*giggles* Okay, I should probably be working on 'Turn Back Time' right now, but the truth is, I'm suffering from mega-writers block on that, and besides, this deranged little idea has been floating around in my head for quite some time. This is my warped little version of what would've happened if Matt and the others had taken just a little longer to reach Tai in the final battle against Piedmon.
- Ken - *cheers* Yes! An 01 fic! I won't be tortured!
*coughs* Um, Ken, the thing is, being a writer with an insane imagination has some benefits...
- Ken - *groans* You don't mean...
Yep! *grins evilly* I reeeally twist this thing around and *you* end up in it! *cackles*
- Ken - *screams* Nooooo!
*giggles* Anyway... Don't I just love torturing my muses? *grins* And it's so fun, too!
~Disclaimer~ Incredibly insane idea? Mine. Digimon? Not. You? No sue. Got the picture?
Reviewwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwww! Please?
~As Destiny Blooms~
Part One ~ Daho ~*~ Capture
The satanical figure laughed maniacally, a pitiless leer stretching across his black-and-white painted face, formed by lips the colour of the blood of his victims. A jester's cap was cocked heedlessly upon his head, and bells cuffing his frilled sleeves jingled all too merrily. He leapt into the air, taunting chuckles making a demonic harmony with the bells' frenzied ringing as he landed gracefully. The air seemed to crackle with furious negative energy, enlivening the dull, rocky landscape as storm clouds tumbled through the gray sky, illuminated by blinding flashes of light. The azure ribbons streaming from his crimson costume were caught in the swirling wind, twisting around him frantically in the gale. He was distracted for a moment by the rumbling thunder, echoes of which seemed to hang on the still air, thick with tension. He soon returned his attention to the task which had captivated it before: that of destroying his enemies.
His reddened eyes focused on an injured boy who was struggling to stand. The large, lizard-like guardian of the child, cracked and battered himself, stood bravely between their evil oppressor and his charge. The clown grinned wickedly, anticipating their suffering as power danced in his hands.
"Tai," gasped the dinosaur, clutching at his broken armour, "I can't hold out much longer. You, Izzy, and Kari get out of here. Hide and wait for the others."
The chestnut-haired boy shook his head stubbornly, pain clouding his mahogany eyes. He struggled into a crawling position from where he had lain on the ground. "I'm staying with you, WarGreymon," he replied, forcing the words out although his head swam.
The dinosaur conceded, attempting a weak joke. "I don't have the strength to argue with you, Tai." He tried to chuckle, but the pitiful laugh turned into a hacking cough. "Just tell Izzy and Kari to get out of here."
The boy nodded. He had opened his mouth to call out to his friends when a blast of energy was sent rippling through the air, hitting him on the side and quite effectively knocking him backwards several feet. The advancing clown laughed sardonically as the two children standing to the side of the battlefield cried out to their injured friend.
The clown flexed his hands. "Don't worry... You're next!" he assured them, smiling demonically.
Tai crawled to his knees. "Izzy, Kari, get out of here, *now*!" he implored as the clown neared him.
The red-headed boy planted a hand protectively on the young girl's shoulder. "I know you want me to take care of your sister, Tai, but I can fight, too! At least let me help!" he called back.
Tai shook his head obstinately. "You can't win, Izzy! Get out of here, find the others! Maybe then we'll stand a chance!"
"But what about you?" Izzy protested, gazing in horror at the advancing clown.
"Don't worry about me, I'll be fine," Tai assured him, his doubt of his own statement shining through his pained expression despite the bravado he displayed. Izzy cast him a skeptical and concerned look. "Really, Izzy! Go!"
Izzy nodded reluctantly. Turning to his bug-like partner, he held out a small device that began to glow. The bug spoke in a nasal voice.
"Tentomon digivolve to... Kabuterimon!" The creature's voice had changed, booming out like the synonymous rolls of thunder echoing from the skies. The bug had become an enormously proportioned flying insect. He had changed from a maroon-coloured, robotic figure to a royal blue insect with prodigious wings. He stooped to let Izzy climb on to his broad back. Izzy hoisted Tai's sister Kari and her cat-like partner Gatomon up beside him.
"I'll be back, Tai," he promised silently as they flew off. Tears were coursing their way down Kari's face, carving a salty path as Tai faded from sight.
The clown reverted his gaze from the receding bug to the victims below him. He smiled pleasantly, and a shiver ran down Tai's spine. "I suppose I'll get them later," he mused aloud, "after I'm done with *you*." He raised an elegantly shod foot and kicked the boy over. "I will teach you not to interfere with my plans!" he spat.
Tai gritted his teeth, sweating in pain. "Piedmon, you're a pig!" he screamed, bronze eyes glinting malevolently. "You're a coward! You're cruel, and evil, and you will *never* take over this world, or mine! We will stop you!"
"Oh, really?" Piedmon responded mildly, sneering. "Somehow I can't see how the Chosen will stop me... when their leader is dead!" The clown laughed insanely, gathering power in his hand as he glared down at the helpless boy.
"Hey!" a rough voice interrupted. Piedmon looked aside impatiently at WarGreymon, who was attempting to stand. "Pick on someone your own size!"
Piedmon smiled laconically. "If you insist," he replied.
WarGreymon desperately gathered energy into a gleaming golden orb, which he hurled at the seemingly defenseless clown. "Terra Force!" he cried, as the attack neared its target.
Yawning, Piedmon held up a single gloved hand delicately. "Is that the best you can do?" he asked snidely, as the ball of light dissipated at his fingertips. WarGreymon cried out in disbelief and fury, launching himself at Piedmon.
The clown reacted quickly. "Trump Sword!" he screamed into the howling winds. The energy flew through the air, slamming into the dinosaur midair and shattering his breastplate. WarGreymon fell and lay still.
"No!" Tai cried, attempting to stand. Piedmon whirled and repeated the attack, the distortion of energy in the air sending the boy crashing backwards into a boulder. He, too, slid unconscious to the ground. The clown smiled in satisfaction, turning to leave the bloody battlegrounds. He was several yards away when his departure was interrupted by a furious cry.
"Tai!" A group of the Chosen, rallied by Izzy, crested a faraway hill, running full speed at the merciless Piedmon.
The clown chuckled. "It seems my fun isn't over yet," he taunted, flexing his fingers. "Who shall be first?"
A tall blonde boy and his dog-like partner raced ahead of the group, the dog's metallic horn glinting dangerously and the boy's crystal blue eyes sparking angrily. He paused briefly by the cracked boulder, gazing down at his leader's limp form before focusing again on Piedmon's smiling face with renewed fury.
"You're DEAD!" he screamed, sprinting again towards the maniacal figure, his dog-like partner struggling to keep up. Piedmon's lips curved into a sneer as he looked on the child.
"Ooh, I'm *so* scared," he taunted, stifling a laugh.
Behind the boy, a fiery haired girl knelt by Tai, her crimson eyes furious, sad, and wary all at once. Cradling Tai's head in her lap, she called out a warning to the running boy. "Matt, be careful!"
A small hand tugged on her shirt, and she looked down into the tearful eyes of Matt and Tai's younger siblings. Kari's light brown eyes asked an unspoken question about her brother. The older girl shook her head while responding. "I... don't know if he's going to be okay, honey."
TK, Matt's younger brother and practically his clone, looked out after his reckless sibling. "Sora," he asked, "shouldn't somebody help Matt?"
Sora glanced backwards at the other Chosen, who were running towards them. "Someone needs to stay here with Tai," she replied.
A blue-haired teen older than the others with blackish eyes concealed behind wide glasses rode up on his partner, an immense mammoth-like creature bearing a large horn on its forehead. He slid off, patting the creature's furry back.
"Ikkakumon and I got here as fast as we could." He paused, glancing down down at Tai, his already pasty face tinged green. He knelt and slipped a duffel bag off of his shoulder. "I have some med. supplies in here, but I think I'm allergic to blood."
Izzy ran up beside his partner Kabuterimon. "Someone has to go after Matt," he panted, gesticulating wildly after their impetuous friend who was already halfway to the waiting Piedmon. "Joe, you stay here with Tai, TK, and Kari while we attack!" Joe, a sickened look on his pale face, nodded.
Sora gently placed Tai's head on the ground and climbed aboard her own partner, a blazing bird of fire. "Come on, Birdramon," she cried, "let's go!" The bird cawed a response, and they took off after Matt, followed by Izzy, Kabuterimon, Ikkakumon, and TK's angel digimon Angemon. Kari's digimon Angewomon, a tall, blonde, feathered being similar to TK's except female in form, stayed behind to protect the three with Tai.
Joe busily dug bandages out of his duffel. "I wonder where Mimi is?" he asked, wrapping a cut on Tai's arm. He wiped the sweat beading his forehead. "She said she was rallying an army or something, but we need her *now*!"
"I dunno," replied TK absently as he watched the battle scene with wide blue eyes primarily focused on his brother.
Piedmon grinned, tossing a ball of pure negative power from hand to hand. "Which one shall I destroy first...?" he mused. Suddenly, he froze, clutching the crackling orb of black energy in his right hand, and sniffed the air, his thoughts and senses centered on the young blonde boy sprinting towards him. His nostrils flared as he drunk in the scent of Matt's aura, and he grinned viciously.
"The power..." he whispered, licking his lips hungrily. He sensed an immense dark force emanating from this boy. He made up his mind in a swift moment to try to greedily harness the power. Levitating forward, he grabbed Matt's shoulder. The boy jerked in shock , calling out for help from his partner.
"Gabumon!" he screamed. Gabumon froze as a cold blue light flared up around him.
"Gabumon digivolve to..."
"That won't be necessary," Piedmon whispered, barely moving his blood-red lips. He grabbed a net and cast it on Gabumon, successfully halting the transformation.
Taking hold of both the net and Matt's shoulder firmly, he hastily muttered an incantation as the other Chosen neared him. The three flickered and disappeared as the Chosen stared in shock.
"Wh... where'd he go?" stammered Sora, the bird landing lightly on the ground. She hopped off and frantically scoured the area.
"I... have no idea," admitted Izzy reluctantly, stumped.
Quickly aided by TK, Kari, Angewomon, and the other digimon, Sora and Izzy searched the empty clearing thoroughly, coming up with no results.
"Guys, come back here," called Joe from his spot next to Tai. "We need to think up a plan, and also get WarGreymon back to health, before we do anything."
Hesitantly, the searchers gathered back by the large rock, muttering worriedly after their fruitless search. Joe opened his mouth to suggest an idea when the bandaged Tai cracked open a swollen eyelid. Groaning, he pushed himself up against the rock and rasped, "What happened?"
~~~
In Piedmon's dreary rock castle perched invisible high atop a hill, the threesome landed with a crash. The clown recovered quickly from his teleportation, and gazed down at the unconscious boy and digimon slumped on the floor. Lifting a gloved finger, he delicately traced the pale boy's cheekbone. He bent down and whispered gently to the unhearing figure.
"You may not know it yet, young Chosen, but when the time comes, it will be you, not I, who will destroy your little friends."
He tossed his head back and laughed long and loud, the maniacal chuckles reverberating through the bleary stone hall.
-----
*cackles* Well, like it? Hate it? Don't know? Agh, whatever! Reviieeeewwwwwwww! Please? I should be one of those really evil people who says 'Next chapter not coming up until I get sixty billion reviews!' Hmmm... I wonder if that'll work...
- Ken - *cheers* Yes! An 01 fic! I won't be tortured!
*coughs* Um, Ken, the thing is, being a writer with an insane imagination has some benefits...
- Ken - *groans* You don't mean...
Yep! *grins evilly* I reeeally twist this thing around and *you* end up in it! *cackles*
- Ken - *screams* Nooooo!
*giggles* Anyway... Don't I just love torturing my muses? *grins* And it's so fun, too!
~Disclaimer~ Incredibly insane idea? Mine. Digimon? Not. You? No sue. Got the picture?
Reviewwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwww! Please?
~As Destiny Blooms~
Part One ~ Daho ~*~ Capture
The satanical figure laughed maniacally, a pitiless leer stretching across his black-and-white painted face, formed by lips the colour of the blood of his victims. A jester's cap was cocked heedlessly upon his head, and bells cuffing his frilled sleeves jingled all too merrily. He leapt into the air, taunting chuckles making a demonic harmony with the bells' frenzied ringing as he landed gracefully. The air seemed to crackle with furious negative energy, enlivening the dull, rocky landscape as storm clouds tumbled through the gray sky, illuminated by blinding flashes of light. The azure ribbons streaming from his crimson costume were caught in the swirling wind, twisting around him frantically in the gale. He was distracted for a moment by the rumbling thunder, echoes of which seemed to hang on the still air, thick with tension. He soon returned his attention to the task which had captivated it before: that of destroying his enemies.
His reddened eyes focused on an injured boy who was struggling to stand. The large, lizard-like guardian of the child, cracked and battered himself, stood bravely between their evil oppressor and his charge. The clown grinned wickedly, anticipating their suffering as power danced in his hands.
"Tai," gasped the dinosaur, clutching at his broken armour, "I can't hold out much longer. You, Izzy, and Kari get out of here. Hide and wait for the others."
The chestnut-haired boy shook his head stubbornly, pain clouding his mahogany eyes. He struggled into a crawling position from where he had lain on the ground. "I'm staying with you, WarGreymon," he replied, forcing the words out although his head swam.
The dinosaur conceded, attempting a weak joke. "I don't have the strength to argue with you, Tai." He tried to chuckle, but the pitiful laugh turned into a hacking cough. "Just tell Izzy and Kari to get out of here."
The boy nodded. He had opened his mouth to call out to his friends when a blast of energy was sent rippling through the air, hitting him on the side and quite effectively knocking him backwards several feet. The advancing clown laughed sardonically as the two children standing to the side of the battlefield cried out to their injured friend.
The clown flexed his hands. "Don't worry... You're next!" he assured them, smiling demonically.
Tai crawled to his knees. "Izzy, Kari, get out of here, *now*!" he implored as the clown neared him.
The red-headed boy planted a hand protectively on the young girl's shoulder. "I know you want me to take care of your sister, Tai, but I can fight, too! At least let me help!" he called back.
Tai shook his head obstinately. "You can't win, Izzy! Get out of here, find the others! Maybe then we'll stand a chance!"
"But what about you?" Izzy protested, gazing in horror at the advancing clown.
"Don't worry about me, I'll be fine," Tai assured him, his doubt of his own statement shining through his pained expression despite the bravado he displayed. Izzy cast him a skeptical and concerned look. "Really, Izzy! Go!"
Izzy nodded reluctantly. Turning to his bug-like partner, he held out a small device that began to glow. The bug spoke in a nasal voice.
"Tentomon digivolve to... Kabuterimon!" The creature's voice had changed, booming out like the synonymous rolls of thunder echoing from the skies. The bug had become an enormously proportioned flying insect. He had changed from a maroon-coloured, robotic figure to a royal blue insect with prodigious wings. He stooped to let Izzy climb on to his broad back. Izzy hoisted Tai's sister Kari and her cat-like partner Gatomon up beside him.
"I'll be back, Tai," he promised silently as they flew off. Tears were coursing their way down Kari's face, carving a salty path as Tai faded from sight.
The clown reverted his gaze from the receding bug to the victims below him. He smiled pleasantly, and a shiver ran down Tai's spine. "I suppose I'll get them later," he mused aloud, "after I'm done with *you*." He raised an elegantly shod foot and kicked the boy over. "I will teach you not to interfere with my plans!" he spat.
Tai gritted his teeth, sweating in pain. "Piedmon, you're a pig!" he screamed, bronze eyes glinting malevolently. "You're a coward! You're cruel, and evil, and you will *never* take over this world, or mine! We will stop you!"
"Oh, really?" Piedmon responded mildly, sneering. "Somehow I can't see how the Chosen will stop me... when their leader is dead!" The clown laughed insanely, gathering power in his hand as he glared down at the helpless boy.
"Hey!" a rough voice interrupted. Piedmon looked aside impatiently at WarGreymon, who was attempting to stand. "Pick on someone your own size!"
Piedmon smiled laconically. "If you insist," he replied.
WarGreymon desperately gathered energy into a gleaming golden orb, which he hurled at the seemingly defenseless clown. "Terra Force!" he cried, as the attack neared its target.
Yawning, Piedmon held up a single gloved hand delicately. "Is that the best you can do?" he asked snidely, as the ball of light dissipated at his fingertips. WarGreymon cried out in disbelief and fury, launching himself at Piedmon.
The clown reacted quickly. "Trump Sword!" he screamed into the howling winds. The energy flew through the air, slamming into the dinosaur midair and shattering his breastplate. WarGreymon fell and lay still.
"No!" Tai cried, attempting to stand. Piedmon whirled and repeated the attack, the distortion of energy in the air sending the boy crashing backwards into a boulder. He, too, slid unconscious to the ground. The clown smiled in satisfaction, turning to leave the bloody battlegrounds. He was several yards away when his departure was interrupted by a furious cry.
"Tai!" A group of the Chosen, rallied by Izzy, crested a faraway hill, running full speed at the merciless Piedmon.
The clown chuckled. "It seems my fun isn't over yet," he taunted, flexing his fingers. "Who shall be first?"
A tall blonde boy and his dog-like partner raced ahead of the group, the dog's metallic horn glinting dangerously and the boy's crystal blue eyes sparking angrily. He paused briefly by the cracked boulder, gazing down at his leader's limp form before focusing again on Piedmon's smiling face with renewed fury.
"You're DEAD!" he screamed, sprinting again towards the maniacal figure, his dog-like partner struggling to keep up. Piedmon's lips curved into a sneer as he looked on the child.
"Ooh, I'm *so* scared," he taunted, stifling a laugh.
Behind the boy, a fiery haired girl knelt by Tai, her crimson eyes furious, sad, and wary all at once. Cradling Tai's head in her lap, she called out a warning to the running boy. "Matt, be careful!"
A small hand tugged on her shirt, and she looked down into the tearful eyes of Matt and Tai's younger siblings. Kari's light brown eyes asked an unspoken question about her brother. The older girl shook her head while responding. "I... don't know if he's going to be okay, honey."
TK, Matt's younger brother and practically his clone, looked out after his reckless sibling. "Sora," he asked, "shouldn't somebody help Matt?"
Sora glanced backwards at the other Chosen, who were running towards them. "Someone needs to stay here with Tai," she replied.
A blue-haired teen older than the others with blackish eyes concealed behind wide glasses rode up on his partner, an immense mammoth-like creature bearing a large horn on its forehead. He slid off, patting the creature's furry back.
"Ikkakumon and I got here as fast as we could." He paused, glancing down down at Tai, his already pasty face tinged green. He knelt and slipped a duffel bag off of his shoulder. "I have some med. supplies in here, but I think I'm allergic to blood."
Izzy ran up beside his partner Kabuterimon. "Someone has to go after Matt," he panted, gesticulating wildly after their impetuous friend who was already halfway to the waiting Piedmon. "Joe, you stay here with Tai, TK, and Kari while we attack!" Joe, a sickened look on his pale face, nodded.
Sora gently placed Tai's head on the ground and climbed aboard her own partner, a blazing bird of fire. "Come on, Birdramon," she cried, "let's go!" The bird cawed a response, and they took off after Matt, followed by Izzy, Kabuterimon, Ikkakumon, and TK's angel digimon Angemon. Kari's digimon Angewomon, a tall, blonde, feathered being similar to TK's except female in form, stayed behind to protect the three with Tai.
Joe busily dug bandages out of his duffel. "I wonder where Mimi is?" he asked, wrapping a cut on Tai's arm. He wiped the sweat beading his forehead. "She said she was rallying an army or something, but we need her *now*!"
"I dunno," replied TK absently as he watched the battle scene with wide blue eyes primarily focused on his brother.
Piedmon grinned, tossing a ball of pure negative power from hand to hand. "Which one shall I destroy first...?" he mused. Suddenly, he froze, clutching the crackling orb of black energy in his right hand, and sniffed the air, his thoughts and senses centered on the young blonde boy sprinting towards him. His nostrils flared as he drunk in the scent of Matt's aura, and he grinned viciously.
"The power..." he whispered, licking his lips hungrily. He sensed an immense dark force emanating from this boy. He made up his mind in a swift moment to try to greedily harness the power. Levitating forward, he grabbed Matt's shoulder. The boy jerked in shock , calling out for help from his partner.
"Gabumon!" he screamed. Gabumon froze as a cold blue light flared up around him.
"Gabumon digivolve to..."
"That won't be necessary," Piedmon whispered, barely moving his blood-red lips. He grabbed a net and cast it on Gabumon, successfully halting the transformation.
Taking hold of both the net and Matt's shoulder firmly, he hastily muttered an incantation as the other Chosen neared him. The three flickered and disappeared as the Chosen stared in shock.
"Wh... where'd he go?" stammered Sora, the bird landing lightly on the ground. She hopped off and frantically scoured the area.
"I... have no idea," admitted Izzy reluctantly, stumped.
Quickly aided by TK, Kari, Angewomon, and the other digimon, Sora and Izzy searched the empty clearing thoroughly, coming up with no results.
"Guys, come back here," called Joe from his spot next to Tai. "We need to think up a plan, and also get WarGreymon back to health, before we do anything."
Hesitantly, the searchers gathered back by the large rock, muttering worriedly after their fruitless search. Joe opened his mouth to suggest an idea when the bandaged Tai cracked open a swollen eyelid. Groaning, he pushed himself up against the rock and rasped, "What happened?"
~~~
In Piedmon's dreary rock castle perched invisible high atop a hill, the threesome landed with a crash. The clown recovered quickly from his teleportation, and gazed down at the unconscious boy and digimon slumped on the floor. Lifting a gloved finger, he delicately traced the pale boy's cheekbone. He bent down and whispered gently to the unhearing figure.
"You may not know it yet, young Chosen, but when the time comes, it will be you, not I, who will destroy your little friends."
He tossed his head back and laughed long and loud, the maniacal chuckles reverberating through the bleary stone hall.
-----
*cackles* Well, like it? Hate it? Don't know? Agh, whatever! Reviieeeewwwwwwww! Please? I should be one of those really evil people who says 'Next chapter not coming up until I get sixty billion reviews!' Hmmm... I wonder if that'll work...