Prologue
Highton View Terrace – 1995
The sound of a whistle echoed through the streets and buildings amidst the silent interval of the battle, setting in motion the fates of the chosen. Powers of Light, Courage, Love, Friendship, Sincerity, Knowledge, Reliability and Hope discovered their bearers amongst the destruction caused by monsters. A protector and a destroyer. Performer of the decisive gesture the young child with brown wild hair looked around the rubble, breathing for what seemed the first time in his life. His heart beating with a new feeling, one which he and seven other children would often visit in the times to come.
Taichi Kamiya, Sora Takenouchi, Matt Ishida, Koushiro Izumi, Mimi Tachikawa, Joe Kido, Takeru Takaishi and Hikari Kamiya were then the Digidestined.
Real World - March of 2003
Stand together! Don't lose hope!
Those were the words she said to them when the fight against Armaggedemon was at its darkest hour. Taichi Kamiya took those words to heart.
"They seem to be having fun, don't they?" Sora said, sitting next to him.
It was the first time that the new chosen came here. They were meeting in the old trolley car that brought the old digidestined back after their first adventure, and Tai was happy. They all seemed happy with their digimon around and old stories to be told. He understood perfectly, being one step close to the end makes everything suddenly worth it. He had felt like that when they fought Malomyotsmon, and now he felt it again.
He watched as Davis and Veemon played in the field while Matt played his old harmonica. Ken, Wormmon, Cody and Armaddillomon played with them while TK, Kari, Gatomon and Patamon seemed happy just to stand close to each other. Yolei watched Ken. Izzy and Tentomon sat in the shade while Mimi laughed at an upset Joe whom wanted her to come down from the top of the trolley car, or at least to stop dancing around at such a dangerous height. Mimi wasn't giving heed to him, laughing with Palmon. Gomamon seemed more interested in the food and Sora suddenly laughed.
"Do you think Joe still likes Mimi?" She asked lightly.
"I can't tell" Tai said sarcastically, a little grin on his face. "He seemed to like that girl he stole the bicycle from."
"I still find that funny" Sora smiled. "Old reliable stealing a bicycle."
"Well he gave it back" Tai loved to watch her smile, it matched perfectly with her face and always made her eyes shine, like some kind fire he was drawn to that made him feel strong. "I should thank you"
"For what?"
"For what you said before" Tai looked at Agumon. "When I saw Omnimon's eyes fading, I really thought it was over"
"It's okay Tai!" The digimon said.
"No, it's not Agumon" Tai looked ahead hearing the celebration all around him. Matt's tune made him feel a little sad. "I'm supposed to be the leader, but all I could do was stand there feeling sorry for myself, so thank you"
Sora suddenly giggled making him look at her.
"You don't have to thank me Tai." Sora told him "Agumon is right too. It's okay to need help you know, remember the digital world? You always took care of us then, it's kind of nice to know that we can do the same for you"
"That was a close one though" He argued. "It makes me think of how many miracles we still have left"
"Are you saying that we only win because of miracles?"
"Well, that time against Myotsmon, the prophecy said miracle" Agumon said rubbing his chin.
"It's true Sora" Biyomon argued.
"Do you think so Tai?" She asked, gazing into his eyes for confirmation.
"That's right" Tai nodded. "Whenever we are about to lose, something comes around to help us, some prophecy or something. I'm not complaining, but what about next time?"
"Are you really worried about it?" Tai stopped. He didn't like to admit when he was afraid. Hell, he had been afraid to tell her how he felt about her and look where that got him. Slowly he nodded.
"Don't worry Tai, we don't beat these monsters because of miracles. We beat them because we stand together" She placed a hand on his shoulder, causing a warm feeling to grow in his chest. He smiled.
"You're right"
"I'm always right, when will you learn that?" She stuck her tongue out at him and he did the same. They both laughed until Matt called Sora down.
She jumped with all the athletic ability of a soccer and tennis player, and Tai watched her walk to Matt. The two joined hands and she started laughing at something he said as Gabumon and Biyomon followed them. Her auburn joyful eyes stayed in his memory a little longer, forming a lump in his throat.
"Are you okay Tai?"
"I am Agumon" He answered calmly, feeling an old sadness returning. Matt and Sora were hugging each other, smiles on their faces. He had let that sadness overcome him before. Next time he would be better, Tai promised to himself.
"Everyone hurry!" Izzy shouted suddenly, his laptop wide open "We have a problem!"
Digital World - Later...
Tai blinked as he turned his attention to the current conversation. Izzy had made an important question.
"Yes, now we know that it was thanks to the Dark World that Diaboromon came back. No doubt he hoped to get you out of the way before the fight." Young Gennai said rubbing his chin; Tai still found weird to look at him like that.
"Well, now that we have Imperialdramon Paladin Mode we can end them quickly enough, right?" Davis declared with a closed fist and a wide grin.
Unconsciously Tai could hear the sighs that filled the small house. It had been one day since the fighting with Armaggedemon, and Gennai had contacted Izzy about problems in the Digital World. Now the twelve were gathered in the old house below the lake and they finally had some answers about Diaboromon too.
"It's not that simple Davis" Izzy began to explain. "Ominimon and Imperialdramon Paladin Mode cannot help us in the Digital World".
"How come?"
Gennai took a step forward.
"The only reason your Digimon could digivolve that way was because of the power that you had accomplished through a computer network. Ominimon had been born out of the hopes from all over the world, and Imperialdramon Paladin Mode need Ominimon to be formed. It will not happen in the Digital World. In addition, MetalGarurumon is out of the arsenal too".
"But Gennai". Tai turned to face his friend. Matt had an arm around Sora, both of them rested against the wall. "Can't Azulongmon give a little of his energy, just like he gave Agumon? Even if we can't form Ominimon, two megas would be for the better"
"If I were Metalgarurumon the Dark Ocean wouldn't stand a chance" Gabumon supported his partner.
"I am sorry, but it won't happen" Gennai flinched at the wave of protest that followed, before raising a hand, asking for silence.
"Why not Gennai?" Sora asked then, suddenly worried.
"The four sovereign are currently facing Dagomon, sending their energies to keep both worlds separated. I fear that giving even a little of his power is impossible right now. With that in mind, the power you already have may well be exhausted if you use it too much".
"How is that?" Matt asked. Tai frowned, thinking.
"It makes sense" Izzy had his arms crossed, he looked at Tentomon. "Think everyone. Azulongmon's power was given to us for an emergency situation, I doubt it was ever meant to be permanent".
"Izzy is right, as usual". Gennai looked at everyone in the room. "You have to be careful then. Before today, Azulongmon could use his connection to the digicores to keep the energy flowing to you, but now, he won't be able to do that, risking losing his defenses against Dagomon... I am afraid you must fend with what you got"
"So then we will be the front line" Ken had a thoughtful expression as he spoke. "Our Digimon can reach the stage of ultimate by DNA digivolution, but we must keep Imperialdramon out of the fight as an ace."
"Exactly... The same goes for Tai and Agumon, of course".
Everyone looked at them. Tai gave them his old fake grin and looked at his partner. The small orange dinosaur smiled.
"What do you think Agumon, is it okay to stay put?"
"Don't worry Tai, when we have need of Wargreymon, I will be ready."
Tai sighed. Imperialdramon and Wargreymon would have to suffice if the fight turned bitter, but they would have limited time to fight.
"The Dark World's invasion will start at the Firewall, which won't last much longer. The digidestined from around the world and every digimon we could contact are already there, waiting for you twelve to lead them. Good luck Digidestined". Gennai waited until everyone got up. "Tai could you wait a moment?"
Tai nodded, still leaning against the wall.
As he watched them leaving the house, Tai smiled at his friends. Joe looked nervous while Davis was excited about the battle. Mimi seemed determined. Yolei was nervously playing with her digivice. Cody didn't' show any reaction, just that fiery gaze he had. Izzy smiled at him and Tai smiled back, the red haired boy quickly resumed to typing in his computer. Ken just seemed calm.
When Kari approached, she hugged him and they assured each other that everything would be fine. TK came over and hesitated for a moment before taking Kari's hand,
"You take care of her." Tai warned. TK nodded and they disappeared up the stairs.
Finally, he saw Sora and Matt, both with determined looks on their faces. Tai grinned at them, shaking Matt's hand and then getting a hug from Sora. Tai felt that lump on his throat again as he let her go, but none of them seemed to notice his expression. The leader watched them seeking each other's hands as they climbed, sighing sadly.
Alone, Tai faced the young Gennai, raising an eyebrow, his eyes getting darker as he listened.
Digital World - Battle at the Firewall.
Sora Takenouchi had tears in her eyes as she watched her best friend kneeling, closing his hands around a pair of goggles resting on the ground, the lenses still exhaling smoke.
She wanted him to do something, but Tai wasn't letting Agumon fight. Why? She didn't know.
Matt had failed to convince him, and all that her best friend had to say was to trust him. Well she did, in truth Sora trusted Tai with her life more than anyone else, but yet she couldn't let go of her fear that he might be lost somehow.
"I'm not losing hope Sor" He had told her when she questioned him. His grin flashing, but a lie. He would use those fake grins a lot lately. Still his eyes had shined and that made her believe him… Until now…
Tai quickly looked for two children of some other country and pointed to Davis lying unconscious on the ground still hugging a weakened Demiveemon. Ken immediately helped the two boys, Minomon secured inside his jacket, and together they took Davis to the portal, disappearing in a flash of light.
Other children ran too, embracing their unconscious and weakened companions. She hoped Joe could help them all on the other side. The last Sora heard, Joe was tending to wounded Digimon not far from the battlefield, but if he received the order, surely he would be back home by now.
"You need to get out of here now! Go! GO!" Yolei was shouting in a megaphone for the children in disarray. Cody stood faithfully by her side, while Aquilamon and Ankylomon gave what protection they could. "Be sure to open the portal to your homes! Don't leave your friends behind!" She kept shouting.
Children, that was their army, children and their champion digimon and now Sora felt her heart throbbing watching so much despair. She knew they were Digidestined, but she felt the pain all the same.
Dagomon's army had too many ultimate digimon to deal with, so the call had come. They were retreating back to the real world.
"Damn it! I feel so useless!" She heard the boy who had his arms around her shout. Matt had his face contorted in a grimace of anger.
WereGarurumon was exhausted from fighting, but he and Megakabuterimon were the last ultimate digimons standing. Sora looked at the little plant like digimon in her arms, holding her tears. Garudamon had fought against a horde of Devidramon who were hunting the DigiDestined on the battlefield, but that action had taken its toll.
"Sora we need to get out of here". The boy spoke suddenly.
"NO! Matt, they need help!"
"Look at the Yokomon!" The boy with blue eyes shouted, making Sora grit her teeth.
Suddenly a buzz was heard in the distance and, soon after, a giant crimson beetle landed in front of them. Izzy quickly fell from Megakabuterimon, followed by an exhausted Leomon and a lot of children with unconscious Digimon, she recognized Michael and Mimi amongst them. Megakabuterimon immediately flashed and shrunk, leaving a panting Motimon in his place.
"I endured the most that I could Izzy."
"It's okay Motimon." He took the little Digimon in his arms.
"Sora!" The bearer of Sincerity called to her, Palmon limping by her side. "Is Yokomon okay?"
She nodded without paying attention; her focus was all on Izzy and Tai.
"These were the last children out there, but the other digimon won't last much longer. Kari and TK can't hold Daemon either! We have to go Tai!"
He barely paid heed to what Izzy said. The goggles in his hands had his full attention. Ken and Davis had tried to turn Daemon away from the battle, but Imperialdramon alone had been defeated. Davis alone had taken a hit to protect his digimon. Now it was up to TK and Kari, having both their angel digimon advantage against the demon.
Kari was his sister. Davis was his protégé. And yet, Tai hesitated. Gennai's words were strong in his mind... He knew what he had to do and still he couldn't find the Courage.
Agumon tugged at his coat bringing him back to reality. Tai looked down at his digimon, pure trust and confidence in those green eyes.
"Tai!" He said. "Make me digivolve!"
"Agumon." The little dinosaur had been with him when Gennai told them of the plan B and his partner hadn't hesitate.
Tai looked at his friends, Yolei and Cody already helped a few wounded through the portal. Izzy seemed helpless while Matt and Sora held each other. His eyes stopped at Sora, he had failed some many times. He failed Kari when he was too much younger. He failed Sora in Datamon's Pyramid and again in Matt's concert. He failed against Armaggedemon and now... Now he had a duty, not just to the world he held dear, but to the people he Loved...
His hand clenched around his old goggles. His sister was fighting. His friends were exhausted.
He pulled his Digivice, pointing to his partner who soon disappeared amongst a golden orange light.
Agumon warp-digivolve to... Wargreymon!
The warrior of Courage stood beside him. They exchanged a brief look of understanding and the Digimon took flight towards Daemon, to where fire and light attacks could be seem against the dark sky. Tai Kamiya just hoped Kari would be okay, and that she and the rest could forgive him. The image of Sora and Matt embracing each other came back to him...
Sora watched the dragon warrior disappear into the night and then a glowing energy ball flying to the middle of the battle. Suddenly, Tai's voice was heard over the battlefield. Sora realized he was gripping his goggles more tightly.
"Call TK and Kari back Izzy! We can't stay here!" The red-haired boy quickly took his D-terminal and began typing the message. "Leomon! Send the rest of the digimon away, there will be no victory today!"
Sora looked at the beast digimon who seemed about to protest, but then nodded and ran to the battlefield where some digimon, now without the help of the DigiDestined, were still struggling desperately against the corrupted ones from the Dark World.
"They're coming Tai!" Izzy warned. Sora stood with Matt and looked at Mimi.
"Can you take Yokomon Mimi?" The girl seemed about to argue, but then extended her arms.
"Of course Sora. Let's go Palmon." As soon as they were gone in the light emitted by the portal, two battered angels appeared in the sky. Kari and TK quickly jumped down from the back of the two.
"What happened?" Kari asked quickly.
"Wargreymon still needs help!" TK shouted, clearly angry for leaving the fight. They all waited for Tai, waiting for him to say something.
"Make MagnaAngemon and Angewomon dedigivolve quickly, there's no need for them to spend the blessing they have left"
The boy with brown hair declared placing the goggles he hadn't don in a whole year upon his forehead. Sora felt a warm feeling in her chest, suddenly it was like being in her fist adventure all over again. But then why did she had a dreadful felling about this?
"Wargreymon will keep Daemon busy, so you guys have to go".
"What?"
"We can fight!" TK argued, but Tai wasn't listening.
"Kari, I need you to stay safe and well. Wargreymon and I will run to the portal as soon as we know everyone is safe, understand?" He said looking at Kari's eyes. Sora couldn't believe it. Tai had a composed face, but she could see he was struggling with himself. No, she thought with fear, she knew that look all too well. Tai had used with her often, but Kari seemed to believe it because she nodded. "Now go and preserve your strength, if any evil digimon cross to our world you two will be our best shot".
"He knows what he's doing TK!" Matt told his little brother. Sora bit her lips, she understood that Matt wanted his brother safe as well.
The two younger nodded briefly while retreating. Kari looked one last time at Tai who was smiling. Asshole! Sora thought angrily.
"You too." He spoke after the two had already left. "Check your e-mail when you get back Izzy."
"Why?"
"Gennai" Izzy nodded slowly.
"Take care Tai, Daemon will not let you get away easily". The bearer of Knowledge spoke cautiously.
"I'll be quick then".
"LIAR!" Sora cried, unable to contain herself any longer. Everyone looked at her suddenly, but her red burning eyes were fixed on Tai.
He never saw his best friend so angry in his life. She seemed to pierce him with that stare of hers.
"I..."
"YOU'RE A LIAR TAICHI KAMIYA!" She screamed in the verge of tears. "I know you! I can tell that you're lying!"
"Terra Force!"
"Infernal Flames!"
The cries were heard in the distance filling the silence. There was a sudden explosion where Wargreymon and Daemon fought, followed by a cold rush of wind, making everyone raise their arms to protect themselves.
"Izzy go!" Tai shouted more like an order than a request now. The red-haired boy seemed to hesitate before running, Motimon still in his arms. "You too!"
"No" Sora protested. "We won't leave you here!"
"We can still help!" Matt said. "Gabumon?"
"I'm sorry Matt, but I don't have energy even to go champion" The digimon said looking at the ground.
She remembered their talk earlier, where was a miracle when she needed one?
"You two have no choice." Tai said turning his back on them.
"Don't say that, I won't let you Tai. We stand together remember!" She screamed at the top of her lungs, hot tears running down her cheeks now, the salty taste lingering in her lips.
"Not this time Sora!" He said without turning. "Wargreymon won't last longer, I beg you to go, please. I have to stay"
Her eyes widened, there was so much pain in his voice and a determination that she only heard once, when he was about to face Piedmon. At that time she had accepted it and had run for help because he said they needed to be together, but he was not telling them to bring help now, he was telling them to run.
You're my best friend Tai!
"I won't leave you!" She finished, never realizing she should have said 'we' until Tai spoke.
"Matt!" Tai's cry echoed drowning out the sounds of the battle. "Do you love Sora?"
Her eyes widened. She had completely forgotten that Matt was still there.
"What kind of question is that Tai?" Matt shouted to his friend. Met only by silence the blond lowered his stare "Of course I do!"
Any other girl would feel something like joy at her boyfriend admitting something like that. But at that moment everything Sora felt was horror at what was happening. Stop Tai... Please...
"Then you'll take it from here! You will protect her! You love her, and you need to protect the ones you love. Otherwise you don't deserve them!" Sora closed her eyes, sobbing. "Do you hear me Matt!? If you don't get Sora out of here, then you don't deserve her!"
She wanted nothing more than to hear Matt shout and scream the nonsense of it, but Sora knew it wasn't nonsense, and she could see that Tai had convinced her boyfriend when he turned and grabbed her arm.
"Don't! Please Tai! Come with us!"
"I can't leave Wargreymon alone" Tai shouted, Matt still was pulling her with the help of Gabumon.
Sora just stared at the back of her best friend, too shocked to resist.
She was almost there, out of the corner of her eye she saw Matt pulling his digivice, Gabumon looking nervous next to him.
"STUPID TAI!" She cried in a burst of anger. "How come?! Why are you doing this! You stupid. No!" She tried to run, but Matt kept her trapped and Gabumon even in rookie level was still strong. "Why!?" She choked the question, defeated.
The boy turned then, looking at her over his shoulder, tears streaming from his eyes and a sad smile on his face. His gaze only made her want to cry more. That was a gaze he had hid from them until now, so full of sadness and something that made her heart break and flutter at the same time.
Brown chocolate eyes met crimson ones trying to convey more than could be said.
"Forgive me Sor" Tai pleaded.
Then there was a sudden burst of light.
Sora saw his back, his face and his tears... That was the last she saw of the boy she had known for all her life.
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