D3 : Digital Diaries Dimensions
Variations 1.12 : Reflections
written by Shaun Garin
Disclaimer : Digimon is owned by their respective companies. All rights and reservations considered. Strict useage of japanese names. Eric and the humans of the Canadian team belong to me. Lord Archive wrote the Diaries series.
> Shuichon
Sometimes the wall between sanity and insanity is a thin one.
And sometimes, that wall isn't there at all.
I've seen things. Things that for someone that is much too young, like myself, can't see without loosing a part of themselves. Such horrible sights that some would say it would shred the humanity from a person leaving them bare and alone.
The ground lay barren. Nothing touched the soil as it blew in the wind. Even the wind smelled terrible, like a scorching flame ran over it. Or like some kind of mad demon on a chariot of fire. Clutching Jen to my chest, I knew that no good would come from this event.
And then, crossing the ridge of the world before us, we saw it. A large floating tower where a giant dark rabbit angel stood. He was slowly dissolving into data, his life spent. But another person lay at his feet. A large digimon, clad in red and orange lay with his hair sprawled about him like some kind of siren. But it was not the sight of this majestic person, but the people who stood around him, eyes silently weeping. Others cried loudly. Some watched. And one clutched his hand, wishing that he would be alive.
The form blurred and faded. And then, a young boy lay there, a giant hole through his chest. One hand clutched a Digivice, the screen blurring with static. And as the bunny angel vanished with a sigh, the world upheaved around us.
>Shuichon
The hours seemed like an eternity that night. Everyone pitched in to bury Kanbara Takuya that night. A small cairn of stones stood as his marker.
I never saw Ken-niichan so upset that night. I never saw Sora-neesan cry like that before. And I never saw Eric-niichan so somber and angry at the world, that his clenched hands drew blood from the palm.
Izumi-san spoke of words and a god that would bring people to heaven when they died. The littlest one, Tomoki cried and clutched to Junpei who stared ahead listlessly. Kouji and Kouichi covered the last remnants of the bravest of them all but their eyes spoke volumes of loss. Their world had crumbled around them with the devastation of the world before them.
The Digital World was dying. Just like the one who died before them. Life after life vanished from the face of the world. Our digimon stood somberly as Tomoki placed the Digivice at the base of the stones.
As they turned to leave, their work done, I saw Sora-neesan standing in front of the rocks as she wept openly for the boy she barely knew, and knew so well in so many worlds past.
This worlds' life was at an end.
But the story does not end there. For another tale had just begun.
"Tomoki, you should eat," said Izumi as she tended the fire. Bokomon and Neemon sat around the flames as they cooked the remaining meat apples.
"I'm not hungry," said Tomoki, his face buried in his knees.
Izumi sighed as she looked at Junpei. The pair exchanged helpless glances as the flames roared higher and higher.
Across the clearing, Sora wound up a cloth about Eric's hands. The boy tested the tightness and nodded to her. She sighed and brushed a lock of hair away from her face. "It never ends, does it?" Sora said softly as she glanced over the group of the world.
Kouji and Kouichi had long since cried themselves to sleep. Those who seemed like the strongest of the small group left their emotions at the wayside as they slept, twitching in the throws of nightmares. Nightmares that would become painfully real later on.
"It rarely does," said Ken as he sipped at the travel mug that had been purchased late in their travels. Sipping at his tea, Ken sighed as he rubbed Wormmon on the head. "We were too late to do anything."
"I don't think we could," said Jen somberly. "Our arrival in a world is timed by strange chance. Only if we could make a difference in the world would we be able to arrive when the need was there."
Shuichon sipped at her own mug and sighed. "A world engulfed in darkness. Soon to be completely eclipsed."
"Worlds pass, stars die, and then, the true light shines." Eric looked up and shook his head. "I can't see any light. It's too dark."
Sora sighed and got up to her feet. "I'm going for a walk. I'll be back in a while."
>Sora
A Digital Frontier. That's what they called this world, the inhabitants of it.
The world was so pure, so clean. Unlike other worlds we visited, the Frontier ones seemed to be similar in nature to the ones we knew.
I wondered to myself why I went to Takuya's grave that night. The ground was still fresh and I briefly wondered if his body was still there, or if it had vanished into data. His Digivice hissed with static and I picked it up. I brushed a stray lock of red hair away from my eyes.
I don't remember much after that point. Only a small voice and a tiny light. Worlds flashed before my eyes. I remember it all. How we laughed with people. How we cried when they died. Everything, here and now and yet so far away.
Shuichon saw death in her own world. And I knew that it was time that someone righted this world for the sake of the children. And to do that, there had to be a source to the madness.
I never knew how true that was until the ground heaved up against me.
>Eric
The enemy of the children stood there. Two digimon who worked under the beck and call of their master, Lucemon. A powerful child angel digimon. It's scary how something that small can be so powerful.
I could feel the earth underneath my feet tremble in anticipation when it was pulled underneath us. Falling was a new sensation but similarly anticipated.
Hyper Spirit Evolutions soon commenced in that world and Magna Garurumon was out there along with Cherubimon. Fighting broke out and I held my digimon back. The odds were against us and we knew it. I knew the look on Ken's face. He felt helpless with his digimon stuck at the adult level.
In a sense, same with me. Even the most powerful perfection digimon made me feel weak against these two enemies.
Rhodo Knightmon and Dynasmon were powerful. Strong and willing to break all forms of combat just to defeat us. Fortunately they were loose lipped in their plans as they ripped the world asunder.
Days were spent running and hiding and fighting. Children who were protected by an Angemon were sent home as the ground exploded beneath them. I couldn't tell what went through their minds those horrible days. Only as I took long deserved rest would I remember what happened clearly that day.
The day when the ghost of one fallen came to us. And lent his power to another.
>Sora
I remember that day so well. I'm sure Eric doesn't but then again, getting struck by flying debrie would do that to you.
Look at me. I'm cracking jokes even in the memory of a terrible battle. It was Magna Garurumon, Cherubimon and Antiramon, desperately fighting back the enemy.
I could hear Magna Garurumon's screams of anger as he pushed the enemy back. More and more of the Digital World had been carved up by the two servants of Lucemon and soon, we would have nowhere to hide but the moon itself.
Dynasmon fought tooth and nail with Cherubimon and Antiramon. Magna Garurumon fought like a man possessed against Rhodo Knightmon.
It was horrible. I had never seen so much destruction for worlds untold.
It was then, in that moment when Rhodo Knightmon knocked our Digimon out and smiled cruelly under his helmet.
"Children wielding the power to evolve your digimon," he said, holding up a hand. "Your data is mine!"
"Sora, move!" shouted Eric as he was pressed to recover his digimon.
My legs started to move underneath themselves. My red hair covered my eyes as I tried to move out of the way. I knew I wouldn't make it as that deadly attack came down at us.
And then, there was an explosion of fire.
>Sora
Ever wonder if they say time stops during the moment of death? It does. But I didn't see my demise. Only hope.
I don't know what possessed me to take up Takuya's Digivice but as the ring of code flared around my hand, I only knew what could be done.
Slashing the code through the top of the scanner, I yelled out words that should only be used by the children of this world. The power engulfed me, and there was nothing but darkness and flame that licked at my red hair that spun around my face.
>Shuichon
"How long... was I out?" asked Sora.
I could only shake my head. "It has been three days Sora-neechan. We're on the moon."
"The... moon?" my big sister sat up painfully and gasped at the wire rims of the Digital World. "What happened?"
"Three days ago," I said, hesitating, "you were possessed by the spirit of Burning Greymon and went out of control. You fought the Royal Knights and lost. Fortunately they were wounded enough for us to run."
I hated this part. The horrible realization that came after actions not of their own doing. "What... what did I do?"
God, I hated this part. "The world was consumed in your fire, what was left of it anyway. The others are trying to get us back there. Get some rest."
I left Sora to her own devices as she slept uneasily. I stood up and dusted off my pants. Sometimes I wonder if my hands have more than dirt on them. Ever feel like the dirt won't come off? It's like that for me.
Three days had passed since Sora's possession. Three days and the spirit of Fire slept within her Digivice. Takuya's ghost, or whatever it was, came to us that night when we fled the Digital World.
The spirit of fire was without a master. And without the former master, it was wild. No, not wild. Sora could control it. But without the finesse of it's former user, she could not keep it under control.
>Eric
Three more days passed and each day ended in disaster.
If I had seen the lack of control months later in Sora, I would have knocked that Digivice from her hands. But it was her lack of control that saved us all in each encounter. Three times the enemy came to us. And we beat them back barely. I found my hands raw, the bandage dripping with blood every time I clenched it.
On the fourth day, their lord and master came to us. Apparently he had gotten all of the keys to get out of the prison he was kept in. He was but a child digimon. But such enormous power.
He killed his servants and took their power. He then grew to Satan Mode. And a epic fight began.
I don't remember how long we fought or how many blows were rained on our Digimon and friends, but all I remember is the strength of our companions.
>Ken
In the few short days we were together, we had forged a bond that helped us push back the attackers. I knew this and it kept us strong. These Legendary Warriors were more than fighters. They were family. I had seen it many times ago.
The love for a family is strong. I love Wormmon. I love my mom and dad. And I love the people who are with me now. Even years later when I look back at this long year of traveling, I knew that Eric and Sora and Shuichon had given me an outlook on the world that could not be denied.
When the fight seemed at it's worst, Sora who had stood in the background stepped up. She looked like she had been speaking with someone, her lips moving silently.
All glances towards her went, and she held up a hand. Digi-code spun around it and around the hands of the other Legendary Warriors. And she called out words that would remind us that all was not lost.
"Ancient Spirit Evolution!"
>Sora
The world was vast and large. And so small in retrospect.
I remember the conversations. On how each time Takuya-san's ghost cheered me on. The bond I had to share with the spirit had to be iron forged. Each time I let the memories overwhelm me.
And each time, he was there cheering me on.
He barely knew me and yet told me to take his Digivice and Spirits. I don't know why, but I can trust someone I barely know.
A world of infinite possibilities. A world where no one would have to be sad or angry anymore.
Takuya said the latter was impossible. The best we could do, was ease the pain.
He's... like my mother.
Clasping my hand in his, he raised it up. "Try it again, one last time," said Takuya.
"But what if I can't?" I asked of him. Despair flooded my being. "I can't do it."
"Yes you can," urged Takuya as the digi-code flared around my hands. Spirits returned to my digivice. "You have a will of fire..."
"And the fire..."
"Cannot be extinguished. Not with friends. And family."
"Now FIGHT!"
His voice overlapped mine. And it contained words of power.
"Ancient Spirit Evolution!"
>Sora
The battle raged. Lucemon shifted forms once again. And the Warriors defeated the enemy.
It was a long and tearful goodbye. The portal closed rapidly and the others left.
As I stood before the rocks that stood over Takuya's grave, I felt Eric's hand come down on my shoulder. "It's time," he said.
Takuya said not to cry when the final blow was struck. He would remain in the Digital World as it's guardian. The others had to let him go.
"No tears," he said, while shedding his own. "I will be waiting for you. At Journey's End."
He then embraced each one, as much as his ghostly form would allow. And then he smiled and shimmered and vanished along with the rest of the legendary warriors. I brushed my hair out of my face.
The gate shifted, and we were gone.
>Tomoki
I can't say how much time has passed.
>Izumi
A world full of possibilities.
>Junpei
My life changed so much.
>Kouji
Because of you.
>Kouichi
Our worlds intersected.
>Eric
And the life lasted on...
>Ken
Until the end of time...
>Sora
For where there is darkness...
>Shuichon
There is light...
>Izumi
And as I look towards the sky...
>Kouji
And the warmth of the sun...
>Junpei
I have to pick up my phone...
>Tomoki
And smile as that stranger walks by...
"Will you ride. Yes or No? Well?"
"I think it's worth the trip."
"There's no fare."
"And we have so much to do."
"And so little time to do it."
Five boarded the train. The train whistled and the door to the light opened.