Part 6:
T.K. held his breath as he walked into Izzy's lab. It was the same as always, beakers and chemicals to the right, tons of notebooks to the left filled with his experiments. and it was always dark, like the sunlight was an intruder to this place of science. The cabin always had that distinct lab odor, the smell of gas for the Bunsen burner mixed with an assortment of chemical orders. "Izzy?"
"Over here," the scientist said, annoyed. He didn't like people walking into his lab uninvited. He was hunched over a small card table, with the only light in the room directly over him.
"Izzy," T.K. said,"What are you doing?"
"Trying to figure out the correct placement of the Key Cards."
When T.K. looked over his shoulder, he noticed that the cards were spread out across the table, and that Izzy's laptop was there, with a hundred different windows opened. Izzy had placed the cards in three rows across, and three rows down. There was one card separated from the others.
"So how are these ten cards supposed to allow us to travel back in time and prevent Tai Kamiya from dying?" T.K. asked, looking over Izzy's shoulder.
"Nine cards, actually," Izzy said, reaching for the lone card. It was a picture of an Agumon,"This card is a fake."
"How can you tell?"
"Because I'm not reading any energy from it." Izzy then reached for the card that was in the center of the others. It was one with a Drimogemon on it,"And this is the center card. I know that because it has the most energy. It shouldn't take me that long to figure out the proper placement of them."
T.K. nodded. "Okay, keep me informed."
In another cabin, some of the Digital Warriors were having breakfast. Willace sat down at the table with a plate full of scrambled eggs and bacon. He had a bagel drenching with butter at the side. When he sat down, the first thing he did was to pour a ton of milk into his coffee.
He was about to drink some, when he noticed everyone looking at him. "What?" he asked.
"Willace," Ogremon said, across from him,"Do you think you have enough cholesterol there?"
"Yeah," Ken said,"That bagel alone could kill you."
"This?!" Willace asked, pointing at the bread,"This is nothing. Let me tell you something, and Michael will vouch for me, when you leave New York, there is no such thing as a bagel!"
"You got that right, buddy!" Michael cried from the end of the large table.
"What a surprise!" Salamon said,"The two Americans stick up for each other! What's wrong with the rest of us, huh?"
"Yeah!" Wormmon joined in,"Aren't we good enough? Don't we make bagels good enough? I think they're fine!"
"This coming from a guy who eats dirt," Terriermon said.
Everyone started laughing, and their guests, Michelle and Mariko Fugiama, looked on in awe. "What is it?" Wizardmon asked.
"Its just that," Mariko said,"Its like there isn't any difference between you guys."
"Yes," Michelle said,"Its like you're a family."
"That they are," Leomon said,"It is the one thing that I have found to remain true in this darker world, the Digidestined still are family to one another."
When Leomon spoke, the table became quiet. They didn't like to be reminded that this world wasn't real. The one thought on everyone's mind at that moment was, "What will this other world be like?"
Sora stood in front of Tai's headstone. She knelt down in front of it and removed her goggles. It was a strange sensation to feel the wind blow through her short hair. She thought for a moment, then wiped the snow off of the ground in front of her. She then removed her white gloves and placed them next to her goggles. She carefully and slowly moved her hand along the brown dirt.
"Oh Tai," she finally said,"Why did you have to die? It isn't fair! You were such a good person, you didn't deserve it. If what Gennai said is true, and that you weren't supposed to die, for the first time in five years, I felt hope, Tai. I felt hope. But, then I started to wonder, if we do save your life, everything will change, does that mean my feelings for you will too?Tai, I knew I loved you from the moment I saw you the first time at camp. If we change the world, and you live, will you feel the same way towards me? Sure, we were friends before time apparently changed, but, will we become more? Or will you become disgusted with the redheaded tomboy that is always following you around? I know I can't be selfish. You need to live so that this world doesn't turn out like this, I can't worry about what will happen to me. I just can't."
"Hey guys!" Sora heard someone shout. She quickly pulled on her goggles and white gloves and stood up. She turned and saw Mimi and Yolei standing there.
"Guys," Yolei shouted,"Come quick! Sora's crying! Sora's crying!"
"I am not!" Sora protested, whipping her cheeks with her arm.
Mimi started to laugh as the other Digital Warriors appeared. "Yes you were! What's wrong Sora? Starting to become like me and Yolei? HAHAHA!"
"Yeah," Yolei laughed,"I might have a nice dress you might want."
Sora lost it. She quickly ran and pushed Mimi to the ground. She pinned her down with her legs and was about to punch Mimi in the nose, when someone grabbed her hand.
Sora turned around and saw that Agumon had it. "Sora, you're not the same person I meet five years ago at this camp. What happened to you?"
Sora didn't do anything for the next few seconds. She glanced down at Mimi, then at Agumon. She pulled free of Agumon's grip, then ran off to one of the cabins. Agumon ran after her.
"Sora," Agumon said, opening the door after her,"Wait."
He saw Sora plopped down on one of the beds. "I'm sorry for back there," she said.
"I'm not the one you should be apologizing too," Agumon thought. Outloud he said,"What is wrong with you? You're not the same Sora I meet."
"After Tai died," she said,"I went back to Tokyo to look after Kari like I promised I would. But, I failed. She was killed when Diaboramon fired those bombs and destroyed the city. If I had been there with her, instead of out fighting Venommyotismon with Matt, she might still be alive! And now my Digimon is dead, what use am I to anything? I'm just a failure!"
"Sora," Agumon started, but was cut off when a loud voice was sounded throughout the camp.
"We're under attack!"
Davis sighed heavily as he flipped through the files on his computer. "Five years," he said to Veemon,"Five years I've been searching, and I still haven't found where she belongs."
Davis felt a shadow cast over him. "Where who belongs?"
"Ahh," Davis said, quickly turning around and bowing,"Bishop Yagami."
"Rise, Archknight," she said,"I asked you a question."
"N-nothing, your highness," Davis said,"Just....a hobby."
Yagami seemed to accept this and nodded.
"So," Davis said, amazed he got off the hook so easily,"What can I do for you?"
"I need to talk to you about something," she said, turning around,"Please, follow me."
"Uh...sure," he said, mentioning to Veemon as he passed.
The Bishop lead them through the maze of hallways until reaching her own private corders. Davis was almost in shock when she invited him in.
Davis wasn't too surprised to find that, even her own room, smelled like incense and burning potions. There was a large window directly in front of them, show casing the fabulous, smog filled air. There was a large table in the center of the square room with a couch next to it, a kitchen to the left, and another door to the right, which must have been the bedroom. "Make yourself at home," she said, sitting on the couch.
"I'll just stand, thank you," Davis said.
"Ever the soldier, huh?" she asked.
"How may I be of help, ma'am?" Davis asked.
"Its about that Digital Warrior in my temple," she said,"Sora, I believe her name was, I had her at my mercy, Davis, but I couldn't kill her. Why? What is wrong with me?"
"I...I don't know," Davis said.
"You don't sound all too surprised by this news," Yagami said,"I can tell it in your voice."
Davis hesitated for a long while, then sighed. "Honestly, no."
He looked up at the Bishop, wishing he could tell what expression she had, but her cloth hood and scarf hid all parts of her face. "Explain," she said.
Davis hesitated again, then reached inside his uniform pocket and pulled out a square device. It fit snugly in his hand. It had a plastic screen to it, two buttons on one side, and one large one on the other.
"Is that a Digivice?" the Bishop asked.
Davis nodded.
"Who's is it?"
"The Missing Child's."
"What?!" the Dark Master yelled,"Where did you get it? Have you been keeping crucial items from us?!"
"Yes," he said.
"You have two seconds to explain yourself, before I call your sister!" she said.
"I have it because I know where the Missing Child is."
"Is that who you've been looking for?"
"In a way, but I believe there is someone else who knows where the Missing Child is."
"Who?"
"You."
Davis couldn't see the Bishop's face, but her could sense it was filled with shock. "What are you saying?"
"What is the earliest memory you have?" he asked.
"My earliest memory....why, waking up in Dr. Kido's lab with amnesia."
"Can you remember any earlier?"
"I...........................................................fog, just fog, and...........darknes.......and cold...that's all."
Davis nodded. "Well, let me tell you a story. It happened a couple of days after Diaboramon destroyed Tokyo by launching the United States Nuclear weapons. I had all ready been chosen by Piedmon to be the head of the Dark Army," he slightly smiled," which got Jun very ticked off I might add-but anyway. I was patroling the streets, when I passed by a pile of ruble that our old maps showed used to be an apartment building. I was there, wondering what kind of people died in their homes the day the Dark Masters's invaded, when I heard a noise. It was a cough, followed by a loud moan.
I quickly ran to the site, searching for the source, when I found you. You were lying face down in the snow, barely clothed and nearly frozen. I brought you back to Kido's lab where he brought you back to health. However, your hypothermia had also brought amnesia as well. Piedmon didn't care who you once were, he quickly made you into the fourth Dark Master. I began searching for your true origin, because, when I found you, you were wearing this Digivice, and also had the Crest of Light around your neck!"
"No!" the Bishop yelled,"Its not true! I'm the Dark Master of Magic! This is some trick! You betrayed us! You will be killed for this!"
She ran over to the com-link to call for security, when Davis spoke,"Kari."
Yagami came to a screeching halt and turned around. "W-what did you say."
"Kari," Davis said,"That's the name you gave when I asked you for yours. You told me your name was Kari."
"I...I..." Yagami grabbed her head,"No, it-it's not ture....it-it can't be!"
Davis quickly ran behind her and grabbed her. She started to struggle to get free, but Davis was stronger. He grabbed the top of her head, and pulled it up so she could see it in the reflection of the large window.
"I know why you've never been seen without these masks on," Davis said,"Is because you never take them off. You're afraid of your unknown past, so you pretend you don't have one by wearing these, well.....its time you remember!"
With one quick motion Davis pulled off all the clothes that buried her face and for the first time in she didn't know how long, she saw her true face. The first thing she noticed was that she had large brown eyes, with long eyelashes. She had a small nose that would have made her cheeks too large if she was any other person, but her nose complimented the rest of her face very nicely. Her hair, which she kept in a long strand at the back of her head in a series of cloth ring holders that Davis forcefully pulled out with her masks, reached down past her shoulders.
"I...I....I've seen that face before...on another human...............the ones that the Digital Warriors fight in name of! That face was Tai Kamiya's! Then....who am I.....?"
Suddenly she grabbed her head and fell to the ground. She curled up into a ball, her hands tightly at her head. Her mind felt like it was going to explode as vision started popping into her head. She felt her eyes hot with tears on the day she heard that her older brother had died. She felt the loneliness and depression that came from suddenly being an only child. She felt the loss of purpose and identity that came when her older brother, her role model, was suddenly out of her life. Then she remembered the hope and feeling of happiness when a girl with red hair came into her life and took Tai's place. She remembered the battle just outside her window when the Dark Master's invaded. She remembered the feeling of horror as the bombs crashed down around her. "I.....remember! I know!" she yelled out.
Davis and Veemon helped her to her feet. "Now that you remember," Davis said,"Do you understand?"
"Yes, I am the Missing Chosen Child. I am Kari Kamiya!"
"Congratulations," Veemon said, looking up at Davis,"You've found out who she really is."
He nodded. "Now what do we do?" she asked Davis.
"We need to get your crest," he said. He then slammed his fist into his other palm,"If my stupid sister hadn't seen me with the crest a few weeks ago, I would still have it! It took every sneaky trick I had against her to keep your Digivice. And then there is the question of who your Digimon is."
She looked at him with teary eyes,"Y-you'll help me? You'll turn against the Dark Masters for me?"
"Of course!" he said,"I fight under you, not them."
"Say," Veemon said,"What do we do after we get her crest back? Where do we go?"
"The Digital Warriors," Kamiya said,"That's where Sora is. I......belong there."
Davis nodded. "We'll get your crest, then get you reunited with the Digital Warriors."
"You're going to join too, right?"
"Oh, uh, um...Let's get you back to Sora, then we'll worry about me, okay?" he said.
Kamiya nodded. "Sure," she thought,"I'll make you join." Outloud she asked,"Where is my crest?"
"It should be in Kido's lab," Veemon said.
"Kido's lab?" Kamiya asked, suddenly afraid. When she was the Bishop Yagami, she wasn't afraid of anything, but, for some reason, when she remembered she was Hikari Kamiya, she felt tiny, and insignificant.
Davis picked up on her fear," Don't worry," he said,"I won't let anything happen to you, I promise."
Sora quickly ran out of the cabin with Agumon behind her. Despite her unemotional status, she still felt a pang of sadness and horror in her stone heart. Everything around her was being destroyed. Many of the cabins were destroyed and shattered, wooden pillars were everywhere. The tress that provided the camp with its natural boundaries were all gone, blasted into toothpicks littering the ground. Much of the snow was gone, melted by the heat of battle. But, what moved her the most, was the bodies littering the ground. Ogremon, Skullmearamon and Saberleomon were already dead, she could tell. They were just lying on the ground, not moving at all.
"What are we going to do?" Agumon asked. "Sora? SORA?!"
"I...I don't believe this," she said, watching in shock as Digmon and Cody were blown apart in front of her from an blast from a Mammothmon.
"AHHHHHHHHH!" she screamed,"Cody! No!"
She started running through the battlefield, missing Aquilamon and Stingmon fighting a group of Devidramons in the sky. She saw a stray fire ball coming at her and she dove, missing it. She turned and saw a Dark Tyrannamon battling with Galgomon. To her left, Lillymon was going toe-for-toe with a group of Garbegemon. Behind her, Wizardmon and Andromon, the last two normal Digimon in the group, were teaming up against a squadron of Mekanorimons.
She kept going though, she didn't know where, but she had to get to the other side of the battlefield. It was as if some inside force was directing her and Agumon there. That's when she saw Mariko Fugiama run out of the main cabin, with Michelle firing a barrage of bullets from her massive gun as at a group of Bakemon which were coming towards them.
So far she had counted every Digital Warrior, except for Michael, Izzy and T.K. She could understand Michael, with Betamon unable to Digivole, he was as useless as her. Izzy was probably guarding the key cards, so he would be in his lab, but where was T.K.? As their leader, he should be out here with them, where was he?"
"Damn!" Michelle shouted, through her gun into the only patch of snow left, "I'm out of bullets!" She turned to the young girl at her side, and clutched her to her chest, shielding her from the Bakemon's attacks that she knew where comming,"Mariko, I don't know what else to do, I-I'm sorry."
"Don't apologize," Mariko said,"You did your best."
Michelle smiled at her, then they both held tight to each other. Sora saw the leader of the Bakemon shoot his Dark Claw towards them, when a familiar blur of green head-butted him into the snow.
"Betamon!" she yelled, as she continued to run towards the cabin.
"Good job, Betamon," Michael said, stepping out of the cabin,"It doesn't matter if you can Digivole or not, we're still going to fight 'til the end, right?"
"Right!" Betamon said, charging the small army of ghost Digimon.
With great effort, Sora turned her head from the battle the water Digimon was having with the Bakemon to where Michelle and Mariko were standing. She started running, to pull them out of harm's way, when the ground beneath the cabin blew apart, sending the two humans soaring into the air. Sora stopped short and turned to catch them, but they were moving too fast. She watched in horror as the two of them flew towards a tree.
"Watch out!" she tried to warn, but they couldn't do anything. Michelle and Mariko were still holding on to each other as a stray blast hit them and blew them into nothingness. The only thing left was Tai's Digivice and Tag and Crest that Mariko was holding, fell to the ground, making a 'poof' sound in the snow.
Sora allowed herself a moment to mourn them, only a moment, she just met them. She quickly ran over and picked up Tai's Digivice and Crest. Just holding them made her see Tai again, feel him, sense him. She quickly placed his crest around her neck and his Digivice on her belt. Sora didn't know why, but, this felt complete. She had his goggles, and was wearing the exact same thing Tai was wearing the day he died, and now she also had his Digivice and Crest. Then she heard an explosion from the sky.
Looking up she saw Aquilamon falling to the ground. He was covered by a bright white light and turned back to Hawkmon.
"Hawkmon!" Yolei yelled, running up to his unmoving body in the snow. She picked him up and held him tight to her chest. "Hawkmon," she cried, a tear falling down onto his still body,"Please be all right, please."
Sora was going to run to her side, when she noticed a glow coming from beneath her. Looking down, she saw a glowing object from under her blue shirt. "Its the Crest of Love," Sora said,"It-its glowing. But...is it because I was thinking of Tai just now, or....or because of Yolei...?"
"Sora!" Agumon yelled,"Watch out!"
She didn't know what was happening, but she tried to run. However, it was already too late. A tentacle wrapped around her body and pulled her into the air. "Shellmon!" Sora exclaimed as she saw the Digimon that was holding her with one of his slimy strains of hair,"He's the one that destroyed the cabin and sent Michelle and Mariko to their deaths!"
"Sora!" Agumon cried, running up to her,"I'll save you!"
"I doubt it!" Shellmon said, stamping his foot down so that only Agumon's head was visible.
Michael and Betamon were not faring any better. The Bakemon had scored a knockout in record time and Betamon was lying on the snow, stomach side up.
"No!" Michael said as the reaming ghost Digimon hovered towards his Digimon. Betamon had succeeded in destroying a good portion of the squadron, but, there were still at least ten Bakemon left.
"Their going to get him," Michael said,"No! Betamon! You can't give up! You have to fight them!"
"I...I don't think I can!" Betamon moaned.
"If you can't," Michael said, running towards him,"I'll protect you myself!"
"Michael, don't," Betamon said, trying to get on his legs.
Michael was all ready in front of him, hands out to block the Bakemon. It didn't work, however. As soon as one of the Bakemon were in rang, they flicked Michael aside with their dark claws.
"No!" Betamon yelled, flipping over onto his feet,"I'll get you for that!"
"Betamon digivolve to Seadramon!"
Michael, lying in the snow, looked on in awe. "He did it! He digivolved! Yes!"
Seadramon glared at the Bakemon. He opened his mouth and sent a stream of water at the Bakemon. They disappeared in a blast of Digital Information.
"So," Shellmon said, moving his Medusa hair so that he could look at Sora,"You are Sora Takenouchi?"
"That's right!" Sora said, struggling against the tentacle that was wrapped around her body,"And you'd better let me go, or you're going to be sorry!"
Shellmon smiled. "You should be honored," he said,"When Diaboramon read Leomon's memories, he named you as a primary threat! I don't know why, you don't even have a Digimon, but, orders are orders."
Sora screamed as Shellmon's tentacle tighten around her,"Too tight! Can't breath!"
Underneath Shellmon's foot, Agumon struggled,"Sora! I'll save you!" Then, he felt weird. He felt a surge of energy that he only felt once before, but it was something a Digimon never forgets. "Digivolve!" he yelled.
Sora noticed another bright light from below her. "My Digivice," she said,"Its reacting-wait, that's not mine! Its......its Tai's!"
"Agumon digivolve to Greymon!"
Shellmon flew backwards as Agumon grew in height and through him over. Sora went flying and landed in a giant pile of snow. "Wow!" she said, looking at the impressive Tyrannosaurus Rex standing a few feet in front of her,"He digivolved!"
If Shellmon was surprised, he didn't show it. He charged Greymon, but Greymon grabbed him first. He lifted Shellmon into the air so that his face was lined up with Greymon's mouth. "Nova Blast!"
Shellmon disappeared in a burst of fire with Sora cheering in the background. "Way to go!" she cheered,"You did it, Greymon!"
"....and then T.K. and Magna Angemon, FINALLY showed up," Sora said, talking to Tai's grave," and the battle was quickly over. The bad news was that the Key Cards were taken, The Dark Masters now have them. The good news is that Izzy slipped them the fake card, so we've got one, and without all of them, the cards won't work. That Izzy's pretty clever. Also, Betamon digivolved, and T.K. gave Michael that crest that Gennai gave us, what was it called, Reliability? Well, anyway, now we're off to find Matt, and, once we do, we'll find a way to get the cards back, and we can change this world."
She then knelt down in front of the headstone,"Destiny's a funny thing, isn't it, Tai? None of us know what's in store for us. When Agumon digivolved to save me, I knew that what Genai said was true, I was supposed to replace you. At first, I was mad. If the world was supposed to have a Tai, and I'm supposed to 'be' you now, what about me? What about the Sora Takenouchi that I was before you died? Did Fate decided that the part you were supposed to play in this world, was more important then the part I was supposed to play? Then, I remembered that when Hawkmon was injured, Yolei got the Crest of Love to glow. I know who is to take my place now. I don't know when, or if, I'll ever be able to visit you again, so, I'll say this, Goodbye Tai Kamiya. I love you, and have from the moment I saw you."
She got up and started to walk away, then turned back,"One more thing, before I go. Since I'm supposed to take your place, I decided to give myself a new name, I hope you don't mind."
The Crest of Courage glowed slightly, then dimmed. Sora smiled,"Thanks Tai."
Sora turned and started to walk to where the remaining Digital Warriors were getting ready to rescue Matt. "Sora?"
She turned around and saw Yolei walking up to her. "Sora, I...I want to say that I'm sorry for what Mimi and I said before. It...it was mean beyond words, I'm sorry."
Sora nodded. Then she reached around her neck and pulled out the Crest of Love and handed it to Yolei. "Yolei, I want you to have this."
"Your Crest of Love? I-I can't."
"You have to," Sora said,"Its not mine anymore. During the battle, I felt the Crest glow, for the first time in five years. When Kari died, my heart hardened. The Crest of Courage is mine now, The Crest of Love, is yours."
Yolei looked at the crest in her hand, then nodded. She placed it around her neck. "I will wear it proudly," she said,"I-I've got to show Ken."
Then Sora Kamiya smiled as she watched her replacement walk off. "Yes, destiny is a weird thing."
to be continued....
T.K. held his breath as he walked into Izzy's lab. It was the same as always, beakers and chemicals to the right, tons of notebooks to the left filled with his experiments. and it was always dark, like the sunlight was an intruder to this place of science. The cabin always had that distinct lab odor, the smell of gas for the Bunsen burner mixed with an assortment of chemical orders. "Izzy?"
"Over here," the scientist said, annoyed. He didn't like people walking into his lab uninvited. He was hunched over a small card table, with the only light in the room directly over him.
"Izzy," T.K. said,"What are you doing?"
"Trying to figure out the correct placement of the Key Cards."
When T.K. looked over his shoulder, he noticed that the cards were spread out across the table, and that Izzy's laptop was there, with a hundred different windows opened. Izzy had placed the cards in three rows across, and three rows down. There was one card separated from the others.
"So how are these ten cards supposed to allow us to travel back in time and prevent Tai Kamiya from dying?" T.K. asked, looking over Izzy's shoulder.
"Nine cards, actually," Izzy said, reaching for the lone card. It was a picture of an Agumon,"This card is a fake."
"How can you tell?"
"Because I'm not reading any energy from it." Izzy then reached for the card that was in the center of the others. It was one with a Drimogemon on it,"And this is the center card. I know that because it has the most energy. It shouldn't take me that long to figure out the proper placement of them."
T.K. nodded. "Okay, keep me informed."
In another cabin, some of the Digital Warriors were having breakfast. Willace sat down at the table with a plate full of scrambled eggs and bacon. He had a bagel drenching with butter at the side. When he sat down, the first thing he did was to pour a ton of milk into his coffee.
He was about to drink some, when he noticed everyone looking at him. "What?" he asked.
"Willace," Ogremon said, across from him,"Do you think you have enough cholesterol there?"
"Yeah," Ken said,"That bagel alone could kill you."
"This?!" Willace asked, pointing at the bread,"This is nothing. Let me tell you something, and Michael will vouch for me, when you leave New York, there is no such thing as a bagel!"
"You got that right, buddy!" Michael cried from the end of the large table.
"What a surprise!" Salamon said,"The two Americans stick up for each other! What's wrong with the rest of us, huh?"
"Yeah!" Wormmon joined in,"Aren't we good enough? Don't we make bagels good enough? I think they're fine!"
"This coming from a guy who eats dirt," Terriermon said.
Everyone started laughing, and their guests, Michelle and Mariko Fugiama, looked on in awe. "What is it?" Wizardmon asked.
"Its just that," Mariko said,"Its like there isn't any difference between you guys."
"Yes," Michelle said,"Its like you're a family."
"That they are," Leomon said,"It is the one thing that I have found to remain true in this darker world, the Digidestined still are family to one another."
When Leomon spoke, the table became quiet. They didn't like to be reminded that this world wasn't real. The one thought on everyone's mind at that moment was, "What will this other world be like?"
Sora stood in front of Tai's headstone. She knelt down in front of it and removed her goggles. It was a strange sensation to feel the wind blow through her short hair. She thought for a moment, then wiped the snow off of the ground in front of her. She then removed her white gloves and placed them next to her goggles. She carefully and slowly moved her hand along the brown dirt.
"Oh Tai," she finally said,"Why did you have to die? It isn't fair! You were such a good person, you didn't deserve it. If what Gennai said is true, and that you weren't supposed to die, for the first time in five years, I felt hope, Tai. I felt hope. But, then I started to wonder, if we do save your life, everything will change, does that mean my feelings for you will too?Tai, I knew I loved you from the moment I saw you the first time at camp. If we change the world, and you live, will you feel the same way towards me? Sure, we were friends before time apparently changed, but, will we become more? Or will you become disgusted with the redheaded tomboy that is always following you around? I know I can't be selfish. You need to live so that this world doesn't turn out like this, I can't worry about what will happen to me. I just can't."
"Hey guys!" Sora heard someone shout. She quickly pulled on her goggles and white gloves and stood up. She turned and saw Mimi and Yolei standing there.
"Guys," Yolei shouted,"Come quick! Sora's crying! Sora's crying!"
"I am not!" Sora protested, whipping her cheeks with her arm.
Mimi started to laugh as the other Digital Warriors appeared. "Yes you were! What's wrong Sora? Starting to become like me and Yolei? HAHAHA!"
"Yeah," Yolei laughed,"I might have a nice dress you might want."
Sora lost it. She quickly ran and pushed Mimi to the ground. She pinned her down with her legs and was about to punch Mimi in the nose, when someone grabbed her hand.
Sora turned around and saw that Agumon had it. "Sora, you're not the same person I meet five years ago at this camp. What happened to you?"
Sora didn't do anything for the next few seconds. She glanced down at Mimi, then at Agumon. She pulled free of Agumon's grip, then ran off to one of the cabins. Agumon ran after her.
"Sora," Agumon said, opening the door after her,"Wait."
He saw Sora plopped down on one of the beds. "I'm sorry for back there," she said.
"I'm not the one you should be apologizing too," Agumon thought. Outloud he said,"What is wrong with you? You're not the same Sora I meet."
"After Tai died," she said,"I went back to Tokyo to look after Kari like I promised I would. But, I failed. She was killed when Diaboramon fired those bombs and destroyed the city. If I had been there with her, instead of out fighting Venommyotismon with Matt, she might still be alive! And now my Digimon is dead, what use am I to anything? I'm just a failure!"
"Sora," Agumon started, but was cut off when a loud voice was sounded throughout the camp.
"We're under attack!"
Davis sighed heavily as he flipped through the files on his computer. "Five years," he said to Veemon,"Five years I've been searching, and I still haven't found where she belongs."
Davis felt a shadow cast over him. "Where who belongs?"
"Ahh," Davis said, quickly turning around and bowing,"Bishop Yagami."
"Rise, Archknight," she said,"I asked you a question."
"N-nothing, your highness," Davis said,"Just....a hobby."
Yagami seemed to accept this and nodded.
"So," Davis said, amazed he got off the hook so easily,"What can I do for you?"
"I need to talk to you about something," she said, turning around,"Please, follow me."
"Uh...sure," he said, mentioning to Veemon as he passed.
The Bishop lead them through the maze of hallways until reaching her own private corders. Davis was almost in shock when she invited him in.
Davis wasn't too surprised to find that, even her own room, smelled like incense and burning potions. There was a large window directly in front of them, show casing the fabulous, smog filled air. There was a large table in the center of the square room with a couch next to it, a kitchen to the left, and another door to the right, which must have been the bedroom. "Make yourself at home," she said, sitting on the couch.
"I'll just stand, thank you," Davis said.
"Ever the soldier, huh?" she asked.
"How may I be of help, ma'am?" Davis asked.
"Its about that Digital Warrior in my temple," she said,"Sora, I believe her name was, I had her at my mercy, Davis, but I couldn't kill her. Why? What is wrong with me?"
"I...I don't know," Davis said.
"You don't sound all too surprised by this news," Yagami said,"I can tell it in your voice."
Davis hesitated for a long while, then sighed. "Honestly, no."
He looked up at the Bishop, wishing he could tell what expression she had, but her cloth hood and scarf hid all parts of her face. "Explain," she said.
Davis hesitated again, then reached inside his uniform pocket and pulled out a square device. It fit snugly in his hand. It had a plastic screen to it, two buttons on one side, and one large one on the other.
"Is that a Digivice?" the Bishop asked.
Davis nodded.
"Who's is it?"
"The Missing Child's."
"What?!" the Dark Master yelled,"Where did you get it? Have you been keeping crucial items from us?!"
"Yes," he said.
"You have two seconds to explain yourself, before I call your sister!" she said.
"I have it because I know where the Missing Child is."
"Is that who you've been looking for?"
"In a way, but I believe there is someone else who knows where the Missing Child is."
"Who?"
"You."
Davis couldn't see the Bishop's face, but her could sense it was filled with shock. "What are you saying?"
"What is the earliest memory you have?" he asked.
"My earliest memory....why, waking up in Dr. Kido's lab with amnesia."
"Can you remember any earlier?"
"I...........................................................fog, just fog, and...........darknes.......and cold...that's all."
Davis nodded. "Well, let me tell you a story. It happened a couple of days after Diaboramon destroyed Tokyo by launching the United States Nuclear weapons. I had all ready been chosen by Piedmon to be the head of the Dark Army," he slightly smiled," which got Jun very ticked off I might add-but anyway. I was patroling the streets, when I passed by a pile of ruble that our old maps showed used to be an apartment building. I was there, wondering what kind of people died in their homes the day the Dark Masters's invaded, when I heard a noise. It was a cough, followed by a loud moan.
I quickly ran to the site, searching for the source, when I found you. You were lying face down in the snow, barely clothed and nearly frozen. I brought you back to Kido's lab where he brought you back to health. However, your hypothermia had also brought amnesia as well. Piedmon didn't care who you once were, he quickly made you into the fourth Dark Master. I began searching for your true origin, because, when I found you, you were wearing this Digivice, and also had the Crest of Light around your neck!"
"No!" the Bishop yelled,"Its not true! I'm the Dark Master of Magic! This is some trick! You betrayed us! You will be killed for this!"
She ran over to the com-link to call for security, when Davis spoke,"Kari."
Yagami came to a screeching halt and turned around. "W-what did you say."
"Kari," Davis said,"That's the name you gave when I asked you for yours. You told me your name was Kari."
"I...I..." Yagami grabbed her head,"No, it-it's not ture....it-it can't be!"
Davis quickly ran behind her and grabbed her. She started to struggle to get free, but Davis was stronger. He grabbed the top of her head, and pulled it up so she could see it in the reflection of the large window.
"I know why you've never been seen without these masks on," Davis said,"Is because you never take them off. You're afraid of your unknown past, so you pretend you don't have one by wearing these, well.....its time you remember!"
With one quick motion Davis pulled off all the clothes that buried her face and for the first time in she didn't know how long, she saw her true face. The first thing she noticed was that she had large brown eyes, with long eyelashes. She had a small nose that would have made her cheeks too large if she was any other person, but her nose complimented the rest of her face very nicely. Her hair, which she kept in a long strand at the back of her head in a series of cloth ring holders that Davis forcefully pulled out with her masks, reached down past her shoulders.
"I...I....I've seen that face before...on another human...............the ones that the Digital Warriors fight in name of! That face was Tai Kamiya's! Then....who am I.....?"
Suddenly she grabbed her head and fell to the ground. She curled up into a ball, her hands tightly at her head. Her mind felt like it was going to explode as vision started popping into her head. She felt her eyes hot with tears on the day she heard that her older brother had died. She felt the loneliness and depression that came from suddenly being an only child. She felt the loss of purpose and identity that came when her older brother, her role model, was suddenly out of her life. Then she remembered the hope and feeling of happiness when a girl with red hair came into her life and took Tai's place. She remembered the battle just outside her window when the Dark Master's invaded. She remembered the feeling of horror as the bombs crashed down around her. "I.....remember! I know!" she yelled out.
Davis and Veemon helped her to her feet. "Now that you remember," Davis said,"Do you understand?"
"Yes, I am the Missing Chosen Child. I am Kari Kamiya!"
"Congratulations," Veemon said, looking up at Davis,"You've found out who she really is."
He nodded. "Now what do we do?" she asked Davis.
"We need to get your crest," he said. He then slammed his fist into his other palm,"If my stupid sister hadn't seen me with the crest a few weeks ago, I would still have it! It took every sneaky trick I had against her to keep your Digivice. And then there is the question of who your Digimon is."
She looked at him with teary eyes,"Y-you'll help me? You'll turn against the Dark Masters for me?"
"Of course!" he said,"I fight under you, not them."
"Say," Veemon said,"What do we do after we get her crest back? Where do we go?"
"The Digital Warriors," Kamiya said,"That's where Sora is. I......belong there."
Davis nodded. "We'll get your crest, then get you reunited with the Digital Warriors."
"You're going to join too, right?"
"Oh, uh, um...Let's get you back to Sora, then we'll worry about me, okay?" he said.
Kamiya nodded. "Sure," she thought,"I'll make you join." Outloud she asked,"Where is my crest?"
"It should be in Kido's lab," Veemon said.
"Kido's lab?" Kamiya asked, suddenly afraid. When she was the Bishop Yagami, she wasn't afraid of anything, but, for some reason, when she remembered she was Hikari Kamiya, she felt tiny, and insignificant.
Davis picked up on her fear," Don't worry," he said,"I won't let anything happen to you, I promise."
Sora quickly ran out of the cabin with Agumon behind her. Despite her unemotional status, she still felt a pang of sadness and horror in her stone heart. Everything around her was being destroyed. Many of the cabins were destroyed and shattered, wooden pillars were everywhere. The tress that provided the camp with its natural boundaries were all gone, blasted into toothpicks littering the ground. Much of the snow was gone, melted by the heat of battle. But, what moved her the most, was the bodies littering the ground. Ogremon, Skullmearamon and Saberleomon were already dead, she could tell. They were just lying on the ground, not moving at all.
"What are we going to do?" Agumon asked. "Sora? SORA?!"
"I...I don't believe this," she said, watching in shock as Digmon and Cody were blown apart in front of her from an blast from a Mammothmon.
"AHHHHHHHHH!" she screamed,"Cody! No!"
She started running through the battlefield, missing Aquilamon and Stingmon fighting a group of Devidramons in the sky. She saw a stray fire ball coming at her and she dove, missing it. She turned and saw a Dark Tyrannamon battling with Galgomon. To her left, Lillymon was going toe-for-toe with a group of Garbegemon. Behind her, Wizardmon and Andromon, the last two normal Digimon in the group, were teaming up against a squadron of Mekanorimons.
She kept going though, she didn't know where, but she had to get to the other side of the battlefield. It was as if some inside force was directing her and Agumon there. That's when she saw Mariko Fugiama run out of the main cabin, with Michelle firing a barrage of bullets from her massive gun as at a group of Bakemon which were coming towards them.
So far she had counted every Digital Warrior, except for Michael, Izzy and T.K. She could understand Michael, with Betamon unable to Digivole, he was as useless as her. Izzy was probably guarding the key cards, so he would be in his lab, but where was T.K.? As their leader, he should be out here with them, where was he?"
"Damn!" Michelle shouted, through her gun into the only patch of snow left, "I'm out of bullets!" She turned to the young girl at her side, and clutched her to her chest, shielding her from the Bakemon's attacks that she knew where comming,"Mariko, I don't know what else to do, I-I'm sorry."
"Don't apologize," Mariko said,"You did your best."
Michelle smiled at her, then they both held tight to each other. Sora saw the leader of the Bakemon shoot his Dark Claw towards them, when a familiar blur of green head-butted him into the snow.
"Betamon!" she yelled, as she continued to run towards the cabin.
"Good job, Betamon," Michael said, stepping out of the cabin,"It doesn't matter if you can Digivole or not, we're still going to fight 'til the end, right?"
"Right!" Betamon said, charging the small army of ghost Digimon.
With great effort, Sora turned her head from the battle the water Digimon was having with the Bakemon to where Michelle and Mariko were standing. She started running, to pull them out of harm's way, when the ground beneath the cabin blew apart, sending the two humans soaring into the air. Sora stopped short and turned to catch them, but they were moving too fast. She watched in horror as the two of them flew towards a tree.
"Watch out!" she tried to warn, but they couldn't do anything. Michelle and Mariko were still holding on to each other as a stray blast hit them and blew them into nothingness. The only thing left was Tai's Digivice and Tag and Crest that Mariko was holding, fell to the ground, making a 'poof' sound in the snow.
Sora allowed herself a moment to mourn them, only a moment, she just met them. She quickly ran over and picked up Tai's Digivice and Crest. Just holding them made her see Tai again, feel him, sense him. She quickly placed his crest around her neck and his Digivice on her belt. Sora didn't know why, but, this felt complete. She had his goggles, and was wearing the exact same thing Tai was wearing the day he died, and now she also had his Digivice and Crest. Then she heard an explosion from the sky.
Looking up she saw Aquilamon falling to the ground. He was covered by a bright white light and turned back to Hawkmon.
"Hawkmon!" Yolei yelled, running up to his unmoving body in the snow. She picked him up and held him tight to her chest. "Hawkmon," she cried, a tear falling down onto his still body,"Please be all right, please."
Sora was going to run to her side, when she noticed a glow coming from beneath her. Looking down, she saw a glowing object from under her blue shirt. "Its the Crest of Love," Sora said,"It-its glowing. But...is it because I was thinking of Tai just now, or....or because of Yolei...?"
"Sora!" Agumon yelled,"Watch out!"
She didn't know what was happening, but she tried to run. However, it was already too late. A tentacle wrapped around her body and pulled her into the air. "Shellmon!" Sora exclaimed as she saw the Digimon that was holding her with one of his slimy strains of hair,"He's the one that destroyed the cabin and sent Michelle and Mariko to their deaths!"
"Sora!" Agumon cried, running up to her,"I'll save you!"
"I doubt it!" Shellmon said, stamping his foot down so that only Agumon's head was visible.
Michael and Betamon were not faring any better. The Bakemon had scored a knockout in record time and Betamon was lying on the snow, stomach side up.
"No!" Michael said as the reaming ghost Digimon hovered towards his Digimon. Betamon had succeeded in destroying a good portion of the squadron, but, there were still at least ten Bakemon left.
"Their going to get him," Michael said,"No! Betamon! You can't give up! You have to fight them!"
"I...I don't think I can!" Betamon moaned.
"If you can't," Michael said, running towards him,"I'll protect you myself!"
"Michael, don't," Betamon said, trying to get on his legs.
Michael was all ready in front of him, hands out to block the Bakemon. It didn't work, however. As soon as one of the Bakemon were in rang, they flicked Michael aside with their dark claws.
"No!" Betamon yelled, flipping over onto his feet,"I'll get you for that!"
"Betamon digivolve to Seadramon!"
Michael, lying in the snow, looked on in awe. "He did it! He digivolved! Yes!"
Seadramon glared at the Bakemon. He opened his mouth and sent a stream of water at the Bakemon. They disappeared in a blast of Digital Information.
"So," Shellmon said, moving his Medusa hair so that he could look at Sora,"You are Sora Takenouchi?"
"That's right!" Sora said, struggling against the tentacle that was wrapped around her body,"And you'd better let me go, or you're going to be sorry!"
Shellmon smiled. "You should be honored," he said,"When Diaboramon read Leomon's memories, he named you as a primary threat! I don't know why, you don't even have a Digimon, but, orders are orders."
Sora screamed as Shellmon's tentacle tighten around her,"Too tight! Can't breath!"
Underneath Shellmon's foot, Agumon struggled,"Sora! I'll save you!" Then, he felt weird. He felt a surge of energy that he only felt once before, but it was something a Digimon never forgets. "Digivolve!" he yelled.
Sora noticed another bright light from below her. "My Digivice," she said,"Its reacting-wait, that's not mine! Its......its Tai's!"
"Agumon digivolve to Greymon!"
Shellmon flew backwards as Agumon grew in height and through him over. Sora went flying and landed in a giant pile of snow. "Wow!" she said, looking at the impressive Tyrannosaurus Rex standing a few feet in front of her,"He digivolved!"
If Shellmon was surprised, he didn't show it. He charged Greymon, but Greymon grabbed him first. He lifted Shellmon into the air so that his face was lined up with Greymon's mouth. "Nova Blast!"
Shellmon disappeared in a burst of fire with Sora cheering in the background. "Way to go!" she cheered,"You did it, Greymon!"
"....and then T.K. and Magna Angemon, FINALLY showed up," Sora said, talking to Tai's grave," and the battle was quickly over. The bad news was that the Key Cards were taken, The Dark Masters now have them. The good news is that Izzy slipped them the fake card, so we've got one, and without all of them, the cards won't work. That Izzy's pretty clever. Also, Betamon digivolved, and T.K. gave Michael that crest that Gennai gave us, what was it called, Reliability? Well, anyway, now we're off to find Matt, and, once we do, we'll find a way to get the cards back, and we can change this world."
She then knelt down in front of the headstone,"Destiny's a funny thing, isn't it, Tai? None of us know what's in store for us. When Agumon digivolved to save me, I knew that what Genai said was true, I was supposed to replace you. At first, I was mad. If the world was supposed to have a Tai, and I'm supposed to 'be' you now, what about me? What about the Sora Takenouchi that I was before you died? Did Fate decided that the part you were supposed to play in this world, was more important then the part I was supposed to play? Then, I remembered that when Hawkmon was injured, Yolei got the Crest of Love to glow. I know who is to take my place now. I don't know when, or if, I'll ever be able to visit you again, so, I'll say this, Goodbye Tai Kamiya. I love you, and have from the moment I saw you."
She got up and started to walk away, then turned back,"One more thing, before I go. Since I'm supposed to take your place, I decided to give myself a new name, I hope you don't mind."
The Crest of Courage glowed slightly, then dimmed. Sora smiled,"Thanks Tai."
Sora turned and started to walk to where the remaining Digital Warriors were getting ready to rescue Matt. "Sora?"
She turned around and saw Yolei walking up to her. "Sora, I...I want to say that I'm sorry for what Mimi and I said before. It...it was mean beyond words, I'm sorry."
Sora nodded. Then she reached around her neck and pulled out the Crest of Love and handed it to Yolei. "Yolei, I want you to have this."
"Your Crest of Love? I-I can't."
"You have to," Sora said,"Its not mine anymore. During the battle, I felt the Crest glow, for the first time in five years. When Kari died, my heart hardened. The Crest of Courage is mine now, The Crest of Love, is yours."
Yolei looked at the crest in her hand, then nodded. She placed it around her neck. "I will wear it proudly," she said,"I-I've got to show Ken."
Then Sora Kamiya smiled as she watched her replacement walk off. "Yes, destiny is a weird thing."
to be continued....
