Here it is! The last chapter that focuses on Tai, Agumon, Sarai and Gaomon's dynamic!
Full Disclosure: This chapter is very heavy on the emotional turmoil and alludes/explores difficult and dark topics. Though nothing explicit is written, the implications are blatant. Therefore...
CHAPTER WARNINGS!: IMPLIED/REFERENCED SUICIDAL INTENTIONS, ABUSE, DEPRESSION AND TRAUMA/ANXIETY INDUCED PANIC ATTACKS. READ AT OWN RISK!
Also, not gonna lie, Sarai is probably the least complex original character I have which makes her kind of boring to write sometimes. I wanted to focus on the waves of change an OC can make without having everything be from her point of view etc. So keep in mind that the Narration is unreliable. There are conversations and interactions I don't write, but do reference.
In saying that, enjoy your chapter.
Chapter 13: Hear me Roar [Part2]
- She walked the line drawn between reckless and foolish, until one thought her brave.
Matt would never forget the feeling of dread that crept up his spine or the way his heart pounded against his rib cage. He would remember every terrifying detail of being trapped, helplessly watching as Gaomon screamed Sarai's name. He'd remember the sound of Tai screaming commands at Greymon, who struggled against his enslaved counterpart. It was the moment he knew there was something horribly wrong with Sarai.
Something he didn't understand and still terrified him.
But despite the chaos, Matt didn't have time to wallow. With Tai so obsessed with ordering Greymon about, it was up to him to bring back some sense of order.
"JOE!" He snapped, but the older boy was already digging into the ground with the help of Gabumon, Gomamon and Biyomon.
The pulsing glow of his crest helped guide him on where to look. Matt sent a grateful nod towards Sora who was hugging a wide-eyed TK in comfort, doing her best to reassure him despite everything. Finally, he settled his gaze on Mimi, Izzy and their respective Digimon who were doing their best to keep Gaomon and Tai from pressing closer to their electric cage.
"Just what the hell does she think she's doing!?" Matt couldn't help but growl angrily.
His stomach swooped with terror as the darting blur of Sarai's figure dodged and slashed among the feet of the massive Dinosaur Digimon.
"She needs me!" Gaomon howled fighting to free himself from Palmon's poison ivy hold.
"WHAT ARE YOU DOING GREYMON! HURRY UP AND BEAT THAT GUY!" Tai roared with demand.
Mimi had a tight grip on Izzy's shoulder, her face pale with fear as she too watched Sarai recklessly charge against the enslaved Greymon. Matt managed to tug Tai back from the electric cage when he lunged forward a second time to scream louder.
"Tentomon," Izzy named with an unreadable stare.
The bug Digimon nodded, easily understanding his human's wants despite the lack of words. Matt narrowed his eyes suspiciously, suspecting the red headed genius to have been withholding important information. But before Tentomon could do whatever it was Izzy had wanted, Joe let out a loud cry of relief.
"I'VE GOT IT! I've got my crest!" the older boy celebrated.
"Look! A tunnel! We can escape through here!" Sora pointed out.
Matt nodded and quickly instructed for Joe to lead the way with Sora and TK.
(~)-(~)- *DIGIMON ADVENTURE*-(~)-(~)
"WHAT ARE YOU DOING….!? HURRY UP ….!"
The shout filtered through her ears distorted, but the words and demand in them registered loud and clear.
Not good enough. Play it again! Do it again. Faster! Better! What is wrong with you! Useless! *WHACK* Look at your father! Do you see what you made me do? AGAIN! DO IT AGAIN! FASTER BETTER! WHAT IS WRONG WITH YOU! HOW CAN YOU BE SO USELESS!
Sarai yelled out as she swung the metal pole in her hand, the anger in her veins spurring her forward. She forgot where she was, her surroundings and who she was with. All she could hear were the commanding orders of her mother. With every word, and every demand, Sarai swung her weapon. She didn't care about the debris falling all around her, or the danger she danced with. She didn't care about the unfocused scream of her name. She especially didn't care that the dinosaur like monster could easily kill her with a single stomp.
Sarai lost herself to the oily black taint of her rage, hurt and hatred.
She relished in the feeling and couldn't care less for the fearful screams of her name or the bruised wounds she inflicted on the monster.
Later, sometime in the distant future, Sarai would think back to this moment and fearfully recall the addictive pleasure she felt.
She'd remember the chaotic relish she allowed to consume her, and the selfish disregard of everything and everyone that stood in her way.
She'd feel shame, hatred, and fear towards herself for the dark capabilities she possessed.
But of course, all of that would come to be some time in the distant future.
Right now, Sarai sunk deeper into her anger, enjoying the pleasure she felt at inflicting abuse on someone else.
She felt powerful and with every swing, every bruise and wound she perpetrated, something wickedly dark smiled within her.
(~)-(~)- *DIGIMON ADVENTURE*-(~)-(~)
Mimi and Sora's grip on TK hurt, but the younger boy was too horrified to notice the pain. All three of them stood terrified for Sarai's life, for Greymon's sluggish movement and at Tai's loud growing shouts. All three children had the strongest sense that something far more horrible was soon to happen and it kept them frozen in place. They were terrified… and their Digimon partners could all feel it.
"SARAI!" Izzy cried out as Etemon's slave stumbled and wrestled with Greymon, sending Tai's partner face first into the stadium seats.
Sarai ignored the red head, foolishly running after the larger slave Digimon with the broken pipes in her hands. Izzy realised then that Sarai didn't care. She didn't have an ounce of care for anyone other than the slave Digimon she was intent on hurting. He turned to the others noting that Tai, Matt, and Sora were arguing. The goggle wearing boy looked ready to do something stupidly reckless. He spotted TK and Mimi clinging to one another further back and was relieved to know they were at least protecting themselves.
Mimi caught his eye unexpectedly and somehow; Izzy could understand what the honey blonde expected of him. He nodded determinedly and hurried over to Joe's side. The older boy was gripping his recently discovered tag, trembling with his eyes wide as he watched the two monsters.
"Tentomon, get to Matt and Sora," Izzy ordered.
The bug Digimon flew to obey immediately, able to sense his partner's wants through their bond. Izzy was grateful for the lack of need to explain his intentions to his bug partner. It saved him so much time, and time he felt, was currently especially important.
"Joe?" He called but the older boy turned to him, heaving, obviously having a panic attack.
Izzy flailed, panicking briefly at what to do before his brain reminded him of what Joe needed. He grabbed the older boy's hand and pressed it to his own chest and forced Joe to breathe with him. Joe struggled to match him at first but eventually managed. Izzy turned to check on the others only to feel his heart drop to his stomach in terror.
"Gomamon!' Joe cried out desperately as he too saw the horror show soon to occur.
Tai had escaped Matt and Sora's hold.
The goggle wearing boy had run into the middle of the fight and now both he and Sarai were dangerously close to becoming minced meat with a single stomp.
"GOMAMON DIGIVOLVES TO…."
"PALMON DIGIVOLVES TO…."
"GABUMON DIGIVOLVES TO…."
"BIYOMON DIGIVOLVES TO…."
"TENTOMON DIGIVOLVES TO…."
"SARAI! Please…." Gaomon's whimpered cry went unheard as his fellow Digimon began to evolve. No matter how he tried, no matter how desperately he pulled at the bond between him and his partner, he couldn't digivolve. Sarai had completely shut him out somehow, and so he could only stand helplessly on the side-lines.
Gaomon knew loneliness, had willingly chose to walk that path as a hatchling; but for the first time, he felt abandoned and left behind without a say. Suddenly, he wondered if this is how Koromon had felt all those years ago when he woke up to find Wanyamon gone.
"GREYMON! EVOLVE!" Tai's demanding order echoed throughout the stadium.
The tag around his neck burned hotly and began to glow in response. The enslaved Greymon was readying a fireball attack towards Tai, as the other partnered Digimon were finishing their evolutions. The other chosen children were crying and screaming Tai and Sarai's names with horror.
Greymon's eyes widened and the cold sensation in his chest overwhelmed him completely.
A bright light consumed Greymon, and he knew he was evolving…. But something was wrong.
As the light devoured him completely, Greymon roared out in pain as every part of him felt as if it were on fire.
Etemon's slave had released his attack in Tai's direction and the goggle wearing boy sucked in a sharp gasp of sudden panic as the flame came towards him.
(~)-(~)- *DIGIMON ADVENTURE*-(~)-(~)
Sarai had fallen at some point, blown back by the force of one of the large Digimon's stomps. The sudden fall jolted her out of the haze of madness she'd fallen into and she blinked rapidly to make sense of what was happening. She thought she heard Gaomon whimpering, thought she felt a tugging sensation in her chest, something desperate and hurt. All around her she could hear screaming and crying, she vaguely noticed that the other Digimon had digivolved at some point. She vaguely noticed that she couldn't find Gaogamon among them. She vaguely noticed that something was happening with Greymon.
But her attention and focus had been snagged by something else.
Sarai didn't think, she only reacted and in a hurried scramble she tackled Tai out of the way of the flaming fireball coming towards him.
The two children grunted and yelped as they fell to the ground, both heaving with shock, relief, and terror. Sarai looked down at Tai, her brown eyes wide and frantic as she checked him over. The goggle wearing boy blinked in response at the girl on top of him, both unable to believe they were alive.
Sarai opened her mouth to say something but was interrupted by the cold trickle of dread down her spine. Everyone in the coliseum could feel the sense of dangerous threat in the air. They all turned towards the source as the last of the bright light consuming Greymon disappeared.
The creature that stood in his place couldn't possibly be the friendly dinosaur digimon they'd all come to be fond off.
This monster was terrifying with its empty eye sockets and lack of flesh. This was a true monster, one found only within the pages of a horror story. There was nothing friendly about this Digimon and Sarai briefly tightened her grip on Tai due to the fear she felt.
"T-That can't be…." Tai stuttered as he stared at his Digimon partner.
Sarai must have heard something suspicious in his tone, or maybe saw it in his eyes as she suddenly glared down at him. Tai looked up at her, her grip on his shirt collar no longer for comfort but instead filled with threat. She looked at him as if he were something horrible and Tai, in the face of what Greymon had become, felt it was justly deserved.
"What did you do!" She growled with accusation and anger.
Tai couldn't find his words; he couldn't make sense of anything that was happening anymore.
All he could feel was the sickening weight of his heart in his chest and the cold sensation swallowing it whole.
(~)-(~)- *DIGIMON ADVENTURE*-(~)-(~)
"T-That can't possibly be Greymon!" Sora stuttered with spine tingling horror.
The children had crowded together, huddling close as they stared with horrified fascination at the bone made monster Tai's Digimon had become. Kabuterimon ordered the children to stay behind them, as he and the other Digimon protectively shielded them from harm.
"Something went wrong, there's no way the crest would turn him into that," Gaomon growled as he watched his hatch mates prepare for the worst.
The other children realised that the dog Digimon hadn't digivolved like the others. Another strange oddity they'd ponder later, but for now they had more important matters to fear.
"What even is that?" Mimi shakily asked as she hugged TK and Tokomon closer.
"SkullGreymon, a virus type Digimon whose only purpose is to destroy," Gaomon answered.
"There's no way the crest did that," Matt added, the look in his eyes showed he suspected the problem, but once again the children were startled into action.
SkullGreymon had easily backhanded Etemon's slave, sending the dinosaur crashing flat against the monitor. The children could only gasp with horror as SkullGreymon launched it's 'ground zero' attack at the monitor. With an explosive boom, the children screamed and scrambled to protect themselves from the flying debris. When they braved another look, they were horrified to find nothing remained of the enslaved Digimon and the monitor. They'd all saw how the enslaved Greymon had initially tried to run away from fighting SkullGreymon. They all knew SkullGreymon's backhand had done enough damage alone. But for the monster to ensure nothing remained of the enslaved dinosaur… that was simply cruel.
There was no way this was Tai's partner; it simply couldn't be.
(~)-(~)- *DIGIMON ADVENTURE*-(~)-(~)
SkullGreymon roared and the heat waves rolling off it's body was blistering hot. Sarai grit her teeth and hastily dragged Tai to his feet. The two children rushed to stay as far away from the fleshless monster as possible. They'd almost made it to the others when SkullGreymon picked up the remaining goal post and threw it towards the children. Sarai tripped as she screamed for the other's fate, terrified she was about to witness their death. To her relief, the goal post was intercepted by Togemon's quick defense. The cactus looking Digimon released her attack, sending needles towards the slow charging SkullGreymon. Unfortunately, her efforts resulted in little aid as her needles melted before hitting the monster.
Tai was in shock, his eyes never strayed far from SkullGreymon and his destructive behaviour.
"Get up! Get up and move!" Sarai screamed as she continued to drag Tai about, attempting to keep them both from dying.
"Tai! Dammit, get up and move!" She cried before dragging him once again.
Ikakkumon and Togemon had taken to protecting the children while Birdramon, Garurumon and Kabuterimon battled against SkullGreymon. Birdramon had an easier time landing hits against the skeleton monster, as their flame nature allowed it. Garurumon was on the defensive as he countered and shielded Birdramon and Kabuterimon with his 'ice cannon', 'ice wall', and occasional 'fox fire' attack. Which left Kabuterimon to target and attack from the air at a distance.
TK and Tokomon were both crying as they watched the Digimon battle against one of their own.
This would hardly be the worst they'd faced if one were to compare it to Devimon and Angemon's sacrifice, or the terror of losing Sarai.
But perhaps that is why watching the Digimon fight the monster their hatch mate had become, was worse.
The Digimon had no choice but to fight against their friend, their sibling. With every strike against the monster Greymon had become, Birdramon shed a tear, but no one would know as the stray drop would evaporate the second it fell. They could hear the desperation in Kabuterimon and Garurumon's voices as they called for Greymon to stop.
TK cried and hugged Tokomon tightly and wondered if the others realised what he had.
Although he was the youngest of the group, TK understood what the others had yet to realise.
TK understood in this moment just how far the Digimon would go to protect them.
He knew… that if they had to… the Digimon would destroy Greymon if it meant they could live.
(~)-(~)- *DIGIMON ADVENTURE*-(~)-(~)
"GREYMON! STOP!"
Greymon could hear them, his hatch mates, his siblings. They were begging him, crying his name in desperation. He was hurting them, but he couldn't stop. He couldn't stop!
'I'm trying!' he cried but all that left his mouth was another angry roar while his arms slashed at Birdramon and his tail whipped Garurumon out of his way.
'Help me! Stop me! Please somebody stop me!' he cried out.
Greymon was trapped in the body of the fleshless monster he'd become, and he could do nothing.
'Please! Anybody!' he sobbingly begged as he stomped on Garurumon and dragged Kabuterimon from the air by his wings.
Greymon screamed as his skeleton cage roared to the sky with bloodthirst for destruction.
"STOP! GREYMON!" Birdramon begged as she attempted to lift her wing to fight him once more.
'I'm trying! I c-can't! Stop me! You must stop me! STOP ME!' he screamed with every step he took towards the children.
Togemon and Ikakkumon stood in front of him, their stance filled with resolve. He could read it in their eyes as they stared up at him. The apology in their eyes, the terror, the beginning of grief. But Greymon could only sob with acceptance. He could see Tai among the other children, being safely guarded and the last of the fight in him faded.
'It's okay….' He tried to say, but again nothing but roars escaped him.
'It's okay, so long as their safe, so long as he's safe…' he thought.
He could feel himself gathering energy, readying for one final blast that would surely destroy everything in its path.
Greymon noticed that Birdramon, Garurumon and Kabuterimon had managed to stand once more. He found himself surrounded by his hatch mates once again. All of them understood in this moment what they needed to do, what needed to be done. Greymon smiled, while the skeleton cage he was trapped in only roared and flashed it's sharp bone teeth.
'It's okay… you'll all be okay without me…' he said.
He couldn't tell who he was trying to convince more, himself or his siblings. He watched as they all geared up to launch their strongest attack against him together. Greymon put every drop of energy he had into delaying the attack he could feel himself unwillingly preparing. This was the least he could do, give them enough time to see it done.
'I forgive you' was his last thought.
Greymon prepared himself, clenched his eyes tightly and waited for oblivion.
He was ready…. until he heard one last howl of his name.
"KOROMOOOOOOOOON!"
There was ringing in his ears, the sound echoed and rattled throughout his senses, and a frayed end of a forgotten memory teased him as it called for him. The sound reminiscent of singing and whistling, of bubbles and giggles, the sound of hope and belief.
'Get up….Koromon get up…. He's coming….'
A child? A boy with eyes full of fear.
"You can be whoever you want…. Big guy…." a childish voice spoke, tugging at his memory despite the fog.
Greymon opened his eyes and found himself staring down at a determined blue dog, the small digimon's eyes filled with warmth.
"Aren't you going to say Good-bye?" the Digimon teased with a smirk.
Greymon cries and the burst of sudden energy that fills him spurs him to fight for control once more. He turns and runs, bulldozing his way through the walls of the coliseum out into the dry desert sand. He roars out once more, fighting off the darkness that's holding him capture and this time he wins.
As the hot heated sand burns him from beneath, Koromon cries with exhausted relief.
(~)-(~)- *DIGIMON ADVENTURE*-(~)-(~)
Gaomon didn't need to see his hatch mates circle around the monster Greymon had become. He knew what they planned, what would come to be if he didn't do something. But what? What could he possibly do as a mere rookie against a perfect level monster?
The answer was nothing.
Gaomon could do nothing, and it tore him apart from the inside to understand how helpless he was.
He hadn't realised he'd walked forward until Sarai called for him.
He could hear her crying for him to come back, could feel the bond between them straining.
It was a bit ironic, that for once, it was Sarai crying out for Gaomon as he willingly walked towards danger.
A dark ugly and angry part of Gaomon found pleasure in that fact. A part of him pettily liked that this time, Sarai would get to feel all that he felt every time she ran towards danger. He wanted her to know how that helplessness felt…. wanted her to remember the feeling so that next time, she'd think twice before being so foolish.
But mostly, Gaomon simply didn't care that the children were calling him back. He didn't care that his siblings were yelling for him to get out of the way. He didn't care at all, and that was a new feeling he'd never known.
To simply not care about anything at all… he never knew feeling such a way could be so good.
Gaomon stares up at the monster his oldest hatch mate, his oldest sibling had become, and he howls out his name.
The monster looks down and Gaomon smirks as he stares into the empty sockets of the monster towering above him.
"Aren't you going to say Good-bye?" he teases.
He knows the rest of his hatch-mates understand what he means by the agonized cry Togemon and Ikakkumon give. They understand exactly what Gaomon is intending to do. Maybe, on some level, so did Sarai as her scream of his name is the loudest.
But Gaomon is high on the feeling of not caring and he smirks up at the only one who promised he'd never be alone….and kept it.
So, he's a bit surprised when instead of meeting oblivion or a fiery explosive end, SkullGreymon smashes his way towards the endless span of sand.
Gaomon blinks as the chaos around him continues.
The dog Digimon felt rather numb to the crowd of hatch-mates he finds himself in the middle of. He felt…disappointed along with something else he couldn't quite name. For the briefest second, his eyes meet Sarai's and the bond between them pulses but Gaomon turns his head towards the desert.
Sarai is already running ahead, with the rest of the children not too far behind her.
The Digimon hurry after them as well, but Gaomon…. Gaomon blinks once more and walks after them.
The bond between him and Sarai pulses…. Still strained….but Gaomon can't find it in himself to care.
He merely no longer cares.
(~)-(~)- *DIGIMON ADVENTURE*-(~)-(~)
Despite Sarai's running head start, Tai is still the first to reach Koromon. The pink ball looking Digimon is crying fat droplets, watering the dry sand beneath them.
"Koromon!" Tai calls as he skids to his knees before the small Digimon.
He moves to comfort Koromon but freezes as the pink Digimon flinches away from him.
"Koromon?" he whispers as his heart drops.
Sarai reaches them and like Tai, she skids to her knees before the small Digimon.
"Are you okay?" she worries while checking the Digimon over.
Koromon's eyes water and he wails once again. Sarai doesn't hesitate to cradle and hug the small Digimon protectively close. Tai watches as Koromon finds comfort in Sarai's arms. The fear in Koromon's eyes when he tried to do the same, plays repeatedly on his mind. By the time the rest of their group catches up, Koromon had settled into warbling and sniffles. Tai continued to look helpless on his knees, staring as Sarai comforted his Digimon partner.
"I did something horrible! I-I was hurting ev- *hic* e-everyone!" Koromon warbled as Sarai stroked and hushed him.
"Sh… it's okay Koromon… it wasn't your fault…" Sarai soothed.
"I-I tried to stop! I-I tried b-but I couldn't-"
"Don't worry about it!" Biyomon immediately interrupts, her eyes looking rather shiny.
"That's right," Gabumon agrees while Tentomon pipes in afterwards.
"We understand!"
Nobody notices when Gaomon finally joins them, his eyes dark and distant as he watches his Human partner comfort Koromon. The distraught pink Digimon turns with his head low and ashamed towards Tai. When Koromon speaks, Tai feels as if a black hole was trying to eat him from the inside of his belly.
"I'm sorry Tai. I'm sorry I couldn't rise to your expectations…" Koromon shamefully sniffled.
Only Gaomon notices how Sarai's eyes darken and her hold around Koromon tightens. The dog Digimon scoffs and the bond between them strains a little more.
"NO! It's not your fault it's…" Matt's sudden outburst trails off as he awkwardly glances towards Tai.
Koromon looks so confused, so certain it's his fault that Tai finally finds the courage to speak.
"I know. It's my fault."
The other children exchange awkward glances with one another, unsure of what to say when it's the truth. But they don't have to as Tai continues to speak, voicing all the ways he wronged Koromon and pushed him when he shouldn't have. Koromon blinks up at Tai, his eyes watery with innocence and Tai hates himself a little for what he did to his friend.
"I was rushing ahead without thinking anything through. I should have been more aware of what I was forcing you to do. I was hurting you, but I kept pushing because I thought it was what I needed to do. I thought because of the crest, I needed to be able to fight the battles on my own, but I was wrong."
Tai crawls forward a little more, his eyes staring deeply into Koromon's so the Digimon could see his sincerity.
"I'm so sorry Koromon," Tai apologizes.
(~)-(~)- *DIGIMON ADVENTURE*-(~)-(~)
Sarai stares as Tai, on his knees under the burning sun, apologizes to Koromon. She can see the shaken tremble of his lip as he says the words, the terrified glint in his eyes, the desperation. He is the picture-perfect example of remorse and guilt. The others are already stepping forward to offer their own acceptance and understanding of what happened. They're willing to accept his words at face value, and his apology. Sarai feels when Koromon shifts in her arms, still uncertain but slowly being swayed by the others and their easy acceptance of Tai's actions.
The dark and ugly feeling in her chest overwhelms her once again, and she's spitting her words before she's even thought them through.
"You should be!"
"Sarai!" Sora exclaims, shocked at the vicious venom her words are laced with.
But Sarai pays the others no mind, her glare is firmly set on Tai, and when the goggle wearing boy looks to her, it intensifies.
"Koromon shouldn't have to prove anything to you! You and your pathetic need for him to reach an impossible standard! Koromon deserves so much better than a partner like you! Someone who wouldn't hurt him just to satisfy his own stupid ego!"
"That's enough, Sarai!" Matt aggressively snaps coming to Tai's defence.
Sarai turns her glare on the blonde and for the first time doesn't cower back from him. Instead, Sarai climbs to her feet and she steps forward, silently daring Matt to contradict her. Matt blinks with weary surprise, not expecting her to be just as aggressive.
"No. It's not enough. You think he can just apologize as if that makes everything he did simply disappear?!"
The others are watching her like one would a feral animal. Sarai doesn't realize she's near screaming at everyone as she speaks. The other Digimon watch her warily, influenced by their human partners own uncertainty. They notice how Koromon is still being protectively cradled in her arms.
Sarai twists and points an accusing finger at Tai, who is still on his knees like one soon to be executed.
"So, you can say you're sorry, but saying sorry doesn't prove it won't happen again."
Tai flinched at her words but didn't dare argue. Not when he agreed with every angry word she said. She was completely right; he didn't deserve a partner as great as Koromon. He was unworthy of his crest and his Digimon partner and saying sorry wouldn't change a thing.
"Tch, Something I'm sure you know plenty about."
To everyone's surprise, Gaomon strode forward, his eyes dark and the snarl on his snout full of teeth. Rather than stand by Sarai, as they'd expected he would, Gaomon stood in front of Tai.
Izzy's eyes were sharply observing the strange switch in dynamic, his mind full of theories at the unexpected division. Sarai and Gaomon stood across from each other, the hostility between them completely surprising and unnerving. Izzy had wondered what would happen to the bond between the Digimon and human partner if they'd disagreed with one another to such an extreme degree. He hadn't imagined he'd ever get the opportunity to observe it first-hand.
Gaomon stood protectively in front of Tai, as if shielding him from Sarai's accusing glare and venomous words.
"Since you know plenty about saying Sorry and breaking promises."
Gaomon's words are spat as venomously as Sarai's had been. The glare they levelled at each other was chilling and everyone wasn't sure what to do. If not for the rumbling crumble of something nearby, the confrontation might have continued longer. Tai hadn't said a word, and it was clear he was in no condition to lead them forward.
Matt and Joe shared a glance, both unsure of what they should do.
Once again, the group was surprised by the unexpected initiative taken by Mimi.
"Well, obviously we won't be getting anywhere by dying of heat stroke. I don't know about the rest of you but I'm not going to die in the desert. Come on TK!" she huffed before adjusting her hat and stomping forward with TK in tow.
She'd only made it a couple of steps before Izzy drolly corrected her direction.
"Wrong way, Mimi," he dryly pointed out while directing her the correct way.
The honey blonde scowled and quickly marched the right way without looking back.
With no better idea on what to do, the others slowly followed her. Matt and Joe lingered awkwardly between Tai, Gaomon, Sarai and Koromon.
"Mimi's right, we really shouldn't linger here any longer," Joe weakly pointed out.
With one last sneer Sarai turned on her heel and walked after the others with Koromon still in her arms. Gaomon let out a dark growl before he helped Tai to his feet and waited for the goggle wearing boy to move forward. Once again Joe and Matt traded awkward glances wondering what this could possibly mean for their group in the long run.
Unfortunately, neither boy could think of a way to solve the issue.
(~)-(~)- *DIGIMON ADVENTURE*-(~)-(~)
Their journey continued but the tension and utter silence remained. Sora and Joe had attempted to start a conversation a few times, but the awkwardness was too much for anyone to ignore. Sarai walked with Koromon sleeping in her arms. She kept her gaze forward and noticeably didn't bother paying attention to anyone else. Tai kept a very firm distance between him and Sarai by lingering in the back. Gaomon never left his side, and at times would nudge the goggle wearing boy when he'd begin to fall behind the others.
The clear divide among them made the walk through the hot desert unbearable.
So, when they'd all begun to hallucinate the giant towering cactus a few ways ahead, they'd all desperately rushed forward for some shade.
"I-It was a mirage…" Matt panted with despair as the image before them disappeared.
Everyone's disappointment was obvious, but Mimi was the most vocal….and dramatic. The honey blonde stomped forward while muttering a series of 'no's growing hysterical by the passing minute.
"Mimi…" Sora sympathetically named but the honey blonde turned to her with her eyes wide and furious.
"NO! I HATE THIS! I HATE ALL OF THIS! The running for our lives, the terrifying monsters, a-and the fighting! Oh god I'm so sick of all the fighting!" she rants while pointing an accusing finger towards Sarai and Tai.
Sarai tilts her head in a stubborn stance and says nothing in response when everyone looks her way.
Before Mimi could get further into her rant, Gomamon gets their attention with his curious question.
"Oh hey, what's that?"
It was another port communicator. Izzy and Matt stared at the device with suspicious glares. Why would there be a random port communicator in the middle of a desert? Izzy had known there was one in the area but for it to be so close to where they'd just discovered Joe's crest. It was too convenient and further soured his opinion on Gennai.
As if the mere thought had summoned the elusive stranger, the port communicator came to life and projected an image of Gennai.
(~)-(~)- *DIGIMON ADVENTURE*-(~)-(~)
"Chosen Children…." Gennai addressed with a croak.
The reception his greeting received was not at all friendly. Perhaps it was the heat of the desert or added tension among them? Regardless, none of the children could be bothered replying with an ounce of polite civility at Gennai's greeting. The elderly seeming being, took note of this with a subtle gaze, the effect of having 'that' child present showing her influence greatly. As if drawn to the child, his gaze landed heavily on the girl. She looked unlike he expected. There was nothing particularly obvious about her nature from her appearance and body language. Curiously, as well as worryingly, Gennai could not read the child's nature at all.
Then he heard the animalistic snarl of something beastly, something the others did not. It was then he caught sight of the Digimon accompanying the unexpected child. Gennai felt his coding glitch at the Gaomon that glared back at him. A Gaomon, of all Digimon to hatch from 'that' egg.
Despite his surprise and anxious worry about the children's journey ahead, Gennai showed none of it on his face.
"Oh, Chosen Children…" he repeated with a more pitying tone.
Unlike last time they spoke, it was not the child of courage or even the child of friendship that confronted him. To his surprise, the child of Sincerity pushed her way to the front of the group. The anger in her eyes evident and the affect of the emotion showing its influence on the Palmon behind her.
"You!" she near screeched.
Gennai was certain if he were physically present the young girl would have been clawing for his face, followed by her Palmon's own Poison Ivy attack.
"I've had it with this 'chosen children' nonsense! Do you have any idea-"
Gennai couldn't let her get too far with her angry ranting, not when their next enemy encounter was scheduled to appear.
"Ah yes! The crests! I see you've managed to find two of them! Well done," he praised while ignoring the affronted snarl the child of sincerity gave.
Something he had said must have triggered the child of Courage as he finally pushed forward with a furious glower. Gennai observed how the Gaomon stepped froward while his human partner remained where she stood with Koromon cradled in her arms. If Gennai was not as good of a poker player as he was, his brows would have risen high at the unexpected shift in dynamic.
He had not expected such trust to develop between the two Digimon. At least, not to the extent where the Digimon entrusted their humans to one another. How fascinating…. and rather unheard of…. What could that possibly mean?
"Oi Gramps, I got the stupid tag and crest like you said and put them together just as you said!" The child of courage started.
Gennai noticed the brief surprise that flickered across 'that' child's face before it slackened back to its blank state. Only when the Child of Courage began to crowd forward towards his hologram, with an expression far too dark and unkind, did he listen.
"Whatever it did to Agumon hurt him!"
Gennai blinked and realised all the children were glaring at him with threatening hostility. The Digimon were sending their own threatening glares towards his hologram, but none more so than the Gaomon standing beside the child of Courage.
This was not how he expected the children and their Digimon to unite, considering the changes.
But… perhaps it was for the best they consider him an omen of bad luck.
He knew it would mean the hardships and challenges they'll face in the future will only test them greater.
But if they are what the digital world needed for this timeline and dimension…. then so be it.
Gennai did his best to calm the Children and their accusing shouts, especially the brazen screech and cutting words from the Child of Sincerity. When he explained about the care and raising of the Digimon, the children relented on their glares to stare at their partners with worry. Gennai hadn't realized how heavy and anxious their stares had been making him until it was directed elsewhere.
"What does he mean by 'good upbringing?" The Biyomon asked the Gabumon.
"Are we being brought up the right way?" The Gabumon questioned
Their respective partners looked alarmed by the questions and the children grew quiet with apprehension about their sudden responsibility towards their partners. The only child seemingly unbothered by his words was 'that' child.
"Then how do we take care of them? Make sure they're raised right?" The child of courage demanded once again.
Gennai didn't miss how his eyes kept darting between the Gaomon and Koromon. Gennai chose to explain about the tag and crest rather than Digimon care; that was part of the chosen children's trials and bonding with their Digimon. After his planned 'glitch' and disconnected signal, Gennai turned off his port communicator with a heavy frown.
He walked over to one of his locked cabinets. He took the dull coloured tag hanging on a hook from inside and pulled out the blank crest from his pockets. He combined the pieces and waited, but again the symbols remained blank and dull. He sighed and separated the pieces again feeling his impatience grow. He did not like the uncertainty, the unknowing of what he should prepare for.
As always, Gennai hated when 'that' chosen child was needed, as he could never be sure of what to expect.
(~)-(~)- *DIGIMON ADVENTURE*-(~)-(~)
"Gee, well that's right helpful, thanks for nothing," Mimi sneered as the port communicator deactivated on its own.
"Why did he say that?" Sora quietly questioned as she stared at Biyomon.
"Say what, Sora?" Mimi prompted with an arched brow.
Sora looked to the honey blonde, looking uncharacteristically vulnerable and insecure.
"Why did he say were responsible for raising the Digimon? He made it sound like we we're supposed to be their parents or something."
Now that she mentioned it, it did sort of sound that way. Mimi looked down at Palmon only to have the plant Digimon blink up at her and tilt her head like a confused puppy. Mimi sighed and wiped the sweat from her forehead while flapping her other hand for a bit of air.
"I have no idea, but I'm sure that just proves he is crazy. Goodness, I'm only ten, Sora! I'm too young to be a mother, even if Palmon is adorable."
Palmon beamed up at Mimi, all but glowing at the praise. At least until Gomamon muttered from beside her that she was as adorable as a fly eating cactus. When Palmon lashed at him with her poison ivy vines, Gomamon yelped and ran to Joe.
"Did you see what she did to me Joe!" the seal Digimon whimpered.
"Don't act like you didn't deserve that," Joe sighed as he wiped at his sweat.
The seal Digimon huffed.
"If we're supposed to be raising our Digimon, what's going to happen with Tai and Sarai?" Matt quietly asked others.
Sarai still had Koromon in her arms as she listened to TK and Tokomon ramble. A good amount of distance away, where Izzy was fiddling with the port communicator with Tentomon hovering by his side, Tai and Gaomon were quietly chatting.
Mimi watched them and then shrugged as she answered, "Co-parenting maybe? I mean seeing as they're acting like a divorced set of parents, why not?"
Matt stiffened at her words and then abruptly stomped off. Sora pinched Mimi on the arm while Joe looked down at her with disappointment.
"OW! What? I wasn't even talking about him!" She argued.
Before she could get further told off, they heard the chugging approach of the most unexpected sight.
"What the hell!" Tai sputtered.
Approaching them, sailing it's way through the hot desert sand was a huge cruise ship.
(~)-(~)- *DIGIMON ADVENTURE*-(~)-(~)
Sarai felt…. Strange.
She couldn't quite name the feeling, only that it didn't feel right.
Something was wrong, but she couldn't figure out what.
"Ngh… S-Sarai… I don't feel so good…" Koromon groaned in her arms.
Sarai had noticed how tired and sickly the pink Digimon had become the longer they walked through the desert. She too could feel something unpleasant festering inside her. The closest thing she could compare the feeling too was the time she'd fainted from dehydration and fatigue, feeling both hot and cold.
The others were discussing whether they could trust the Numemon on the cruise ship. But their voices faded in and out and were slightly distorted to her ears.
"HEY! NUMEMON!" The sudden shout caught all of them off guard.
They all turned to see Tai half bowed, near begging as he cried out to the Numemon.
"PLEASE LET US REST ON YOUR SHIP!"
"Tai…." Sora quietly whispered as her eyes darted between Sarai and Tai.
Sarai ignored the pointed glances the others sent her way. She was too busy wrestling with the confusing surge of resentment and gratitude that fought for dominance over her mind.
Oh yes, something was wrong, and that was a worrying thought.
She vaguely noticed that Mimi had strode forward and did something that got the Numemon to agree. From the disturbed face Joe and Matt made, it must have been something outlandish.
Sarai thought she blinked, but the sudden jump from when she stood on sand, to being sheltered under the ship roof was unnerving. She couldn't remember the walk up the ramp or when she'd started to follow the girls towards one of the rooms to shower.
"What's taking you so long Sarai?" Mimi excitedly cried out as she had already stripped and jumped under the spray of water.
Not even Mimi's unashamed nudity could shock Sarai out of the strange mood she'd fallen into.
"Sarai?" Sora questioned.
But Sarai was too busy staring down at Koromon in her arms to hear her name. While Koromon looked to have perked up, Sarai felt worse.
"I-I…." she looked up and met Sora, Biyomon and Palmon's concerned stares.
Sarai felt something wet trickle down from her nose and Koromon let out a startled yelp at the splatter on his head.
Sora felt her heart drop to her stomach and Mimi wetly joined them at the gasped shocks everyone let out.
"I don't feel so good…." Sarai slurred before she fainted backwards, her face wet with the blood dripping from her nose.
"SARAI!"
(~)-(~)- *DIGIMON ADVENTURE*-(~)-(~)
Tai opted to stay out on the deck while the girls went to find a shower and the others looked for food. He needed some time on his own, away from concerned glances and the ever-present hostility from Sarai. Tai took several large lungful's of breaths and did his best to sort through the mountain of thoughts swirling around in his brain. Despite his attempts, Sarai's words haunted him, along with her accusing glare and sneer.
She was right, he didn't deserve Koromon as a partner, that much was true.
Tai wasn't the kind of person who denied his wrongs or faults. If he were wrong, he could accept it, admit it and work on fixing his mistake. But it wasn't Sarai's words that haunted him, but the way she stared at him. She looked at him as if he were something monstrous, something dangerous.
Tai knew he had a bit of a temper, and sure he could get a bit caught up in his stupid decisions, but a monster?
He wasn't sure what worried him more, the chance he might hurt Koromon again or whoever it was Sarai saw when she yelled at him.
"Bread roll for your thoughts?" Joe offered with a soft smile.
Tai blinked at the offered snack and gratefully accepted it. He noticed Gomamon had gone to bug Gaomon who'd followed Tai out to the pool chairs. He'd been worried about the dog Digimon as well, aware that the dog Digimon hadn't so much as looked at Sarai since their fight. Sarai and Gaomon's partnership had always been strange to Tai, different in a way he couldn't explain. His current theory had something to do with maturity. Unlike the other Digimon, who seemed to rely on their human partners for explanations and basic living, Gaomon seemed to already know it all.
"Tai?" Joe prompted with a concerned tilt of his head.
"Sorry man, I've just…. I don't know…." He struggled to explain.
Thankfully, Joe seemed to understand his meaning anyway.
"Yeah…I know. Look Tai, all those things Sarai said-"
"It wasn't me," Tai interrupted.
Joe blinked at the unexpected statement and looked at him with confusion. Tai broodingly elaborated as he watched Gaomon and Gomamon chat from where they were by the pool.
"When Sarai was yelling at me, it wasn't me she was yelling at. The way she looked at me Joe… the hate in her eyes and her words…. They couldn't possibly be about me."
When he looked at the older boy, Joe wore a solemn expression, one that confirmed Tai hadn't been the only one puzzling over Sarai's strange habits. Joe pointedly motioned for Tai to eat his bread roll as he began to explain what the others had secretly been theorising about Sarai.
"Mimi said she couldn't find any scars or bruising on her skin before we gave her that healing water mix. Sora told me about her nightmares and Izzy noticed how she tends to drift off mid conversations, as if her mind had gone somewhere else. Matt's been making a list of all her triggers and well…. you somehow managed to step on every single one before the Greymon incident."
Tai winced and swallowed his mouthful. He frowned at the pensive and helpless slump Joe's posture fell into.
"I might come from a family of doctors, but none of them specialise in trauma, PTSD or abuse victims. They're mostly surgeons!"
Tai placed a comforting hand on Joe's shoulder, hoping it helped anchor the older boy and stopped the potential anxiety attack before it could take hold.
"So is she…. I mean… should we be concerned she's…." Tai didn't want to say the word, and from Joe's shake of his head, he too didn't want to say the word.
"I don't know. I don't know, Tai…. And I…. I'm terrified that maybe she is…." Joe whispered while his shoulders trembled.
The two boys felt helpless and the silence that swallowed them both felt foreboding.
Tai didn't know Sarai before falling into the digital world. The first time he'd even saw her was at the cabin before the wave thing that swallowed them whole. He'd never seen her at his school. He didn't know a single thing about her other than the fact that she had gone threw something horrible back home, and what little else he learned while they'd been here.
But is who she is here even who she is back on earth?
"Is there anything about her we know for sure?" Tai absently thought out loud.
As he watched Gaomon finally smile at something Gomamon had done, he was determined to get to the bottom of this needless issue.
Before Tai or Joe could say anymore, they heard Gomamon and Gaomon's sudden cry of their name. When they turned, they'd found a cluster of Numemon charging towards them with a net.
(~)-(~)- *DIGIMON ADVENTURE*-(~)-(~)
"Sarai, come on, wake up…" Sora whispered as she did her best to cool the unconscious girl down.
Mimi had gotten redressed and they both tended to Sarai with frantic concern. She was obviously overheated, but they worried something else might be wrong. Koromon was fussing over Sarai just as much as Sora, while Mimi, Palmon and Biyomon searched the room for medication.
"Ugh! What kind of luxury cruise is this?" Mimi huffed as she searched.
"Sh! I heard something!" Biyomon suddenly announced.
They all froze, and with the sudden silence they could hear the startled screams of the boys and the thumping footsteps of something heavy. Sora and Mimi shared a horrified glance and quickly scrambled to lock the door and escape through the bathroom window. Just as Sora was beginning to panic about how they were going to drag Sarai through, both Koromon and Sarai gave sudden gasps, calling their respective partners names.
"They got Tai!" Koromon stressed to Biyomon and Palmon.
"And if they have Tai and the others, they've probably got the tags as well," Mimi concluded.
Sarai struggled to stand despite Sora's help. Sarai brushed Sora's offered hand away and instead grabbed Koromon. Despite her stumbling, red face, and glazed eyes, she still managed to get the others moving.
"W-We've got to go. Now!" She ordered through clenched teeth.
Sora was uneasy but they had no other choice, sharing an agreeing nod with Mimi, the girls and the Digimon escaped just in time.
(~)-(~)- *DIGIMON ADVENTURE*-(~)-(~)
Tai did his best to fight against the Numemon as they tied them down to bake under the sun. He could hear TK's cries for Tokomon and Matt's threatening shouts. The only bit of hope they had left were the girls. Tai did his best to ignore the petrified stone Digimon gathered near the pool. Gaomon and Gomamon had done their best to fight the Numemon, but both we're unprepared.
No, that's not entirely correct.
If Gaomon hadn't jumped in front of Tai, he would have been petrified and not the dog Digimon; petrified and sinking to the bottom of the pool.
Gritting his teeth against the burning of his skin, Tai tried to free himself, but his efforts were wasted.
Cockatrimon was happily gloating as he swung the stolen crests in his wings. Tai squinted in his direction, promising himself that the next time he ate fried chicken he'd rip into it as if it were Cockatrimon himself. He could only hope Koromon was safe with the girls.
(~)-(~)- *DIGIMON ADVENTURE*-(~)-(~)
Sarai's head was pounding, and she felt dizzy, not to mention the whispering of her mother had returned. She felt the wet trickle of her nose again and wiped at it with her wrapped arm. She didn't notice the abnormally dark, almost black, tint her blood had turned. She hushed the others and motioned for them to press against the wall. A cluster of Numemon hurried past them without a clue. She tried not to let the others see how relieved she was. Not when they seemed to have decided to follow her lead. She's glad her gamble that the Numemon weren't the brightest Digimon paid off.
Simple creatures could be fooled with simple matters.
Koromon and she had taken lead and began to lead the others towards the pool.
"Are you sure they're being kept there?" Sora whispered, but Sarai didn't need to answer.
"We can hear them!" Biyomon confirmed.
"Sarai, what's the plan?" Mimi questioned with Palmon looking towards Koromon.
Sarai blinked at the imploring stares the two levelled her with. She awkwardly shrugged and tried not to think about her reaction too much.
"Don't die?"
She didn't bother checking their reactions to her words, together, Koromon and she took off towards the pool.
Unfortunately, before Sora and Mimi could follow them, they were intercepted by Cockatrimon.
"AHAH! I'VE FOUND YOU!"
(~)-(~)- *DIGIMON ADVENTURE*-(~)-(~)
The Numemon were taunting the boys, playing a game of target practice by aiming their poop attack towards them. It was equally vile and disgusting, Sarai had to grab Koromon before the pink ball could charge recklessly and attack. When Koromon looked at her with anger, she silenced him with a finger and pointed towards the emergency case holding a life float.
Koromon was reluctant to follow Sarai's lead, not when Tai obviously needed him.
But…. Gaomon's human partner had proven she could be helpful before, like with the Gazimon.
With that in mind, Koromon decided to listen.
Sarai took a deep breath and then deliberately called attention to the Numemon.
"HEY! You ugly green poop pieces of slime, over here!" she taunted.
Everyone looked surprised by her arrival, but Sarai didn't have time to respond to TK's cry of her name. Before the Numemon could gather their wits on what they should do, she charged into action. With Sarai distracting them, Koromon reached the emergency case and bubble blasted it open. He'd not been paying attention to whatever distraction Sarai was doing, but he heard Tai's name and that was enough to have him turn. One of the Numemon had climbed the net with a knife in their grip, scrambling towards Tai.
Koromon felt fear first, pure terror at seeing his partner vulnerable and in danger.
Then came the anger… the pure fiery rage that erupted from his chest and exploded outward.
Until finally, Koromon's desperate need to protect Tai overwhelmed him completely.
From one blink to the next, Koromon had digivolved into Agumon and was charging towards the Numemon with the intensity of a predator hunting its prey.
Agumon jumped at the Numemon before it could slash down at Tai, with a roar reminiscent of SkullGreymon, the dinosaur Digimon ripped the Numemon away with his teeth.
Standing over his human partner protectively, Agumon growled and let the lava sensation in his throat gather.
"Stay away from my human," he growled darkly before he shot off a series of flame attacks.
Tai and the others could only gape silently at the unexpected transformation. Agumon had just digivolved like Gaomon, all within one blink, none of them knew what to think. While they were shocked silent, Sarai and Agumon fought and distracted the Numemon. With a quick slash, Agumon managed to free the boys from their binds. They were all still weak from the heat of the sun, but Sarai and Agumon seemed to have everything under control.
Sarai had used the emergency floaty Agumon had released like a ring hook or lasso. She would throw it towards a Numemon and yank them towards Agumon who would blast them with a fireball or send them flying overboard. The Numemon started attempting to flee but with Sarai constantly yanking them back, they all met a fiery fate. The smell was perhaps the worst of everything. It stunk of burnt rubber and slime with the retching stench of the sewers. As the wailing cries of the Numemon started to fade, the boys could only stare at their smouldering remains.
They struggled to feel regret over the Numemons' unfortunate end… not when they'd been so willing to see them die from overexposure to the sun.
"Is it over?" TK quietly asked as the attacks finally came to an end.
Matt hugged TK tightly, his eyes dark and solemn as he stared at the smouldering piles of ash around the ship deck.
"Yeah….it's over…."
Tai was staring at Agumon, having never seen his Digimon partner fight without him by his side, guiding him on what to do. As the protective rage in the dinosaurs eyes faded, the innocent tilt of Agumon's head in Tai's direction caused a welling of fondness to erupt in his chest.
Before Tai could step towards Agumon, a Numemon they all missed darted out from its hiding place and pushed the nearest petrified Digimon towards the pool. Agumon was quick to blast them, but it was too late. Gaomon's stoned statue state had already fallen into the pool with a splash.
"SARAI!" Joe cried out as the girl in question, once again, didn't hesitate in recklessly diving after the statue.
Before Matt could chase after her, Tai was shoving him aside and diving after her.
Tai experienced a moment of déjà vu as he swam after Sarai to the bottom of the pool. She was struggling to drag Gaomon back to the surface. He couldn't see through the blur of the water what expression she was making but he could understand the desperation of her motions. When he reached her, she almost gut him in the stomach with her elbow. It wasn't until he showed he was trying to help that she relaxed a bit more. Despite both their efforts, Gaomon was still too heavy.
Just as Tai could feel his lungs burn with the need to breathe, he felt Gaomon's stone state become flesh and fur once again. The dog Digimon instantly moved to take a breath, but the water that would fill his lungs would kill him. Sarai clamped Gaomon's snout together and covered his nose with her mouth immediately. Tai realised she was breathing the last of her breath into the dog digimon's nose. He kicked frantically towards the surface, now dragging them both. When they burst through the surface, they all took greedy lungful's of air. Matt and Joe hastily helped them out of the pool with Gomamon and Agumon doing the same with Gaomon.
Sarai was hacking out loud coughs. Joe was immediately checking her over with the rest of them hovering over her with concern. The coughs she was letting out didn't sound right. They realised why when she coughed again and released a black glob looking substance. They all stared at the black slime looking substance and blinked with shock as it disintegrated into particles like the black gears would.
They all stared at the wet spot with wide eyes.
"Well…. That's not good…" Sarai needlessly croaked.
Tai wasn't sure if he wanted to laugh or scream.
(~)-(~)- *DIGIMON ADVENTURE*-(~)-(~)
After the defeat of Cockatrimon and Mimi's unexpected discover of her crest, the children continued their journey through the desert. Unlike earlier, the silence among the group was due to the heavy thoughts each child entertained.
Mimi couldn't stop staring at the crest slotted into the tag around her neck. She'd not wanted this at all and the useless warning Gennai had given them about 'raising their Digimon right' weighed heavily on her mind. Mimi didn't like how uncertain and anxious the responsibility made her feel and couldn't bring herself to walk too closely with Palmon. She didn't think she would do a good job in raising her adorable partner. She repeatedly told herself that she was fine, that everything was perfectly splendid and soon enough Tai would get them home. None of this really mattered, but no matter how often she repeated the words, she could still hear the lie in them.
Sora brooded over the same issue. But her thoughts wouldn't stop making comparison's to her mother and the many arguments they had. How was she supposed to raise a Digimon when she didn't even know if she'd been raised right?
Izzy, unlike everyone else, wasn't worried about raising Tentomon right. He was willing to bet he and Tentomon had a better understanding of each other than everyone else in the group. But rather than callously point out his confidence towards his bond with his Digimon partner, he occupied himself with his mental notes. He couldn't stop reviewing the observations he made about Tai, Agumon, Gaomon and Sarai. He had plenty of theories, but he was starting to think the reactive component of everything was Sarai and Gaomon.
Joe, like Izzy, was hard at thought with his own theories. He was no doctor, a claim he'd continue to remind everyone of the longer they stayed in the digital world, but he was good with theory. If his older brother hadn't roped him into helping quiz him when studying, Joe doubts he'd be as knowledgeable on the human anatomy as he was. Sarai was proving to be a medical mystery the longer they stayed here. It equally fascinated him and terrified him. The black gear that had been in her bloodstream had obviously changed something about her system. The Gazimon attack proved they could get hurt which disproved Izzy's theory about them possibly being data aware figures incorporated into a program. Then there's the fact Sarai had ingested the healing water. Joe worried over how much of Sarai's anatomy and system remained human and how much had become more digital. Most of all, he stressed over whether it would still affect her once they made it back home.
TK was quiet as he remembered the Numemon and the ashes they became. As if on repeat, he could see their demise playing over and over at the back of his eyelids. He tightened his grip around Tokomon, not liking the numb sensation in his chest. He thought he should be crying for them, mourning for their end, but…. The tears wouldn't come. He wasn't sure what that meant. What did it mean? Did it make him a bad person?
Matt didn't like the atmosphere their group had settled into even less than when Sarai was being hostile towards Tai. It was far too broody for his liking, and considering all they just survived, he thought they should be a little less remorse. Which is why he's beyond relieved they come across another oasis. Before the other's could stop him, Matt is faking his biggest smile and urging everyone to hurry up as he runs ahead with TK in tow.
He's determined to get rid of all the broody gloom that hovers around the group.
Even if that means smacking some sense into a couple of idiots.
(~)-(~)- *DIGIMON ADVENTURE*-(~)-(~)
"Are you feeling better Sarai?" Agumon asked from his seat beside her.
Sarai couldn't even bring herself to pretend to smile like before. She felt completely drained and exhausted, something about her was messed up and she had a feeling it wouldn't be as easy to fix as she hoped. She hadn't said a word since they'd escaped Cockatrimon. Not to Agumon, Mimi and not to Tai or Gaomon.
Sarai dared to peer over to where the dog Digimon sat beside Tai.
Gaomon hadn't glanced at her since the pool and Sarai felt cold. The longer he ignored her, the greater the empty void in her chest seemed to grow. She felt her left side become engulfed by warmth and was surprised to find Agumon snuggling into her side. The dino Digimon was extremely warm, like a hot water bottle in winter. Though it didn't warm her insides, Sarai was grateful for the attempt.
"Alright, we've got a fire going, some edibles and a place to sleep. I'd say we're doing fairly good, wouldn't you?" Matt prompted with his hands on his hips.
All the children could tell the blonde boy had been doing his best to lift the mood. Sarai is quite sure Mimi had already cheered up a while ago. She wouldn't be surprised if the pink loving girl were entertaining herself by waiting to see how far Matt would go. It's been well understood, since travelling with the older blonde, that being Mr Positive didn't come naturally for him.
"We're alive, also I'm quite certain the term 'surviving' would be more accurate," Izzy drolly responded.
"Oh, I'm certain we're going to die one way or another. I'm simply curious as to how by this point," Mimi added with an exaggerated whine.
"Probably in the jaws of a Kuwagamon, or some other unknown Digimon we've yet to come across."
"You know, I don't know why we haven't come across any pretty Digimon that want to eat us. I mean, do they all have to look so ugly or weird?"
As Izzy and Mimi started to discuss other ways they could possibly die in the digital world, Matt's brow started to twitch. It only got worse when the two somehow managed to get TK's innocent curiosity going. The youngest of their group was far too curious on if Digimon pooped out their eggs or they were delivered by a digistork. Matt's twitching brow increased to a throbbing vein when Joe had to weigh in with his own opinion about the reproduction of the Digimon.
"UGH! WHAT IS WRONG WITH YOU PEOPLE!" Matt exploded, unable to keep his annoyance in any longer.
The other children blinked at him, the silence among them sudden. Until Sora giggled which set off a chain of laughter. Not even Matt could stifle the small smile that tugged at his lips. With the atmosphere significantly lighter, the children relaxed at bit more as they waited for night to pass.
Unnoticed by everyone during all the discussion and giggles, Tai, Sarai, Gaomon and Agumon had disappeared.
The four having wandered away from the group to talk in private.
(~)-(~)- *DIGIMON ADVENTURE*-(~)-(~)
When Tai whispered for her to follow him, Sarai wanted to say no. When she saw how Gaomon had scowled, still refusing to look at her, as he followed the goggle wearing boy, she dreaded following them. She probably wouldn't have if Agumon hadn't nudged her forward with an encouraging smile. With Agumon at her back, offering her silent support, she found the courage to follow Tai and Gaomon for a conversation she dreaded.
By the time they'd stopped, the chatter of the others were muffled by the trees. Tai was waiting for her while leaning against a large rock with Gaomon beside him looking at the sky. Sarai hesitated, wanting to turn back, and run, but once again she felt Agumon's encouraging nudge urging her forward.
The four of them stood across from one another without a word.
Sarai tried not to be obvious with her glances towards Gaomon. Gaomon stubbornly refused to look in her direction. Tai was watching Sarai with a calm expression that served to anger Sarai. Agumon quietly pressed closer to Sarai, hoping his warmth could put her at ease.
"What?" Sarai huffed, once it was clear no one else was going to speak.
Tai stared at her, unsure of where to begin. He knew they needed to discuss everything that happened. He knew that the rest of their journey couldn't continue this way. It caused too much tension and disrupted the unity they needed to survive whatever monster they'd next face.
How do you simultaneously tell and explain to someone they need help, when they so obviously refuse to stop pretending, they're fine?
"If you didn't have anything to say then-"
"Who do you see?" Tai blurts, deciding to jump straight into the deep end rather than ease into the topic.
Sarai's eyes widen at the unexpected question, but only Gaomon knew of the strangled grip of panic that crept up her throat.
"W-What?" she stutter while taking a step back.
Agumon holds her hand, keeping her in place and reminding her that he's right beside her.
Tai repeats his question, but Sarai can feel the oily slither of that same ugly emotion curl around her heart. The whispers of her mother return, taunting her with vicious glee.
"I-I…" She feels weak again and the headache she feels grows persistent the longer Tai opens his mouth and speaks.
The goggle wearing boy steps closer with every word he says. Sarai realises with a surge of fury that she was being cornered again. Then what Tai is saying begins to register in her mind. All at once, her mother's voice and the darkness swallowing her heart comes to an abrupt stop.
'He knows…' she thinks and the dam of stubborn ignorance, holding back her fears and terror, finally crumbles.
(~)-(~)- *DIGIMON ADVENTURE*-(~)-(~)
The other children had noticed Sarai, Tai and their Digimon partners had disappeared. They chose not to call attention to it, knowing it was for the best. Tai was more reasonable than anyone gave him credit for, they trusted him. They could see that something was wrong with Sarai, but their last attempt obviously hadn't helped. So perhaps, if it was just Tai speaking to her, alone from everyone else; perhaps it'll turn out better.
Their quiet chatter and low conversation immediately came to a stop when they heard Sarai's screaming roar of words.
TK jumped at the unexpected sound and the Digimon all came to a frozen stop.
The night was far too still for the children to not hear Sarai's outburst from where they were. Not when the sound carried easily throughout the night.
Mimi and Sora both started to cry as they heard Sarai's screamed outbursts. They could hear the anger in her voice, the hurt and the terror she felt. TK was shaking as he clung to Matt, who was doing his best to cover TK's ears against Sarai's testimony. Joe and Izzy were silent as they listened to the unfortunate reality of Sarai's life back home.
It explained so much about the girl they'd come to worry about.
Most of all, it confirmed for them, that they truly knew nothing about her.
Sarai was so much stronger than they'd given her credit for.
(~)-(~)- *DIGIMON ADVENTURE*-(~)-(~)
For the first time, in her entire eleven years of life, Sarai felt weightless. The taunts of her mothers voice in her head, the dark oily sensation choking her heart and crawling up her throat had disappeared. She was exhausted and as she moved to wipe at her face, she finally noticed the outpour of black blood from her nose. She looked back at Tai and found his eyes were wide and shiny as he looked at her.
Under the light of the moon, the two children stared at one another.
"You were right Sarai," Tai quietly starts.
Sarai stops breathing when Tai speaks, she stares at him with terror and confusion. Tai sniffs and quietly repeats himself, but when he elaborates, he stares at Sarai directly, ensuring her eyes meet his.
"Saying sorry will never be enough for what you went through. You didn't deserve anything of what was done to you. All of it, everything your parents did, everything you've gone through, is completely unfair."
Sarai knows she's crying. She can feel how her breath hitches and the hot heat of her eyes and cheeks. Tai takes another step forward and when he speaks to her, it's a mere whisper.
"But you're not fine. You've never been fine, and you can't keep lying to yourself like this. You need help. So let us help."
Sarai sobs and feels two warm limbs grab at both her hands, when she looks down, she finds Gaomon and Agumon holding her hands. They're crying, as if they can feel her pain, as if they are hurting just as greatly as she'd been all these years.
"I…I-I…can't….I'm so scared…" she sobs while trembling.
Then quietly, in a whisper barely heard, Sarai confesses her darkest deepest truth.
"I don't want to go home, Tai."
Tai inhales, his throat dry and his eyes burning but he refuses to cry. Not when Sarai is such a mess. He's not a professional and sure as heck has no idea what he's doing or even saying. But when it comes to females, Tai does what he always does when he's at a loss on what to do. He imagines his sister or mother.
He thinks of Kari and if it was her in Sarai's place. He imagines everything Sarai's been through, being done to Kari and bottles the rage he feel's on her behalf. He forces himself to think in the moment, to forget about what he can't change and focus on what he can do. Right here. Right now.
"Before I left…. My dad. He- he was so strange. The look in his eyes and the way he said goodbye...I... I'm scared Tai. He promised it'll always be the two of us, but….he's broken promises to me before." She cries.
Gaomon makes a whimpering sound and hugs Sarai's side tightly. The dog Digimon is coming to understand his human's ways so much more and his earlier grunge and anger is forgiven. Not when he's been flooded with the utter darkness, she'd been hiding from him. There were no barriers between them anymore, and Gaomon could feel it all. Their bond no longer strained, but stronger than ever.
"I'm terrified he won't be there when I go back. I'm scared."
The four are quiet as Sarai cries, allowing the sobbing girl a moment to let out all her sorrows. When she begins to calm, Sarai is surprised by the nuzzle of affection she receives from Agumon.
"Don't cry Sarai. Have you forgotten already? You're Gaomon's best friend! Now that you have him, you'll never be alone."
Sarai hiccups out a wet laugh and looks to the dog Digimon who doesn't say anything.
"I'm a terrible best friend and I'm so sorry Gaomon. I've hurt you so much a-and… broken so many promises. I'm sorry," she repeats with an obvious expression of self-hate.
Gaomon surprises them all with his loud and aggressive cry of no.
"You're the best human! The others might think you're reckless, foolish or crazy, but I know better."
Gaomon glares at Sarai, daring her to disagree with him.
"You are the bravest human I know, and I'm proud to be your partner and best friend. So, from now on, you can't stop me. I'll follow you into every fight and every battle, Sarai. I'll fight every monster and defeat every evil that ever dares to threaten you! You'll never be leaving me behind ever again! And if I must fight you on that too, then so be it!"
When Gaomon's rant came to an end, he blinks at the surprised expressions the others wear. Tai and Agumon have their eyebrows raised high while Sarai is staring at him like a wolf would the full moon.
"Wow, Gaomon that was really cool," Agumon says with an eye smile.
Tai snickers as two bright red spots appear on Gaomon's cheeks. Agumon starts trying to show how cool Gaomon's outburst appeared by puffing out his chest and looking at Tai. The dog Digimon is embarrassed and yells at the dinosaur to shut up while Tai loses it and starts to laugh.
Their teasing only calms when Sarai lunges for Gaomon and clutches him close.
"I love you, Gaomon," she quietly confesses.
Gaomon's face is still hot but with his partner in his arms, and the bond between them flowing strong and freely, he doesn't care.
Agumon and Tai share a smile at the two.
Sarai, Gaomon and Agumon end up spending the rest of the night chatting with one another. Eventually they all fall asleep where they are.
(~)-(~)- *DIGIMON ADVENTURE*-(~)-(~)
Tai is staring into the flames when the other children, other than TK, join him.
"Hey…" Matt softly starts.
Tai doesn't respond, he can't bring himself to speak after everything he'd just heard.
"Tai?" Sora prompts as she sits beside him with a comforting hand on his shoulder.
Izzy and Mimi take their own seats not too far away while Joe and Matt remain standing.
"Tai… what are you thinking man?" Matt roughly prompts, his voice low and slightly raspy.
Tai looks away from the fire and meets the other children's eyes. The goggle wearing boy is unaware of the expression he wears. The other children aren't sure what to name it. Tai's eyes are full of fire, the determination in their depths brightly burning. He levels every single one of them with a heavy stare, and they shiver.
"We get the crests, save the digital world and go home."
Tai's words are commanding and expectant, there is no room for discussion or argument. Izzy and Sora share a glance as Matt and Joe easily agree.
"And when we get back home?" Mimi prompts, with her brow arched high and expectant.
They can all hear the challenge in her tone, as well as the implication. Tai knows they heard everything Sarai had confessed to him. He knows Mimi is really asking what'll happen to Sarai when they go back.
Tai thinks back to Agumon's words and the reminder Gaomon told him he says to Sarai.
"She's not alone anymore, and that won't change when we go home."
Mimi nods, giving her approval, Matt hums in agreement while the others give their own show of agreement. The children stare into the fire together a little while longer.
Something within them changes and is lost forever.
By the time the sun rises and their hike through the desert continues…they are no longer children, but warriors in the making.
*Notes of interest: I was originally going to have Matt, Mimi or Izzy present with Tai to confront Sarai about her home life. I changed my mind and reasoned that as the leader, Tai would have the trust of the group to handle it. While Matt can lead when he needs to, to me he seems more comfortable allowing someone else to take on the heavy weight of that kind of responsibility. Also, with TK present, I don't think he'd want to add to his responsibility. I didn't have Mimi or Izzy present because they're both 10 and there was a risk Sarai would do some serious damage to them if they tried. I hope you all realise that Sarai is not THAT meek and submissive. There is a seriously nasty side to her and Gaomon. But again, they're all just kids trying their best. I'm warning you now, that after this chapter, the group are really going to start fighting back. So for those who keep asking me about the 02 Digi destined and Sarai's role in their story... Well... lets just say whatever you THINK will happen...…probably won't :) *
[Episodes Covered: S1ep16, S1ep17]