By
"Open the gates for happiness,
Whenever it comes to you,
As it never comes in the wrong time!"
From: Arthur Schopenhauer
Authors Comment:
This is the next chapter in my Digimon fiction "The Second Chance".
Initially it was presumed to be a single, closed story; but then I grew fond
of the story arc and more and more ideas grew in my mind to continue romance
and adventure. I hope you have fun with it.
What happened previously: 50 years after the first Digidestinied had their
adventures, the DigiWorld was destroyed, because many of them didn't find the
courage to follow their true feelings of love. Finally Iori, Ken and Miyako
succeed in sending a message into the past to change history. So besides Tai
and Yamato, two other couples find their way to confess each others love: Takeru
and Ken as well as Daisuke and Iori. Hikari and Miyako supported them to go
for their love, even though it meant to lose the boys they loved. As a result
the DigiWorld was saved, too
One year after the last episode of Digimon 02 all the Digidestinied meet to
renew their friendship.
*************************************
The sun hung deep and red upon the horizon and the picnic the Digidestinied
held, had lasted for several hours. All prepared to go home now. Yamato and
Tai sat on a large tree stump, holding their hands and feeling the cool evening
breeze upon their skins.
Tai felt his beloved Yamato shivering. "Feeling cold, love?", he said
gently, caressing the blond boy.
Yamato nestled himself closer to Tai, and the other boy wrapped his arms around
him. Yama seemed lost in some thought of his own.
"Hey, dreaming?", Tai cheered. "Where is my little lamb?"
Yamato sighed. "All seems like a miracle to me." He turned and looked
deep into the hazel eyes of his boyfriend. "Sometimes I just can't believe
it. We kept our love a secret for a long time, and when we came out to the others,
it looked as if our group would split forever. I had never really thought about
it, as our successors now fought for the DigiWorld. But they broke up, too.
And now we are here, all together in harmony and friendship, like none of us
had ever hoped."
Tai knew his friend better than anyone else. Yama was a silent and brooding
boy when he was younger, and they were at constant struggle for a long time,
until they confessed each others love. Since then Yamato had changed much, and
their love had given them strength and hope. But somewhere, deep within, there
was still a part of the old Yamato: the fear that things might change to the
worse. In this rare moments Yama's eyes where filled with hidden sorrow. A sadness
without reason. The blond boy had been a lonely kid in earlier years, a loneliness
that had hurt his soul forever - and that scar would remain.
Tai loved Yamato more than his own life, and Yama shared this feelings towards
Tai. But there was one thing, Yama had never told his beloved. Something that
happened quite a time ago. It was a warm autumn day when he walked alone in
this very park in which they all had gathered now, and he had thought about
an appropriate birthday present he could fetch for Tai.
Yamato had wandered among the trees, unable to think of anything else as Tai's
lovely smile, these eyes, that seemed to reflect all happiness of the world,
the wonderful hair he loved to caress. But nothing seemed worthy of his beloved.
Yama had removed his shoes and socks to walk upon the grass, when he heard a
familiar voice swearing and cursing. He had been unsure what to do? Should he
shout and approach? But something within warned him to do so. He didn't have
the wish to spy upon any other of the Digidestinied, but he couldn't risk to
be caught, so he hid himself behind a small bush.
"I hate them! I hate them all!", the familiar voice said to no one
present. "They all think themselves so very clever, so virtuous and nice!
How I despise them!" Then an evil laughter emerged from the figure and
it rose it's clenched fist to the sky. "But I shall hide that before them.
None will know of my plan until it will be to late! To late for them! They will
pay, I promise! And they will feel all the pain and be sorrow that they underestimated
me through all these years!" Then the figure turned and Yamato could see
it right into the face. He had to suppress a call of shock. This face was twisted
with hatred and anger he had never expected. Then the person had walked away,
obviously overseeing Yamato's presence. This memory had haunted him, but the
one never showed any signs of evil acts, and so he had remained silent even
to Tai.
Suddenly Ken's voice called out: "Hey! Yama, Tai! Come on, we want to leave!
Will you stay here overnight? It might just be a bit cold outside." Ken
walked towards them, holding TK's hand. They had finally found out their love
one year ago, just like Daisuke and Iori. And like a story, all of their friends
supported them.
"Ken and me wanted to watch a movie we got from the video shop. It's some
new Anime!", TK said to Yamato. "Perhaps you want to join us? Father
might be pleased to see you again, Yama!" Takeru smiled encouraging. When
Yamato had confessed his love to Tai, his father had thrown him out and they
hadn't talked for some time. TK was under a great pressure to be a good son
then. So TK and Yamato really feared their fathers reaction when he heard that
his younger son was gay, too. Surprisingly he had reacted calm. Their father
always adored Takeru, and within the last months they again had become something
like a family. Yamato still hadn't forgotten how angry their father was at Yama's
outing, but he had learned to accept their sons life since then. Now Yama lived
in a apartment with Tai.
"Hey, Yama!", Tai said. "I would like to see that movie, too!"
He smiled, seeing his friends doubt. "Come on, give your dad another chance!
He has send you mails and phoned you regularly. I am certain he will appreciate
to see you again."
Yamato nodded. "Right. We'll come." They rose and went to the others.
Mimi, Sora and Jyou already had gathered all their picnic stuff. Iori and Koushiro
were both hanging over the Laptop, discussing about something. Daisuke just
ate the last banana, and admired Iori from afar. Daisuke loved Iori, especially
when he was concentrated into something. He liked watching the boy, and Iori
really had grown during the last year. Now has was nearly as tall as Daisuke.
"Welcome back to the living!", Miyako teased Yamato and Tai. "You
always look so occupied with each other."
"I wish I would find my prince soon, too!", Mimi added. Seeing all
these happy couples always gave her a dreaming look. "But who knows? I
have recently spied on that red-haired boy from our neighbourhood. He looks
so cute! He just has to love me! Perhaps I should write him a letter?"
She grinned to the others.
Sora rolled her eyes. "Mimi! This is the forth boy in two months you fell
in love with! Perhaps you should have more patience. Whenever you show your
admiration, all boys just run away! You expel them by your eagerness. Most boys
don't like girls acting that oppressive you always do!" Sora still was
the voice of reason. She and Mimi spend much time together, which was quite
curious, as they were very different.
Mimi laughed in a high pitched voice. "You tell me! I have at least tried
to find a boyfriend. Perhaps they just need a bit more encouragement?"
Mimi looked at Tai and Yamato. "Don't you agree? It might just be, that
there is some boy in love with me, and doesn't dare to tell me - just in the
same way you didn't."
Both Tai and Yamato didn't know what to say.
"Every one must do it his or her own way.", Ken explained. His arm
laid around TK's shoulder, and his hand played with the young boys ear. "Just
be yourself, than all will be right. Do not play someone, you are not. In that
way you will not find your true love. And I should know that!"
Miyako had gathered her last belongings. "Might we go now? It seems rather
chilly outside."
"Right. Let's go!", Sora decided, and all left the park.
****************************************
"Hello dad.", Yamato said to his father, tightly holding Tai's hand.
"Welcome, Yama.", his father answered. He looked as overworked as
ever, but a friendly smile appeared on his face. "And welcome, Tai."
Tai never felt well with Yamato's father, but he was glad that things were growing
better now between them. "Hello." Tai blushed a bit.
For a moment none of them knew what to say. Then TK appeared out of his room,
waving with a video tape in his hand. "Come into my room! Then we can watch
the movie!"
"Erm, you may use the TV in the living room.", TK's dad mentioned.
"It is much more comfortable. And besides, I will have some work to do
in my own room, so you boys will not be disturbed.
Tai and Yamato exchanged some glances, but before they could say anything, TK
made the decision.
"Hooray!", the young boy cried. "Ken! Ken, come - we can watch
the movie on the great television screen in the living room."
Ken's face appeared in the doorframe. He rose a single eyebrow. "Really?
That seems to be great."
Then TK's father left and went into his study. Ken, Tai and Yamato took seat
on the two couches before the TV, and Takeru put the tape into the recorder.
There was a cold lemonade and some biscuits on the table. They all watched the
movie: Tai's head resting on Yamato's shoulders, and Ken holding Takeru in his
arms.
After one hour Tai had drunk the last lemonade, when TK grabbed at the empty
decanter.
"Hey, Yama!", TK said without looking away from the screen. "Go
fetch some new drink from the kitchen.
Yamato had Tai's head on his breast, caressing his brown hair. "But we
are guests here. You should go and bring some new lemonade."
Tai loosened himself of his boyfriends embrace. "Well, I have emptied the
decanter, so I will go." He rose, and before Yamato could stop him, Tai
grabbed it and went away. He walked trough the hallway into the kitchen and
opened the refrigerator, when he heard Yamato's father.
"I… um… I was just going to get some new lemonade…",
Tai stammered.
Yamato's and TK's father showed a slight smile. "That's okay. But as our
guest you shouldn't walk for my boys!"
Tai's cheeks grew red. He never had been alone with Yamato's dad since their
dispute.
"Taichi, please. Don't feel unwelcome." Yamato's father sighed. "Look,
young man. I love my sons. Both of them! I really, deeply regret what happened
between Yama and me." Yama's Dad looked into Tai's eyes, and they both
were more then a bit nervous now. "You are a good boy, Taichi. When my
son told me he loved you and that he was… you know… gay… I was
just overwhelmed with fear. I know that many people will hate and shun you for
your love. Somehow I thought I could talk him out of that, but this was a mistake,
I think."
Tai looked with great eyes at the father of his boyfriend. There was a great
lump in his throat, and his mouth was dry like a desert.
"Take care of my boy.", Yamato's father added. He stared intensely
at Tai, who saw how great he cared for his son. "And know that you will
be always welcome in my home." The man nodded at Tai approvingly.
"Thanks!", Tai croaked hoarsely, and then he went back into the living
room.
"What did you take so long?", Yama asked, then he saw the puzzled
look on Taichi's face.
But then a smile appeared on his hazel eyes. "Everything is all right.",
he answered and slid back into Yamato's arms.
*********************************************
Iori and Daisuke silently walked through the street. They had decided to take
a little walk together, but none of them had said a word. It had grown dark,
and the stars already blinked in the sky.
"And, how goes your project with Koushiro?", Daisuke asked.
Iori and Koushiro had joined in some programming project. Koushiro really was
a computer expert, but Iori was very interested to learn more about programming
and so the older boy helped Iori to get along. They could talk about computer
questions for hours, of which Daisuke virtually knew nothing. But Iori regularly
used to smile at Daisuke, and his eyes showed how much he loved the other boy.
When Koushiro and Iori used to breed over some new computer problem, Iori absently
played with Daisuke's ears while talking with Koushiro.
"It is very fascinating.", Iori answered. "Koushiro really knows
a lot about this. He is a smart boy."
"So, is he?" Daisuke played indignation. "I don't seem to be
of great help to you…"
Iori stopped and looked concerned into Davis' eyes.
"Hey!", Daisuke cheered. "It was just a joke!" He wrapped
his arms around Iori. There was so much love and gentleness in these eyes. He
always thought of getting lost in them. "Sorry. I didn't want to worry
you." He stroke through Iori's brown hair. "My goodness! I still remember
that I had to bend down a little when I kissed you for the first time, roughly
a year ago. You shouldn't continue to grow that fast, or I will get an inferiority
complex!"
They kissed each other and continued to follow the road.
"Somehow Yamato looks as he is occupied on something.", Iori mentioned.
"Problems with his father?", Daisuke pondered.
Iori shook his head. "No. I don't think so. It's something else. Elusive."
"I could ask Tai.", Davis suggested. "I meet him every week in
our Kendo - group."
Iori shrugged. "Perhaps. Just be sensitive."
"Sensitive? That is my second name!", the other boy twinkled.
*****************************************
Daisuke and Tai panted heavily. Tai as the older had much more experience in
Kendo, and regularly beat Davis in their weekly training. The Shinais (wooden
fighting sword of bamboo) flew once again, and Daisuke blocked Taichi's attack,
but he knew that he couldn't hope to stand against the older boy much longer.
So he tried a ruse.
"Hey Tai!", he shouted. "Having trouble with your love?"
"What?", Tai hesitated.
And just enough time for Daisuke to set a counter strike. He swung around, hit
Tai's Shinai and it flew right out of his hands. Daisuke lowered the Shinai
before Tai's neck.
"You lost, old man!"
Tai gazed into his empty hands. He had never been beaten by Davis before! How
could that happen? "That was a dirty trick, kid!", he sneered. "In
any fair fight you will still lose!" He walked around and grabbed his Shinai.
"Wait! And what did you say about Yama and me?" He walked towards
Daisuke and gazed him into the eyes.
Daisuke couldn't stand the questioning look. "Erm, sorry. I didn't want
to meddle with things which are of no concern to me." Tai turned away and
seemed to be occupied with his own thoughts. "Nonetheless", Daisuke
continued. "Iori and I wondered what is wrong with Yamato… I…We…
Perhaps we could help you in any way?"
Tai looked around and to Daisuke's surprise he smiled. "No, we didn't have
any quarrel. Thanks for trying to help me. It's just…" He sighed.
"It's just that the old Yamato sometimes returns. His memories of the long
time he denied to express his true feelings have hurt him more than anyone knows."
Then the older boy grew sincere again. "But I will talk to him this evening.
Perhaps this will help. Hey, why don't you fetch Iori and visit us in our apartment,
say at 8 pm? That will leave us enough time for private conversation, and I
am certain that Yama will enjoy some company. I don't want him to grow weary
of my sole presence.", Tai joked.
"Okay", Daisuke agreed. "Iori and me will be there. See ya!"
***********************************
Tai and Yamato sat at the table eating their meal. Yamato was quite a good
cook, but Tai had demanded that he would cook for his love this time, and that
the Blonde just had to relax and wait for the dinner. Yama had put on some Mozart,
as he often did to feel comfortable.
Tai grinned, looking at the food sheepishly. It had burned a little so some
parts looked a bit black of soot, but Yama had just smiled and ate the pieces
courageously.
"Sorry, little one.", Tai smiled embarrassed. "I think that I
might never be a great cook like you."
Yamato nodded. "It's edible." Than he winked, grinning evilly. "But
perhaps you know more familiar ways to comfort me?"
Tai blushed. "Yama. I still haven't told you that we will have guests in
the evening. Daisuke and Iori will come at 8 pm. I thought some company might
cheer you up."
"Cheer me up?", Yama wondered. "I don't need cheering. I am all
right. You are here, that is pleasant enough. But they are welcome."
"Come on!", Tai said. "You often look pensive in there days.
Do you still think of the old days in the DigiWorld? Missing our adventures?
Or is there something else?"
Yamato sighed. He had hoped that he could keep his secret. There was no reason
to blame one of their old friends for the feelings of anger and despair, but
he didn't want to tell anyone.
"Look Tai, let's just say it in this way: One of our friends seems to have
trouble, but I still hope that this person will cope with these stress by himself.
I am just not the right person to help in this case. But there is nothing wrong
with me, okay?"
*RING! RING!*
The doorbell rung.
"What? Who might this be?", Tai wondered. "We expect Iori and
Davis in half a hour. I hope they didn't decide to come earlier."
"I'll take care of the dishes." Yamato said. "Just go and open
the door."
Taichi walked through the hallway and opened the door. There stood Daisuke,
Iori - and Takeru! All of them where grasping for breath, as they had obviously
been running. And TK had wept recently. His eyes where red.
"Hi! We didn't expect you…" He paused and realised the situation.
"Something is wrong? Come in, please."
As he closed the door, TK's arms flew around Tai, and he started to weep. "Oh
Tai!, he is gone! He is gone!" Then TK couldn't say another word and sobbed
heartily. Daisuke and Iori made sad faces, sorrowful looking at TK.
Then Yamato approached them, and TK went into the arms of his older brother,
who held and caressed him gently, as he had done when they both where younger.
"Come into the living room and take seat.", Yamato said, leading his
sobbing brother to the couch as the others followed him. No one said a word
until TK had calmed a bit.
"Sorry, but could you please tell us what happened?", Tai asked.
Iori's face was grim. "It is Ken. He left TK and went into the DigiWorld."
Tai's frowned. "And?"
"And there was this Email coming from Ken out of the DigiWorld.",
Iori added and gave a printed sheet of paper to Tai.
"From the Digimon Emperor to the so-called Digidestinied.", Tai read
aloud. "Yes, once again I am the Digimon Emperor. You fools have trusted
in me! And I took my time to learn your weaknesses. All of you cooperated with
me admirably, just as I had foreseen you trusty fools would. This time no one
will stop me. You yourself have helped me to learn enough about the DigiWorld,
and you may send special greetings to that fool Koushiro, who was so very helpful,
sharing all his knowledge with me. Soon I will have a Digimon partner fitting
to me - an old 'friend' of yours. Better don't meddle with my operation, as
you will fail to stop me this time. You will regret all your wrong decisions,
and I will let you suffer for them! And just in case that you might think of
something stupid, I have a hostage in my new fortress. If you ever dare to attack
me, Sora will suffer for it, so think twice before you act. Hope to see you.
Ken."
Tai gaped at the paper with open mouth, and Yamato's fists where clenched with
anger. How could they have been so wrong? And why did he want revenge? He truly
seemed to have changed.
"We must go and stop that madman!" Daisuke shouted. "I have trusted
him, when none of the others did, and so it is my responsibility to go for Ken."
"But can we risk this?", Iori asked. "He has Sora, and who knows
what he will do if we move against him? We can not allow him to hurt her."
"This little rat!", Yamato sneered between clenched teeth. "I
will let him pay for this, for all the tears TK has wept for him."
Suddenly TK rose. "No!", he cried imploring. "You must not do
this! I love Ken, I still do! We have promised to trust each other forever,
and I will never doubt the true Ken, the Ken that still is within him. We must
find and help him to be free of the evil that has twisted him!"
"TK.", Tai said gently. "We can't go to him, or we will risk
Sora's life. That is something we can not do." Tai wasn't able to keep
looking at TK, so he looked down, his eyes filled with sorrow. "And it
seems…", he barely whispered. "That Ken has fooled us all the
time."
"We must call the others and decide what to do.", Iori said. "Perhaps
if we move together, we can do something."
************************************
The next day all the Digidestinied had gathered in Tai's and Yamato's flat.
All but Ken and Sora, who was obviously held prisoner by the Digimon Emperor.
Everyone made a sad face as they heard the story of Ken's betrayal, and where
shocked to hear the Email. Yamato had demanded that TK would stay at home, not
being burdened by that grave matter more than necessary, but he couldn't convince
his brother do stay away. At least, he had loved Ken - and loved him still,
despite all that happened.
There was a fierce debate what to do. Daisuke, Miyako and Mimi demanded to enter
the DigiWorld immediately to fight against Ken, while Iori and Jyou argued not
to endanger Sora's life.
"Koushiro!", Miyako asked. "Do you have any knowledge what happens
in the DigiWorld?"
Koushiro nodded. "I have gathered all kind of data during the last few
hours that are really disturbing. The Digimon Emperor obviously has started
to turn good Digimon towards evil to serve his sinister purpose. They lay waste
to more and more parts of the DigiWorld, and his conquest is of unknown swiftness."
"But where is that fortress, he has mentioned in the Email?", Mimi
asked. "Or does he have another flying castle, as he had before?"
"I don't think so.", Koushiro answered. "As the destruction spreads
from a certain fixed point in the DigiWorld it is most likely that his fortress
will be in the centre, where he is most protected. And there is more. I think
I know of Ken's plan."
"What?", nearly everyone grasped.
"How can you know such a thing?", Hikari asked with widened eyes.
Koushiro blushed and made a guilty look. "It seems that I have pointed
him to a very good opportunity. Ken and me spend some time together, and he
felt very guilty for what he did as the Digimon Emperor. So I decided to help
him to undo the damage, and together we started to research the dark powers.
We found out, that when Devimon was destroyed, some parts of his body broke
away in the form of small splinters. We both knew that these splinters would
be very dangerous in the wrong hands, so we tried to locate and crush them.
We found their location, and Ken went away to bring them into our world. I trusted
him and had no idea he could do anything else with these splinters." His
cheeks burned red with shame.
"Hey, you were not the only one to trust him!" Tai laid his hands
upon Koushiro's shoulders.
Jyou still looked puzzled. "But… but in which way are these splinters
dangerous?"
Koushiro sighed. "Well, first you can use them to control many Digimon
and turn them towards evil. But most important: if the darkness spreads within
the DigiWorld, the powers of evil will grow and Ken might be able to resurrect
Devimon! And this time he would be under the control of the one that brought
him back to life."
"With united forces, Ken and Devimon would be unbeatable!", Mimi cried.
"We must stop him immediately!"
Hikari nodded. "I think we can not sit here idly and let him conquer the
DigiWorld. We owe that our friends and even Sora wouldn't want us to watch his
evil doing."
"Then we must go to the Warding Stone.", Yamato said with grim determination.
"No!", Mimi grasped. "Not the Warding Stone. We just can't do
this!"
TK again started to weep.
"What are you talking about? What is that Warding Stone?", Daisuke
asked. None of the younger Digidestinied seemed to understand, and they shrugged
to each other.
Yamato looked around. "That is a secret we older ones kept for ourselves,
because of the great dangers connected with it. On the farthest edges of the
DigiWorld is a sacred grove. This grove is a sanctuary of light and virtue,
that can never be stained by evil. Within it stands a great white obelisk, which
is indestructible. This is the Warding Stone. It is the embodiment of good,
and serves as a last resort against evil. Should any Digidestinied ever betray
their friends, the Warding Stone can be used to counter him."
Iori was uncertain if he liked the idea. Fearful of the answer he held Daisuke's
hand. "And in which way that Stone works?"
Now it was Tai who answered, and they had never seen him so sincere and determined.
His dark eyes burned like a fire of revenge. "If six Digidestinied come
to the Warding stone and activate their Digivices, they can send a ray of light
with destructive power towards their former companion. It will emerge from the
betrayers Digivice, and… and stop him."
"Stop him?", Miyako asked shuddering.
Koushiro gazed out of the window, the face filled with sorrow and regret. "He
will most likely disintegrate. The damage depends on the level how far he has
given himself to evil. If he is completely evil, he will be destroyed."
"Are we talking of his death?", Hikari questioned with wide eyes.
She just couldn't believe it!
Tai sneered. "Anyone who is completely evil will be no more. He will not
die, he will be wiped out - even his soul will be no more."
"But you can not do this!", TK interrupted. "You have no right
to do it!" Takeru wept and cried, hammering against Yamato's breast. "You
can not allow that! You can't!"
Yamato grabbed his brothers arms. "But he has hurt you, too! And there
is no other way. We can't attack him directly, as he is keeping Sora as a hostage."
Crying, TK ran away. Iori followed him to prevent Takeru doing something wrong.
"And who will go to the Stone?", Jyou asked. He had little will to
do this, but there seemed to be no other way.
"Yamato and I are the seniors, so we shall lead the group.", Tai decided.
"Koushiro knows much about Ken's plan, so he should come with us, too."
"I want to be with you, too!", Daisuke demanded. "One of the
younger must be with you! It is our revenge more than yours!"
None disagreed, as no one was to eager to do this 'dirty work'.
"Then we can't stop Iori following us.", Yamato remarked. "And
perhaps Miyako wants to come, too?"
Miyako nodded in silence.
"No!", TK had appeared, followed by Iori. "If anyone is going
to do this, I will come with you, not Miyako! It is my task to do this!",
Takeru fiercely explained. TK wore a grim face, and no one was able to disagree.
At least TK had the most reason to stop Ken, Yamato thought.
*************************************
"You see, they have entered the DigiWorld.", Sora said. With empty
eyes she gazed at the great black mirror that hung in the fortress. The black
mirror had the ability to show any distant place within the DigiWorld someone
wanted to see.
"Yes, and they will right walk into the trap!", Ken snapped. "But
who knows? The Digidestinied are full of surprises. Perhaps they have an idea,
you wouldn't think of."
Sora smirked. "Wishful thinking? That is beyond me, now."
"And soon Devimon will rise from the ocean.", Ken added. "And
not even the Digimon can stop him, this time."
"You never will see that happen, Ken!", Sora shouted angry. "You
never will!"
Ken gazed at her, and their eyes where focused on each other for a while, both
with unreadable expressions. Then it was Ken who looked away at first.
"You haven't understood anything, Sora! You know nothing!", he barked
at her.
Sora suspiciously spied at Ken. "Well, then tell me!"
"You would never understand.", he answered, and a sad expression rushed
over his face.
********************************
Tai, Yamato, Koushiro, Daisuke, Iori and TK were wandering through the little
forest that was hiding the sacred grove.
Daisuke and Iori were walking a bit behind the others.
"Say, love, do you really think, this is a good idea?", Daisuke pondered.
He had a very sad expression, and none of the boys had said much during their
march towards the sacred grove. They had met several evil Digimon, and their
own Digimon had to fight some hard battles. Battered and weakened they finally
arrived at the grove. There were trees they had never seen on earth, with white
bark and shimmering blue leaves. There was an atmosphere of light and sacredness
all around, and no evil creature, no matter how powerful wound ever be able
to endure the presence of the pure goodness this trees were emerging.
Iori wore a sad expression. "I don't like it, too. I always think that
we have overlooked something. Just a small detail, perhaps we didn't consider.
It went too easy."
"Easy?!", Daisuke shouted, and held his breath to prevent the others
hearing him. "Easy, you say? Our Digimon had to fight to their utmost to
succeed."
Iori nodded. "Yes, but we did win. It seems obvious that Ken knows, we
can only beat him by activating the Warding Stone. Otherwise he wouldn't have
sent us so many evil Digimon. But still - if he knows, why didn't he attack
us with all his power? He must know of the Danger he is in!"
Daisuke shrugged, knowing no answer to this question. "Perhaps he underestimated
us once again?"
"Let's hope, that you are right."
After 20 minutes the dense forest opened to a large clearing. Surrounded by
eight small white stones one large obelisk rose right in the centre of the grove.
It was one of the most beautiful things Daisuke, TK and Iori had ever seen;
but for Tai, Yamato and Koushiro it was sad to return to this place.
"These eight stones in the circle stand for the eight basic virtues.",
Koushiro explained.
"Basic virtues?" Daisuke didn't understand what Koushiro meant. "Aren't
there more?"
"No.", Yamato answered. "Not really. There are only eight. All
the others are just derived from these, they emphasise other meanings of a virtue.
And the Warding Stone represents their unification, the embodiment of good."
They gathered around the great, white Obelisk. Each of them wondered how such
a perfect thing could have such a great power of destruction. How could revenge
be something good? Did they really know what they were doing? They would probably
kill another human being!
TK seemed lost in a world of his own. He hadn't said a word since they had entered
the DigiWorld, and he fought a battle of his own. Tai and Yamato seemed most
determined, to bring revenge upon Ken for all he did to Takeru.
They all gathered around the Warding Stone, and each of them grabbed his Digivice.
Tai stepped towards the obelisk and held the Digivice in its direction. "Light
of Courage, shine in the presence of the Warding Stone." A blue flash emerged
from the Digivice and continuously flooded into the obelisk, which responded
with a deep humming.
Then Yamato stepped forward. "Light of Friendship, shine in the presence
of the Warding Stone." Yamato's Digivice reacted in the same way, and the
humming of the stone grew.
In the same fashion Koushiro and Daisuke added their light to the obelisk, who
started to glow in a white light.
Then Iori held up his Digivice, too. "Light of Knowledge, shine in the
presence of the Warding Stone!", and his light was added to that of the
other four boys.
So Takeru was the last to add his power. TK silently stood at his place and
pleadingly looked at Patamon. But Patamon did not know what to do. TK's eyes
were full of sorrow and pain. He remembered the first night, Ken and he had
silently walked through the park. It was a warm summer night, and they had walked
among the stars.
*****************************************
"Takeru Takashi.", Ken looked deeply into the blue eyes of the blond
boy. He hadn't dreamt that this wish ever would come true. He and TK had walked
through the park for an hour, talking about their life, the dreams and hopes,
while holding each others hands.
When they finally reached the lake, they sat down on an old bench, and exchanged
passionate kisses. Now Ken gazed into TK's eyes, holding his lovers head with
both hands, caressing his hair and ears. Ken liked to repeat TK's full name,
as if it would be some wonderful spell. And TK saw only love and trust in the
violet eyes of the former Digimon Emperor. But that evil person was gone, forever
- Takeru had felt this truth deep within his heart.
Then a shadow fell upon Ken's features. He turned away, and TK's was worried
about his friend.
"Ken, what is it? You still feel guilty for what you did?"
"Yes, TK." He had a sad expression. "Takeru, I love you so much,
and never would allow myself to see you hurt."
TK kissed Ken on his cheeks. His fingers ran through the dark hair, as he tried
to cheer Ken up. "Nothing will bring us apart! I promise! I will be with
you throughout all my life - and the world beyond. Wherever you go, I will follow
you!", TK whispered into Ken's ear.
A tear rolled out of Ken's eye.
"Hey!", TK said in shock. "I can't see you weeping!"
But Ken smiled. "It all right, my love. I must weep, because I am so very
happy." He looked into the eyes of TK and grabbed his hands. "I promise,
that I will love you forever. Just never doubt me, Takeru. Always believe, that
I am with you, even if we are apart."
"I promise that I believe in you!", TK breathed, and the boys kissed
again.
***************************************
TK took his Digivice, standing in front of the Obelisk. Memories of many happy
moments with Ken rushed through his mind. He held up the Digivice, and gazed
at it. He knew what to do. He knew what he had to try. There was no other way.
"I promise, I believe in you!", TK whispered to himself.
Then Takeru Takashi held up the Digivice towards Patamon and activated its power.
"Patamon digivolves to: Pegasusmon!" Patamon cried and transformed
himself. Pegasusmon rose before TK and then landed near him.
"What are you doing?", Tai shouted.
"I must leave you.", TK answered. "Wait here for me, and don't
activate the Warding Stone! Give me this chance; me and Ken!"
"No!" Koushiro cried. "Don't go to the fortress! Noooo!"
But it was to late. TK jumped upon Pegasusmon, who rose high into the sky and
was out of sight one moment later.
"Shall we send an Email to get the help of the other Digidestinied?",
Daisuke wondered.
They all exchanged glances, uncertain what to do.
"No." Yamato finally decided. He worried great about his younger brother.
It was too dangerous for TK to go to the fortress alone. But then he had loved
Ken, and that was more important. He knew that TK had to go and try. He clenched
his teeth and fists. "My brother must have the opportunity to see Ken."
He sighed, knowing of the great danger in which TK went. But he knew something
the others didn't. But was is right to tell them?
"There is one thing I must tell you.", Yamato begun. "I just
can not keep it a secret." The other gathered expectantly around him, all
bearing great curiosity of what Yamato would tell them. "I wandered though
the park one week before Tai's birthday to think of a present for him, when
I heard one of our friends cursing and swearing…"
****************************************
"There! Takeru is on his way here! The trap has failed!", Ken shouted.
"No matter. He will be to late!", Sora answered. She rose from her
seat, taking a simple amulet out of hear cloak. She looked at the large necklace.
It was a simple necklace with one black stone hanging on it. Without another
word she put it around her neck and walked towards the small balcony, from which
she was able to see the DigiWorld. All these regions already were conquered
by the twisted Digimon controlled by evil splinters from Devimon, and soon the
arch-evil would rise and come to the fortress. Hopefully all would proceed as
planned, she thought.
Ken couldn't move. He was tightly chained near the dark throne, in the right
place to watch the black mirror and the landscape beyond the balcony. This old
fortress was ideal for plans of conquest, laying high above in some less known
mountain ranges. He had felt his own Digivice grow in heat, as the ceremony
at the Warding Stone had begun. Sora had summoned the image, so Ken could watch
every moment of the ritual, until TK's turn was at hand. But TK hadn't finished
the ritual and commanded Pegasusmon to fly towards the fortress.
Suddenly a sweeping was to be heard, and then Pegasusmon landed on the balcony.
TK jumped from it's back and ran into the throne hall, as fast as his feet could
carry him.
The throne hall was huge, wide and completely covered with black marble. Gigantic
columns stretched into invisible heights. In the centre stood a huge, black
throne. Upon it, covered in black cloth, wearing an amulet with a black stone,
sat Sora. Her amused features had dramatically changed. All signs of reason
and kindness were eradicated from he face, and she gazed at him with deep hatred
and despise. Even her eyes had changed the colour. Now there were of a poisonous
yellow, staring at Takeru.
"So, the younger sibling comes to save his beloved from the clutches of
evil?", she mocked and laughed in a sarcastic way. "Oh!", she
sighed with false pity. "Or have you come to save me from your 'evil friend'?
How chivalrous… muhahahah." Her laughter roared through the empty
halls. "Well, then we shall not let you wait any longer, shouldn't we?"
She snapped her fingers and a large black curtain moved aside. Behind it was
a small cabinet, were Ken stood - chained to a large X-frame.
"TK!", he sighed. "You are here?"
"Ken!", Takeru shouted in astonishment. Then he turned to Sora. "What
does that mean, vile witch! What did you do to him? Are you behind all this?",
TK clutched his fists in burning rage, but he had to hear the answer before
finishing her.
"Tsk, tsk, tsk, Takeru. Do you forget your manners?", Sora sneered
with disgust. "You come before the Digimon Empress, and think to question
her like a prisoner? Who do you think you are?"
TK gaped and stared at Sora. "Empress? In don't understand…"
"Of cause not, you little brat!", she spat at TK. "None of your
bunch of wanna-be heroes ever did!" She pondered a moment. "Well,
in fact I expected to see your brother and have my revenge with Yamato first,
but now that has to wait. But I am certain he will come, now that you are my
hostage as well."
Intense hate and anger burned in TK, and his cheeks went red and hot.
"Hm, feeling the rage I had to feel all these years? Excellent! Then I
have reached one of my primary goals!"
"What the heck are you talking about?", TK shouted.
Sora shook her head, playing false compassion. "Oh, let me enlighten your
limited imagination, then! It was I that gathered the splinters of Devimon,
one of them decorates this wonderful necklace, by which I can control all evil
Digimon to conquer this accursed realm. It was I that send you the Email under
Ken's name, telling you that he had taken me as a hostage. And there was only
the Warding Stone left to help you. You would kill your own friend and companion!
Perhaps guilt and shame would weaken your believe in yourself, and your group
would likely split again. But even if you would attack, none of you would have
a chance against me."
"But… but why on earth are you doing that?", TK cried.
Her face turned dark. "Don't you still realise? I had hoped that Tai would
love me like I once loved him throughout my life! I would have given him everything!
But he threw me away, for another boy! For Yamato! And all others agreed with
that! None had any pity left for me. 'Oh, I always knew!' that old bat Mimi
once told me. Then I promised myself that I would have my revenge against the
Digidestinied, and Yamato would be the first do die! I had hoped he would prevent
you from coming here, as he always protected you. But no! Here you are. But
it doesn't matter. I will have Yamato Ishida. And his death will break Tai's
accursed heart, just as he broke mine.
TK couldn't believe what he was hearing. "You did all this just to have
your revenge?"
Sora's face was like the darkness itself. "It is all you and your friends
have left me."
"It will never make you happy, Sora.", Ken called from his prison.
His face had a sad expression, but a strong will was obviously within him. "Sora,
imagine what will happen once you succeeded. You won't feel better. It will
be only worse. You will have lost all purpose to live. Stop this before it is
to late."
"It is already to late, Ken." Her voice rasped like a grater. "Devimon!
Come forth!"
A dark cloud pure of evil emerged from the ground and gathered before the throne.
Then a large, terrible figure rose from the ground. It was Devimon! Sora had
succeeded in his resurrection.
Devimon's voice was like a sharp knife cutting over glass. "You have called
me, my Mistress!" Devimon bowed before Sora.
Sora waved with her hand towards TK. "Bind him. And get rid of his Digimon."
"Noooo!", Ken shrieked and winced in his chains, trying in vain to
brake free.
Pegasusmon stepped between Devimon and TK, and fiercely gazed into Devimon's
eyes. But Devimon summoned a whirlwind with his hand and threw it at Pegasusmon,
who was blown through the hall and out of the window. Within a few seconds he
was out of sight.
"Pegasusmon!", Takeru cried. The he turned around. "You will
regret this, Sora!"
"Oh no, it is you, that will regret!", Sora spat, and with that Devimon
grabbed TK mercilessly and pulled him towards the prison, where Ken hung in
chains. TK saw, that Ken's Digivice was attached at his shirt, and was obviously
activated, already shining from intense heat.
"There, TK. Watch as your friend dies by my hands! As you are now my hostage,
I have no more need for him!", Sora explained and stepped forward. She
grabbed for something she had kept hidden. It was Ken's whip, he had worn when
he was the Digimon Emperor. "Isn't that in irony? The Digimon Emperor will
die from the hands of the Empress by his own whip!"
Ken looked down at TK, tears welled in his eyes. "Takeru! I never feared
to loose my own life, and I would give it gladly to save you. I have failed,
please forgive me."
Now TK sobbed, too.
Ken forced a smile. "Don't weep, my little one. Your friends will come
and save you, soon. TK, just remember me, and know, that I always love you,
no matter into which world death will bring me. Someday we shall be together
again! I promise you that, TK!"
TK cried as he never had done before. "I promise to be with you again,
Ken! I love you!"
"I love you, too, TK!", Ken answered.
"Enough of that!", Sora shouted and her whip stroke at Ken. The whip
tore his shirt apart, cutting a large and deep wound over his breast. Ken didn't
leave a cry escape his mouth.
Devimon tied TK with a black rope, and stepped near Sora, watching the suffering
of Ken with great pleasure.
"Now Ken, you will die!", Sora told with utmost despise, and once
again the whip cut over Ken's features. His Digivice was torn away and rolled
right through the room towards Sora and Devimon.
"Nooooo!" If there was ever a cry that contained all pain and despair,
love and devotion, it was this cry, coming from the depths of Takeru's torn
heart. He cried with all the love and sorrow his soul felt, preferring the death
at the side of his beloved instead of seeing him die alone.
Then, all of a sudden, TK's Digivice was activated, and a glowing light emerged
from it.
*******************************************
Koushiro looked at his laptop, trying to figure out how far the evil Digimon
had come. Tai and Yamato held each others, and Daisuke and Iori sat rested against
one of the smaller stones, holding each others hands. They had laid their five
Digivices around the Warding Stone, waiting for any signs of TK. They had decided
to wait another hour before calling help from the other Digidestinied.
"Perhaps if we would call all the other Digidestinied, we could help TK?",
Iori asked.
Tai shook his head. "We have discussed that before. We don't want to use
force against Ken, if we don't have to. I know he truly loved TK. Perhaps he
can stop him."
"But what about Sora?", Daisuke asked. "Yamato told us, that
she promised to bring revenge upon us. Perhaps she is behind all this?"
"I don't know…", Koushiro began, as a roaring noise came from
above, growing louder. Suddenly the five Digivices where activated. The boys
jumped towards them, each one grabbed his Digivice, and once again white rays
of light flashed upon the Warding Stone. The humming of the obelisk rose, until
the noise was nearly unbearable. Suddenly a large ray of light came from the
south and hit the Warding stone from above. And then the world seemed to explode.
The whole grove was bathed in a blinding light, and the five boys had to close
their eyes. With a booming thunder the light erupted into the sky and disappeared.
*************************************************
Sora retreated her whip again. Ken hung weak and bleeding in his chains. Her
eyes focussed Ken, when a wicked smile grew upon her features. "I have
enough of this. Devimon, kill him!"
Devimon looked at Sora, and nodded approvingly, obviously pleased to get this
chance. Suddenly they saw that something had begun to glow. It was TK's Digivice.
In the next second a large ray of light erupted from it, as Takeru cried for
his lovers life, and that ray spread out of the window and vanished in the north.
Devimon and Sora gazed behind the ray, as if stunned.
A moment later a slight humming could be heard coming from the ground. Sora
and Devimon looked down. There laid Ken's Digivice, now beginning to glow as
well.
Then Sora understood. "No! This must not be!", she cried in a rage
of fear.
A bright flashing light burst forth from Ken's Digivice, quickly engulfing both
Sora and Devimon. Ken and TK could hear Sora's high pitched voice crying for
help. Then a large explosion erupted.
When TK dared to look again, Devimon was gone. Sora's body laid beside the black
throne. She looked like dead.
Suddenly TK was freed from the rope, and he saw Pegasusmon appearing. He had
free Takeru.
"Quickly!", TK shouted. "Let us free Ken and get out of here!"
Somewhere from the deeper levels of the castle grinding noises began to grow
louder. "Hurry, Pegasusmon!"
Pegasusmon broke Ken's chains, and he fell into TK's arms. "I love you
so much!", he whispered weakly.
"Come on, we must go!", TK helped Ken to get away.
"Wait!", Ken demanded. He looked at Sora. "We can't leave her
here! We must take her with us!"
"What!" Takeru's eyes widened.
"Perhaps she is not dead. We can't leave her dying here, or we wouldn't
be better than she. If she is dead, she should be buried properly. Besides,
we must be certain that the Amulet will be destroyed."
"Okay!", TK answered. "I will take her. You wait here!"
Takeru carried Sora's body and put her over Pagasusmon's back. "The amulet
isn't there. I think it was destroyed with Devimon…" The grinding
noises grew louder. "No time!" TK shouted, grabbed Ken and they both
jumped on Pagasusmon's back, who carried them through the balcony into the sky.
As Ken looked around, he saw the Black Fortress falling apart like an old tooth.
With one loud crash it crumbled down and was no more.
"Let's hope that Devimon is finished this time once and for all.",
Ken sighed as he and TK flew towards the others.
**************************************************
One week after their victory over Sora and Devimon the Digidestinied Tai, Yamato,
Iori, Daisuke, Koushiro, TK and Ken met in the apartment. They had related the
others the events, and their friends had heard with great surprise, that not
Ken but Sora had been behind all this. She had carried her wrath hidden all
these years, and like a cancer the evil within her had swelled.
"And, what now about Sora?", Koushiro asked.
"She is in the hospital.", Ken explained. "They say, that she
lies in a deep coma. It is not certain if she will ever awake again. Her body
wasn't damaged, but her mind may be destroyed."
"And you didn't find the amulet?", Yamato wanted to know. "This
is a pity. We could ascertain, that no one could ever resurrect Devimon."
TK shook his head. He held Ken's hand firmly, and since the last week, he was
seldom seen without Ken, and they always used to walk together hand in hand.
"The detonation was very powerful. There was nothing left of Devimon. No
one would ever find it under the pile of debris."
"What about the evil Digimon?", Tai mentioned.
"They are free, too." Koushiro answered. They all have agreed to restore
the damage they did under Sora's command. As some of them are really powerful,
all will be restored in no time!"
"I still wonder how we couldn't have seen the change in Sora?", Iori
wondered. "She was so nice and gentle, so reasonable and good. And under
her mask a volcano of hatred was growing. I makes me fear what people in general
might hide behind their faces." Iori made a sad expression, and the others
shared this feeling. Sora's betrayal and change had touched them deeply.
"Well, not everyone is hiding dark feelings behind a neutral mask!",
Daisuke cheered. "Just think of us! Didn't we hide love? So we mustn't
expect betrayal everywhere now. That would be the true victory of evil!"
Ken rose one of his eyebrows. "Davis, you always continue to surprise me!
You have finally said something wise!", he mocked Daisuke friendly.
Daisuke blushed and looked down, and all others laughed.
Only Iori smiled proud at his beloved. "Don't listen to them.", he
said to Daisuke. "They are just envious!" Iori kissed Daisuke and
laid his arm around his shoulder.
Ken and TK had begun to exchange kisses, too, and Tai and Yamato looked at the
two other couples with content.
Koushiro looked around a bit nervous.
"Hey, you have your computer!", Tai joked to Koushiro.
Koushiro smirked. "How very funny!"
"Fear leads to anger,
anger leads to hate,
and hate leads to suffering!
Once you start tread the dark path,
Forever will it dominate
Your destiny!"
From: Yoda, Star Wars
… TO BE CONTINUED!
Comment: If you liked this, send me a small note, so I know it is worth the
effort and you still have fun. I have many ideas, yet, and would like to create
a small series to continue this story - if you would want it. Yours, Sarnokh.