Of Darkness and Despair [Digimetal]

[Reikiko Tsukino]

If there was one way to describe the emotion, then the word: fear might had fit her quite well. It had been only a few days since she had entered the Dark Area, and yet the darkness she felt wasn't lurking within the landscape, it was dwelling within her own heart. She traveled for days along the highway, searching for that one clue she needed, and on a particular morning she found it. A cloaked stranger and his Digimon partner had told her about a collection of ruins further inland, a ruin that most people avoided because it was said to be a relic of the past... a past when seven powerful entities wandered the land.

She wasn't certain about the meaning of it, but she couldn't help but wonder if the stranger was making a reference to the mysterious 'Dark' Tamers that the old man in the Nanosphere Forest told her about. Powerful beings that had somehow embraced the darkness, become its master and used it as a source of power. Obviously she didn't desire to become a victim to the power of the mark, and with her own determination growing stronger by the day, she had to discover the ruins at all costs. There had to be a clue, some sort of sign that would tell her how to make the mark cease trying to take control over her. Those phantoms were clearly conjured by the power of the mark, but for what reason?

Kuro had remained quiet alongside their whole trip, and although she felt a little bit of comfort when he looked at her with that kind concerned look of him, she couldn't help but wonder if his lack of that energetic attitude he displayed was for the same reason she did: In the end both of them were haunted by this cursed mark...

At least it seemed the ruins they were looking for, the large weathered building had appeared in the distance, cleverly concealed between some hills that were leading into the direction of the Ashlands... There was no doubt, she would find the answers she sought at this place! Gods knew what else she could do if this failed...

WC: 365/500

[Reikiko Tsukino]

The initial impression of the building told her it was abandoned, not a single person or Digimon in sight, and a look throughout the building gave her little to no clue of what purpose it might had held. Despite being called weathered, or a ruin the building seemed to had remained in a pretty good state. The interior of the ruins seemed divided into four rooms. The first was what reminded her of a study chamber, a single computer remaining functional, but she found little use for it since there was a password required. Various engravings and, what she assumed was a map of the Digital world decorated the rest of the walls, but even then it did little but provide her with more questions than answers.

The second room, a simple entree into the building had an old sofa, mostly left suitable to rest in, and if she didn't knew better the fluffiness of it was unnatural for the worn-down state of the building. There was even a fridge, but she didn't dare to pick any of the contents inside it, because judging from the building it was very unlikely those things were still intended for consumption. The third room, right next to the entree was mostly left abandoned, aside from a weird mark on the ground that looked eerily familiar to the mark on her hand, but there was little more she could get out of her investigation.

In the end her first day within the ruin had been fruitless, and when night arrived and Kuro finally told her to get some rest the girl decided to listen to her partner's advice, curling up on the sofa and upon closing her eyes felt exhaustion take its toll over her. Unfortunately, sleep had been a bad idea, because even if she wanted to say she had grown used to the nightmares, she still didn't... The sight of the Digimon she and Kuro had killed were chasing her, vivid phantoms of her past, and to make the matter worse the nightmares grown more intense.

She saw people, people she hesitatingly wanted to call friends, be slain one after another... their lifeless bodies on the ground before her, and yet before she could see who was responsible for those wicked deeds she woke up screaming and crying, the Black Agumon rushing to her side in the hope to comfort her. How long would she be able to last against this overwhelming sense of dread? Not much longer...

WC: 416
Total WC: 716/500

[Reikiko Tsukino]

It took at least a quarter of an hour before she stopped trembling, and while she had a towel covering her face, using it to wipe off the sweat that covered her forehead, not to mention the tears after the aforementioned nightmare... Even after taking a deep breath and attempting to clear her thoughts she found her mind only plagued by the nightmares, and the thought of deciphering the password on the computer.

"I'm alright Kuro, please keep a watch over the area, I'm going to go back to work on that computer."

The Black Agumon nodded his head lightly, marching back outside while she walked over to the nearby study chamber, her eyes cast upon the wall where the map of the Digital World was hanging. Was this truly the right place? Did this ruin possess the answers she sought? At first she was hopeful, in the end this place was clearly once used by someone, if the rumors were to be believed it even was a place that once belonged to the Seven.

"If the rumors are to be believed, then those Seven might be the ones who obtained the answers I need... The secret to control this dark power..."

Yes, she needed to master the mark, in the end it would surely be the only way for her and Kuro to obtain the power she desired, because losing herself to the influence of this power was not an option! Still, no matter what words she thought of, the computer refused to allow her access to its inner-most secrets.

For hours she remained typing one password after another, till exhaustion took its toll upon her and she dozed off. Once more a nightmare emerged within her mind, but this one was different than normally. It had a certain clarity, a dream that almost felt like a memory. The Nanosphere forest was a place quite familiar to her, especially when it came to those nightmares, and like before the sickening feeling of her 'friends' their lifeless bodies littered the ground, yet this time there was no sudden scream or cry that woke her up.

Instead she saw herself standing among them, the mark on her hand glowing feebly.

"Aneki..."

A sudden voice behind her caused the girl to look up at the giant creature that towered behind her, the warrior clad in darkness itself that looked at her with a look of approval in his eyes. Yet as she lowered her gaze, noticing the blood stains on her hands she finally realized what happened.

This nightmare wasn't just one where she saw her friends being killed...

It was one...

Where she killed them!

A sudden scream caused Kuro to rush back inside, noticing the trembling Reikiko who was holding her head in her hands, still seated in the chair as she mumbled something under her breath.

"Aneki-"

"I killed them... I... I... I..."

The Black Agumon rushed over to her, rather violently leaping onto her lap and with a single slap tried to stir her out of her terror-struck panic.

"SNAP OUT OF IT ANEKI!"

The Black Agumon growled at her, causing Reikiko's eyes to turn toward him, almost fearful as she heard his words, words that seemingly pierced her heart.

"I already promised you that I will be the one doing the killing. You just have to remain strong and provide me my orders Aneki. That was our promise! Don't be losing to this weird mark! We don't feel such a thing as despair... WE ARE DESPAIR! Despair to all who oppose us!"

That's right... she had promised Kuro that she wouldn't lose to those nightmares... there would be no giving in to despair... Wait, despair?

Finding herself a bit curious at the thought that haunted her mind, the girl walked over to the computer and tapped the keys to spell one word.

D E S P A I R

And then with a soft ping sound of approval... the computer's password was confirmed, causing Reikiko's eyes to shift toward the screen in disbelief...

WC: 676
Total WC: 1392/500

[Reikiko Tsukino]

It seemed that despite her success in getting beyond the password, the database of the computer seemed to had been partly corrupted. Some files simply refused to open, while at the same time there were other files that were partly damaged, but one file had drawn her interest. Upon accessing the file a log of some sorts, akin to a diary had started to display itself upon the screen, and with intrigue the girl read the words on the screen.

Day 1:
Just like anticipated the mark has appeared upon several chosen entities. The mark seems to appear on a different location from person to person, albeit none of the entities has shown any signs of the mark's power.

The mark... Could it be that they were talking about the same mark that she had on her hand?! There was no doubt this mark was caused by something, or someone and it certainly was not an ordinary type of problem she was dealing with! However, the log seemed far from finished, and so she continued reading the second entry into the diary.

Day 5:
Several suspects have shown some sort of activity from the mark. While most of them share a similar case of symptoms in the form of nightmares and hallucinations, it seems some are showing a greater reaction. It appears those suspects cause echos of their past to chase them... We have come to call them 'Phantoms'.

It was the mark, there was no doubt about it... Nevertheless, for some reason it seemed that there were people just like her, people who were haunted by the dark nightmares conjured by the mark. But for what reason, for what purpose did the mark exist? The diary continued onward, and with baited breath she resumed reading.

Day 12:
I am confident I discovered the nature of the mark. When [ERROR] became possessed most of us fell into despair, believing that the mark is a curse that will slowly devour you. Research on how to safely remove it has been started, but I disagree with it. [ERROR] lost to the mark because [ERROR] was unsuited for it. I believe there is a way to---

The log started to show hints of data distortion and corruption, but amidst it she could read fragments of a message:

When the Mark feasts upon the blood of a Branded One
Will those chosen by darkness
Ascend onto their journey
To obtain true power
And claim what they desire...

The message, it was incomplete! Finding her anger boiling the girl's hand balded up into a fist, slamming it lightly into the table.

"DAMNED IT!"

The girl's shout tore through the silence as her fist slammed a few more times as the disappointment started to settle in. She had been so close to finding an answer, and yet even now it had only brought more questions than answers. Was this another dead-end? Was this yet another failure in her attempts to find the answers she needed, the answers to escape from the shadows of the past? Seemingly sensing her disappointment Kuro walked out of the room, as if to give her some time alone when suddenly he turned toward her, a look of excitement in his eyes.

"Aneki! Over here!"

Whatever her partner had found, it must had been important to draw such interest from the raptor, and yet as he led her into the empty room with the large representation of the mark the girl couldn't help but frown at what could have drawn his excitement.

"What is it Kuro? We already seen this room."

The Blackagumon shook his head violently, suddenly rubbing his paws to sweep away the dust, revealing a small tube-like contraption at the center of the mark.

"There is something here Aneki! We just need to feed the mark!"

Wait, he couldn't seriously be planning to...

----
WC: 641
Total WC: 2033/500

[Reikiko Tsukino]

That excited glint in Kuro's eyes was already more than enough to get Reikiko an idea of what he had been planning, in the end the message they had read earlier told them something about feeding the mark with... blood? However, such an idea sounded ridiculous! Weren't they made out of data in the first place? Actually, all things considered that could have been a part of it. Still she had more than enough reasons to be wary of this whole scenario! To think that she was about to feed her blood to this mark, an action she had no idea what consequences it would have.

"Wait just a moment Kuro! What do you think you're about to do?!"

Her partner merely grinned at her, gesturing toward the mark beneath the two of them. He really seemed confident this room somehow held a secret, a secret that would bring them closer to obtaining the power they needed, to learn to master the power that was haunting them so strongly right now.

"We just need to feed it some blood Aneki! Don't worry, I'll do it!"

Yet before she could even properly protest Kuro raised both of his paws, the nails of one hand digging into the other, the small claws causing bits of blood to drip onto the mark itself. That damned little raptor! Growling under her breath Reikiko felt something stir her forward, briefly pulling out the small pocket knife she had recently purchased at Terabyte city to open the meals they had purchased there, and after sliding open the blade of the knife gently ran it through the palm of her left hand. Even if it was a shallow wound, it still stung a bit, but with Kuro looking surprised at her it did have its intended effect as she pressed her bleeding hand against that of the raptor, their blood seemingly mingling together as it dripped onto the mark.

"You think this will work Aneki?"
"Don't ask me... I guess it might? I believe this mark might be a data receiver so---"

And yet, as she was trying to respond to Kuro the mark suddenly lit up without a warning! Kuro's eyes sparkled with excitement at the sight that unfolded beneath him, when Reikiko suddenly felt the floor beneath her shift, quite literally as the mark she stood in started to descend underground, revealing its true nature: an elevator!

"Guess it does work..."

WC: 406
Total WC: 2439/500

[Reikiko Tsukino]

She should have expected it, the fact that blood likely translated to data, then the mark should have been fed such data in order to activate! A clever concept all things considered, but why did it activate with her blood? Was it because she and Kuro were branded with the mark? She hoped that whenever she was being taken toward, that the answers would reveal themselves in that place. The elevator continued for only a minute before coming to a halt, revealing a long corridor that was eerily lit by the flickering lights of lanterns. Of course her mind screamed of danger, but her heart desired to move onward, if the answers she needed were so close... Then she truly needed to brave this darkness, a opinion that Kuro shared with her, for the little raptor started to march ahead of her, step by step advancing closer toward whatever place awaited them. However, in the end it was no library or hidden seat of knowledge they stumbled upon, instead it was a large spacious chamber, torch lights illuminating the room, still what left her truly curious was the large altar that contained a peculiar artifact

It was a obsidian colored egg of some sorts, with purple tints, and even while it was at the other side of the room she felt an subconscious urge to approach it. It wasn't that the egg looked entrancing or something, but it felt like something was urging her toward it, the mark on her hand pulsing faintly with each step she took, and then at long last when her hand rested upon it she heard Kuro's worried voice pull her thoughts back to reality.

"That's a Digimental Aneki!"

A Digi what? Looking at the little raptor Reikiko's confusion seemed evident in her expression, causing the raptor to explain with an excited grin.

"Remember that weird evolution that Yana and Ari did a while back? That's evolution by means of empowering me with an armor. Albeit, I have never seen that specific type of digimental before. I was thinking that symbol might be the Digimental of hope, but the symbol seems different.."

The girl nodded her head in confirmation as she looked at the symbol engraved upon the egg-like device, but it was when the mark upon her hand started to burn violently, making her let out a grunt of pain that Reikiko's vision blurred, a moment later finding herself back in a similar place: the Nanosphere forest... Still there was something odd about it, she didn't believe this was the true forest, especially cause the voice that she heard couldn't resound through the forest.

"Finally found it, didn't you?"

Yes, it should have been impossible for her to hear this voice, because it belonged to nobody else than herself! And a look toward the direction the voice came from confirmed her thoughts: a perfect copy of herself stood a few steps away from her, with Kuro by her side, what left her even more confused because... the real Kuro was standing before her!

WC: 509
Total WC:2948/500

[Reikiko Tsukino]

The mischievous smirk upon her mirror image send a chill down Reikiko's spine, watching with a mixture of distrust and concern as the copy of herself started to circle around her, almost akin to a predator.

"Who... are you?"

The mirror image giggled playfully at her comment, clapping her hands together in amusement.

"Such an elementary question, I expected better of you."

Still, the playful taunt spoken by her own voice seemed to leave Kuro looking bewildered at the two shadowy copies of themselves. Nevertheless, she wasn't going to be provoked into having more confusing questions to deal with! So in the end the only thing she could do was force answers out of the girl by providing her the right questions!

"You're a phantom aren't you? A manifestation of the mark's power?"

The shadowy copy's smile seemed to brighten, nodding her head in approval.

"That's more like it! You're getting warmer my dear~ But not warm enough yet. I am a Phantom, but this manifestation is not the result of the mark's power, or at the very least not the mark alone."

Wait, what could this possibly mean? If this phantom wasn't manifested by the power of the mark alone, then was there something, or someone else responsible for it? A shiver ran across her spine at the thought, and yet the answer she found only caused her to feel even more worry.

"Impossible... you're saying that you are---"

Seemingly realizing that she had discovered the answer the copy's smile turned into a mischievous smirk, declaring in a cheerful tone.

"That's right Rei! I am you~ Or rather, a fragment of you. I am your shadow, the darkness that dwells within your heart, given shape and identity by the power of the mark on your hand! I guess you may call me 'Yami no Reikiko'. You did love those fancy names as a child."

Her own darkness, given shape and an identity by the power of the mark? Could this be that type of possession the log on the computer warned her of?!

Quickly taking a few steps backwards the girl suddenly felt her body bump against something soft, and before she could turn around the shadow had emerged behind her, playfully pulling her into an embrace.

"Going somewhere?"

Despite her attempts to squirm away from the girl's grasp, it had little effect, and almost helplessly she flailed, Kuro's attempt to reach her being suddenly stopped by the copy of the raptor stepping between the two of them.

"What do you want with me?!"

The shadow's grip seemed to soften a little, her head resting onto Reikiko's shoulder as she whispered softly.

"To return myself to my rightful place. Unfortunately, for that to happen I'll need to taint the light that started to fill your heart. How about we get started with that? In the end that 'brother' of yours certainly didn't last long, despite saying he was a hero who would save you... when he kicked the bucket even before you got in danger!"

Wait, Ryu had died?! Her eyes widening in disbelief for a moment the girl gritted her teeth, her fist balded up as she attempted to hit her copy cleanly in the face, but before she could even properly react she felt a knee strike her in the stomach, sending her reeling forwards.

"Aneki!"

A gasp for air followed as she felt her body collapse onto the grass, panting for breath yet the copy's words that followed as she straddled herself on top of the girl, a hand forcing her head sideways to look at the approaching Kuro.

"Kuro no Kishi, kill that Black Agumon."

The sudden command made the copy become engulfed in a black light, a giant Black Greymon rushing toward the approaching Kuro who got knocked into a nearby tree.

"Aneki, something is wrong! I can't feel the Ankoku energy!"

Yet despite her struggling Reikiko couldn't even reach for her digivice... for some reason the darkness-empowered copy of herself truly was superior...

WC: 670
Total WC: 3618/500

[Reikiko Tsukino]

Yes, it didn't matter how much she struggled, the darkness was simply too strong for her to retaliate against. She could only watch in disbelief as the black dinosaur knocked her partner into the tree, and not even a moment after he had regained his footing the Black Greymon knocked Kuro into the air with his large horn, sending the raptor to collapse onto the grass a few steps away from her. Still, even against such an overwhelming enemy Kuro's determination didn't waver, rising back onto his feet the Black Agumon inhaled sharply before unleashing a volley of hot flames at his opponent, the fireballs doing little to subdue the larger champion. No, the moment the Black Greymon breathed out a torrent of flames that consumed Kuro's body Reikiko could only scream as her partner collapsed lifelessly on the grass.

She was powerless... Powerless to defend the only being that would protect her without ulterior motives, the one she knew who would always be at her side, the only one who wouldn't betray her... Despite her struggling she could still not break free, the darkness-infused copy of herself easily restraining her, and to make the matter worse... the Black Greymon was now stomping his foot onto Kuro, each hit making the poor raptor cry out as it attempted to shoot one blast after another, till finally one stomp accompanied a sickening sound, causing Kuro's body to slowly go limp, an an eerie coldness wash over her body.

Her partner... was dying... Tears started to roll down her eyes, tears of frustration and sorrow, but above all, she finally realized how much Kuro had meant for her. With his death... surely she would be truly alone once more, to experience a life that was always filled with doubts, it would make anyone feel like it was a nightmare. Being unable to trust anyone, to be unable to rest easy knowing you were safe... That feeling she could only find at Kuro's side. Her Digimon partner never wanted to abandon or betray her, and now she was about to lose him, just because she was weak.

The coldness started to chill her to the bone, and it was only when her copy spoke that she could identify what that sensation was.

"Terrifying, isn't it? To lose the last thing precious to you~"

This darkness... was know as the thing people called...

Despair

The horrified look in Reikiko's eyes seemed to stir a reaction, her body slowly becoming coated in the obsidian aura as she felt something burn in her hand, not just the mark but... the digimental she was holding!

"Kuro! I don't care what happens to me, but don't you dare dying on me! NOT YOU!"

The girl's shout seemingly invigorated her as she pushed the dark phantom off her, holding the egg-shaped device up in the air, unaware of the smirk the phantom was showing behind her.

"DARK ARMOR ENERGIZE!"

The Black Agumon's roar accompanied a dark flash of light, the energy pulsing around him like a cocoon when suddenly it broke free from its confines: a giant creature she could only identify as a 'Bunny with the eerie bloodlust of a killer, perhaps the term Killer Bunny would have fitted perfectly for it.'

"And so it begins~ You who are chosen by the mark... will you head the call of the mark?"

Yet before she could even properly retaliate verbally Reikiko found herself standing outside the ruins, the dark digimental in her hands, and the dark armor-empowered Kuro looking down at her.

"How do you feel Aneki?"
"Tired... Tired but good..."

Yes, a part of her felt somewhat... liberated, as if a weight had been lifted off her shoulders, but at what cost?

-----
finished