Author's Notes
This is in the point of view of one of the Dark Spore children, who also coincidently happened to go to Ken's school. Keep in mind that this is written after the events of 02 (before the epilogue though).
I've been writing quite a few drabbles lately. I need to get back to my multichapter stories.
Enjoy.
Greener Grass
He once envied. Then he became the source of envy. Ironically, he didn't realise the twist till he rejected what made him so. From the POV of a student in Ken's school/Dark Spore child.
Ken I
Rating: T
Genre/s: Hurt/Comfort
From the moment you entered our school, you became its pride and joy. Ken "the genius" Ichijouji, who always scored a perfect grade on everything from academics to sport related victories. From the moment you walked through our doors, you turned yourself into a point of envy.
And you basked in it. You relished it. It was to be expected of course, who wouldn't reap the rewards of intelligence and fame? But one thing you weren't was a friend.
You were polite, certainly. Or rather, as polite as necessary. And in the private doors of this school, it probably wasn't in your best interests to attach yourself to another person...they would just hinder you, correct? But you had no friends, and you had no problem denying that. That alone was the one thing that kept our envy of you at bay. Because for all your cleverness and fame, you were alone.
Mind you, these things only come into light now, now that you've changed your ways, and your work. It was a surprise, but a scornful one for some, when your grades slipped. Because you were no longer the envy of the school, of the city. Now, there could be others in the spotlight.
It was revenge of a sorts, because the envy also made way to bitterness. After all, you had snatched that title of the best from others who had once shared that position, me being one of them, so it was rather satisfactory seeing you below the rungs of the ladder again.
We laughed at the rumours that flew. I mean, come on, alien brainwashing? But it wasn't too far off the mark in the end, was it? Digimon were aliens to us at that time, until we learnt of this other world and interacted with them ourselves.
But there was still your shadow to overcome. And then opportunity knocked on the door. And with that, we realised what we had cast aside for our envy, and what you had for your own as you tried to deter us from your once-path.
You were the epitome of envy for a time, but you only realised what it was when you yourself envied. Because fame and intelligence wasn't everything, as you learnt when you cast aside the genius and became 'Ken'. And you got what you had missed out on, true friends that would stick by you thick or thin.
And you know what, I envied you then. Who wouldn't want to be as smart as you? And I still envy you now, because you've got a partner who's closer to you than your own heart.
We'll never have the chance to know, or prove that, will we? After all, what danger is there in a peaceful world with its eternal guardian?
None, save those of our own making. And that's what you had done, wasn't it? The dark spore, which had turned your own envy and reversed it.
And later mine, and others as well.
For a time...
...who knew envy was so bad a thing? I hadn't, till I felt the steel myself.
And now it still lies, dormant. But that's okay. Because our dreams still exist, and they cannot be matched.
I can still envy you, watching you walk through the halls of Tamachi with more ease than you ever had with Wormmon riding on your shoulder. When Nyokimon is older, perhaps he can as well. Because you still have what I don't.
But it doesn't matter anymore, because the reverse is also true.
The grass is always greener on the other side, as they say.