Chloe: (looks around) Hey, how come this thing is on and Caro's not in here yet?
Alexis: Actually, she turned it on but she had to go to the bathroom.
Chloe: (sweatdrops) Riiiiight.
Me: (enters the room) Phew! Much better.
Alexis: So what's up in this thing Caro?
Me: Well first of all—
(Rainbow Monkeys! Rainbow Monkeys! Oh so very round and super chunky!)
Rika: What the heck was that?
Me: (rolls eyes) Um that would be Numbuh 3, listening to the Rainbow Monkey theme. Anyway, this chapter is a little longer than the others due to two things.
T.K.: And those are?
Me: One, everybody's gonna reunite with each other, including Jacob and Jacqueline. And it's high time they kicked some butt!
Rika: And the second?
Me: This chapter will contain a sneak preview of the final story in the trilogy.
Chloe/T.K./Rika/Alexis: (eyes widen) You're serious?
Me: Yup. So readers out there, not only will you have a chapter to read, but brace yourselves for my so-called "movie preview" of the third and final story in my Digimon/Pokémon series: The Saga of Destiny! Now let's roll!
Chapter 9: The Light of Life"Too much hope is the opposite of despair... an overpowering love may consume you in the end,"—Vincent Valentine, Final Fantasy VII
If you're tumbling down and your spirits fall
Helps on the way, we hear your call (your call)
On a mission, we're united as one
Friends forever, yeah
Here we come
In no time, we'll be at your side
We're a team on a roller coaster ride
Each one of us know just what to do
Never gonna stop, gonna stop
Searching for you (for you)
Baby listen to me
Searching for you (oh for you)
We're gonna set you free
Comin' to the rescue
Get there in a hurry
Rescue
Baby don't you worry
Rescue
Is it that you seen enough?
I'll rescue you and if I do you gotta rescue me
So if you're lost, one thing is true
Never gonna stop looking for you
You're not alone so have no doubt
We'll put our heads together, gonna figure it out
Oh baby listen to me
We're gonna, gonna set you free, yeah
Comin' to the rescue
Get there in a hurry
Rescue
Baby don't you worry
Rescue
Is it that you seen enough?
I'll rescue you and if I do you gotta rescue me
Rescue…rescue…(song fades out)
Cody cast a dark gaze over the gray mass called the ocean. For some strange reason, it seemed to be churning even faster than usual and the sky was nearly pitch black. It's like…it knows something's wrong.
Behind him, Armadillomon was also looking at the churning ocean. Jacob, with Datirimon sitting on top of his head, stared at the sky. Why the heck is this place so creepy? And who changed the sky?
Jacqueline walked beside Jacob, holding Otamamon in her arms. Unlike the boys, she did not pay much attention to the sky or the ocean, but was looking around ahead of them to see if she could find signs of the others. I sure hope Kari is okay.
"CODY!!"
Cody turned his eyes away from the frothing ocean and saw Davis, Catherine, and their Digimon partners racing toward them. "Hey guys!" He watched as they stopped in front of him to catch their breath. "Glad to see you're okay."
"Yeah likewise." Davis took a deep breath and pushed his goggles up onto his spiky hair. His eyes nearly shot out of their sockets. "NO WAY!"
"Uuuh what?"
Catherine pointed at Jacob and Jacqueline's Digimon. "Um…zis is new."
"Huh? Oh yeah." Jacob grinned sheepishly at his friends. "This is Datirimon," he said, gesturing to the green Digimon on top of his hair. "And that's Otamamon." He pointed to the tadpole in Jacqueline's arms.
Veemon blinked. "You guys got Digimon partners?"
"Yup." Jacqueline reached into the pocket of her skirt and withdrew her purple D-3. "It appears that we're now Digidestined."
Datirimon hopped up and down happily. Jacob grabbed him to steady him. "Don't you remember me? I was Oikawa Yukioh's partner."
Davis and Veemon's eyes lit up. The little tyke was right.
"So now he's my partner," said Jacob calmly. "And according to Uncle Oikawa, my crest is supposed to be Patience and Jackie's is Innocence."
Davis blinked. "Patience? Why Patience?"
"Look, how many times have you seen me crazy and panicky?"
"Uuuuh…"
"Not many huh?"
Jacqueline stepped in between the boys. "Much as I'd like to explain some more about our Digidestined awakening, we have to find the others don't we?"
"And we still have to defeat Dragomon," Armadillomon added from his place on the ground.
"Okay, then let's get to it!"
"STRIKING FISH!"
"LIGHTNING CLAW!"
Gatomon slashed up a few of the Scubamon with her powerful claws, cutting the path clear for Kari and Chloe. The girls and the cat had been battling against wave after wave of Scubamon ever since they had escaped from Kari's prison room.
Chloe frowned. "Looks like the alarm must've been raised or something. Darn, I shouldn't have been so loud when I used my telekinesis."
"I don't think you were the loud one," said Kari. "I think they were loud for screaming."
"Maybe. Let's get out of here." She and Kari and Gatomon raced down the corridor and out into the main entranceway.
"Chloe, are you sure you know where you're going?"
The trainer shrugged. "I hope." She blinked at the doorway to the outside world. "Eh…anyone for a swim?"
Outside the shimmering windows, the girls could see the endless sea stretching out in front of them. However, they could see the Scubamon swimming around and the darkness looming in the distance.
"We're…underwater?" Kari quavered.
Gatomon snorted. "Just what I need. Cats don't like water."
Chloe, however, rolled her eyes. "Well, seeing as we're already discovered, I don't suppose one more psychic trick will hurt." Her eyes began to glow. "Teleportation."
As she, Gatomon, and Kari began to shine with the same amazing blue light, Kari glanced over at her. "Y'know, I love your psychic powers now."
Chloe grinned. Y'know what? So do I.
How on earth did Dragomon and Kari just vanish into thin air? T.K. thought to himself as he stared at the ocean angrily. Did they go underwater?
"Hey T.K." Ken also stared at the ocean. "You have any idea how to go about this rescue mission?"
T.K. shook his head. "Nope. Not a thing."
But I have to do something. For Kari's sake.
A brilliant flash of light emitted from the darkened sky. Both boys and their Digimon glanced up at it. "What the—"
The light faded away as quickly as it came and they could see Kari and Gatomon falling down toward them. Quickly, T.K. held out his arms and caught Kari while Ken caught Gatomon.
Kari opened her tightly closed eyes. "T…K…?" She gazed up at him in shock.
He nodded and smiled. "You're all right." Not waiting for another option, Kari reached up and pulled his face down for a kiss, one that he returned.
"Oh get a room you two!" Gatomon and Patamon cried in disgust. Ken rolled his eyes before glancing skyward.
"Hey, it's Chloe!"
T.K. broke away from the kiss and rolled his eyes upward too. He could see the psychic girl floating a few feet above their heads. She had her hands on her hips and was grinning down at them.
"Uuuh, Chloe?"
She floated down to the ground. "Don't worry T.K. I'm back to normal thanks to Kari. I'm not going to do anything except…" She lowered her head. "I'm sorry for hurting you."
T.K. let go of Kari and walked over to her. He pulled her into a tight hug. "It's okay. I'm just glad you're you again."
Chloe smiled and hugged him back, before letting him go. "We have to get out of here."
"No." T.K. shook his head firmly. "Not until we destroy Dragomon. We have to make sure that this place will never come for Kari or Ken ever again."
Patamon fluttered into the air. "Uuuh, T.K., I think he heard you."
Dragomon rose above the churning surf, his red eyes blazing and his tentacles flapping in the howling wind. His eyes traveled over them before resting on Kari. She shut her eyes and buried her face into T.K.'s shirt.
"Weaklings," he muttered before turning to Chloe. She glared at him. "You failed Child of Life," he rumbled imperiously. "I knew you were strong but your compassion proved stronger than your powers and anger."
The trainer shook her head. "You played on my emotions and used them against my friends. NO ONE MAKES ME HURT MY FRIENDS!!" Her hair began to blow backward from her psychic energy.
"Chloe calm down!" called T.K.
She rounded on him. "Calm down? Calm down? He made me hurt you and used me as a puppet to lure you all here. You want me to calm down?"
"The darkness plays on your emotions too," Ken insisted. "And if you get any madder, you'll become corrupted again."
Chloe snorted but relinquished her energy. Her hair flew back down to normal.
Dragomon chuckled. "Foolish children. There is no way for you to escape. Now hand over the Child of Light or risk the wrath of darkness!"
"NEVER!" yelled T.K., Chloe, Gatomon, and Patamon in unison. Kari trembled but Ken nodded bravely.
Dragomon said nothing but the sky began to darken. The sea around him began to toss up larger waves, splashing over the children and their Digimon partners. Rising from the depths of the ocean were hundreds of Scubamon, ready to aid their master.
"We're in trouble," Ken muttered.
T.K. eased Kari's face away from his shirt and tilted her head toward his. "Kari, I think we're going to need your light to help us out on this one. The only way for us to Digivolve to the Ultimate level is with light. So I need you to be brave for us okay?"
Kari shook her head. "I don't know if I can T.K."
"You can do it Kari," he whispered. "After all, you've got me…and there is no light without hope."
She blinked and tried to hide her tears from him. "It might not be enough," she whispered, shoulders sagging.
"We'll make it enough." T.K. held her shoulders, the symbol of Hope appearing on his chest. "We can do it…together."
Kari looked up at him and slowly nodded. Her own symbol of Light appeared on her chest, directly over her heart. The pink light and yellow light shot up into the air, a beacon of anticipation in the darkened world.
Gatomon digivolve toooo…ANGEWOMON!
Patamon digivolve toooo…ANGEMON!
Chloe and Ken gazed up at the angels in awe. "Aren't they incredible?"
"CELESTIAL ARROW!" cried Angewomon.
"HAND OF FATE!" yelled Angemon.
Dragomon raised his tentacles. "TENTACLE FLAPPING!" An enormous wave of water rose from the ocean and blocked the attacks from coming through to him.
"Foolish Digimon," he growled. The Scubamon said nothing but closed in around Chloe, T.K., Kari, and Ken.
Chloe glared around at them and closed her eyes. "SHADOW BALL!" The dark purple sphere appeared into her hands and she hurled it around at a few Scubamon. They dissolved into meaningless data. She bit her lip. "There's too many of them. I can't destroy them all."
"Not without a little help you can't," called a voice.
T.K. whirled around in astonishment. "Tai! Sora! Agumon!"
"PEPPER BREATH!" Agumon opened his mouth and shot a burst of fire at the other Scubamon.
Chloe blinked. Tai…
Tai grinned. "Figured you guys could use a little help with this freak. It's payback time."
Agumon digivolve toooo…METALGREYMON!
While MetalGreymon rushed to help Angemon and Angewomon, Tai and Sora worked their way over to their friends. "Are you okay?" Tai asked Kari.
She nodded. "Chloe managed to get me and Gatomon out of Dragomon's fortress. Oh and she took down some Scubamon too."
Tai looked over at his former girlfriend. Chloe stared right back, her deep blue eyes suddenly wary. "What are you doing here?" she asked him.
"I came to save my sister," he replied, stepping closer to her. "And you."
Chloe closed her eyes, using her telekinesis to throw some Scubamon at the same time. "Please…I don't have time for this."
Tai sighed and stared down at the sandy ground. "Chloe…I…I just wanna say…I'm sorry. For everything that's happened to you. But you have to understand," he looked up. "I didn't say those things to you. It was Dragomon all along. He tricked you into believing that I despised you so he could get a hold of your power."
"It's true Chloe," added Sora. "Believe him."
The trainer pressed her head into her hands. "Sora…you're not supposed to be here." She sank to her knees. "How much more do you think I can take?" The memories of what she had done to them rolled through her head. "All I've brought on everyone is turmoil, anger, and pain." A light mist reached her eyelids. "I don't deserve a crest like the Crest of Life."
Tai shook his head. "No Chloe. You—"
"ANGEMON!"
"ANGEWOMON!"
The kids looked up to see the Digimon falling down to earth. MetalGreymon collapsed to his knees. Dragomon laughed. "That's it Child of Life. Let the darkness grow. The more your sadness grows, the more my strength increases."
"Chloe, you have to stop!" Tai told her.
"I don't even know if I could trust you," said Chloe slowly. Her eyes rose coldly up to his. "Trust is a very precious thing Taichi Kamiya."
T.K. shook his head. "You can gain that trust for him back. All you have to do is—"
"That's enough out of you." Dragomon used his long tentacles to stretch and grab onto Tai, T.K., and the others. Only Chloe managed to remain on the ground with the Scubamon by levitating around his tentacles. She closed her eyes and hung her head.
Ken closed his own eyes and gritted his teeth. "I…hate…the powers…of darkness."
Sora looked down at the fallen Digimon, then at her foster sister. "Chloe! Help us!"
The dark-haired girl refused to move a muscle. "She does not wish to listen," said Dragomon. "But I'm sure she'll hear what I have to say." He narrowed his ghoulish red eyes down at Chloe. He had T.K. clutched in one tentacle arm and Tai in another. Across from them, Kari was struggling to free herself from the Scubamon. Ken and Sora looked up in fear.
"Well Child of Life, it appears you have a dilemma. However, since you were a useful puppet, I will spare you the agony of living in this world without a loved one. You must choose."
Chloe blinked. "What are you talking about?"
"I'm sparing your life and the one of your choosing. I'll allow one these boys to live because they seem to mean so much to you." He tightened his grip on Tai and T.K. "Well…which will you have?"
Kari shook her head. "Don't."
"Go ahead and choose child," Dragomon hissed. "Which will you have? Your ex-boyfriend…or your best friend?" He glared at the dark-haired beauty. "You cannot have them both you know."
Chloe clenched her head in her hands. I can't…I can't choose.
"Chloe," T.K. called to her. "You haven't brought suffering and pain and darkness. Although sometimes your powers may bring all those things, you bring strength, comfort, life, and love." He strained to speak. "Your psychic powers are a part of you. They're what make you the person you are today. Let them be used for good."
I…I can't choose.
"It doesn't matter if you choose T.K. or me Chloe," Tai added firmly. "Because no matter what…" He gazed at her through his deep brown irises. "I will always love you."
After everything I did. Chloe looked up at him. He still…he still…
"Well which will you have?" Dragomon glared down at her.
She glared right back at him. "Oh yeah? You're asking me to choose? WELL I WON'T CHOOSE!"
"What?!"
"If I can't have them both; I won't have either!" A faint silver galaxy symbol appeared over her heart. "I am the Child of Life and as a Pokémon trainer, I MAKE MY OWN DECISIONS!"
Chloe screamed the words into the fog-lit sky. Her crest erupted in silver light seconds later.
MetalGreymon stared down at himself in shock as the silver light poured over his body. Angemon and Angewomon raised themselves up as the light descended over their bodies as well. A piercing shriek shattered the churning silence of the Dark Ocean as the Crest of Life lit up the area like a beacon.
Davis glanced up at the sky. "Hey, look! A beacon of light!"
The others followed his gaze. A silver jet of light had appeared in the sky like some sort of signal.
"Reminds me of Batman," muttered Armadillomon.
"Doesn't matter what it is," Floramon chirped. "Let's get over there. There's a likely chance we'll find our friends."
Davis nodded. "But we might find Dragomon there as well…so everybody stay on your guard."
Cody and Catherine nodded. Jacob and Jacqueline sighed. "I don't know if I'll ever get used to this," Jacob muttered under his breath.
The light from the Crest of Life faded away a few minutes later, revealing WarGreymon, Magnadramon, and Serephimon. All three Megas glanced at each other in awe and then at the healing beautiful silver light. Tai, Sora, Kari, Ken, and T.K. fixated their eyes on them in shock and awe.
My light of life will heal this broken world, thought Chloe through stormy eyes. Now let's get this battle over with.
Me: Okay, okay! This is the second to the last chapter in this fic so it won't be long before I'm done and we get ready for the premiere of The Saga of Destiny!
Rika: This has got to be a record for you Caro. I mean, you never usually attempt to finish your stories.
Me: I'm turning over a new leaf. So I hope you people enjoyed this chapter and now for a special treat. It's time for…(looks around) ahem.
Chloe: (switches on the tape player that plays drum roll) Oh joy.
Me: It's time for…the preview of my final story of this trilogy: The Saga of Destiny!
Transmission…complete…Now loading…sneak preview of The Saga of Destiny…
List commands
Targeting coordinates of Digital network. Attach
Targeting locked on. Attachment complete
Download information on Digital, Real, and Pokémon World
Download initiated. Recording information now
List selected children that would be a threat to primary objective
In a world where heroes once reigned supreme…
Chosen Children from Real World Dimension One—group of 15—9 male—6 female—codename: Digidestined—
In a world where humans and creatures lived and worked together in harmony…
Chosen Children from Pokémon World—group of 4—2 male—2 female—codename: Pokémon trainers—
In a world where young heroes continued to fight for the ones they love and for the life of a separate world…
Chosen Children from Real World Dimension Two—group of 10—6 male—4 female—codename: Digimon Tamers—
There is a common goal, a common enemy, and a common destiny…
Standby to enter Digital World. Standby…standby…
An evil will soon fall across the land…
"I saw…this 'thing'…it wasn't a Digimon or a Pokémon from what I could see…it looked more like one of those things Izzy would see after spending too much time on the Internet…"
"Do not test the limits of my power…"
… through the ashes fallen enemies will arise…
What pitiful creatures. All cowards. But no matter. They'll get what's coming to them.
The virus reached Primary Village and concentrated with all his might. Summoning powers from deep within his being, he combined his data with that of loose data hanging around lost to the Digital World. A feeling of dread settled upon the world.
The Chosen Children from then will return to the world; the world of their childhood battles and adventures…
"I bet this has some sort of connection with those weird visions I saw. This must be some kind of dream that shows the future or something like that."
"A premonition?" Chloe asked. "Those are rare—even by normal psychic standards."
"Yes, but I think your dream showed something that's probably going to really happen. The question is…why?"
Chloe shook her head and stared at her best friend. "No T.K., not why…when?"
The Children from now will decide its fate…with traits and crests one and the same…
I just don't get it. That dream…it was no dream…it was real.
"Just answer something for me kid: who or what are you?"
"I'm human," replied the girl. She had a haughty sort of voice, like a superior champion. "And my name is Rika. Rika Nonaka."
Chloe tested out the name in her head. Rika. It's…pretty.
The girl, Rika, was still staring at her in an expectant way. "And you are…?"
"Chloe," she replied politely. "I'm Chloe."
Chloe. It's…weird.
Traits and crests one and the same? So our crests and…the Tamers' traits are the same thing? They have traits? How are we supposed to know?
Life and Hope will seem gone forever…
"T.K. look at me," she said. There was a pause. "Look at me!"
T.K.'s blue eyes met hers.
"If you really love me…escape while you still can. Save yourself." T.K.'s reaction to that was clearly seen on his face. "If you really care…go."
He shook his head. "I-I don't!" he shouted desperately. "I hate you! I hate you, you got that?"
"Stick together…never allow light to fade…don't let darkness consume your hearts…and most importantly…never lose hope…"
When their sacrifices are made known to the world, a child of Spirit will decide the course of the final struggle…
"Trust me. I think the prophecy will work out for us in the end. It said about a miracle. Maybe that miracle will come."
She couldn't feel weak now. She had to be stronger than ever for her team. They were going to need her more than ever now that the final battle was drawing closer. She would be ready.
Rika gazed at him in a way that seemed hurt. "Was it just sympathy Takato? Was it only to make me forget?"
"No. It was to make me remember. I won't leave you…I promise."
Then miracles shall appear where doubt was once set…and the power of Unity will conquer all…
"Resist of you want; you cannot win. As you waste the time, the Digital World is slowly reducing to ruin."
This time, things are gonna be different, thought Ash.
This time, we have a chance, thought Misty.
This time, we're going to win, thought Brock.
This time, he's going down, thought Chloe.
"You'll see what humans and Digimon can do when we work together!" yelled Takato defiantly.
The war has just begun…
"Let them go if you want to live longer than ten seconds!" Jeri yelled defiantly.
Heroes will emerge…
"I'm worried about the Tamers and that prophecy we just got," Sora whispered. "Do they have what it takes to defeat him? What if it isn't enough?"
"It has to be," Tai told her. "It just has to."
Destiny will challenge their skills and require the ultimate sacrifice…
"Sometimes…you do the craziest things…for the people you love…"
And the fates of the four different worlds rest in the hands of children chosen by providence…
"This is gonna get ugly."
"Terriermon!"
Who will rise? Who will fall? Who will lead the path to victory? And who will sacrifice everything for the life of the world? So many lives in the balance…so many fates lie intertwined…and one choice will bring these lives to a final peace…or a tragic end…
"If you believe in miracles…then nothing is impossible."
Through pain…loss…despair…sacrifice…there is courage…love…friendship…knowledge…reliability…
sincerity…miracles…kindness…patience…innocence…light…hope…faith…life…and spirit…
The answers unfold…the spirits awaken…the crests are dispersed…the heroes emerge…the hearts flower…the loves are revived…the powers of unity arise…the friendships are tested…
In The Saga of Destiny
Coming soon!
Me: Well? What'd ya think?
Chloe: It was…interesting.
T.K.: I thought it was kinda cool…for something that you can't see with your eyes.
Rika: What? You want a standing ovation?
Me: Yeah. (thinks) Nah, forget it. I hope you readers enjoyed this little preview and now I have to go. AP tests are underway and I really need to do well. Wish me luck! Till next time readers.