GoggleMaster01- This is it! We're almost at the end! (does carameldansen) Man, this story is long as hell. And I'm planning sequels. I have no sanity.

So, enjoy this second-to-last chapter of the fic! And I still don't own Digimon, even after all these millenia.


Chapter 29

Apocalymon Appears

I was unconscious for what felt like forever. When I opened my eyes, I was in that starry place I was in when I first gained my powers. I searched for the brightest star, which was Starstar's. When I found it, I was surprised to see it coming towards me. I watched until Starstar began to take her pixie-like form. Then, she became too bright, and I shielded my eyes.

"Tai," I heard Starstar say softly. She'd remembered I hated my real name. "Every Pokemon, Digimon and Halfborn has a special gift, a gift they can only use when they come to Team StarClan. Some gifts allow them to catch even the fastest prey. Other gifts allow them to enter the dreams of the living. And then, there's your gift, the rare Celestial Life."

"Celestial-Life?" I asked, eyes still covered.

"Yes. It allows you to come back to life, but only one time," Starstar explained. "All of the DigiDestined have it as a failsafe. Psystar has it too."

This was the first I was hearing of something like this. Not only was I not dead, but Psystar wasn't dead either. "So, that means-" I began.

"Psystar has come back to life as well," Starstar said. "But you cannot return just yet. You must wait for your body to recover."

"My body got blown to bits!" I pointed out.

"I can make it come back, but it will take a long time," Starstar said.

"How long?" I asked.

"I can't be sure-" Starstar began.

"I need to get back there now!" I yelled. "I can't stay here for years!" I tried to grab Starstar and beg her to send me back, but the bright light shining from her body caused me to shield my eyes again.

"Remember, Tai, the stars are always with you..." Starstar said. Her voice was becoming faint.

"Starstar! Hey! Wait!" I cried. The bright light began to dim, and I was alone in a mass of twinkling stars. And I was alone there for what felt like months or even years.

Suddenly, I began to glow with an orange light. I couldn't move- I couldn't even blink. I was pertrified- how long would I have to stay like this when the Digimon were still fighting and maybe dying? I could have been there for years, but I eventually felt like I was melting and being poured through a funnel. There was a pop and I blacked out.


"Halfborn. So that's where you went."

Lionstorm's annoyed tone was the first thing I heard when I woke up. I stretched my wings and yawned, unable to remember what happened clearly. I remember going to Team StarClan, seeing Starstar and learning about the Celestial Life, but after that, it was just a big mush. I couldn't tell you what happened while I sat there if I wanted to.

Me and Lionstorm were in a black void. Digital code, 1s and 0s, flew by our heads in streaks of green. "Where-where ware we?" I asked.

"Final Destination," Lionstorm growled. "This is where Apocalymon lives."

APOCALYMON! I totally forgot about him! I then noticed the Chosen Digimon weren't there. "Hey, where's Agumon and the others?" I yelled.

"All of them are struggling against Apocalymon," Lionsnot explained. "Saw the pathetic things as I raced by."

"And where were you, Mr. High and Mighty?" I asked, annoyed that he called my friends pathetic.

"Well, Apocalymon had us in his dungeon, then brought us here and destroyed Deadfoot and Riverfur personally. Naturally, I ran, being faster than them. Then the Digimon showed up. I caught a quick glimpse as I sped off. I don't think those toothpicks will last long against that-"

"IDIOT!" I swiped my broken claws against Lionstorm's face and grabbed him by the collar. "Your comrades were being killed, then you saw eight Rookies charge a Mega and you just RAN? You coward!"

"My my, you're pretty foolish to be attacking a full-grown warrior," Lionstorm purred.

"The only foolish one here is you, Stubbytail," I hissed. "You could have done something to help them, but you didn't! Coward!" I dropped him, then ran off into the black void, searching for Apocalymon. "And for your information-" I yelled over my shoulder, "-I destroyed THREE of the Dark Masters! Who's foolish now?"


Apparently, me.

I forgot to ask where Apocalymon was, so I was wandering through a black void that looked all the same in every direction. I had no idea where Apocalymon was and I'd been searching for maybe a half hour-an hour tops. I'd lost track of time. Apocalymon had probably roasted the Digimon by now, but my promise to TK and my desire to save Base propelled me onwards.

Eventually, I saw a streak of flame. "Pepper Breath! Ha!" It was Agumon! He was still alive! I heard other attack names too- Spiral Twister, Blue Blaster, Lightning Paw and, to my relief, Boom Bubble.

And then I heard, "Crimson Lightning!" But it wasn't Myotismon. It was Apocalymon! A mixed variety of screams filled the air and I rushed towards them.

The eight Digimon were on the floor, knocked cold. And, towering above them, was the Big Bad, Apocalymon.

"Hey! Leave those Digimon alone, you big bully!" I cried. Apocalymon saw me, a little tiny speck compared to his massive bulk. "What's this? Another gnat to irritate me?" he asked. His voice sent a series of sharp shivers down my spine, but I didn't run away like that 'fraidy cat Lionstorm. (*Author's Note- For the people who don't know, Lionstorm is supposed to be a Luxray, his tail was just cut off in a battle*)

"It's me! The Hero of Flame! I'm gonna kick your butt!" I yelled.

Apocalymon stared at me. "Concert Crusher!" He slammed me into the floor next to Agumon. Agumon's eyes were closed.

"Agumon..." I shook him and tried to wake him up.

Agumon opened his eyes halfway. "Tai...You're alive..." he said. His voice was faint.

It had taken all eight of our fully evolved Digimon to defeat Apocalymon before, but now, with only little old me and eight Rookies, it was hopeless. But, that didn't mean I'd give up. Even in a pinch like this, I wouldn't give up on my friends.

I forced myself to my feet. "Hey, Apocalymon," I said weakly. That single attack drained almost all my power. "I am the DigiDestined of Courage, the Hero of Flame. And I won't lose to you."

"So, you're a DigiDestined?" Apocalymon picked me up by the scruff and examined me. His claws were starting to pierce my collarbone. One little twitch, and he'd snap my head off. "Oh, now I remember you! The human boy with the silly haircut! Your Digimon was that poor Rookie if I remember correctly!" Apocalymon pointed to Agumon.

"Yeah," I said. "What of it?"

"Well, I was just wondering where that big fancy WarGreymon was, HALFBORN?" Apocalymon began to crush my collarbone. I had no choice- I had to find out how to set myself on fire and use Rage to see if Apocalymon would drop me. But how could I? Well, the attack was called Rage. Maybe if I got mad. Mad at Apocalymon for hurting my Digimon friends and killing my mentors. Mad at Lionsnot for turning his back. Mad at Sesshoku for using my home and my family and killing millions of innocent Digimon to get what he wanted...

There was a whoosh and Apocalymon dropped me like a hot potato. I spread my wings and began to soar at him. I tried to slam him with my flames but did no damage. Instead, I crashed the floor. My head was spinning, but I didn't care. I had to take down this tyrant. For the Digimon, my family, my friends.

For everybody.

A dragon's roar erupted from my throat- a roar of rage, of sorrow, of loneliness, of derfunklishness. But also a victory roar of some kind. It was every emotion that I'd ever felt and held inside me and every emotion my friends and family felt. After the initial shock of the loud roar coming out of me, I noticed I was also belching flames. But these were bigger than my Flamethrower flames. They were also a bright blue.

"No. Not those! The Flames of Courage! There is only one way to stop them- TOTAL ANNIHILATION!"

Apocalymon pulled into his big sphere-like shell and began to spin really fast. If he succeeded, he'd annihilate everything- even my friends and family back home! I thought about all my loved ones, all my friends- Mom and Dad, Agumon and the other Chosen Digimon, Lilithmon, Psystar, Joe, Mimi, TK, Izzy, Sora, Matt. With each person's name, the flames burned bigger, brighter and hotter.

I more of screamed Kari's name than thought it- she was my little sister, the one who I had to protect the most. Even though I couldn't protect her from jerks like Davis, I could still protect her from Apocalymon.

And I could protect everyone else too.

There was a huge explosion, and I couldn't tell if it was from me or Apocalymon. My mouth closed, the blue flames died, and I sank into unconsciousness.


GoggleMaster01- What do you think of the near finished story? Like it? Hate it? Too many cliffhangers? Let me know- REVIEW!