*Author Note: I know some character might be OOC and that I need more details and what not. I'm trying to get inspired again and have just started rewatching the Digimon series. When I'm looking for inspiration, I often look for hints of romance in the episodes. This fic was inspired from episode 8 from season 2. Please review and be as critical as you like. I'm trying to become a better writer, and your feedback helps. Thanks!*

Davis's Perspective

"I wanted to start getting more exercise, but running for my life wasn't what I had in mind!" He ranted through jagged breaths.

"I'm more worried about our friends right now!" I yelled at him, ignoring his sarcasm as I felt my heart sink heavier in my chest.

"We're coming!" Veemon called ahead, following the direction of the emperor's voice. We struggled against the sands that tried to constrict our ankles, racing through the dust as we made it to the top of another mound. I looked across the terrace, my eyes locking with his figure immediately. He stood on higher ground, a tall dark spire shadowing like a mirage a few feet from his form. The sun beat down on us as I stopped running, facing the emperor and standing as confident as I could muster.

"You're gonna get it!" All he did was cackle in laughter at my weak attempt of a threat.

"I am so scared…" He mocked, as I felt my frustration spread to my fists. Oh, how I had wanted to rid him of that smug expression.

"Let my friends go! What have you done with them?" The question escaped from my lips. Where were they? I wanted to look around, but I refused to move my gaze from the emperor. I was sure there was another trap he was just waiting for me to fall into, and since I was on my own, besides Veemon who stood loyally by my side, I couldn't act on impulse. No one was there to fix my mistakes. If I screwed up, we could all be done for.

"Take a look." The Digimon Emperor spoke. Stupidly, I obliged, and I couldn't will myself to turn back. There were eight figures, dangling from a bridge of sand. They were hoisted by rope, each digidestined next to their respective partners.

"Your friends are at my mercy," He called, "and so it would appear, are you." Somewhere hidden in his stoic voice was a hint of amusement. He was enjoying this… Sick bastard. I stared at my friends. I couldn't move. The fall was too high to be safe. I felt so useless, like there was nothing I could do. At that moment, his words haunted me. My friends were at his mercy, thus so was I. This was true.

"Davis", of course Kari was the first to speak. "Save yourself!" She told me.

Next was TK. "Run! You can still escape!" But could I?

Then Cody. "Don't take your eyes of the emperor!" He always was one to strategize.

Yolei. "What are you waiting for? Save me!" She cried. I flinched.

"Don't worry! I'll think of something!" I assured them, instinctively charging towards them a mere couple steps before he began to taunt me once again.

"Think fast." He slithered. "Your timing is running short…" My jaw dropped as he finished. "Time's up."

"Oh no." It wanted it to come out as a whisper, but I think everyone was able to hear. My insecurity only got greater as I heard the emperor's smirk.

"Awaken, Deltamon!" He ordered. Instantly, the ground began to shake, clumps of stone and dirt flying up from the ground that was concealing the digimon.

"Maybe it's a ducky or a bunny." Veemon shrugged, always trying to cheer me up. He didn't make any more comments after that, though… not when Deltamon finally barged through the rock. He looked like a dragon. He had a large mouth with scales of blue, white around his stomach and nose. He had a metal head for one hand, and skull for the other. Wrapped tightly around his waist was the dark ring.

"What luck you all stopped by?" He was such a sadist. "See, it's Deltamon's dinner time, and I think eating all of you will make a well balanced meal." He said over my friends' screams of terror. Then he turned to me, "Don't you?"

"I'll never let you get away with this!" I called to him. I don't know who I was trying to kid. I was shaking so much with fear. He easily shot me down again.

"It appears you have no choice. If you want me to show mercy, you must beg for it." I was taken aback by his change in tactics.

"You heard me pathetic loser," He continued, "on your knees and beg. 'Please master, spare my friends'."

I don't know why a simple request seemed so hard to fulfill. Was it because I didn't want to bow down to the emperor, or was it because I was in a state of shock? There was so much at stake, yet I was hesitating. I felt my knees give out, and I landed on the ground with a thud. With a deep breath, I succumbed.

"Don't Davis." Veemon pleaded, but I didn't listen.

"Please master, spare my friends." I looked up into his eyes, my confidence returning from my position of defeat.

"Please master, spare my worthless friends," he added. I glared at him before catching myself, throwing my head down towards the ground as I lowered my head yet again.

"Please master, spare my worthless friends." I repeated, mimicking his monotone without realizing.

"That's excellent!" I could hear his smile. "Now Veemon," Oh no… "Restrain him, I command you!" He ordered.

"Never!" Veemon argued, trying to quiet his growls. I smiled against the ground. Veemon was such a strong spirit. He was so defiant. Whatever happens now, he'd surely survive.

"It's okay Veemon. Do what he says." I reassured him.

"Davis?" He questioned me once more.

"Do it for the others." I ushered. "If it will save our friends, obey the emperor." The last thing I heard was his whimpering, before I felt his paw softly rest on my head. I thought it was the end, but then it was over. The pressure from Veemon's foot disappeared, and I snapped my head up to see the emperor throw his back in laughter.

"To see you squirm is so delicious." He licked his lips. What a creep. "You're so entertaining. Maybe I should take pity on you." He stated.

"Yeah?" My mouth hung open again. I couldn't believe what I was hearing.

"As you can see, Deltamon only has three mouths, but there are four children." I bit my lip. I knew where this was going. "Therefore," I held my breath, "You may have one." He offered. "Sadly I cannot spare them all. Choose which one will be spared!" His mediocre smile was back, all traces of empathy gone.

"I have to choose? I can't do it! How do I choose one over the other?" I asked, mostly to Veemon. He didn't seem any more positive than I was. Sweat was dripping down his face, his blue ears fallen and the yellow 'V' above his eyes scrunched into a disfigured shape. His rusty brown eyes were magnified as he held the same open mouth expression as I did. I should have been expecting yet another catch. The Digimon Emperor held up an hourglass, containing the sand like which we were kneeled on.

"This must be done delicately." He informed me. "…delicately. You have until the sands run out to choose… and it isn't long, pretty boy." I could hear my teeth chitter against one another, sweat running down the side of my cheek as if I had a fever. I couldn't help but wonder why he was doing this.

"Don't worry about me, save one of the others" Kari yelled. She was good at hiding it, but Gatomon who was tied next to her looked miserable.

"Get out of here, Davis. Go ahead, save yourself." I knew I didn't have time to dwell on it right now, but why would TK care if I made it out alive. He kept pressuring me into running. TK never ran from a fight, and he knows that I haven't either. Why would he pressure me now, when I already feel the weight of so many lives on my shoulders?

"Oh, sure. Make me look bad!" Yolei's drama brought me back to reality. "Fine then, don't save me." She's so absent-minded, just like my sister.

"Whatever you decide to do, Davis, we trust you, so think of something!" Cody pleaded. I made a mental note to not pick on Cody any more. So, he may be small, but he's definitely the wisest of the group. I looked at Cody as I struggled to find the words.

"I just don't know what to do." I admitted. "The sands are running out. How am I supposed to choose only one of my friends, and sacrifice all the rest?"

"Like the sands in the hourglass, so are your friends' lives."

"I just… I… I can't do it!" I felt a tear itch the corner of my eye.

"Will you throw all their lives away? Is that what you call friendship?" He asked me, holding the hourglass a little higher in the sky. At this point, I honestly didn't know what I would call friendship. I wish I could just run away from this scenario altogether, but the consequence would be too grave.

"They're all my friends!" I looked at each one of them. Kari and Gotomon, TK and Patamon, Cody and Armadillomon, and Yolei and Hawkmon. They all looked so fragile. This was my fault. I couldn't control myself as I screamed. It was too overwhelming for me. A day ago I thought I could handle anything, but obviously I didn't take this into account. The Digimon Emperor didn't show me any mercy. Not really.

"And now digidestined, time's up. It's time to say goodbye." Their screams mixed with the humidity in the air as three large mouths lined themselves up down the buffet line.

"Wait!" When I saw the teeth, something took over me. I don't know if it was bravery or stupidity. "Take me instead of the others!" I begged. His smile faded into a smirk. This is what he had wanted all along.

"You think you can satisfy his hunger? Alright then, Deltamon!"

"Look out, Davis!" I heard TK yell.

"Davis, if you've been holding back and planning a surprise attack, now would be a good time to yell surprise." Veemon shook. What did I get him into? I was paralyzed. I couldn't move. First I thought it was because of fear, but then I realized it was because I knew it was what I needed to do to save my friends. If I ran, they'd die. Deltamon took another heavy step towards me, his foot cutting further into the sand than of his other footsteps. He lost his balance a bit, sand and dust kicked up into still tornado, and I was blinded, my vision a full beige as I heard a voice in the distance.

"Surprise. It's not even my birthday!"

"It's Digmon!" I cheered to Veemon who was still struggling to see.

"INCOMING!" I heard them yell. Above us came Pegasusmon, Nefertimon and Halsemon, splitting clouds of dust apart as they flew. Then I relaxed as my confusion faded, hearing TK's voice as he approached. All the others were winded and out of breath, but his voice was strong.

"It's an illusion! We're alright!"