Disclaimer: Digimon belongs to Toei and Bandai. Since I'm not involved with them, no Digimon ownership for me…
The First Dream
Every child, no matter their capabilities, maturity, or intelligence, has had dreams.
Dreams so horrible they linger long after, reminding the child of their innermost terror.
Ichijouji Ken, renowned boy genius, was no exception.
But his were worse.
They would be even if he was a normal Chosen Child. For all the joys it brought them, including friends of absolute loyalty and trust, each of the Chosen Children had faced horrors beyond what any normal child was expected to face.
But Ken's were worse.
Beacause he had been one of those horrors.
And almost every night, he would dream…
Dream of indescribable cruelty to Digimon…
Dream of whispers from the darkness, laughing at him, mocking him…
Dream of his friend scattering into dust as he held him in his arms and tried to apologize—but it was too late…
But those were not the worst dreams.
He knew what the worst dreams were…
He covers his face against the blinding, unforgiving sand, as he walks forward. He knows where he is.
The place where he murdered his best friend. His only friend.
But it was calm then—as though mocking the tempest that raged inside of the boy. Now—now it reflects his heart.
A soft chuckle draws his attention. He turns his head, and his eyes widen in horror.
A prison cell block.
Walking forward, willing his wobbly legs to move, he heads towards the cell.
And he glares at the creature trapped inside.
His same height. His same hair, though fair more extravagant.
A blue cape—to declare the creature's greatness.
Purple-rimmed sunglasses that hide the eyes—the eyes that burn with a cold, wicked flame.
A mouth set in an arrogant smirk, not betraying an ounce of the madness that burns within the creature.
"Well, well…Ken-chan," the creature hisses. "It has been a while."
But the creature's voice—its voice is the worst.
His voice—and yet, not his voice. It is a voice that carries unbridled wickedness wrapped in a cold, calm package.
A voice no human could use.
But Ken knows the creature is not human. He knows the creature all too well.
The Digimon Kaiser.
The Digital World's worst nightmare.
And now…his as well.
"You hardly visit anymore Ken-chan," it continues in a damnably friendly tone. "One would think you don't like me anymore."
He glares at the creature—he will not show his fear. He will not show the pleading, desperate desire to silence the creature. "I'm surprised it took the personification of perfection that long to figure it out," he says, coldly.
The Kaiser merely chuckles. "My, my, such a harsh tone, Ken-chan. I would have thought you'd be grateful for my—guidance. But I guess not, since you've started socializing with everyone—how is life among the maggot class?"
"Better than life with you!" snaps Ken. "Better a maggot than a twisted despot!"
"Is that so, Ken-chan?" The Kaiser steps forward, until only the bars separate them, his smirk grown into a mad grin. "I think you're lying Ken-chan. Mama wouldn't like that, would she?"
"Lying?! You think I want to be you again?!"
"Yes, I think so. Somewhere deep inside, you miss the power we had, don't you? That power…the power to do with all life as we pleased. Because we are perfection." The demon's grin stretches even further. "Remember those Elecmon and Gotsumon we made fight? It was fun, wasn't it…seeing the lower life-forms battling for our amusement?"
"Shut up…"
"Remember those pathetic Gizamon that were too weak to survive our work? And that foolish Gomamon that tried to stand up to us…heh, heh. We certainly taught him a lesson, didn't we?"
"Shut up!"
"Ah, and how could I forget little Agumon? He certainly felt our power, didn't he? Until he escaped…we still owe that pathetic excuse of a partner some whippings for that."
"SHUT UP!!!"
"And those so-called Chosen Children—remember how they feared us? How they trembled at our might, our cruelty, our POWER!"
"Shut up…shut up…" It's of no use. The creature's voice forces memories into the boy's mind.
Memories of horrendous cruelty…of inhuman abuse…of disgust and hatred stemming from all eyes upon him.
"Go away…" Tears begin pouring out of his eyes, and he slumps to the ground. "Go away…why won't you go away?"
The Kaiser has no pity for him and laughs. "You're pathetic! You wanted greatness—greatness like Osamu didn't you? And now you reject that greatness! You sit there and cry over your great deeds and hope to bury them in your new life among the insects." Suddenly, to Ken, the Kaiser seems to grow, to tower over him. "Well, you won't burry me. Soon…I will return and reclaim my destiny."
"You…you can't. You're gone…you can't come back."
"Ah, but I can Ken-chan. Perhaps not today—but it's only a matter of time. With only a pathetic insect like you standing in my way, my return is guaranteed." Suddenly, the demon grabs him by the collar. "You had your chance to be part of perfection Ken-chan—and you spurned it. When I take control, I'll make you watch as I bring the suffering your pathetic friends so rightly deserve!"
"No—get away! Get away from me!"
Laughter. Wicked, merciless laughter.
"GET AWAY!"
"GET AWAY!"
Ken leapt up in bed, sweat pouring down his head, his heart pumping as if he'd run a marathon. With wild eyes, he looked for any signs of the demon.
And he heard something.
"Ken-chan…"
"NO! Keep away from me you demon!" Madly, without reason or thought he swung his arms towards the sound.
And a small shape went flying off his bed.
"K-Ken-chan?" Ken's heart stopped, his blind panic broken. It was not the Kaiser's voice…
"Wormmon…oh God, no! Wormmon!" Dashing down the bed, he leapt towards the small form in the darkness and scooped it up in his arms. "Wormmon, Wormmon---are you alright? I'm sorry, I'm so sorry…"
"I-I'm alright Ken-chan," the small gentle voice replied. "J-just a little surprised, that's all."
"Are you alright?" Ken demanded, looking over the Baby Digimon for any sign of major injury. After all he'd done to Wormmon, the boy couldn't stand the thought of leaving even one mark on his body.
"Ken-chan, I'm fine," replied Wormmon, his voice a little firmer. He then stared at his partner. "More importantly…are you alright, Ken-chan?"
Ken met his gaze—and, as had become unfortunately too easy for him, plastered a smile on his face. "It's nothing Wormmon—just a bad dream."
The cocoon Digimon didn't drop his gaze. "Ken-chan, I've seen you have bad dreams before. They make you sad, but they never make you scared. Are you sure you're alright?"
Ken stared at his friend.
I should tell him…it's the right thing to do. It'd make things easier…
"Really, it's nothing Wormmon—just a dream. Dreams can't hurt you."
His partner finally dropped his stare, making Ken breathe an inward sigh of relief. "Alright Ken-chan…but tell me if there's anything wrong, alright? I don't want you to suffer alone."
"Right—I promise."
As the two climbed upward towards bed and sleep, Ken's heart weighed heavy with the lie he had told his friend.
But then he remembered the Kaiser's words.
"…we still owe that pathetic excuse of a partner some whippings for that."
Wormmon had suffered more than anyone else at the Kaiser's cruel hand. And Ken would not let even the memory of the demon haunt his friend.
That's right Kaiser…torture me all you want. I'll take it all…and I won't let him suffer anymore.
As he went to sleep, Ken almost thought he heard a wicked laugh, as though in challenge…
This is not the end of the story, I promise.
For those who care about such things, Wormmon is Minnomon in this story, but from what I've seen of the Japanese version, Ken always calls him Wormmon.
Anyway, my purpose in writing this story is twofold. First, I wanted to make a friendship story with Ken and Wormmon, who have probably the sweetest relationship of any of the new characters. It's such a good opportunity for a story—and there's something wrong when those stories are less than the slash fics involving Ken…
I also wanted to have Ken confront the Kaiser, which I think would be a cool psychological moment. There are some good fics involving this idea (Reflections and I_Lucidity to name my favorites) but sadly, not enough.
Anyway, I'll have more chapters up soon, so read and review please!