There is Hope
By: Theodore 'Blitz' Leung
Disclaimer: All Digimon and their characters (except for those introduced in this fic/series) do NOT belong to me. I do not have permission to use their characters, but it's a FanFic, so, who cares? =) This story line belongs to me and me alone. Please ask for permission if you wish to use it. Thanks. Now let's get onto reading!
"So…let me get this straight…" Tiberius spoke. He, as well as Yasmine and their Digimon were back in the Real World. "Serangmon… Drowsmon… Axeramon… Saramon…they all were partnered with a Digi-Destined from your group?" Yasmine nodded. She may not be as sad as she was before, but her heart was still pretty broken.
"Serangmon is a Mega Form…using the Crest of Hope…" she told Tiberius. "Axeramon is an Ultimate with Courage…Drowsmon, Ultimate with Leadership. Saramon…" Yasmine choked when she spoke the Angel's name, but continued nevertheless. "She Digivolved using Light…"
"So…now…we are facing off with the original protectors of the Digital World…" Tiberius muttered, turning away. He sighed, leaning his head against the wall.
"Tiberius…" Lepumon spoke, hopping over to his partner's location. The fourth generation Digi-Destined glanced down at his Digimon. "We have to protect the Real World and the Digital World…" Lepumon paused, trying to muster his courage to say his next thought. "Even if…if it means we have to destroy the original Digimon who protected both worlds."
There was silence. A sense of sadness and depression was around, but no one dared speak about it.
* * * * * *
Silence was the only thing that was talked about between the three Digi-Destined in New York. None of the three Digi-Destined nor their Digimon could believe the latest news of their enemy.
"Palmon…will this mean…" Mimi started, glancing down at her Digimon. "If a fifth generation comes, you'll be fighting them?" The plant like Digimon remained silent, lowering her head to avoid the gaze from her partner.
"The Digimon have to chose to," Michael offered as consolidation. "So…if they choose not to, then there would be nothing to fear…" Michael himself didn't believe the own words he was saying, but he tried to sound as truthful as possible.
"The question remains…" K.H. spoke. "Why would the first generation Digimon want to do this?" Again, silence ensnared the group of six, no one wanting to answer for fear of bitter retaliation.
"I guess…we can only wait and see…" Kinoumon answered. No one moved, only continued to sit and ponder at the question that haunted them.
* * * * * *
"We're fighting each other…" Sora said softly. Marc silently agreed with her statement, sighing.
"It's strange how the tides have changed…" Marc added, leaning back against his chair. The entity known as silence encircled them yet again, before Biyomon spoke up.
"Can't you just defeat them?" she asked. "If they choose this path, then we have to strike against them."
"It's not that simple Biyo…" Sora told her Digimon, patting her lightly on the head.
"We don't want to fight them," Xemon whispered to Biyomon. "But…if worst comes to worst…we might just have to…"
* * * * * *
"There's no choice in the matter…" Shastina spoke softly. "We have to fight them…"
"I REFUSE to fight against the original defenders of the Digital World," Gatomon exclaimed, initially shocked with the new information.
"Gatomon…calm down…" Kari whispered, patting her.
"But...you have to admit…this is a tough decision," T.K. commented, equally as concerned with who their opponent was. He glanced out the window, concern on his face. "I sure hope Patamon is okay…" Gatomon leaped onto T.K.'s shoulder.
"He'll be okay…" she told T.K. "He's a tough one…even if he doesn't look like it. He'll be fine…" T.K. smiled lightly, facing the feline Digimon on his shoulder.
"Well…I guess you would know him better then anyone else," T.K. spoke. Gatomon tuned slightly red.
"And what's THAT suppose to mean?!" she hissed, ready to rip T.K. to shreds. Shastina and Kari giggled lightly, before Kari removed Gatomon from T.K.'s shoulder.
"Now, now, Gatomon…no need to get so worked up," Tigramon teased, prompting a sharp hiss from the other feline.
"Come now, Tigramon," Shastina spoke, lifting her own Digimon. "No need to tease each other." More giggles went around the circle until Shastina's Digivice went off. The giggles ended quickly, Shastina retrieving her Digivice from her pocket. "Well…I guess another portal is opening…" she spoke, before all the occupants of the room were transported to the Digital World.
* * * * * *
Tao sighed, depressed. Nevertheless, he read over Tiberius' e-mail once again, still trying to digest the new facts of their battle.
"You should really stop reading that," Harriermon advised, leaping onto the bed where Tao lay as he continued to read. The bird like Digimon did not need to wear bandages anymore, for his wounds recovered enough. "It's not doing any good for you, Tao," Harriermon told his partner, but the boy failed to respond. "Tao…" Harriermon spoke softly, but didn't know what else to say.
"We're fighting the original defenders of the Digital World…" he muttered. Tao dropped the Digivice onto his night table, staring blankly at the ceiling. "It's just not right…"
"Tao…the decision is hard, but you have a duty to attend to," Harriermon told Tao, placing a hand on his shoulder. "Don't give up, don't despair, you'll find the path." The human remained deathly silent, unable to answer his own Digimon.
The blue Digivice on the night table slowly accumulated energy, opening a portal to the Digital World and taking the two occupants of the room before any of them could react.
* * * * * *
"BOOM BUBBLE!"
The attack harmlessly ricocheted off Drowsmon's armour, failing to do any sort of damage to the Ultimate level Digimon. Patamon hovered close to the ground, unable to hold his own against the other Digimon. Drowsmon was easily doing much better then his Rookie adversary.
"Don't resist and I'll make this quick, I promise," Drowsmon told Patamon, pointing his sword towards the other Digimon. He cross slashed, but with renewed energy, Patamon dodged the attack, only to get swatted to the ground by the side of Drowsmon's sword. "Say goodnight…" Drowsmon spoke, pointing the sword closely to the other Digimon's neck.
"Why…do you do this?" Patamon asked, weakly from his lack of energy. Drowsmon remained ominously silent.
"Consider it…a test, for the new Digi-Destined," he answered, sword still leveled at the other Digimon. "But for now…saw goo-"
"CELESTIAL ARROW!"
Drowsmon quickly looked up and leaped back, the arrow narrowly missing him. The energy arrow embedded itself in the ground, before disintegrating into nothingness. He looked up, seeing Angewomon quickly fly by. His gaze slowly lowered towards the ground, where he saw Toramon rushing towards him, carrying Shastina, Kari, and T.K. on her back.
"You're…in trouble now…" Patamon told Drowsmon, grinning lightly, coughing in between words. T.K. quickly dismounted even before Toramon came to a complete stop, scooping up the wounded Digimon.
"Patamon…are you okay?!" he asked, definitely concern in his voice.
"Could've been better…but I knew you'd show up…" the Digimon responded, smiling lightly before falling unconscious. T.K. gave Drowsmon an angry look, ready to tear up the Digimon with his own hands for what he did. Kari and Shastina waited for Toramon to halt completely before dismounting. Angewomon hovered beside her partner, regarding Patamon for a split second, before turning her gaze towards Drowsmon.
"You…were the original defenders of the Digital World…" Kari spoke to the Digimon. "I don't see…why you have to do this."
"It will be revealed…in due time…" Drowsmon answered, retreating a step.
"But why can't you tell us now?!" Shastina pleaded, trying to come to a peaceful settlement for this battle. Drowsmon again regarded the three Digi-Destined, slowly turning around.
"Don't turn your back on us!" T.K. shouted angrily. He took a step forward.
"SONIC SWORD!"
Drowsmon quickly rotated again 180 degrees, unleashing the green energy that headed directly towards Shastina. Toramon quickly leaped in the way, absorbing the attack, but was knocked back into Shastina. Both fell, before Toramon reverted back to her Rookie level state.
"Shastina! Tigramon!" Kari cried out, instinctively heading towards the two fallen comrades.
"DARKNESS BLAST!"
Unholy black energy crackled at Drowsmon outstretched palm, unleashing a blast of pure dark energy towards Kari.
"Kari!" Angewomon shouted, leaping in the way and shielding her partner with her angel body. Like the other two, both fell, Angewomon changing back to her Champion form of Gatomon.
"Why you…!" T.K. exclaimed, rushing forward, right fist raised while his left arm still held Patamon. Drowsmon only whipped the side of blade towards T.K., knocking him away and stopping the attack.
Shastina groaned, trying to get back to her feet before cold steel was pressed against her neck. She looked up, seeing Drowsmon placing his weapon by her. She shuddered, the eyes of death looking upon her.
"Any last words?" Drowsmon asked, pressed the side of the blade ever so closer to her neck. Shastina gulped, trembling with fear, remaining silent. "I guess not…" He slowly raised the blade, ready to finish the job.
"CRIMSON STORM!"
The blast of explosive feathers failed to damage Drowsmon because of his AE Field, but it stunned the Digimon enough for Shastina to evade the falling sword. Angered and frustrated with the repeated interruptions, Drowsmon eyes went up, knowing what to expect.
Haeromon divided down towards Drowsmon, Tao riding on the bird's left talon. Drowsmon grinned, glad to see more worthy adversaries worth his time.
"I ask you once…just surrender…" Tao told Drowsmon, leaping down a short distance when Haeromon was a few feet off the ground. Drowsmon muttered a short laugh.
"It is better if we continue the merger…" he told Tao. "In more ways then one…" Tao remained deathly silent, processing his next move. "Fight me, boy."
"I will not," Tao answered, turning away.
"What did you say?" Drowsmon asked, surprised with the answer.
"I told you I will NOT FIGHT YOU!" Tao exclaimed, beginning to walk away. Shastina wrapped Tigramon in her arms, watching the event transpire, as did the other two Digi-Destined.
"You won't fight me?" Drowsmon asked, grunting. "Fine, then I guess you don't want to save your friends either…" Tao stopped in his tracks, slowly turning his head towards the other Digimon.
"You wouldn't DARE…" he hissed. Drowsmon smirked at the other's reaction.
"I would…" he responded darkly. Tao turned around sharply, anger flaring in his eyes.
"If you hurt them…" Tao murmured, gritting his teeth.
"You'll do what?" Drowsmon asked. "You said yourself you won't fight me." Tao's anger subsided, his own intentions muddled in the sea of thought.
"I-I-I…" he stammered, unable to make up his mind. "I don't want to fight him…" Tao thought, looking down at the ground. "He's one of the original Digimon to defend the Digital World. I…can't bring myself to fight someone in that position. It's suicide…and I'd regret it for the rest of my life…" Tao's conflict raged through his mind, unable to come to a settlement with his own self. He glanced up at Shastina. Her eyes pleaded for an answer, seeing the pain he was enduring.
"I need an answer…" Tao thought. "If…I don't stop him…I'll lose my friends…and then…but…why…why…"
"WHY!?" Tao cried out, dropping to his knees, holding his head. Drowsmon continued to watch, somewhat disgusted with how Tao was tearing himself apart.
"Never give up…" he thought, remembering what he also advised to all his friends in any situation. "Despair will only weaken you. I can't afford to be weak now…people are counting on me…"
"I'm in no condition to be a Digi-Destined…" he spoke aloud, slowly getting back up. He glanced at Drowsmon, the two staring eye-to-eye. Tao pulled out his Blue Digivice from his pocket, examined it for a second, then tossed it towards Drowsmon. "If, I can't even make up my mind here…then…there's no way I myself can be a Digi-Destined." Drowsmon looked down at the Digivice by his feet. He kneeled down and took the item in his hand.
"I'm disappointed in you…" he told Tao.
"Go ahead, destroy the Digivice," Tao told the Digimon. "It's not mine to use." Drowsmon regarded the Digivice again, before tossing the device back at Tao.
"The Digivice choose you for a reason," Drowsmon told Tao. "If you don't embrace it, then you will never save your friends." Again, Tao remained silent, trying to figure out what the charcoal-coloured armour Digimon was getting at. Tao slowly lifted his Digivice from the ground, unsure of his worthiness of that item. "You do want to save them…if you don't, then you are definitely not worthy of such an item."
"There is always hope…" Tao thought. "Don't despair…you'll find the path…" Tao closed his eyes, trying to find the inner self he lost. "In life, sacrifices must be made, even if you don't want to. Never give up, there is always hope. Even when the odds seem impossible, that faint glisten of light will guide you through." Tao slowly opened his eyes, Drowsmon idly waiting for a response from the 'Digi-Destined'.
"Even if I don't want to…" Tao spoke softly. "I can't give up. The world is counting on me, and I have to provide torch of hope for them to see!"
T.K.'s Digivice began to react, surrounded with an aura of golden energy, before a streak of same coloured light blasted out of his Digivice, encircled Drowsmon once, then entered Tao's Digivice.
"Wha?!" Each Digi-Destined exclaimed, though Drowsmon fully comprehended what just happened, and smiled lightly, though no one noticed.
"Wait…" T.K. muttered, getting a better look at the Crest. "It's the Crest of Hope!" he shouted out. Tao needed no more encouragement, he knew what he had to do.
"Haeromon…Digivolve to…"
Light surrounded the Champion level Digimon, armour plating beginning to from around his main body. Slowly, energy gathered on his back, forming the shape of a shield the encompassed his entire back. The new Digimon let out a cry of power.
"Kiboumon!"
"Ahh…the power of Hope has revealed itself," Drowsmon commented, nodding. "I appreciate a good fight." With those words, he charged Kiboumon, sword ready.
"LIGHT SPIRAL!"
Kiboumon launched himself into the air, unleashing a white holy energy from his beak that smashed through Drowsmon's AE Field, ripping part of his left armour off, but not wounding the Digimon himself.
"Nice try!" Drowsmon exclaimed, leaping into the air with such force. Kiboumon, however, made no effort to retreat.
"Blazing Heaven!"
The shield on his back split, opening at the bottom. Twin rocket boosters were revealed under the shield, both igniting. With the additional speed, Kiboumon dived down at Drowsmon. Both Digimon collided, and with such speed, no one was sure what happened. The next thing all the Digi-Destined and Digimon noticed was both flying Digimon tumbling back towards the ground in an uncontrollable spiral. Kiboumon quickly changed back to Harriermon, unconscious from the collision.
"Harriermon!!" Tao shouted out, running to catch his Digimon. He dived forward, almost missing the bird. Tao exhaled, slowly getting to his feet, Digimon in arms. Making sure nothing was broken on the bird, he turned his attention towards Drowsmon landing spot, but found no one was there.
"Tao, that was so cool!" Shastina shouted, running towards him while carrying her Digimon. T.K. and Kari followed behind, also carrying their Digimon. With her free arm, Shastina wrapped it around Tao's neck, making sure not to crush either Digimon. "I'm…so happy that you overcame that…" she whispered, trying to contain her tears. Tao, unsure how to react, slowly wrapped his arm around her waist, hugging her back in response.
T.K. and Kari watched the two, happy that there was more then one obstacle overcome in this battle.
Fin
Completed: 12/19/00
