Story Eight: The End of the Beginning
As he had promised, Alex led the Digi-destined from their camp early the next morning, and they trudged out of the forest, and off along a large beach leading to a cove. Alex kept a steady march, which the Digi-destined found difficult to follow.
"Sometimes he can be down right obsessive." Jennifer muttered to no one in particular.
"No kidding." Adam agreed. "And quite mysterious."
"Say, Michael, you know Alex pretty well-" Angela began, before Michael cut her off.
"You people ask me too many questions! Just leave me alone, %@#^ it!"
"Michael finally snapped." Betamon muttered.
"Is it just me, or is Fox Kids becoming more lenient?" Penguinmon asked.
"The author managed to sneak in swear words before this was broadcast." Tapirmon explained. "Now, can we return to an actual story here?"
"Yeah…sure…"
Anyway, Alex used his sword to cut away a few plants that were somehow growing on the beach, until, finally, the cove came into view. It was just like any other part of the beach, only extending out to one side, a wall of rock blocking the rest of the island. It was clearly a base, as a large building sat admist the sand, along with a few protruding buildings, all of which were lined with cells.
Waiting, at the center, floating above the water was the villain they had come for…the Collector.
He grinned upon seeing them. "Hello, foolish Digi-destined. I see you have finally come to battle. It seems you are now aware of my title."
"You collect Digimon?" Adam asked. "You're sick and twisted."
The Collector smiled. "Flattery will get you no where. What say we begin the inevitable battle?"
"I know you have minions." Alex replied. "This is a setup."
"You overestimate me." The Collector replied. "My only remaining minion is that fool MetalTyrannomon. You destroyed my other three warriors, which I commend you for. However, you will still fall here and now."
"Bring on any minions." Alex demanded. "And you and I will battle."
The Collector nodded. "MetalTyrannomon! Get your useless hide out here now!"
MetalTyrannomon lumbered in, all his minions in tow. "You called, boss?"
"Destroy these Digi-fools immediately." The Collector ordered.
Alex turned to Kunemon. "Warp-Digivolve. The others will need you more then me." Kunemon nodded and wiggled away. Alex pulled his sword from his scabbard, and faced the evil leader. "Let's go."
The Collector grinned. He then raised a hand. "We will. But, first…" He began to laugh. "You will watch the fall of your team!"
"What?!" Alex gasped in surprise.
"I am currently charging up for the attack Neomon never dared to use…the Dimensional Disruptor! With it, I can reformat anything. It will be as though your friends never existed!"
Alex turned around. "Guys, get out of here! NOW!"
"It is too late." The Collector replied.
"Wait, boss! We're still here!" MetalTyrannomon cried out.
"NO!" Alex sliced at the Collector, stopping his plans momentarily. The Collector flipped away from the assault, dodging blow after blow. The others continued to battle, as they had not heard Alex's message in the heat of battle. So, he would try to buy them some time.
"You can not prevent this." The Collector told him. "Hammer Punch!" the Collector then slammed his fist into Alex's jaw, sending him flying. "Now, Grizzly Wing!" A storm of bats flew from his hands, attacking Alex viciously.
Back in the other battle, MegaSeadramon and AeroVeedramon slammed MetalTyrannomon around like a beach ball. His minions were being easily dispersed by Darkmon, Scorpiomon, and Mammothmon. The battle was turning towards the Digi-destined.
With another stolen attack, the Collector looked at the raging battle. "I have had enough of this game! You will all die!"
"No!" Alex leapt at the Collector.
"DIMENSIONAL DISRUPTOR!" the Collector launched a large ball of energy from one hand, which flew past Alex, and into the battle.
"No! Run, guys!" Alex cried. Darkmon saw the attack coming, and leaped away. Michael and MegaSeadramon jumped in the other direction. As for the others…their images began to disappear. The minions, the Digi-destined, and MetalTyrannomon all disappeared, as though they were never there.
Michael and Alex looked on in shock, as the Collector readied another attack.
"Michael! Take Kunemon and get out of here!" Alex ordered. "Get out of here!" Knowing the danger, Michael grabbed Kunemon, hopped onto MegaSeadramon, and they sped away through the water, the Collector firing behind them.
"Insolent little pests…" he muttered. He then turned to Alex. "Oh, well. Now, I have the strongest one of all."
Alex stood, holding his sword. "You destroyed my team…" he whispered. "I failed.."
The Collector began to laugh maniacally. "Indeed you did. Your failure is complete. Your team is gone because of you, your Digimon and friend are scarred, and you, will soon die with the rest."
Alex looked at the Collector as he laughed. He then looked down to his sword, at his reflection. And he knew what he had to do.
"No…NO MORE!" Alex cried.
The Collector stopped laughing and glanced at Alex. "What?"
"NO MORE!" He cried again. "You killed my friends…so, here and now…I will make sure…THAT YOU NEVER KILL AGAIN! TRANSCENDENT SWORD!" Alex's blade glowed with power, as he slammed it straight through the Collector's head.
Not even having time to cry out in pain, the Collector fell, into the water, and sank beneath the waves. His body disappeared piece by piece, until there was nothing left. Nothing, but Alex and the graveyard of his creation.
"It's over…" he whispered. "I…failed…Oh, god, I'm so sorry…"
"Alex…" came a new voice. "Alex…"
Alex looked up, and saw a light penetrating the darkened cove. That light changed into a human, or so it seemed. The human had long white hair, wore a white robe, and stared at Alex through completely white eyes.
"Wh-Who are you?" Alex asked.
"The one who has been watching you since the day you came." This creature replied. "You can call me Humanmon. Like you, my purpose in the Digital world was to bring balance."
"Balance?" Alex asked. "I don't understand."
Humanmon pointed to Alex's crest. "It is because of this that you bring balance. Balance between the dark and light."
"But, I'm not evil." Alex replied.
"No, you are light, despite your crest. But, you are the one I needed. You see, I was meant to bring balance between human and Digimon. You were brought to preserve the essence of a whole person. You are both good and evil. You are whole."
"But, what about…" Alex began, but Humanmon silenced him.
"Do not question yourself. Your team is not gone, they still exist in America, with no memory of their Digimon or this world. However, their essences have been placed into another crest. A crest that holds the key of the future." Humanmon created a sphere. Alex looked into it, and saw a kid, who looked a great deal like him. "And this will be the bearer of that crest."
Alex placed his hand on the sphere. "Who is this?"
"His name is Damien." Humanmon replied. "But, one day, he will be called Cerac, the greatest hero that ever lived in the Digital world."
Alex looked again at the sphere, and watched as Cerac fought off evil creatures, waving a sword, and fighting alongside a Digimon partner, with six other humans in the background. "Do you mean…"
"He will join the other Digi-destined." Humanmon explained. "And he will light a soon to be darkened path."
"What does this have to do with me?" Alex asked.
"You will meet him one day, and offer him guidance in his darkest times, when he needs help the most." Humanmon explained. "You will be there for him."
"When will he arrive?" Alex asked.
"In two months." Humanmon replied. "I suggest you find your Digimon, and wait until the time of your coming is right. However, your friend Michael will not come back with you. He has all ready left to pursue dreams in your world. Betamon will remain to guard this cove. He has given the crest unto me, so that it may merge with those other three crests: Power, Ancients, and Miracles, to form the Crest of Inspiration."
Alex looked at the globe as the scene changed again, this time to Cerac and himself, shaking hands, and parting ways.
"Soon enough afterward, his time will pass. He will take up residence and battle evils elsewhere. You, however, are far from done."
"What do you mean?" Alex asked.
Humanmon smiled. "You will know soon enough. But, for right now…I believe you should go home." With that, he disappeared, leaving Alex in darkness once again.
He glanced at his sword, and sheathed it. "I'd go home." He whispered. "Except I all ready am." He then walked off, down the beach. "I'm coming home to you, my friends." He said, thinking of Kari, and T.K., and Cody, and Yolei, and Davis. "I'm coming home."
As Alex left, he was unaware of a new presence in the wreckage of Neomon's former castle. Minotarumon had walked in, and re-plugged an old device. "Fools." He whispered. "You Digi-destined will know true evil once again." Small bits of information began to join together. "Live, Diaboromon!"
The Beginning…