The loss of one's digimon always hits that person hard… The bond humans and digimon share is incredibly strong, and even if they are reborn, seeing your digimon destroyed before your eyes to protect you is not something anyone handles easily.
Combine that with hopelessness, a dreadful fear of precisely this happening, the death being brought on by a foolish attempt of his to stop Devimon alone, and a growing evil that threatened to ruin the entire digital world, and you had Takaishi Takeru's current predicament. Hope may save the digital world, but without Angemon to channel that power into, it may not be possible… And when one like Takeru loses hope, the results are too terrible to bear…
And so he continued to mourn and regret, with no hope left for the digital world…
Angemon… I failed you…
But might love indeed bring back hope? Isn't true love what makes people drag each other out of the darkness?
The answer was both yes and no, it couldn't be said… Why, Sora was as determined as anyone to save Takeru from the darkness within… But no one's life was easy, everyone had their own suffering, their own source of angst… And as long as Sora had hid it before, it could be restrained no longer…
Love is a complex thing, after all… Uncertainty is always its way, no matter how much people truly care for each other, no matter how much affection they show, people always have doubts… Did Takeru really feel that strongly? Would he be lost in his own darkness soon, or did his heart truly lie with the fallen Angemon? So many questions, so much doubt… And even if Hououmon could be brought out… The pain of unreturned love was still so very great, and she had more reason to doubt now then ever…
And it was that feeling which made the darkness within her grow once more.
Sure, there was no sorrowful moment… No walking away while she had collapsed into him, no departing on a long journey to become a wanderer once more… But like Kaoru in that series, she seemed equally paralyzed by doubt, and there would be no Megumi to snap her out of it.
"Takeru…" She said softly, seeming to gasp for air… "Who is it you truly want?"
How can I compete with Angemon? They've been together so long, and even now, just his mere memory and a cradled digitama… And he doesn't think of me at all… She thought sadly, as the darkness continued to grow… I know, I should be with him, trying to help him out, he's feeling so much sorrow, I just know it. But…
I can't bring myself to save him… I can't even make a real effort to stop the darkness from consuming him.
And so the darkness within each of them continued to grow, and their hearts were separated even further, too far away to bring each other to the light.
And it wasn't like there was another to help either of them. Angemon? He was just a digitama now, waiting in the endless cycle of rebirth. And as for Piyomon, these days, for what she represented more then anything else, Sora couldn't even look at her digimon without feeling sadness.
After all, love does have its dark side. There are few things happier then true love, and few things more depressing then unrequited love. And when one is feeling doubts about love, it is very painful indeed…
So it seemed Sora would soon break, and it seemed unless Miyako saved the digital world, all would be lost. The bearers of hope and love, neither of them seemed able to make their crests glow, to feel that which would bring them great happiness and perhaps save both worlds from darkness.
And Takeru was little better. "Angemon…" He thought, remembering back to that fateful battle, constantly running the memory over and over in his head. It seemed all he could see anymore, that claw through his neck, that failed block, and then his last final plunge to the ground below… I'd like to say I was blameless, I did tell him to stay back after all. But he still threw his life away for my sake, and if he had never met me, if he had never met me he'd still be here! Takeru thought, shouting that last part to the cold, metallic sky, or what passed for it in that underground city.
The darkness can't be stopped, it can't be done, victory is impossible. The digital world is doomed, it's only a matter of time…
And there was no voice to speak out, no one to try to convince him otherwise. And with no one to snap him out of it and his own hope for the worlds destroyed, hopeless he stayed.
But then… There was one thought going through his mind, one flash within the memories of Angemon. A glimpse of the bearer of love, of Sora's smiling face… And at least he had one happy thought going through his mind.
I should check on her… After all, she's the only one I have left, and she was the only one who could make me forget the darkness… Even if I'm the one who's really filled with sorrow.
But for all the sorrow Takeru didn't even yet realize Sora felt, it was still vast enough to engulf her, and the way things were going, she might be too deeply into darkness by then for Takeru's appearance to do anything about it.
Then again, Takeru is the bearer of hope, so it's never wise to say anything's impossible regarding him, not matter how impossible it may seem.
But taking a glimpse at Sora, seemingly paralyzed by doubt and fear, it was hard to see much in the way of hope in either world.
Does he really care for me? A question so many have asked, in one way or another. And a question that was tormenting Sora's heart. The memories of all they had been through together seemed buried, and only the memory of her looking sadly on as Takeru rested in Angemon's embrace remained, the angel's white wings wrapped around the one she loved, but who seemed so very distant from her even now…
Still, just moping around like this won't solve anything… I should at least go over, to see how he's doing or something, after all, I want to see him again so badly, perhaps I do love him…
"Did I just think that? Then again, what else can I call it?" She thought, walking down the many halls in this building in search for Takeru. They passed one another, heads too close to the ground to notice, and then suddenly stopped and turned around, seeing the other's surprised face before them.
"Takeru?" Sora asked, glimpsing the bearer of hope, and then running up to him, forgetting all her uncertainty…
"Sora-chan…" Takeru responded, doing exactly the same, even Angemon's memory not enough to make him hold back, and so they fell into each other's arms, seeming happy at last, even with all the darkness spreading over the digital world…
Then again, that might just be part of what Sora's crest is truly capable of… And though happiness was still hard to come by in the digital world, even though the rest of the digital world was still being ravaged, at least there was one bit of sanctuary from the growing darkness that seemed like it would engulf this very planet.
After all, Fallen Devimon was the opportunistic type, and he was wise enough to realize that Angemon's death would give him time to strike. He had time to heal, after all, and there's nothing like a little enslavement of innocent digimon to replenish a faltering army, and a bit of genocide is always fun for beings of darkness.
And most of the chosen were in no shape to oppose him. Still, Iori Hida had a tendency to stand boldly before beings of darkness trying in a futile, unflinching attempt to save the digital world, so he would not be quite unopposed.
And so the conflict which would either be called "The battle of the frozen north" or "The icy massacre in Freezeland" began, though regardless of what name was used, there were still none who saw Fallen Devimon and his army of Sorcerymon flying over the tundra and still thought this would be a victory for the side of light.
Then again, Sincerity can be very strong indeed, and it was time for its first holder to return to the digital world. Education may be important, but both worlds were at stake, and the other eleven chosen disappearing off the face of the earth was something he was bound to find out eventually.
And as often happens in epic tales, said revelation was bound to happen at the most dramatic time, and so he rushed to battle in a desperate attempt to arrive before it was too late. The beeping sound of a forgotten D-terminal, a message from his successor, hoping he would at least get a little help for this battle. Hold on, Iori-kun… He silently wished, knowing sending a message was pointless, as Iori was the sort to send a single desperate message and then rush to make a heroic, final stand.
"It may have been said the youngest would destroy me." Fallen Devimon said, looking down at the child beneath. "But I'm sure that meant Takeru, not Iori. A squirt like this with an Ankylomon and a bokken isn't going to be the one who brings me down." He added, sneering at the chosen far beneath.
"Don't be so sure." He responded, contempt clear in his voice. "I won't let you do this!"
"And how do you intend to stop me? I could let you and your digimon attack, and I wouldn't even be wounded in the slightest. I don't even need to fight someone as weak as you, when you could pound away at me without doing a bit of damage. Gears of darkness!"
The black gears flew, and Iori was absolutely powerless to stop them. Quickly grasping his digimental, he had his Armadimon evolve, but not even a perfectly timed "Gold Rush" could even crack the gears, let alone wound Fallen Devimon…
But still he stood, never being the sort to retreat, not before Black War Greymon, not before Oikawa, and not before this demon either. But no amount of sincere opposition or idealism to back it up would be enough, not even if what happened with Miyako's digimentals for him as well…
Back in the human world, the first bearer of sincerity finished his rush, arriving at a computer at last… "Digital gate, open!" He yelled, holding up his digivice.
That's odd, the gate hasn't been closed to us chosen since Vamdemon's final defeat. Unless… He began, falling back in horror. "Damn… What sort of demon are they fighting now?" He cursed, knowing he should be protecting that world once more, but still unable to arrive there. Cut off from the world which had brought him so much, he resumed his studies, though he seemed distracted by events far, far away…
But in that faraway world, for all the suffering on the surface, at least Sora and Takeru could still find a bit of happiness, each resting happily in the arms of the other… But even as they gazed lovingly into each other's eyes, the darkness still grew in that world, and it seemed that factorial fortress would soon be the only free place in the digital world.
Fallen Devimon seemed unstoppable. The stalemate had certainly ended, attack after attack, too quick for them to even arrive in time to stop it, and more and more digimon fell under his control. It seemed the only limit to his power would be running out of black gears, they were now too widespread to even launch an attack on some sort of base, for Devimon's power was everywhere.
And for all Hououmon and Angewomon flew, all the attacks they made, they could not stop the blitzkrieg, or hold much in the way of territory in the digital world. Factorial Fortress grew some more, as it seemed there were now refugees from almost the entirety of File Island, and if those on Server and the other continents beyond knew of Fallen Devimon, they were thankful for the sea that separated them.
And even with no more Infinity Mountain to cast a shadow, it still seemed like Fallen Devimon's wings wrapped around the entire island.
But the chosen would still resist. And so they met once more, trying to come up with some desperate plan for these dark times, even though victory seemed impossible.
"We can't hold on to even the small parts of File Island we have. I don't like to say it, but unless we resort to desperate measures…" Koushirou began sadly, wishing he had miscalculated. "There is no way we can win."
"This is war, we have to be brutal sometimes." Yamato said coldly, knowing what must be done. "Factorial Fortress is the only place we have enough troops and defenses to" Yamato began, and Takeru leapt to his feet.
"No! I hate the darkness as much as anyone, but the digimon here have suffered enough!" Especially after I tried that plan with Demon… I have enough blood on my hands for all of us.
"I don't like it either, but we need to free the digital world!" Yamato shouted back, leaping to his feet.
"If we do such a thing, there won't be any digimon left in the digital world! The casualties will be immense!" Takeru shouted back.
"The fortress is strong, we can hold out a very long time even if he finds this place, and it seems Devimon's still unwilling to attack the village of beginnings. It's not as large as it used to be, and I can't say I like it, but these days, this place might as well be the digital world." Hikari spoke, sorrow clear in her voice. "And I miss the rest of the world, and so many digimon want to return home… But we'll have to last here, we have to protect these digimon, that's all this world has left."
Yamato looked annoyed, wishing the others could realize what was necessary, but he was clearly outmatched.
"We will NOT let these digimon be killed in battle… And if you try to lure Devimon here, I will not hesitate to kill you." Takeru responded coldly, and for all the compassionate reasons behind his deeds, he seemed as cold-hearted and ruthless as his brother.
"Do you think such a thing would stop me, if that were my intent? You're not the only one willing to sacrifice everything for this world." Yamato answered, his tone equally cold as he began walking away.
"You're not the only one willing to sacrifice everything for this world." Even as the meeting ended, even as he tried to simply relax while he could, those words would not leave him. This world has meant so much to all of us… And fighting an enemy that cares this deeply for this world… Such a thing would be dangerous indeed… I'm not sure if I could even bring myself to strike him.
"Takeru-kun?" The bearer of hope heard, the high-pitched voice coming from the direction of his hat… He glanced upward, but he saw nothing.
Damn, I'm hallucinating now as well… I'm so used to Patamon being around… He thought, as a tear dropped from his eye… How can I remain hopeful, when the one who gave me hope is dead? How can I hope, when my worst fears have come to pass?
I can't.
And it seemed so many others were asking the same question. Yamato, betraying all his friends but Gabumon, and then even Gabumon died. Sure, it was to save him, but… What did he have to live for now? How could Miyako remain pure for long, her feelings for Hikari as strong as they were? Love and Purity, some crests were not meant to be given to the same person. Hikari, still of the light, still knowing she would have to hurt either the digimon she cared so much for, or her closest friend.
And it still seemed even if the crests would glow, it would mean nothing in the realm of stopping Devimon… It almost seemed that a weight had been lifted from the chosen, simply knowing they could hold out here without fighting, without making their crests glow.
Or perhaps it had just been replaced with a far stronger one. The guilt of their defeat seemed far more crushing then anything, the knowledge of all the suffering they had caused. And for one chosen, he was determined to undo it and liberate the rest of the digital world, no matter what the cost…
Or is it just so that I can search the ruins of Infinity that I want this? I do miss Gabumon so much…
"Still, if I did such a thing Gabumon would hate me, and Takeru already does. But I know what I must do… I have to drive the darkness from the digital world!"
"And I have to stop you." He said, the figure too wrapped in dark robes to reveal much more then a face that seemed to be that of a human, though the ears were clearly catlike. "Humans will not save this world, even if the gods do choose them. You failed, you failed miserably, and I've seen enough digimon die while you failed to save our world."
"I haven't lost yet. At least I haven't given up the fight…" Yamato shot back, though a bit of doubt had crept into his voice.
"Right now, life is more important then some petty attempt at vengeance. Even if you free the digital world, who will be left to enjoy it?"
"The digimon will be reborn… This place will still have a future, that can't happen if the village of beginnings falls." Yamato said, the words trying to convince himself as much as they were the feline that confronted him.
"So you will sacrifice the living for the dead, let the digital world return to how it was six years ago?"
"Yeah."
"Do you really think that the digital world is only File Island, that the refugees here are only from one part of the digital world?" He spoke, and Yamato stepped back, finally realizing. "Or has your desire to see Gabumon revived made you willing to sacrifice half this world's population?"
Yamato tried to think up a retort, tried to think up some reason for him to continue this plan. After all, he wasn't the sort to back down to some random, insulting stranger, and he would like another battle, perhaps so he could finally get a free path to the ruins of infinity, perhaps simply so he could die nobly and have it not seem like he was hiding or running… But he could not, he had no answer, and so he stood silent.
The hybrid left, convinced his job was done. And so Yamato fell to his knees, wishing there was some way to find his digimon's egg, to at last return Gabumon to him… But he could not think of such a thing.
Perhaps the one who would be the source of Fallen Devimon's demise, the proverbial last light in the digital world, would not be a being of light at all.
On the surface, darkness ruled, but as a god in some far-distant universe once wrote, "Evil turns upon itself." And this was true indeed, no matter who the source of evil was.
The dark masters each tried to snuff out the chosen, one after another, but Piemon may have merely been sending potential rivals to their death. Belial Vamdemon, through his puppet Oikawa and the digimon he created, stole the dark seeds away from Demon. None freed Devimon from the whirlpool, Vamdemon let Etemon be slain even if it meant letting the chosen children gain their crests. Why, even in other worlds, though it may be simplistic to call Side three "Evil", Char did indeed slay the Zabi royal family, even as he piloted his mobile suit so well for their side. Or Nakago sending Ashitare to his death, or Suboshi killing Tomo for Amiboshi's sake, even though they served the same god. (Though perhaps that god was not a dark one, merely his followers…) Or even in the human world, so many despots fighting each other, until the western democracies united and drove despotism from large parts of the world.
Though the words had been spoken before, evil did indeed turn upon itself, or perhaps personal loyalties overcome darkness, and once more such a thing might indeed save the digital world.
After all, the evils that came from the dark ocean were not all the same. Be it lust for power, love of another, or a deep-seated grudge, someday the dark digimon would turn upon each other.
But that day did not seem soon. Lady Devimon may have joined the light, but there were no others who seemed willing to do so, and the bearer of light who had shown her so well merely rested wounded in factorial fortress, her heart torn between her jogress partner and close friend, and the digimon who had meant so much to her. No, there was no one this time to turn dark digimon to the light, nor was there anything to do but wait.
But no one wanted to wait. Sure, many were content like Takeru, determined to salvage what they could, but there were also many like his older brother, itching for battle. And even if it would be a foolish, ill-planned fight, they all wanted to go out and strike a blow at Fallen Devimon.
And so they marched, a massive army prepared to leave factorial, not just some minor raid, but an army prepared to finally win back some territory for the digital world, to strike a powerful blow against Fallen Devimon. And as they stood at the gates, the chosen stood opposite them, trying to convince them to stop.
"Please, stay here. We cannot beat the powers of darkness, if you go, all that will happen is that this fortress will lose so many that we could no longer defend this place." Takeru said, hoping they could be convinced.
The apparent leader of the army stepped forth, a hot-headed young Cyber Dramon. "We've relied on outsiders to defend our world for too long, it's time the digimon of this world fight." He began, speaking clearly and boldly. "The time has come for us to take back our world!"
Takeru wanted to resist, the strategic side of his brain still told him it was a mistake. But the way that digimon spoke reminded him of Daisuke, and the digital world needed that sort of courage right now.
He approached the army of digimon slowly, then turned around once he reached them, and one by one, the others did the same. And the gates of factorial fortress opened, and with an army of digimon behind them, the chosen began their march to retake the digital world!