Mandatory Disclaimer: Look I don't own digimon and I probably never will (unless I become rich enough to buy them that is) I just like to write about them so please don't sue me on another note I would like to thank RenaTamer whose lemon series inspired this piece. And whose help was invaluable in the production of this lemon. Axel and Rena Benden are copyright to RenaTamer as are Cleo and Kimmy. Eliander and his family are copyright myself the eternal voyager currently know as Eurtan or was the Eurtan0?. Also if your not 18 human years of age (sorry but no other years count) or you have problems with voyeurism/spying on people having sex, gay sex of sex between members of two separate species then you probably shouldn’t read this. And yes this means you.

He landed lightly striking out behind him with one foot catching his opponent off guard as he appeared behind him. This person was tough, far stronger then he’s been given credit for. . “Hadoken” the challenger ducked but the massive attack still nearly took his head off. In a brief instant of stupidity the challenger looked behind him and saw the attack continue to the mountain behind him and destroy it. He cursed under his breath as he felt the first touch of the Shoryuken. The fist that hit his gut felt like and iron spear. Then he felt the force trying to gut him and he fought back. He could not stop the attack once it began but he could ride it out so he did.

As he fell back when turned the momentum into a flip kick borrowing a move he’s seen many times creating a shockwave that floored his opponent. As he landed he cupped his hands and with that last of his power threw forth a small but powerful attack. “Hadoken” his opponent was engulfed in the light of his attack and a burst into flame. The flames last but a moment then died away leaving him victorious and his opponent in a smoking heap of ruin.

The sound of clapping could be heard an out of the shadows came a robed figure cloaked in darkness. With an inhuman laugh the figure spoke. “Well done. Two more matches like that and I may just set you free.”

The victorious fighter turned and snarled at the speaker. “Well?”

“Yes, yes of course.” The robed figure replied and with a gesture three darks boxes appeared from the shadows on the ground. They spun around in mid air then one landed and revealing a young boy as it melted becoming shadow once more. The fighter ran to the boy cradling his head asking if he were okay then the shadows took them all.

The fallen fighter awoke in his sleeping chamber sore but unharmed. His memory hazy as he tried to remember what happened during the night as the sun rose in the east.

It was a world of darkness, a void with out end. The fighter awoke once more his victory hollowed as his prize was striped form him the second he’d grasp it. He screamed crying out in pain and anger as his heart was torn yet again. An echo called to him teasing him as it did.

“Now, now there’s no reason to be a baby now is there?” came a taunting whisper that echoed in the darkness.

“You!” He screamed with out his voice. “Why are you doing this to me?”

“A better question” the echoing voice replied “is; why are you letting me?”

“There are reasons for everything. Now tell me yours!” he shouts out covering his thoughts and confusion. “What have I ever done to you to deserve this?” The echoing voice fell silent. “Tell me!” Silence still the as he started to give up all hope of an answer it came. Laughter, a laughter much darker and sinister the before.

“What have you done you say? Why do you deserve my wrath and sinister pleasures you ask? Have you truly forgotten?” The darkness parted but still there was no light and the hood figure appeared before him drifting through the void of his own creation.

“Yes” the echoing voice said. “I see it in your eyes. You have forgotten haven’t you?” he chortled, his dark humor tainted with an actual joyous mirth. “The powers that be must be smiling on me. Oh to have you as a toy and to see you dance to my retribution and not even know why. ”

“Just tell me.” The captive said defeated there was a sinister smile his captures face as he whispered to him.

“What?” asked the captive again.

“I said….” The robed figure repeated still inaudible.

The captives face fell this was still just a trick to torment him. “please tell me” he asked ashamed that he was forced to beg when he still would not be answered.

The hooded figure pulled back his hood staring his captive in the eye his smile sending shivers down his spine. “I said because you created me.”

****

(This part of my story takes place between ‘Axel and Rena’, chapters 11 and 12. by RenaTamer. This story was done with his consent and help. Please read on.)

It was approaching morning as Axel and Rena made there way home, returning after a fun night out. With radio thumping, the old VW Baja rumbled around the corner and up the driveway to the Benden residence, Axel was happily laughing as he shut off the car. Yet as the engine died, his ears suddenly picked up singing.

“He brought disaster wherever he went, the hearts of the girls was broken and bent, they all ran away so nobody would know. And left only men cause of Cotton-Eye Joe.”

“Axel?” Rena looked at Axel and he shook his head. “Did you hear something?”

“Yeah…” blinked her mate, “I thought I heard singing.”

“Er… do you know who it was?” she asked “should I be on guard?”

“No… I don’t know who the singer was.” Axel said as he slowly looked about the outside of his home. “He’s close enough that he might as well have spoken the message.”

Rena blinked as she opened the door to the old bug and sniffed the air, but there was no scent to pin down… human or digimon. “I don’t smell anyone.” Rena whispered as she and Axel stepped from the car and started for the front door… yet both stopped short.

Sitting on a lawn chair near door was the singer, his eyes closed as he went into the final verse. Seeming unaware of they’re approach. “If it hadn’t been for Cotton-Eye Joe, I'd been married long time ago. Where did you come from, where did you go? Where did you come from Cotton-Eye Joe?” The singer, his song done stood slowly and approached the lovers, his hooded shirt covering his face. “You!...” he said pointing to Axel.

“And who are you?” Axel asked.

“That…” The unknown person said as he drew back his hood revealing and unfamiliar face with dark skin and hazel blue eyes. “Doesn’t really matter right now.”

“er…” Axel blinked, a blank look on his face, “Then what dose matter?”

“All that matters right now,” the stranger whispered with a toothy smile, “is that you and I, we have to fight.”

Axel looked him in the eyes, trying to figure out what was going on. “Look. Who ever you are,” Axel slowly shook his head as he laughed inside. This guy was challenging him to a fight? Normally this wouldn’t be funny but tonight in light of what he and Rena had just been through that was enough to restore his good humor. “You don’t want to fight me. Trust me about this.”

“True as that may be, we still have to fight.”

“And if I say no?” asked Axel, his voice still filled with mirth.

“You don’t want to know.” The guys face seemed to sadden.

“If I say no?” Axel insisted, his merriment starting to diminish

“You can try that and find out.” Said a second voice as another figure appeared in the shadows.

“Who are you?” barked Rena stepping between Axle and this newcomer who was giving off a clear digital power signal. Axle ignored his D-Arc as it went off, now that he was tapping into his powers he could feel the presence of other digimon well before it did. But that didn’t stop him from groaning as seconds later a light when on in the house.

“Kimmy” Axel breathed a moment to late as he put it together. He turned and started to vanish, only to reappear, falling back as the person that first approached him teleported in front of him and knocked him back. “Just agree to the fight.” He said the pain in his voice lost on Axel. “Do it now!”

“Look, we can talk about this in a moment; just let me stop Kimmy from…” Snapped Axel, but It was too late for at that moment Kimmy and Cleo rushed out of the house, Kimmy in her oversized T-shirt/nightgown D-3 in hand. “Wait you bastard give him a chance! To agree first.”

The plea feel on death ears however, as the shadows around the two newcomers shifted to life. The shadow of the house its self splintered and rose up around the teen and her Gatomon in the form of a cage. It quickly boxed off the two, cutting off any hope of escape

“Don’t do this.” Axel cried, “their not part of this.”

“You won’t need them.” Said the dark figure still standing in the shadows. Axel did no hear any of this however. All Axel saw was his nice in danger even more so as her and Cleo’s cages started to sink into the ground. Axel tried to reach her, knocking the man stand them between him aside while Rena, trying to do the same, was stopped by a wall of solid shadow. Axel watched in horror as. Kimmy and Cleo sank out on view, swallowed by the shadows.

”Please don’t do this,” pleaded Rena as she looked to the human shape in the shadows. “You have no idea what you’re dealing with…”

Yet the digi-fox’s words were suddenly drowned out by a deep throaty growl “You want a fight mister?” Axel whispered through clinched teeth, the darkness deep inside him taking control in his rage. “Then You Got One!!!”

Rena shivered as light streamed from her left gauntlet. Swallowing hard for this was her first battle, she reached into her glove and pulled out her D-3. “Axel armor digi-volve to Black-Set-Renamon!” she cried out as she held the digivice high over her head. The fighter looked at the new form before him and felt it’s power. The digimon was strong and his power level had jumped dramatically. Maybe it wasn’t enough to destroy a planet in one blast but it could certainly destroy a city. He looked at the robed figure, who simply looked back with a smile on his face. “The sun’s coming up so you’d better finish this soon.”

The challenger looked at his opponent and then at the impending sunrise. It was maybe half and hour away. Not enough time for a fair fight or a good one. Despite his willingness to do battle, the fighter was still low on energy and his reflexes would be slowed. He looked around, time was waning for him again and he would have to use it to his advantage.

The unknown fighter stepped away from the creature that now occupied the spot were Axel had been standing. Splitting quickly in two, the fighter lashed out, rapidly punching the dark warrior on either side of his head before quickly stepping behind him and rejoining with himself. Yet there seemed to be no effect, his punches didn’t seem to register with the dark digimon. ‘This is not good. That should have stunned him at least’

BlackSetRenamon’s ears twitched, locking onto the sound of the fighter’s breathing. Without a word he turned his body a blur as he slashed at the fighter with a forearm blade. The fighter thought himself safe for the blade was only 3inches long, yet as BlackSetRenamon swung, the blade extended… stretching out almost 3 feet in length. The unknown fighter blinked in surprise as he instinctively ducked… the blade zipping over his head. ‘Speed, strength and a heck of a lot on endurance.’ He thought to himself as he dodged a second swing. ‘This won’t be easy…’

“Get behind him.” The challenger heard the Renamon shout as he jumped straight up, leaving a shimmering afterimage below him for the black Renamon to strike at. Yet somehow he knew that the fox wouldn’t fall for the trick, and as he turned in midair… there was the black fox approaching fast, just as he expected.

“We don’t have time for this.” he mutterers as he lets himself drop, gravity causing the fox to miss his target again… “Destruction Wave!” The challenger threw his hands forward and a wave of energy erupted from them, flying fast and hard at the black fox.

“Defend!” shout Rena. God she felt useless like this, but this was Axel’s fight, not hers.

“Obelisk Shield!” the black Renamon snarled as he slammed his forearms together, a dark black shiny shield appears in front of him. As the fighter watched a portion of his attack energy was absorbed into the shield, the rest was bounced harmlessly spaceward. The fighter landed a few feet form the Renamon and waited. The black Renamon landing between them, a black staff in his hands… his eyes glowing red. “Concussion Sphere!” the challenger reacted quickly, throwing his arms wide open.

The black fox blinked as time slowed. Before him he could see the challenger’s attack flying forth from his outstretched arms. It only took a heartbeat for the digimon to realize what the attack was going to do… without thinking he jumped in front of the Renamon, a living shield as the world disappeared in a flash of white light.

The globe of light slowly faded and the challenger stood alone over the toppled Renamon and a smoking human.

“That wasn’t fair,” said an echoing voice as the robed figure ascended form the ground through the shadow of a nearby tree.

“There wasn’t time and this place is too dangerous to fight in. to many bystanders could get hurt.”

“You won’t get off this easy next time.”

“Just give him back his family.”

“No… not yet.” The shadows stared to cover the Renamon and human only to be stopped by the light. “I want to see you and him in a real fight.”

“Promise me that you’ll let them and the hostages free. You must if you wish to take them.”

“What?”

“Win or lose you must set them free. All of them”

“And why…” The shadowy figure pulled back his hood, “would I do that?”

“Because you promised when this started that you wouldn’t do this to anyone else.” The shadowy figure thought for a moment then nodded. “They will be freed regardless. As long a you two give me a good fight.” He smiled evilly “I’ll even let you chose the place since you don’t like it here.” With that the shadows engulfed them all and they were gone.

****

“Oh my head” groaned Rena as she sat up, yet as she did her mind flashed “Axel?” she gasped looking around franticly for her mate. Then she saw him, in a bed over at the far wall with a sad looking Floramon sponging his forehead.

He was human again and she couldn’t help but whisper to herself, “My poor Axel.” At the same time she heard the Floramon whispering “He did this to you didn’t he?” Rena looked at the digimon and felt a flutter of an unfamiliar feeling. The Floramon stood up sponge in hand turning around. She stopped.

“Oh hello Renamon,“ said the Floramon politely. “Or is it Rena?”

“How did you know my name?” asked Rena, tilting her head as she scrutinized the smaller digimon.

“He was mumbling it in his sleep but I wasn’t sure if Rena was you name of if he just didn’t have the strength to say Renamon.” Rena nodded. “I’ll leave you two. Unless you have wounds that need tending to?”

“I’m fine,” said Rena. The little flower digimon nodded and left the cell door closing behind her.

In the blink of an eye Rena was at her lovers side. “Axel? … Axel can you hear me?” Rena started to sob as she cradled Axel’s head in her arms. “Oh if only I’d been a better tamer then you have never been hurt like this.”

But Rena’s sorrow was cut short for outside the cell a voice could be heard pleading. “Let her be. She’s suffered enough for now.”

“Very well” came the echoing reply. “But in the mean time you must suffer for her peace.” The shadow figure smiled “fair enough?” the pleader nodded ready to accept this fate.

“No!” Shouted another voice for the next room “You leave her alone”

“Oh so you’re awake again? “

“You promised not to hurt her!”

“But this is what she wants. She’s even asking for it.”

“You monster!”

*In the room with the Floramon *

The sound of breaking chains and glass could be heard coming form the other room. The owner of the echoing voice flinched slightly and the Floramon whimpered. The walls between the two rooms gave way with ease. Without breaking and before the blow can struck the wall falls inward in fragments melting into the room.

“Well, well you’ve grown a spine to go with those fists of yours?” asked the figure in the dark robes.

“Look. I know the rules. I abide by them as well but, this is going too far!” shouted the angered fighter.

“Please sirs. Don’t fight.” Pleaded the Floramon in tears.

“Well if you insist,” The dark one simply laughed. “I can play with you for a while longer, but you must be more careful when you break my toys you know”

“You don’t need to remind me of what happen when something breaks here!” “Oh but I do.”

“So you feel a little pain when your domain is damaged so what.“

“Not just me. Remember that it happen to you too”

“And what dose that matter?”

“Think about it. You feel the pain for things in my domain breaking.”

“So?”

“So do they” as the anger diminished his face fell. He remembers the full rules of this dark ones domain. “Okay you win”

The dark smiled without mirth or pleasure. “I always do.” He looks to the Floramon and with out a word points to a wall. She nodded and turned around. The dark one then reaches up and pulls his hood back over his face gesturing for the would be hero to follow him into the darkness.

Floramon looked at the wall, which lit up as soon as the two versions of the master left. She knew that she would be punished. The dark one would see to it. The only question is how it would happen. True to his word the dark on had never touched her. Not in a harmful way or a pleasant way. And that in it’s self was a torture. Most times he didn’t even acknowledger her existence.

As she watched the wall began to glow and split. The couple, the Renamon and her human were in one screen, her masters in and other and as she watched it divided again. Under each screen were the captives; the young girl and her Gatomon were up under the couple and beneath the masters were a young girl and what looked like a werewolf.

“Erica” Floramon whispered as she recognized the young girl with the golden star on her forehead. And then the screaming began.

Rena’s tears had finally stopped falling and now, as she kept watch over her mate, she had time to think. But at that moment she heard footsteps… someone was coming, maybe it was the Floramon… or maybe it was some one else. A Leomon stepped into view, a short male Renamon wearing a wicked looking sword, walking by with out noticing her or her mate.

“Where is he?’ she heard one of them asked as they passed form view. A short time later the robed figure appeared at the cell door.

“Hello Renamon.” he said with a smile “I’m here to invite you to be my guest and welcome to my domain.”

“Your guest?” Rena barked in astonishment. “Is that some sick joke?”

“No, not at all.” The dark one said. “Here in my domain we use the honor system. Behave yourself and we can get along quite well”

“Honor? What do you know of honor… monster?”

“Monster? You flatter me madam but in all seriousness there is honor even in darkness and no evil is absolute.” The dark one’s smile and humor were gone and he looked gravely serious in his hooded shadows.

Rena blinked, as she looked at the robed figure his face produced slightly and a k9 muzzle was suggested.

“Your new cell mate will explain the rules to you when he wakes up no doubt. You have two days to get ready for the battle.” As he spoke things that looked like living shadows dragged in the human fighter and dropped him onto a vacant cot. He was weighed down with heavy chains and bleeding from several places. “You’d do well to keep them form killing each other… Oh and best of luck, you’ll probably need it.”

Rena looked at the beaten and bleeding body of the human that had defeated her and her love with some sort of explosion that felt like it was going to kill her. Yet as she looked at him she couldn’t help but feel a twinge of pity as he rolled over and coughed up a little blood. “They really worked him over.” Rena whispered in shock, “but why? He was their fighter wasn’t he?”

The Floramon came in shortly after untouched but crying all the same. As Rena watched she began to clean the fighter’s wounds still sobbing over him.

“Are you okay Floramon? He didn’t touch you did he?” the fighter asked

“No Eliander he didn’t. He’s never touched me.” The Floramon sighed, sobbing as she wiped his forehead taking care of a swollen eye.

“Don’t worry, so long as you’re okay we’ll be fine.” He smiles through a split lip “The kids, they’re survivors you know.”

“I know. They’re fine.” responded Floramon. “He showed me while he was hurting you.”

“I’ll get them free.” Eliander said, “No matter what it takes”

“I know you will.” she nodded, “I know.” The fighter’s eyes close again and he slept. The Floramon wept for a while the stood and turned to go as if called.

“Wait!” called Rena. “What happen to him? Why was he hurt like that?”

“To bring you peace…” the Floramon said “…and more importantly, to bring me pain.” With that the Floramon left.

A few hours later Axel started to stir, waking Rena form her short nap. “Axel?”

“Who…who are you?” he asked in a weak voice.

“er?” blinked Rena as she looked down to see Axel smiling up at her. “Why you… gerrr!”

“whammmmf…” Axel began but his words were cut short as Rena hugged him tightly to her bosom.

“Are you ok?” Rena asked as she let her mate pull away enough to breath… again, “are you healed yet?”

“Yeah…” Axel nodded, feeling much better after his rest, of course getting a face full of fuzzy breast helped a lot to. “Have you seen Kimmy or Cleo?”

“No afraid not,” she sighed sadly.

“God,” he moaned, then slowly he rubbed his forehead. “What the hell happened to us.”

“Well…” Rena began.

“What hap..*cough* happened was I cheated to end our fight quicker…” Rena and Axel looked over at the form on the cot as he rolled on his side to speak to them. “As for Kimmy and… Cleo was it? Well they’re fine and you can even see them if you want, house rules.”

“You!” Axel tried to get up but Rena held him down with a warning touch.

“How did you recover so quickly?” inquired Rena as she calmed her mate.

“Lady I’m a long way form recovered but I’ll heal. No problem there.”

“Ok…” Rena nodded but knew that he still hadn’t answered her question. “But you still haven’t told us why you’re healing so fast?”

“You’re friend and I have something in common that’s why.” He smiled

“Are you saying that you’re part digimon?” Axel asked as his anger receding under Rena’s gentle touch.

“No Axel but both you and I are super human.”

Rena and Axel blinked and looked at each other

The stranger coughed some before he started speaking again, “Look there are a few things you should know. First off you, Kimmy, Cleo and the others were brought here against your will. You didn’t know what was going on and so you’re safe form physical harm at least. And you have the run of the place so long as you don’t try to escape”

“Really?” Rena tilted her head.

“Yes but it’s a double edge sword. Since you were brought into his domain you’ve became a part of it”

“We’re part of his domain?” The two lovers looked at each other. “What about you?”

“Yes and well… yes and no. Now let me finish.” The two nodded not liking where this was going. “Secondly since you’re a part of his domain his domain becomes a part of you. You’re probably wondering what this means, right?”

The two nodded... again.

“It means that you share a portion of power but in return you also receive a portion of his weaknesses as well. Also while we’ve only been here a short time, maybe three hours or so no time has passed in the outside world.”

The two blinked that couldn’t be right could it?

“The exact rule as I remember it is that while in his domain time and aging are suspended. That means that when you leave here it can be anytime. From the time you left to a millennium or so later. Sorry but he set this zone up according to legends of Leprecons, fairies and gods.” The look on Axel’s face told him he was still worried. “It’s like when the original digi-destined went to the digital world for the first time. They spent months and months there but there bodies didn’t age and where they came back it was minutes after they left. There was a reason for that and there is a reason for this as well but you’ll have to ask him about it.”

“There is another person,” Rena asked “are you his prisoner?”

“Yes and no. I’m in his domain so I’m subject to some of his rules but I did not become part of his domain so I’m exempt form some as well”

“Including that honor system he mentioned?” she pressed.

“Oh yes the honor system. I was getting to that one.”

“Tell us about it.” Axel asked as he leaned back against his mate.

“All prisoners are on the honor system until they are proven untrustworthy. That means that as long as you don’t break the rule you can wonder about his realm he won’t stop you as long as you don’t try to escape or go into a forbidden areas. You can visit others with in the realm and some people can even come to visit you. Though most will only believe it to be a dream unless there are here in the domain with you of course.”

The fighter slowly sat up, the welts on his face and arms healing before the lover’s very eyes. “He takes it all very seriously. Especially the escape policy and I quote: ‘Those attempting to escape without leave are subject to termination or extended pain sessions.’ In other words try to escape and you forfeit your protection and most of your privileges. Not that you or you friends are going to be here that long.”

“Why wont we?” Rena’s ears perked up.

“Because as soon as we give him a good fight, win or lose, you and your hostages are free to go.”

“It that a rule?” this time it was Axel who spoke.

“No it’s a promise and his word is binding. That’s a rule says once a promise is made it must be kept and death is no excuse or way out of it.”

“Why would he keep his word?” Axel asked.

“His word is import to him, more so then his life or even the truth. He hides in his darkness convincing himself that he’s evil and growing more so as time passes. He delights in bring me pain yet for him there is no joy in it”

“If you’re strong enough to defeat us,” Rena wondered, “then why can’t you beat him.”

“If I tried then I’d kill him.”

“And that’s a bad thing I take it?” Axel sighed as Rena wrapped her arms about his middle.

“The last rule that I heard from him; ‘you break it you suffer most the pain of it breaking. Your friends and or cell mates in the domain suffer next.’ ”

“Dose that mean what I think it dose?” asked axel.

“Yes. When he dies his domain dies with him. Everything and everyone here would be destroyed.”

“You mean?” Rena shivered.

“Yes Kimmy, Cleo, Erica my darling Erica. Even Susan the little scared dear that she is would die.”

“Susan? The Floramon that was in here?” Rena inquired.

“Yes. Here she is the closes thing to a friend that that black heart monster has. But it’s all my fault.” He started to cry dropping his face into his hands. “I could have stopped him. I should have stopped him but I didn’t know. I was too blind and stupid too see what was going on.”

Axel and Rena thought about what the fighter had said and wondered. “So Eliander dose that mean that if we wish to leave this cell we can but only ifs we’re not trying to escape?” he nodded then froze.

“That name were did you hear it?” the fighter asked in dismay.

“It’s what the Floramon called you.” She replied.

“That is my gaming name and part of my secret name.”

“Er… then what is you’re real name?”

“Eric.” he sighed, “Eric Valentine is that last name I remember before this storm began.”

“That’s enough Eliander.” said an echoing voice at the cell door. “They have visitors and so do you.”

The cell door opened as Kimmy and Cleo rushed in, tackling Rena and Axel with hugs. Standing at the cell door Rena noted was the Leomon form earlier and a young boy probably his tamer hiding half behind him. “Dad?” called the young boy timidity. Speed, incredible speed, even for a Renamon, Eliander had gotten up and was hugging the young boy and then his partner.

Rena heard Kimmy asking Axel something and heard Axel respond but for the time being she was distracted. That shadow digimon, something about him wasn’t right. She couldn’t sense his digital signal. It was like he wasn’t there. As she watched Eliander left, talking to his son.

“So what took you so long to wake up Uncle Axel?” Kimmy almost demanded.

“Hey now,” Axel chuckled, “a little sympathy here. I don’t know what he hit us with, but it hurt like hell and knocked me for a loop.”

“Concussion sphere” said Rena.

“What?” Kimmy blinked.

”He cried out Concussion Sphere right before we were knocked out love.”

“Oh…” Axel arched an eyebrow, remembering his world exploding in a haze of white light.

“Any idea what he wants?” Questioned Kimmy.

“It’s some kind of test.” Axel sighed, “The person that knocked Rena and me out, is a prisoner it seems, and to win his freedom or that of someone else he has to fight for it.”

“Is her name Erica?” asked Cleo.

“That is one of the names I heard,” Rena nodded, “but how did you hear it?”

“She was in the cell when we woke up,” Kimmy said, her eyes showing sadness, “She was in there with a mean looking Garurumon”

“That was her father that just left wasn’t it” asked Cleo.

“Probably. We’ll be leaving tomorrow so it’d be best for you two go and get some sleep.”

“Lets eat first,” said Kimmy “the Floramon told us it was safe too all we have to do is ask. And it’ll be brought to us.”

A day later Floramon was standing at the doorway to Axel and Rena’s cell. “It’s time,” was all she said.

Axel nodded as he got up and walked towards the cell door, Rena at his side with her digi-vice in hand. The two of them followed the Floramon to and through want looked like a blank wall. On the other side they found a barren world with dark red soil and earth shining in the distance almost like a moon.

“Where are we?” breath an astonished Rena.

“Digi-world 3171” came the answer form the challenger Eliander. “I don’t know if it’s before the formation of… or after it’s destruction.”

“It looks a lot like mars to me.” Axel said after looking around, an uneasy feeling

creeping over him that he had been here before.

“It once was mars,” said the robed figure. “I guess that’s why he chose it.”

“Who chose this place?” asked Rena.

“Welcome to the domain of Digi-god-E”

“Liar!” Eliander barked.

“I may cheat but for me to lie?” smiled the cloaked figure. “No this is the domain. The one we abandoned.”

Eliander shook, his body trembling at the sight. “This can’t be true. This is not hap… happen…”

The robed figure looked at Eliander who seemed to be having a breakdown. “Happening? Oh but I’m afraid it is. We abandoned this world and left it with the so-called sacred digimon. It’s true that things were peaceful then but we all knew that human involvement would not be far off. Still we left to fight our own battles amongst ourselves with out involving them. Or” he said with a smile. “In your case Eliander to run from them.”

Eliander’s fist clenched and his jaw set, but the fighter didn't deny it. 'It's true,’ he thought to himself ‘I did run from this place. Form the responsibility of looking after this world didn't I? Even though no one asked for my help in the first place, even though they hated me I still should have been here for them. I could have stopped that monster.’

"But you couldn’t take it could you?" "I didn't know it was real!"

"Oh? And I suppose that, that make’s it alright? When you finally realized it was real, you ran didn't you?"

"uhm guys" Rena intervened.

They both turn to face the digi-fox.

"So sorry to interrupt your little guilt trip,” she said as she crossed her arms, “and I’m sure that what you're talking about is meaningful and all but there's a fight scheduled for today."

They both nodded slowly as they turn away from one another.

"Yes… you're right," said the dark robed one the he smiled his features shifting inside his hood-covered face. "Don’t let me stop you.”

With that the two figures separated and went their separate ways.

“Okay” said the shadowed figure removing his hood for the first time in the company of the Benden’s. There was a gasp of horror as one the recently freed captive’s recognized the jackal’s face.

“..Anubis! ..“ Axel snarled as the darkness inside him churned, since history recorded, Anubis and Set had been… at odds. Yet before he could react Rena stepped in front of him.

“No he’s not Anubis.” Interrupted Eliander “But he likes to take the form from time to time”

“Can I help it if you have a god complex?” there was a smile of genuine humor on his canine face. But it faded quickly as he stepped back into this dark god persona and waved his hand, this sent everyone either into the stands, or the battlefield. With out a word a clock appeared above them with a time limit of 30 minutes and a second temporary clock appear counting down at ten seconds.

Axel blinked at the robed figures words. Something just didn’t add up here, but before he could dwell on the matter, the fight had started.

Rena pulled out her D-3 again and the dark one nodded that it would be allowed for her to coax her mate. He looked off to the kids off to his other side, before peering in on Kimmy and Cleo who were still in his domain. ‘This could get ugly’ he though… Quickly he set up an escape function in the domain, as the bell sounded, this would send them back to there home should anything unforeseen happen. Functions and spells he thought as he finished they were all the same really. He watched Rena size up the goody two shoes.

Eliander made the first move of course, wanting to prove that he would do a good fight and free his children. He was a fool. As the dark one watched he saw the backwash of power blow his counterpart’s hair back as Rena and Axel counter with an energy shield. The shield shattered but it did its job, the force of the explosion blew the attacker back while Axel remained unharmed.

Rena watched as Eliander attacked her mate with a warrior’s eye. She watched his moves and his speed. He was putting a lot of force and speed into his monition but it’s like he was holding himself back. “Feel him out Axel.” She called to her mate. “Make sure he’s not just teasing your defenses and for the love of the sovereigns … counter attack.”

As she spoke Axel saw and opening in his opponents attack. Instead of dodging he deflected the incoming attack and replied with a swift punch to the midsection, “Dark Lightning Fist!” Eliander bounced twice as energy crackled over him before skidding to a halt. Quickly he shook off the punch and prepared to fend off the follow up attack, only it didn’t come. Axel hadn’t moved from his spot and was still in a defensive stance.

He watched Axel for a moment before charging back into the fight with a fierce left punch. The punched missed completely as Axel dodged and following Rena’s order counted with a sweep. The sweep missed however as Eliander was expecting the counter attack and landed one of his own on Axel’s left arm as he tried to block.

Axel skidded back ten feet and felt the brunt of the badly place blow wash over him. ‘He’s holding back’ Axel and Rena though as one. Rena quickly moved closer to her mate. As she examined the damage to his shoulder she whispered, “His attacks are backfiring against him and I think it’s on purpose.”

“Why would he do that?” Axel asked as he kept an eye on his opponent “I’m not sure,” answered Rena, “but when he next attacks get behind him and use a thunder wave”

Axel nodded at the instruction. With out a word form either of them Axel vanished with the next attack on his person, yet as he reappeared behind his opponent, the sheer force of the attack he’s just dodged blew him back.

“He’s attacking with the force of an ultimate maybe a mega but most of the attack force seems to blow .out behind him.” Axel whispered to himself.

“I thought so but I couldn’t be sure.” She replied as she clutched the digivice to her chest, then froze. Axel was in the middle of a fight and she had heard his voice as if he were next to her. “Axel… how?”

“It’s the D-3, it acts like a personal com device, remember?” Axel answered as Eliander spun around, his foot aiming for Axel’s head. “It allows us to speak to each other without interference from others… like my D-arc.

Rena smiled for a moment, “oh,” she whispered, still amazed at the commutation that they were sharing but not thinking about that at then moment. “Be careful Axle it’s either a trap or an intentional waste of force but I’m not sure that either would make sense”

Axel nodded as he dodged again. This fighter didn’t seem to be slowing down as he attacked. He watched an obvious feint and jumped to the left to avoid what should have been the real attack a second hidden punch but instead he caught a kick to the midsection. ‘How?’ he wondered as he coughed up blood form the attack.

Rena watched in horror as her mate was caught off guard as his opponent changed speed, direction and angel in an unnatural move. Instead of impaling however, he was caught by the smooth part of the leg. The fighter waited, almost as if deciding his next course of action before whipping his leg up and tossing Axel into the air. Jumping after Axel, the fight flipped and kicked his opponent again… soccer style.

For Axel, the world spun in a red and gray haze before he slammed hard into the rust colored dirt. As for Rena, she couldn’t help but flinch as she watched Axel hit like a bomb. The aria where he landed seemed to explode, red dust billowing out into the air as the ground beneath her trembled. Yet both Rena and Eliander blinked when the dirt n dust began to settle, leaving an almost unscratched Axel standing in the shallow crater.

The sight of Axel still standing after an attack like that brought a slight smile to the shrouded one’s face, the half digimon had been a good choice after all. Feeling rather happy with him self, the dark creature settled back in his chair and relaxed. Eliander once again charged Axel, fist pulled back and crackling with power. Yet to his surprise Axel threw up an energy shield and blocked his warriors next few blows.

“It’s a game” Rena heard as Axel spat out the blood that had been welling in his mouth, “he’s treating this like a game, the power backfire is his self proclaimed handicap”

“A game?” asked Rena, indignation evident in her voice. “It gets worst,” he grunted as Eliander’s fist again slammed into the barrier. “His attacks are increasing in power. I can use my shield to help deflect some of his attacks but it won’t hold them off for long.”

“wh..what should I do?” Rena asked, feeling quite helpless from the sidelines. “I don’t know… but you better do it fast.” He responded, “I can only hope this will drain some of game boy’s power.”

Rena watched as another fist slid off of Axel’s dark energy shield. The shield crackled n sparked, showing a crack that faded as Axel renewed it. ‘This isn’t good,’ she thought as Axel dodge more and more attacks. ‘Axel may be able to out maneuver Eliander for now but this human is over powering us.’

Again and again the challenger pounded his fists into Axel’s shield, each time the cracks got bigger and more numerous. Finally Eliander seemed to grow mad at Axel. Instead of fighting, the human was hiding behind his power wall, hoping that Eliander’s energy would soon drain… well that just would not do. Balling his fists together, he concentrated all his strength and smashed them into Axel’s shield.

Rena winced as Axel’s shield sparked a final time and broke, again her love was in trouble but she couldn’t attack and help him.

“Come on Rena think.” She said to herself. “I’m the tamer this time so what should I do… what would Axel do in my place? No that wouldn’t work because he’d do the same thing I want to… jump in and help. What about Kimmy…” as she muttered to herself she remembered Kimmy and Cleo in battle.

“Lighting claw” Cleo shouted out as they dodged a nova blast and Cleo went on the attack. Then Kimmy’s digivice beeped and glowed. Seconds later the fight was over and Cleo landed in her Angewomon form. Cleo had digivoled to gain the strength advantage she needed to end the fight quickly. For a moment Rena was confused but then it struck her.

“Digivolve” Rena whispered. She had been so wrapped up in the fight, that she had forgotten that Axel could digivolve as well. She looked at her digivice as she hit the right buttons and blinked. The power indicator flashed before her eyes, a hologram floating just above her D-3, and it showed a full charge. She remembered what Frank had told them. “The earlier models used a battle to build up the energy for digi-evolution.”

Rena shivered as she held her D-3 high above her head, if she didn’t keep Axel under tight control, the evil blackness inside him would take over and kill everyone here. But if she didn’t digivolve her mate, and soon, there was no telling how much permanent damage Eliander could inflict.

“Axel digivolve! Digi-armor activate!” For a moment Rena though she’d made a mistake for nothing happened, then bright light erupted around Axel. The opponent simply backed away covering his eyes as the light of evolution took Axel. “Axel armor digivolve to… BlackSetRenamon!”

Purple Light washed over the field, then faded to reveal Axel in his dark digi-god form. BlackSetRenamon’s eye’s glowed red then dimmed for a moment as he reoriented himself. Yet as he saw his opponent, his eyes begin to burn again and his 3-inch forearm blades extended to their full 3-foot length.

“Time to show you what real power is.” Snorted BlackSetRenamon.

“Oh sorry, wrong answer, but thank you for playing.” Eliander quipped

Rena watched in horror as Eliander vanished from her sight. “Jump” she shouted without thinking and after a splint second hesitation, Black did. As he jumped, the human appear behind where Axel had been, his sweeping maneuver negated. He growled then jumped vanishing again. Rena watched this behavior and wondered at the vast amount of energy that their opponent was expending. He acted as if he had no limit on his power.

Wait that was it. Maybe his power was unlimited but he could only grow so strong maybe they could over power him. Yet Axel was the same way, BlackSetRenamon’s powers were also limitless, but for all that power, his strength could only grow just so much. But BlackSetRenamon also had a drawback; one that was quite fatal to everyone but himself and Rena couldn’t help but wonder if Eliander was the same way.

The battle had now moved sky ward and as he watched the armored digi-fox fly towards him, Eliander smiled. Now it was time to show this digital god why he’d been holding back. As the digimon swung up past him, he noticed a slight chill from were Axel had brushed past his power field. ‘Digital God, Digital Demon, such unnecessary divisions.’ Eliander thought to himself. ‘In the bio worlds, Axel, would be a type O demon. Type O’s consumes the life force of others to heal itself.’

Eliander had to slow down to visible speed for his next attack. As he did, he brought his hand before him and fired, shouting “Destruction wave!” The black fox was too off guard as the energy struck him from behind and blew through his fur. He felt the attack drawing off some of his own life force, yet no serious harm was done to his body.

BlackSetRenamon growled angry as he turned and saw his challenger. Darting in close he swiped at the human with his arm blades again and again but the faster human avoided his every swing. With each near miss Axel was getting more and more angrier. Axel’s mind was just too slow to react against this powerhouse of a fighter, yet the alternative, to let his darkness take over…

“Forgive me Rena, but there was no other choice.” he whispered to his mate, “I have to let go.

“What?” Rena blinked as she looked sky ward, “Axel…Axel?!”

Yet Axel was gone.

It happened suddenly, one moment Axel was swinging at him, and then his power convulsed and the digimon just fell out of the shy. Eliander watched in horrid fascination as his appoint dropped like a lifeless doll toward the dead planet below. “What the hell?” he asked out loud, his anger momentarily forgotten. “I didn’t even hit him.”

Down below the spectators were having almost the same reaction. The Anubis creature was on his feet in a flash, hands clinched, as he watched the black digimon fall. “This can not be happening.” He barked as he turned towards the Renamon nearby. “If he even thinks about throwing this fi…” but his words froze in his throat.

It wasn’t that Rena had her eyes locked on her tumbling lover and was ignoring him. It wasn’t that she had her hands clutched over her heart, or that her lips were trembling. No what made the shadowy figure hesitate was the sight of Rena’s D-3 lying on the ground at her feet. Rena was no longer in control of Axel…

BlackSetRenamon was free!

Eliander blinked and continued to watch Axel fall. Deep down the warrior felt torn, yes here they were in a pitch battle, yet neither wanted to be here and maybe under better circumstances they could have been friends. ‘So should I let him fall or try and catch him?’ he thought. But this question was answered when Axel suddenly did a flip and landed, all be it quite hard, on the ground.

The ground shook and trembled, a wave of seismic energy rolling out ward as the black digimon landed. Rena gasped as she and the other spectator fought to keep their balance as the earth rumbled beneath their feet, yet the ground wasn’t the only thing making noise. Behind the human, the skies suddenly lit up as a monster thunderstorm sprang to life from out of no were.

As lightning streaked across the heavens, Eliander decided it was time for him to land as well. It’s not always a good thing to be up so high and at full power during a thunderstorm for lightning strikes still packed quite a wallop. Still, as his feet touched down, he couldn’t help but wonder what had sparked the storm in the first place.

“Good of you to join me…” said a gruff voice. “Maybe this time you’ll stand and fight… instead of running away.”

Eliander turned, moving into a battle crouch as he found himself within yards of the black digimon. Eliander found himself looking into the digimon’s red eyes as he quickly began to power up again. Something was wrong, though its eyes still glowed brightly, there was no longer a since of Axel behind them. No this was something else entirely.

“What are you talking about?” Eliander challenged, “I haven’t run from you all night.”

Yet BlackSetRenamon only showed the human the evilest of smiles. Slowly he raised his right hand up to the sky, as he did lightning crackled and thunder rolled… and in his hand a staff of light began to form. With all his might the black digimon slammed the end of the shimmering staff to the ground and Eliander watched as a 4-foot blade flipped out of its top, revealing the staff to be a scythe.

The human’s eyes when wide and in a breathless whisper he said “no. it can’t be.” The human fell back his eyes filled with fear and slightly glazed over. Deep inside his brain, somewhere in its black recesses, a forgotten memory had awoken. A memory that even his cloaked tormenter didn’t know still existed." my son" he though "he looks like my son."

Do you know who I am?” BlackSetRenamon asked as he held out his weapon. The human shook his head still in shock and not hearing the fox… ‘It couldn't be. Worlds paralleled but this was wrong’. Keeping his voice soft so that only the human could hear, “You should, I’m the one who destroyed this world… your world. I remember it quite well, the screaming, the yelling, the pain I inflicted on the innocent before devouring their souls. There should have been a battle for this world, yet there was no one here to protect it… this time there is no running.”

The human heard the words but they meant nothing to him only the face only the scythe mattered. The dead world had been alive and vibrant when he left. But now he could see it dying before his eyes. He could see the slaughter the he had been absent to prevent. And it struck at his soul.

Almost before Eliander could recover from the digi-god’s words, the black Renamon did an overhead swing with his staff and unleashed a wave of energy at him. Quickly he had to throw himself to the side as the deadly waves ripped up the ground were he had been standing. Eliander tumbling back to his feet and stood, the fight was back on and this time he knew that it wouldn’t end until one of them was dead.

Thinking fast, the human speed up, disappearing before the eyes of the onlookers. Yet this time the digimon knew what to do, and Eliander found that BlackSetRenamon was somehow matching him speed for speed. Again the digimon struck out at his enemy. Over and over most of his slashes coming up empty, yet a few did connect and the human now found himself on the defense.

To Rena and the Anubis figure, all they could be seen were two blurry forms jumping and dodging about the landscape. From time to time they would clash and an explosion or two would well up and shake the ground. It was a fighting spectacle mired only by the thought that the combatants might destroy the every planet they were fighting on, if they didn’t kill one another soon. That was until the human tripped.

While flipping back out of harms way, Eliander felt something give under his foot and fell to his side. The digimon was above him in no time flat, slashing at him with the scythe. The human twisted and push himself away from BlackSetRenamon’s attack, yet a sudden chill washed over him as the blade made contact. The human cringed as the scythe sank deep into his left shoulder, while above him the black digimon was smiling, his sharp teeth flashing in a wicked grin.

It was at that moment that BlackSetRenamon made a mistake. Pulling his blade free of his victim, he razes it high over his head for the killing strike… and left himself wide open. Eliander reacted, thrusting both hands into the digimon’s belly. “Destruction wave!” he yelled as he let the power fly free. The monster never had a chance as he was hit hard and blown backwards.

Eliander clutched his shoulder as he slowly climbed to his feet. He was cut and bleeding but still alive. That’s when a small chiming sound came from over head. Suddenly he looked up and his eyes were clear. Clear of pain, clear of doubt. Turning he found BlackSetRenamon standing only a few feet off, his evil smile still plastered on his face.

“Shall we continue?” he asked as he waved his hand to the cloaked figure. “I don’t think our sponsor has seen enough.”

“Don’t patronize me!” The human shot back, his anger rising. “I don’t give a shit what he thinks! I only care about one thing, and one thing only.”

“Tell you what,” BlackSetRenamon said in a cool voice as he let go of his scythe, letting it vanish into the void. “How about we do this old school? No weapons, just fists and powers.”

“Yeah, ok tough guy.” Eliander sneered, “Lets dance.”

Rena breathed in a gasp as she watched the human and her mate begin to trade blows. Overhead the storm was still building, lightning flashing and thunder shaking the heavens as the two combatants laid into each other, the storm seemed synchronized with the fighting. This only brought more joy to the figure over in the makeshift stands that happily watched the blood sport. “Oh this is such a spectacular fight!” it cheered.

High above the clock was ticking down and the human’s moves were become more frantic and hurried. The problem was that each time he physically hit the digimon, part of his life force was drained, healing some of the damage he just inflicted. The other was that while Axel wasn’t using his blades, he still had razor sharp claws. All this was pissing Eliander off. He needed to put Axel down and fast, yet both were now caught up in the fight and neither was about to back down.

Yes it was down right cheating, but Eliander had had enough. Fainting left he dropped to one knee to draw the fox in, and grabbed at the foxes over confidence and blasted the sand causing some of sand and to fly into the digimon’s eyes along with the bent light of the reflected attack. With the digimon momentarily blinded he gathered up his power and fired it point blank into the black fox’s belly.

Rena gasped as her love blew past her and into a rock cliff behind her. “Axel!” she cried out and started to rush to her mate’s side, yet a strange sound caught her attention. Slowly she turned and peered at the human behind her, shocked that he could still muster that much power.

He was cut and bleeding in several places and was breathing heavy but the look in his eyes made her blood run cold. He stepped forward and stumbled his eyes never leaving his target. There was a sound that told her that Axel was pulling himself free of the cliff. The look on his face was even scarier then the humans. This must truly be the BlackRenamon from the legends and she knew that he would rather destroy the planet beneath them, then to admit defeat to this human. He had his pride as a digital god at stake.

Wait that was it. This human was a god well or at least he used to be one himself. She glanced at the being refereeing the match. The one who was making her love fight for the lives of his family. His eyes were glowing with dark light and darker pleasure. This was it, this was what he had been waiting for, the fight to end all fights. Yet he didn’t know about the BlackRenamon’s past, or the legend.

Rena shivered as she felt he lover’s power once again building behind her. He was going to kill them all if something wasn’t done quickly. The human lunge forward intent on the kill as well. Not time to think, only time to act. She stepped forward between the human and her mate, arms held out to as if to shield Axel form harm.

Surprisingly enough, the human stopped. His cold, icy stare eating at her, yet he held back. She opened her mouth to speak, to call a stop to this blood shed. But words were replaced by a scream as her lover’s arm blade erupted for the human’s chest.

BlackSetRenamon had seized the moment and teleported behind his victim. Since Eliander had cheated by blowing the sand, he felt no remorse at using the weapon. Grasping the human by his crimson stained shoulder, he thrust the 3foot blade deep into Eliander’s back. The blade sliced threw bone and muscle, as it weren’t even there and pierced the human’s heart before exiting out his chest.

The human cried out as his chest erupted in pain. He watched his blood splatter forth, spraying some of it on the young vixen before him. He was dead again. He knew he was dead. “My children.” He whispered as he felt the call of oblivion. As he fell forward off Axel’s blade, clutching his chest, he heard a sinister laughter and the clapping of the one who began it all. “Don’t worry” he heard the sinister voice of the referee whisper in his head. “Your children are safe now.”

Eliander closed his eyes and the darkness in them welcomed him once again. Yet there was something else, another voice that welled up at him in the darkness. It called to him using a name long since forgotten, then spoke “It would be poetic to send your soul to the void, just as I did to those you left behind when you ran. I should consume your power and add it to my own… yet I won’t for the one who loves me would not allow it. So I grant your soul its freedom… remember who you were, who you are.” Off in the distance he saw…

Slowly Rena fell to her knees. The human was dead. Looking down she saw some of his blood had splattered on her fur and then realized that she could hear laugher and clapping. Her mate had a look of distaste on his face for the creature that was walking toward them. “Well done” she heard the echoing voice of their captor say. Rena turned around to look at the speaker his hood was covering his face and all the stands were empty. “Needless to say you niece and her partner have already been sent home, now as for you two.

“You will set us free.” BlackSetRenamon snarled, his eyes flashing as a bell began to chime in the background. “You gave your word” “What the?” Axle stood shocked as the last chime sounded. He was back in his human body. “But how?” “Simple the time expired.” The dark one smiled, “As you said I am bound to set you free.”

Rena heard the sounds of shuffling behind her but ignores it thinking it to be her mate. “But while I must set you free I don’t have to send you home.” The dark one taunted. “But you will none the less. Isn’t that right dark one, or shall I call you Erebus? The Greek pronunciation was always you favorite right?”

“You? How can you remember that?” surprise filled the cloaked figure’s eyes.

“I remember a lot more then that!” Eliander smiled as he walked past Rena.

“This isn’t fair you were mine!”

“You’re alive! What is going on here?” Rena demanded.

“That my lady, is a tale for another day, right now I must see to it that he honors his deal both in word and in spirit.” With that the robes figure jumped back, the world around them fading as he became one with the darkness. Yet this didn’t faze the human “Do it, Do it now!”

Rena tilted her head as she looked at Eliander. This was not the attitude the human had held before the fight. He had changed.

“Or what? You can’t power up to fight me here, if you do, you’ll kill them”

“You’d think that, but you’re wrong.” The human raised his hand and from it came a glow. It’s light intensified until it was as powerful as looking into the heart of the sun.

“No you wouldn’t! You can’t do that! You don’t know how!”

Rena blinked, there was a warbling sound and suddenly the human spoke and the ground shook and a wall of white-hot light barreled toward her. She heard Axel behind her crying for her safety and then…

Rena sat up in bed alone, her body moist with a cold sweet. “Axel! Where are you?” she called as she franticly looked about the room. She needn’t have worried for the door the bathroom suddenly opened and Axel came rushing into the room. Up on seeing her mate two words suddenly echoed through her brain ‘Paradox wave.’ Yet it meant nothing to her

“Rena, what’s wrong?” Axel asked as he quickly sat at her side.

“Oh thank god!” she shivered as she wrapped her arms about her mate. “I was so worried that they kept you.”

“er..” Axel blinked as he gently petted his clinging digi-fox. “Who kept me and for what?”

“The dark one and…” yet Rena blinked, for the life of her she couldn’t remember the human’s name. It felt as if some one was messing with her memories but she could still recall most of it. “Oh Axel, I can’t remember his name, but I can still see the battle, how I was your tamer for the battle, and how I had to make you digi-volve into BlackSetRenamon so that you could… could…”

“Ssshhh, there there,” Axel whispered as he gently held Rena to his chest. “It sounds like you had a nightmare… and a strong one at that.”

“A nightmare?” Rena blinked as she looked up into his caring eyes. “But it was so real, the sounds, the smells, the blood!”

The blood, suddenly she remembered the look of agony in the human’s eyes as Axel slammed his arm blade through the man’s chest. Quickly she pulled back and looked down at her fur, yet there was no blood. “Could it have just been a dream?” She whispered as her breathing slowly returned to normal. “But it seemed so real. The way you slaughtered that man while that evil creature clapped and cheered.”

“Unfortunately, nightmares always seem real.” Axel said as he gave her ears a good scratching. “That’s what makes them so unnerving. But once your awake it quickly fades from your mind, leaving you scared and confused.”

“So it was all just a dream?” she asked hopefully

“I’m afraid so,” he smiled reassuringly as he gave her another hug, “but its ok now, the dream is over.”

Rena nodded as she relaxed into his powerful embrace for it made her feel safe and protected from the memory of the nightmare. Rena sighed as Axel gently pushed her back down into bed, there he held her tight until the sun rose. Yet as Rena drifted back into slumber, Axel stayed awake, his mind’s eye reliving the entire battle.

Yes he hated having to lie to his mate, yet this was something that he would have to live with… that he was willing to live with to keep her from its truth. Eliander had promised that by morning, that Rena, Kimmy, and Cleo would remember this night as only a fleeting dream. Axel alone would remember what his darker half had done, every last detail. A promise was a promise and not even death could break it. Not to those like Eliander and his darker self nor to set. Would the meet again? If so what would happen then? The void, the darkness and the enraged light without balance, something would most likely have to give.

****

Elsewhere a lone form drifted through the void, as the perceptive changes we see that it is neither the fighter nor the hooded troublemaker that floats there unconscious. This is death for the immortal maybe even the eternal. He drifts the alone, unknown, unloved, and unaware. He'd been dead before and with the children safe the all promises kept he rest in peace and wait to be forgotten. He was ready to go at least until he is needed again. Then slowly a rip appears in the void and out of it reaches two powerful feline hands. They grab the body and pull into the rift and out of site.

FIN.