Hidden Power
Téa continued to wander in thought about Joey's theory about how Birdramon was able to digivolve into Garudamon. "Joey said he thought it was possible because he tapped into the power of his element," she muttered to herself.
Lopmon heard her and asked, "What do you mean by element?"
The brunette picked up the little rabbit and set her on her lap. "Well, you see, Lopmon, each of us represents a certain element. To put it simply, a unique quality and personal strength that separates us from one another. As you found out earlier, Joey represents the element of friendship." She faces the others and adds, "Yugi's element is courage, Emily's is love, and Kaiba's is wisdom."
"What about you, Téa?" Lopmon asked. "What element do you represent?"
She was silent for a minute, then replied, "I can't really answer your question because I'm not so sure myself. Actually, I remember being troubled over the same thing once before."
A few months ago, Téa went with Emily to the outskirts of Pallet Town to help take care of the Eevee at the rescue farm. She didn't let the concept of her best friends being legendary heroes bother her too much and she didn't know why she thought of the question at the time, but she spoke up and asked Emily, "Hey, Emily, if I were a chosen warrior of Millennia like you and Yugi and Joey, what element do you think I would represent?"
The blonde was surprised to hear her ask such a question. "Why would you ask me that?"
Even Téa was just as surprised with herself and figured it was stupid of her to even bring it up. "Never mind. Forget I asked."
"No, actually, it's an interesting question," Emily insisted.
The brunette shyly smiled and decided, "Well, it's just that we've been friends for a long time and with all that we've been through with these adventures and all these self-discoveries, I guess I'm just a little curious."
To Emily, that was understandable. "Oh, Téa, it's not a matter of being a hero chosen by destiny. It's a matter of what separates you from everyone else and how you share it with everyone else." As the girls sit down, Emily begins to elaborate. "For example, my element is love. But it's not the romance and flirting kind I express. It's concern, understanding, and compassion. It's about looking past appearances and trying to share that tenderness."
Téa understood that much. Love does come in many different forms and she had seen it demonstrated in many different ways.
Emily continued on. "Then there's Yugi. You and I have been friends with him longer than we've been friends with anyone else. Shy and insecure, yet lion-hearted. But he never lets it stop him from achieving his goals. He knows that as long as he has something worth going on for, despite whatever dangers may lie ahead, he's willing to face it. That's because he knows that there are bigger things in the world more important to be concerned about than a few petty fears. So no matter how afraid Yugi is, he still sticks it out."
"And that's his way of demonstrating the power of his element," Téa said in understanding.
The blonde nods and continues, "Then there's Joey. In a way, our elements are similar, but they're still different and Joey's always proving it. You've seen the times he's tried to help Max."
Téa did remember. She thought Joey was doing it because he loved her.
In many ways, that was true. Joey admitted he had a crush on Max long ago, but the more time he spent getting to know her, the more he realized how special she was to him. But Joey also realized that he wasn't the only one Max was special to. She had other friends who cared about her. Though many of them were boys who were also flirtatious with her and had crushes on her, in some ways, Max was special to them too and Joey knew that if anything were to happen to her, he wouldn't be the only one who would be heartbroken. Joey still has feelings for Max even today, but he's fighting to be content with just being friends with her.
It wasn't just Max who was special to Joey. There was also his little sister and the rest of the gang. He was loyal to every one of them and was always willing to help them.
"Joey is representing his element by being unselfish and showing others that friends can share friends," Emily added. "He's also sharing his gift by being a friend to someone who needs a friend."
As Téa was taking in her friend's explanations, she was starting to see the difference in their elements.
"So, Téa," Emily was asking, "What is it that separates you from everyone else? What's your personal gift that you can share with everyone else?"
Even though Téa learned a few things from Emily's examples, she still wasn't too sure. She shrugged and replied, "I'm not sure."
The blonde still had a few ideas. "Well, you're a lot of things, Téa. You're smart, kind, considerate, understanding, supportive, faithful, loyal, I'm sure any of those could be your element. Maybe we could represent the same element."
"You think so?" the brunette asked.
She was certain. "There's no law that says more than one person can't represent the same element. You represent love in your own way just like everyone else does."
Téa smiled with great appreciation. She concluded her story by saying, "For a minute there, I thought she was using herself as an example on sharing her gift, but I still appreciated what Emily said all the same."
Lopmon smiled and said, "Emily has a good heart."
The brunette nods and says, "That's why she's my best friend." She turns her attention to the others. "But I'm not the only one who's been having the same problem. Even the rest of us are still trying to figure out what elements we would represent. And I'm starting to think that until we do, most of you may not be able to fully digivolve." Lopmon didn't like the sound of that. Téa looks down and assures her, "Hey, I didn't mean to discourage you like that. We'll figure it out together."
"Promise," Lopmon asked.
"I promise," Téa replied.
The little brown rabbit felt more reassured. She trusted her partner and knew she was just as kindhearted, faithful, and supportive like Emily said she was.
That evening, while everyone was trying to set up camp, they were disturbed by a crowing sound. A group of dark Digimon began flying through the trees. One of them stopped in front of the heroes. It was a black dragon with red eyes and a skull mark on his shoulder.
Kaiba checked the information on his digivice. "That's Devidramon, a dragon-like version of Devimon and a virus-type. He's also a champion level Digimon and has the power to render his victims immobile by glaring at them. He also attacks with his Crimson Claw."
"There's so many of them," Serenity cried. Joey held his sister close to her to protect her.
"Do you think they're all possessed by shadows?" Bakura asked.
"No, these creatures are naturally evil," Kaiba answered. "But I do have a feeling that they've been sent to find an attack us."
"Like those bugs back in the forest?" Tristan asked.
"Well, if it's a fight these guys want, then it's a fight they're gonna get," Duke said and began activating his digivice. Monodramon digivolved into Dinohumon and began striking the Devidramon with his halberd. Kaiba and Mokuba nodded and used their digivices as well so their partners could digivolve.
It was looking like a battle of dragons. Greymon unleashed his Nova Blast, Growlmon attacked with Pyro Blaster, and Dinohumon swung his halberd again. The Devidramon glared at the three dragons, rendering them immobile.
Lopmon jumped out of Téa's arms and began digivolving into Wendigomon. She unleashed her Koko Crusher on the Devidramon, but her allies were still rendered paralyzed.
"They still can't move," Téa observed. "I guess it's going to take time for it to wear off." She refocused her attention on the battle and screamed as she saw another Devidramon coming her way.
Wendigomon punched the dragon away from her partner. "That was a close one. Are you all right, Téa?"
The brunette nods and says, "Thanks to you." Another Devidramon was coming in to attack. Wendigomon held Téa to protect her, but the dragon managed to grip the beast's arm and begin biting down. The beast Digimon howled in pain.
Lunamon digivolved into Lekismon and used her Moon Night Bomb to attack the dragon and force him away from her ally. She unleashed a barrage of more Moon Night Bombs on the rest of the dragons, but none of them were feeling drowsy from the effects.
Téa gasped as she saw the bite marks on Wendigomon's arm. "Wendigomon," she gasped. "You got hurt trying to protect me. I'm sorry."
"Don't blame yourself," the beast Digimon said, consoling her. "I'm supposed to protect you no matter what."
"And as your tamer, I'm just as responsible for taking care of you," the brunette returned. "And the fact that you put yourself in harm's way makes me to blame for whatever happens to you and that means I have to help make things right." She took a piece of cloth from her knapsack and began using it to clean the wound on her partner's arm. "I care about you, Wendigomon, and it wouldn't be right of me to ignore your well-being."
Suddenly, Téa's digivice began lighting up and her screen projected a different kind of symbol. Just like before, the light from the digivice enveloped Wendigomon and she began feeling energy flowing inside of her. "Wendigomon, digivolve to… Antylamon!" And a large rabbit wearing a red armored vest and a lavender scarf around her neck emerged from the light.
Téa marveled at the sight of her partner and checked the information on her digivice. "Antylamon - ultimate level. Special attack: Bunny Blades."
Anytlamon scooped Téa into her hands. "Téa, your feelings of concern for me are making me strong."
"Could that be… my element?" she wondered.
"Yes," the rabbit warrior answered. "Your tenderness towards me allowed me to digivolve and even healed my wounds. Now I can return your kindness by protecting you."
Téa smiled and said, "Let's do this together."
Anytlamon liked the sound of that. She carefully set Téa on her shoulders. "Hold on tight." Like an acrobat, the rabbit warrior began jumping and back flipping.
Téa held on to avoid being thrown off. "This is awesome!"
"Trust me, Téa, you haven't seen anything yet," the rabbit warrior promised. After showing off her acrobatic displays while dodging the Devidramon, her hands turned into axes and she cut the dragons down with her Bunny Blades.
When the battle ended, Anytlamon degenerated back into Kokomon and she began discussing what happened with her partner. "Téa, you're a very special person," Kokomon complimented. "It's true what they say, you're kind and unselfish."
"Well, I can't take all the credit," Téa admitted. To Kokomon, that statement was proof that her partner was unselfish. "You helped out more than I did. Had it not been for you, Kokomon, I wouldn't have realized how much I cared about you."
"You've always been kind to the people you care about," the Digimon reminded her. "And you've known your element all along. And just now, we were able to see its power."
"So what is your element, Téa?" Joey asked.
She looked down and saw that the symbol was still printed on the screen of her Digivice. "Actually, it's similar to Emily's, but different."
"Well, what is it?" Max asked impatiently.
She smiles and replies, "My element is compassion."
All off her friends were delighted to hear that. They all agreed that Téa was a very kind and compassionate person.