Chapter 25: Prom
Atsuko: Kari! How are you today? Yesterday you were quite unhappy…what happened?
Kari: Nothing mom…it's fine. I was just mad at someone…but I feel great! I mean my disease is over and I can get back to my life! Tonight is prom!
Atsuko: I'm so happy Kari! You'll have a great night! Yoshio will be there too to keep an eye on you as you are not completely healthy yet.
Kari: Mom I'm fine…and…
Atsuko: Fine, I'll be there too! And don't push it cause I'll invite Tai as well!
Kari: Fine…but I'll go there with Kendo! And you guys can come afterwards alone!
Atsuko: Fine…
A few hours later Kari was ready for prom. She had a beautiful dress and her mother had made her hair. They wanted a lot of pictures and Yoshio was the victim to take them. Kendo arrived soon after to pick Kari up and go to prom.
Meanwhile:
TK: I screwed up Gennai…
Gennai: You have to fight for her! You can't leave it be! You know what it means if she does not remember!
TK: Well remind me whose fault is it?!
Gennai: I know and I'm sorry TK! You know that! There is something else…the powers of darkness have increased…drastically! I think they are planning on attacking soon.
TK: I know…I felt it…
Gennai: When?
TK: Yesterday evening…it's like it hit me at once…
Gennai: Thought so…Kari's light makes you feel it…TK…I found something that might be of help…
TK: What?!
Gennai: Take this dagger…it'll help against the dark creatures. You can kill them if necessary with it
TK: Where did you get this?
Gennai: This dagger was forged a long time ago. It contains power from all the crests. It unites them and it can destroy evil…
TK: Alright…thanks. I'll go talk to Kari tomorrow…
Gennai: I'm afraid it will be too late. I think they will strike tonight. They know the balance is off and that the last few days it was gradually restored…you need to go and convince her now. There is no more time left.
TK: I'll do it…Patamon are you ready?!
Patamon: Always!
At Prom:
Teacher: Kari! It's so good to see you here! We're so happy to have you here!
Kari: The pleasure is all mine!
Teacher: Go and have a great time! Kendo, take care of her!
Kendo: I will! Kari let's go have some punch!
Kari: Sure! I'd love some…at least till my parents come here!
Kendo: Let's go!
The party went on smoothly. Kari was having a good time, but she was still thinking of John and what attracted her to him so much. Her parents had arrived as well and were watching her closely. Kari's condition had ameliorated. She looked almost completely healthy. Yoshio went to talk to her.
Yoshio: Kari. How is it?
Kari: I love it! I'm so happy! All the dancing and the music is really great! I love hanging out with everyone!
Yoshio: I'm happy for you! Your mom and I are so blessed!
Kari: It's ok dad!
Yoshio: You can't believe how happy I am to see you healthy again.
Kari: I'm happy to see you both so joyful again. Now if you'll excuse me my date is signaling me to go dance with him!
Yoshio: Yes, I'm sorry! Go! Have fun.
They did not even get to start the dance when a door cracked wide open and a chilly breeze came inside. Everyone stopped in their tracks and looked at the entrance. Nothing could be seen. There was only darkness.
Teacher: Who is there?! What's going on?!
There was no answer. Instead an even colder breeze came through. The DJ stopped playing music. Kari had a bad feeling, as if she had already experienced this before.
Teacher: What is this?! Who are you?!
Voice: We're here for the girl!
As that was heard a bright human looking creature made its way towards the center of the room where Kari was standing beside Kendo.
Creature: The girl. She needs to come with us.
Teacher: Which girl?! What are you talking about!? Who do you think you are?!
Creature: Silence! The girl of light. The one who was sick…
Kari: What?! I'm not going anywhere with you! Who are you and what do you want?!
Creature: You don't remember us? We came to you before…several times…we asked you to be our bride…to help us…you promised us. We need you to survive. You said you'd help us!
Kari: I don't remember such a thing! I've never seen anything like you in my life. And you don't look too trust-worthy!
Creature: Oh, Chosen Girl…we need you. Please help us. You promised. You are the keeper of light. We are your humble servants! Look…my friends are here too. We need your help. The darkness will destroy us all. You need to help us all.
Kari: What can I do?
Yoshio: Kari you're seriously not considering this madness. What are these things?!
Kari: Dad…the other night…I saw an angel…he came to me…I think this is the reason why I survived the sickness…
Atsuko: Kari are you mad?! You can't go with these things!
Kari: These things…they are creatures of light…I think…they're here for me…to save them from darkness…a darkness I've been fearing for a while now…a darkness that consumes everything.
Yoshio: What in the world are you talking about?!
Kendo: Kari! What the hell?!
Kari: I'm sorry mom, dad…Kendo…I need to help them…I promised…I think I forgot because of the disease.
Creature: Yes. Come with us.
The creature came closer and closer and was stretching its hand out to grab Kari's arm. She was a bit reluctant at first but then stretched her arm out as well. Just before they touched TK stormed in.
TK (Shouting at the top of his lungs): KARI! NO! DON'T!
Kari saw him and drew her arm back. She could not believe he was there. What was he doing there? Had he followed her?
Kari: John?! What are you doing?! I specifically said to stay away from me.
He rushed between everyone and past the creatures between her and the creature with the stretched out arm.
TK: Kari, listen to me. I know how this sounds and I know you might think I'm crazy but you must not go with these creatures.
Kendo: Nurse John?! What do you know about this?!
Kari: John! I told you to stay the hell away from me and I swear I will go with them if you keep bothering me!
TK: KARI! JUST STOP THIS MADNESS! You can't go with them! They're not creatures of the light as they want you to think! Remember! Think back! You must do it on your own, I can't help you! You must remember. They did come twice and twice we fought them off! Kari don't give in!
Kari: Are you crazy?! We?! What we?! When did we ever do anything besides the fact that you just helped out at the hospital for a few days?!
TK: Kari…why do you think I was there in the first place?! I was there for you! You're the girl! The one I told you about! The girl I love more than anything! It's not just in my story, it's real! Just remember! Think back! You must remember! We have to fight them off!
Kari: You must be totally mad if you think you can trick me into this stupid story of yours. I will go with them! Just get away from me creep!
TK: If you won't remember then I will take care of this for you! Just give me a chance!
Kari: NO! No more chances!
Creature (grabbing Kari by the arm): ENOUGH! She comes with us!
As the creature did that, TK couldn't just stand back. He charged at the creature, who was unprepared and shoved the dagger in its chest. The creature disappeared instantly.
Kari: WHAT IN THE WORLD ARE YOU DOING?! ARE YOU CRAZY KILLING MORE OF THEM?!
TK: You must trust me…not them!
Kari: HOW?! I don't see them killing anyone here.
The room became colder and colder. Even more creatures were storming inside. Around twenty creatures were now looking at TK.
TK: Kari…what I'm about to do…I'm sorry. You have to remember. I will fight them off. They are not what they say they are. I will prove it!
Yoshio: Kari! I think he's right! If they were not evil…they would accept your decision and not force you to do anything. Think about it!
The first two creatures charged at TK. Due to Kari's light within him, he managed to dodge the first one and stab it in the face with the dagger. The next one, he hit low, when it fell he stabbed it as well. For each creature killed a new one appeared.
TK: God help me…
Kari: Jesus! TK stop!
Kendo: TK? His name is John…and he fights like a God! To think I wanted to challenge him…
Kari: Huh…what in the world is wrong with me…can it be…
TK did not hear her.
TK: Is this all you've got?! I will crush you, if I have to do it myself! And nice disguise! Why don't you show your real face?!
Creatures: Kill him!
TK: Before you do…and since you have assistance…I'd like a friend of mine to help me!
Creatures: What friend? You are alone. At one point you'll die!
TK: Patamon!
Patamon came flying towards him. He had been hiding near the DJ.
TK: Let's show them what we've got!
Patamon: Patamon digivolve to…Angemon!
Angemon was hovering above TK. His bright light made the creatures flinch. In an instant they lost their strength to keep up appearances and they transformed back to their real selves. The students and Kari could not believe it. Kari saw Angemon and then looked at TK. The Angel at her window…John had been part of it all along.
TK: At last you show your true colors.
Angemon: HAND OF FATE!
With one attack Angemon annihilated four creatures.
TK (turning towards Kari): Believe me now?
Kari was looking at him. She walked softly towards TK.
Kari: I can't believe it…it was you…all this time. Did the Doctor know? Did he know that you will be the one to give me my strength back? You are the one who saved me…how is that possible? And Angemon…he's your friend…you summoned him to help me…to make me believe, to give me hope…
TK: Yes…yes…I came only for you.
They were very close and looking in each other's eyes. TK was holding her cheek with one hand. As if in an instant Kari's light began to shine. She was glowing. Then she kissed him deeply. When they broke loose, Kari looked him in the eyes and smiled.
Kari: It's been a while TK…I can't believe what you went through for me…you came back for me…so what you said…am I truly the love of your life?
TK: You're the only one that's ever mattered to me. You came to me in my dreams…I remembered you and I knew I had to come…I knew something was wrong…
Atsuko: What are you talking about?! Those things want to kill you and you are talking about love and kissing like nothing is happening? And who are you?! And Kari what is happening?! You are shining!
TK: I'm TK! Your daughter's boyfriend. And the shining…that's just the light…and don't worry…we'll deal with them right away!
Not a split second later a round bright opening in the ground formed and Gatomon appeared in front of them.
Kari (jumping to hug her): GATOMON! I can't believe you came back to me! Shall we?!
Gatomon: I'd like nothing more! Gatomon digivolve to…Angewomon!
A second angel was now hovering in mid-air. Angemon and Angewomon swiftly annihilated the remaining creatures and with the help of their Digivices Kari and TK closed the portal to the other world.
Kari: Just like old times. They're back aren't they…back for me…
TK: Yes…we need to fight them off…again. But first we need to get the gang back together. Tai, Matt, Sora, Izzy, Joe, Mimi, Davis, Ken, Yolei, Cody…we need to remind them all of who they are…
Kari: How are we going to do that?!
TK: I guess Tai and Matt should be the first…it's probably easier…
Yoshio: Will someone please explain what the hell is going on?!
Kari: Dad…it's a long story…how can I put this…there's several other worlds parallel to ours…one is the Digital World and another is the one where the dark creatures came from…We are Digidestined…I have the crest of Light and TK the crest of Hope…when I was sick…it was because part of me was not with me…TK…I saved his life once, but I sacrificed part of my light…it's now within him. Someone we know managed to erase everyone's minds, but…
TK: When things went bad…Kari came to my dreams and I remembered her. Then I did everything I could to make her feel better…and now she remembers too….and our brothers and friends are also involved…and…
Kari: and…long story short, we need to go and remind them before the whole world will be consumed by darkness.
Yoshio: WHAT?!
Atsuko: I didn't get a single word…
Kendo: So your name is not John?
TK: Glad that's the only thing u picked up…no…it's Takeru Takaishi…but everyone calls me TK.
Kari: Mom, Dad…I'll need to go now…and don't worry...TK will protect me…
Yoshio: As much as I want to stop you…I know I can't. Go get them. Son…take care of my daughter…you seem to care a lot about her.
TK: I do…and I will protect her with my life.
Atsuko: Be careful darling…and text me whenever you can!
Kari: Don't worry mom…I'll still come home!
Atsuko: Oh thank the lord!
Kari: We just need to remind our friends…at least for now…
TK: Let's go see Tai and Matt!