Disclaimer: I don't own Digimon.
I used to be a big fan of mythology when I was younger. Actually, I still am. When I came to Japan, one of my friends, Masahiro, had a huge stack of mythology books, and I'd read them all the time—The Odyssey, the Iliad—and one thing I noticed was that the hero inside the book would fall from grace somehow. And yet, the hero would return; he would be changed somehow, but still a hero.
I've always wondered if that would happen to me. My own fall happened several years ago. But I'm not a hero. I'll never be able to rise from my mistakes. I'll always suffer the consequences.
I'm not making much sense, am I? I guess I should start from the very beginning. From the time…when my name was Fion Frösén.
Chosen Empire:
The Fall
"FION! TIME TO WAKE UP!"
I groaned and rolled over in my bed. It was too early in the morning, I stayed up all night doing my homework, and I was going to keep on sleeping whether she kept calling or not. And I would've too, if my alarm clock hadn't started ringing.
Beep! Beep! Beep! Beep!
"Agh…" I mumbled into my pillow. I shoved myself up, wishing that I had bought the Pikachu alarm clock like Haruka had suggested. Instead, I had a silver digital one, which I hurriedly shut off because the beeping was getting on my nerves.
Across the room, on a mattress on the floor, V-Dramon groaned. "Thank you," he said groggily, and dragged himself into the closet to continue sleeping, which wasn't fair. He was part of the reason I was up so late. After all, I wasn't the one who ate too much cold pizza and had a stomachache. Scowling, I turned away.
Only then did I look at the time.
"Shoot!"
I tore around the room, searching for clothes and socks and my books. I crammed all my school stuff into my bag and, unable to find my shirt, raced downstairs. "Nakahara-san!" I called. "Do you know where I put my shirt?"
"Check the laundry room," she shouted back. "I think I washed it!"
"Right. Thanks!" I ran to the laundry room, passing Azumi on the way. She squeaked and turned red. Oops. I probably should've kept my nightshirt on. But too late for that now. I shot her an apologetic look—but she only turned even more red; I think I smirked at her instead—just before I reached the laundry room, fished out my shirt, and bolted back upstairs to put on the rest of my uniform.
It didn't really matter anyway, I reflected as I adjusted my tie. She'd had a crush on me for a while now; Haruka had made a point of telling me this, straight to my face—she thought I was dense, and maybe I was, but that's not the point—in case I dared to turn my back on Riiko.
Like that would happen.
When I came back downstairs for breakfast—seven minutes, a new record—almost everyone else had finished.
"Fion," Azumi's mom sighed, "you need to get up earlier."
I guiltily sat down, ignoring the way Azumi was shyly glancing at me. She didn't think I forgot to wear my shirt was just for her, did she? Did I really smirk at her? I didn't want to know the answer, so I stuffed myself with eggs, gobbling them down so fast that when I was finished, I felt like I was going to puke.
No time for that though.
Azumi's mother placed a glass full of orange juice down in front of me. "Drink, and get off to school," she ordered. "You have your lunch money?"
I drank hastily and clunked the glass back down on the table. "Yup," I said, wiping my mouth with the back of my hand. Grabbing my bag off the back of my chair, I headed for the door as fast as I could without upsetting my stomach—which wasn't very fast. But that was fine; I had only taken fourteen minutes to get out of the house this morning.
Azumi was taking her time too. Unfortunately.
We reached the door at about the same time and I, having been raised to be a gentleman to all women, opened the door for her and let her go out first. She turned back to me—the wind was messing her long hair up; it looked kind of funny actually, as opposed to Riiko…—smiled, and said, "Fion—"
"Oh, Fionnn!"
I cringed. Only one person would sing my name like that. But at this moment, I was grateful for any distraction. I turned for the gate, feeling only slightly irritated this morning. "Hi, Nasagi."
"Hey," he complained, leaning on the Nakaharas' gate. His hair was messed up too—strands of hair were in his eyes, his mouth. He spat a mouthful of hair out. "That's all I get? C'mon Fion, you can do better than that."
"Leave him alone, Nasagi." Shuichi checked his watch. His hair looked perfect, even as it was swept away in the wind. As usual. But his scarf was flapping like crazy. Again, as usual. "We've got to get going. Go serenade him at lunch or something."
Nasagi considered it. "All right then," he decided, getting off the gate so I could open it. Again, I let Azumi out first—which Masahiro and Shuichi found hilarious—and once again, she looked like she wanted to say something. But then the wind blew, and I heard a familiar laugh.
My heart lurched.
I turned, completely aware of how loud and fast and hard my heart was beating. Riiko, one of Haruka's beanies on her head, was on the ground, tying up her shoe. Well, she was trying to; the wind kept blowing the laces out of her hand because she wasn't holding on tight enough. And as soon as I saw her, she looked up. It was like we had the same thoughts or something.
I think my heart stopped for a second or two.
She smiled, the same smile that greeted me when I first came to Japan. "Hi, Fion." She laced her shoe up quickly and stood. I crossed over to her and took her hand.
"Hi."
"A-hem."
We both jumped, turned red, and scratched our heads. Nasagi was scowling now. "Let's get to school," he said. "We've wasted enough time." He marched off, Haruka, Shuichi, and Masahiro following close behind him.
Feeling slightly guilty, I turned back to Azumi. "Um…" I said. "See you later." Azumi usually got a ride from her cousin, who knew all the shortcuts in town. She usually left before I did, but the cousin was late today.
She looked somewhat crestfallen. "Yeah. See you."
Then Riiko and I ran to catch up with Nasagi, who was actually moving fast for once; and later on we caused a mess at the local market—because Masahiro wanted some oranges, and who was Nasagi to turn down something his brother wanted?—when Nasagi accidentially overturned a stall selling fish.
After pooling all our money to pay for the damages and promising to pick up the ruined fish after school, we dropped off Haruka and Riiko at the elementary, arriving at the junior high two minutes before the bell.
Shuichi and I ran down the halls. He was pulling his scarf off as he ran. "Why…the heck…do you wear that…if you're just going…to take it off?" I gasped.
"Because I…feel like…it," he panted.
We burst through the door just seconds before the late bell rang and collapsed, exhausted, in our seats. Just another ordinary morning.
Shuichi suddenly surged up in his chair. I stared at him. "Fion!" he gasped. "Don't forget, you said you'd take Haruka to the park after school."
I relaxed back into my seat. For a second I'd thought he was going to tell me he had to throw up or something. But this wasn't a problem. "Yeah," I said. "I haven't forgotten."
"Hi, Fion!" Haruka chirped as she skipped over to meet me. "Ready to go?"
I laughed. "Of course I am."
She led the way to the park, chattering happily away. It was a nice day out; the sky was blue, the sun bright, and there was a cool breeze. As we walked along, I became aware of a shuffling sound coming from close behind.
Without turning around, I said, "I know you're there."
"But I want to go too," wailed V-Dramon.
I did turn around this time, in exasperation. "And when did I ever say that you couldn't?"
He pouted. "You said that it would be too obvious and other people would see me."
"Everyone knows about Digimon," interrupted Haruka. "It'd be pointless." She tugged on the back of my shirt. "He can come with us, I don't mind."
"It's not that," I protested. "He can be…scary. I don't want to scare the other kids."
"See?" V-Dramon said. "You're not letting me go!"
Afraid he was getting ready to throw a tantrum right then and there, I hastily agreed and we set off again, V-Dramon's happy voice joining in with Haruka's. Honestly, it was hard to tell who the younger kid was.
When we got to the park, Haruka took off for the swings and V-Dramon somehow got me to get on the see-saw. Off course, then I couldn't really get him up because he weighed so much more than me and that set him off again.
"Let's play hide and seek!" Haruka said hurriedly when she saw V-Dramon's expression. "Come on, we'll hide and Fion will be the one to find us!" Before I could object, she grabbed V-Dramon and tugged him off.
What else could I do? I shrugged and closed my eyes and began counting. "One…two…"
The wind was getting colder. "Three…four…" Was my digivice beeping? Or was I just remembering my alarm clock from this morning? "Five…six…"
No. Something was wrong.
I opened my eyes.
A white fog was billowing out from the ground. A dark shape was forming. I stumbled back, eyes wide. "V-Dramon! Haruka!" I grabbed for my sunglasses and shoved them on so I could see. Spinning around, I caught sight of them and rushed over.
Haruka was clutching onto V-Dramon's arm. "What do we do?" she said weakly.
"Hide," I said desperately, looking around for a place. Panic overwhelmed me. Before, there had always been someone else besides me and V-Dramon. Someone who knew what they were doing. What was I supposed to do know that it was just the two of us?
Just by chance, I happened to see a long figure approaching. My knees went weak. It was a giant skeleton with torn black wings. Fishing out my digivice with shaking hands, I read the screen. "SkullSatamon," I said and then I became aware of the Digimon moving.
His staff swung straight up and my heart stopped. I became aware of Haruka, still standing beside me. "What are you doing?" I shouted at her. "Get away! Go!"
She gulped and turned and began to run.
My head turned around and I saw SkullSatamon open his mouth, words form. His staff glowed. I opened my mouth to scream and in the split second it took me to do so, I realized that he wasn't aiming for me but for Haruka.
My head began to turn back, my heart was pounding fast. If I moved, I could save her. I would get hit instead.
…why?
Why wasn't I moving?
My mouth was open, I was screaming something, but it was a mindless scream. V-Dramon let out a whimper. SkullSatamon roared and a bright light flashed, pierced the air—
I watched it go.
—it struck Haruka in the back mid-stride.
With a scream, she collapsed.
I couldn't hear anything. I couldn't feel anything.
Why didn't I save her?
Why?
V-Dramon took several steps towards her. His eyes were wide. Blood was pooling around Haruka and V-Dramon realized he was standing it. With a wail, he tore himself away and raced out of the park, screaming.
I watched him go, completely numb.
SkullSatamon loomed over me.
My mouth was dry. I stumbled back. My heart was pounding. My breath was coming out in shallow pants.
I could hear someone coming, someone calling.
My knees went weak. SkullSatamon turned to look to see who was approaching; his burning gaze lifted off of me. Suddenly my legs were moving, my feet were pounding against the ground.
No…what was I doing…?
Haruka…Haruka was back there…
But I…couldn't stop running.
I stared at her broken form lying on the hospital bed. Somehow I had found her. Somehow I had…
…killed her.
Haruka turned and saw me. Her lips twisted up in a smile. "Hi Fion," she whispered.
No. No. She couldn't smile at me.
I was the one…
I didn't save her.
She couldn't die.
Not because of me.
Haruka's lips were moving but I couldn't hear her. I stood in the doorway, completely numb.
She was Shuichi's sister, she was Masahiro's first love, she was Riiko's best friend, she was Nasagi's best friend, she was my best friend. She was too strong to die, too strong to lie there, looking weak and broken, too strong to give up.
She was our strength, she was the one who held us together whenever we fought, because Haruka wasn't just the glue to keep the broken pieces in place, she was the one who hit our heads and called us dumb because we were fighting for dumb reasons.
She was the one who would play jokes on us first thing in the morning and claim it was to wake us up for school, the one to go running after bugs and spiders and roaches because the rest of us were too chicken to kill them ourselves. She was everything, and we were nothing without her.
She was the person who made me smile when I was down, who mended arguments between me and Riiko.
She was the first person to make me laugh in Japan.
She couldn't die.
So why…
…why did I let her?
"Fion," Haruka was saying. "Fion!"
I backed away from the door. Haruka was sitting up, reaching for me. "Fion!" she pleaded. "Fion! Where are you…" She broke off, coughing, her body shaking with each rasping cough.
I…
I was the one…who made her like this…
Me.
It was my fault.
I didn't save her…this was…my fault.
I turned and ran.
I'm sorry Haruka…I'm so sorry.
Somehow I found V-Dramon.
He sat, frozen, under a bridge, staring at his feet. They were caked in Haruka's blood. Blood that wouldn't have even been there if it hadn't been for me.
"What are you doing?" I managed to say.
"I…I don't…" he said, looking up at me. "Fion, I…I ran away…I…I'm a coward…but you stayed…didn't you?" He struggled to his feet, hope flaring in his eyes. "How…how is she…?"
Hot resentment surged up in me. Hate, guilt, but most of all, growing despair. Because of me…I was shaking my head. "I…I didn't stay either," I croaked. My throat was closing. "I…"
V-Dramon's eyes were wide. "But then…"
"It's because of you!" I screamed at him. "Why did you leave? We could have, I could have—"
Bzzt.
My hand fumbled with my cellphone. I picked it up, mouth dry. "Hello?"
"Hi Fion," Nasagi said, his voice hollow. "Just thought I'd let you know…Haruka's dead."
I dropped the phone and collapsed. "She…"
"Fion?" V-Dramon whispered.
"I killed her!" I screamed.
V-Dramon found me a day later, curled up and starving. "Fion!"
I saw him, turned away; the small action left me light-headed. "Leave me alone," I muttered. My stomach growled. Shut up, I told it. I was so hungry it hurt to move; it felt like my stomach was eating myself. But that was what I deserved for letting Haruka die.
"Fion…" V-Dramon hurried up to me and stuck a loaf of bread in my mouth.
My eyes bugged. "NO!" I hurriedly sat up and immediately fell back over, dizzy, and gagged. The bread fell out of my mouth. "No. I don't…want food."
"Fion, you've got to eat. Do you know how long it took for me to steal that?"
"Stealing isn't…nice," I muttered.
"Too bad. Eat it!" And he shoved it into my mouth again, and this time I didn't resist the wonderful, wonderful smell and the taste…
Before I knew it, I had wolfed it down, and two more loaves. Then I sat there, panting and hiccupping. V-Dramon watched me with grim satisfaction. "Told you you needed to eat," he said.
I didn't answer and gloomily played with blades of grass. "I wanted to die."
V-Dramon hit me on the head.
"Ow! What was that for?"
"You have no reason to die!"
"Yes, I do!"
"Oh, really? What's that?"
I glared at him before looking away. "Haruka…she's…"
"Oh." V-Dramon sat down with a thump next to me. "I see."
And I don't know what happened, but suddenly I was standing and hollering as loud as I could. "NO, YOU DON'T!" I screamed in V-Dramon's face. "You ran and left and we could have stayed and helped! You—it's because of you—I—I—"
V-Dramon sat there, wide-eyed. "Fion, I…"
"You—" I screamed but suddenly all the anger went out of me and I dropped to the ground. No. This wasn't right…it was V-Dramon…
…it was me.
"Fion?" V-Dramon said nervously.
"I did it!" I screamed, tearing at the ground. "It was me, I killed her, I killed her!" I surged to my feet and V-Dramon backed away. "It was me!" I screamed at the sky; tears streamed down my cheeks. "I…I didn't save her because I didn't want to die. Okay? Okay? It was me!"
I collapsed again, screaming and crying.
V-Dramon stayed by my side. After a while, as my sobs died away, he said, "…Fion?"
"What?" I croaked.
"Look."
I looked where he was pointing. A bright, shining figure, stuck in a bush, struggling against the brambles. Wordlessly, I crawled over and plucked it out. It wasn't any bigger than a cat or a dog.
"I think that's a Digi-Gnome," said V-Dramon softly. "The ones Takato talked about. The ones that…granted wishes."
My fingers unconsciously squeezed together. The Digi-Gnome squeaked, and I hurriedly let go. Bringing it up to eye level, I whispered, "You…can you really grant wishes?"
The Digi-Gnome just stared at me.
My heart pounded, my mouth went dry. Maybe, maybe, there was a way to bring Haruka back. I wasn't stupid; you couldn't bring the dead back to life, but if there were other worlds out there, if they were parallel worlds, maybe…
And before I knew what I was doing, I blurted out, "I wish…I wish there was something, something that could let me travel from world to world, other worlds with Digimon!"
For one long second, I stared at the Digi-Gnome, waiting, waiting, and the Digi-Gnome stared at me. Out of the corner of my eyes, I saw several more Digi-Gnomes appearing, all staring at me.
A huge gust of wind.
A sigh.
And suddenly I was in the middle of a room filled with bluish light with V-Dramon. Facing me were screens blazing with names and pictures, the only source of light; the room was otherwise dark. I was numb with shock.
"Who…" a voice said slowly, "the hell are you?"
A figure was rising in front of the screens; he hit a button on a wide control panel; the screens went blank, and we were thrown into darkness. My hands were numb.
I opened my mouth—
—and a blade pressed against my throat.
I froze.
"Fion!" V-Dramon yelled.
"Fion, eh?" The voice was irritated, rough. "How the hell did you get in here? Someone let you in? Well? Speak, you imbecile."
"I…I don't know," I croaked. "I was…I was in a forest, and then somehow, I'm here now, I made a wish and a Digi-Gnome must have granted it—" I stopped as the blade dug deeper.
"There are no such things as Digi-Gnomes. Do you think I'm stupid?"
"No, no! Not at all!"
"You would say that."
"In…in all honesty, sir, I'll…I'll say anything to keep you from slitting my throat."
The other person was silent for a few seconds. "I see." He drew away and as I rubbed my throat, trying to discreetly back away, there was a click and a small light bulb flickered on.
In the dim light, I could just barely make out the form of the other person. He was spindly, with legs and arms that looked far too long for him. His hair was a reddish bronze.
"Fion!" V-Dramon reached my side. "Sorry, I would've attacked, but…"
"I know." I couldn't find the words to say it, but I was glad he was here with me, in this place. If I had appeared here all alone, I wouldn't have known what to do. Just like…like with…
…Haruka.
My throat closed up.
"Your hand."
I focused on the other person. He was rubbing his thin, gaunt face and studying me closely. There were heavy bags under his eyes. "What are you holding?" he asked.
"What?" I raised my hand up and realized there was a small, remote control-like thing in my palm, and I was squeezing it so tightly my hand was numb. "Oh." There was a small green screen, a dial below that, and a button below the dial. "Weird."
"Give it here." And the person plucked it from my hand before I had time to blink or protest. He studied it. "Odd." He turned it over and over in his hands. "You know," he said offhandedly, "before you appeared there was an earthquake."
I didn't say anything. Was there an exit?
He looked up at me, and his gray eyes seemed to pierce right through me. "Did you have anything to do with it?"
"I don't think so…"
He pulled out his knife. "Are you telling the truth?"
I backed away. V-Dramon was the one who spoke. "We are!" he said. "We don't know anything, we just saw a Digi-Gnome and Fion asked about a different world…"
He went on rambling but all I could remember was my wish. If…the Digi-Gnome had granted it then… "Is there a Haruka here?" I blurted out.
The person seemed to have heard only one part. "Different worlds?"
A feeling of dread pooled in my gut. "No, I…"
His eyes flashed. "In that case…" The person snapped his fingers and a Digimon with a teardrop shaped head appeared. I stared at it. A Digimon… "I have no more use for you," the person said. You obviously don't know when to tell the truth, or when to tell a lie, do you?"
"I…"
"No matter. Dracmon, finish him. No one needs to know that he was ever here." And he turned away, still clutching my device.
"Wait!" I screamed; that device was mine, it was my only chance to see Haruka again, and he was not going to take it away. I yanked out my D-Arc. "Card Slash!"
He turned around; I ignored him. "Speed Percentage Up! High-Speed Plug-In D!"
V-Dramon roared and shot forward, smashing his fist into the teardrop Digimon's face, who obviously wasn't expecting anything that fast. The teardrop Digimon went careening off into a wall and the person stared at me, eyes wide.
"You really are from another world."
"Give it back to me!" I screamed. I launched myself at him but he got out of the way. "Give—it—back!"
He smirked. "Suddenly brave now, are we? Take a look at this." He flipped out a digivice. I did a double-take. The digivice was different. It was just like the one in the TV show Digimon.
"How…what?"
He blinked. "Oh, you recognize it?"
Seeing as I was speechless, V-Dramon took over. "It's just like the one some kids have on Digimon," he explained. "It's a…TV show. Why do you have it? Did you buy it or something?"
The other person smirked again. "This day is getting more interesting by the minute. I'll keep this"—I shouted, but he ignored me—"and you can go and wait in that room right there."
"Why?" I asked furiously. "Give it back to me!"
The atmosphere changed. Suddenly, it felt like the blade was being pressed to my throat again; my hand went to clutch at my throat, but there was nothing there. The other person stared at me, his eyes cold. "Believe me," he said. "I give the orders around here."
And he twirled the dial and pressed a button.
And suddenly, there was an earthquake, and I dropped to my knees, and when I looked up, he was gone.
"Where'd he go?" the teardrop Digimon squeaked, looking panicked. I didn't reply. My whole body was shaking and I was overcome by a sense of failure.
He didn't have to wait long.
Less than five minutes passed and another earthquake shook the floor. When it stopped, the teen had reappeared again. His eyes were blazing. "Interesting," he said, breathless. "I think I'll let you live."
"Give it back!"
His foot connected with my face and I doubled over, trying to stem the flow of blood from my nose.
"Stop saying that. I give the orders," he said. "I don't think you get it yet. Do you?"
"Give it back!"
Another kick and my stomach was burning from pain.
"Understand yet?"
"NO! GIVE IT!"
"Leave him alone!"
V-Dramon rushed forwards as, out of the tops of my eyes, I saw the person's foot draw back. It connected with my head and I went tumbling away, groaning, one hand pressed against my nose, the other against my forehead.
A roar and V-Dramon crumpled next to me.
The two stood in front of us. "That first hit was a fluke," the teen said dangerously. "I ask you one more time—do you understand?"
And finally, I gave in.
"I do," I moaned.
He crouched down in front of me, forced my head back; V-Dramon tried to rise and was beat back by the teardrop Digimon. "Who is in charge here?" the teen asked softly.
I said nothing. His grip on my hair tightened. "What did you say?"
"…you are," I whispered.
He released me. "Good." Gesturing towards a door he said, "Go and stay there until I tell you otherwise. The Empire doesn't need to know about you yet."
I picked myself up, still nauseous. "Who are you?"
He paused en route to another door, feigned surprise. "Me? I'm Ruiseart McCaweis. This is Dracmon. Remember it if you want to get out of here alive."
An hour passed before Ruiseart decided I could be of use to the Empire, whatever that was. He dragged me out, stuck me in a hospital and told the people there that I was sympathetic to the Empire and needed treatment.
Over the next few weeks, V-Dramon and I were introduced into the Empire and learned its history, and what they were fighting for.
"We're fighting for equality," a boy from Greece told me in his fast-talking way. "You see, the Odaiba Chosen get all the attention, right? Well, we fought just as hard against BelialVamdemon, and who gets all the credit? The Odaiba Chosen!"
"But," I protested, "isn't this a weird way to get attention?"
"Oh, no, no, no," the guy said. "You see, we're also purifying the world of people who tried to isolate and shun us. We're tired of being trampled on, you see, and it's time to take action!"
"But if you're just going around and attacking other people," V-Dramon argued, "then how is it going to help? Aren't you just making things worse and making yourselves look bad?"
"How could it possibly be bad?" he said. "You see, we're fighting for what we believe in. Since when has that been a bad thing, can you tell me?"
We couldn't.
And there were some who had their own reasons.
"I don't want to fight against my sister," a bright, happy girl told me, somewhat cheerfully. "Believe me, if I could, I wouldn't be in the Empire, but who wants to fight against their sibling? I don't think you would, would you?"
"I don't have a sibling," I told her.
"Well, if you did, you wouldn't want to, now would you? Didn't think so." She smiled and tapped her forehead. "Makes you think, doesn't it? Bye!"
As we watched her run off, another girl who had some of the same physical features as her appeared, looking harried. "Sorry," she said breathlessly, "I've been chasing Melody all day. She's a little hyper right now."
"She's your sister?" V-Dramon asked.
The girl nodded. "Yeah. Later." And she ran off, yelling, "Melody! Wait up!"
And then there were some who had a reason that I wasn't sure I approved of.
"Its fun," the girl twin said to me. "Its fun, fighting on the battlefield, don't you think?" She swung her weapon, a staff around before smashing it into the ground. It left a sizable hole in the ground.
I swallowed hard. "But people...and Digimon…they're getting injured out there, aren't they?"
"So?" the boy twin said. "It's war. Get used to it, pansy."
But all of them seemed to have one main reason: nationalism. They were proud of their country for fighting against BelialVamdemon, and were angry at not being recognized enough.
"But it's stupid," I protested. "You defeated BelialVamdemon, isn't that good enough?"
The boy from Greece whose name was Isaak shot me a withering look. "You think it would be enough for you?" When I didn't answer he hopped up. "C'mon, we're going to see something. You too, big fat dragon."
And he led us away, ignoring V-Dramon's indignant shouts.
"Those…those are the…"
"…the Chosen," V-Dramon gasped.
The Odaiba Chosen, the American Chosen, the French Chosen, all the famous Chosen I'd seen on TV were there and more. My eyes scanned the television screens broadcasted from all over the world. There was Taichi Yagami, barking orders inLithuania. There was one of the Australian Chosen inSpain, chasing after someone in the street.
"What's…going on?" I said.
Isaak didn't meet my eyes. "Isn't it obvious?" he said. "They're keeping order across Earth."
"That doesn't make sense," V-Dramon said. "People in the Resistance, they're looking for them aren't they? And wouldn't other people recognize them?"
Isaak shook his head. "They look in the Digital World, not the real world. And those who happen to be on Earth for missions are told to stay away from these sorts of places. The Hunters are known to be ruthless. You think they haven't killed before?"
A cold pit was forming in my stomach. This…this was…what was this world? What had happened to it? Why was this so different from the show I'd known and loved? I found myself speaking.
"This is stupid!" I swung around to face Isaak. "Let them go!"
This time Isaak did look at me. "You don't know anything, do you, Fion?" he asked softly. "These people have done more damage than you think, you see. Just how ignorant of the world are you?"
I didn't answer. No one but Ruiseart and Dracmon knew I was from a different world.
"Hey," V-Dramon said suddenly. "Where's your partner, huh?"
Isaak turned away. "He joined the Resistance," he muttered before walking away, his footsteps echoing in the silent hall.
"You have the Hunters controlling Earth?"
Ruiseart glanced at me. "Clever, isn't it?"
"No."
He laughed. "Then you don't understand the beauty of it. The heralded Chosen, under my orders, keeping strict control over Earth. It's a beautiful irony." And he turned back to his project, which so far looked like a huge chunk of scrap metal.
"It's not right."
"I don't have time for your stupid opinions," he said.
"What good is this going to do?" I asked desperately.
"Revenge," he said.
It was obvious I wasn't going to get anymore out of it. I had asked about it before, but that was as far as he'd say. So I tried a different tactic. Pointing at his project, I asked what it was.
"I told you, I don't have time for stupid questions! Now get out of here, moron!"
V-Dramon and I left, already used to his insults. It wasn't as bad as what he called other people. It just seemed to be a part of his nature. In any case, Ruiseart hadn't forced me into anything so far, so I was biding my time, waiting until the chance came to steal the device back.
So far, no Haruka.
But I had long since given up such hope.
I just wanted to get home.
A year passed.
Ruiseart still hadn't finished whatever he was working on. In any case, he got tired of the Empire's daily affairs and decided to hold a contest to see who would become the next leader.
I personally thought it was ridiculous.
When I told him so, Ruiseart scowled at me. "It doesn't matter what you think," he said, "because as of right now, I'm still the leader, and until a new one is chosen, I give the orders around here. You haven't forgotten that, have you?"
I gulped and V-Dramon snarled softly beside me. I quickly stepped in front of him. "No, I haven't."
"Good." Ruiseart returned to his work. "Because I'm choosing you as one of the participants, and V-Dramon, I suggest you don't attack unless you want to end up as a little egg."
Because that was what Digimon turned into here when they were defeated. Eggs, not data. I left Ruiseart's work room, the room V-Dramon and I had first appeared in, somewhat sourly.
Only Ruiseart could decide the candidates of the tournament. For whatever reason, he had decieded that we would participate as well. Nevermind us arguing with him, he ignored all complaints until he lost his temper.
He'd pinned me to the ground and twisted my arm behind my back until he nearly broke it. I'd yielded, like the coward I was. Wincing, I walked along the halls with V-Dramon, feeling useless.
No sooner had we climbed up a flight of stairs, Isaak, my first friend, came racing around to meet me. "I've been looking all over for you!" he panted. "No, no, no," he added hastily when I asked him if he wanted water. "Listen, listen, Ruiseart has chosen me as one of the candidates!"
The day of the tournament arrived, and it would have been fine, except the Resistance decided to attack us, with the help of a bunch of other unnamed groups. For a few hours, chaos reigned outside while V-Dramon and I hung back inside. This was not our fight. None of them were.
Not even this stupid tournament Ruiseart was planning.
When it finally ended, I helped carry the wounded back, and as expected, Ruiseart declared that the tournament would continue. So we all headed for the arena and sat around. And then it was our turn.
"Fion Frösén and V-Dramon versus Isaak Georgiadis," the announcer said.
My stomach dropped. We would have to fight Isaak? Isaak, who never bothered applying for a partner because he said that he would only ever have one partner, and that getting another was cheap, and fake? Why him?
But he didn't come forward.
After a few minutes passed, a girl stood up and headed over to the announcer. "Oh…Isaak…" he said slowly, hesitantly, "is…dead." He went on to list several more deaths but all I could hear was the blood pounding in my ears.
What?
No.
No.
No.
He was lying.
The announcer asked for a moment of silence before continuing on. "I think Isaak would have wanted us to hold the tournament," he said, but he didn't sound like he meant it, "so…a new opponent has been chosen. Norio Ishii and Tortomon!"
The two jumped down from their seats onto the arena.
But I ignored them. I was still numb. It was happening too fast. Isaak couldn't have died. He was too fast, too nimble to get hit. This was all a joke. I was too stunned to even cry.
"Fion," V-Dramon whispered. "Fion…it's starting."
And it did start.
Not in the way I expected.
"So!" Norio called. "You're the infamous Fion, are you?"
I eyed him warily. "What's it to you?"
"Oh, nothing," Norio said airily, crossing his arms behind his head, not even making an attempt at a physical attack; Tortomon simply sat down and smirked at me. "It's just that…you know, I've never seen you on the battlefield."
Silence from the audience.
"How would you know?" V-Dramon snapped. "And how is this related to the fight?"
"Oh, it's got everything to do with the fight," Norio said. "And you know, I've never seen you either." He waited for the mutterings to quiet down before he continued. "See, I've got a theory. You two are traitors; that's why you don't fight for us, you just observe and supply information to the Resistance."
He let the words sink in.
And suddenly everyone was against me and V-Dramon. Our only friend had been Isaak, and he was gone now. Spectators in the stands were beside themselves with fury.
Norio continued to talk, rousing the audience even more, but I ignored him. Everything was crashing down around me. V-Dramon and I were strangers in this world. We didn't belong. It was time to leave…
…if Ruiseart would let me.
Ruiseart.
Would he save me?
Then I shook myself angrily. Ruiseart wouldn't. Why would he? I was nothing more than a tool.
"So!" Norio shouted out triumphantly, bringing me back to attention. "What do you have to say to that, traitor? Any words of defense?"
If he had just left it at that, he would have been fine. But he plowed on, "You finally cracked this time, eh, Fion? Decided that the time was ripe to get rid of Isaak? Couldn't stand him because he didn't have a partner, is that right?"
Everyone was shouting and screaming by now, throwing things. How could I do that to Isaak? they were yelling. Did I think I was better than Isaak? How could I have planned his death?
And Tortomon laughed. Laughed long and loud.
My fists clenched.
Haruka's death still stung. Isaak's death had opened that wound, made it raw. Norio was using it to his advantage. Did he think it was funny?
Tortomon evidently did.
Just what was so funny about people dying?
I whipped out my digivice, and the audience gasped. The smile fell of Norio's face. "That's…what is that?"
"What's it to you?" I hissed. "And let me ask you something, do you think death is funny? Do you? You think Isaak's death is funny? Is that why you're laughing? Isaak had friends, you know. And I'll bet you anything they're not laughing. Why are you?"
"I…"
"Death isn't funny," I snarled. "It hurts. It isn't anything to laugh about. You wouldn't understand." My hands searched my pockets, found a card, a card I hadn't used in a long, long time. "Card Slash! Matrix Evolution!"
"V-Dramon evolve!" V-Dramon roared. "AeroV-Dramon!"
Norio scowled. "Go, Tortomon!"
But AeroV-Dramon zipped around behind him. "This," he spat through clenched teeth, "is for Isaak! Magnum Crusher!"
Tortomon roared in pain and turned around. "Shell Phalanx!"
AeroV-Dramon dodged the rocks, as did I. But AeroV-Dramon wasn't finished yet. He took to the sky, spiraling wildly around in the air. "DRAGON IMPULSE!"
And with that, Tortomon shrieked and slumped to the ground.
Silence reigned.
"The winner," the announcer said at length, his voice shaky, "is Fion Frösén and AeroV-Dramon. They will advance to the next round—"
"No," I interrupted. "I quit. I don't want anything to do with this place, if all you do is believe the words of someone who laughs at another person's death."
And we left.
Ruiseart and Dracmon forced us to stay.
Kiuchi Miura won the tournament. I didn't care. Days melted into weeks as snow melted into spring. During all this, AeroV-Dramon and I were forced to take part in battles, something I hated. But eventually, over time, I grew more and more apathetic, and I hated it. Something was wrong with me. Something had been wrong with me ever since Haruka died. Something changed when Isaak died.
I still hadn't cried, hadn't grieved yet. It was bothering me.
One day, there was a battle, a major one, held in the Digital World. The Resistance was trying to gain control over it, and would have won if it hadn't been for my decision to pull back, regroup, and outflank them.
It was only because I didn't want anyone to be unnecessarily hurt. But everyone else claimed it was military genius. Ever since the incident with Norio and Tortomon, they had been keeping a wary distance from me and AeroV-Dramon, but someone approached me.
"Fion, right?" he asked brightly. "I'm part of the paper, the one we distribute in the real world cities, you know, and I'm going to write about this. Could you spell your name for me?"
"I don't want to."
"Why?"
"Because he doesn't," AeroV-Dramon rumbled.
"Well, then, I'll spell it wrong."
"Whatever." I stopped. Something formed in my head, a spark in my down dreary life. "My name isn't Fion."
The guy was confused. "What are you talking about?" When I didn't answer, he frowned. "Well, then write your name for me here, would you?"
I wrote it down.
Sadao Kawada.
Because Fion Frösén wasn't a fighter, a killer, a destroyer of dreams and hopes. Sadao Kawada was.
