Chapter 8- Eternity in a Moment
"Lifeforms not found."
"Tai!"
Kari's wail was echoed in the heart of every person and Digimon in the room as she leapt to her feet, running across the room to look desperately at the screen.
"Run it again," she begged, turning to Izzy. "Please, run it again. It's a glitch in the system, it'll find him this time..."
Izzy's face was bleak. "I'm sorry," he said quietly. "He was my friend, too."
"No!" Kari said, whirling away. "Don't say that! Don't say you're sorry! He's not gone, he can't be!"
"He promised he would make it back," Davis croaked from his seat nearby. "Tai never breaks a promise..."
Matt stared at his hands. "Tai..."
Kari's throat closed. "He can't be gone," she whispered, as TK stood and gently took her hand again. "He's my brother..."
*****
The portal was gone; but another shape loomed in the sky over Fort Winter. The Emperor's floating fortress hung suspended like a huge wasp's nest, coming quickly closer...
A Gabumon on watch spotted it first, and came sprinting back into the fort, sounding the alarm as he ran. Soon Frigimon were piling out of their rooms, dropping what they were doing to run to the windows and stare out at the monstrous object in the sky. The commotion quickly reached the kitchen, and Tai and Snow moved apart, looking outside...
"The Emperor," Tai whispered. "Sora, we have to get you out of here!"
"No," Snow said, taking a deep breath. "No more hiding. If he's the one that did this to me, maybe...maybe he can undo it."
"Sora?" Tai said, startled. Had she finally...?
Snow nodded. "I am not letting you ruin your life just for stupid, stubborn me. Come on." She grabbed his hand, and they exchanged a quick look. Tai grinned.
"You're the boss..."
Wiping the tears from her face with her free arm as she ran, Snow led the way as they thundered up the spiral stairs of the tallest tower in Fort Winter...
Somehow, she'd forgotten to remind him of her real name...or maybe 'Sora' didn't seem so foreign anymore...
*****
"Master? We've reached the fort."
"Wonderful." Ken strode toward the door, heading for the reinforced chamber where his draconian steeds were kept. "Come with me, Wormon. You can handle the comm."
"But Ken, who-"
"I'll let our new acquisition command her creation personally for once. I've got better things to do than push buttons. Come on!"
Wormon gulped, and followed his master.
*****
As they practically exploded out into the snowy tower-top, Tai and Sora screeched to a stop at the sight of the massive fortress hanging in the air. It was at least the size of Fort Winter, if not larger...
Snow gulped, looking up...and up...and up.... *How can that thing stay in the air? It's enormous...*
A long, sinuous shape curled down towards them from a hangar bay at the side of the ship, and Tai gritted his teeth. The dragonlike Digimon bore its two passengers down toward them, and paused, hovering, in the air beside the tower.
"So, Digibrats. We meet again."
The voice was cruel. Snow's eyes narrowed angrily.
"You! You did this to me!" Her fists clenched, and she took a step forward, letting go of Taichi's hand. "Fix whatever it was, now! I want my memories back!"
"Memories?" Ken arched an eyebrow behind his sunglasses, and then grinned. "Of course! A blow to the head would...oh, this is better than I could have imagined!" He leaned forward over the dragon's neck, leering evilly at her. "So, little bratling, you've lost your memory. I suppose that means you don't remember the danger and fear of being a Digidestined?"
Snow hesitated. "I..."
The Emperor's grin was sardonic. "You have no idea what you're getting back into, do you, you little fool? But it's too late now. You've chosen your camp, and it's about to be annihilated..." An unpleasant grin crossed his face, as he nodded to Wormon. "Give the signal."
Gulping, Wormon nodded and turned to the comm.
"Th-th-throw the switch..." he stammered into it.
"What switch?" Tai demanded angrily. Beside him, Snow shivered, a bad feeling coming over her... "What are you up to now? You'd better not hurt her-"
Ken laughed, harshly, cutting off Tai's words. "Or you'll what? Oh, never mind. I have no intention of touching the girl."
"Huh?"
The Emperor smiled.
"I don't need to."
At that moment, with a sound like a window shattering, a bluish ball of light crackled into existence to the right of the dragon Digimon, throwing odd shadows across the snowy stones of the tower.
Snow let out a shriek of terror, hiding her face in her arms and shrinking away from it as if it was some kind of predator...and she was the prey.
"Sora!" Tai cried, reaching out to her. She whimpered and flinched away from him, hands clamped over her ears. "Sora, what is it? What did you do to her?!" he yelled, whirling on Ken with fury in his eyes.
Ken laughed again. "I told you, nothing. She's only reacting naturally...or didn't you ever wonder why she was so afraid of the color blue?"
Tai stared at the crackling light, which was the size of a dinner plate and growing.
" 'As if someone punched a hole in the space-time continuum,'" he quoted, remembering... *"... it would be a rough ride. There's an incredible chaos factor in that thing, even days after it was created. Prolonged passage through one of them could probably..."*
"What's wrong, Sora?" Ken jeered from above them, reveling in her fear. "You want to go home, don't you? That's where this Dark Portal of mine leads to! Why don't you just jump in?" He burst out laughing, drunk with cruel delight.
The portal flared, becoming the size of a child's swimming pool, and Snow cried out again, crumpling to the ground.
"Snow!" The cry came from the doorway to the tower; not ten feet behind them, Bella filled the doorframe, paws to her mouth in horror as she helplessly watched the scene before her. Behind her, a dozen other Gabumon and Frigimon stood, equally at a loss. Seeing them, the Emperor grinned.
"How cute. The welcoming committee." He jerked a thumb at the fortress. "Take one step out of there and I'll blow this tower and everyone in it to smithereens. I only want the two human children; give me a few minutes with them and I'll leave you in peace."
"A few minutes to kill them, more like!" shouted the young Frigimon guard who'd been so suspicious of Tai when he'd first arrived. Now he shook a clenched fist at the boy on the dragon. "Who do you think you are?"
"Snow, what's wrong with you?" Bella cried. If Frigimon could cry, she would have been. Instead, ice crystals streamed down her furry cheeks. Her surrogate daughter was in danger, and she was helpless... "Get up! Please get up!"
Snow's eyes blinked open, and she gazed dazedly at the face of her 'mother'.
"Bella...I'm scared..." she managed to whimper. Bella held out her paws.
"I know, child...but you don't have to be..." The motherly Frigimon smiled, tremblingly. "You're not meant to be afraid. You're a strong girl...now, more than ever, you have to be brave..."
As she stared at Bella, Sora heard Tai's voice beside her.
"That thing-that's what you used to bring her here! You unspeakable-"
"Convenient, isn't it? I knew you Digidestined couldn't leave one of your own to die, and look! Fate delivered the ringleader himself into my hands!" Ken grinned, sadistically. "Of course, I couldn't resist having a little fun first."
"A little fun," Tai echoed, his voice heavy with revulsion. "You're sick, you know that?"
"Why, thank you," Ken smiled. "Now, if I were you, I'd say goodbye to your sweetheart. I can't keep you two around forever, you know."
An energy ball appeared, slowly growing, in the dragon's mouth. Tai swallowed. *Sora isn't going to be able to dodge...* Slowly, he moved between the Emperor and the motionless girl.
Sora stared up at him. *He's shielding me...with his life... He's so brave.* She swallowed, feeling the tide of fear well up in her...
Bella's eyes, locked with hers, whispered, *Make me proud.*
And a small smile appeared on Sora's lips, as she gathered Bella's affection and all of Fort Winter's friendship and her own strength...and Tai's love...
*Right. I will...Mother.*
...and pushed the fear away.
"You don't touch her without going through me."
Ken shrugged.
"Fine."
The ball of fire blasted from the dragon's mouth, as Tai tensed, waiting for the impact...
It never came. Instead, something slammed into him, sending him flying across the cold stones to land out of harm's way as the fireball exploded against the tower roof where he'd been, shattering rock and melting snow...
Dazed, he sat up...and next to him, Snow sat up as well, grinning.
"Sorry about freezing up on you back there," she said, looking sheepish but pleased with herself. "I figured I owed you a little help and all...seeing as we are best friends."
"Snow?" Tai murmured, surprised.
She paused. *Am I?* Then, the answer hit her, and she nodded to herself. *I'm not Snow...I never really was. Snow was something to hide behind until I was ready, nothing more. And I *am* ready. I want my past!*
"No," she said, shaking her head.
She extended her hand to him, and he took it.
"Sora," she corrected, and his eyes lit up. Grinning, Sora pulled him into a hug.
"So I guess you decided?" he whispered in her ear. She snorted.
"Better believe it. I want to meet all these people you've been telling me about. And besides..." She smiled, ruefully, into his hair. "I'd have been miserable without you."
Tai grinned. "Sora..."
"Oh, how sweet," came the voice from behind them. "If you're quite through, could we please get on with the business of killing you?"
"Trust a jerk like him to crash the party," Sora muttered. "Got any suggestions for getting out of here?"
Tai hesitated. "Well, I see one way..."
Sora went a bit pale. "No way...you trust his word? On where it goes?"
"No," Tai said, with a short, mirthless laugh. "But Izzy said the disturbances caused by the first rip would only allow portals to be opened along the track of the original portal. So I don't see where else it would lead. Besides, it would be just like that monster to add a little danger to his ruse. I suppose it ups the adrenaline rush, or something."
"Taichi, those things are awful! Once was enough...it feels like you're going to fly into a million pieces!"
Tai's face was grave as he pulled away from her to look into her eyes.
"I know...I saw what it did to you. But I'm willing to go for it, if it'll get us home. Are you?"
*Oh, man...but really, what choice do we have?* Swallowing, Sora nodded. "Well, it would be the last thing he expects..."
"Exactly-he might not believe we're going to do it, for a second or two. And that would give us the time we need..."
"Yeah, you'd have to be crazy to jump into one of those things on your own," Sora said with a tight laugh. Tai smiled.
"Well, that is what we Digidestined are famous for: our utter lack of sanity."
Taking a deep breath, Sora nodded. "If it's adrenaline he wants...let's give it to him. I'm with you, Tai."
Tai grinned. "Great. Lets do this thing!"
Grabbing hands, they leapt to their feet and took off running.
On his 'steed', Ken frowned. "What now? What kind of harebrained..." Suddenly, he blanched. "No. No, they...they wouldn't..."
"Wouldn't what, Master?" Wormon asked, puzzled. Ken looked almost terrified... Suddenly, the Emperor snatched the comm from his Digimon's claws, bellowing into it.
"Close the portal! Close it, now!!"
A tinny voice filtered from the speaker. "Ken, I can't just slam it shut...the repercussions could be..."
"I don't care about the repercussions, you little filth! Close the portal, NOW!"
Back on the tower, Tai and Sora exchanged quick looks as they hurtled across the half-melted snow toward the still-growing portal.
"You might...want to brace yourself," Sora panted. Tai nodded.
"Right..."
The sound of clattering computer keys came from the speaker in Ken's hand.
"What are you *doing*?" Ken screamed.
Deep within the fortress, a smile appeared on a young face, as a slender finger industriously hammered on the space key, and a pair of eyes watched two fleeing figures on a glowing screen.
"Typing as fast as I can, sir! I've run into unforeseen difficulties-"
Shaking, Ken watched as helplessly as had his victims a moment ago, as the two running figures reached the edge of the tower...
Sora cast a swift look over her shoulder, to see Bella smiling through her frozen tears.
"I love you Mother!" she called.
Bella nodded. "Good luck...Sora!"
Smiling, Sora turned to look ahead of herself again. The stone wall at the edge of the tower loomed ahead, and beyond that the crackling blue light of danger.
Holding tightly to each other's hands, the two runners gathered themselves...and leaped.
For a long moment, they seemed to hang suspended in midair.
The portal reached out arms of light to catch them. There was a flash of blue-white light.
And then...they were gone.
*****
Pain rattled through Sora's frame, as the roar of static filled her ears. A thousand fragments of memory danced in her mind, taunting her.
*I'llprotectyou!It'sallmyfault.WhenI'mwithyouIdon'tmissmymomsomuch...Flirting?!Iwasnotflirtingwithhim!Beautiful...CasseopeiaMimiI'vegottocallMimiwhat'sgoingon? Tai!*
"TAI!" The one complete thought burst from her lips in a cry for help...
The grip on her hand tightened.
"I'm here! Don't let go!"
Strength appeared out of nowhere. She wasn't alone! Tai was here with her..
Just like he'd always been.
*Tai...*
There was a clap of thunder, and the whirling juggernaut world of blue seemed to convulse-and spat them out with an explosion of stars, onto a linoleum floor.
The room spun around them, slowly, like a carousel. Someone was shouting something, but Tai's ears were ringing from the static, and he couldn't hear...
Sora lay limp beside him, her eyes closed.
"Sora!" he cried, pulling himself into a sitting position. He leaned over her, fear rising in his throat. The turbulence in the portal had been so awful...what if...
Her eyes blinked open, and she frowned, trying to get her eyes to focus.
"Tai," she whispered, and a smile dawned on her face. "Tai...and Kari?"
Tai spun, saw his sister's stunned, tear-streaked face behind him. The computer room in the school...they were back! But how had Sora recognized...?
Sora slowly sat up. "I...I remember..." Suddenly, her face lit up. "I remember! Kari, and Izzy, and Mama, and...and even Tokyo! Oh, Tai, it's all back! I faced the blue! I remember!!"
She launched herself into his arms, and he held her, laughing and crying, as the other Digidestined all ran to their friends, everyone talking at once. In the midst of the confusion, Sora grinned up at Tai.
"I remember...that I love you."
Tai grinned back, and leaned toward her. Once again their tears mingled as they kissed...but now, they were tears of happiness.
The last shadows vanished...and life went on.
***** ***** ***** ***** ***** ***** ***** ***** ***** *****
"Lifeforms not found."
"Tai!"
Kari's wail was echoed in the heart of every person and Digimon in the room as she leapt to her feet, running across the room to look desperately at the screen.
"Run it again," she begged, turning to Izzy. "Please, run it again. It's a glitch in the system, it'll find him this time..."
Izzy's face was bleak. "I'm sorry," he said quietly. "He was my friend, too."
"No!" Kari said, whirling away. "Don't say that! Don't say you're sorry! He's not gone, he can't be!"
"He promised he would make it back," Davis croaked from his seat nearby. "Tai never breaks a promise..."
Matt stared at his hands. "Tai..."
Kari's throat closed. "He can't be gone," she whispered, as TK stood and gently took her hand again. "He's my brother..."
*****
The portal was gone; but another shape loomed in the sky over Fort Winter. The Emperor's floating fortress hung suspended like a huge wasp's nest, coming quickly closer...
A Gabumon on watch spotted it first, and came sprinting back into the fort, sounding the alarm as he ran. Soon Frigimon were piling out of their rooms, dropping what they were doing to run to the windows and stare out at the monstrous object in the sky. The commotion quickly reached the kitchen, and Tai and Snow moved apart, looking outside...
"The Emperor," Tai whispered. "Sora, we have to get you out of here!"
"No," Snow said, taking a deep breath. "No more hiding. If he's the one that did this to me, maybe...maybe he can undo it."
"Sora?" Tai said, startled. Had she finally...?
Snow nodded. "I am not letting you ruin your life just for stupid, stubborn me. Come on." She grabbed his hand, and they exchanged a quick look. Tai grinned.
"You're the boss..."
Wiping the tears from her face with her free arm as she ran, Snow led the way as they thundered up the spiral stairs of the tallest tower in Fort Winter...
Somehow, she'd forgotten to remind him of her real name...or maybe 'Sora' didn't seem so foreign anymore...
*****
"Master? We've reached the fort."
"Wonderful." Ken strode toward the door, heading for the reinforced chamber where his draconian steeds were kept. "Come with me, Wormon. You can handle the comm."
"But Ken, who-"
"I'll let our new acquisition command her creation personally for once. I've got better things to do than push buttons. Come on!"
Wormon gulped, and followed his master.
*****
As they practically exploded out into the snowy tower-top, Tai and Sora screeched to a stop at the sight of the massive fortress hanging in the air. It was at least the size of Fort Winter, if not larger...
Snow gulped, looking up...and up...and up.... *How can that thing stay in the air? It's enormous...*
A long, sinuous shape curled down towards them from a hangar bay at the side of the ship, and Tai gritted his teeth. The dragonlike Digimon bore its two passengers down toward them, and paused, hovering, in the air beside the tower.
"So, Digibrats. We meet again."
The voice was cruel. Snow's eyes narrowed angrily.
"You! You did this to me!" Her fists clenched, and she took a step forward, letting go of Taichi's hand. "Fix whatever it was, now! I want my memories back!"
"Memories?" Ken arched an eyebrow behind his sunglasses, and then grinned. "Of course! A blow to the head would...oh, this is better than I could have imagined!" He leaned forward over the dragon's neck, leering evilly at her. "So, little bratling, you've lost your memory. I suppose that means you don't remember the danger and fear of being a Digidestined?"
Snow hesitated. "I..."
The Emperor's grin was sardonic. "You have no idea what you're getting back into, do you, you little fool? But it's too late now. You've chosen your camp, and it's about to be annihilated..." An unpleasant grin crossed his face, as he nodded to Wormon. "Give the signal."
Gulping, Wormon nodded and turned to the comm.
"Th-th-throw the switch..." he stammered into it.
"What switch?" Tai demanded angrily. Beside him, Snow shivered, a bad feeling coming over her... "What are you up to now? You'd better not hurt her-"
Ken laughed, harshly, cutting off Tai's words. "Or you'll what? Oh, never mind. I have no intention of touching the girl."
"Huh?"
The Emperor smiled.
"I don't need to."
At that moment, with a sound like a window shattering, a bluish ball of light crackled into existence to the right of the dragon Digimon, throwing odd shadows across the snowy stones of the tower.
Snow let out a shriek of terror, hiding her face in her arms and shrinking away from it as if it was some kind of predator...and she was the prey.
"Sora!" Tai cried, reaching out to her. She whimpered and flinched away from him, hands clamped over her ears. "Sora, what is it? What did you do to her?!" he yelled, whirling on Ken with fury in his eyes.
Ken laughed again. "I told you, nothing. She's only reacting naturally...or didn't you ever wonder why she was so afraid of the color blue?"
Tai stared at the crackling light, which was the size of a dinner plate and growing.
" 'As if someone punched a hole in the space-time continuum,'" he quoted, remembering... *"... it would be a rough ride. There's an incredible chaos factor in that thing, even days after it was created. Prolonged passage through one of them could probably..."*
"What's wrong, Sora?" Ken jeered from above them, reveling in her fear. "You want to go home, don't you? That's where this Dark Portal of mine leads to! Why don't you just jump in?" He burst out laughing, drunk with cruel delight.
The portal flared, becoming the size of a child's swimming pool, and Snow cried out again, crumpling to the ground.
"Snow!" The cry came from the doorway to the tower; not ten feet behind them, Bella filled the doorframe, paws to her mouth in horror as she helplessly watched the scene before her. Behind her, a dozen other Gabumon and Frigimon stood, equally at a loss. Seeing them, the Emperor grinned.
"How cute. The welcoming committee." He jerked a thumb at the fortress. "Take one step out of there and I'll blow this tower and everyone in it to smithereens. I only want the two human children; give me a few minutes with them and I'll leave you in peace."
"A few minutes to kill them, more like!" shouted the young Frigimon guard who'd been so suspicious of Tai when he'd first arrived. Now he shook a clenched fist at the boy on the dragon. "Who do you think you are?"
"Snow, what's wrong with you?" Bella cried. If Frigimon could cry, she would have been. Instead, ice crystals streamed down her furry cheeks. Her surrogate daughter was in danger, and she was helpless... "Get up! Please get up!"
Snow's eyes blinked open, and she gazed dazedly at the face of her 'mother'.
"Bella...I'm scared..." she managed to whimper. Bella held out her paws.
"I know, child...but you don't have to be..." The motherly Frigimon smiled, tremblingly. "You're not meant to be afraid. You're a strong girl...now, more than ever, you have to be brave..."
As she stared at Bella, Sora heard Tai's voice beside her.
"That thing-that's what you used to bring her here! You unspeakable-"
"Convenient, isn't it? I knew you Digidestined couldn't leave one of your own to die, and look! Fate delivered the ringleader himself into my hands!" Ken grinned, sadistically. "Of course, I couldn't resist having a little fun first."
"A little fun," Tai echoed, his voice heavy with revulsion. "You're sick, you know that?"
"Why, thank you," Ken smiled. "Now, if I were you, I'd say goodbye to your sweetheart. I can't keep you two around forever, you know."
An energy ball appeared, slowly growing, in the dragon's mouth. Tai swallowed. *Sora isn't going to be able to dodge...* Slowly, he moved between the Emperor and the motionless girl.
Sora stared up at him. *He's shielding me...with his life... He's so brave.* She swallowed, feeling the tide of fear well up in her...
Bella's eyes, locked with hers, whispered, *Make me proud.*
And a small smile appeared on Sora's lips, as she gathered Bella's affection and all of Fort Winter's friendship and her own strength...and Tai's love...
*Right. I will...Mother.*
...and pushed the fear away.
"You don't touch her without going through me."
Ken shrugged.
"Fine."
The ball of fire blasted from the dragon's mouth, as Tai tensed, waiting for the impact...
It never came. Instead, something slammed into him, sending him flying across the cold stones to land out of harm's way as the fireball exploded against the tower roof where he'd been, shattering rock and melting snow...
Dazed, he sat up...and next to him, Snow sat up as well, grinning.
"Sorry about freezing up on you back there," she said, looking sheepish but pleased with herself. "I figured I owed you a little help and all...seeing as we are best friends."
"Snow?" Tai murmured, surprised.
She paused. *Am I?* Then, the answer hit her, and she nodded to herself. *I'm not Snow...I never really was. Snow was something to hide behind until I was ready, nothing more. And I *am* ready. I want my past!*
"No," she said, shaking her head.
She extended her hand to him, and he took it.
"Sora," she corrected, and his eyes lit up. Grinning, Sora pulled him into a hug.
"So I guess you decided?" he whispered in her ear. She snorted.
"Better believe it. I want to meet all these people you've been telling me about. And besides..." She smiled, ruefully, into his hair. "I'd have been miserable without you."
Tai grinned. "Sora..."
"Oh, how sweet," came the voice from behind them. "If you're quite through, could we please get on with the business of killing you?"
"Trust a jerk like him to crash the party," Sora muttered. "Got any suggestions for getting out of here?"
Tai hesitated. "Well, I see one way..."
Sora went a bit pale. "No way...you trust his word? On where it goes?"
"No," Tai said, with a short, mirthless laugh. "But Izzy said the disturbances caused by the first rip would only allow portals to be opened along the track of the original portal. So I don't see where else it would lead. Besides, it would be just like that monster to add a little danger to his ruse. I suppose it ups the adrenaline rush, or something."
"Taichi, those things are awful! Once was enough...it feels like you're going to fly into a million pieces!"
Tai's face was grave as he pulled away from her to look into her eyes.
"I know...I saw what it did to you. But I'm willing to go for it, if it'll get us home. Are you?"
*Oh, man...but really, what choice do we have?* Swallowing, Sora nodded. "Well, it would be the last thing he expects..."
"Exactly-he might not believe we're going to do it, for a second or two. And that would give us the time we need..."
"Yeah, you'd have to be crazy to jump into one of those things on your own," Sora said with a tight laugh. Tai smiled.
"Well, that is what we Digidestined are famous for: our utter lack of sanity."
Taking a deep breath, Sora nodded. "If it's adrenaline he wants...let's give it to him. I'm with you, Tai."
Tai grinned. "Great. Lets do this thing!"
Grabbing hands, they leapt to their feet and took off running.
On his 'steed', Ken frowned. "What now? What kind of harebrained..." Suddenly, he blanched. "No. No, they...they wouldn't..."
"Wouldn't what, Master?" Wormon asked, puzzled. Ken looked almost terrified... Suddenly, the Emperor snatched the comm from his Digimon's claws, bellowing into it.
"Close the portal! Close it, now!!"
A tinny voice filtered from the speaker. "Ken, I can't just slam it shut...the repercussions could be..."
"I don't care about the repercussions, you little filth! Close the portal, NOW!"
Back on the tower, Tai and Sora exchanged quick looks as they hurtled across the half-melted snow toward the still-growing portal.
"You might...want to brace yourself," Sora panted. Tai nodded.
"Right..."
The sound of clattering computer keys came from the speaker in Ken's hand.
"What are you *doing*?" Ken screamed.
Deep within the fortress, a smile appeared on a young face, as a slender finger industriously hammered on the space key, and a pair of eyes watched two fleeing figures on a glowing screen.
"Typing as fast as I can, sir! I've run into unforeseen difficulties-"
Shaking, Ken watched as helplessly as had his victims a moment ago, as the two running figures reached the edge of the tower...
Sora cast a swift look over her shoulder, to see Bella smiling through her frozen tears.
"I love you Mother!" she called.
Bella nodded. "Good luck...Sora!"
Smiling, Sora turned to look ahead of herself again. The stone wall at the edge of the tower loomed ahead, and beyond that the crackling blue light of danger.
Holding tightly to each other's hands, the two runners gathered themselves...and leaped.
For a long moment, they seemed to hang suspended in midair.
The portal reached out arms of light to catch them. There was a flash of blue-white light.
And then...they were gone.
*****
Pain rattled through Sora's frame, as the roar of static filled her ears. A thousand fragments of memory danced in her mind, taunting her.
*I'llprotectyou!It'sallmyfault.WhenI'mwithyouIdon'tmissmymomsomuch...Flirting?!Iwasnotflirtingwithhim!Beautiful...CasseopeiaMimiI'vegottocallMimiwhat'sgoingon? Tai!*
"TAI!" The one complete thought burst from her lips in a cry for help...
The grip on her hand tightened.
"I'm here! Don't let go!"
Strength appeared out of nowhere. She wasn't alone! Tai was here with her..
Just like he'd always been.
*Tai...*
There was a clap of thunder, and the whirling juggernaut world of blue seemed to convulse-and spat them out with an explosion of stars, onto a linoleum floor.
The room spun around them, slowly, like a carousel. Someone was shouting something, but Tai's ears were ringing from the static, and he couldn't hear...
Sora lay limp beside him, her eyes closed.
"Sora!" he cried, pulling himself into a sitting position. He leaned over her, fear rising in his throat. The turbulence in the portal had been so awful...what if...
Her eyes blinked open, and she frowned, trying to get her eyes to focus.
"Tai," she whispered, and a smile dawned on her face. "Tai...and Kari?"
Tai spun, saw his sister's stunned, tear-streaked face behind him. The computer room in the school...they were back! But how had Sora recognized...?
Sora slowly sat up. "I...I remember..." Suddenly, her face lit up. "I remember! Kari, and Izzy, and Mama, and...and even Tokyo! Oh, Tai, it's all back! I faced the blue! I remember!!"
She launched herself into his arms, and he held her, laughing and crying, as the other Digidestined all ran to their friends, everyone talking at once. In the midst of the confusion, Sora grinned up at Tai.
"I remember...that I love you."
Tai grinned back, and leaned toward her. Once again their tears mingled as they kissed...but now, they were tears of happiness.
The last shadows vanished...and life went on.
***** ***** ***** ***** ***** ***** ***** ***** ***** *****
