“What the hell do you mean by that?” Nathan asked, standing up.
Horkamon glanced at her, and Alana sighed.
“What did you say?” Kari asked.
“You heard me. I died. Sit, and I’ll explain.”
Everyone muttered to each other, but did as she said.
“When I was in the forest, heading toward the rondivue point…”
And hour or so later she had finished explaining what had happened, and what she meant by, “I died.”
“So, you really did die,” Sora said.
Alana nodded.
T.K. and Kari looked to be somewhat awed.
“Do you remember what it felt like to die? Was it scary?” T.K. asked.
Alana shrugged. “I honestly don’t remember. You have to remember, that was two life times ago for me.”
“So, that Nansui girl was one of the four Council…” Nathan murmured.
Alana nodded. “Same with the girl, Umi, that I met yesterday.”
“Wait. Back up. Who are these Council people you guys are talking about?” Joe asked.
Felina looked shocked to hear the she was the princess, so Justin answered Joe’s question.
“The Council of Four was supposed to be nothing more then a myth, but it seems they live. The four of them are known as; Holder of Fate, Holder of Hardship, Holder of Righteousness, and Holder of Understanding. The four of them are rumored to be the very first DigiDestened, but it has not yet been proven. It’s also said that they keep the balance between the two worlds.”
“You mean earth and the DigiWorld?” Izzy asked.
Justin nodded, and Maskmon continued from there.
“It’s also said that they were the ones who created the DigiWorld, but that is untrue, for you need a Digimon to have a DigiDestened, and to have a Digimon…”
“You need to have the DigiWorld,” Keekomon finished.
Poisoimon was then next to add on. “Therefore, they might have been the first DigiDestened, but their Crests really hold none of them. For a child can have say, Love, but one cannot have Fate.”
“It’s also said that they were the ones who first made the Crystal Palace, and the ones who told Alana,” Sealickimon jolted her head toward Alana, “to resign as princess.”
“Ending with Judi being the ruler,” Mikagemon finished.
Everyone looked stunned except the Silver Tag Holders.
“Do you get it now?” Justin asked.
Maskmon sighed. “I hope so. Because I don’t want to repeat all that.”
“So, you mean, you’ve been alive before?” Tai asked looking over at Alana.
Alana nodded. “From what I understand, we all have.”
Judi sat in her chamber. She was slouched back in her stone chair, and her eyes were narrowed. They were the only part of her that one could fully see.
“Mistress,” Gathomon said, coming up behind the girl.
She did not reply.
“I see the children still live. What will you do now?”
The girl answered by gripping the stone hard enough to break it.
Suddenly, Zach entered the room. “Mistress, I have something that may--” he stopped cold, for Judi stood up and walked into the light. Her hair was the same, but she looked to be three or four years older. Zach looked like he was about to collapse.
“Do you wish to see me kill?” Judi asked, glaring at him.
“I…um…that would depend who.”
“The one that calls herself Alana Date, or perhaps, you,” Judi’s eyes were still dead looking, but her face held anger as never seen in the Digital World, nor on earth.
“Seeing Alana die would be nice…but…me? What have I done to anger you?” Zach asked.
“Leave, else you shall regret asking.”
Zach nodded, then turned and left the chamber.
Judi relaxed slightly, then she turned on Gathomon, but he was gone as well.
The young girl turned and left the room through a hidden door. She walked down a passageway, and entered her privet bedchambers. She looked around her room, then walked over to the bed stand, where a photo sat.
In the photo were three people, but in the background, one could see another person. The two older people were a male and a female. The man had black hair that was neat as can be, but the woman had light white hair and dark eyes. On her forehead was a mark of the Crest that Judi now held.
Between them was a little girl of about seven. It was Judi.
“Mum…Dad…I am lost.” Judi whispered. “I still have the kingdom, but it’s dead…”
Suddenly, Judi saw the girl in the background. She picked up the photo, and looked closely at the image. From what she could tell, it was a blond hared girl, and she was dressed in a white gown.
“The princess…” Judi growled. “I should have killed you long ago…but, now I have the chance again, and I can’t…”
Tai sat in silence as the others talked away.
Yet again, Alana stood off alone.
Tai glanced over at her. What is it with her and being alone…she disspiesess everyone, so why stay?
The millions of questions that chased each other in his mind went in circles. None ever got answered.
And, what do we do about this Darkness thing?
Val stood up, and walked over to him.
“What’s wrong? We kicked their butts, so why are you so worried?” she asked.
“Huh?” Tai lifted his head off his hands, and looked over at her. “Oh. I guess it’s just…if Alana doesn’t like the group, then why does she stay?”
Val smiled. “She’s…just odd. Sometimes, she’ll be completely nice, then she’ll become mean and nasty.”
“That doesn’t help.”
“I know, but it’s fun to say stuff that has no meaning.” The dark hared girl said with a smile. “Just chill. Nothing’s gonna happen to us as long as we stay together as a group.”
Tai nodded. “Yea. I guess you’re right.”
“Of course I am. Look at us! Our group has been here for nine years now, and nothing ever bad has really happened…” she seemed to go low into thought, then she added, “At least, not since Sean died…”
Tai nodded. “Yea, but from what I can tell, that was an accident.”
“Some things that aren’t meant to happen, do,” Val said thoughtfully.
“Are you and Mimi friends?” Tai asked, changing the subject.
“Huh? Oh. Well, I’ve never really talked to her. But, she and I are a lot a like. We both like to shop, and to do our hair…”
Tai grinned. “Yea. But, I’ve heard that if you’re a lot a like, it can make problems…”
“Ah. So, what’s your Crest?”
“Courage. And yours?”
“Spirit.”
“Cool.”
The conversation took to an awkward silence, then it was Izzy who rescued them. He was talking with T.K. and Kari, along with Joe.
“So, the only one of us that hasn’t had our Digimon Planet DigiVolve is Alana…” he said to them
“Who do you think Horkamon would turn into?” Kari asked.
Izzy began to type, and scan through all the planet forms that had been used.
“Most likely Saturn, the planet of Death and Rebirth.”
“That would make sense,” Joe said.
“What do you mean?” Tai asked walking over to the group.
“Well, Alana’s Crest is a Combination, and from what I can guess, the Healing part’s a sign from Saturn.” Joe answered.
Tai blinked, then nodded. “I’ll bet you’re right.”
“I’ll see what I can find on this SaturnEclipsemon then,” said Izzy, and he began to do a search on the Digimon.
A few moments later, he drew in a breath, and let it out in a low whistle.
“What is it Izzy?” Tai asked.
“It says here that SaturnEclipsemon is a Virus Digimon, unlike all the others, which are Vaccine.”
“That could be bad…”
“It also says that this Digimon has the ability to destroy a world faster then one could say, ‘hello’, and believe me Tai, that’s not good.”
“So what are you saying? We keep her from using the ring?” Val asked.
“Well, yes and no. Even if we can keep her from using the ring, it wouldn’t matter.” Izzy said.
“Why?” Joe questioned.
“Because every thousand years, a Digimon is chosen to DigiVolve into her,” Izzy sighed. “And there’s no way to stop it.”
“So, you think Horkamon will DigiVolve into SaturnEclipsemon while we’re here?” T.K. asked.
“Yes,” Izzy said. “The last time she was seen was when the very first fall of the Crystal Kingdom. It’s rumored that Judi girl wanted her to destroy it for good.”
“Wow,” Val murmured. “And it was told that almost no Digimon of any kind could destroy that kingdom…”
“What are her attacks?” Tai questioned.
“They’re unlisted…” Izzy sighed.
“So, now what?” Kari asked.
“Well, I know one thing, her next DigiVolution of showing is tonight!” Izzy yelled.
Nathan jolted his head up, and everyone had stopped talking.
“What’s tonight?” Nathan hissed.
“SaturnEclipsemon will show up tonight?!” Tai repeated in shock.
“Yea! That means that it was about a millennium ago that the kingdom was destroyed!” Joe said.
Nathan walked over to them and narrowed his eyes. “What are you talking about?”
“You know how Horkamon is the only one who hasn’t Planet DigiVolved?” Izzy asked.
Nathan nodded.
“Well, according to what I know, she’ll become SaturnEclipsemon, and that could spell owari real fast for us.”
“The end?” Tai asked, puzzled. Then he understood. “Oh…uhoh…”
“Yea. And it turns out she’s the only Digimon that is a Virus type when she’s Planet DigiVolved.”
Nathan frowned. “So?”
“So, it turns out that she comes around about every millennium and that tonight is the best guess to a millennium away from when she was last seen.”
“Well, why not just take the ring from Alana?” Justin asked, coming over to listen.
“Don’t you think we’ve thought of that already?!” Izzy yelled. “There’s no way to stop it from coming! It’s like when Deathramon was brought back! There’s nothing we can do!”
“Calm down,” Tai said. “It’s gonna be fine. Nothing will happen that we don’t want to.”
“How can you say that Tai?! There’s nothing we can do to stop it!”
Tai flinched, then sighed. “Maybe not, but we might be able to avoid the destruction of this world…”
“What do you propose, we go back to earth and wait a couple thousand years?!” Izzy growled.
“No. If we had some way of containing her, then we might be able to wait it out. How long is she supposed to be in the form?”
“Until she destroys the world, Tai! We can’t keep her locked up!” Izzy growled. “You think something so simple like that would keep the thing that can destroy entire worlds in a second locked up?!”
“Maybe not…but…”
Suddenly, Kari spoke up. “We may not have to worry.”
“What?!” Izzy practically shrieked.
“You have to remember, these are the DigiDestened that can either destroy or create a world,” she answered calmly.
“No way,” Justin said, and shook his head. “We would have no idea how to go about it.”
“I think you do,” Tai said, “and that it’s just that you aren’t trying hard enough. Izzy, when do you think this’ll happen?”
A sudden yell pierced the air of the Digital World. It was Horkamon.
Alana watched with dead eyes as her Digimon’s eyes began to glow purple-blue and dark blue and silver. The sign of Saturn began to glow an angry purple on her forehead.
“Horkamon Planet DigiVolve to…”
“I think it’s happening now.” Izzy said, then swallowed.
“SATURNECLIPSEMON!” a woman form had begun to take shape in the glowing form of Horkamon DigiVolving. Black wings that looked like blades exploded from the Digimons back, and a staff formed with the scythe of Saturn on the top, just above a dark purple jewel. The Digimon lifted its head, and dark purple eyes shone bright and deadly. Her hair was dark purple, and was slightly bumped. It was about as long as Alana’s.
The Digimon stood, then looked around. Her eyes were like Alana’s. Dead.
She saw Alana, and flipped her staff around to where the sharp end was pointing at the girl.
“ALANA!” Kyle screamed, but the girl didn’t hear him.
He was about to run toward her, but Nathan and Justin grabbed him, and tried to hold him back.
“Wait! If we provoke her, she might kill us!” Justin yelled.
Nathan growled as Kyle began to kick and punch. “I don’t care! ALANA!”
“Poisoimon DigiVolve to…POISOMON! POISON OAK!” vines shot out and wrapped around Kyle’s legs. The Digimon was holding on as best he could, but it wasn’t enough.
“Tanemon DigiVolve to…PALMON! POISON IVY!” the other plant Digimon did the same, and it helped. But, not enough.
Alana stood, looking at the Digimon with out an expression.
Suddenly, SaturnEclipsemon yelled, “SATURN SILENCE” and the staff she was holding lit up in a cold purple, and black electricity began to move down to the head of it. When the scythe got fully charged, a beam exploded from it, and went directly through Alana’s chest.
Alana fell to her knees, and let out a scream of pain. The energy had gone right through her.
