W I T H O U T H O P E
Secretmirror180: *wakes up and rubs her eyes* Ohayo gozaimus minna-san.
Yamato: *enters room and kneels down to futon*It's late. Reviewers really want you to finish. Only one death threat. From Evie.
Secretmirror180: *groggily* Figures. Are you sure there aren't any more?
Yamato: Hai. It's a good thing you finished this chapter. And so quickly too. *smile*
Secretmirror180: *frowns* Why are you being so nice to me Yamato?
Yamato: *looks innocent* I can't be nice to my favorite author.
Secretmirror180: *stands up and has angry vein popping on her head* SORA-BABA!
Sora: *enters room and bows* *has more bandages and still carries an ice pack* Hai, Secretmirror180-sama?
Secretmirror180: *glares at Sora* Do you expect me to go easier on you if you send this baka Blondie (Yamato: Oi!) even though I like him?!
Sora: *weakly* Iie…well maybe a little…well maybe a lot…*sigh* hai. Gomen ne. *bows again*
Secretmirror180: Hmm…fine. (It's 'gomen nasai', Sora-chan) The blonde can stay. You can say the disclaimer and stuff. I'll go easy on you just for now.
Sora: *bows…again* HAI! *turns to audience* Secretmirror180-sama does not own digimon, but does own the plot. She will also own something else demo…
Secretmirrorr180: *acts like Xellos from Slayers* Sore wa himistu desu! (Trans: That is a secret!)
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Chapter Seven: The Past
"Konnichi minna-san," said the young Gennai as the digidestined entered his home. The water outside his home refilled around his house as the last pair of partners closed the door. Everyone sat down on the tatami floor [1] (A/N: I think Gennai has a tatami floor) and looked to Gennai for answers. "Oh Ken…daijubo desu ka?"
Ken was being supported by Mimi and Miyako. Wormmon trailed behind.
"Hai," he replied weakly. "Daijubu. Arigato." (A/N: Ken's not dead. Just injured.)
"The prophecy you sent me," said Koushiro. "It wasn't really much a prophecy was it?"
"Iie. I was a true story that occurred in the past." Gennai stood up and walked to the wall. He tapped it three times and the wall slid to the side to reveal a shimmering gold feather. Gennai took the feather and held it for a while before placing it on the table in front of the digidestined. Gennai paced the room before sitting down again.
"A long time ago," Gennai continued. "After the world was reconfigured for the first time, there was a war in the Digital World. It was between those who worked for the Light and those who worked for the Darkness…that was when the legend of the digidestined came to being."
*~*Flashback*~* (A/N: Gomen nasai for all the Flashbacks!)
"Hikaru-sama!" yelled a human-like digimon. A young woman stared out the window of a castle. Her brown hair whipped her face gently as her ruby eyes looked to the loyal servant. Yet still most of her face was then shadowed. "MIKO!"
"Hai? Something wrong?" she asked in a calm voice. The digimon kneeled in front of her and stood again.
"The opposing forces are headed this way, and in great numbers as well. Our forces plus their forces can cause the destruction of the Forest Kingdom, milady. Yuuki-sama [2] wishes to bring his forces, but there are too large to fit in such as small area. The other troops wish to help and only await your decision, milady."
There was a pause for a moment, but the silence was ended with Hikaru walking past the digimon. The digimon followed her with his eyes questioningly.
"Milady?" Hikaru headed for the closet and grabbed a robe with the symbol of light on it.
"Tell the others that we will meet at the Desert Plains for the final battle in 1800 hours. For the time being send all the Scubamon and all my other soldiers out the gates. We shall be defensive. I also need you to check on the "project" that was left behind by Shibumi-san. I will be headed to a place far from here. Is the railroad finished?"
"Hai. The train is waiting for you, milady. The AI system was not put in yet…"
"Daijoubu," she interrupted. "How long will it take to get me to the Dark Gates?"
"About…NANI?! M-milady! The Dark Gates?!" She had turned around and no longer held an innocent look. Her eyes were narrow and fierce.
"Answer the question."
"Hai. About two hours, milady." Hikaru turned around, but the digimon followed. "Are you sure of this milady?"
"Hai. Seraphimon will be in charge whilst I'm gone. Besides," Hikaru turned around once more to face the digimon. This time she had her smile. "Ophanimon will make sure of my safety. Ja matte yo, Sorcerermon. You are truly a loyal servant." Hikaru turned around and left the room.
*~*End of Flashback*~*
"The Shibumi project that I mentioned was the digidestined project. It was when we were creating the digieggs for you digidestined. The battle took place at six o'clock that very day. Hikaru-sama, or the Hikari no Miko, went the Dark Gates to make a deal with the Dark forces to fight one more battle for everything. At the same time, Piedmon made an ambush and attacked the Shibumi project lab. That was when I took the digieggs and placed them in the area and Tailmon's digiegg got separated. The battle was not going well. At first it seemed like we would lose, we lost all hope. But then someone came.
"You must understand this before I continue with the story. The Crest of Hope was not the original crest. It was the Crest of Kindness. After the battle the crest was changed and the Crest of Kindness was included with the Digieggs that had the crests symbols on them. It was changed during the battle for a special reason. He was the one who helped the Light win. I also have to tell you that I was not the only one who survived the attack…but Kibou as well.
"During the battle, Hikaru-sama was attacked and was under critical condition. Before the medics could get her out, she was about to be attacked. Kibou stepped in her way and saved her. He also brought in his own troops. Finally the light was starting to win. After the battle, the crest was changed to hope for he gave hope to the army that they may win.
"The feather that I am showing you was a gift from Kibou to Hikaru-sama. He promised that if she ever needed help, he would be there to support her. From then on Hikaru developed powers to free the dark digimon from their mind control. That is why our Hikari can free the Scubamon. The reason why Hikari and Takeru stayed, as digidestined of Light and Hope is that Light and Hope will never change. Hikaru herself has specially selected our two young ones. You others were selected by us who worked under her and the rest of her team in the Shibumi project.
"I fear that the war will start all over again. Armies of dark digimon were gathering around one area. Yet without Hope's help, we will fail."
Everyone was silent and Hikari turned to Takeru who still had those void eyes. The only thoughts that had gone through her head was that she was sorry. Sorry for everything.
"Chotto matte Gennai," said Miyako to end the silence. "How does the current events lead to what is happening now?"
"The leader of the Dark digimon swore he would be back. And he is. Devimon is back. Unlike Myotismon, Devimon doesn't wish to destroy anyworld. He wished just to control it. He wants to control everything and live forever to do so."
"Doushite?" asked naïve little Veemon.
"Because he's evil. What do you expect?" Everyone nodded as they expected this kind of an answer.
"What should we do?" asked Taichi. Gennai's face fell. He sighed once before replying.
"We will have to fight," answered Gennai.
"IIE!" yelled Mimi. She stood up and had an angry face. "When I came back to the Digital World years ago I said to Sora I wouldn't fight anymore. I don't want to fight! Perhaps we can do something to stop the fighting. I mean, if Devimon we still alive all this time, why hasn't he attacked."
"The darkness waits in the shadows before attacking the light," answered Ken. Everyone was wide-eyed as they stared at him, except for two people. Takeru, of course, and a certain barrier of a very important, and ironic, crest.
"He's right," answered that digidestined.
"Yamato…" whispered Sora.
"I understand the darkness, since I too have been enveloped in it. I believe we can win this war as well. Not because I'm being cocky, but I think we have the upper hand. Two ex-henchmen of darkness on the side of light. Ken and I can help now more then ever before." Everyone nodded and looked to Gennai as to what to do now.
"I think it is best if you digidestined go home. You are all very weary. Ashite. [3] Let us worry tomorrow," announced Gennai. Everyone slowly stood up and started to walk to the exit. Hikari and Tailmon forgot about Takeru and stood quickly. Patamon was not able to warn him since he was asleep in his partner's arms. Suddenly a voice made her remember he needed her now.
"Hi…ka…ri…" said Takeru slowly and monotonously. Everyone turned around and gasped. Takeru had not spoken a word to them, even when they rescued him.
"Takeru!" Hikari ran to him and kneeled down to him to talk. "What's wrong?"
"Go…men…na…sa…i."
"For what? Don't say you're sorry. You didn't do anything. Daijoubu Takeru. Everything is going to be okay. We're going to help you now. I'm here." Hikari pulled Takeru and Patamon and held closely to his arm while Tailmon stayed on Hikari's other shoulder. Daisuke frowned and seemed deep in thought. Yamato went up to his brother and helped him as well.
As soon as they left Gennai whispered to himself "Ganbatte. [4] Ganbatte."
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Secretmirror180: *laughes like Okami from Fruits Basket* O ho ho...GOMEN NASAI FOR SUCH A SHORT CHAPTER! *continues to apologize like Ritsu from Fruits Basket* IT'S A SHAME TO ALL THE OTHER CHAPTERS! SUMIMASEN! I FEEL HORRIBLE TO LEAVE YOU LIKE THIS! BLAH BLAH BLAH! *voice fades into background*
Yamato: *sweat drop* Hehe. Um…well here are the Japanese explanations.
[1] Tatami floor: A rice stalk floor that is common in the traditional Japanese home.
[2] Yuuki: I think Yuuki means Courage, but in the story it is used as a name for someone.
[3] Ashite: Tomorrow.
[4] Ganbatte: I think this means good luck.
Sora: She should have the next chapter up soon. From the script here *holds up papers with "WITHOUT HOPE" on them* it says the next chapter will be a total Takari.
Secretmirror180: *stops abruptly* *twitches* Sora…*twitch*-chan…*twitch* *twitch*doko…*twitch*where did you get thoss? *points to papers*
Sora: Oh in the…*eyes widens* WAH! GOMEN NASAI! DON'T HURT ME! *protects herself with her hands*
Secretmirror180: *fiery background* SORA! OMAE BAKA! (Trans: you idiot) HOW DAMN YOU GO THROUGH MY THINGS?!
Sora: *bows over and over* Gomen nasai. Gomen nasai.
Yamato: *steps in front of Sora* She didn't mean to. She just saw it and was curious.
Secretmirror180: *calms down and coolly walks towards Sora and Yamato* *Grabs her mallet and pushes Yamato to the side* Sora-chan…do you know what happens to people who go through other people's things?
Sora: I…iie.
Secretmirror180: Then let me show you. *Rises mallet*
Sora: *Runs and cries* HELP ME!
Secretmirror180: *laughes like Naga from Slayers* O HOHOHO! O HOHOHO! You cannot escape ME Sora!
Yamato: ^_^' *sweat drop* Girls. You really got to stop this. *turns to reviews.