Holy, Virtuous, Melancholic Melody (Open)

Rick definitely didn't feel like chasing after Aegiomon. Haley was right, you know? The faun was being a total jerk this whole time, and one little poke made him explode. 

"I don't know if I'm even going to try and meet up with him, honestly. After that little episode..."

Ricky trailed off as a particularly painful synapses fired and a memory bubbled to the surface of his mind. He was back in the States, fist bleeding and blood boiling after a rather heated moment before. One of his classmates had made fun of Rick's family, talking about their poor situation and the 'rumours' that they were on drugs (Rick had absolutely no idea how that had got spread around, but it did). One second, he was sitting across from Matthew Lode, and the next Rick was flying across the desk and wailing into him, doing more damage to his hands than he probably did to Matt. He remembered the tears streaming and how cold they were against his hot face, like they would evaporate into nothing if he were just one degree more angry. He also remembered being in the office, the nurse recounting this (of many an) 'episode', as he or any other medical official Rick had encountered would put it.

And he was just going to disregard Aegiomon, after having experienced that kind of humiliation and shame.

Rick was disgusted with himself. Quickly throwing some Bits down (he guessed that it was enough, but he honestly wasn't sure), he rushed out of the restaurant. He broke through the doorway and his eyes were stung by sunlight, but they worked to his demands anyway. Adrenaline began to pump into his body as the stormclouds of worry that had formed before began to swell, ready to burst at any moment. It's not like he really even was pleasured with Aegiomon's company, but more upset at himself for not getting a chance to understand the Digimon. He couldn't let something like that slip by him, because honestly, Haley was right. He was given this rare chance, and it was dumb for him to waste it in some safe city when there was a world of adventure right outside of his doorstep. Rick wanted to LIVE, damnit!

He heard Aegiomon's cry off to the right, seemingly still in the square, just obstructed by the jutting buildings and their irregular shapes. He wasn't sure how he knew it was Aegiomon, but he knew. Ricky ran as fast as his pudgy form would take him. He arrived to find that his assumption was correct.

Aegiomon was squared off to a large, knight-looking digimon, and around him was...

The stormclouds burst, and rain fell in the form of tears.

Aegiomon was surrounded by the remnants of code, like something had been deleted moments before. Judging by the gaping hole in Aegiomon's left side, the Digimon had lost an arm and part of his torso.

"For disturbing the peace, Aegiomon, you are sentenced to death. I, Knightmon, have served as your arbiter, and for resisting arrest, I shall be your executioner!"

Knightmon lifted the gargantuan weapon above his head, ready to bring it downwards. Rick was so doped up on adrenaline, time slowed down as the world went black-and-white.

Aegiomon's breaths were really labored, and it didn't look like he had the energy to move. Rick was so afraid. He needed to call out to Haley, or someone else that could help. Maybe reason with the digimon. He needed to find someone-

His legs began to move on their own. When he realized, he couldn't even stop them. His body was under the control of someone else, not Rick (at least, that's what it felt like). He watched himself go faster than he ever had before, catching Aegiomon by surprise when Rick essentially clotheslined-then-grabbed him. A second later. the sword hit the concrete, crushing it to dust. The swing was so powerful that it emitted a shockwave that almost knocked Rick off of his feet, but he didn't break stride. Although he was kind of slow, his upper body strength was actually kind of impressive. He had lifted Aegiomon's light body with ease and ran away.

"What am I doing?? Why can't I stop moving?" Rick half-said, half-shouted this as he continued to run, getting a small head-start as Knightmon dug his sword out from under the Earth. Soon, the alarms would sound, and it would be all over. He needed to get to the ferry. He ran past the Italian restaurant they were just eating at, though he had been so focused on Aegiomon that Rick had completely forgotten about Haley. 

Aegiomon's voice broke his concentration. "You're moving because you've got the stones of a hero..." For once, Aegiomon sounded a little awestruck. It didn't shut him up, though, much to Rick's dismay. "Now LET ME DOWN, I can run you bastard!"

Gio kicked free and began to run alongside Rick, who was already slowing down. The chubby teenager had never been much of a long distance runner, and he hadn't exactly been keeping to his wrestling regimen since coming to the digital world. Still, he kept going. Aegiomon's paced matched Rick's, even though he could probably run much faster. 

Rick prayed they would make it in time, before Knightmon caught up to him. Already he could hear the iron-clad behemoth's obnoxious clanking and the bass-filled tremors of the ground. They kept running, both totally unsure how far or exactly where the ferry was. They dipped into a nearby alley to take a breather, and to get monster of their tails. 

The small enclave was filled with heavy breathing.

They didn't talk during the short reprieve; they were too focused on saving their strength. An unspoken understanding radiated in the stuffy atmosphere of the alley. They wouldn't stop again until they were safe; they simply didn't have enough time. Once the Law was on you in Luminas City, it's rest was found at your eternal peace. 

After a few moments, they started again. After they exited the crevice, Rick made eye contact with Haley. Had she been following them? He shot her a panicked look, but gave no words. If she followed him further, that was her prerogative (but why she would was lost to Rick).

This time, Rick was more sure about the location of the ferry. Him and Aegiomon ran relentlessly, weaving through the backroads of the city for what felt like an eternity under the weight of time and it's pressures. 

Eventually, though, there was revelation.

The ferry was as dull and lifeless as it always was - a few trips a day, at most. Piximon sat lazily by the vessel, reading a paperback book of what appeared to be horror-fiction. The out-of-breath duo ran towards his workspace, Rick placing down the rest of his Bits (just a little more or less than what the ferry cost). The small fairy digimon picked it up and began what appeared to be deep thought, as if weighing the bag to assure it's legitimacy. Shrugging, he pulled a lever that opened up the ferry's chassey, and they scrambled inside. Rick had his hands on his knees while he was breathing heavily, so he wondered if Haley followed. 

There would be time enough for her to enter, but no more. The ferry doors would close and those aboard would descend onto the Hell of the Digital World.