Disclaimer: I do not own digimon or any of the digidestined or or digimon or anyone else in the show, but if Fiermon was in the show he would be my favorite villain. Hero concepts get so boring when the villain is there just so the hero can have an enemy.
On a side note before anyone decides to lynch me for Taichi's aggressiveness especially concerning poor Takeru, though Taichi has grown up and matured a lot I believe his past haunts him to a point one can regress from growth, but just the same, everyone can crack when they are under pressure and do horrible things; Especially the leader of the digidestined. Flaws are an opportunity for character. Character is an opportunity to cheer for the protagonist. And we, whether we like it or not as the audience can't help but participate shouting out at them between the lines.
Chapter Ten: Courage to Survive
Somewhere in the digital world Taichi found himself completely lost. He wandered through the woods, pain and bitterness pouring out from his heart. As he felt the pricks in his chest he reflected still not believing what had happened to him before. He stared at his hands seeing blood on them and Takeru laying their still like he could never get up again. Taichi never used to have this kind of rage before, but his anger got the better of him and now Takeru...he did not know what would happen to him.
"Why did I do it?" he screamed. "I just...I didn't want to lose again! Not to Yamato or those of his blood!" he yelled out.
Over the years looking back on everything whenever it seemed like things were going his way, Yamato interfered. Whether it was back in the days of his childhood or being one of the role models for the younger generation. Yamato had just a way about him of outshining him. Yet, even still he did not hate Yamato for that, but actually held him with great respect. Even as he fought and argued him with all the way till now somehow Yamato just sharpened him, made him really want to believe every word he's said and his choice of actions. Of course, that all changed after they had pummeled each other into the ground and caused the whole group to separate.
During that time and after he noticed a change between Yamato and the girl he secretly harbored affection for. They seemed closer even though Yamato still kept his distance. Taichi could not quite put his finger on exactly what happened, but then as he grew older she seemed to distance herself from him. About asking questions. About asking what the right thing to do was. She just grew apart from him and little by little gave Yamato all that attention. By the time Taichi had realized it the seeds were already rooted. Sora had become fully committed to Yamato and he knew he had no chance anymore. He, Taichi Yagami, the wielder of the Crest of Courage and the Leader of the Digidestined...had lost.
Taichi hated to admit it, but he was a sore loser. Whether it was playing soccer or playing with the affections of a girl he had to win. And now that Sora was no longer in reach his respect for Yamato slowly twisted into a jealous resentment for him. Time had passed, and little by little he felt like he was starting to heal and move on from losing Sora. He realized that Yamato actually listened to her and encouraged her to go down her own path, Yamato waiting for her in thew ings if she needed to ask anything. He gave her the affection and trust he himself was uncapable of giving her. Deep down, he hated to admt it, but he never once had considered her feelings, only his own feelings in comparison to her. He never really understood her on her terms, but only on his. It took awhile, but he managed to swallow his pride and accept their relationship, even if he hated the constant reminder of his own failures. That feeling burrowed deeper and deeper until he could not feel anything anymore, but just keep them at a cold distance. It might have seemed harsh, but he could not allow his immature self to ruin what remained of the friendships he had with them and he vowed to never let it happen again. But just when his strategy had finally started to work an even greater threat emerged.
This time, in the shadow of his rival, his sadistic little brother let himself be known with his sights set on his sweet little sister Hikari. He did not notice at first because he himself had charged Takeru with taking care of her. But just like with Yamato and Sora, over time this had somehow escaped him and he had missed a deepening friendship and love between them replace a caring brother sister bond he had with her. His sweet caring doting little sister who scolded him for not waking up, but smiled so warmly and innocently as an angel had been ensnared in the clutches of Yamato's brother.
He could only imagine the sneers of contempt on their faces as if to condemn him of his faults and his mistakes. He could not blame this on anyone but himself, especially losing his sister like that. No, he could not lose his sister, even if she had already given herself to the corrupted darkly Takeru who only toyed and played with her heart. He would not abandon Hikari to a miserable life with Takeru. He knew one day he would break her heart leaving Hikari broken in pieces. He had to save her, not matter what it may cost him. The ache in his chest twisted deeper in his heart as he fell to the ground writhing in agony.
"What have I done?" He lamented, sinking his hands into the soft soil grasping it in his clenched fists. He could see the misery on Hikari's face and the terror on Hikari's face as he smashed the stereo on top of his head. Taichi wanted to go home in a safe place more than anything, but it was likely Hikari would never speak to him again. Now because of this he knew he could never return home again.
He eventually wandered out to a cliff side from a clearing in the trees. The area seemed quiet, not a digimon in sight. He stared looking down at the rocks below. "If I wasn't so aggressive..." he said, "...If I was not such a hothead to everyone when I don't get my way no one would have ever felt like I was pulling them with me or bossing them around. No one would have ever thought that way about me."
He covered his eyes and kept walking till he was near the cliff's edge. Maybe I should just do them a favor and leave forever, he thought. Everyone would be so much happier that way.
Takeru's eyes focused on the slowly clearing world around him. The darkness blurred his vision, but as the light separated the darkness his vision became clear. He breathed in, albeit painfully, but at least he knew he was alive. He felt a terrible pain spread across his face like he had been smashed in the face with a baseball bat. The swelling felt like it was receding on his face, and aside from the terror he felt when Taichi had nearly killed him, he felt peaceful. Takeru wondered why he felt that way, until he saw Hikari, her arms folded resting her head on his legs. He smiled down at her and rubbed her head.
As he did, he felt a sharp incredible pain as he looked at his hand. There were scars and a strange mark all over it. "What is this?" he wondered aloud. He had a feeling Hikari might have had something to do with it, but for now he knew that he should let her rest. He leaned back in bed and thought about what happened. He had never imagined Taichi could have come at him like that and nearly kill him. It would have devastated Hikari forever and the other digidestined would never have forgiven him.
"Takeru," Hikari's voice whispered, her hand reaching out towards his. He stared down astonished she had a similar marking burned on her hand.
"Just what happened?" he wondered staring up at the ceiling.
"Takeru!" a chubby pillow with wings yelled jumping into his arms.
"Patamon!" he exclaimed hugging him. "I missed you buddy!"
"I got really scared Takeru when you told me to leave you alone at home after you got back from the ice cream shop. I never thought you would ever end up here unless a digimon got to you. You just wanted some time to yourself huh?"
Takeru pondered Patamon's words. Why does that seem so familiar? he thought. He remembered the anger in Taichi's eyes and the cryptic words of Fiermon.
"I have a feeling he had something to do with this," he said looking down at Hikari.
He bent down and kissed her forehead. "Good morning." Again, her hair was perfect. Tailmon was curled up next to her yawning sleepily.
"Watch over her for me," he said caressing Hikari's hair.
He knew that in a way he had deserved the ire of her brother's rage by not respecting him. Somehow darkness had gotten to her brother and their was no way he could let him suffer, just as he had seen Hikari suffer and struggle with depression for quite awhile now. And it was not as if Taichi had been completely in the wrong. He was just being her protective older brother. It was his own selfishness to want to be with Hikari that caused him to lash out like that. He remembered so clearly the hurt and confusion on Taichi's face before Taichi struck him.
"I'm going now. I'm not coming back without your brother. He is really hurting to Hikari," he said exiting the room.
Yamato was there waiting for him, cans of coffee scattered around him. "Guess you didn't die," he said scrunching up an empty can in his hand.
"Nope," Takeru replied looking at his hand and the bizarre markings on them.
"Your girl collapsed while you were gone from worry," Yamato said. "But don't worry. Me and Sora helped her and the nurse rested her up for the night."
Takeru grabbed a can of coffee next to Yamato and sat down. "Hey, do you think Taichi would really have done this?" he asked drinking some coffee stimulating his nerves.
"That hothead can do anything," Yamato almost grimaced looking at him. "It's a good thing, but also a bad thing."
"I don't think he was himself," Takeru said. "I think something might have happened to him."
"Yeah, he lost his mind," Yamato said punching his fist. "That jerk's probably off sulking somewhere just for nearly killing you. I've done that lots of times," he smirked.
Takeru sighed enjoying himself. "But of course you didn't have the strength to finish me off," he laughed.
"What was that Takeru?!" he said throwing an empty can at him.
Takeru avoided the can thrown at him and turned to Yamato seriously.
"Mind letting your little brother drag you into more trouble?"
He grinned. "Nah. I can walk on my own thanks."
Takeru felt like his brother seemed more like a true friend rather than a distant relative. At least Yamato was not like their Dad always so distant from him and her mom and rarely ever talked about him according to Yamato. He took out his cell phone and started texting the others about Taichi.
His brother took out his phone and Takeru knew he must have gotten his message.
His eyes seemed incredulous. "What do you mean by this?" he asked. "Putting me in a spot bro, saying I know where Taichi is."
Takeru could only smile innocently. "If you don't know where he is bro, then no one has a chance of finding him."
Taichi stared down in the abyss as if he was already in it, his body lifelessly down there. Even if he died it would not make up for the grief he had caused his sister. Just ever since he heard his sister cry her eyes out and then the sweater everything Takeru had done had annoyed him. And then when he went behind is back to see his sister it was too much. He closed his eyes trying to shut off his frustration.
He felt a leering presence stare up at him from a jagged spire below.
"Denizen of light," it said, "What value is their in your life? If you do not have the courage to go on, then at least show your resolve by taking responsibility for it. Indeed, it is the only way to restore your courage."
Taichi swore he saw Fiermon slowly rising, the jagged spire he was standing on making him grow higher till he was at his level.
"How did it feel?" Fiermon smirked. "Did the darkness overflowing in your heart feel satisfying to scream out? You feared losing your loved one and in turn her and all of the digidestined have deserted you," he mused.
Taichi covered his hand with his heart disgusted with himself. "Something did not feel right," he confessed. "I knew I was mad at Takeru, but I would never hurt him like that. I just...wasn't myself," he said staring down into the abyss.
Fiermon frowned staring at him as if he could see through him. "Your kind blames the darkness when they can't take responsibility for their own choices. It is a strawman, a lie, so you don't have to feel as responsible for the consequences," he explained.
"Did you not see your crest nearly shattered when you first saw the Digital Record? The weight of your responsibility and taking on the others put the most pressure on your shoulders. The stress weakened you over time. That is why you wanted your strength again, but the things that made you strong were being taken away. Your rival, and now, your rival's brother had stolen your love interest and your sister. In your attempt to regain your courage you destroyed it," he said showing Taichi's crest in his hand, breaking and shattering to pieces.
Taichi felt so lost, so deserving of punishment, he merely took it in stride. "How do you know that?" he asked still not quite sure about the digimon. Even if he had the Digital Record, their was no way he knew all that.
Fiermon looked at his hand as if looking into himself. "What do you think the Digital Record is? I knew you ever since you came to this world and every time you've left it. Did you not think I would infer your jealousy over Yamato and Sora, and, especially Takeru and Hikari your sister? Eventually you would lash out. That's why I did not pursue you when Homeostasis opened that gate to leave her domain. You would break yourself with your own hands."
Taichi looked up at him absorbing everything he was telling him. He listened to each word, realizing that Fiermon sounded almost human though that was impossible.
"Tell me something," he said sheepishly, "you know about Skullgreymon to don't you? And all the battles we fought facing the dark masters?"
Fiermon nodded his head.
"Skullgremon dark digivolved and Agumon regained himself. But the dark masters were destroyed. And apocalymon was destroyed," he said. "But you say the darkness is a lie. So what about those evil digimon was a lie?! They almost killed us! Piedmon nearly had us all into keychains!"
Fiermon frowned looking at Taichi as if he understood nothing. "What you call evil is really the virus. But, it's the meaning of the virus that caused these digimon to exist in the first place."
Taichi still did not quite get it. "What do you mean by meaning of the virus? They are evil. They threatened the digital world so Homeostasis sent us on a wild goose chase to destroy them."
He felt cold as Fiermon looked at him directly in the eyes.
"You fail to understand. Tell me, when an arsonist burns down a building and the fire kills someone do you put out the flame or take care of the arsonist?"
"You take care of the flame first so it does not spread out of control," he responded. "Then after once things are under control you go after the arsonist."
Fiermon clapped his hands once. "Good," he replied. "But if you get used to putting out fires, the arsonist is never caught. In the meanwhile the average person will blame the fire and not the arsonist because they do not understand a fire as anything other than fire. The fire is a symbol of it's creator's madness and murderous intent, so it is with the dark digimon."
Taichi could barely grasp Fiermon's logic. "So because they are programs they are not to blame," he said aloud, wondering about all of their battles. "They are a symptom!" he said looking at him seriously.
Fiermon pointed down the cliff. "So glad you could come to that revelation before your demise. But now it is time you repent of your murder. You can't hide behind the excuse of darkness. You can't run from the lies you are facing. Cast yourself down to show you've taken responsibility," he commanded as if he knew Taichi's faults even more than himself.
Taichi hesitated staring down, wondering if he would feel any pain once he hit the ground. Fiermon seemed impatient for him to act and it seemed suspicious.
"Simply fall onto these jagged spires and it will all be over," he gestured with his hands as if he was a servant opening a door for him, his voice spreading through his every thought. "You won't have to bear the burden of leading the others. Or living your life every day seeing the bashed in head of your sister's hope causing her grief. Take responsibility Taichi," he suggested. "Only then can your friends move on."
Taichi observed the dark being grab a piece of spire it was resting on and transformed it into a sharp dagger.
"This one's for you," Fiermon said. "It will take all the courage you can muster to end your life, but you have already forfeited that privilege haven't you?"
Taichi could see it so clearly when he crushed Takeru's head with the CD player. I...killed him? he thought. Of course I did. I was so angry I did not know my own strength.
He stared at the being frustrated with himself.
"Here," Fiermon said tossing him the spire. "Show them your repentance."
Taichi caught it and made the tip prick his finger making it bleed. It was pretty sharp. He stared at it fascinated. "This is the right choice, right?" he said feeling the edge.
He put his hand to his chest and swallowed hard. "Take courage!" he said to himself holding it up near his heart. "If I just do this," he said panting. "If I just kill myself-"
"-It will all be over," Fiermon interjected.
Taichi gritted his teeth, frustrated, and thought of his sister. She would be crying tears of sadness over losing Takeru, but what about him?
Would you cry for your stupid brother, Hikari? He wondered.
He closed his eyes ready to commit himself. He could sense Fiermon anticipating his death bringing him pause, the being's nostril's snorting hot fuming air, a low growl emanating from his throat as if impatient for him to end his life. Maybe that's what the being had wanted all along. Maybe he was being deceived!
"Forget it!" Taichi said breaking the spire jagged edge on the ground. "I won't go through with it."
Fiermon snickered. "See? You've proven my point! Now do you see it?" he grinned. "The coward you really are?! You hypocrite!"
Taichi gritted his fist, but admitted that Fiermon had a point. "You know what? You're right. I am a hypocrite," he admitted, "And weak. But you know I always believed in doing the right thing. Even if I failed the first time. Or the second time. If I realized my mistake I would go back and do what's right."
"But you can't go back," Fiermon intervened hovering mid air. "It's too late. He's already dead. Saying your sorry won't change a thing."
Taichi gripped his fist towards his chest even tighter. "I realize that. But I also realized no matter how sorry I am, if I end my life I would be running away. Hikari would still be sad. Takeru's parents and the digimon and our friends would mourn. And I will probably be going to jail after this," he said facing his future. "But I must live with the pain of all the others I've hurt. That is the least I can do for Takeru's memory."
He met Fiermon's gaze and he was surprised that he started clapping.
"Very good. I was only testing you Taichi. You passed," Fiermon said folding his wings. "Congratulations. You are indeed worthy of your crest," he said, Taichi feeling the orangish symbol brimming over his heart. "Perhaps it will be you that permanently deletes me."
Taichi stared at Fiermon as if it had aspects of humanity about him. "Just what is it you want?" he asked.
Fiermon stared at him with brazen eyes. "To fulfill my ultimate desire."
A voice called out to Taichi, Taichi turning his head almost instantly seeing what looked like his yellow orange dinosaur friend running his way.
"Taichi!" the familiar face said running up to him, a digimon sniffing the ground all the way to him and jumping in his arms.
"Agumon!" he exclaimed joyfully hugging his dinosaur.
"Don't believe him you idiot!" a familiar voice said following behind him, Gabumon right at his heels. "My brother's alive! He's coming forward!" Yamato added, him seeing the others running towards him, including Takeru.
He could hardly believe it. He swore he thought he had killed him but thankfully he was ok.
"Yamato how did you find me?" he asked. "I never told anyone where I went."
Yamato brushed off his complement like it was nothing. "I didn't. But I remembered if anyone knew how to find you, it would be this guy," he said patting Agumon's head. "As soon as I realized that I let all the others know and they came running!"
"Taichi always smells like yummy Japanese food!" he exclaimed. "Speaking of which what did you have for lunch today? It was Yakisoba wasn't it?!" he accused. "No fair I wanted to have some!"
"You can when we get back," Taichi exclaimed. "A huge bowl full!"
Hikari and Takeru approached him, a large hole forming in Taichi's stomach. Oh great, he thought. I'm glad he is better, but now what's going to happen?
"Big brother Taichi," he said approaching him, Yamato fuming with laughter.
"Huh?!" he exclaimed. What in the world is this punk trying to pull?
"Thanks for letting me date your sister," he smiled. "Don't worry I will take care of her."
Taichi felt his blood pressure rising.
"I wonder if now I'll be able to meet your Mom Hikari," he pondered, Taichi looking down on her confused face, Hikari smiling nervously.
He felt the veins in his arms bulge, and he gripped his fist as if he wanted to hurt Takeru. But then he breathed a sigh of relief.
He smiled back just relieved to know the others did not hate him, especially his sister. That idiot Takeru looked like he was enjoying the whole thing as if he did not have a care in the world. He wasn't even mad at him.
"Did I finally knock some sense into you?" he smirked. "If you make my sister unhappy I will put you down for the count next time," he laughed. "And I still haven't approved of you yet Takeru. No brother ever wants to make his sister sad if her love interest sacrifices himself."
Takeru's smile vanished for a second as he seemed like he was staring down at his hand into himself.
"You're a good older brother Nichan."
Taichi glared at everyone having a laugh at his expense even Hikari.
He then heard a large growling sound as he turned around, Fiermon tapping his finger scratching it against his chest, his arms folded. "I was so close," he said making a fist as if squeezing it in frustration. "You've digidestined heard the saying a chain is only as strong as the weakest link. But, if you break the strongest chain you take out the will to even resist," he said grimacing. "I thought if I had convinced you Taichi to end your life the others would despair. Then should they still have resisted me I would have used their negative emotions to crush them with their own dark mega digimon. It would have been perfect," he sighed.
Taichi looked at Fiermon amazed by him and his cunningness. No digimon had ever planned their defeat so methodically as Fiermon. He stared back at the others, the ones who smiled at him as if telling him they forgave him, even that empty smiled Takeru. He found himself smiling back. "Thanks for coming guys," he said. "Sorry for being such a pain. I was about to go cliff diving when you stopped me!"
Yamato smirked grinning like he was about to one up him. "Wow that would be dramatic," he said about ready to get him. "That would-be-"
-"Quite a cliff hanger!" Takeru interjected, Yamato's face tensed up with frustration at his little brother.
Everyone would not stop laughing at Yamato berating his little brother for stealing his pun, whose mischievous innocent face would not break even if it ended up killing him.
Taichi turned, the face of Fiermon brimming with frustration and anger.
"So this is the power of you ridiculous humans!" he exclaimed. "The audacity! Here you are face to face with the most powerful digimon in the world and here you are laughing and enjoying yourselves! You confound even the knowledge of the Digital Record!"
Taichi smirked smiling at his friends feeling his courage build him back up and the others trusting him. "It's not head knowledge you freak, it's heart knowledge. Something you don't have!" he said taking out his digivice. "This time you're through!"
"Let me at 'em!" roared his best friend transforming all the way into Wargreymon.
"You won't steal all the glory Taichi!" he heard Yamato yell. "Wolf him down Gabumon!"
"I was just getting famished!" he yelled out as in a blue light he transformed into Metal Garurumon.
Fiermon smirked. "Two megas, against me? Interesting. Will this be a rematch?"
"No way!" Taichi said one fist in the air.
"Omegamon is way stronger!" Yamato called out as well.
With that in blue and orange lights the two mega digimon merged into Omegamon.
"Don't forget us to!" Sora called out. "Piyomon time to spread the love!"
"Gomamon, take care of this in a hurry. I have to finish my homework tonight," Joe said, Taichi watching him tilt his glasses on his face.
"And now you Tentomon!" Koushiro called out. "Time to hit him with some knowledge!"
In brilliant flashes of green, red, blue, and purple all the digimon reached their mega forms.
Fiermon started laughing out loud as if entertained by them.
"So you all think you are so tough because of how many mega digimon you have? You think numbers will defeat me? Have you learned nothing from your previous battles?" he inquired. "Don't you understand at all how you defeated some of your mightiest foes?!"he said as if they truly did not understand their own power.
"Shut up!" Taichi yelled sick of the digimon always taunting them. "You're finished Fiermon!"
"Everyone attack!" Yamato called out.
With that he witnessed all the digimon release their strongest attack at him, Fiermon cutting down some attacks, breaking apart Vikemon's ice with his bare hand in a fist, his claws tearing apart others, him clashing with the supreme cannon of Omegamon.
He stood their, battered, his wings crumbling apart from his protection.
Taichi stared up satisfied. "We got him on the ropes!" he yelled. "All right guys let's finish him off!"
With that Omegamon extended his blade. "Transcending sword!" he roared out, in a brilliant fury stabbing through Fiermon.
Fiermon shrieked out in pain, the sword sticking out of him.
"It's over!" Mimi said joyfully.
"Somethings wrong!" Takeru said, Taichi seeing Fiermon grinning.
"He's not dissolving!" Hikari yelled.
"What is going on?!" Mimi screamed.
"The end," Fiermon grinned, grabbing onto the sword and tearing it out of Omegamon. "The end of everything!"
In fierce some brilliant dark blasts all the digimon and Digidestined were flung around like rag dolls scattered to the winds.
Takeru could barely feel his back, pain shooting up from his spine. He focused his eyes opening them barely, focusing in to see Patamon lying next to him as well shivering from the cold. "Patamon," he whispered out, his voice hurting. He could literally feel the wind rip against him.
"T-takeru," he heard Hikari's voice call out, laying on the ground, her voice barely audible.
He forgot about his pain and limped over to her collapsing near her. "Hikari," he coughed. "Are you ok?"
"I'm fine," he heard her reply weakly. "Just so tired."
Takeru grabbed her hand, starting to shiver from the cold and lifted her up into his embrace.
"What was that?" he heard her say, her body relaxing from being comforted by him. "What happened?"
"He transformed," Tailmon whispered trying to get enough grip on the ground to stand up on her own two feet. "He took Omegamon's sword and used it to somehow transform!"
"But how?" Hikari asked.
Sitting up against a tree he saw Koushiro, digging into his computer. "I-I think I've got it," he also coughed, putting his hands over his eyes furrowing his brow. "That was what he was after. He set all this up just so he could obtain that power."
"W-what power dear?" Mimi said collapsing against him, her chest falling against his shoulder.
"He took the sword because the sword had traces of other digimon defeated by it. Specifically Diaboromon. He wanted a piece of his digital make up. That's when he transformed, but to who knows what!" he exclaimed.
"Brother!" he heard Hikari yell as she hobbled over to her brother holding onto Koromon.
Takeru felt her tears as they poured down her face over her brother. He was out cold.
He went over to his brother Yamato who was also passed out one hand on Tsunomon's horn.
"Oh brother," he said smiling, his brother not moving. "Come on, you have to scold me or something. Tell me I am annoying you," he said his hand shaking. "Yamato..."
"I don't think they are dead," Patamon said. "They probably won't be up for awhile though."
Takeru took confidence in his friend's judgment. He turned toward Hikari, her face marred in ash, staring down at her brother as if fearful of the unknown. He walked over to Hikari briskly and wrapped his arms around her from behind. "It's ok," he said looking down at Taichi and Koromon. "Don't worry. They will be ok."
He turned and stared around at all the other digidestined and their digimon. Joe had cracks on his glasses and was working on making sure Sora was ok. Mimi did her best to stay conscious leaning on Koushiro for support.
"Looks like me and you are the only ones left Hikari," he whispered. "They've always watched over us. Now it's our turn to be there for them," he said squeezing her stomach a little tighter.
"Mhm," she replied softly grabbing onto his hands.
He stared out at the expanse of the digital world, silent and empty robbed of all digimon but the digidestined and Fiermon. Then he looked down at Yamato and Taichi once more. They always had given their all. Now it was up to the two of them to take care of everyone else. This...was their battle now.