The Crest of The Heavens
By ArchangelUK
I do not own Digimon, however I do own a condo in Florida... or is that a condor... Oh, I don't know...
Yolei: Is nothing sacred? All the DigiDestined - even Mimi who's just come back from America were meeting up for a celebratory picnic, it being a year since the younger guys defeated MaloMiyotismon. We were all enjoying ourselves when out of nowhere an ultimate level digimon called Nemisomon appears and attacks us, he even destroyed the food me and Sora prepared (and Davis noodles)! We were in a tight spot, especially since that incident which reduced all the digimon powers, I wonder what happened then anyway? Only Wormmon and Patamon could digivolve since TK and Ken where the only ones carrying their Digivices. With their strength reduced though this ultimate easily defeated Angemon and Stingmon, TK was about to become toast when some guy in a gold outfit shows up and stops him. Don't tell me we've got to fight all over again?
Chapter 3: The Thirteenth Digidestined
"On the day there is 13
a choice is made, a path is taken, and that path shall lead 13 to light and
1 to shadow."
- The Prophecy of The Thirteenth DigiDestined
The 10 digimon and their digidestined partners that still remained behind the rock covered their eyes as the explosion temporarily blinded them. When the brightness dimmed they saw the youth facing off against the ultimate, they saw a brief but intense conversation but couldn't hear the words. Nemisomon seemed to be as surprised as everyone else, he even appeared to the digidestined that he cowered a bit in fear of him but his confidence had returned quickly. The youth had watched as Nemisomon had disappeared before falling down into a crouching position, the 'light' if it had come from him obviously had drained him. It took a good five minutes before anyone could move or even speak, especially after what had been seen and it took the stranger about the same time to recover. Izzy brushed himself down, dust clouding his hair and bits of grit from the...whatever it was, where on his shirt and jeans. Finally he was able to cough two words,
"Who's that?"
"I don't know but I think he just saved us." Tai replied, raking a hand through his hair as everyone helped themselves up. Yeoli's eyes went wide and she suddenly leapt up climbing over the boulders, joining a much faster Kari on top of the pinnacle.
"Ken! TK! Are they okay?"
"Yes." Kari said, pointing to a pair of confused boys also covered in dust, "Thank goodness."
"Thank the guy," Sora corrected. "Did you guys see what he did? He stopped that digimon's attack with some kind of yellow light."
"So...Is he human or digimon?" Matt, with hair somehow intact asked standing up. "Is there any way to be sure..Izzy?"
"Well, don't look at me...why don't you ask him.""
"You do it Gabumon." Agumon said, prodding his friend in the back.
"No way, the crest of courage is your deal, not mine."
"Well, I, er...Palmon?"
"Would you mind if I didn't this time around..." Palmon said, clutching onto Mimi. "My horoscope said I should avoid meeting potentially dangerous people I couldn't defend myself against." Mimi looked at her partner and sighed,
"Look someone will have to, I'll do it if I must."
Gatomon stopped her, "No offence Mimi but I think I'll do it, obviously our brave boys need some time to compose themselves."
"Hey, I'm not afraid...I'm just cautious that's all." Matt said folding his arms, the others and their digimon did the same except that is two,
Hey, If I volunteer I'll impress Gatomon...
Hey, If I volunteer I'll impress Kari...
"We'll do it!" Davis and Veemon chorused
Tai rubbed his eyes with his fingers, "You're too late, Gatomon and Kari have already gone out to check on TK, Ken and our mysterious saviour. I think we can also get out from behind this rock now, don't you think."
Everyone nodded and stood up.
"Is everyone okay? The gold clad youth asked.
"Yeah, just about." TK wheezed,
"Thank goodness for that, I'm Jarret."
"Not meaning to sound ungrateful but, where did you come from?"
"That's a long and somewhat complicated story."
"Are you okay?" Kari asked racing towards them and enveloping TK in a hug,
"Er, yeah...this is Jarret."
"Oh...hi."
"Hi." Jarret managed, it couldn't be her could it?
"Are you human?" Matt asked joining his brother
"Yes Matt, it IS Matt isn't it?"
"Yes, how did you know?"
"The hair!"
"Oh."
"I kind of recognise a few of you."
"Recognise?" Tai said puzzled, "We've never met you before."
"This may take some explanation."
Introductions were made, Jarret seemed to get the names of most of the digimon, as well as Yeoli, Matt, Ken, Mimi and Sora. When TK and Kari where introduced Jarret seemed to go slightly pale, but somewhat nervously shook their hands. The same was repeated when introduced to Patamon, Gatomon though was the last to be introduced;
"Gatomon?" Jarret blinked, not believing what his sight was telling him.
"In the fur."
"It's...good to see you again Gatomon."
"You know me too?"
"Yes. I...know you."
Gatomon saw brief flashes of pain go across Jarret's eyes, he looked away from her and stood up. TK and Ken had a couple of mild grazes whilst Patamon and Wormon were just tired, a couple of hours later they all sat down for what was salvaged from the picnic remains.
"So you never answered Matt, are you human?" Yeoli asked suspiciously.
"Yes, I am human." Jarret chuckled, running a thumb through his dusty hair displacing some and causing him to cough for a couple of seconds.
"But if you are human, how could you do...that?" Ken pointed to a crater where the 'Eternal Light' had impacted, Jarret thought about this for a moment so as to explain clearly.
"I don't know." He finally admitted, "It's probably due to the fact that I don't have a digimon partner any more. Maybe my crest gives me all of it's energy as opposed to channelling it through me into my digimon."
"You have a crest?" Matt asked,
"Yeah." Jarret reached underneath his shirt and pulled up two chains, one of which held a crest and tag. The crest was five bolts of lightning connected together at their tops to create a perfect pentagon in the centre. Oddly enough the pendant held the same shape and was crafted in gold with a silver pentagon at it's centre, Jarret quickly tucked it back under his shirt before anyone could see any more details on it. The crest glowed a little a Jarret's touch and he held it up for the others to see, they each inspected it as it was coming around to Gatomon and Kari it seemed to glow a little more.
"Hmm, it likes you." Jarret joked, just before there was a shimmer of light and a wisp of smoke as a middle-aged man appeared wearing grey robes and a puzzled expression. Before he could speak he was mobbed by the digidestined and a flood of questions, however the loudest and most ticked off was Mimi.
"Gennai! What's going on? We were just attacked by a digimon!"
"Attacked?" Gennai said blinking, "What do you mean?"
"Attacked, you know - set upon, almost killed!" Tai said mockingly,
"Killed? By what?"
"A DIGIMON!"
"And if it hadn't been for this guy, goodness knows what might have happened." Said Matt, indicating towards Jarret. Gennai seemed not to really take Jarret in at first glance, that was until Jarret once more took out his crest and showed it to him. Gennai seemed to stop breathing, his eyes bulged and he involuntarily took a step back in surprise. After about thirty seconds of trying, he finally managed to choke out
"The Crest of the Heavens!" He gasped again taking in air, Jarret moved forward to grab Gennai by the arm, it must have been quite a shock to him to find out that...well... "I thought... but that means, you're from the future."
"The future!?" The digidestined chorused, a little ball of sweat appeared on Jarret's forehead as he grinned almost nervously.
"I, Er, hadn't got up to that bit yet."
"So that's how you recognise us!" Davis realised, "Hey have the Martians taken over the Earth or something?"
"Regrettably it's not that simple." Jarret mumbled, "But, yes that's how I know you." And the rest...
"But...the Crest of the Heavens!" Gennai said, still spluttering, "It's not possible, unless."
"Unless what Gennai?" Yeoli said moving beside the old man,
"Unless -"
" - Unless something very bad happens." Jarret finished, clamping his hand around Gennai's mouth before he could say anything else. "Now Gennai, I need you to contact Azulongmon, I need to speak to him...I'm sure he won't object especially when you tell him that the fabled thirteen digidestined has appeared.
"On the day there is thirteen a choice is made, a path is taken, and that path shall lead thirteen to light and one to shadow." Gennai recited, Jarret nodded and the old man still rather shaken disappeared in the same manner he arrived.
The silence was broken by Agumon, "Why do you need to speak to Azulongmon."
"I have a few questions that need answering and I'm somewhat dreading the answers."
"Then why go and see him at all?" The orange digimon of courage continued,
"Because the future depends upon it."
The questions kept coming and soon it was mid-evening, the digidestined had elected to stay in the digital world until this new threat was dealt with. A fire was burning and as Cody and Yeoli prepared some marshmallows Mimi turned to Jarret.
"So why are you here Jarret?" the youth winced, he didn't want to do this so soon.
"Because life does not always have a happy ending." He finally said,
"I don't understand."
"I am here," Jarret paused, knowing he had to choose his words carefully, if they found out his true identity heaven knows what could befall the future. He sighed before continuing. "I am here to help you defeat Nemisomon."
"Why do we require help?" Tai asked,
"Yeah." Davis said, "We can take on anything."
"I know, and even if I had not come here I know you would have succeeded." Jarret gave a half smile before looking at Izzy and motioning him to ask the question Jarret knew he must have.
"Then why come at all? The potential risks of time travel on the future surely must outweigh-"
"- The possible benefits, I know Izzy. I know all about the law of causality, my arrival here has already changed that future but it had to change anyway." The keeper of knowledge continued his line of questioning.
"Why? If we win then why come back and risk that?"
"Because something happens here that has...rather harmful effects on the future of us all."
"Harmful? What do you mean 'harmful'" TK asked, Jarret seemed to swallow and just looked at TK for a second, before tearing his vision away from him.
"I - can't tell you. Causality."
"Then what can you tell us?" Izzy asked again, causing another sigh to escape Jarret's lungs.
"I don't know much, Azulongmon sent me back here but he was too weak to be able to remember the details."
"Too weak?"
"Gaggh, I'm telling you too much. I'll summarise,
between now and when the final battle occurs something happens which make the
future go not so good. It could be small, it could be anything but whatever
it is I have to stop it."
Jarret looked around the group, his eyes settling back on Mimi, "Does that
make sense?" he asked her, she gave a casual look to Sora as if to ask
her if she understood. Sora just gave a half shrug, so Mimi said.
"Sort of but I still don't understand."
"Mimi, you will in time. Answers always come with time."
"But do they come in time?" Mimi countered, Jarret looked towards the sky, how poetic was that last question.
"I hope so Mimi, I hope so."
Later on as the light was fading Veemon walked towards Gatomon who was sitting at the nearby river. Perhaps he thought, if he made small conversation he might be able to get her to like him more.
"So Gatomon, what are you doing?" Veemon asked,
"Nothing." Came her curt reply, though it appeared Gatomon was studying something in her hands with great interest.
"You must be, let me see."
"No Veemon, go away." Gatomon turned away and sat behind a nearby rock. Veemon, who doesn't give in easily and with his curiosity getting the better of him he followed climbing on top of the rock to look over Gatomon's shoulder. Nested in her paws was a beautiful blue butterfly, it waggled it's wings gently, Gatomon smiled as a second joined the first.
"Ooh, pretty." Veemon said startling the two butterflies which flew upwards rapidly into his face.
"Veemon!"
"Ah, help they're attacking me!" Veemon cried, losing his balanced and falling off of the rock straight into Gatomon knocking her flying into the river.
"Help!" Gatomon's cry echoed throughout the valley, the digimon was disappearing rapidly down stream caught by a very strong underlying current. "Help me!"
"Gatomon!" Kari cried, she and the others rushed to the river.
"I'm coming Gatomon." Patamon yelled as he went to dive in but was stopped by TK,
"What are you thinking Patamon, you can't swim!"
"Leave it to us," Joe said. "Go Gomamon!"
Gomamon dived head first into the water and was soon powering towards Gatomon, five minutes later and he had managed to drag the waterlogged feline to the bank where they both gasped taking in plenty of oxygen and spitting out plenty of H20.
"Gatomon! Are you okay?"
"I'm fine."
"No you're not, look at your paw." Kari pointed to a cut that was slowly turning the surrounding white fur red. Gatomon looked at it surprised before covering it again with her glove, Kari hugged Gatomon tightly whilst Patamon and TK stood beside them, checking their friends were okay.
"It's just a scratch." insisted Gatomon, Jarret was having none of it and stared murderously in Veemon's direction.
"This is your fault you little -"
"- Come on leave him alone Jarret, it's not worth it." Gatomon begged, between licking her injured paw, but this only served to rile Jarret more. She was in pain and was hiding the fact poorly, Jarret stared down at Veemon who had run to stand next to Davis. Kari and TK stared daggers at Davis whilst Jarret glared menacingly at Veemon, the blue digimon however was not afraid merely cautious.
"I didn't mean to..." he said again, "I only wanted to see what she was doing."
"Why can't you just take no for an answer?" Jarret asked, his voice low and menacing something which Veemon somehow missed. Davis missed it too, and tried to deflect the blame whilst simultaneously ushering his friend away.
"Ah, leave him alone Jarret, he's said he was sorry." Jarret stared at Davis amazed, had he actually been listening to the conversation, the one that had just taken place or was he off in some land of his own? His parents had told him of Davis' tendencies but he had assumed these to be merely exaggerations. He noted the boy's attempts to move Veemon away, and so promptly stepped in front to block their progress.
"You Davis, are as much to blame as Veemon."
"What?"
"You are his digidestined partner he is your responsibility."
"Leave Davis alone!" Veemon yelled,
"Yeah Jarret, it's not Davis' fault..and Veemon was only being Veemon." Gatomon tugged at Jarret's leg trying to get him to calm down.
"He hurt you." Jarret said simply, "And he hasn't even apologised."
"You're a fine one to talk," Veemon interjected, "You speak about being responsible for your digimon partner when you don't even have one yourself." Veemon instantly regretted saying that, Jarret's eyes narrowed, Veemon could almost see the flames of rage behind them.
"Listen here fuzzball!" Jarret boomed, stepping towards him
"Hey! Don't call me fuzzball - goldie!" Veemon was getting angry too, though most of it was still bravado to try and rescue the situation with Gatomon. Inside him though he was preying this was some kind of 'test' being played by Jarret. His retort only angered Jarret more though, the voice was no longer booming but almost ridiculously calm...
"You...leave...her...alone..."
"Or what?"
"Get out of my sight, this is the last time I'm warning you."
"Or what Goldie? You think I'm scared of the big bad human? Come on Jarry, put 'em up!" Veemon balled his fists and made a pose like he had seen on all those late night boxing matches.
"What did you call me?" Jarret asked incredulously, he couldn't have called him that name...it would be just too weird.
"Jarry!" Something inside Jarret snapped and his eyes went wide, Veemon went deathly pale, Now I've done it...
"THAT TEARS IT!"
Jarret picked Veemon up by the scruff of the neck and with one swift motion hurled him as hard as he could, as ExVeemon Veemon could fly but as plain old Veemon the experience wasn't too thrilling. The digimon landed in the river head first, Gomamon sighed and fished the decidedly bedraggled Veemon out. He was shivering too, not from the cold but from sheer terror, Veemon was helped to the fire whilst Jarret sat in a tree well away from the others.
"Look at him, he's shaking." Gatomon said to Patamon, who was busy checking on his friend's wound.
"Well he would be, he's just been dunked in a freezing river.
"At least it cooled one of them off." Tai said as he and the others rejoined them, "Man, he must have really struck a nerve or something with him."
"It's not Veemon I was referring to." Interrupted Gatomon, pointing to the tree, "Look at Jarret he's shaking too.
"It's just the rage," Matt said, "It'll wear off soon."
"No it isn't." Kari's digimon insisted, "It's not that."
"What is it then?" asked Patamon eagerly, Gatomon stared at the distant figure huddled in the branches, concentrating.
"Fear." She finally said, "He's afraid..."
"Afraid?" TK spluttered, "What, of Veemon?"
"No, of himself..of what he just did - it's almost as if he's hiding something, some part of himself. Something...oh I don't know, but why did he go off like that? Why is he so protective of me?" Gatomon sat down next to Patamon, who patted her uninjured hand reassuringly. Finally he asked the question everyone was secretly thinking,
"And why can you see these things about him so clearly?" Gatomon sighed and shrugged, whilst the gold clad youth sat his feet dangling in the air, still shaking.
"There's something not right here." Gatomon said re-examining the now well healed cut, "Something important."
"What?" Patamon asked.
"I don't know."
"Oh."
"Thankyou by the way for going to jump in after me." Patamon went bright red,
"It was nothing." He mumbled,
"How are you two doing?" Mimi said walking over with Sora.
"Fine now Mimi. We were just talking about Jarret."
"A subject that this one here has not stopped talking on for the last thirty minutes." Sora said jerking a thumb at her friend.
"Hey!" Mimi protested, "It hasn't been that long, and what are you implying by that?"
"Oh please, it is so blatantly obvious you like him." This made Gatomon giggle and she put a paw over her mouth to try and stop herself, Mimi glared angrily at her.
"I do not!"
"You so do!"
"How would you know Sora?"
"Hey - Crest of Love, remember?"
"Ooooh!"
Jarret suddenly got up and began to walk away from the group, in the direction of the forest, the others just stared after him until Mimi ran after him.
"Jarret, where are you going?" Mimi asked grabbing his arm, he turned around and she quickly withdrew it, he wasn't angry with her. In fact he just looked curiously at her, making her blush.
"It's just, no one blames you. We've all wanted to do that to either Veemon or Davis it's just...to actually see someone do it."
"I know, I'm sorry for what just went on."
"Are you hiding something?"
"Why do you ask?"
"Gatomon seems to think you are." Jarret laughed out loud,
"She would, she always does."
"But is there?" Mimi asked, her eyes full of concern and...
"I just need to get away for a little while that's all, clear my head before I see Azulongmon tomorrow. Don't worry, I'll be back before sunrise." Without another word he turned and walked off into the shadows, he didn't even look over his shoulder at her; he wished he had.
Gatomon sat by the river and dragged a damp paw across her forehead, why had Jarret been so defensive of her - poor Veemon. The blue digimon was still shivering by the fire having been dumped in the river headfirst by Jarret. Why was he so nervous around some of the digidestined? He had barely extremely nervous around Tai and Matt and Patamon for some reason now she thought about it - what did it all mean?
Some two hours later, Gatomon sat next to the fire herself, the only one of the party still awake. Questions still whirled in her brain it must have been midnight by human timings and on what would have been the twelfth stroke of that hour Jarret reappeared and sat down on the opposite side to Gatomon. A silence waited patiently to be broken....
Please be kind and please review, or else I do have a plan... a plan that will FIX YOU GOOOOOOOOOD! *cough* Sorry.
AAUK 0:-)
Kari's Angels - http://www.geocities.com/happy_hylian
AAUK's Mini-Site (Including news on Clarity, Crest of The Heavens, etc) - http://www.geocities.com/happy_hylian/aauk/main.html