Hey there everybody! You waited a long time, so its a long one!
Daisuke ran over the plan in his head, elbows brushing Ken's as they sat on the Yagami's couch. He was a little disappointed, though not surprised that they weren't going to burst into the Dark Ocean guns blazing. A much as he wanted to get revenge on their enemy, for messing with Ken, for tricking the older kids, for trying to kill Yamato's little brother… he understood that they would probably be setting themselves up for a disaster. None of them had much of a clue about the Dark Ocean. Not one of them had any idea where the crests were being held or if they were guarded. Not exactly a scenario where they could wing it.
There would be a reconnaissance mission.
Daisuke watched as the others debated who would be going. Takeru had to, of course. He was the only one who would be able to find the crests, and only Holyangemon could get them out again if there was an emergency. Yamato refused to leave his little brother's side. Daisuke found himself wondering if Jun would be so possessive of him if she had once thought him dead. Probably, but he couldn't picture it.
Taichi demanded to go, personally offended that this evil digimon had tricked him into giving up his crest, and targeted his sister as well. Then he subsequently forbade Hikari from coming. Daisuke found himself relieved at that, though Hikari had looked like volunteering to go was the last thing on her mind. She agreed without a fight. Even if she had wanted to go, bringing her to the Dark Ocean now was as good as painting a target on her back. Not that there wasn't already one on Takeru's. Or Ken's.
At Taichi's declaration, Sora immediately said the group needed a voice of reason. The girl was the only one capable of reining in her stubborn friends, so it made sense for her to go and remind them that it was a stealth mission. Get in, find the crests, get out.
"I really feel I should go as well. What if one of you gets hurt?" Jyou said anxiously.
It was blatantly obvious to Daisuke that the young man wanted to go about as much as one wanted a root canal, but he was insistent.
"No one will get hurt, Jyou. There shouldn't be any fighting at all. We are just going to take a quick look around and see if Takeru can locate the crests. If something attacks, we plan on retreating. Don't feel like you need to force yourself," Sora replied, placing a hand on the older boy's shoulder.
Jyou's shoulders slumped gratefully.
"I'll be waiting for you all to return then."
"I would love to go-" Koushiro was cut off by Taichi.
"We're not going to be stopping anywhere long enough for you to take samples or analyze things, you know."
Daisuke tuned them out when he became aware of the tension radiating from his best friend. Ken had his arms snug around Wormmon in his lap, his face pinched with indecision. The expression snarled something in Daisuke's gut. He could understand why his best friend would want to face his fear and go with them. Ken was the only one who had physically been to the Dark Ocean before, but…
Ken sat up straight, his face pale but set.
"I should go too."
The room stilled.
"Ken…" He didn't know how to express how much he did not want Ken to go on this mission. The spikey haired boy did not want his best friend anywhere near the Dark Ocean. Ken's screaming the other night had woken his parents. Daisuke had to come up with a ridiculous excuse about them both getting up to use the bathroom at the same time and Ken having gotten startled. His parents hadn't pressed the issue, but in no way believed it. Getting startled didn't make a person scream like that.
Daisuke never wanted to hear anyone scream like that again.
Everyone turned to face the boys on the couch slowly, various expressions of sympathy on their faces. Except Takeru. For reasons that Daisuke did not want to dwell on, Takeru looked positively eager.
"Ken, It's not that we don't appreciate you wanting to go… its just that strategically speaking, we shouldn't have both Shield Crests together until we have a better way to protect you. There is still a chance that the creature will try to come after Takeru while we're there. That's why there's more of us going. Otherwise it would just be Takeru-"
Yamato cleared his throat.
"Just Takeru and Yamato going. Its just too big of a risk," Taichi finished.
Ken's eyes were on his knees as he nodded.
Some of the stiffness left Daisuke's shoulders even as his heart clenched for his friend. No matter how much he insisted, Ken still felt like he had to prove that he was worthy of being in the group. This rejection hurt him, no matter how logical.
Chatter started up again around them.
"Sorry, man," He said quietly.
Demiveemon crawled from his lap to snuggle with Wormmon on Ken's. The corner of his friend's mouth twitched a little.
"Its alright. I honestly don't want to go back… but I don't want to be useless."
"You aren't useless," He hissed, leaning closer to give them some semblance of privacy. "Taichi's right. Its too dangerous to have you and Takeru in the Dark Ocean at the same time. We'll go with the others when everyone is powered up again."
Ken hummed, raising his head when someone approached them.
It was Takeru, Patamon curled up and sleeping in the hood of his sweatshirt. Saving his energy for making portals.
Daisuke found himself glaring at the kid despite his best efforts not to. He had… complicated feelings towards the boy. For heaven's sake, he'd only known he existed for a few weeks. They hadn't even had a full conversation. Everything Ken had told him about the blond kid was good.
That, perhaps, was the issue. Ken had been spending a lot of time over at the Ishida household these days, tutoring. In doing so, he had been able to spend little time with Daisuke, and talked about his new friend often. And he got that. He really did. He would be okay with the fact that Ken was a genius and was the best person to get Takeru up to speed. That was not Takeru's fault. It would not be forever.
But now there was this thing with their crests. They were bonded to Hikari, destined to work together to protect her… Daisuke hated to admit that he had spent last night in a bit of a panic. He could share Ken for a while, sure. But this…? Daisuke didn't make friends easily. Not real, quality friends. Hikari had been his first friend after moving to Odaiba, and though Miyako was her best friend, Daisuke considered the two of them close. Ken was his first best friend. He liked to think of them more like brothers than friends.
Daisuke knew he had a bit of a jealous streak.
It didn't matter how good of a kid Takeru was if he was going to take Ken and Hikari from him.
Daisuke jolted when Ken elbowed him.
"What?"
Ken frowned at him, eyes reproachful. Probably wanted him to knock it off.
Daisuke shook the scowl from his face and looked up at the blond kid.
Takeru did not appear affected by his glower. In fact, his expression was one of open curiosity. He gazed between Ken and Daisuke, saying nothing.
"Takeru?" Ken asked.
The chosen of hope opened his mouth slightly, but did not quite respond. He half turned away from them, scanning the room, eyes squinted in concentration.
Daisuke did not understand this kid.
Takeru gave Daisuke another once over.
"Yeah, okay," The blond said to himself, apparently having come to some conclusion. "Taichi!"
Daisuke flinched a little at the boy's suddenly loud call. He hadn't actually yelled, just made himself loud enough to be heard over two dozen people and digimon talking. Daisuke had never heard Takeru raise his voice before either. He'd seemed rather soft spoken.
Taichi's hair could be seen over the crowd of teenagers. He, Yamato, and a handful of others paused their planning to pay attention to the blond boy.
"I want Daisuke to come with us."
Daisuke's jaw dropped. Takeru had said it like it wasn't up for discussion. The older chosen obviously acknowledged that as well, for they frowned at the seriousness in his statement.
"Okay, Teeks."
"Thanks!" Takeru shot his brother a sudden, bright smile.
This kid was going to give Daisuke whiplash.
"I mean, so long as that's okay with you?" Takeru asked him.
"Uh, yeah. I can go," Daisuke had wanted to since they declared they would be entering the Dark Ocean earlier that morning. The reason he hadn't volunteered had less to do with being afraid of the dark world and more to do with the fact that he didn't want to leave Ken behind. If Takeru was asking him to join the party, he supposed that was different. But why…?
Demiveemon chirped from Ken's lap.
"Oh boy! A new adventure!"
Takeru smiled down at the baby digimon and slipped down onto the cushion on Ken's other side.
"Do you have it?" He whispered, leaning his head closer to them.
Before Daisuke could wonder what he meant, Ken pulled his hand out of his pocket and opened it. The crest of kindness sat in his palm.
He felt a thrill of excitement as Takeru gently picked it up, turning it over and looking at the small symbol. He'd seen Takeru's crest react the other night, but other than that, none of the younger kids had ever seen a crest trigger an evolution.
Ken looked apprehensive.
"Do you know how to activate it?" He said, equally as quietly.
Takeru made a face.
"Not a clue. Which is why I don't want everyone staring at my while I try. It'd be so embarrassing if it took me like an hour and everybody was just waiting."
Daisuke resisted snorting at that. The others were still milling about, discussing where in the Digital World they would be entering from, and how Takeru could get his group back to Server. The last thing they needed was for a whole bunch of them to get stuck on another continent for another three years. Daisuke felt a touch of anxiety. He was going with them now, and he preferred not world hopping through the rest of his elementary school career.
Takeru shifted, pulling his own crest out and holding one in each hand. His face was puzzled. The kid looked at Ken, at Wormmon, between his own hands… Nothing happened.
"Is there like, something you have to say?" Daisuke grumbled, scratching his head.
Takeru frowned at his own crest.
"I don't think so? I mean, if there is, it would have been nice if Quinglongmon had told me. I've never tried to use my crest like this before. Usually it activates on its own."
"Take your time," Wormmon offered kindly.
He played with the purple crest a few more minutes, concentrating intensely. Daisuke found his attention waning, though Ken's eyes never strayed from his lifeless crest.
Takeru suddenly reached out and placed his hand over Ken's, startling the dark haired boy. Ken jerked back, not expecting the contact.
"Sorry!" The chosen of hope exclaimed. "I thought maybe if we both- yeah that didn't work, okay. I gotta stop touching everybody."
"Its fine…" Ken muttered.
Daisuke shook his head.
The boy went back to fiddling with the crest, muttering under his breath here and there. Just when Daisuke was losing interest again (Really, how long was he just going to sit here on the couch? He was a man of action and his whole body was itching to do something.) Takeru held the crest of kindness in both hands, closed his eyes and bowed his head. He squeezed his hands against his chest, and Daisuke felt something rush through him.
Patamon woke abruptly, blue eyes wide and alert.
Ken made a choked noise as Takeru perked up, the blond's face lit with a beaming smile. He opened his hands and laying in his palm was the crest, now glittering with light.
Daisuke lurched forward, ignoring the others suddenly inquiring about the odd energy pulse.
"Holy shit, did you do it?"
Takeru excitedly handed the shimmering crest to its owner, both of them wordless in their awe.
The moment Ken touched his crest, purple energy burst outwards from it through the room. Everyone's heads whipped around at the light that exploded from Wormmon.
"Woah!" Daisuke threw himself backwards to make room for the rapidly growing digimon.
Takeru nearly fell off the couch in his effort to get out of the way, and Daisuke thought with a stroke of horror that they should have done this outside. What if the digimon was too big to fit in the apartment?
Silence reigned over the apartment as the light of the evolution faded. Every eye glued in their direction.
"Wow…" Ken breathed, a look of wonder and serenity took over his face.
Daisuke had never seen Ken seem so at peace.
His friend's eyes were wide, taking in the Perfect level digimon who had to crouch to prevent bumping his head on the ceiling. It was clear that he resembled Stingmon, but his coloring was drastically lighter. Huge amber gems coated his leaf-like armor. The digimon wielded a long staff, topped with five pointed spear blades in the shape of a star. Long silver hair fell down his back from under an insect like helmet, and Daisuke noted that this digimon was distinctly more humanoid than his previous form.
"Hello, Ken. I am Jewelbeemon."
Oh wow, his voice was cool.
"I don't think I will have any trouble getting Holyangemon to open a portal back to Server…" Takeru said to the group.
They all clustered around the newly evolved digimon, peppering him and his partner with questions. Ken seemed flustered by the attention, but genuinely happier than he'd been in weeks. Or maybe months, Daisuke ventured. Ken had been struggling for a long time.
"Why's that?" Koushiro asked seriously.
The boy looked suddenly shy, pressing himself more firmly into his brother's side.
"Well, ah, when the crest activated I felt a… like a tug from Ken. I don't really know how to describe it, but its like there's a… a thread of energy connecting us. I think I could find him even if we were far away."
Koushiro blinked, taken aback.
"Huh. Well that is an unexpected side affect, but certainly a positive one. I wonder if it has to do with you both being Shield Crests? Will you feel connected to Hikari once we get her crest back as well?" He turned to Ken, a new thought popping into his already buzzing head "Does the connection go both ways, Ken?"
Daisuke held his breath.
His friend blushed a little, avoiding everyone's eyes.
"Yeah…"
Daisuke's heart twisted in his chest.
The moment he hopped through the portal and landed in the sand, Daisuke couldn't help but wish he would never see the Dark Ocean again. Ever. Even knowing that they would be back with everyone else later.
The sand got into his shoes, grittier and more abrasive than he expected. It clung to his socks and his ankles, and the backs of his legs too, kicking up behind him as he stepped away from the portal. The air seemed devoid of temperature or wind, which gave the disturbing feeling of there being no air at all. Daisuke found himself gasping, desperate for confirmation that there was indeed oxygen. There was, but the air tasted sour with decay and rot.
This place sucked.
The boy rubbed his hands over his face, ignoring how sticky he felt already. Looking around at his companions, he noted that they appeared even more discomfited than he was. Sora braced herself against the sea wall they had come through, Piyomon chirping in hushed undertones at her. Taichi had his hands on his knees like he was winded, glaring around at the deserted beach. Agumon patted his arm reassuringly.
It was Takeru who really concerned him though. The kid hunched forward, eyes clenched shut and forehead pressed into his brother's shoulder. Yamato had a firm grip on his upper arms and was whispering rapidly to him, desperate. Takeru shook his head, pulling back and yanking the neck of his shirt up over his nose and mouth.
Daisuke was trudging through the awful sand before he made a conscious choice to do so, V-mon at his side. He did not want to be concerned about Takeru. He did not want to like Takeru. Takeru was going to take his two best friends away from him. But Takeru was shaking and Yamato did not seem to be succeeding in calming his little brother down. Daisuke wasn't heartless.
"Uh, everything okay?"
Well that was stupid. Obviously, things were terrible.
Two pairs of blue eyes turned to him and Daisuke stopped short at the opposite emotions in the brothers' faces. Takeru looked at him the way a man dying of thirst looks at a glass of water. Which confused Daisuke greatly and was more than a bit disconcerting to be honest.
Yamato, on the other hand, looked like he wanted to bite him.
"Chill out, Yamato. He's trying to be nice."
Taichi and Sora slogged over to them, their partners looking around for any sign of danger.
"Did you seriously just tell me to chill?"
They were saved from an ensuing brawl when Takeru stumbled over to stand close to Daisuke. Patamon fluttered over and settled on his partner's head, smiling at Daisuke widely.
"Oh thank god, I was right…" Takeru let out in a rush, dropping the hem of his shirt and breathing deeply.
Daisuke resigned himself to the fact that Takeru was always going to baffle him.
But he apparently was baffling the others today as well.
"Takeru, what's going on?" Sora asked when Yamato just gawked, looking betrayed.
The chosen of hope looked up at Daisuke, and the messy haired boy couldn't help but enjoy the fact that Takeru was a good two inches shorter than he was. Miyako was always taunting him about how short he was. It wasn't his fault Miyako and Ken were absurdly tall.
"Its why I wanted you to come with us. Everyone has some darkness around them, and with the group we have here, we actually have a lot. And its kind of good, because some of us will blend in a little more. I think it will be harder for the creatures here to sense where we are or how many of us are here," He was deliberately not looking at the uncomfortable expressions on the older kids' faces.
"But I knew it would be hard to be here, so I thought it might be helpful to have someone with less darkness. I mean, who knows what this place can do to us, and I figured a brighter person might be more resistant to the effects of the Dark Ocean? I don't know. But Daisuke," Takeru sounded amazed. "I've never seen anyone with as little darkness as you. You feel normal in the real world, but you're like a breath of fresh air here. Seriously, the air smells less horrible around you. And I can't- I can't be the only one who can see this."
He waved the others closer and grabbed Daisuke's hand, holding it out so they could all see.
"See? Look, we all seem kind of grey here. The colors are washed out. You three are pretty muted, but on Daisuke you can hardly tell."
"Holy shit, that's creepy," Taichi stared around at them.
Yamato was fixated on his own hands, disturbed.
"You look normal too, Takeru," Piyomon added, a question in her voice.
The blond boy nodded, dropping Daisuke's hand.
"But my crest is active right now, I can feel it. I bet if it wasn't, I would be just as grey as you guys. Daisuke is just naturally brighter," He shot an appreciative glance at the younger of the goggle-bearers.
"That's so cool, Daisuke!" V-mon hugged his leg.
Daisuke found he agreed.
The fact that they had been sneaking around this dilapidated beach town for twenty minutes and hadn't run into anything yet should have been comforting.
It wasn't.
Takeru could feel two distinct areas of light. They were under the impression that the crests had been split up to stop them from doing… exactly what they were going to try to do. He also said he could feel an enormous concentration of dark energy off in the distance under the water. Whether that was the creature, the corrupted crest of light, or both, he didn't know. Takeru shuddered just telling them about it.
Daisuke followed Taichi around the corner of a building at a crouch, wincing at the crunch of sand under his shoes. They were getting close to the first of the "light" spots and Daisuke swore he could feel their anxiety swirling in the stale air.
In front of them, Gabumon pulled up short of the end of a fence. He gestured for them to stop.
"I hear something nearby," The digimon breathed, pointing towards the alley at the end of the fence.
"What is it?" Yamato asked, looking at both his partner and his brother.
"It sounds like talking, but I can't make out what they're saying."
Takeru curled in on himself slightly, eyes trained in the direction Gabumon pointed.
"The crests are there… Four of them. But there's other things too. They're dark. Its- they're mild? I don't understand, they don't feel alive…"
Daisuke felt himself pale.
"Ghosts?"
Taichi grimaced.
"Quinglongmon did say that the Dark Ocean was supposed to be the resting place for digimon that died during evolution. They would technically be like ghosts. Its possible the creature corrupted some of the regular residents here. They're probably guards."
After a moment of unsettling silence, Piyomon ruffled her feathers.
"I can go look. I won't be seen, I promise."
Sora looked upset by the thought, but kneeled next to the pink bird.
"Just a quick peek, okay? Then come right back. We just need to know what we're up against."
Daisuke watched Piyomon flutter up among the rooftops, grateful for once that V-mon wasn't able to fly.
The group pressed themselves against the fence, eyes and ears peeled for any sign of a disturbance. Daisuke had to repress a twitch when Takeru sandwiched himself between him and Yamato. He was so close that Daisuke could feel his shaky breathing.
"What's wrong?" His brother asked, concern dripping from his voice.
Takeru balled his hands in the fabric of his sleeves and Patamon snuggled against his cheek.
"He's looking for us," He said, the words almost inaudible.
Alarm screamed through Daisuke's body.
"Do we need to go?" He and Taichi asked nearly as one.
Takeru shook his head.
"He can't tell where we are. He saw us last time because we were right in front of the distortion. Now its like he knows someone is here, but he can't lock onto exactly where."
Daisuke swallowed.
"If we stay too long… will be able to find us?"
Takeru's wide eyes said what he couldn't.
Sora searched the sky for her partner.
Taichi swore.
"There!" The chosen of love spotted Piyomon in the air.
The bird was heading toward the ground, waving for them to meet her the next street over. They hastened to comply, sneakers scattering sand as they went.
"There's an old shrine," Piyomon started the moment she landed. "Tucked back in the alley. I think the crests are in a well in the center of it. And I saw the guards. They look like that fuzzy stuff on the TV, Sora."
"Fuzzy stuff? Like static?"
Piyomon shrugged.
"I think so. They were talking, but their voices are all low and weird and I couldn't understand a word they said. There were dozens of them all wandering about back there."
Taichi ran his hands through his hair agitatedly and looked earnestly at Takeru.
"Do we have time to make it to the second location?"
"Damnit, there's no cover here." Yamato growled.
Daisuke had similar sentiments. Whereas the first location was tucked in an alley in the middle of the city, this place was wide open. An old park. The leaves had long abandoned their branches and the only thing around for them to hide behind was a line of concrete benches.
"I don't think we need to get much closer. I think the crests are in the fountain," Takeru shivered, peeking through a crack at the edge of a backrest.
A massive fountain stood in the middle of a raised pavilion, though it was hard to tell what was what when there were a good thirty things milling about. "Ghost" was not entirely accurate, as the creatures seemed to have a more corporeal form and they were not transparent at all. Red eyes stood out against a grey body, but Piyomon had been correct in describing their makeup as TV static.
Their moaning was grating on what was left of Daisuke's nerves. This whole world was nauseating.
With no warning whatsoever, the ghosts quieted. They stopped their restless movements, their heads slowly swiveling around.
Searching.
"Shit."
"Patamon, get us out of here," Sora ordered.
The instant the light of the evolution sparked, the ghosts surged towards them like a wave.
Takeru let out a sound of horror, blue eyes locked on the distant ocean.
Oh shit.
Daisuke turned to his partner, digivice already in his hand.
"V-mon!"
Wargreymon breathed a wall of fire to keep the dark creatures at bay, while Birdramon and Garurumon surrounded Taichi, Sora, and the brothers. Holyangemon appeared in a burst of light and feathers.
Daisuke raced forward on Lighdramon's back like a bullet. Lightning cut down the ghosts left and right as they charged through the crowded pavilion. His heart pounded, but he was sure this was the only chance he would get.
Lighdramon leapt through the water of the fountain and spun around.
"Daisuke!" Taichi yelled.
The portal was opening. Sora threw herself in, Piyomon swooping through a second behind her.
Lighdramon shot toward it, trampling the dark creatures as he ran. Daisuke whooped.
Greymon devolved, still throwing pepper breaths as he and his partner retreated through the golden ring.
"He's coming!"
Yamato dragged Takeru through, the younger boy's face a mixture of terror and incredulity. Takeru fought against him, ripping away and reaching out for Daisuke.
"Come on!"
At the last moment, Daisuke realized that he and Lighdramon were not going to fit through the portal the way they were.
"Hey buddy!" He yelled, brown eyes blowing wide at the small hole in space they were rocketing toward.
Bless his partner for understanding his desperate plea. Lighdramon leapt at the portal and Daisuke felt his partner devolve underneath him. Their momentum sent them flying into the grass in the digital world. Daisuke tumbled ass over teakettle to a stop, laughing like an idiot.
The world spun around him. Yelling for the portal to close. Yelling about the ghosts. Taichi and definitely more than one other person was yelling at him in particular. Jyou was prodding him.
"That was completely unnecessary!" Someone cried at him.
Jyou helped him sit up, and Ken's worried face bobbed into his line of sight.
"What the hell happened? Are you hurt?" His best friend demanded fearfully.
Before Daisuke could stop laughing enough to formulate an answer, Takeru threw himself to his knees beside him.
"Don't do that again!" The chosen of hope gave him a shake, eyes still wide, but the horror was receding. "You are a crazy person."
He shook his head, scrubbing his hands over his eyes. Takeru let out a short laugh, and Daisuke laughed along with him.
"Which one did you get?"
Daisuke lifted his fist and opened it. Glittering innocently in his palm was the crest of courage.
Woot! Daisuke is resistant to the Dark Ocean! He got Taichi's crest back! Ken can go to Perfect! Jewelbeemon is cool! Takeru thinks the Dark Ocean smells AWFUL. LOL.
I hope this felt fun, because this was a really fun chapter in my head. Especially the ending.
