A/N: sithlorde1988 here with another chapter of Digimon Story Cyber Sleuth: Hacker's Memory- The Amasawa Files! As usual, I know I've not updated much else since the last update, but in this case I did FINALLY get a new chapter posted for Digimon Data Squad Redux (rewrite)! And I also heard from my co-writer for Pyrex Chronicles, and he's just really busy at present so I'm basically waiting for his workload to ease up enough for him to be available to co-write before that chapter can proceed from where I left it. As for Shuffled Journeys, that story has a chapter in the typing-out process, while I'm waiting for more updates to even look at the next chapter of A Mine Is A Terrible Thing to Waste Redux (rewrite), so that story isn't getting updated for awhile I'm afraid. Same with Digimon Data Squad Redux (rewrite) since I just updated it.
As for this story, well odds are unless I find a spot to stop it without having to cram the rest into this chapter, this chapter here will probably be the final story chapter of the in-game main plot. Depending on how many words it takes to get through Eater EDEN and reach the final battle, there's a fair chance this chapter will end the main plot! Possibly if needed, the first bit of the post-game might also be in this chapter, but we'll wait and see what happens on that front before making any guarantees. That being said, let's get the disclaimer done and over with!
Disclaimer: sithlorde1988 does not own Digimon in any way shape or form (be it the anime, the games or any other Digimon media) and the ones that do own it know who they are and all credit for owning Digimon is theirs to take. I believe the shows belong to Toei Animation last I checked while the games at least partially belong to Bandai Namco and whatever other companies were involved in making the Digimon games.
Speaking of which, unless it was delayed, Digimon Survive comes out finally a week from tomorrow (it's July 21st as of the day I'm typing this start of chapter A/N!) Crazy, I know, but it's finally got a release date. Odds are I won't play it right away, however. That said, let's get on with chapter 29 which as a warning WILL probably be a rough one to read especially if the ending of the main plot ends up in here! However, be sure to stay tuned after the chapter for a possibly even longer A/N! ON WITH THE STORY!
Chapter 29- Into the Eaters' Den! Saving Erika and EDEN? Of Miracles, Endings and Farewells
(In Nakano Underpass, Keisuke's POV)
I eventually ran all the way back to where the login machine was located, taking time to battle lots of Digimon along the way to strengthen up my Digimon for the coming battles, knowing I'd probably need all the strength I could muster. Once I reached the login machine, I found Chitose and Ryuji waiting for me and Wormmon (who had decided to ride shotgun on my shoulder once more to conserve his energy for when the real battles started) and walked over to them as Chitose spoke up, rubbing the back of his head in embarrassment as he spoke, Ryuji putting a hand on his hip as he stood next to Chitose while the latter spoke.
"This feels a little weird. Who'd have thought we'd get mixed up in something so big?" Chitose asked in surprise as Ryuji spoke up.
"It's not that big a deal. There are people out there saving the real world. Our fight's small compared to theirs. Even so, we have to see it through... That goes for Eaters and whatever else we come up against." Ryuji said as Wormmon started jumping up and down after hopping off of my back as he spoke up, a determined look on his face as he spoke, swaying back and forth in resolve while he spoke.
"We'll make 'em pay for taking Erika!" Wormmon said resolutely making me smile as I nodded in approval of his words before speaking up.
"That we will, little one. With any luck we'll be able to find and rescue Erika from the Eaters before it's too late. Granted, I don't know that the method we used to save Chitose would work here since I don't know that you'd be capable of acting as a receptacle for Erika's mental data, not to mention it was her real body and not her mental data that was assimilated, so that makes this situation vastly different from what Chitose went through. I don't like it, but we might have to be prepared to accept the rough truth that we might not be able to save Erika this time which sucks to think about but nevertheless is the truth.
And, as much as it pains me to say this because I'd rather things NOT come to this, we might have to prepare ourselves for the eventuality that Erika could in fact be lost to the Eaters forever. But of course, I'd much rather that not be the case. Either way, I agree with Wormmon. We'll make the Eaters answer for daring to go after Hudie not once, but twice! That's just unacceptable and unforgivable!" I said confidently, my tone one of determination as Ryuji looked at me and Wormmon in surprise as he spoke up, his eyes wide with shock as he looked at us while speaking, a frown on his face.
"That's true. Either way, I'm impressed with the backbone you two are showing right now. Especially you, leader. I know you're head over heels for my sister, yet you're bracing yourself for the off chance you might have to say goodbye to her. I can't imagine how much that thought must be hurting you to even consider. I'm proud of you both." Ryuji said as Wormmon giggled before speaking up once more.
"Hehe, indeed. We've both come a long way from when I first joined the team. Isn't that right, Ryuji?" Wormmon asked Ryuji who smiled and nodded before speaking again.
"Yeah. That's right. Moreso with Keisuke than with you but still that's right." Ryuji replied. He then got a determined look on his face as he spoke up again, looking at all of us as he spoke up, his tone much more confident and resolved, an unreadable expression on his face compared to the smile on Chitose's face, the unreadable look on my face and the neutral look on Wormmon's face while he spoke.
"It's time. Let's do this...brothers." Ryuji said as I got a determined look on my face before speaking up once more.
"I agree. The time has come to save our comrade, and all of EDEN! Let's go, Hudie!" I said determinedly as I punched my fist into my open palm in determination. I walked around and talked to virtually everyone in the room, eventually ending on Yu who asked me not to go losing on him at this point since I was, to him, a hero. I blinked at this but nodded, and then when he asked I said 'yes' to transport myself, Ryuji and Chitose into EDEN.
When we'd arrived, I looked around and gaped in horror as EDEN was, to put it bluntly, nothing more than a massively screwed up husk of its former self, being full of broken areas and lots of reds and darker colors. I looked at Chitose and Ryuji who were also horrified by what EDEN now looked like. I then spoke up, not able to hold my filter back on this occasion.
"Damn! What in the literal, the fresh, AND the actual fuck happened here?! Did the Eaters really do all THIS to EDEN?! If so, what did they do to Erika?!" I asked, eyes wide in mixed horror, shock and disbelief. Chitose nodded his agreement before speaking up as well.
"Is this really EDEN?!" Chitose asked as Ryuji and I nodded and the former spoke up, a look of concern and fear on his face as he spoke.
"It's worse than I thought. What happened to the Digimon that were here?" Ryuji asked, making Wormmon droop a bit as he spoke up to answer Ryuji.
"Maybe the Eaters got them all." Wormmon suggested as I hung my head before speaking up, another thought occurring to me.
"Or, and I could see this happening, Erika force-ejected them out of EDEN the way she did to me and Wormmon. If so, she really needs to not be so selfless! I mean, something like that has to take energy to do, so she's only hurting herself to make sure everyone else is safe! Why is that girl so damned stubborn?! I think she gets it from her brother." I said, shaking my head even as I smirked at Ryuji with my slight dig at him. Ryuji shrugged, not able to refute my remark as it was probably true, but Chitose spoke up before he could say anything at all, clearly horrified by Wormmon and I's explanation if his face is any indication as he spoke up.
"But how could EDEN get like this?! There were Eaters before, but it was never this bad!" Chitose said as Wormmon's head snapped up to look at Chitose before he spoke up.
"Maybe they're evolving." Wormmon suggested, as I snapped my head up to look at him as he kept speaking though his words would make me shudder a bit.
"According to Suedou's paper, once Eaters have assimilated data, they absorb it, break it down, and reconstruct it in their own form. By consuming their targets, they overwrite themselves and are reborn as new life. In other words...evolution. But their evolution is usually suppressed for some reason, maybe so they can carry out their function as data-gathering entities. Because of Erika's modifications, the Eater Legion lost its link to the Mother Eater.
With no limits on its evolution, it went out of control. At this rate, that Eater will absorb all of EDEN and turn into a terrible monster. Because of this, the erosion might even spread to the real world." Wormmon said as Chitose spoke up, frowning as he spoke, noticing that both Ryuji and I were stunned speechless as Wormmon's theory about the Eaters' evolution, though I did aim a half-hearted glare at Wormmon for suggesting this could be in any way Erika's fault, even if I did agree that she shouldn't have made those Eater Bits in the first place.
"So even without Erika's situation, this is a major crisis." Chitose said as Ryuji nodded, finding his voice at that point to speak up.
"Let's get moving. We need to take out the Eater Legion before the erosion spreads." Ryuji said, his face one of anger, determination and even a hint of worry for Erika. Chitose, Wormmon and I all nodded our agreement as we began the run through what we'd decided we'd call 'Eroded EDEN'. After a bit of travelling through Eroded EDEN as well as encountering many Eaters along the way, we found our way blocked after a while by a trio of Eaters, making us take battle-ready stances as we knew we'd have to fight our way through to reach the next area. Ryuji spoke up, looking angry at yet more Eaters blocking our way as he spoke.
"Of course there are Eaters here, too!" Ryuji snarled angrily as Chitose spoke up, his expression unreadable as he spoke.
"They aren't going to make this easy for us!" Chitose said as Wormmon jumped before taking his turn to speak up.
"They must have been drawn to the erosion caused by the Eater Legion. They might be forming their own network in EDEN!" Wormmon said making Chitose blink before speaking up once more, a frown on his face as he spoke.
"Another layer of security in EDEN? In that case...!" Chitose said, trailing off in time for Ryuji to speak up knowing what Chitose was going to say.
"We'll just have to break through it!" Ryuji said as I glared at the Eaters before speaking up myself.
"Damn right we'll have to break through it! Let's do this! Let's destroy these Eaters, if not for Erika then for the sake of EDEN itself!" I said resolutely as the battle (And by battle, I mean Domination Battle) began! It was a rough one, but despite the fall of Chitose's Whamon, we ended up pulling out the W in the end despite one of the Eaters trying to flee to the left to play point snatcher. Needless to say, Ryuji put a rather quick and decisive stop to that plan by himself while Chitose and I stared down the basic Eaters and Eater Bits in the interim. After the fight, Ryuji spoke up once more.
"We can't afford to get held up here. Come on." Ryuji said. Chitose rubbed the back of his head uneasily before he spoke up.
"But if the devastation gets any worse, we won't have a clue where we are. All the URLs have been useless so far." Chitose said as I frowned, closing my eyes and crossing my arms as I pondered our current situation. At least I did, until I sensed something nearby that made my eyes snap open as I turned to my right and gasped at what I saw, speaking up as a result and catching everyone's attention.
"No way! Is that...? I think it is! It looks like one of those AIs from Erika's memory server!" I said in shock. Ryuji also gasped, not having seen said AIs before so was unprepared for the almost uncanny similarities between the AI and Erika. He then spoke up in shock.
"Erika?!" Ryuji said as the AI turned and walked off, right as Wormmon decided to speak up, turning to face Ryuji as he spoke.
"It's a shadow of Erika's memory. It's a virtual AI of her memory that leaked from her memory server. She's calling us." Wormmon said. I then glared as I spoke up.
"Is that so? At least this AI's existence confirms that Erika's still alive for now so there's still hope. Even so, just because she has AIs from her server that are intact, does not mean that she's in the same condition herself inside that Eater. So we should go in prepared for the worst but hope for the best." I said firmly yet resolutely. Chitose nodded before speaking up, smiling as he crossed his arms while he spoke.
"Calling us? Hehe, then let's go and get her!" Chitose said as Ryuji, Wormmon and I nodded, all of us dashing off in the direction that Erika's AI had went. After taking the transporter that appeared, we found ourselves in what I immediately recognized to be Erika's memory server! At that point, Wormmon spoke up.
"This is Erika's memory server!" Wormmon said before Chitose saw something that made him pump a fist in anger as he spoke up.
"Hey, look at that!" Chitose said as we turned to look where he'd pointed, with me glaring at what I saw, not amused in the least, but neither was Ryuji if his pissed-off face was any indication of his feelings.
"What the hell?! How far did these bastards erode her server?! Dammit!" I said in disbelief. But if that was bad, it was nothing on the sight of the Eater mass that had attached itself to Erika's face floating over Erika's memory server! Both Ryuji and I gasped at seeing this. Ryuji spoke up before I could.
"Erika!" Ryuji said as I took a battle-ready stance while speaking up.
"Erika! Speak to us, my love! We're here to rescue you! Are you still okay in there?! Answer me!" I called out to what used to be Erika, hoping she was still well enough to speak. Wormmon, of course, spoke up right after I did, presumably not hearing anything I'd just said.
"Erika! Can you hear me?! We're here to help you!" Wormmon called out, predictably repeating what I'd said. The Eater mass growled at us in response, making Chitose chuckle as he spoke up, smiling for some reason as he spoke, ignoring the glares Ryuji and I aimed at him.
"Heh, it looks like it won't give her back without a fight!" Chitose said. Right at that point, the Eater mass lowered itself into Erika's memory server making us all gasp while I swore under my breath before speaking up, wide-eyed in horror and shock.
"Umm, am I the only one who feels like that's not supposed to happen, much less is likely as not a bad thing?!" I asked the others. Wormmon gasped and jumped before speaking up once more, his words serving to confirm what I had been fearing.
"No! It's trying to erode the memory server! All of Erika's memories will be gone forever!" Wormmon said as the rest of us swore collectively.
"Damn! What can we do?!" Chitose asked, rubbing the back of his head awkwardly. Ryuji growled before speaking up.
"There's only one thing for it." Ryuji said, his expression resolute. He then crossed his arms before continuing to speak, making the rest of us turn to face him as he spoke.
"Steal authorization in cyberspace, break in, and take what we need. That's what hackers do best. It doesn't matter how strong an Eater is. This is cyberspace! It's no match for us!" Ryuji said resolutely making me gape at his words while Chitose chuckled and spoke up at that point, doing a closed-eye smile that almost made me want to punch him as he spoke, either not seeing or ignoring the angry look I gave him as he spoke.
"Haha! I get it! Just another day at the office! So the target is Erika's memory server, and the objective is our sleeping beauty?" Chitose asked and when Ryuji nodded, he turned to face me before continuing to speak, making me blink but turn my attention to his words as he kept speaking, Wormmon listening attentively next to me.
"Go now, Keisuke! We'll stop the Eater erosion. You and Wormmon, save Erika!" Chitose said as Ryuji spoke up before I could reply to him.
"Go and get Erika. Give me this chance to make up for everything." Ryuji said to me as I nodded.
"I understand. Got it! You guys deal with the erosion and leave the little lady to me and Wormmon! Between us, we'll get her back, or we'll get eroded trying! Right, Wormmon? We're in this together! Or are you going to back out now?" I said to Ryuji while aiming the last of my remark to Wormmon who simply did a resolute nod as we ran off to do the task Ryuji had requested of us, leaving Ryuji alone with Chitose.
(POV shift- Ryuji's POV)
"You ready, Chitose?" I asked Chitose, a hand on my hip as I gave him a determined smile, determined to make the most of this chance to make things right with Erika. Chitose smiled back and nodded his agreement as he spoke up.
"Yep!" Chitose said as he and I said the next words together in unison.
"TIME TO HACK!" Chitose and I said at the same time, taking battle-ready stances as we started working on hacking the Eaters.
(Inside Erika's memory server, Keisuke's POV)
Wormmon and I looked around at Erika's memory server and gasped at how badly the interior had already been eroded.
"No way?! It's already so far eroded...Could we be too late?!" I asked in shock and disbelief. Wormmon jumped before answering me.
"Is this the inside of the Eater network?! I can't believe the memory server's been so badly eroded!" Wormmon said as the AI we'd seen before reappeared and started walking off in a certain direction, making Wormmon turn to me as I took a battle-ready stance.
"It's Erika's memory! Follow it! It might lead us to her!" Wormmon said and I nodded as we made to follow the AI. After a bit the screen cut away to a memory I'd not seen before...
(Memory/flashback start, Erika's POV)
"Huh? You bringing someone new? I never expected that from you." Chitose said to Ryuji, clearly as surprised as I was on hearing that Ryuji had brought someone new into the fold, since it wasn't something he did very often if ever. Chitose then kept speaking before Ryuji or I could say anything.
"What's he like?" Chitose asked Ryuji who smirked before speaking up at that point, noticing the curious expression on my face and smiling.
"Just a regular kid, but he seems gutsy." Ryuji said to Chitose. I smiled at this flashback before speaking.
"You seem happy. This is the first time I've seen you smile since we formed the team. A new member joining Hudie...I'm sure he'll stay right by your side. Just like Chitose. Instead of me." I said both wistfully and fondly, recalling that as the day I'd first found out Keisuke was joining our team. Granted, at that time, I thought he was gonna just be a useless moron or a complete imbecile and not be much use to the team. Never in my wildest dreams had I figured he would instead be one of our greatest and most unexpected boons in more ways than one, much less that I'd eventually open up to and even find myself falling for and hooking up with him. I smiled at what Keisuke and I had shared...
(Memory/Flashback end, back to Keisuke's POV)
I frowned at what Wormmon and I had just seen, as well as the unexpected commentary from what I realized was Erika's voice at the end. I sighed as I stroked my chin in thought, pondering what I'd heard her say at the end of the flashback.
'My love, was that real?! Are you truly jealous that your brother is close to me?! If so, you're sillier than you often accuse me or Wormmon of being! I may be close to your brother, but I'm FAR closer to you than to him! So don't ever think you have to be jealous of me!" I thought to myself wistfully as Wormmon and I kept going through the server. Eventually we came to another, far less pleasant memory.
(Flashback/memory start, Erika's POV)
"Where exactly do you think you are? In the real world? In EDEN? Or somewhere completely different?" Kishibe asked me tauntingly. I then frowned as the memory ended. I then spoke up to myself, my tone one of resolution and determination.
"Back then, I couldn't answer that question. Where am I? A digitized memory or a physical body? If EDEN disappears, will I cease to exist? If my physical body dies, will the me still in EDEN be me? Whenever I felt scared, I thought about Hudie. My brother, Chitose, Wormmon, and Keisuke...When I thought about them, I was definitely there. A place where I can feel myself...As long as that remains, I can still be me in here, even if I no longer exist out there someday. So...So it's okay." I said to a surprised Keisuke, his face clearly not expecting me to find a way to reach out to him.
"What?! Are you saying you're resigned to not being saved, my love?!" Keisuke asked me in shock. I smiled at him as noise started happening around me.
"It's okay now." I said as in a flash of light, Keisuke found himself in front of what was left of me after the Eaters had attacked and assimilated me.
(Flashback/memory end, Keisuke's POV)
"Wormmon! There it is! The Eater mass that has what's left of Erika attached to it! Now to try and get her off of that Eater and hopefully save her!" I said, taking a battle-ready stance. Wormmon jumped as he spoke up in shock, looking at me as he spoke.
"We found her!" Wormmon said, as my DigiLine auto-opened a video chat to Ryuji and Chitose.
"Hurry up! The erosion is speeding up!" Ryuji said to me as Chitose cringed before speaking up.
"I can slow it down, but we're out of time!" Chitose said to me as I nodded, taking a battle-ready stance to face the Eater mass, ready to fight for Erika! Of course, it was a scripted fight, meaning it ended after I tried to attack the mass itself after knocking down the bits twice each.
"What happened?!" Ryuji asked after the fight, if it could be called a fight, ended. Wormmon jumped and spoke up, seeing how much I was struggling.
"Keisuke can't handle it by himself! He won't make it!" Wormmon said to Ryuji and Chitose, ignoring the indignant yell of 'OI! I'm not doing THAT badly you liar!" that came from me behind him. Chitose frowned at hearing this and swore under his breath before speaking up at that point.
"We need to get over there!" Chitose said in frustration as at that moment, we all heard, terrible and noise-laced as it was, Erika's voice speaking to us.
"It's okay. You can stop now." Erika said as her AI reappeared, making Wormmon jump in shock as he spoke up.
"Erika?!" Wormmon said, and I gasped as I realized that it wasn't one of Erika's AIs we were speaking to, but rather Erika herself! Erika then spoke up once more.
"The Eater erosion can't be stopped. Take the others and get out of here." Erika said as I frowned at her before speaking up.
"But what about you, Erika?! We came here to save you, dammit! Or are you saying we should give up on you?! Because I for one refuse to give up on you! I love you too much to let you go that easily, Erika! I'm sorry you've been suffering, I truly am, but I'm not giving up on you, on US, like that! No...WE'RE not giving up on us, my love!" I said firmly yet resolutely. Erika looked at me sadly as she spoke up once more, her words shocking and saddening me slightly.
"My body has been fully assimilated by the Eater. If you kill it, I will cease to exist." Erika said to me, as Ryuji gasped from over the video call that had been still open.
"No!" Ryuji said as Chitose also spoke up, just as horrified by what Erika said as Ryuji, Wormmon and I were.
"Are we too late?!" Chitose asked, his fear evident in his tone. I frowned as I spoke up once more, my eyes closed while I spoke.
"No...I don't think we are. Sure, it looks bad right now, but I seem to recall that Wormmon here is a backup of sorts for Erika's memory. So as long as he isn't eroded, and as long as we can salvage Erika's body, we can always use Wormmon as a backup memory of sorts to try and save Erika if worse comes to worse. But I refuse to believe that there's no chance of saving her from her current predicament! And if there is, then that sucks!" I said huffily. Erika smiled at me before speaking up, her fist pumped in determination as she spoke once more, looking mainly at me as she spoke.
"Keisuke...thank you for believing in me so strongly, even now. But it's too late. There's no way to stop the Eaters without destroying them, and that would entail destroying me. So destroying me may well be unavoidable, Wormmon being a backup of my memories notwithstanding. So, please, listen to me! Please go back. I can stop the erosion from spreading to the real world. I can't let the Eater get out, even if it costs me my life!" Erika said resolutely as Wormmon and I gasped while Wormmon shook his head in disbelief.
"This can't be happening!" Wormmon said in disbelief, perfectly voicing my thoughts in that moment. Erika looked at Wormmon in a mix of pride, shock, and even sadness.
"Wormmon..." Erika said, traliing off as Wormmon spoke up once more, waving his arms expressively as he spoke.
"Erika wouldn't want that! That's not what I want! She didn't want to die. That's why she shared her memory with me. I'm Erika; she's me! I want what she wants! She wants to return to Hudie more than anyone else! There's still so much she wants to see and do! Let's do it all! Let's go to the Digital World together! It'll be adventure! Ryuji, Chitose, and Keisuke...all of us together! We're the unbeatable Hudie! We'll be the best hacker team in the Digital World!" Wormmon said, as Chitose, Ryuji and I all gasped at what Wormmon had just said. I in particular had felt like my mind was just blown by what was said.
"Wormmon...is Erika?! What?! How does that make ANY sense?! Though it WOULD explain his comments about 'unladylike behavior' he made while Date and Fei were arguing. Still...could I really have not noticed my girlfriend basically become one with a Digimon?! Damn." I thought to myself as I heard Chitose speak up in shock, looking at Ryuji as he spoke, though I could hear what he said just as clearly as Ryuji could.
"You hear that? She still had so many dreams to fulfill. What can we do?" Chitose asked Ryuji who crossed his arms and frowned as he spoke up.
"I don't know." Ryuji said before he turned to speak directly to Erika, his words surprising not just her, but myself and Wormmon as well.
"I'm sorry, Erika. I've failed you as a big brother. But I know an apology is just words, so...So from now on, I'll do whatever you want! Just come back! Erika! Whatever it takes! I'll take you anywhere you want to go! The Digital World or anywhere else!" Ryuji said, shocking both myself and Erika with how heartfelt and desperate his words sounded. Erika gasped as she spoke up after hearing this.
"R-Ryuji...! Are you serious?! If anything, I failed you by not being able to do more to make you happy! I get you were trying to keep me alive and well when you did what you did, but would it have kept us happy?! Sure it'd let me live, but would it be worth you losing your dignity?! And besides, how can I come back if I'm just a memory at this point? Yes, Wormmon's a backup of me, but I don't think I can use him to get myself back the way we used Ankylomon to get Chitose back on his feet. But your words please me, Ryuji. Thank you for being so sincere in your apologies!" Erika said to Ryuji. Chitose chose then to chuckle before speaking up, looking at Ryuji as he spoke.
"I didn't think I'd ever hear you say anything like that. But come to think of it...I'm sure we could be the greatest hacker team in the Digital World! Count me in! How about you, leader?!" Chitose said, aiming the last bit of his reply at me. I nodded, punching my fist into my palm as I spoke up.
"I agree with you, Chitose! We could easily be the greatest team in the Digital World! Granted, we'd be the ONLY hacker team in the Digital World and therefore the best by default, but that's just details I suppose. The point is, Erika, we're all here to make sure you come back to us, no matter what it takes! Even if we have to get on our knees and beg, we're getting you back Erika! As I said to you once before, the team just isn't the same without you in it!
You're our little lady, the slightly cynical, yet perky heart of the team. Without you around, Hudie's just a bunch of testosterone, masculine ego, and whatever the fuck Wormmon adds to the team. Not to mention, without you around, none of us are complete. You're that small yet indispensable part of the team that makes us all less with your absence!
And quite honestly Erika, I don't know if I ever told you this, but you're the love of my life, and my soul mate! I don't think I could look for many many years and ever find another girl who's quite as special and perfect for me as you are! So it might be selfish of me, but I don't think I'd feel the same if I had to let you go so easily! Sure, Wormmon might be you to a point, but he's not the shy, vulnerable, beautiful and amazing young woman I fell in love with. THAT is all YOU, my love. Now please, come back to us." I said pleadingly to Erika. Erika gasped as she looked at me in shock, not expecting to hear me say what I had said. She then spoke up in awe, amazement and surprise.
"I...Wow. I never thought I'd hear those words from you, sweetie. I love you too though, Keisuke. But seriously, I...I...I want to go, too, with all of you!" Erika said making us all smile. At that point she floated over and picked up Wormmon, cradling him to her chest lovingly as she gave him a closed-eye smile that had me squirming from how adorable it looked, though that could also be because of how pure and beautiful the mother-son moment of sorts between Erika and Wormmon was.
She then held him up so she could look him in the eyes. At that point, a bright light surrounded Wormmon as he seemingly was assimilated into Erika, making her become enveloped in light as well before she was assimilated into the Digimon that had appeared in place of Wormmon, and when the light was gone, in the spot where Erika and Wormmon had been was an unfamiliar Digimon, one that looked very much like the butterfly on our Hudie uniforms. I gasped at what I was looking at, not sure what to make of this new Digimon standing before me. I gasped as I spoke up in shock though.
"Wh...what the actual fuck just happened?!" I said in shock. At that point, Ryuji and Chitose found their voices, having seen what I saw too. Ryuji then spoke up.
"Erika?!" Ryuji called out as the unknown Digimon winced at his words before looking at me, seemingly looking me over but not saying much. I blinked at this before speaking up.
"I'm not sure what's going on here, but...while I'm not entirely sure you're either Wormmon OR Erika individually, I have to ask...Exactly WHAT are you?!" I asked the Digimon who smiled at me before speaking up, pleased I'd understood that she (The Digimon was very obviously female in appearance given the pouty lips that were visible and the very distinctly feminine swells in the chest area that a man could never hope to have that suggested a female anatomy) wasn't strictly speaking either Erika OR Wormmon, but something, or possibly someone, else entirely which made her smile as she spoke.
"I'm Hudiemon. Something new...formed from Erika and Wormmon." The now-named Hudiemon said to me as I gasped.
"Hudiemon?! You know, I recall reading something about a phenomenon similar to this once. I think I recall the book I'd read called it a 'BioMerge' which was the result of a human and Digimon's feelings and hearts resonating as one and allowing them to fuse together to become a new, much stronger, Digimon. So would I be right to guess this is similar to that at all?!" I asked Hudiemon, confused as to why this would happen now of all times, but happy that it had since it meant that Erika would still live on in some form at least. I was a bit saddened to realize though that it might mean the Erika I knew was gone forever. But I pushed that to the side for the moment. And good thing I did, since the mass that had Erika's body attached to it roared at us to remind us of its presence. Hudiemon looked at me before taking a determined stance.
"I'll explain it to you later! First...let's finish this!" Hudiemon said to me as I nodded. I spoke up.
"Very well, Hudiemon...if you want me to help you finish that thing off, I guess I have no choice. I'll just have to try not to miss Erika too much if destroying that kills her!" I said as I took a battle-ready stance and the battle resumed. During the battle, Hudiemon waved at me to get my attention before speaking up.
"The Eater bits are stopping us from attacking the Legion! And even if we defeat them one by one, the Legion will just recover. Don't worry. Leave it to me! It's time for me to step up!" Hudiemon said as the battle resumed again briefly before I looked at Hudiemon after she used her 'Infinity Dream' attack on the Eater bits and the Legion. I spoke up in surprise as I looked at Hudiemon, impressed and surprised at her abilities.
"Wow, that was incredible! But since when have you had that kind of power, Hudiemon? I'm impressed!" I said to Hudiemon. Hudiemon smiled before speaking up.
"They've slowed down! Go now!" Hudiemon said to me and I nodded as the battle resumed once more. After a bit, we managed to damage the Legion enough that the Bits vanished as the Legion exploded, both the Legion and Erika's body being utterly destroyed as a result of our victory, saddening me to see, but knowing there wasn't a choice to be had in the matter. Hudiemon was suitably sad as she watched the demise of the Legion (and of Erika's body by extension) speaking up afterwards with a sad look on her face as she looked at me while speaking.
"Farewell...me..." Hudiemon said as the Legion was destroyed...
(Outside of the server, Chitose's POV)
"Communications have been down for a while now. What's happening?" I asked Ryuji, worried for Wormmon, Keisuke and of course Erika. Ryuji frowned as he spoke.
"No idea, but if I had to guess, I'd say they're getting rid of the Legion as we speak. Though I'm not sure I'm a fan of what will happen as a result of that..." Ryuji said sadly. At that moment a flash of light went off near us and the Digimon we'd seen with Keisuke materialized in front of us, unaware that she was standing on top of Keisuke's head while she looked at us, and so was totally oblivious to the red-faced Keisuke below her avidly avoiding looking up as best he could. Ryuji and I both gasped at what we'd seen before speaking up at the same time.
"HUDIEMON?! YOU'RE REAL?! THIS IS UNREAL!" Ryuji and I said simultaneously. Hudiemon nodded, smiling at Ryuji and I before speaking up.
"It's over. The Eater Legion is gone." Hudiemon said, making Ryuji gasp and speak up to ask a question.
"That voice...Are you...Erika?!" Ryuji asked Hudiemon who frowned before shaking her head and speaking up again to answer Ryuji.
"It's not that simple. I am her, and yet I am not her. Wormmon and Erika's mental data has become unified. I'm a new Erika, that the old Erika willed into being." Hudiemon said as I gasped, feeling the need to speak up in that moment, a bunch of questions racing through my mind to be asked.
"A new Erika? Are you a Digimon now?!" I asked Hudiemon as Ryuji grumbled before speaking up.
"Only my sister could pull off something this complex using nothing more than a Wormmon and her own will. Poor Keisuke..." Ryuji said, not seeing Keisuke standing under Hudiemon's feet, still trying not to look up at all. He then chuckled as he kept speaking.
"Yet at the same time, I'm not surprised. If anyone would be able to find a way to turn themselves into a Digimon, it would be Erika." Ryuji said proudly. I blinked at this.
"True, but what about our leader? How's he supposed to be able to date your sister if she's a Digimon now?! I can't imagine he's able to make himself sexually attracted to Digimon, after all. Can our leader ever catch a break?!" I joked, ignoring the glare Keisuke shot me from where he was standing, very clearly offended by my comment about being sexually attracted to Digimon. Keisuke then spoke up, stroking his chin in thought.
"Shut up, Chitose! If I wanted to date a Digimon, I'd have either hooked up with my Angewomon or not turned away that one Lillymon that was clearly hot for me. As it is, Erika's only HALF Digimon so it's not that weird if I still try to be with her despite her current circumstances. Besides, I once told her I love her for her, no matter what, and that hasn't changed as far as I'm concerned, whether she's basically a Digimon now or not. I'm still determined to do what I have to do to keep her happy and loved. I owe her no less, both as the temporary leader of Hudie AND as her boyfriend.
I'd add in a line about as her soul mate, but I think Ryuji's been through enough without my lame attempts at humor to consider, so yeah. That being said, really not trying to look up right now, out of respect for Hudiemon." Keisuke said, blushing in embarrassment at his current predicament, which had me grinning at him, while resisting the urge to say 'GET REKT KEISUKE!' like he would often do to me. At that point Hudiemon blinked, looking around in confusion, probably having heard my voice but not seeing me yet before speaking up.
"Huh? Where is Keisuke? I thought he was ejected from the memory server with me..." Hudiemon said as Keisuke blinked before chuckling and speaking up.
"Look down, you silly goof. Or more accurately, look at what, or WHO, you're standing on!" Keisuke said fondly, a smile on his face as Hudiemon blinked, looked down and gasped as she finally realized she'd been standing on Keisuke's head the whole time and blushing in embarrassment before speaking up.
"What? What are you doing there? I didn't see you." Hudiemon said before hopping down off of Keisuke's head, to his visible relief. Hudiemon then spoke up again.
"All right, then..." Hudiemon said as she trailed off when Keisuke cleared his throat before speaking up.
"It's natural you didn't see me when you landed on my head. But honestly, I'm more shocked I was able to keep you upright as long as I was, nevermind the fact you didn't split my head open from putting your full weight on my skull. I guess it's true that butterflies, or in your case butterfly Digimon, are lighter than a feather." Keisuke joked happily. Hudiemon giggled at the joke before happily doing a twirl around to show off her new form, ignoring the blush on Keisuke's face as he was recalling the last time she'd done a twirl around him, and where they'd been at the time. Hudiemon then spoke up before I could poke fun at Keisuke, doing a 'peace out' pose as I'd once heard Erika call it.
"Well! What do you think? The new me is pretty cool, huh?" Hudiemon asked as I blinked, stroking my chin in thought before speaking up uneasily.
"I dunno what to think. It's definitely Erika's voice, but somehow it reminds me of Wormmon. Is this even possible? What do you make of it?" I asked Keisuke and Ryuji. Ryuji slumped over in mixed shock, surprise and probably even a bit of an overwhelmed feeling.
"...Sorry, I need a little time." Ryuji said as I nodded my head in understanding as I spoke up.
"Yeah! So would I if my sister had just turned into a Digimon! That's perfectly understandable!" I said as Ryuji and I stepped back to process things, leaving Keisuke alone with Hudiemon.
(POV shift- Keisuke's POV)
"Wow...so you're a Digimon now then, Erika? Or should I just call you Hudiemon from now on?" I asked Hudiemon, still trying to figure out exactly where this turn of events left my relationship with Erika. I then spoke up once more as I looked at Hudiemon, even as I smiled encouragingly at her.
"However, I do also have to admit, I'm a bit confused as to how this is even possible." I added to Hudiemon who looked at me and made a slight sort of 'hmph' type sound.
"That makes sense. I did just basically become a human-Digimon hybrid after all. Besides, I don't think you were wrong when you called what I did Bio-Merging." Hudiemon said as I smiled and spoke up once more, looking happily at her as I spoke.
"But...I definitely get a sense of Erika from you even if there's also definite aspects of Wormmon in there as well. I'll just have to accept that the love of my life is part-Digimon now, I suppose. Oh well, wouldn't be the first time I've had to accept that you're special, my love. Nor will it probably be the last if I had to guess." I said encouragingly as Hudiemon smiled at me and giggled at my words.
"Exactly! You get it. Although...given I'm a blend of Erika and Wormmon, wouldn't that technically mean that we've basically made our relationship sort of a three-way pairing?" Hudiemon asked uncertainly making me blink as I realized she was technically correct in her statement. I then shuddered as I spoke up.
"Yes...and no. Since Wormmon was assimilated into you when you and he merged together to become Hudiemon, technically that means Wormmon is part of you now. However, that doesn't necessarily mean that he's with us now as well, so much as it just means that you and he are one entity now. Fuck...no you're right, it DOES mean that he'd be dating us as well if we tried making things work. So I guess in that instance, we wouldn't be able to be his parents any longer. Oh well, just as well really. I would've had a hard time not shuddering if we had actually made it so you could call him son before this. Thankfully, since we didn't, what you two did isn't nearly as cringy as it could've been. So that's something at least. I'll just have to accept that Wormmon's part of the package now if we stay together, Hudiemon." I said to Hudiemon who smiled and nodded.
At that point, Ryuji and Chitose walked back over, both much calmer and more at ease than they'd previously been, as Chitose spoke up.
(POV shift- Ryuji's POV)
"I must admit, it's not exactly how I envisioned it happening, but at least Hudie's finally back together again! I'm not too bothered about the details. The main thing is we've got you back! We were worried sick!" Chitose said to Hudiemon who smiled as I nodded and spoke up myself.
"Right. Whatever you look like, you're still you. Welcome back, Erika. Or should I call you Hudiemon from now on? I noticed you never answered Keisuke when he asked you that before." I said to Hudiemon who smiled at us before speaking up, her tone very clearly happy and delighted to be with us.
"I don't mind if you call me Erika still, but my name is technically Hudiemon now so I guess I could answer to either one even if the actual Erika was destroyed with the Eater Legion before at the hands of myself and Keisuke. That being said, thanks! Good to be back!" Hudiemon said cheerfully, not seeing the saddened look on Keisuke's face at her confirmation of Erika's destruction, but he just nodded and smiled at Hudiemon. At that moment the area around us started shaking massively making me swear profusely while Chitose, Hudiemon and Keisuke blanched at my language while also being shocked at the shaking.
"What the...?!" I asked in shock as Eaters started swarming around the memory server that was all that remained of the old Erika. Chitose blanched at this and spoke up.
"The Eaters are gathering at Erika's server?!" Chitose asked in shock as he gasped at all the Eaters converging on the server. Hudiemon nodded as she spoke up.
"Legion is gone, but EDEN is still being eroded. The effects of Erika's ghost have spread so far..." Hudiemon said, trailing off as Chitose gasped and spoke up.
"What? Explain it in a way that we can understand!" Chitose said as Hudiemon smiled before explaining.
"When the Eater Legion assimilated Erika's vast memory, it acquired a temporary 'ghost.' That ghost then spread to the other Eaters in EDEN through the Eater network! Erika's memory server was the core of that ghost. They've gathered there in an attempt to unify it. But there's no trace of Erika left on that server. So now they're consuming each other in pursuit of an alternative to the core, and trying to evolve into something else!" Hudiemon said as I gasped before speaking up in horror.
"Something else?!" I asked in horror as Keisuke and Chitose echoed my question. Chitose then spoke up.
"Then I guess we should stop them, right?!" Chitose asked, but Hudiemon shook her head sadly in the negative before speaking up.
"It's already too late!" Hudiemon said, as right at that moment, the remains of Erika's server lifted up off of the ground and started emanating lights as it slowly split open and transformed itself into something else...like an Eater, but much more horrific with the tentacles and stuff. After the transformation was done, Keisuke gasped as he spoke up.
"Umm, what? DID I JUST SEE ERIKA'S MEMORY SERVER CORE TURN INTO ANOTHER NEW TYPE OF FUCKING EATER?! WHAT THE SHIT? Now what?!" Keisuke said, swearing profusely under his breath as he shook his head in disbelief, Hudiemon smiling at him as she watched him grumble under his breath. I nodded my agreement with Keisuke as I spoke up, adding my own shock to what he'd already said.
"What the fuck IS that?!" I asked in horror as Hudiemon turned to me before speaking up, the faintest trace of a smile still on her face as she spoke.
"The Eaters have evolved into a new entity with Erika's memory server as its shell and the temporary ghost as its core. It's like a tree with roots spreading thorughout EDEN... An 'Eater EDEN!'" Hudiemon explained as Chitose gasped at what she'd said before speaking up.
"Eater EDEN?!" Chitose said as the roars that we'd come to associate with Legion then echoed all around us as Keisuke instinctively covered his face before blinking.
"Wait...was that Legion?! But I thought you and I defeated Legion, Hudiemon?" Keisuke asked Hudiemon. Chitose blinked as he spoke up.
"What's that sound?! Chitose asked in shock and disbelief. Hudiemon then spoke up to explain it to Chitose, her expression unreadable as she spoke.
"The ghost inside is causing the Eater pain. Assimilating the whole of EDEN must have increased that pain. Because EDEN has logged and accumulated vast amounts of human mental data, emotions and feelings...More than anything, the Eater wants to return to where it used to be." Hudiemon said as I blinked before speaking up.
"Return?" I asked Hudiemon who smiled and nodded as she spoke up once more.
"Yes. It has two of my memories: Curiosity about the outside world and...homesickness. They seem very different, but are actually the same. It wants to escape this small world, see a whole new world and then go back to where it belongs. That's how I felt, and now it wants the same." Hudiemon said as Keisuke hung his head.
"I still can't believe you felt that way, Hudiemon. Surely you must have realized at some point that Chitose, Ryuji or I would've done anything or everything in our power to make sure you were happy? Not to mention we'd have gladly let you go explore around if you'd said you wanted to. If nothing else, you should've realized that from the times I went exploring with you when it was just us two for a while, to say nothing of the time I escorted you to Shinjuku at your request. I would do most anything to make you happy, Hudiemon. I hope you realize that. But why are you describing this 'Eater EDEN' as if it was similar to Erika?" I asked Hudiemon who smiled as she spoke up again.
"Because it IS similar to Erika. It's another Erika, just like I evolved from her." Hudiemon said as Chitose frowned as he stroked the back of his head before speaking up.
"Do we have to destroy it?" Chitose asked, not sounding happy about what he was asking. Hudiemon nodded in agreement.
"I think that's best. But not to get EDEN back. I want to send it back to where it belongs. Even if it is only my ghost. The erosion has spread all through EDEN. We'll be up against cyberspace itself." Hudiemon said as Keisuke looked up to gaze towards where Hudiemon's eyes would be if they were visible through the visor that covered most of her face before she spoke up once more, smiling at Keisuke as she spoke.
"Even so, are you willing to fight?" Hudiemon asked us as Chitose chuckled before speaking up.
"Hehe, now you ask us?! We came here to fix everything!" Chitose said as I nodded my agreement.
"That's right." I said, adding my agreement. Hudiemon then turned to Keisuke.
"And how about you?" Hudiemon asked Keisuke who seemed to hesitate slightly before looking at Hudiemon.
"I'm not thrilled about the idea of destroying the place which until recently housed most of your memories...but if you really think it's best, I'll do as you ask." Keisuke said before nodding reluctantly as Hudiemon smiled before speaking up once more as we turned to face Eater EDEN.
"Thank you all. In that case, there's just this one last thing Erika wants you to do!" Hudiemon said as we went into battle with Eater EDEN! Of course, it was a scripted fight that ended when we got it to the brink of defeat. Hudiemon blinked as she saw it charging up an attack.
"I got this! I'm sorry. This is my fault for causing you so much pain, but now it's time for me to put you back where you belong!" Hudiemon said as she used her Infinity Dream attack to slow down and weaken Eater EDEN. She then looked at us.
"I've weakened it now, the rest is up to you!" Hudiemon said as we nodded and the battle resumed! In the end we won, and after the fight, Eater EDEN writhed in agony before constricting into a sphere of light as an explosion ensued that covered the whole area in a blinding flash of light. When it was over, we were in a different area entirely, one that was completely barren of any form of Eater influence. I blinked as I looked at the area around us noticing that Chitose seemed dazed while Keisuke seemed to be grabbing at his chest, which made sense given we basically just destroyed the last remaining traces of the old Erika at Hudiemon's request.
"Urgh...Where are we?" I asked as Chitose blearily cracked an eye open to look around before gasping as he spoke up.
"Hey, look around!" Chitose called out as Keisuke and I looked around and saw that as Chitose had said, there was no further traces of Eater influence in the area. Keisuke gasped as he looked around, before speaking up in shock and disbelief, smiling at Hudiemon as he spoke up.
"Wow...Guys, Hudiemon, I think we did it! EDEN seems to be back to normal! YES!" Keisuke said happily as he looked around in shock. Chitose pumped a fist and grinned as he cheered, hearing what Keisuke had said and nodding his agreement before speaking up.
"EDEN's back to normal! Yeah! We did it!" Chitose said happily as he pumped his fist victoriously, doing an open-eyed smile even as Keisuke grimaced at the sight of it. Chitose then kept speaking up, acting as if he hadn't offended Keisuke with his closed eye smile.
"Now back to Hudie." Chitose said as Keisuke nodded his agreement then blinked as he turned to look at Hudiemon, seeing the indecision and uncertainty on her face.
"Hudiemon? You all right, my love?" Keisuke asked Hudiemon who looked at him uncertainly.
(POV Shift- Hudiemon's POV)
"Y-yeah, I'm okay." I said to Keisuke, as I frowned, remembering what I'd seen in the Eater network before becoming Hudiemon about a battle being fought to decide the future of our worlds, grimacing as I thought about the implications of said battle.
'We beat the Eaters, but now comes the hard part. The part where I have to basically bid my team farewell for the sake of my own survival...' I thought sadly to myself. Chitose looked at me, rubbing the back of his head awkwardly before speaking directly to me as he spoke up.
"Umm...I know you're a Digimon now, but that's not a problem, right? You can come back to the real world...All of us can go back to Hudie, can't we?" Chitose asked me. I gasped as I looked at him, uncertainty in my face as I responded to his question.
"I'd like to come back with you guys, I really would. But, I don't think that's possible now." I said uncertainly, making Ryuji, Chitose AND Keisuke all turn to look at me in shock. Ryuji blinked as he looked at me after what I'd said, speaking up in confusion.
"Erika?" Ryuji asked as at that moment, noise flickered in the area around us as Keisuke gasped and looked at me in uncertainty.
"Hudiemon? What's going on, my love? Is there something you're keeping from us?" Keisuke asked me, fear, worry and concern in his tone as he spoke. Chitose blinked at this as he then spoke up before I could answer Keisuke, worry in his tone as he spoke.
"What is it?!" Chitose asked me as I sighed before deciding to come clean with them about everything.
"The world has started to transform." I said as Ryuji looked at me in shock before speaking up as he looked at me in worry.
"Transform? What do you mean?" Ryuji asked me. I frowned but nodded as I spoke up once more.
"I...Erika saw a battle in the Eater network. Somewhere far away, the 'chosen ones' saved the world and made a big decision. As a result, the world will be overwritten...as a world where Digimon and humans never met." I said as Keisuke sighed, frowning as he crossed his arms before speaking up.
"And? Let me guess...With you being part-Digimon now, you'll have to say goodbye to us as you head off to the Digital World and live with the other Digimon away from us. Do I have it about right?" Keisuke asked, his expression both sad and resigned, as if he was certain of what he'd just said. Chitose gasped at Keisuke's remark, but was also horrified at what I'd said about the world being overwritten as one where Digimon and humans never met.
"Huh? What do you mean? And what will happen to us?" Chitose asked, as I shrugged, not sure of the answer to that myself. I then spoke up again.
"I don't know, but maybe I'll become human again." I said as Keisuke's eyes shot open as he looked at me in surprise. I then kept speaking before he could say a word.
"Such miracles will be commonplace, all around the world." I said as Ryuji gasped and spoke up in surprise.
"Really?!" Ryuji asked as Chitose smiled and pumped a happy fist as he spoke up.
"Yeah! In that case, bring on the transformation!" Chitose said happily as Keisuke smiled, doing a closed-eye smile to me even as he doubted it was as simple as Chitose made it sound. I looked at him sadly as I spoke up once more, knowing what I was about to say would be very saddening for him in particular to hear but needing to say it anyways.
"But some things won't change. Erika is one. The future in which Erika dies of a disease or for some other reason won't change." I said as Keisuke gasped, looking at me in horror as he was stunned to hear this before he spoke up, sounding both angry and hurt, as well as more than a tad upset.
"WHAT?! What do you mean Erika's future won't change? And what do you mean she dies of a disease or for some other reason? Are you saying we killed you when we destroyed the Legion?!" Keisuke said, suddenly very close to tears. Ryuji gasped at what Keisuke said and recoiled as if struck.
"Huh?!" Ryuji said in horror. I sadly nodded as I kept speaking, needing to finish what I had to say.
"That's Erika's role. This world is unfair, and that's why miracles exist. I have to make a choice soon, before Erika is consumed by the world's transformation!" I said as Ryuji gasped at what he was hearing before he spoke up in mixed disbelief, shock and even frustration.
"Erika, what are you saying?!" Ryuji asked me in shock. I smiled at Ryuji, Chitose and Keisuke as I kept speaking up.
"I'm happy you came to save me. What I am now is a miracle that we created. Whatever happens from now on, don't forget that." I said as Keisuke blanched and spoke up.
"Why are you speaking as if you're going to make a choice that will remove you from our lives?" Keisuke said fearfully, making Ryuji and Chitose gasp. I kept speaking rather than answer Keisuke's question, even though I was not pleased with what I had to say next.
"Now...I must say goodbye." I said as Keisuke, Ryuji and Chitose all gasped in horror before Chitose spoke up.
"But..." Chitose said as flashes of light started consuming first Chitose then Ryuji, then it started to consume Keisuke. As it started to consume Keisuke, I smiled at him.
"Thank you, for everything, my love. I love you all." I said as Keisuke was dragged away in a flash of light despite his attempt to grab on to me to avoid being dragged off. As he was whisked away, I smiled at myself before I thought out loud.
"I hope they heard the last thing I said." I said to myself. Wormmon spoke up inside me at that point with a soft nod.
"I'm sure they did." Wormmon said as the scene changed...
(Unknown location, with Hudiemon and Keisuke, Keisuke's POV)
"Wh-what the hell? Where am I?! And where'd everyone else go?" I asked in horror as I looked around at the location I'd ended up in. I gasped as I saw Erika standing before me, making me both smile and gape as I looked at her.
"E-Erika...you're still alive...I'm so relieved." I said happily as Erika frowned at me before speaking up in an annoyed-sounding voice.
"Couldn't you have just said goodbye?" Erika said to me as I spoke up, not pleased with what she'd said.
"Why would I do that, my love? Surely you know better than anyone I don't give up on people I care about that easily! And that goes double for you! Now where are we?!" I asked Erika who looked at me in uncertainty before speaking up, a fond smile on her face as she spoke.
"This world has transformed, just like I said. But you were brought to this place between dimensions along with me, so you haven't been affected yet." Erika said to me as I stroked my chin in thought before looking at her in confusion as I spoke up, a thought occurring to me.
"Wait...if you're standing here, what happened to Wormmon and/or Hudiemon? Where'd they end up when this transformation happened? Not that I'm not happy to see you, because I totally am, I always love seeing you! But I hope they're okay as well." I said. I blinked as I suddenly saw Wormmon standing where Erika had been standing.
"You remember what Suedou said, don't you? There's nothing we can do about it. But there IS something I can only do now that we're in the cusp of the transformation." Wormmon said as he shifted back into Hudiemon before continuing to speak in Hudiemon's voice.
"I'm going to the Digital World as Hudiemon." Hudiemon said to me. I gasped on hearing this.
"You're going to the Digital World?! Without the rest of us?! What happened to Hudie always sticking together?!" I asked in shock and disbelief. Hudiemon giggled as she answered my question, amused by my whiny response to her initial statement.
"By inheriting Erika's memories, Wormmon has become a new vessel for her. Wormmon and Erika have become one. That is me. I will live on as a Digimon...so I won't go back to Hudie." Hudiemon said to me, as I gasped in horror, tears coming to my eyes as I spoke up, realizing what this meant beyond just Hudie.
"So...I guess this means that I won't be able to see you anymore then?!" I said, at this point shocked and trying not to cry. Hudiemon smiled and nodded.
"Sadly, that's the case. I had a hard time reaching this decision. But in the end, as much as I treasure our love and what we had, if I went back with you, there's a very real chance I wouldn't have long to live at all once I went back what with my memory server being gone. So in the end, this is the best chance I have of living on and not suffering. I'm sorry sweetie, I truly am, but I've made up my mind. This is farewell for us. And...I hate saying this, but given it's doubtful at best that we'll ever see each other again, I think it's best we also break off what we have here and now rather than make us both suffer in wanting what we likely might not ever be able to have ever again." Hudiemon said to me as I started crying slightly at this after gasping at Hudiemon's declaration.
"Is that truly want you want, my love?! I know you don't have long to live if you come back to the real world with us, and I accept that, but do we really have to break up?! You don't know that we won't see each other again someday. After all, just because it's being overwritten as a world where humans and Digimon never met, doesn't mean we can't just meet up all over again and re-establish what we have, or better yet I just get myself turned into a Digimon so I can come with you. I didn't do all this work to save you just to have to say farewell to you forever right after I succeeded. Dammit Erika, I love you! If I had to say farewell to you, I don't know what I would do!
You're the best thing that's ever happened to me, after all! Before I met you, I was just a meek, timid, cowardly fool who didn't have the balls to speak his mind half the time. But now I'm a man who has a lovely woman in his life that he'd do anything to protect and make happy. But, if this is truly what you want, I guess I don't have a choice but to accept it even if it means I'm going to miss you like crazy my love." I said, my heart breaking as I spoke the last few words, feeling the tears in my eyes at the thought of losing Erika. Erika looked at me sadly as she frowned before speaking up to me, not pleased by how selfish I was being right then. She then lightly slapped me to snap me out of my stupor.
"KEISUKE! You stop that prattle right now! I'm not happy about this either, but I know full well you can function on your own just fine without me! After all, look at you! You're Hudie's leader, even if it's only temporary. If you fell apart now and tried to abandon them, how would that make you any better than Ryuji or Arata?!" Erika said huffily to me making me blink at her in surprise, not realizing until she'd spoke that I was in fact being a selfish jerk. I then blinked.
"You're...you're right. I'm sorry Erika. i just don't want to say goodbye, that's all. I love you so much." I said sadly. Erika smiled as she kissed me on the cheek.
"I know that, Keisuke. But I also know you'll recover in time. Truthfully though, I want to go back. I want to stay with you all, in the place I love. I wish I could go back to Hudie, and be with you, Keisuke, as well as Chitose and my brother." Erika said before shaking her head sadly as she spoke up.
"Sadly, I cannot since if I were to go back, I wouldn't have long to live. That would just be a heavy burden for my brother...for all of you." Erika said sadly to me as I looked her in the eyes and spoke up once more, sighing as I put my own feelings to the side for her sake.
"Erika, as much as I honestly want to say don't worry about it, I can't because that'd be too selfish of me. The truth is, despite my best efforts to try to make you happy and comfortable, you've still been suffering this whole time in part because of my own selfishness in wanting to try and forge whatever life I could with you regardless of how long you had to live. I kept telling myself that we could be happy together even if it was only for a short time, but i know better now. While we would be happy, it would only be a shallow, short-lived sort of happiness. No, I can't do that, much as I can't ask you to come back for me, even though I dearly want to.
That's not the right thing to do. What IS the right thing to do, is to be supportive of any decision you've made, as is my JOB as your boyfriend, and tell you to listen to your heart. If that means going to the Digital World to keep yourself alive and happy, then so be it. I won't try to stop you. I will though miss you like crazy every day, Erika. But I can't force you to stay with us if it would be detrimental for your health." I said, walking forward to press my lips to Erika's for one last kiss, fully cognizant that it might be the last time I get to do so.
"No, you need to do what you think is right, no matter if it'll be the most painful thing I've ever had to witness or not. I can't put my own feelings for you ahead of your happiness and well being. I realize that now, Erika. So go on. Do what your heart tells you to do." I said, tears streaking down my face as I spoke but knowing I was doing the right thing. Erika smiled as she looked at me, pulling me into a hug before speaking to me.
"Keisuke...I'm sorry. Really, I am. But thank you for being so understanding of me and my needs. I don't want anyone else to suffer because of me." Erika said sadly to me. I nodded as I spoke up.
"I understand that. Techincally, you leaving is making me suffer a bit, but that's immaterial and irrelevant. I think in the long run, I'd suffer far more making you stay and then having to watch you die and have to help bury you afterwards than just letting you go to be happy in the Digital World. After all, I recall hearing a saying once. It went 'If you love something, let it go. If it's meant to be, it'll come back to you in the end.' So I think this is a good application of that saying since I'm 'letting you go' more or less so you can go be happy and thrive in the Digital World with Wormmon as Hudiemon. So go on, be free Erika." I said sadly to Erika who nodded, smiling as she kissed me on the cheek.
"Thank you. As I was saying, and more than that, I don't want to lose this form...or these memories." Erika said to me as I tilted my head cutely to the side in confusion.
"This form? These memories?" I asked Erika in confusion. I then saw Wormmon where Erika had been standing.
"I wasn't the only one who willed Hudiemon into existence. Ryuji...my brother, Chitose and you wished for Erika to survive. That's why I took form." Wormmon said with a nod.
"A human, a Digimon, and all of the world's memory data recorded by EDEN... That's Hudiemon." Wormmon said before flashing back into Hudiemon in a burst of light.
"I am this world's memories. But if I change back into a human, I'll forget everything. happy things, sad things...Everything that's happened in this world." Hudiemon said as I gasped before speaking up once more making me realize something.
"That's right...you said something about people's memories being wiped before. Does that mean we'd have lost our memories of what we have even if you had stayed?!" I said in horror, not having considered that previously. Hudiemon simply nodded sadly before continuing to speak.
"I don't want to forget. And I don't want to lose this form. We all created this miracle together. I can't bring it to an end so soon. I won't just blindly accept my fate. So I will be reborn, and hold on to everyone's memories. And go to the Digital World to see things I've never seen before, have adventures, and learn new and amazing things. I can do that now. This is my only chance to do that, so..." Hudiemon said to me, trailing off as I smiled at her understandingly.
"So you have to say goodbye to us so you can go live your dreams. I understand that, I really do. However, do you really think we'd let you do that on your own without sending others along to keep you company?" I said as Hudiemon blinked at this.
"Others? Never mind that for now. So...will you see me off?" Hudiemon asked me and I hung my head as I pondered her question before speaking up sadly.
"I can do that. If nothing else, I at least owe you that after how selfish I was being earlier. Besides, at least this way I get to be with you just that little bit longer. So yes, I'll see you off, even if I think this isn't enough. I don't have to be happy about it, but I'll see you off." I said, shaking my head to stop myself from crying again. Hudiemon sighed.
"I get it. You're sad to see me go, Keisuke. That's perfectly understandable given how precious our love was to you, and how much you treasured our relationship. Although..that's right. You said before it isn't enough? What do you mean by not enough? What else is there?" Hudiemon asked me as I smiled. I then turned to the area behind us where one by one each of my Digimon appeared behind me as I turned to Erika.
"If this is about to be a world where Digimon and humans never met, then it makes sense that I send this lot with you to keep you company so you don't have to be alone even if I can't go with you. Know though, that I love you very much, and always will Erika..err Hudiemon." I said sincerely as Hudiemon looked at me in surprise.
"You want me to take them with me?" Hudiemon asked me and I nodded in agreement of her question.
"Absolutely. Consider them a farewell gift from me as well as my way of apologizing again for being so selfish earlier. That wasn't fair of me at all, much less cool." I said apologetically. Of course, at that moment Shakkoumon and Justimon showed up on the scene as if inviting themselves along for the ride. Hudiemon gasped.
"My brother's and Chitose's Digimon! Did they follow you here?" Hudiemon asked me, as I nodded. After a bit, Hudiemon smiled at the Digimon gathered behind her (From left to right in order: TyrantKabuterimon, Rosemon Burst Mode, Chaosdramon, Beelzemon Blaster Mode, Justimon, Kerpymon (black), Examon, Armageddemon, Shakkoumon, Jesmon, Ophanimon, Alphamon Ouryuken and Varodurumon) and laughed as she spoke up happily.
"Hahaha! So this is the birth of a new Hudie?" Hudiemon said and I nodded as I looked at her before she smiled at me.
"Thank you. Looks like we're the new Vanguard responsible for protecting the Digital World. Well, I never saw that coming, hehe!" Hudiemon said as I smiled before speaking up, not happy at what I was about to say but knowing it was the right thing nonetheless.
"Well, as much as I hate this, I guess this is goodbye for us, Hudiemon. I'm going to miss you so much. Take care, all of you. And keep each other safe! And, most of all, thank you...for everything. I'll never forget the memories we made together, and the good times we had together. It's really too bad things worked out the way they did though. Had this not happened, I think someday down the line I was even going to ask you to be with me forever, that's how much I love you. But clearly that can't happen now and I understand that. So this is farewell...goodbye, my love. And thank you for everything." I said as the world started flickering in flashes of light around me. I swore in shock.
"What the fuck?! Is this the world trying to rewrite itself?!" I asked Hudiemon, who nodded sadly.
"Exactly. Unfortunately, it's time. But before that, thank you for everything you did for me, and always loving me the way you did. I'll never forget that...or you." Hudiemon said, surprising me by leaning in to give me one last lingering kiss on the lips.
"Thank you for everything. And tell my brother and Chitose I'll miss them." Erika said as she and Wormmon briefly split up to say farewell to me.
"I won't say goodbye. Even after this world's changed, it will still be connected to the Digital World, so..." Wormmon said before trailing off as he and Erika became Hudiemon once more to finish their thought, smiling wanly at me as they did so.
"I'm sure we'll meet again." Hudiemon said to me and I nodded in acceptance of that as I started being dragged away from Hudiemon and the Digimon Hudie was leaving behind. But as I did I heard Hudiemon's voice one last time, as if she was straining to be heard by me.
"Let's go to our world." Hudiemon said as I was whisked back to my world in a flash of light. I then sighed as I frowned.
'I saw the world transform from a place between dimensions. Just as Erika said, it was a world without Digimon. There was no more cyberspace called EDEN. People lived their lives in the real world. One by one, our adventures faded away. I don't know who decided this, or why. All we can do is go along with the grand scheme of things, just as we always have. As I watched it all happen, I made a promise to myself. That I will never forget. As Erika would put it... I'll never let go of the memories of our struggle, all the things we fought so hard to achieve. Erika's choice, Erika's new form...Her last smile...I'll remember them all. Forever. Forever...
(Some time later, back in Ikebukuro, still Keisuke's POV)
I looked around as I took in the now restored area around me, frowning in thought.
'What was I doing? I must have zoned out for a second. Oh yeah, I was on my way to the coffee shop. Hudie must be waiting for me.' I thought as I started walking towards Hudie's old base, unsure if it would be restored as well or not. Surprisingly so it was, and once I went inside, Chitose walked up to me with a smile as he crossed his arms and looked at me, clearly happy to see me as he spoke up.
"Hey there!" Chitose said happily to me as Ryuji walked up and smiled at me, giving a curt nod of greeting.
"Yo." Ryuji said to me as Chitose smiled and spoke up once more.
"By the way, I've got a job! It's in Kamishiro's tech department! Have you called your parents?" Chitose said, aiming the last of his statement at Ryuji who nodded.
"Yeah, they were really happy. I've put them through a lot. Now I can start making it up to them." Ryuji said, as Chitose nodded and spoke up again.
"Their only child getting such a great job...They must be proud! Looks like we've got something to celebrate! I feel like some steak, who's with me?! You coming, Yu?!" Chitose said, both shocking AND surprising me when he called out the last name. Yu was in Hudie?! When did THAT happen?! Sure enough, Yu walked up when Chitose called for him.
"Sure, if our leader's paying." Yu said and I frowned, not sure how he expected me to afford steak when I barely make much as it is. To my surprise, Ryuji frowned at this.
"It's MY celebration! YOU should be the one paying!' Ryuji said, making me blink before I remembered my being made leader was only temporary and shrugging it off. Yu laughed at this with a shrug and a frown as he spoke up again, not amused by Ryuji's response.
"I'm still in high school. You think I've got that kind of money?" Yu said before walking up to me and looking at me as he spoke some more.
"How about you? In the mood for a free steak on me?" Yu asked me. I blinked at this but shrugged.
"I don't see why not. Granted, I'm in high school too still technically even if I haven't been going for some time for reasons. But I guess I can't turn down free food." I said with a shrug. After that, the others started to leave, but I frowned and turned towards where I knew Erika's VIP room was at and blinked.
'If Yu's now in Hudie, what ELSE changed as a result of the world being overwritten? And am I the only one who kept their memories of the way it was before?' I thought to myself before I walked towards the VIP room and opened the door after knocking on the door out of habit, and looking inside, only to see it was little more than a storage room now. I sighed at this, swearing under my breath.
"Dammit, can't believe they turned her room into a storage room. At least make it a hangout room or something. Jeez!" I said sighing, as I shed some tears as I recalled all the times I was in this room with Erika, making me cry for her absence, but then I sobered as I reminded myself I was going to be strong for her. I still miss her though. I blinked as I heard Chitose's voice calling to me making me jump in surprise.
"Hey, what are you doing? Come on!" Chitose said to me as I caught up to them. Yu crossed his arms and frowned.
"Meat again? I was hoping for sushi..." Yu said with a frown. Ryuji frowned back.
"Finish your vegetables before going on to the meat. You're a growing boy after all." Ryuji said to Yu who huffed. Chitose frowned at this.
"Ugh, not this again. Come on Keisuke! Let's go!" Chitose called after me as I walked up to him, but stopped short at what looked to be a butterfly flying over my shoulder towards Erika's VIP room, eventually landing in her computer and showing a 8-bit picture of Erika, Wormmon and all of Hudie's former Digimon around the world 'END' as the screen faded to black, while I went to have a meal with my new team, saddened by the knowledge that I was the only one that I knew who hadn't lost his memory of our adventures, but resolving to keep them fresh in my mind, for Erika's sake, even if I was the only one to remember her. I owed her that much, and I would never forget her...
END OF CHAPTER AND MAIN PLOT
A/N: And damn, that's one hell of a way to end the main plot, am I right? And just think, there's still the post-game content to come! This story is hardly done! But next chapter will be intense as it has many twists, turns and surprises in it. Not to mention, this whole post-game bit is mostly stuff that isn't in the game that I'm adding in to more fluidly connect the ending of the game to a certain post-game quest that opens up after you load your clear-game save. But I won't go into details here because it'd be spoiling parts of the post-game. So just know there's still plot left.
Also, yeah Hudiemon happened. I'd forgotten about some of the implications of her existence, but I wasn't wrong when I mentioned several chapters back that Erika definitely bloomed into something both rare AND very beautiful! So it's really no surprise that I both like and dislike Hudiemon! And on the subject of my opinions of the ending, I think it could've been written better. For starters, why have Hudie go through the hassle of saving Erika only for her to turn around and leave them to go to the Digital World right after? I thought that was kinda sad myself. After all, they laid so much groundwork for Keisuke and Erika to be a very cute, very well-liked couple yet they did little to nothing to act on it.
I'd like to think that I mostly showed how good they are as a couple, even if I did probably make Keisuke just a tad bit selfish and overprotective of her at times, but I think in the end it all panned out with that ending. Sure, I don't like that they have to say goodbye to each other the way they do but I guess it is what it is. At least Erika got to be the only Hudie member to basically Biomerge with her Digimon (even if it isn't counted as such canonically, I count it as Biomerging dammit! It's basically the same thing as when Rika, Takato, Henry and even Ryo Biomerge during Digimon Tamers so I count it) so she has that as a consolation prize of sorts. Granted, I also left some pairings unresolved, such as Chitose/Yuri and Makiko/Ryuji (but the latter was basically implied last chapter when Makiko asked Ryuji to follow her into the corner) but I might or might not work them into the post-game if I think of it. That said, until next update, sithlorde1988 out!