A/N: Double updates~! Go ahead and read! 'kay, just another three chapters until the end...and an announcement.
Disclaimer: I don't own Digimon.
A Changed Destiny
Chapter 25: Oreta Tsubasa de
Gargoylemon had had some trouble with IceLeomon but, in the end, he managed to overcome the enemy without too much trouble when the upper hand was obtained; a Stone Bomber attack finished the humanoid lion off and the hybrid quickly took the Fractal Code before descending down to the frozen and snowy ground to try to continue looking for his friends. The D-tector received static instead of dots that would indicate his comrades were close and, so, the two partners were left to searching in the long and tedious way, however, Gargoylemon's search was quickly cut short as they found an eye much like the bunch that had separated them.
I don't like this, Strabimon growled.
Koichi agreed with his partner's caution but there was something weird. "We all went into different eyes, Strabimon," answered the human. "They're probably in a different place. Remember that tunnel we were in? Maybe there are more places that they're connected to?"
Just when we needed the mama gnome.
With that, the Digimon flew into the eye, hopeful to find their friends and ready for another scuffle.
X:::::::::X
Koji sat and waited rather impatiently, eyes fixed on the mirror featuring the enemy he wanted to fight as the gargoyle entered the Wind Sphere of Mercurymon's Beast Spirit, Sakkakumon. To claim it was beast-like in appearance was a stretch as it didn't resemble any other animal-like Digimon and instead loosely resembled a tree, however, its massive size made up for it and its ability to use "fake" Digimon like white blood cells made up for it, making this Beast Spirit was a perfect match to its Human Spirit.
The boy looked over the mirrors, noticing that two more had cracked to equal a total of six, two being cracked by the Warrior of Thunder and one by each of the other Warriors.
"I do believe I found my perfect opponent," Mercurymon said, smirking as a new mirror lit up with the image of the brunet in red.
The dark haired Warrior narrowed his eyes. So, he drove out the other three, he noted, turning his eyes back to the mirror that showed his "copycat" and polar opposite. Those three humans were weak enough to fall to their weaknesses and from the little he had cared to think about them, there was nothing special about the blonde and the other two brunets. Alone, they showed no formidable powers and even in a group, there was much to be desired. The same could be said for the dark haired wannabe Warrior of Light but there was enough questions in Koji's mind and something he wanted to have helped keep enough interest in the boy alone and to remember his name: Koichi.
I'll take my rightful destiny, Koichi, he thought, and take yours as well.
X:::::::::X
Stay alert!
The warning was right in time too, as Gargoylemon jumped—causing him to lose balance and tumble and tuck into a roll—out of the way in time to dodge a sword that would have sliced him in half if the Digimon hadn't moved. The Warrior of Light rose to face a raven Digimon dressed as a swordsman with a sword in each hand, a Karatenmon.
"I know you, Koichi Kimura," said the raven, "you and your friend, Strabimon."
Koichi was taken aback. How did-?
Duck!
Gargoylemon did so, not anticipating that Karatenmon had used his surprise to the his advantage. As soon as he ducked, though, a volley of feathers that hit the white Digimon. The gargoyle Digimon winced but then called forth an angel statue and was about to command it to attack but the enemy Digimon was already cutting off the stone arm that wielded its staff. The statue dropped to the ground as Karatenmon turned to lock eyes with his opponent.
"I know just what you're planning," he said, pointing a sword at the Warrior of Light. "My training has allowed me to look into the very heart of my opponent."
Let me take this clown out, Strabimon said. I'm tired of this chicken already.
And Koichi let him gain control. Gargoylemon flew in, brandishing a claw to swipe at Karatenmon but the swords easily parried every strike. The boy heard a growl come out of his mouth as his partner's frustration rose and then unleashed a cold breeze from his wings, forcing the raven swordsman to the earth as his own wings froze. The body moved downwards, summoning stone statues that would fall on the Digimon and give him a chance to attack from behind. Gargoylemon threw a punch, only to have it collide with the sword.
"How?" the human and Digimon gaped in unison.
Strabimon, however, wasn't about to be deterred, as he was a fighter and a Warrior at that. He used the shared body's other free hand to put in a punch but the raven's head cocked to avoid the hit.
"I told you, I can read your heart." Karatenmon suddenly spun around, using his swords to fling the Warrior of Light into a tree.
Gargoylemon slumped to the ground and tried forcing himself up.
"Why don't you and your partner just give up and hand over the Spirit," the raven said, sheathing a sword and putting out his hand.
"No," Koichi answered, taking back control of his body.
The raven cocked his head. "Ah, that's right," he noted, narrowing his eyes as if he was figuring out a puzzle. "You wish to find your brother, Koji Minamoto and you feel that with the Spirit, you'll be able to bring him to his senses. And you do this because of your suffering mother."
Koichi flinched. He had never told any of his friends about his mother, yet Karatenmon was stating it as if it was an answer to a math problem.
"You want to do something for her because you feel helpless but then, you aren't really that brave, are you?"
Gargoylemon stood, using the tree as support. "What do you know?" he asked, anger beginning to fill his voice. Out of all things that could have been brought up in the Digital World…
"You're afraid that you haven't changed at all. You're afraid of slipping and failing because that's all you are under the kind exterior and the Warrior's skin."
"Shut up!" Boiling rage was beginning to fill Koichi's mind, denial of what was said and suppressed anger of how the dark haired boy used to be. He had changed, hadn't he? The fact that the boy was standing here fighting had to mean something; when he arrived, he'd always run and hide but now, Koichi fought with his friends. Yet, every time he had to face Koji, the Warrior found himself tongue tied, awkward, afraid.
Gargoylemon attempted a punch but it was deflect with the raven's sword.
"Afraid, aren't you? Always afraid? Afraid of letting people know your true feelings about what's going on? Or, is it something else?"
The two winged Digimon flew back, both unleashing a long distance attack. Cold winds froze the feathers, making them drop to the ground. The two combatants then returned to a hand-to-sword combat, swipes and punches being stopped by a whirlwind of steel. Somewhere, Karatenmon had gained an advantage and took out a white wing, making the gargoyle shriek in pain as he fell to the ground.
"Is it hatred? Envy the world around you? Your friends for the courage you lack, even that of a little boy that had been just as scared as you were?" The raven laughed, causing Koichi to reach his boiling point. "And your brother, you hate how he is and hate yourself for not being able to do anything to save him because in the end, you know you can't."
Koichi, don't listen to him, the Rookie's voice echoed in his mind but it fell onto deaf mind that was blinded by emotions as the dam that held back all the negative feelings was cracked, small spurts of emotion coming through. Strabimon could feel something rise and, for the first time in his short life, he was afraid, deathly afraid.
"SHUT UP!" Koichi screamed, a sudden black aura flaring from the white body and eyes becoming crimson red. He flew in, attacking wildly as if he had a pair of sword that were possessed with bloodlust. Claws hit blades but there was enough force to knock the blades out of Karatenmon's possession, leaving the raven to dodge the gruesome attacks that would have surely ended his life.
In the end, the raven's agility won out as his opponent grew tired, stamina dropping because of the anger that burned like oil on fire. His eyes widened as he peaked into the boy's heart, leaving him paralyzed.
"A Warrior of Light…so dark…"
"What does that mean?" the Warrior demanded, the aura that he wasn't aware of slowly decreasing in intensity as anger was replaced by confusion.
"An imbalance. You have more darkness than you do light, it's as if you're wearing someone else's armor that had been forcefully molded to you…" Karatenmon said, as if something just dawned on him. "It all makes sense…"
However, the swordsman wasn't able to say anything more, a black claw ending his life and taking his Fractal Code, leaving Gargoylemon standing in horror and with a handful of unanswered questions as Devimon stood before him.
"It's time we end this," he said and with that, the demon took flight, colliding into him and causing them to crash through an eye-shaped portal that had appeared behind him and transporting them into a new area.
Strabimon and Koichi de-evolved, having lost quite a bit of energy in their last fight. The boy raised his head, eyes searching for some sign of the devil that had brought him there but wherever they landed was too dark to see anything but what was within an arm's length. The darkness around him was almost suffocating, like walls closing in, something gripping his heart, a whispering demon close to getting what it wanted. Koichi reached for his D-tector, fumbling to snatch it up and flick a light on to dispel the feeling that had grabbed him but when the sanctity of the light he looked for was too bright and almost awkward. The Warrior shielded his eyes from the glare as he turned the light away and settled for the shadows that felt far more natural to him than either of the elements he was in.
The redirected light fell on Strabimon, causing him to raise a hand to muffle the light some as it hit his eyes. "Turn that off," the Digimon growled in a low voice, scrambling over to the boy and snatching the D-tector and hiding the light. The boy, wanting to keep the dread that was crawling back in his mind, tried reaching for the device but the dark haired boy's partner stopped him, turning gold eyes at the Warrior of Light. "The light will attract him," he answered in a low whisper.
Koichi then nodded reluctantly, withdrawing his hand. They weren't ready to fight Koji at the moment: they needed to learn where they were and where their friends were. The two rose and, without anything else to do, just began walking in hopes of running into something. Their hunt came to little fruition, only finding a small patch of twilight courtesy of a lotus flower-shaped design. Koichi suddenly felt safer, more at home within the median of darkness and light.
"So, we are finally alone and face-to-face," the voice said, with an edge to it.
Koichi spun around, startled. "Koji," he breathed.
Koji narrowed his eyes and his lips stretched across his face into a dark smile. A chill ran down the other twin's back. There was something off, almost crazy; his eyes were almost hollow, cold…manic…
Strabimon stepped in front of his partner, almost protectively like a mother wolf protecting her cubs. "Where's your Gazimon?" he asked, glaring razors into the clouded blue orbs. Koichi blinked; he hadn't seen or heard a snide remark from the weasel Digimon since arriving.
Koji's head rolled sideways on his neck. "He's in his true form, as you will shortly be."
True form? "Koji, you have to break ties with Cherubimon!" the Warrior of Light cried from behind the wolf Digimon. "You're really—"
"Human? One of you?" the other boy interrupted before giving out a short laugh. "I've already figured that one out. I know all that Cherubimon has told me was a lie, I know I'm human, just like you Koichi Kimura."
The addressed twin's heart filled with hope but suddenly sunk. Then, did he know-? "You know that I'm your brother?" he asked.
One of Koji's eyes twitched at the word. "Brother? Blood ties? Hardly," he scoffed. "Your just a copycat, a reflection, an illusion! And I want what you have!"
The manic boy took a step forwards, body poised ready to fight but Strabimon stood his ground. "I have no idea what you want but I won't let you lay a hand on my partner!" he growled, ready to intercept an attack.
"You'll see, Strabimon," Koji swore, backing up several paces and then Spirit Evolving into Devimon.
"Koji, wait!" Koichi tried again but when he got no answer save in the form of a string of cursed kanji. The boy had no choice: he had to fight him. In a flash of light, Gargoylemon stood ready to fight.
The demon flew forwards. The gargoyle flew out of the way, summoning an angel statue and sending it into battle. Devimon easily destroyed the statue before continuing onto Gargoylemon. A chase began; the two figures of opposing elements twirled in a graceless dance of loops and weaving, exchanging blows and attacks, some hitting and others not. The tempo kept but one dancer began to fall behind, mind occupied with confusion to a strange calling.
Destiny shall be put right.
You are…
Koichi stopped, perplexed, but it was a second too long and got away from a beam of destructive energy at last minute thanks to Strabimon taking the body over. What's the big idea? the Digimon shouted, rubbing the burn acquired from the near collision.
Strabimon…don't you feel it? Koichi asked, looking towards Devimon. Gargoylemon dodged the second attack fired at them before unleashing a blast of freezing wind. There's something strange going on. Strabimon's silence answered his question; he could feel something strange albeit different from his partner.
"Finally realizing something?" questioned Devimon, his attacks pausing. The demon Digimon straightened up, red eyes narrowing.
"What are you talking about?" Gargoylemon half asked, half demanded. What was Koji talking about? Realize what? That he couldn't save his brother? Well, that was something that Koichi refused to believe!
"You don't yet?" The demon's face contorted into impatience and annoyance. "Well, then, I'll have to explain before I take the Spirit from you." With that, he de-evolved into his human form and signaled for Gargoylemon to join him. The two hesitated but eventually descended closer but still far enough away to be ready for an attack. Then, Koji began.
"Do you know why we are different from our 'comrades'?" he asked, using the last word with contempt. "We're both special, you see. Our Spirits acted differently to each of us: the Spirit of Darkness become Gazimon and the Spirit of Light became your partner Strabimon."
"Yeah, I know that, Koji," answered Koichi.
Tell him to just get on with it! snapped Strabimon.
"But do you know why, copycat?" The boy in blue held up a white and black D-tector and clicked the button on one side, an off-white symbol appearing on it—the symbol for the Warrior of Light.
The Hybrid shook his head, the human counterpart confused about what was going on. However, the Digimon began making sense of it, He has the Beast Spirit of Light!
"What?"
Koji lowered his head, a knowing sneer crossing his face. "Beast Spirit Evolution." In a flash of light, a silver mechanical wolf with gold blades and accents stood in his place.
"How'd you—?" inquired the confused boy.
"Oh, but there's more," the machine Digimon interrupted. "Destiny spun out of control. Haven't you noticed that it's rather strange how you and I are the only ones that had 'partners'? Or haven't you thought that you weren't right for light? Don't you feel better in the darkness?"
Koichi furrowed his brows in confusion and frustration. "What are you getting at?" It was true that he felt more at peace in the shadows of the night but what did that mean?
Oh, how slow he was being.
"Are you the stupidest person out of your little friends? Here I thought it was the goggle boy. Don't you see, copycat? Strabimon was supposed to be mine, the Spirits of Light are mine!"
"And mine are the Spirits of Darkness? Why should I believe that? Just because you said so?" Koichi growled, for once the human and Digimon sharing the same emotions: denial, anger.
"Fine, I'll show you that I'm the true owner of the Spirit of Light as KendoGarurumon!" KendoGarurumon took off into the air, quicker than either had anticipated. Gargoylemon turned as the silver blur passed him in awe.
This is bad.
No duh!
The flying Hybrid unleashed a freezing wind in hopes of slowing down the speeding machine but the blur easily maneuvered out of the way and came to a sliding stop before turning towards the winged Digimon and firing a white beam from its mouth with the shout of "Lupine Laser." Gargoylemon was quick to get out of the way but instead was a perfect target for KendoGarurumon as he zoomed passed, gold blades outstretched. The blade cut at his arm and wings. White feathers fell as the two de-evolved from the hit. Koichi clutched his arm that had earned a shallow cut that would have been deeper if he hadn't had the armor of the data where Strabimon's arm pixelating where he had been harmed.
KendoGarurumon came to a stop. "Don't you see now? I'm the true heir to the Spirits! You could never get such precision or speed! Give me what belongs to me!"
Strabimon growled as he helped his partner up, "I don't care if I truly belong to you, you ass, but I'm not budging! This is my comrade and I'll say he's better than you are!"
"Koji! Please stop!" Koichi pleaded but it fell on deaf ears.
KendoGarurumon lowered his head and growled in turn, "Then I'll just take it by force."
X::::::::::X
Cherubimon's eyes watched the scene take place before him on the blue flames. Things were spinning out of control because he allowed Koji to take a step to far from home; however, if he didn't know that, he never would have found out this strange truth.
The fallen angel turned yellow eyes towards a chained box behind him. There was no other choice; all his loyal Warriors were destroyed and Mercurymon was most likely doomed as well and Koji was the last one he still had any control over: he wasn't going to lose it, even at the risk of losing the strongest Spirit of the twenty.
This was, after all, what Koji would be after next.
X::::::::::X
Koichi and Strabimon were left to watch in confusion as the wolf hadn't yet attacked them like he had vowed. The two dared look, only to see a large black mass where their would-be killer was, as if two hands of darkness had clamped onto him. A bloodcurdling and pained scream caused the boy to rise suddenly.
"KOJI!" Koichi screamed, stretching out his hands to breakthrough the hands of darkness but he bounced off of it like it was made of rubber.
"Koichi, get away from there!" called Strabimon, racing forwards to join the human and pull him away but it was too late.
The orb exploded open, throwing the two away from the epicenter a great distance until they found themselves out of the twilight and back into the blinding and unnerving darkness. The two crawled back minutes later and were met by a giant being that looked like it was from horror story. A giant lizard towered above them with nothing left but bones, as if it had decayed away but was still alive. The only organs left were a heart and a giant rocket-shaped organ sticking out of its back.
Koichi shivered as fear pierced his heart and as a billion questions raced through his mind. What was that thing? Was it Koji? Was it going to kill them? The boy was shaken from his thoughts as he was pulled roughly to his feet by Strabimon.
"We have to get out of here," Strabimon said.
"But Koji—!" Koichi insisted.
"No, he's gone too far," the wolf Digimon said. "We need to get out of here. We can't save him!"
The dark haired human's eyes began to sting as they held back frustrated tears. "What makes you say that?" he demanded, jerking his head from the giant beast towards the Digimon.
The humanoid wolf had a solemn and hard expression. "Because I know! It's hard to explain but I just know it. I can feel it, Koichi."
The two partners were interrupted when the creature roared the same pained cry that Koji had when he was in the orb of darkness. They, on their survival instincts, ran into the cover of the darkness. Koichi noted how strange it was how he was running into the cover of darkness that he had trembled at the thought of going into.
"Dark Shot!"
Everything from there went in slow motion. First, it was the roar of fire as something flew forwards. Dark blue eyes turned to watch as Strabimon turn, a hand extended to push Koichi away and foot beginning to glow white. He felt the shove. Then wind kicked up as the orb turned in an arc. It met something solid…then…everything returned to living speed.
BOOOOOOOOOOM!
Caught in the flash and rocketing explosion, Koichi, flying from the force of the explosion, thought he could hear a pitiful and dying howl…
Landing hard, barely conscious, and hurting all over, Koichi willed himself to stay awake, trying to not fall victim to the lizard. His blurred vision caught a blue-green glow of what he could think was a Fractal Code—his Fractal Code. I…gotta… He couldn't move anymore and it took all his energy to keep awake and even that was a chore.
He could hear a muffled scream of the giant lizard that had been his brother and the vibrations of its steps as it came closer.
This would surely be the end. Karatenmon had been right: he feared being unable to save his brother and his fear was coming true. Was this the end?
It was funny how bitter things would turn out. How would his mother deal with her son being gone for a long time? She'd be sick with worry and work harder in order to find him. All Koichi wanted was for his mother to smile sincerely, be truly happy with a complete family that she had been denied all those years ago with the divorce he never knew about. That was all he wanted. Why couldn't the damn universe just allow that? This couldn't be the end! No, not yet!
But what could he do?
Koichi began slipping. His senses began numbing and becoming faint. The glow disappearing as it faded to black…
X::::::::::X
Koichi Kimura, this is not the end yet.
The black was pierced by something bright, a strange symbol that he recognized…Ophanimon's emblem?
"Koichi Kimura, are you there?" asked the worried female voice.
"Yes? Ophanimon?"
"Yes, young one. I'm glad I made it in time… There's something you need to know," she began quickly but Koichi cut in.
"Is Strabimon dead?" he asked quickly.
"I am so sorry, Koichi," Ophanimon apologized, her voice full of sympathy. "Strabimon was destroyed when SkullGreymon's rocket hit him and now, your friend is in his true form."
Koichi gasped and his mind shook with anguish. "Am I meant to be alone?" he screamed. "First my father and my brother leave me and then my grandmother dies! Koji was lost to that spirit and now Strabimon's gone! WHY?"
"Koichi," her voice began gently, "you are not alone. Listen! Your friends are praying and scared for you!"
And then he heard their cries, their screams, as if anguished and horrified. "Koichi, please get up! Hang in there! Don't go!" Tears rolled down Koichi's face. That's right, he had his friends: Takuya, Zoe, JP, Tommy, Bokomon, and Neemon. He wasn't alone… "I'm sorry, everyone," he whispered.
There was silence for a minute before it was broken by Ophanimon's urgent voice. "Koichi, I am so sorry to ask this of you but you must trade places with Koji. You are the Warrior of Darkness; you are the true owner of those Spirits. When SkullGreymon took the Spirit of Light, the two Spirit's essence began fighting for control, causing an imbalance in him."
"So…everything Koji said was true?"
"Yes."
Koichi remained silent for a moment. "What'll happen if I do nothing?"
"Koji Minamoto will be torn apart," Ophanimon answered. "If you do trade places, Koji will be free from the Spirits of Darkness and be free of its corruption and he will regain his memories."
The human brows fell. "Will…will I be lost in the corruption?" he asked hesitantly.
"I am so, so sorry, Koichi. I never wanted this to happen but it's our only option to save your brother."
Koichi stood for a moment, weighing his options, and when he came to his decision, a sad smile crossed his face.
"I…I am so sorry…"
X::::::::::X
The martyr rose, awoken from his dream and fully energized thanks to a beam of light. And he walked, footsteps breaking the silence.
Mom, I'm not coming home.
Thank you, Takuya, for encouraging me.
Thank you, Zoe and Tommy, for showing me many ways of being strong and brave.
Thank you, JP, for remaining with us even though something was wrong.
Bokomon and Neemon, thank you for guiding us through this strange land.
I don't think I'm going to be coming to my senses after this. So…I'm so…sorry but…this is for the best…
I'm not afraid!
The boy broke through the orb of clashing white and black, tears streaming down his face even with the smile on his face.
I'm not afraid…
Koichi reached for his twin, caught in the mess and entanglement of light and darkness as it fought and tumbled, retracting before colliding again. The captive peaked open a pained eyes, the haze appearing and disappearing from the dark blue orbs.
"Who…who are you?" Fear traced the words. Vulnerability was there too. The eyes caught the tears in the other's face. "Why…are you crying?"
"It'll be over soon," Koichi said, keeping his voice from trembling. He had never seen his brother so scared, like a child huddling under a blanket.
"I'm scared," Koji whispered. "It…it hurts."
"It'll end, Koji." I promise! Koichi wrapped comforting arms around the warm body. Now, his mind turned in fear but he kept it in check. "It's okay…it'll all be over soon," he croaked, biting his lip.
The light and darkness around them began to stop fighting, slowing their spin before taking two sides, pure of the other.
It was time.
Koichi let go of his brother and willingly let the darkness pull him away, ignoring the cries from the terrified Koji as he disappeared. Darkness covered his vision.
Koji, please, stop Cherubimon with the others and…have a better life than I will ever have.
His mind was wiped as corruption and power overran the human, covering him in a coffin that was buried in the dirt of the darkness. The martyr left to die.
Chapter 25: End.
*runs and cries in a corner* Heavy inspiration drawn from the last message of the martyr of Purin's Lullaby, an ARG that captivated my attention all week. The ending was…just down right bittersweet. Koji doesn't remember Koichi in the ending bit because his mind is in turmoil at the moment and he isn't able to access information and memories.
By the by, I've noticed that in fanfiction, it's always Koji coming to Koichi's protection or aid and any time Koji needs help, it's always when Koichi is corrupted or possessed…well, I'm broke that hopefully. Hope this was a good read in terms of greatness that everyone was hoping for. ^^;