Chapter
12
"Somewhere out there
If love can see us through
Then we'll be together
Somewhere out there
Out where dreams
Come true…"
Keiko held onto the final note for a little while longer, not willing to let it
go. As the clear notes bounced off the walls, most of the children curled up in
sleep. The slow song had lulled them to sleep, Ikakkumon's slow swaying in the
water acted as a cradle or rocking chair. Adelia smiled at the small children
around her, "They're so young, they shouldn't have to deal with this, not even
for a night,"
"I agree, but what can we do?" Keiko sighed, she crawled over the small forms
and squeezed Adelia's hand, "We'll get through. Cody's the most determined
person I've ever met. A little too serious at times, but once you crack through
the shell…" she smiled, "I've never been happier,"
Adelia gave her new friend a knowing smile, "I know exactly how you feel,"
"Ahhhh… young love!" Mrs. Izumi smiled, "Don't you miss being that age?"
Mr. Izumi smiled at his wife, "Sometimes, but love is like wine. It gets better
with age," he kissed his wife on the forehead, "You don't need all that
romantic stuff, you just get a fuzzy comfortable feeling,"
Laughing with good humour, Mrs. Izumi patted him on the cheek, "Honey, you were
never good at that romance stuff anyway,"
Ikakkumon's laughter rumbled through the tube, "You people sure are
entertaining. Oh, and Keiko, you have a very nice voice!"
Keiko blushed, "Thank you,"
"And I'm sorry I have to ruin the mood," Ikakkumon apologized, "But the water
is rising very quickly now. We'd better start praying the others will come,
we're not far from the top,"
The colour drained out of the adults' faces.
~~~
The opalescent shield that Meshugamon had summoned around himself flickered as
attacks bombarded him from every angle. "Hand of Fate!"
"Celestial Arrow!"
"Flower Cannon!"
"It's not working!" Davis observed, "He's not moving any closer!"
All the other digidestined, save Tai and Davis, were joined in a circle, eyes squeezed
shut as they wished and prayed to the best of their ability. "I dunno if I can
do this much longer," Sora spoke up weakly, "I'm really tired…"
Matt let go of her hand and supported her with his arm around his shoulders,
"Hang on honey. Just think really hard, concentrate. Think of our children
hugging us around the necks. Think of their laughter, and think of them telling
us that they love us," he urged her, "Don't give up!"
Sora looked fearfully towards the immovable rock, "They're in danger Matt. I
know they are! Aiko said she was cold and wet! Even Kaleb sounded scared, and
you know how he tries to act all brave around other boys!"
"It's okay…" he soothed her, "We'll get them out in time,"
Yolei clutched at Ken's hand, "Start praying and start praying hard," she
murmured the order to him.
He only grinned fondly down at her, "That's the Yolei I fell in love with,"
Everyone closed their eyes and continued to pray. Davis and Tai took turns
directing the digimon in attacks. "Team one: FIRE! Drop back! Team two: FIRE!
Drop back! Team three: FIRE! Drop back! Team four: FIRE! Drop back!" Tai
shouted the orders continuously.
Those behind him squeezed their eyes shut. "Please, please…" Kari was pleading
under her breath.
As each digidestined prayed harder than they ever had, before. A small flicker
of light appeared behind Meshugamon as he fought to hold his own. "Foolish
digidestined! Once you are exhausted I will make you all suffer. It will be
excruciating pain for you, both physical and mental. You will regret ever
trying to destroy me!"
"Who says we're trying to destroy you?" Davis yelled at him, "We're not
here to 'destroy' anyone!"
It was visibly obvious that everyone was straining to concentrate even more as
the small sliver of light started to spread outwards. Meshugamon, however, was
oblivious to the rip of light behind him. But then…
The light disappeared. "What happened?" Yolei gasped, "We were doing so well!"
Izzy bent his head guiltily, "It's my fault. My concentration was side-tracked.
I started wishing that my parents were safe, that the rock would move, that
everything would be fine…" he trailed off and squared his shoulders, "I won't
do it again! I know we can do this!"
Everyone nodded, and Joe grinned at his friend, "Hey no problem! One slip-up,
we'll be fine!" but his eyes told the truth. Joe was secretly worried and there
was a permanent crease forming on his forehead.
They joined hands once again and squeezed their eyes shut.
~~~
Mr. Izumi reached up into the darkness above him and contacted the ceiling with
the very tips of his fingers. "We're getting closer to the top," he informed
his wife in a whisper.
"Oh dear…we'd better wake the children up," she responded, an expression of
worry on her gentle face.
Meanwhile, Keiko and Adelia had made the same discovery. "This isn't good,"
Adelia observed with a little quiver in her voice, "This isn't good at all…"
She stroked the hair of Aiko, who was sleeping closest to her, "What are we
going to do?" she implored Keiko for an answer.
Aiko turned over onto her back and heaved a small sigh. "Somewhere…out there…"
she murmured in her sleep, "Out where dreams…come true…"
The water around them gurgled soothingly, deceptively comforting.
"Poor little darlings…" Keiko murmured, and then looked up towards the
unyielding stone, "Oh Cody, where are you? Please come through!"
~~~
"Please come through…"
Cody's eyes snapped open, but the light behind Meshugamon didn't waver this
time. In fact, it only grew stronger. "Keiko…" he spoke softly, "Hold on, I'm
coming!"
He let go of Yolei's and Joe's hands. "This won't work!" he yelled in
frustration, "Passive wishing won't do anything! I want Keiko back, and I want
to go home now!"
The portal of light ripped open further. Light spilling into the dark room. The
others gaped in amazement, "But how…?" TK voiced the question in everyone's
mind.
Meshugamon had turned around, small eyes wide with horror. The light flowed
around him, tracing a large silhouette of him on the ground. "How?" he
questioned unbelievingly, "I've protected this place!"
"You know what?" Kari yelled loudly, "I want to go home too! I want to go home
with my baby and husband, and be happy like we've always been! You have no
right to take that away!"
Tendrils of light started to pull away from the pool of brilliance and wrapped
themselves around Meshugamon's legs. "No!" Meshugamon whimpered, "How
could this happen! I don't want to confront my dreams!"
Mimi's expression showed that she felt some pity for the monster who had stolen
her children. He's only lost, she realized, he's strayed from his true path!
"The dream world, if that's what it is, really isn't so bad…" she said as she
walked towards the struggling digimon.
"Everything's falling apart…" he panted with effort, "My careful
plans! My… my…" his eyes lolled around in his head in panic, as if he was a
wild animal.
Tai snorted at the fact that this digimon had been reduced to such a state.
Then he felt a twinge. A twinge of sympathy for this villain. Closing his eyes,
Tai saw the face of the woman in white once more. "Help him Tai," she
was saying, "Help him towards the light…"
With a determined expression on his face, Tai walked up behind the flailing
Meshugamon. "You really need to face these dreams of yours,"
Foam gathered at the edge of Meshugamon's mouth, and he let out a horrible yell
as he stared straight into the light. The digidestined, minus Tai, huddled
together, "We want to go home with our loved ones!" Davis shouted.
"We don't want to deal with this mess!" TK joined in, "All we want is to be
home, we don't wish to battle with you,"
The others nodded their heads in agreement and murmured to each other about
their thoughts. More bands of light pulled away from the solid light and
wrapped themselves about Meshugamon's arms and torso. One vine-like string of
light coiled itself invitingly around Tai's wrist, tugging insistently. He
looked back at Matt for a suggestion on what to do, but his friend only
shrugged his shoulders. "It can't hurt you, right? You might as well go and see
what that world wants,"
As Meshugamon was pulled in through the portal of light with a scream of
horror, Tai obediently walked towards it. "Get that rock moved while I'm gone!"
he called before walking into the light calmly.
~~~
The scene that was supposedly Meshugamon's past dream was actually quite
pleasant. It was obviously the Digital World, and the sun was radiating a
gentle warmth to the land. Tai made a face, it reminded him of one of those
Disney movies that Makoto used to love watching, where everything and everyone
was perfect. Amid the peaceful scene was a small digimon, furry but not exactly
cute. His face was full of acceptance and warmth, but it was heavily wrinkled,
much like that of a pug dog's. Basically, it could be said to be ugly. However,
the digimon who surrounded him in a ring took no notice of this, they only
begged to play or asked nicely for help, which was gladly given at request. The
coils of light unwound themselves from Meshugamon and Tai, retreating back
towards the portal that glowed brightly behind them. "Who's that?" Tai asked,
keeping his distant from the deranged digimon.
"That's me in my rookie form," Meshugamon said sadly, "I'm known as
Grulamon in that stage,"
"So what's the significance of this scene?" Tai asked curiously.
Meshugamon heaved a sigh, "It was my dream, to be accepted despite my looks.
But no one…everyone rejected me,"
Watching in amazement, Tai gaped only as the scene changed and dark clouds
rolled in. Everything changed, the happy digimon disappeared, and the small
digimon in the center sat by itself, ears drooping. "And what about this?" Tai
questioned.
Meshugamon turned on the man, eyes flaming with hatred, "Darkness was gone
from this world, except in my heart. I had no friend, no one to relate to.
Everyone always rejects me! At least when there were others full of sin, I was
not so alone…but then you banished all evil! But you missed me! You missed me…"
"I…uh…what?" Tai blinked in confusion.
"I was once again rejected when the digidestined did not deem me worthy of
destruction. I was left here, without anyone to look up to, without anyone to
befriend, you've made me what I am!"
Meshugamon now stalked his way towards Tai, "You will pay! Even if the
others will not suffer, your pain will suffice!" he raised his hand, "Drastic
Beam!"
With a yell, Tai tried to duck out of the way but found his muscles frozen. In
that split second, his life flashed before his eyes. And all he could think
about? Makoto.
A blinding flash of light blossomed before him, and the figure in white
absorbed the attack for him. "You!" he exclaimed, "It's you again! Are you
okay?"
As he said this, the woman turned to smile a weak smile. "I'm fine. You must
forgive him, he's been alone for most of his life,"
"But Gatomon was alone for most of her life!" Tai yelled angrily, "And even she
wasn't so bad! What's his excuse?"
"Gatomon was eventually picked up by Myotismon. She at least had someone,
even if he wasn't someone she wanted…" she trailed off and cocked her head
to one side, "Why did you never tell me of this world when I was alive?"
Tai shrugged his shoulders, he still couldn't place her in his memory. "So what
do I do now?" he asked, clearly confused.
"Help him…"
"I can't! I need Agumon here!"
The portal widened and Agumon stepped through, "You needed me Tai?"
Tai looked to the woman again, "Er… let me rephrase that. I need everyone here!
Including our kids, and girlfriends, and ummm… parents?"
The woman smiled and nodded, "As you wish. Oh, and Tai? I know what you're
thinking," she smiled charmingly at him, "And I'm not a genie. It's nice
to know you haven't changed since I left,"
Before long, the digidestined and their digimon stepped through the portal.
When she saw the woman hovering near Tai, Sora gasped. "Tamika!"
The woman, whose name was finally known to Tai, smiled to the other woman, "Sora,
it's good to see you again. Turn around, there's something you treasure…"
Everyone turned to see their families, dripping wet with bewildered expressions
on their faces. There were many happy cries and tears. "Momma!" a high-pitched
squeal topped them all.
Tai once again turned to Tamika, "You're kidding me…it's that simple?"
"Not exactly. But Meshugamon is losing the darkness now. Look at him,"
Tai did as told and looked over at the digimon. He was huddled in a heap,
moaning in misery and utter abandonment. "Now I have nothing…" his voice was no
longer in their heads, "Nothing except the memories of two people,"
"Dad!"
Makoto's voice attracted Tai's attention, and he whirled around to greet his
son with open arms. "Dad! Dad! I knew you would come! I knew we would be okay!"
Makoto flung his arms around his father's neck.
Abandoning his need to look strong and brave in front of his son, Tai wept
silently into his son's shoulder, "Makoto! You have no idea how much… I was so
worried… you mean more than anything to me!"
Makoto nodded and only buried his face further into his father's neck, "Me too
Dad," then he pulled back, "But I kinda feel sorry for that guy…"
Father and son, hand-in-hand, walked towards the grieving Meshugamon. Tamika
and the others watched with something like pride apparent on their faces. "I'm
sorry I called you scum," Makoto apologized, "Don't be sad. When I'm sad, Dad
makes me sit down and write a list about all the good things in my life. Why
don't you do that too?"
Meshugamon lifted his head to regard everyone curiously, "Why are you willing
to forgive me so quickly? I'd still be willing to kill you right now if I had
the chance,"
Kaleb left his parents and moved towards Makoto, "I dunno…cause we're with our
moms and dads? I mean, all we want to do is go home now! No faster way of doing
it than to forgive someone. That's what Mom always says,"
With tears in her eyes, Sora smiled with pride and blew a kiss to her oldest
son. Kaleb made a face and blushed bright red, "Awww Mom... stoppit!"
Meshugamon looked to all of them, "Is this how you all feel? After what I've
done? Threatening your lives, and the lives of those you treasure?"
"They forgave me," Ken pointed out, "And I pretty much ruined their lives when
I was evil. You only ruined a few hours,"
"Look, no matter what we always find it in our hearts somewhere to forgive," TK
supplied, "No matter what. We're just a bunch of softies,"
Adelia pulled his arm around shoulders closer to her face, "I missed your
smell," she teased lovingly.
"And I missed everything about you…" TK leaned his face over hers.
Yolei slapped both hands over Kazuo's eyes, "Don't watch," she ordered firmly,
"It's not suitable for children of your age,"
Kari only heaved a sigh at her friend and cuddled her baby daughter closer,
"When we're happy, we're capable of doing the impossible, such as forgiving
you…"
"No that it's impossible!" Davis cut her off hurriedly, "I mean… shoot, I
forgot!"
Everyone laughed at Davis, so great was their relief that they would have
laughed if someone had mentioned the sky was blue. Even Meshugamon allowed
himself a less-than-sinister chuckle. "So what do you say? Try to come to terms
with us and live a harmonious life?"
"Yeah, it couldn't hurt, could it?" Joe piped up, ruffling Bobby's hair, "The
rest of us'll live happy lives even if you refuse to."
Gomamon rolled his eyes, "Joe!" "Whoops! That sounded harsh didn't it?
Whatever, you know what I mean! Right? Right?!" Joe queried anxiously.
Cody looked on with his serious eyes, but Keiko brightened his expression with
just a small snuggle under his arm, "I can forgive you," he said simply.
The digimon moved towards Meshugamon, frank smiles of acceptance and offerings
of friendship clear on their faces. "We'll be your friends. The more the
merrier!" Patamon declared.
"Really?" it seemed that Meshugamon couldn't believe his good fortune.
Matt grinned, "They're offering their friendship, and trust me when I say it's
something that'll change your life!"
Meshugamon nodded, a smile crossing his face. "I accept. But I'll need some
time," he closed his eyes, as if wishing, and a brilliant light surrounded him.
"To the original bearer of courage and his son, I give you both your most
treasured possession,"
And then the light was radiating from his body, slowly shrinking in size until
it was a digi-egg. Gatomon snatched it up, "Don't worry, we'll take good care
of him," she reassured everyone.
Tai and Makoto looked to each other, and then at Tamika. "Mom…" Makoto
whispered hoarsely, "That's you, right?"
When she nodded, he threw himself at her, "Mom! Are you back! Are you back for
good?"
Tai was not far behind his son, and soon he had them both in his embrace, "It
was you," he whispered fiercely into Tamika's black hair, "I can't believe I
didn't remember… oh God I wasted my time with you!"
"Not at all," she smiled, "You didn't waste your time at all. I miss
you," she reached a hand down to stroke Makoto's cheek, "My two boys, my
favourite two boys,"
She bent down to kiss Makoto on the forehead, "You be good, I'm still
watching over you,"
As she straightened up to look at Tai, he turned his gaze from hers, "Don't say
anything, it's all been said,"
Tamika nodded and kissed him lightly, softly, "I love you,"
There was a loud sniffle, and further investigation revealed it to be a close
to bawling Yolei, "This is worse than my soap operas!" she wailed as two rivulets
of tears made their way down her cheeks.
"Oi vey," Ken muttered as she comforted her.
Makoto and Tai, with tears in their eyes, watched longingly as Tamika faded out
of sight, "Until next time," she called.
"Bye Mom!" Makoto yelled, refusing to sob but unable to stop the tears.
Tai, however, remained silent. As he had stated, it had all been said.
~~~
**Author's Note: Well, you've finished reading! Lol, like I said in the opening author's notes I wrote this before I saw the ending of 02. I kinda sorta (coughnarcissismtimecough) liked my versions of their lives a bit better, after all how probable is it that all the digidestined will have kids? There are bound to be a few singletons here and there ^^. Anyway, I *swear* that I didn't know about the whole wishing and dreaming thing defeating the enemy, after all this was before the finale! Kinda freaky that I think like Toei and their evil splitting up Taiora-ness! But Sorato has it's good points too, really it does! Anyway, I did not intend Meshugamon to turn out the way he did at all. I wanted him to be evil, but nooo he had to come out and be just another confused villain . And Tamika! Darnit, that woman was dead and a part of Tai's past! That was all she was meant to be, she was supposed to stay dead and I have no idea how she strayed into the plot. Oh well, shows what happens when you don't plan a fic out ^^. Until next time!
mikomi .^^.