Disclaimer: I do not own digimon or any of it's characters or digital creations.
On a side note, digimon Tri was quite enjoyable because it broke the formula. I loved the character growth amongst all the characters and their mega forms being achieved. Even if the story did take awhile to develop, I did enjoy the Takari moments interspersed between the whole story. You could rarely find Takeru without Hikari and them supporting each other. Hopefully this leads up to something when they are adults. Don't rain on my parade, just rain.
Chapter 5: Lord Fiermon
The light seemed to absorb her brilliance and then separate as Hikari felt she had been torn in two. A being in Hikari's likeness stood in front of her, looking like Hikari herself, like an after image that would not go away. There could be no doubt in her mind the entity only could be Homeostasis. She could not believe it; the strange apparition-like entity appearing in front of the others. Hikari felt glad the other digidestined could be there for her though.
"Hikari, chosen child of light," she said touching her cheek, "I have absorbed much of the light you possess in order to strengthen the seal over the Digital Record," she said, the seals on the crests of the scroll growing brilliantly, the cracks healing like wounds in the skin. "You are more susceptible to the darkness now. But should you prevail against it, like a grievous wound you will be stronger, your light ever more brilliant than before."
She felt Taichi's hand on her shoulders and thought for a moment it was Takeru. "Takeru!" she exclaimed turning around seeing Taichi.
"Hikari..." Taichi said staring at her as if he knew her confusion.
She did not know what to think or how to respond. She wished Homeostasis still possessed her so that she would not have to face reality. The pain of not having Takeru there hurt too much. He looked incredibly heart broken when they had left him. Even after he had saved her life, she felt frustrated like he had been cast off. She watched as Koushiro approached her and Homeostasis as if bewildered by the new revelation.
"Homeostasis, just what is the digital record?" he asked.
"It is not something for you to know," she answered. "Should the data contained even be mentioned the seals would crack again. Just as all of your crests have. Through the darkness their are cracks in your hearts as you see the crests on the seal. But with this light seal from Hikari they can heal and be kept safe. Your hearts should feel less inclined to stress as well."
Hikari looked at the others who seemed slightly confused, but they looked as if they felt a bit light. A little more relieved and relaxed.
If only she felt that way.
"And now digidestined, with the seal intact, you can all now go ho-"
Strangely Homeostasis paused as if deeply concerned.
"-It cannot be," she said impartial, but fearful. "This is not possible."
"What are you talking about?" Taichi said looking to where Homeostasis was staring.
Hikari squinted and shuddered. A digimon covered in black armor wielding a shadowy sword stood in their path near the entrance.
"The herald has once more returned..." the voice said. "...Guided by the darkness."
"Guided by the darkness?" Hikari wondered aloud. "But this is a place of light!" she exclaimed fearfully having no sense of the danger nearby her.
"It is impossible for you to be here," Homeostasis said, her eyes brimming with fierce yellow light. "Begone you impure soul."
The digimon held out both of it's arms as a relentless attack in a blazing light struck him from overhead.
"Let the trumpets signaling his emissary's arrival blow!" he exclaimed as he was annihilated in a severe light.
She was relieved that it was gone.
"I guess we did not need to digivolve after all," Agumon said lightheartedly.
"DON'T BE SO SURE," a surprisingly dark voice echoed out from where the evil digimon was destroyed.
Everyone watched in horror as a terrible rift of darkness appeared and out of it a dark figure came forward warping around the light, filling everything around it's immediate radius in shadow.
"This cannot be," Homeostasis shuddered. "Their is no way you can come back. I watched as you were annihilated data bit by data bit!" Homeostasis exclaimed. "I annihilated you with my own bare hands."
"Oh, but did you?" the voice said taking form.
The being was harsh to behold. Like the digimon before it he was covered head to toe, but in tight fitting black armor, two incredible dark angel wings penetrating from it's back and two wings which served as horrendous claws also making him hover in midair. It's loathing yellow eyes looked down on them, jagged mesh teeth snarling their direction in disdain. For all of it's ferocity, the Digimon looked well kept and composed, humanoid, and even having a charming demeanor.
"Just as you hid the Digital Record in the Light so did I hide myself, knowing you would not notice anything outside of it's brilliance. I allowed myself to be destroyed only for this moment," he said staring at Hikari. "Thanks to your tainted oracle I was able to find the fracture in your defenses. It is my turn...to attack," he said leering as he lunged towards the Digital Record.
Homeostasis shot out a bunch of lights from the seal guarding the Digital Record and relentless vectors of light lashed out at him. One touched one of his wings dissolving it instantly, but he merely shrugged it off.
"You will not sully this place! Be annihilated in the light of judgment!" she commanded, more rays shining out of nowhere. The digimon dodged and weaved through them.
"You will not escape!" Homeostasis yelled as strands of the world wrapped him in chains one by one until he could not move.
"This time your destruction will be assured."
The digimon only cackled. From behind it in the rift a swarm of digimon came out of nowhere to defend him.
"How could it be Fiermon?!" Homeostasis exclaimed.
"You will address me as Lord Fiermon," he said breaking a chain around him with his clenched claw. "The place of ultimate light concealing the engine of the digital world...shall succumb to darkness forever."
With that said he snapped his fingers and an army of evil digimon emerged swarming the place and attacking everything and everyone in sight.
Most of them were Devidramon.
"Then we shall commence this battle, digimon against digimon!" Homeostasis exclaimed, shining lights entering into the digidestined partners.
Hikari also could not help but feel a surge of power.
Their Digimon all came forward in their champion forms and attacked the dark guardian dragon-like digimon.
"Tailmon go get them!" Hikari yelled as her lightning paws went in all directions swarming the digimon. Some of them went flying. Others crashed into the ground.
Greymon's fires burned away some of them, but others bit with powerful fangs hurting Birdramon and Ikkakumon.
Garurumon and Kabuterimon unleashed powerful blue blaster and electro shocker attacks.
Needle spray from Togemon seemed to irritate the digimon and enraged them.
"Chosen Children," Homeostasis said staring at Fiermon. "The Child of Hope. Where is he?"
"You mean Takeru?" Yamato asked. "He got injured during our last fight with the digimon you destroyed. "What of it?"
Homeostasis's glance met with Hikari's, her eyes wavering She then looked at the shield fighting frantically to protect the Digital Record, swarms of devidramon clashing with the barrier, some being destroyed.
"Was this your plan all along Fiermon?" she asked looking at them all.
Hikari noticed him close his eyes as if he was not proud or totally consumed by evil.
"The Digital Record holds my secrets..." Fiermon said. "...The data I need to be restored. I care not for anything else," he said, a surge of dark brilliance emanating from his claw.
"Digidestined!" Homeostasis cried out, "You must digivolve and destroy him! If he touches the Digital Record he will obtain ultimate power!"
"Then we can't let him get away with it," Mimi said. "Togemon, time to blossom!"
In a sparkling greenish light Togemon transformed into Lilymon. "Flower cannon!" she cried out launching a savage attack.
Fiermon merely tilted his head and a Devidramon took the brunt of the attack disintegrating it.
"Their is a difference," he said, "Between digimon made of darkness and digimon that use the darkness."
With that he said very calmly 'Winged Fury' and all of his wings launched over to the barrier protecting the Digital Record, and while all the vectors were busy, it cracked the foundation.
"My light cannot be broken!" Homeostasis shrieked.
"But whose light is broken?" Fiermon asked, but not in a taunting way. "Yours? Or the child''s?"
"Enough of this!" Taichi scoffed. "We are not going to be able to beat you unless we all can fight together. Your up! Digivolve Greymon!"
"You got it!"
In an orangish light Greymon digivolved to Metal Greymon.
"Now, while his guard is down, finish him!"
"Giga Blaster!" he shouted, two digital warheads flying out from his metal plated chest.
Two more Devidramon flew over and were blown up by the attacks.
"There are just too many Devidramon!" Yamato said cautiously eyeing his friend. "Gabumon, you and the others are needed right away!"
One by by one all the digimon achieved their ultimate forms except for Hikari herself. She watched them all take on the Devidramon, Homeostasis also unleashing incredible beams of light.
"Hikari I need to help them!" Tailmon cried tugging at her side.
She barely could feel Tailmon's paw. What was wrong with her? She seemed so calm and indifferent to everything.
A Devidramon approached Tailmon and she knocked it away with a lightning paw attack.
"It's so...dark," Hikari said, feeling as if her whole body was sinking into a familiar darkness. She could not put a finger on it. Homeostasis said she had taken most of her light, but she knew she still had some at least. But where was it? She kept thinking about what Taichi said earlier; Of how Takeru should stay behind. Images swarmed her mind regarding the digimon that attacked her and Takeru doing his best and getting hurt badly. She could feel hot tears brimming in her eyes.
Around her the other digimon viciously attacked the devidramon. Homeostasis seemed to be losing against Fiermon and she knew it would only be a matter of time.
"This is my fault," she said the side of her face going numb. "If I did not bear the crest of light like this Takeru would never have got hurt. He would have never had to go through any of this. If I wasn't so..." she said giving into despair.
She heard Tailmon's voice quiver. "Hi...kari?:
In a burst of darkness Tailmon digivolved into Ophanimon.
Hikari barely recognized her. "Did...I do this to you?" she said her eyes tearing as she touched her face.
Ophanimon seemed indifferent. Hikari noticed the air had frozen still as all the other digimon stopped fighting and gawked at the transformation.
"Hikari," she heard Taichi's voice crack. He looked speechless and terrified for her.
She stared at her brother as if he was not there. All these people were watching out for her self interest right? Why did it seem like they were only trying to help themselves? She could literally feel darkness seeping out of her.
Ophanimon lifted up her hand and let out a savage attack at Metal Greymon.
"No darkness shall corrupt my domain!" Homeostasis yelled lifting up a hand towards Hikari. "Where is your protector child of light? The crest of Hope is not here?"
"If there is no hope..." Fiermon said floating over to the barrier. "...Then the light is dispelled. 'Focus Night','' he stated as a surge of darkness swirled in his hand and he pushed it into the barrier completely shattering it vectors and all.
"No!" Koushiro exclaimed. "Tentomon we cannot let Fiermon have the Digital Record! We need your mega form!"
"Koushiro, I can't," Mega Kabuterimon grunted. "I can't go any higher!"
\
"But it should just be like riding a bike," he said as if unsure what for them to do.
"I don't want the Digital Record," Fiermon said approaching it. "I only want..." he said walking over to it, and stretching his claw over merely touching it with his claw...
...To know what's inside it."
Fiermon lit up in an eerie light as data from the Digital Record translated over to him.
The digidestined stared at him helplessly.
"My servant Ophanimon, you have done well," he said as Ophanimon glided over to him. "Though you are dyed in darkness I am not your master, for she stands in the way of your return to the heavens," he stated as both of them looked at Hikari.
She knew this could not be good, but she didn't care.
"I...I don't care about anything," she said, more darkness emanating from her. "My light is fragile and weak. And I am to the point where I don't think anyone would matter if I were gone."
She felt Fiermon leer at her.
"You are correct. Your existence is only a hindrance," he said, his wings spread ready to attack her. "You have no hope, so succumb to your own destruction," he declared unleashing a devastating 'Winged Fury' attack at her.
In an instant she looked up in silent shock as Ophanimon took all four blows from Fiermon.
"How is that possible?! You dark digivolved! Your heart should be cold and uncaring!" Fiermon hollered, surprised.
Ophanimon cried out and dedigivolved back into Salamon.
Hikari watched helplessly as she fell back into her arms.
"Salamon," she teared for her friend. "I am so sorry I did this to you."
Oh Hikari," she heard her puppy whisper. "You aren't so weak after all. Even with all the darkness coming out of you I knew you were still there shining light like a lantern in the darkness. I just had to whisper to you," she whimpered.
Hikari held Salamon close, her hot tears pouring down her face.
"I don't want to lose you Salamon! Salamooon!" she screamed, her digital puppy dog losing consciousness.
She felt an insane amount of light radiate from her towards the other digimon.
"Taichi, I can do it now!" Metal Greymon exclaimed.
"Then show him what you got!" Taichi said throwing a fist in the air.
In a brilliant flash of orange Metalgreymon digivolved to War Greymon.
Yamato also felt power emanating from WerGarurumon. "You got this!" he said pounding his fist in his hand.
"Then here I go!" Wergarurumon exclaimed. In a cold blue light he digivolved into Metal Garurumon.
Fiermon merely smirked as they came at him. "So this is your power," he noticed.
A powerful Gaia Force and Ice Wolf Claw shot over to him. He placed all four wings in front of him and they held together defending against the attacks.
"I am disappointed," he said as if he was let down.
"It's not over yet!" Koushiro said. "Megakabuterimon it's your turn!"
"Time to get buzzed!" Megakabuterimon exclaimed. In a purplish hue he changed into HerculesKabuterimon. "Mega Shocker!" He called out, Fiermon effortlessly batting the attack away.
"So together this is how you have overcome all odds," he said as if contemplating them.
One by one the rest of the digimon digivolved to mega forms but Fiermon seemed like he was merely toying with them.
"Vikemon, Rosemon, Phoenixmon. For mega level digimon I expected so much more from you."
With a flap of his wings, calling out "Shrieking Terror!" Fiermon beat them back savagely.
"But this worked before!" Sora exclaimed. "Why is this not working now?!"
"I don't know," Mimi said startled. "Something feels different!"
Fiermon clapped his hands laughing as if he was enjoying all of this. "Tell me, what do you call a light with no sustaining power behind it?" he asked.
Hikari stared up at him, not quite sure what was going on. She felt surprisingly hot, burning with a fever. "It's so hot," she said holding onto Salamon. "Salamon, hang in their," she said falling to her knees.
"Hikari!" Taichi called out.
She could barely concentrate as he called out. Her head felt like it was going to explode.
"Yamato! We have to finish him NOW!" Taichi exclaimed.
"Let's go Omegamon, it's your chance!" Yamato cried.
With that the two mega digimon combined their strength to form Omegamon.
He held up his arm towards Fiermon. "You're not dodging this one," he exclaimed. "Supreme Cannon!"
With that Fiermon, with little fear tilted himself as the attack came by him. His arm had a big chunk taken from him.
"I detest this arm," he said watching it slowly dissolved and ripped it from his body.
"You've got him on the ropes Omegamon! Finish him off!" Yamato cried.
Fiermon jumped back and unleashed his winged fury upon him.
"Transcending Sword!" he lashed out, severing the wings causing Fiermon to shriek.
He then proceeded to rush forward and stab him.
Fiermon covered himself with his arms and closed his eyes. "Shadow Feint!" he cried, a similar attack Hikari had seen before striking Omegamon. But where had she seen it?
Omegamon cried out and fell back hitting the ground.
"What happened? Omegamon had him on the ropes!" Joe exclaimed.
"Yes he did," Mimi agreed, "But he just as soon got the upper hand."
"I know I have seen that somewhere," Taichi said, "But where?"
Homeostasis walked over towards all of them having observed it all. "Piedmon. Attack: Clown Trick. An effective powerful blast that rendered Wargreymon down for the count until Metal Garurumon's friendship revived him."
"But where did he learn such an attack?" Sora asked. "He never used it before."
"This is why he went after the Digital Record," Homeostasis explained. "Fiermon has become the most powerful and wisest of digimon ever. He knows the entire History of the Digital World."
"Does that mean you will tell us what's exactly in the Digital Record?" Koushiro asked.
"Yes," Homeostasis said. "But not here." She then lifted up her hand brimming with light and all the chains of the domain came over to Fiermon and wrapped him up in them rendering him unable to move.
Fiermon did not fight against the attack, but merely took it.
With that in a swirling white light all the digimon got sucked into a portal including Hikari. She saw that digimon leer, but not menacingly as they all vanished inside of it.