Disclaimer: I don't own Digimon, big surprise. But I'm going to borrow some of the characters.
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He lay lazily and sleepily wrapped in a comforter of the finest down in the kingdom. It provided much heat even in the coldest of nights in the empty and unheated castle. It was like resting in pure happiness, if happiness could have been replaced or substituted with warmth and softness. It was already past sunrise; Takeru had slept in.
"TK," a voice said. The voice was nudging at his shoulder softly at first, but soon picked up as the voice raised in urgency. "Wake up Takeru!"
He squinted in the sunlight and looked up upon his orange friend that continued to shake him. He slowly brushed aside the stray blonde hairs that covered his eyes before yawning and stretching. "Morning, Patamon," he said with a smile.
"Takeru you slept in, you'll be late to breakfast!" Patamon exclaimed. "Quick!Get up!" he pleaded.
"Relax," Takeru said as he scratched at his chest. "We won't be late."
**
"You are late, Takeru," a woman said. She sat at the head of a long table that spanned the entire room. Far from her, Takeru sat at the other side of the long table. Quite elaborate for just the two of them and Patamon who sat at the middle of the table.
"My apologies, your highness," he said with a bow. "I overslept."
She smiled. "It's all right my boy."
He smiled and waved to her like a young child would. They were an unlikely pair, Takeru and the Queen. For several weeks upon entering the New World, Takeru found him self a starving and homeless orphan boy. It was by mere chance and luck that he would save the life of the Queen on the kingdom that he lived.
It was an attack by a neighboring and rival kingdom called Rossteria. Waves of Devidramon were sent with the sole purpose to level the city and destroy the royal family. Only hours into the attack, the city burned and the King and his heirs were dead. Their Guardian and partner Digimon had been deleted. The royal guard of Leomon were brought down to their knees, leaving only the queen with little hope for her own survival.
And as if sent from above and beyond, and angel stood before her spinning a staff of good and justice. One by one, he destroyed the attacking Devidramon, each falling to the ground like flies before disappearing into digital code.
"Who are you?" the queen shouted.
"A friend," the angel said to her. The only part of his face visible to her was the smile that was not covered by the steel helmet with the cross across the front. A radiance surrounded him and he glowed to the point where the queen could no longer look to him without shielding her eyes. And when the light passed, the angel was gone and a small orange Patamon flew down to a blonde boy who could not have been more than thirteen or fourteen.
The queen walked up to the peasant boy, his clothes were tattered and even burned in some places. "Is this your Patamon, boy?"
"Yes, your highness," he said respectfully staring down to the ground. "Please forgive my lady, for I could not save your family and Guardians." He held his head down in shame.
She lifted his head up by the chin so that she could gaze upon is ice blue eyes for but a moment. "My boy, you have saved this kingdom. And although I am filled with the anguish of the death of my family, I must invite you to my house, so that you may take their place."
"Your highness, forgive my ignorance, I don't understand."
"You will never be hungry again, young boy."
Over the passing months, the kingdom was rebuilt, and Takeru became the Prince of Qualaria, despite the protest from the royal advisors of the queen and former king. The queen listened to none of the accusations that a poor peasant orphan could never become leader of their land, and that his peasant blood would taint the royal family line.
But she introduced him as Prince Takeru to her people, the boy who saved them all, and there was an uproar of cheers and shouts for him.
He spent every day learning the rules to what it was to be prince, things that he should have been learning since his birth. Soon, a daily routine had asserted itself, breakfast with the queen, studies with the mathematics and humanities scholars. Following this was lunch with the queen and her court, studies with the mastery and artisan scholars, tea with the queen and her court. A short time after which of break and relaxation, royal dinners with the queen, her court, and their advisors along with any guests, and then nightly etiquette studies with the queen's highest advisor. She would teach him all the rules of speech and respect that any prince must know.
"Takeru," the queen said.
"Yes?"
"Next week we will be going to Illaria," she said.
"Whatever for?"
Her eyes strayed from left to right, uneasy of what to tell him. "We are visiting the royal family there to, to," she took a deep breath. "To arrange that you marry their princess."
Takeru choked on his food and looked up to the queen. "Pardon?"
"Takeru," she said. "I have come to see you as a son and my Prince. And as prince, there are some responsibilities that you must partake."
Takeru swallowed as the color began to leave his face. "I, I understand." He dared not oppose her, it was neither his place nor his right to want anything other than what the queen gave him. It's true that Takeru and Patamon had saved her that fiery hot summer day, but the truth was the queen had saved him. He would have probably starved out there alone.
"After your marriage, Takeru, you and your bride will take my place as King and Queen of our kingdom after I die, which could happen at any time."
"Please, your highness. You are anything but old or unhealthy."
She smiled. "There is always the chance."
Takeru ate the rest of his meal silently, exchanging looks with Patamon now and then. Later on after all his studies and tea, Takeru was lying in the grass in the royal courtyard. It was late into autumn and somewhat cool out in the open of the elements. Patamon flew down and sat on Takeru's stomach.
"Takeru's go a girlfriend," he teased.
Takeru sighed and looked up to the overcast sky, seeing images of his brother and Hikari and the rest of his friends in his mind. "I guess we'll never leave this place."
"Do you still think that the others are still out there?" Patamon asked.
"I don't know anymore. This world is so big, there's no way to know if anyone is still around."
Patamon sulked and rested his head against Takeru's chest. "I miss the others."
"Yeah, so do I." Takeru said. "I wish we could go find them."
"Why don't we? The two of us could run away and find them. We've done it before in the Digital World."
"We couldn't do that to the queen," Takeru shook his head. "Not after all she's done for us."
Patamon sighed and reluctant agreement and rested his head back. "I wonder what this girl is like."
Takeru wondered the same thing as he continued to stare up to the sky. He had always hoped that his friends would somehow find him in the city. Takeru was prince of a prominent district of a high powered country. There was little reason why the others could have not heard of him. With this news of an arranged marriage, it became clear to Takeru that he could never leave the kingdom. He could never go back to the Old World. This was his home now, there was no doubt about that.
The next few nights filled with unrest, and the days that followed were vacant and meaningless to Takeru. All of his teachers could see that his mind was elsewhere, most likely on thoughts of the princess, his future wife.
"I see thoughts of love in your eyes," the queen's advisor said to him. She was a young woman, shapely and attractive. She was always playful with Takeru, like an older sister. She rubbed his head roughly as he daydreamed through her lesson.
"Are you crazy? I don't even know this girl. How could I love her already?"
She smiled. "I'm sure you'll adore her. Or at least, she'll adore you."
He blushed faintly and looked up to her. "I wonder what she looks like."
"That matters not, boy," she said.
"Do you know anything about her?" he asked.
She thought for a moment and closed her lesson book. She grabbed a chair and took a seat in front of Takeru. "Well," she said. "I have heard that she is not much of a lady. She acts as if she were a soldier."
Takeru swallowed and listened to her every word. "I heard that she even fought in a battle against a rival Duchy with her angel Digimon."
"An angel?" Takeru asked.
"Yes, very few are blessed with an angel Digimon Guardian. I hear she has a Cherubimon or something of that sort."
Takeru sighed.
"What bothers you?"
"Oh, nothing. An angel Digimon reminded me of someone I once knew."
"Who? A girl?" she teased. When Takeru blushed, which was enough of an answer to her. "Who was she?"
"A friend," Takeru sighed. "Nothing more. Her Guardian was an Angewomon. I fought by her side several times in our youth. Her name was Hikari."
"What became of her?"
Takeru shrugged. "She was lost to me when I came to this kingdom, as were the rest of my friends."
"Well," she said. "All else I know of the princess is that her name is Kieka and that she's around your age."
"At least she's the same age," Takeru said. "That might make things easier."
**
Illaria was two days trip across the land on the royal airship that stayed afloat high above the land utilizing levitation crystals that could be found in the air, which they naturally appear. It has never been known why they float or how, or even where they came from. But it is clear that when heated, these stones rise with cold and sink with heat. Flying Digimon merchants usually control the market for levitation crystals. Their true power was still unknown and untapped. There were myths that the levitation crystals were the hearts or power sources of the most powerful Mega leveled Digimon from the past that protected the world from evil, but they were only legends.
They took the grandest of their ships to impress the royal family of Illaria. The vessel spanned nearly 200 feet from bow to stern and housed seven levels of rooms for which to entertain guests, sleep during the night hours, and simply live in luxury. The lower levels of the ship housed the crystals that kept them afloat, and with the use of burning coal and wood, could be controlled to ascend and descend.
Takeru stood at the railing at the front of the airship. Three large Airdramon pulled the floating ship through the air at a calm and steady pace. The movement of their wings along with the acceleration of the ship blew cool and refreshing air through Takeru's hair as he stared out at the clouds.
Patamon came down and sat on the railing and smiled at Takeru. "How's it going, TK?"
Takeru sighed. "I'm just nervous I guess. I've never been married."
"You wont be getting married just yet, TK," Patamon corrected. "We're only going to the engagement."
He sighed. "Yeah, I know. I just thought that I would end up marrying Kari someday."
Patamon giggled. "How cute, TK like Kari."
"Like you didn't know," Takeru scoffed. He gave Patamon a gently push and he fell off the railing over the side of the ship before turning around and resting his back against it. Patamon's wings spread wide and he flew upwards, landing on Takeru's head.
"It's getting cold," Patamon complained. "Winter is coming."
Takeru stared vacantly at nothing in particular. "I wish the others were here. I wish my mom were here too. I wanted her to see me get married."
Patamon covered Takeru's face with his wings and said, "They'd be here if they knew."
Takeru sighed. "At least you're here."
They heard a loud scream behind them. Takeru swung around so quickly Patamon nearly fell off. The three Airdramon were flapping their wings erratically and in a mad frenzy. Ahead of them was a dark Digimon shaped like a rabbit over half the size of the airship itself. It had a dirty quality to it, looking as if it had rolled through mud and dirt with fir filled with body oils tattered with the lack of bathing. It had an evil look to its face, its eyes without pupils, only an eerie yellow.
It raised its right arm that was large, about as long as its entire body and swung at the three Airdramon. He struck them with such force that the chains that attached them to the ship were broken as if string. They were all knocked unconscious and fell helplessly through the clouds and out of sight.
It pointed at Takeru, who was frozen in terror. Patamon jumped off of Takeru's head yelled, "Patamon Digivolve to … Angemon!"
Behind Takeru he could hear screams from those who rode with the ship, one voice was clearly the queen's. "Takeru get out of there quickly!"
He was frozen as he stared at the dark Digimon. Angemon flew forward and punched at the beast's chest yelling, "Hand of Fate!" But the attack did little to phase the monster. The Digimon swung at Angemon like a stray fly and hit him hard with the back of its arm like a rag doll.
Angemon fell backwards screaming through the clouds till his voice could no longer be heard. The black Digimon turned back to Takeru, who still stood motionless on the deck of the ship. The nemesis raised its arm upwards again, and struck down upon the deck, breaking the planks, shattering the ground on which Takeru stood. He fell without knowing what had occurred, only seeing the monster get smaller and smaller as he fell towards his doom.
But and angel appeared and rescued him from a senseless death. Takeru looked up from the savior's arms, a glowing purple helmet covered his face. "Holy Angemon," Takeru said to himself.
Holy Angemon placed Takeru back on the broken ship, which was mostly intact before turning back to the dark Digimon. He pointed at it with his glowing purple sword Excalibur. "You have attempted to destroy that in which I have been destined to protect. You shall be punished in eternal life!" His voice echoed in the air as spectators came updeck to watch the battle. The queen had found Takeru and thrown herself to him hugging him as tightly as possible.
"Gate of Destiny!" Holy Angemon said, spinning his sword in the air to form a golden doorway lined with Digicode that glowed in the air. The doorway opened, and started to pull the giant Digimon forward before it raised both its arms high above its head and swung down at Holy Angemon.
It growled as Holy Angemon flew back upwards, not giving up the fight. While trying to strike the angel again, the dark Digimon struck the side of the airship releasing several of levitation crystals that were all the size of large boulders. The ship began to tip on its left side and people inside swarmed to the right trying to balance the weight.
"Why don't ya try hitting us instead of the ship!" a voice beckoned the enemy from behind. The dark Digimon turned around to see a large red beetle accompanied with two humans riding along it's back.
"Yamato! Koushirou!" Takeru shouted from the tipping vessel. He waved excitedly to them trying to get their attention.
"Is that Takeru?" Koushirou asked Yamato.
"TK!" Yamato shouted at the top of his lungs.
"I guess it is," Koushirou said to himself.
Mega Kabuterimon continued to tease the dark enemy giving Holy Angemon enough time to fly back upwards and strike it with his secondary attack. "Excalibur!"
The cut from his blade went through the skull of the creature halfway down its back, but soon healed itself before it turned and swung at Holy Angemon again. He cut through the air and would have continued to fall had he not struck a levitation stone hard against his back. The force of the impact caused Holy Angemon to revert back to Patamon.
Kabuterimon set Yamato and Koushirou onto the ship after Holy Angemon used his attack while the enemy was not looking, where the three of them greeted and hugged each other. Yamato she tears and she clutched onto his brother so tightly that he couldn't breath, telling him how much he missed him.
Suddenly, Takeru's pocket was whaling with an endless squealing sound. He reached in and took out his D-3 which glowed brightly. He looked down at Patamon who was still resting against the levitation crystal. The dark Digimon came closer and closer to Patamon as the crystal glowed brightly, engulfing him in light.
Takeru shouted from the top of his lungs, "Patamon, get up and Digivolve!"
Patamon looked up with half opened eyes as the light from the crystal grew brighter and brighter, so bright that the enemy had to shield his eyes with his left arm. Patamon blinked his eyes rapidly, "I feel strange. Takeru!"
Patamon flew upwards. He was now the one which was glowing, as the stone fell to the beneath them through the clouds and to the ground. Patamon growled at the dark Mega Digimon and spread its wings out wide.
"Patamon, Warp Digivolve to …" his wings flapped hard as his body exploded in green light as if his body were surrounded by glass. The green shell of his former self shattered in the air and Angemon appeared holding his staff, spinning it around before his shell exploded in a lighter shade of green become Holy Angemon once again. He brougth his arms forward crossing them across his chest as the gauntlets that protected his arms glowed a green so light it looked white. Holy Angemon swiftly spread his arms ide as iff to break from a cell and his body exploded in white light.
"…Seraphimon!" Before the dark beast and the air ship stood an angel of green light and hope. Its body covered with majestic and royal blue armor, sporting ten wings of glimmering gold. A yellow cloth came down from the armor in front of its legs flapping in the wind as the transformation ended the light disappeared. Markings across his armor appeared as if drawn on, and regal angel's wings appeared on the sides of his helmet and the soles of his feet.
Takeru and the others stared out at Seraphimon in awe and amazement. His Digimon had evolved with the power of the levitation stones. Perhaps it was true what the myths had said.
"Testament," Seraphimon said. Though his voice was calm, it echoed loudly as he pointed his arms forward at the dark enemy. A blast of green and yellow light of fire came from his arms and struck the black attacking Digimon, causing considerable damage.
Seraphimon raised his arms upwards and spun them downward so they pointed out once again to the evil Digimon. His palms touched and started to glow brightly. "Seven Heavens." Seven orbs of light appeared around him each with a different symbol across the front. They spun around behind him as the dark Digimon stared, still hurt from the last attack.
One orb came forward with amazing speed and struck the dark Digimon, then another, then another, untill all seven had come forward and exploded against the dark Digimon's body. All the while Seraphimon stood motionless in the air in the same stance. When the smoke cleared, the dark Digimon's body was ravaged with wounds and burns. It looked forward at Seraphimon, before losing its balance in the air and began to fall backwards, disappearing in the clouds.
Seraphimon looked over at Takeru, before he glowed in white and reverted back to Tokomon and jumped forward into Takeru's waiting arms. Takeru hugged him tightly before looked back up to Yamato and Koushirou.
Authors Notes: Seraphimon is just about my favorite Digimon in the whole world. In case you're wondering, the 'dark Digimon' was none other than Virus type Cherubimon like in the third movie, and as we all know, the third movie never happened, so that left me the ability to write in a first time appearence of Seraphimon, since this story takes from the anime. The levitation crystals are based on Levistones from Vision of Escaflowne, and I bet you can probably guess what they are in the myths in this story.