Disclaimer: I don' own Digimon nor any of the associated characters, places, or events. This story as far as I know is in no way a plagiarism of another story. Should some part of the story resemble another piece it was completely unintentional.
Christmas break was around again, but you know what, it just wasn't the same. The whole group had decided to meet up in Japan, even Mimi showed up all the way from America. In the beginning everything felt nice, but of course, something had to go wrong. Since the day was still young the group decided to visit the Digiworld and do some exploration. But their destination of choice made TK feel uneasy.
They had decided to climb up Infinity Mountain after the new generation of Digidestined, apart from TK, wanted to see it.
"Come on, it looks AWESOME!" Davis said. He had been insisting that they climb up the mountain for days now. For the first time everyone dismissed the idea, saying that it was far to dangerous. But one by one, he started convincing them to support his childish wish. Even the older group admitted that it wasn't such a bad idea. TK seemed to be the only one that still didn't want to go.
"You go ahead guys... I'll wait for you at home." His voice sounded depressed and his gaze fell to the ground.
"Come on TK it won't be the same without you!" Sora said. He gave her a weak smile but it disappeared as fast as it came.
"Sorry Sora, I just don't fell like it."
"Is something wrong TK?" Kari asked. "Are you feeling alright?" She put a supporting hand on his shoulder.
"Yes Kari, I'm alright." She lowered her hand from his shoulder and grabbed his hand.
"Come on. I'm... We are here for you. If you don't feel comfortable just say it." She smiled at him. It was the smile that could light up the darkest of his days. So naturally, he agreed.
"KARI! How come you hold hands with TC and not me?" Davis whined. Everyone laughed at him, but it also didn't go unnoticed that their hands were still locked together. Kari started walking towards the mountain, and she was dragging TK along with her. They talked between themselves in the walk, but it was mostly quiet. Only their digimon seemed to be having a blast. They were chasing each other and laughing all around the road. Patamon seemed to notice that something wasn't right with his partner, so he stopped playing and flew towards TK. He hovered above his head, and then he let himself fall.
"Very funny, Patamon." TK laughed with Patamon for a while. He picked him up from his head and started tossing him in the air like he was a small child. But when he saw what was behind Patamon, he froze in place. There, standing high above the clouds, was Infinity Mountain. The place where so many years ago, he was reminded that he was WEAK.
"Are you okay, TK?" When he turned to look at Patamon the memories came flooding back. How he could only look as his best friend gave up his life to save them. To save him. It seems like the others didn't notice that he had stayed behind. Only when Gatomon ran up to Kari and tugged on her shirt she looked back. TK was standing still, with Patamon in his hands. His expression showed shock but he seemed to be lost in his thoughts.
"TK? We don't have to climb the mountain if you don't want to." Her voice snapped him out of his trance. He met her gaze and found that her eyes held pure concern. It broke his heart to be the one to be the cause of all this, but he was truly affected.
"What's the matter TJ? You are not scared are you?" Davis teased.
"Davis!" He turned back to see who had yelled at him. It was Tai. His face was stern and he slowly shook his head.
"What?" Tai was about to reprimand him once again, but TK spoke up.
"It's all right, Tai. He has the right to now... They all do." He had been with them for several years, with Kari even more, but his generation still didn't know about the incident. TK led them to a nearby clearing and sat down. Everyone sat around him and remained quiet, waiting for him to speak.
"A long time ago, on the first visit we had to the Digiworld, we had to face an evil digimon known as Devimon. He was the first truly strong enemy we faced. Our digimon could already reach the champion leve, well most of them could, so we were confident we would beat himo. But, it didn't go so smoothly. One by one he started to take out or digimon, Patamon still couldn't digivolve and Devimon was coming for me. When he was about to attack me my digivice started glowing. Finally, Patamon evolved into Angemon. He protected me from Devimon and started to fight him. But he knew that he alone couldn't win, so he absorbed the energy from the other digimon. He combined it with with his own and released all of it with one final attack. Devimon was defeated but Angemon had used all of his power, and he was gone as well. In his place stood a small digiegg, and all I could do was cry. I wasn't strong enough to help my friend. I just... Just." TK couldn't talk anymore, as the tears started to fall from his eyes and his voice started to break. Kari hugged him and gently rubbed his back. Matt finished the story.
"It was right there in Infinity Mountain. It was in that very place where Angemon gave his life to save him. TK had a really rough time recovering after that, he kept telling himself that he needed to become stronger." Everyone stayed quiet for a really long time, the only sounds were TK's silent sobs and Kari's soothing words. Then Davis stood up, dusted himself off and started to walk away from Infinity Mountain.
"Where are you going?" Said Yolei.
"Home, TK is in no condition to climb the mountain. And you know what we once agreed on." He turned around, and smiled at his friends. "No matter where we are headed, we either go together or we don't go at all." He might be a little reckless and hard headed some times. But he was a much better person than people gave him credit for. Everyone nodded at his remark and got to their feet.
"Why don't we go back and start working on the preparation for our Christmas party?" Yolei asked excited. Most of them agreed with her but some turned down the offer.
"Sorry guys but I have kendo practice today, I also need to finish my english thesis. Next time I'll join you though." Said Cody as he and Armadillomon excited the Digiworld.
"I also have to finish some papers for college. Sorry guys, but i-if you need something. Don't be afraid to ask, as long as you don't call in the middle of the night." Joe said sheepishly as he also left the Digiworld, but this time he took Gomamon along with him. Izzy also left with his own excuse, the rest agreed to help with the preparations.
"Great!" She said, she turned to look at Kari and TK, he was starting to calm down. "Take as much time as you need, we'll be waiting for you at home." One by one they started leaving. When it was Tai's turn he turned to look at TK.
"If you do anything to my sister, you and I will have a nice long chat." He to him with a small grin, before going through the portal with Aguman on tow.
"See you at home teeks." Matt was the last of his friends before only he and Kari remained in the Digiworld.
"Once again, I ruined things for everyone. Why do I have to be so damn weak!" He jumped to his feet and started to pace around in frustration.
"It's not your fault, what you lived through was something no person should ever feel." She tried to calm him down but he distanced himself from her.
"It IS my fault if I had been strong all those years ago, this wouldn't have happened." This time she grabbed his shoulder firmly and turned him around to face her.
"Stop beating yourself over it! You are the strongest person I know. What happened had nothing to do with you being weak. So please stop it. It pains me to see you like that." Kari lowered her face but TK gently grabbed her chin and lifted her face. He stared into her eyes and slowly they both started to close the distance between they were about to kiss a loud buzzing startled them. It was their D-3's . They both laughed awkwardly and read the message.
I am sorry to interrupt children, but there is something you must see.
Please come see me at once. For now it will be only you two.
Gennai.
P.S. You may resume your activities after we are done.
They both blushed when reading the last sentence.
"Well huh. I guess we have to go and see Gennai." TK said.
"Y-yeah, lets go." They started to walk, and when they were out of sight Patamon popped out of a nearby bush.
"They're gone." When he said that Gatomon climbed down a tree.
"Shoot, and they were so close." She said. "Oh well, we might as well go with them. Come on Patamon!" The two digimon started to run to catch up with their partners.
"Sir, it seems that the old man has found out about you." A shadowy looking digimon was kneeling down to a much larger one.
"Nevermind that, we have more important matters to deal with. That they know about my plan will only make it all the much funner. It is time to start."
"Yes, master." The smaller digimon scurried off into the darkness, leaving his master alone.
"Those pesky digidestined. They have been such a nuisance! I have to take them out one by one. Starting with them. Light and Hope... You are mine!"
Guys, I am asking for help. As some of you might have guessed all of the elder digidestined are starting to loose the spirit of their crests. I have something planned for most of them. But I need help with Mimi and Joe. If any of you have ideas I'll be glad to hear them. So please don't leave me hanging.