized that Karusimon must be behind him. He started to dive to the right but…

"Scarlet blaze!" Karusimon yelled and a whip-like red substance whipped its way around Takato and pulled him to the ground. Karusimon dragged Takato towards him and held him up into the air. Takato provocatively stared the Digimon straight in the eye.

" Now, Prince Takato," Karusimon hissed. " You shall die."

Rika's breathing became labored as she stared at Takato. Takato…I can't lose the person who truly taught me to love again…Rika propelled herself towards Takato screaming, " No! Takato! I love you!"

Takato stared wide-eyed at Rika, her face filled with anguish. He barely caught a glimmer of tears rapidly falling down her cheeks. His amber eyes became wet with tears also. " Stay back, Rika, or he'll get you too!"

Calumon's eyes shone when Rika's and Takato's D-Arcs abruptly shone golden light. His triangle shone brightly and Guilmon and Renamon stood up, full of energy.

" Guilmon digivolve to…"

" Renamon digivolve to…"

The two rookies Digimon's data disappeared and was instantly replaced with new data. Although, instead of digivolving to Kyuubimon and Growlmon, they digivolved straight into something stronger…

" War Growlmon!"

" Taomon!"

" Aaaaaaggh! The light!" Karusimon shielded his eyes from the light, thus dropping Takato who instantly fled to Rika.

" Taomon and War Growlmon, ultimate Digimon," Takato said breathlessly.

" Do you seriously think that those pathetic excuses for Digimon can seriously beat me?" Karusimon snickered as the light died down.

" We'll see about that," Takato whispered. " Atomic,"

" Blaster!" War Growlmon finished sending a red blast of energy towards Karusimon.

" Talisman of light!" Taomon added her spell to War Growlmon's attack and they merged, hitting Karusimon dead center.

" All right!" Henry cried, holding the temporarily weakened Terriermon in his arms.

A swirl of black dust enveloped the area where Karusimon stood. An ominous laugh echoed through it.

" You spoke too soon," Rika said.

" Darkness Shadow!" Karusimon broke through the dust and shot his attack against the ultimate Digimon sending them hurtling into the forest.

" Taomon!"

" War Growlmon!"

" With those two imbeciles out of the way, I can finally get what I've came for," Karusimon smiled evilly.

" Terra Destroyer!"

A red ball of atomic energy sped towards Karusimon and knocked him straight in the chest, sending him back a few feet.

" What the?" Takato turned around to see the attacker…

" Black War Greymon!" Rika cried. " You're okay!"

" That's right," Black War Greymon nodded. He turned towards Karusimon. " I cannot let your tyranny ensue. It is my duty to protect the Princess and now I shall fulfill that duty by destroying you!" He bared his claws towards the vile Digimon.

" You cannot defeat me by yourself! You've failed so many times before! What makes this time any different?" Sneered Karusimon.

" Because he's not alone," Taomon's voice rang out from the vast forest as she and War Growlmon stepped out into the clearing.

" Woohoo! Go War Growlmon!" Takato cheered. " Atomic…"

" Blaster!" War Growlmon roared sending his atomic energy towards Karusimon.

" Talisman of Light!" Taomon added her attack to War Growlmon's also.

" Terra Destroyer!" Black War Greymon threw his massive attack in with Taomon and War Growlmon's attack.

The powerful attack hit Karusimon straight in the chest, filling the night with his cries of defeat.

" We showed him!" Henry whooped as the attack's energy died down.

" Ha," coughed a weak reply. " You will never defeat me with your attacks; I am invincible!" Karusimon yelled as he stepped out of the rubble, although he staggered quite a bit.

" How can this happen?" Black War Greymon snarled. " Our attack should have wiped you out!"

" If they couldn't defeat Karusimon, who can?" Takato looked at the ground.

" Don't worry, Takato," Rika softly said and slipped her hand into his. " We can win."

" It's odd," Takato sadly smiled. " When you say that I almost believe you."

" What makes you think that we can't?" Rika questioned.

Black War Greymon stared at Rika. " There is a way," he said, barely audibly.

" What is it?" Takato asked quickly for Karusimon was slowly regaining his strength.

" We could defeat him if War Greymon was here," Black War Greymon sighed. " But he was destroyed by Karusimon when he took over…"

" Data never dies, does it?" Henry said. " I'm sure his data is out there somewhere."

" No." Black War Greymon said firmly. " His data is in another universe. Dissipated data can't travel through universes unless it is stored somewhere."

" So that means there is no hope for you," Karusimon sneered. " Darkness wave!" He shouted and unleashed his attack upon them.

Takato and the others flew backwards in the air, the Digimon hitting the trees. He squinted at Karusimon. One more attack like that will annihilate us all! He looked at Rika.

" Don't worry, Rika, we won't stop fighting until the very end," Takato determinedly said.

" I know," Rika replied and gripped his hand impulsively.

" What's happening?" Takato wondered out loud as his and Rika's D-Arcs glowed gold.

" Whoa!" Calumon chirped as his triangle's reddish glow lit up throughout the night sky.

The Tamers and their Digimon allies stared in wonder as a golden beam shone into the middle of the plains powered by Calumon's triangle and Takato and Rika's digivices. A gigantic figure emerged from the light…

" War Greymon! Mega level Digimon! His Terra Force attack could wipe out an entire city!" Henry rattled off War Greymon's stats while staring at the Digimon in wonder.

" Thank you, Prince and Princess for reviving me," War Greymon bowed his head at Rika and Takato. He then turned to Black War Greymon. " It's been awhile, brother. Shall we show Karusimon what we can do?"

Under his helmet, Black War Greymon smiled. " Sure." The two mega Digimon turned to Karusimon.

" I don't fully comprehend how you came back, War Greymon," Karusimon's voice dripped with venom. " But this time I will make sure you die!"

" Don't count on it, garlic breath," Black War Greymon snarled. " Terra destroyer!"

" Terra force!" The two dragon type Digimon threw their attacks unto Karusimon before he could give a counter-attack.

" No!" Screeched Karusimon as his data finally disappeared into the jet-black sky.

The Tamers and their Digimon sat gaping at the two mega level Digimon while Calumon started bouncing around on by the two brothers.

" What is this all about?" Henry asked as he slowly made his way towards the mega Digimon.

" The big enchilada wishes to know," Terriermon started floating beside Henry.

" Terriermon! You are such a pill today!" Henry fumed. " Please stop!"

" Yes, my liege," Terriermon floated down to the ground.

" Thank you," Henry sighed.

Rika and Takato laughed as they joined Henry and the recently de-digivolved Renamon and Guilmon.

" So," Takato addressed the two War Greymons. " What is all this stuff about Princes and Princesses? Do you even know why Karusimon came where and why he wanted Rika?"

" Yeah," Rika put her hands on her hips. " This sounds a bit like a fairy-tale rip-off."

War Greymon chuckled. " Calumon, you haven't told them?"

Everyone looked down so they could see the minute Digimon. " I really didn't think that Karusimon would come," Calumon said and bounced into Rika's arms. " Eskimo kisses!" He nuzzled Rika's nose.

" Calumon!" Rika complained. " Can't you take a day off or something!?"

The whole group laughed heartily along with Calumon.

" Why don't we go back to the Real world and Calumon can tell us there?" Henry suggested.

" I concur," Renamon added. " I do not think that this is the ideal place to have a nice little chit-chat about the past."

" What is it with everybody and using big, fancy words today?" Takato inquired.

Rika smirked and playfully snapped his goggles. " Is it too refined for you, goggle-head? Out of your league?"

" Hey!" Takato indignantly replied.

" Can we go back?' Guilmon stopped Rika and Takato's argument. " I'm hungry!"

Takato sighed as everyone else snickers. " Well, at least some things never change," he said glumly as Guilmon ran around with Calumon started nuzzling anew under Rika's chin.

Black War Greymon looked up at the stars glittering in the night sky. It was an end, but now there is a new beginning…

ZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZ

Okay, so the story isn't finished yet! It almost is; it only has one chapter left! Thank you all reviewers, you are the best! J February is the month for stories! Expect three things to be done in February!

~Flamegaruru~

Coming, February 2002:

The Venture of the Past