Author's Notes: I would like to take this moment to thank my friends for helping me out for the past while: Death, Death of Rats, Zack and Galacticmon. It's great to be back in this seat again and I'll have some comments concerning the mystery woman from the previous chapter. Now on to the story!
Disclaimer: I do not own Digimon in any form whatsoever. Bandai, Toei and ABC own the rights and all that stuff.
Ascension – V 2.6
'Will the tamer truly be able to harness the power that his partner carries within? This is most distressing.' The female entity had just returned to her watch post. She had not been expecting ArcaDemon to sense her so quickly but apparently, his strength is getting stronger along with his senses, thanks to his tamer.
As she was pondering about how to resolve this situation, she noticed a drifting red shape with wings on its back. Upon closer inspection, she saw that it was a holy knight, fading in and out. Behind him, his shadow kept shifting shapes by itself. She wasn't sure what it meant but she noticed that one of the shapes appeared to be a monster with large jaws and wings. The entity placed a hand on the knight's forehead and felt what was happening.
'It was because of this knight that prevented Millenniumon from manipulating reality to create a new form for himself. But because of how the four beams collided with him all at once, he will have to face the troubles that have weighed on his mind and heart that have plagued him during his life.' The woman took her hand off the knight. "I wish I can help your son, Mrs. Matsuki. But this time, he's on his own."
"Guilmon!! Grani!!" That was Takato's first concern when he woke up. He wasn't in the familiar void when he had bio-merged with his Digimon. This was a different void and it disturbed him. "You won't find them here." Takato froze when he heard his own voice. He looked behind him to see himself.
"Wait. Are you the dark version of myself of something? Or some other aspect of my essence?" The other Takato Matsuki shook his head. "I'm the self which is in your mind. You see, there is a Takato Matsuki in the minds of the people who know you. Each of them differs from one another because of people's different opinions. So the Takato Matsuki inside Henry's mind would be different from the Takato Matsuki in Tai's mind." "Why are you here?" asked Takato.
"I didn't voluntarily come here. You summoned me. Your heart is troubled and is questioning some of the decisions you took in life to get to where you are right now. You're questioning why you had to become a hero at an age when you should be carefree. You're questioning why the others had to give up their carefree lives to take this burden. You're wondering where can you and your friends find happiness."
"Hey! I'm not that troubled about being a tamer and coming this far!! It's made me who I am!" His double just smiled. "Yes, that is true. You didn't mind going this far but you are concerned about whether your friends had the same intentions when they became tamers."
"I guess you have a point. I just want my friends to be happy. I don't want them to make any great sacrifices to save the world or anything. Just where can I find this happiness for myself as well as the others?" As soon as he asked that question, a wave of dizziness hit him and he blacked out.
Moments later, he heard a click and light started flooding his eyes. He groaned as he got up…in his own room. His father was standing by the doorway. "I can't have you sleeping all day, you know. Get up!" Takato rubbed the sleep from his eyes before he got out of his pajamas and into his usual attire, minus the goggles. But he didn't really notice the fact that he had no goggles. He also didn't notice the fact that his room had no Digimon merchandise at all.
While he went downstairs, he had a nagging feeling in the back of his head that something was missing. 'I better get some fresh air. Maybe it'll help me figure this out.' He noticed his mother making a small prayer to a statue of a woman wearing an orange kimono with certain symbols on it. "Mom, I'm going out!" The boy left before his mother could ask him whether he had done his homework.
As he walked to the park, he kept thinking about what was missing. All he could come up with was the word 'Digimon'. His thoughts were interrupted when someone gave him a huge slap on the back. "Hey, chumley!! How's it going?" He turned to see Kazu and Kenta with big grins. "The others are waiting for us in the park! Let's go!"
When he arrived, he saw Henry and Jeri chatting by a tree while Rika was talking on her cell phone. He almost stiffened when he heard her say good bye to her father on the phone. Kazu had a sly look on his face. "Looks like you have it bad for the Ice Queen." Moments later, the girl was pummeling him as she had heard that comment. Jeri and Henry had to pry her off of Kazu. "How about we head to the mall and help find something for Jeri's mom? It's her birthday, you know!" Rika just grumbled but she agreed to it. The others had started to leave but Takato tapped Rika's shoulder.
"Hey…have you ever heard of something called Digimon?" The girl gave him a strange look. "Are you alright? You're acting even stranger than usual. I don't know what you're talking about so let's just go." She walked away before he could ask her any more questions. He backed up in surprise when the world vanished and was replaced with a black environment with fog covering the ground.
Slowly, the consciousness of the Takato Matsuki that we're familiar with, returned with the experience and memory of what had just happened in the other world. "What was that place?!?" He froze when he saw a shift in the shadows in front of him. "Don't ask me. You were the one who made it." Renamon stepped out in front of the startled boy.
"What do you mean I was the one who made it?!? Just give me a straight answer!!" The fox Digimon ignored the boy. "Ask yourself this: are you asking the correct question?" Takato felt weak at the knees. "All I want to know is what's going on!! Is that too much to ask? I just want a simple answer…"
"Who do you think we are, your butlers?!? We can't serve the answers straight up! That's why we're talking to you in riddles so that you would be forced to look for the answers yourself," stated Terriermon as he appeared beside Renamon. Takato stepped back for a moment and bumped into a shape. "Can't I just give him a clue?" asked a familiar childish voice.
He turned around to see Guilmon but apparently, this Guilmon is not his real Digimon partner. After he had gotten the approval of Renamon and Terriermon, Guilmon looked at Takato right in the face. "Start by remembering what Justimon told you about those towers. That's a very good place to start." Takato thought back to about who knows how long ago when Justimon was explaining about the towers. His eyes widened as he came to a shocking conclusion. "Those four beams…once they collide together, reality can be manipulated. They collided with me…does that mean I can manipulate reality and create my own world? If so, why did I create that world without Digimon? "
Guilmon thought for a moment before talking. "You're part way there. Actually, your heart is the one who can manipulate reality. Your heart created that world so your friends could be happy." Takato had a shocked look on his face as Guilmon continued. "It created that world as a response to all the sadness and pain that your friends went through. Your heart cried when Jeri told you how her mother died when she was a little girl."
"Your heart was saddened when Rika told you about how she watched her father disappear from her life," stated Renamon. Then the vaccine Digimon spoke next. "Your heart was filled with sorrow when Henry had to comfort Suzie and explain why mommy and daddy couldn't tell her a bedtime story."
Takato clenched his fist. "If I wanted everyone to be really happy, why couldn't I give them both this happiness and the happiness that they would have gotten with their Digimon? And what about the Digidestined? Why couldn't my heart give them happiness?" Renamon crossed her arms. "In order to give your friends their loving families and carefree lives, all aspects of Digimon had to be erased, including the existence of the Digidestined. The Digimon factor can give your friends a new happiness but along with it would come the pain that you had wanted them to avoid."
Terriermon spoke next. "The digital world has its share of bad Digimon and no matter what, you can't erase them all. Like TK said, where there's light, there's darkness as well." Takato closed his eyes. "This isn't right…I just want them to be happy but I can't go back to that false world of happiness. How can I give them all the happiness without the pain?"
"That's impossible. If you wish to obtain a greater happiness, you must endure the pain that comes along the path to your goal," stated Guilmon. "Besides, aren't you being a bit selfish, goggle head? What gives you the right to decide how we should be happy?" Takato opened his eyes and saw Rika beside Renamon. "How…?"
"Don't go asking how I got here. I'm just the Rika Nonaka in your mind. But if you did ask the real Rika, I think she wouldn't care about how much pain that has to be endured as long as she finds her happiness in all aspects. Everyone has to make their own decision on how to find their individual happiness." Takato's eyes widened.
"She's right, you know. We do appreciate your efforts to find a way to give us happiness without the pain but by going through tough times, it strengthens us as individuals as well as a group," stated Henry with a smile. Terriermon hopped on to the Chinese tamer's shoulder. "So what did I just go through? This is all so confusing."
Rika gently placed both her hands on Takato's cheeks. "Just tell me this, goggle head. Do you wish to avoid pain to find your happiness? And would the Rika Nonaka in your mind want you to give up on your quest to find that happiness?" "Would the Digidestined in your mind want you to give up on your quest to find happiness?" asked Kari. The whole group, consisting of new and old Digidestined children along with their Digimon stood behind Rika.
"Would the people and Digimon who care about you in your mind want you to give up on your quest to find happiness?" As Henry asked the question, various people and Digimon appeared, filling the void of darkness that had surrounded him previously. Their encouraging smiles installed a new confidence within Takato. "I think I already know the answer."
* * * * * * * * * * * *
"This is fascinating!!" That was probably the seven hundredth time that Shibumi has said that phrase but it is appropriate, considering what he has seen in the digital world. It was hard to believe that such a world can be constructed and that it was thanks to him that it existed. He kept floating around, like an apparition, talking to Digimon here and there. The Digi-Gnomes have also been helpful and made sure that he wouldn't be hurt.
He had been exploring the digital world for…who knows how long. He had lost track of time but one cannot blame him since this is a unique world that he had helped to create. A unique world with creatures and sights beyond the imagination. And he was looking at one right now. "What is this place?"
The structure was nothing that he had ever seen before. "Strange. I wonder what type of Digimon lives in here." Shibumi floated across the long bridge to the front gate of the structure, which was open. He was shocked when he passed through the gate. In front of him was a large phoenix that appeared to be sick. 'Great. Another human to gawk at my weakness.'
"What happened to you? Good lord, you need help!!" Zhuqiaomon snorted. "Like there is anyone who could help. Get out of my sight, human." Shibumi didn't understand the nature of the phoenix's hostility but he could find out later once he helped him…somehow. "Maybe I can do something. I'm one of the programmers who helped to create the digital world. Perhaps I can find a way to get you better."
"The last thing I want is your help. Leave now." Shibumi didn't budge from his spot. "You can't force me to leave. I'm here whether you like it or not. If I can find a Digi-Gnome, then maybe it can help with whatever is bothering you." Finally, Zhuqiaomon snapped at the human. "What is bothering me is the fact that I'm slowly being deleted and that there's nothing anybody can do about it!!"
* * * * * * * * * * * *
Takato woke up in a gentle mist that was surrounding everything. 'What in the…?' "Ah, you've awakened. I was beginning to worry that you would not make it back." He turned to the source of the feminine voice. Someone was concealed behind the mist and on both sides of this person were Guilmon and Grani. "Did you do something to them?!? Because if you did…"
"Relax. Your friends are safe…which is more than I can say for your essence." Takato froze. 'My essence? Did my soul get destroyed or something?' "Just tell me…am I dead? Did I make a difference in my life?" An amused chuckle came from the female. "You should be asking that question to Emma-o."
The boy had to think for a moment from what his mother told him about mythology but the woman saved him the trouble. "Emma-o is the god of death, judge of the dead and lord of the afterlife." Takato snapped his fingers. "Yeah, that's it!! Wait…if I'm not dead, then what am I doing here? Who are you? What do you mean by my essence getting messed? Did you put me through that little experience to make me…"
"I did nothing. Your troubles and worries were brought to the surface when the beams had collided with you. But I'm glad that you were able to resolve them. I should send you back now…there are still some loose ends that must be tied up." Takato slowly approached Guilmon and Grani, who appeared to be in a form of stasis. Finally, he saw her. 'I…I don't believe this…'
She had the same face as the statue. Her kimono was different but certain symbols were still there. "This is unreal. You're …" He remembered his mother constantly speaking about this particular deity. After all, this woman is a highly important figure in the Shinto religion and the most important deity in all of Japan. A name escaped his lips. "…Amaterasu." The sun goddess smiled and kissed the top of the boy's head. "Take care, little one." As soon as she said that, he felt himself being thrown back.
* * * * * * * * * * * * *
"You think she's attractive in that armour? Wait until you check her out in her priest uniform. There is only one word to describe it…" Justimon would have frowned if he had a mouth. "I didn't say she was attractive, Terriermon. I said that she looked nice…and all that got me was a whap on the head with her staff. I don't think I'll ever understand her."
"Hey!! I think I see something!!" yelled Ken. Kari took out her camera and started to zoom in on the tiny figures that were in a freefall motion. "It's Takato! He's with Guilmon and Grani and they're going to get hurt unless we do something!!" Imperialdramon shot forward to help Grani.
"Akiyama, grab Guilmon!! I'll go for Takato!" Sakuyamon then flew off to catch the boy. Justimon moved as fast as he could to catch the tumbling dinosaur. Even though he was strong, he wasn't fully prepared for how much this particular rookie Digimon would weigh. "This guy's a rookie?!? You've got to be kidding me!!"
The shaman Digimon stretched out her arms so that Takato could land safely in them. He had some injuries but they could be healed in time. But his eyes…it looked like that he had quite a mental ordeal. "Are you alright?" Takato tried to speak but all he could come up with was a small "yes". Rika decided not to yell at him for going off like that…at least for now. "Just get some rest, goggle head."
The boy lost consciousness a moment later. Sakuyamon gave a small smile. 'Thank goodness you're safe.' She leaned forward and gently kissed the boy's forehead. "I'm seeing it and I still can't believe it…" The shaman Digimon looked up to glare at Justimon. "You are walking on very…very thin ice, Akiyama." The android Digimon, who had slung Guilmon over his shoulder, gave a small sigh.
Then he noticed that none of the signs of resurrection were showing throughout the digital world. He came to one conclusion…that Millenniumon would not be coming back. He looked at the child in the other Digimon's arms. "I never would have thought that he could actually stop the process. Talk about a miracle. He's truly a unique person," commented Ryo. Sakuyamon had to agree. "What did you expect? Holy knights do have a tendency to pull off miracles."
The group was preparing to regroup at Gennai's house, where not only can Taichi and Zero can finally have dinner, but where they could all swap stories about each other, their Digimon, their experiences and other things. As Justimon flew beside Sakuyamon, he asked her one question. "Since when did you start believing that miracles could happen?" The shaman Digimon looked at the sleeping boy in her arms. "Since he showed me that faith is necessary on the path to happiness."
That wraps up this chapter. I started thinking about this WAY back in November when my Humanities professor was talking about Japanese mythology and so I decided to put a little bit of that in here. NOTE: This is just how I see Amaterasu so don't start yelling at me saying that this isn't how she should be presented and so on. Besides, the producers of the anime use a bit of mythology from other places. Just look at Frontier. That's it for me!! I wish you and your loved ones a safe and Merry Christmas!!