Disclaimer: I do not own digimon or any of the characters or digimon's and any created digimon are offered on the altar of Takari Canonization. Just kidding.
On a separate note Takeru's and Hikari's colors are green and hers pink. For some reason I got a similar vibe from the Legend of Zelda between Link and Zelda. If you swapped out Takeru with Link and Link with Takeru there would not be much of a difference, and, if you did the same with Zelda and Hikari they may look different, but would have the same vibe about them. Then we would have the Triforces of Power, Wisdom, and Hope. So does this mean Patamon would digivolve with the crest of courage? Maybe he would become Eponamon. It's an entertaining notion.
Chapter Eleven: Face to Face with Fear
Takeru glared around the battlefield, the demonic digimon hovering somewhere in the atmosphere probably just waiting to swoop down on them. The other Digidestined were all spread out and injured fallen in battle. Koromon had collapsed on Taichi's belly and Taichi was practically dazed.
"T-taichi," Koromon murmured bending down, the pinkish head and ears of Koromon perking up slightly. "I'm hungry."
A smirk crossed over Taichi's mouth.
"You're hopeless."
He then noticed his brother Yamato shudder getting up himself and turn around seeing Takeru holding Hikari.
"This has got to be a nightmare," he said closing his eyes. "My brother with the sister of Taichi? No, it can't be a dream. You could not make this up! he said smacking his face, his hands over his eyes and forehead.
"Well at least they're both lively," Takeru laughed, Hikari also giggling to herself. The others seemed to be stirring with life, some recovering from that incredible blast of winds from Fiermon.
The skies started to cast down a somber shadow as if throwing water on the light hearted mood he was feeling.
"Does death seem that funny to you?!" a voice boomed out separating from the digital heavens above, a dark imposing form landing down in front of them.
The skies turned dark, thunder roaring with it as it descended. The being looked ferocious and deadly, much more than even Fiermon.
"What digimon is that?!" Mimi yelled out.
"I don't know I have never seen anything like it!" Koushiro shouted pounding onto his laptop.
"I can save you some time," the being said holding up his hand, a dark wind cast out shattering the computer into digital bits. "My name is Freitmon!" the being exclaimed spreading two gigantic sharp demonic wings. It's torso had increased in size. The four wings of protection it had were gone as if it did not need to have the defense anymore. It held out it's two arms, bloody claws at the end of them. It's pale ghastly head seemed even more intimidating than it was before. A ghastly coffin attached to his back like a shield; spikes driving into his skin, a demonic grin on the coffin's face.
Takeru swallowed, never having seen anything so hideous in his life. Devimon and Malomyotismon were kittens compared to him!
"You are correct Koushiro regarding my plan," Freitmon said. "With that blade that has defeated so many Digimon I was able to fill in the gaps of my code to reach my omnipotent form; The form that will ensure my total destruction, or my immortality," he stated eyeing Takeru and Hikari. "I knew eventually Omegamon would attack giving me what I needed. In the meantime while I waited to get the last of my digital code I slaughtered every Digimon I could lay my hands on and took their data. Had it not been for Homeostasis and the Digital Record this would not have been possible," he grinned.
"Is that why the one that called himself 'the herald' stopped attacking us?!" Taichi asked, coming to his feet. "I thought it was strange that instead of finishing us off, the Digimon left us. It could have easily taken all of us out if it wanted to."
Freitmon nodded his head. "Perceptive. True, I could have had my servant take you out, but if I did I would not have had this chance to recover this form. Now that I have I only have one use left for you. As the chosen children, as the Digidestined I am the greatest threat to the Digital World. It is now your sole mission to end my existence. So destroy me!" he commanded. "Get your vengeance for your friends and restore the Digital World if you can!" he laughed.
Takeru clenched his fist as he walked in front of Hikari gritting his teeth. "You think you're so high and mighty because you cowardly stole the data from our friends and the other Digimon," he grinned. "But really Freitmon you are a coward!"
Takeru felt all eyes fall on him including Hikari's, but he did not care if he was in the spotlight or not.
"H-hey," Yamato said holding out both hands as if he was about to restrain Takeru, "I don't think we should be antagonizing the mega level Digimon," he cautioned. "Our backs are kind of against the wall here."
Freitmon stared at Takeru as if he would run him through. "Calling me a coward Takeru Takaishi is the worst thing you could have done. But alas, you've caused me to be upset," he said one hand over his chest. "In doing so I will have to punish you by taking that very quality you and Hikari both possess and throw them into the depths of darkness and despair."
The being hovered over towards Takeru and he put an arm up to protect Hikari like always. He had never felt so threatened by a digital being before, but their was no way he would allow him to get to Hikari." He let down his guard slightly as Freitmon held out his hands as if not knowing whether to drown him to death or burn him to ashes.
"Tell me Hope and Light," he said shaking his head, "when your fears are realized will you still maintain your luster?"
"Get away from him!" he heard Patamon groan flying in front of him shielding him.
"You won't singe one hair on her head!" Tailmon hissed stretching out her claws ready to scratch his eyes out.
Takeru for a moment forgot about his slight apprehension as their digital pals stood against Freitmon as their last defense. "You're the only ones left!" Takeru said.
"Tailmon it's up to you! Be careful!" Hikari called out also encouraging her.
With that Patamon and Tailmon transformed in yellow and pink lights into Angemon and Angewoman. They rushed at Freitmon unleashing Celestial Arrows and Hand of Fate attacks, Freitmon taking the attacks head on, the powers absorbed into his coffin.
"I see," he said, with one slap of his hand batting Angemon down like a fly. "Your life is centered around protecting Takeru. If he dies all your hope dies. And should that happen you know what will happen to you."
Takeru stared up confused. Again this Digimon spoke in a manner none of the other evil Digimon had before. "What do you mean?" he asked wondering if he would regret asking. "What would happen to him?"
"You fiend!" Angemoun spout out coughing. "Don't tell him!"
"Tell me what?" Takeru said feeling his arms and shoulders tense up. Since when did Patamon his best buddy start to keep secrets? He had known him ever since he was a kid and he never thought he would keep anything from him, but, that made it all the more important to know. "What is it that the two of you are hiding from me?!" he shouted.
Angewoman also seemed to sigh heavily. "Hikari," she said, "The Digidestined are used by Homeostasis to keep the worlds in balance, but...I don't have the heart to tell you what would happen if anything happened to any of you, and that goes for all the Digidestined," she said shaking her fist turning her head away.
"Angewoman," Hikari said concerned sighing out. "It's ok. I trust you," she said looking up not so cheerfully. He then turned back towards Freitmon, Hikari's hands holding his shoulders.
"Takeru," Hikari said as if holding him in place without any force, "Please don't be angry with him. It's not his fault that Freitmon is toying with him. He's just trying to get to you."
'But I have to know Hikari," he said stepping closer to Freitmon. "I have to know. What would happen?"
"Takeru!" Angemon cried out. "Please stop!"
Now Takeru had to know. Patamon was supposed to be his best friend. Why was he keeping secrets from him?
"Angemon tell me!" he shouted.
"Then I shall tell you," Freitmon said going down towards Angemon and grabbing his head, Angemon scratching furiously at him to get him to release him. "With hope gone, he will undergo a terrible transformation into an unholy being; A creature you are all too familiar with: Devimon!"
Takeru felt his soul thud into his chest as he collapse to his knees, Hikari holding him steadily preventing him from face planting into the ground. The whole atmosphere around him seemed to shift. "Devimon?" He could hardly believe it. Takeru remembered Patamon saving his life being the bravest little guy he had ever seen and had protected him and the others. He shuddered unable to believe that the holy angel digimon could become a fierce demon. "How is that possible?"
Freitmon stared at him indifferently as if reading him a death sentence. ''It's because once a Digidestined has lost their lives the partner Digimon then in it's distraught state becomes the very antithesis of what it once was. Hope gives way to despair," he said throwing Angemon into a tree knocking quite a few down. "Shall I then end his life Angemon to fulfill this prophecy?"
"I won't let you!" Angemon roared coming at him brilliantly digivolving again into Magna Angemon. With that Takeru witnessed flashes of magenta as he attempted to cut down Freitmon. The blades clashed with the nightmarish red claws of Freitmon who seemed to be completely in control of the battle.
"And what about your partner? What is his greatest fear?" Freitmon taunted.
With that, he unleashed a powerful attack, calling out 'Terror Drain', as a translucent vector came out and picked Takeru up, his body immediately starting to shiver as he was lifted from the ground. He felt as if icy fingers were running through his mind tormenting him with everything he was afraid of.
"Takeru!" Hikari shrieked. "Let go of him!" Hikari exclaimed grabbing the vector and trying to free Takeru from it.
"Get out of my head!" he yelled grabbing onto it. It felt like he was having a cold migraine as corrupted vectors rummaged their way through his mind. "Get out!" he yelled as the vector went away and he collapsed on the ground.
"Celestial arrow!" Angewoman's voice rang out as it dissolved into the coffin though Takeru knew it had been too late. It probably would not have done any damage anyway.
It seemed Freitmon had completely nullified the attack, the attack screaming into the demented coffin on his back.
"So Takeru you're greatest fear is not being able to protect those you love. But that is a farce," Freitmon said, Takeru bracing himself as a dark wind from his wings knocked him back to the ground.
"It is a mask covering up a very selfish fear. And that is fear to commit, knowing everything around you is falling apart and will not last. Your relationship with your mother, your father, your brother, your casual friends and fans-You mask it all, never fully committed because you don't want to feel the pain of separation," he chuckled. "And you are supposed to be the crest of hope? What is their to hope for when your life has constantly been divided in two?" he asked. "Is that why this girl is still at an arm's length? Your fears are deep Takeru Takaishi," Freitmon leered.
Takeru did his best to stand up unable to feel his own two legs supporting him. He felt Hikari's eyes stare at him concerned, but he could not look at her. Sweat poured down from his pores, Takeru trying to control himself, but he could not stop himself from hyperventilating. Freitmon had been one hundred percent truthful. When he was a child he had always been so positive about everything. He would hope for the future stupidly thinking everything would be all right. Mom and Dad would stay together, the family would not split, and he would remain close with his brother. But that was not the reality. He had become blinded to the family falling apart around him and, being the only one who still believed everything would be fine, felt responsible for the collapse that happened. That was when the world started to ignore him. That was when he started to feel like a burden. Not his speech, or how he acted, but his very existence did not matter.
Over time, as the years passed by, he started to notice the world differently. People seemed to be so happy living their lives. With each passing day he found himself blending in more and more with people. The Digidestined first, then his digimon, and, eventually Hikari. He could always pretend everything was fine and be friends with people, but somehow her amber eyes always saw through him, as if she could see despite all that he did he was not being himself. He had tried to be responsible and light hearted and carefree, but ultimately he shrank back from relationships. Those never seemed to last. But with her it was different. Hikari seemed to accept him at face value and nothing more. He did not feel like he needed to prove himself, though he did earnestly wish to be her friend and to show her he did care. But then after the digital adventure was all over he moved.
When he reached Junior High he had internalized his old self and he created a new image trying his best to forget about the selfish whiny useless child he used to be: The child that was incapable of keeping things together. If he ever came back when it came down to it, His parents, his brothers, Patamon, the others, and Hikari, he would disappoint them all. Remembering the scars of his past hurt him deeply when he realized how it impacted him in the present.
He looked at Freitmon who stared in as if looking into the depths of his soul.
"Oh! So that's what it is!" Fiermon exclaimed hitting his claw in his fist. "You are afraid of not being good enough to deserve a family!"
Takeru breathed out, scarcely able to find breath clenching his fists and teeth. Yes, there it was. The horrifying reality. He felt angry tears pour down his cheeks unable to stop them, unable to prevent Hikari from seeing him the way he was as a child. The image he so carefully had crafted had been destroyed. He covered his eyes embedding his fingers into his forehead and thumbs on his cheeks as his tears poured down. Yes, no matter what he did, no matter what he hoped for, nothing would last forever. Parents would separate. His brother would leave him. Even Patamon had been destroyed. And now with the others seeing how pathetic he looked, they would leave him to. Even Hikari. That was why he kept everyone at a distance. No matter what he did he could not stop being afraid of things falling apart especially the girl he claimed to love more than anything. Eventually he knew she would leave one day to. Whether from Taichi's advise or from her deciding to just walk away like his parents, She would leave.
He felt her arms wrap around him, her body also quivering with him, her tears staining his shirt, as if that was all she could do. Takeru sighed as if he could not escape his dark past. No matter what he did, no matter what he believed, he would always be seen as that useless crying pathetic child. And one day he would lose everything. He truly did not deserve a family...
"Takeru, don't despair!" Magna Angemon cried out. He rushed at Freitmon with his magenta blade, but with a claw Fiermon cleaved his attack in two.
"Would the angel seek to blind the truth?" Freitmon said enraged in an accusatory manner. "Is that not the antithesis of hope? Would you lead Takeru down the wrong path Magna Angemon?!"
In desperation Takeru watched as Magna Angemon unleashed his powerful gate of destiny attack.
"My destiny is yet to be fulfilled!" Freitmon bellowed. "Smothering Coffin!" he cried as four translucent arms came from the coffin and smashed through the gate, destroying it, Magna Angemon sent sprawling to the ground.
"Magna Angemon!" Takeru called out about ready to run to him, but Freitmon's words made his blood run cold.
"Stay right there," Freitmon said in a cruel voice. "This inquiry is not done yet."
In horror he saw Freitmon stare at Hikari as encouraging her to doubt Takeru. "Hikari," he said, "now that you know Takeru's selfishness do you truly think he genuinely cares for you?"
Takeru stared at her, Hikari looking at him strangely.
He turned away disgusted with hmself. Maybe Freitmon was right. Maybe he was just using Hikari because he was afraid of committing to anything. Her and her brother and his mother were the constants in his life, but his brother was not around so much and he did not know when he would see his mother again. Hikari had always been his friend, but she meant so much more to him than that.
"You...can think whatever you want of it," he swallowed. "Maybe I did think that way, but that's not the whole story. You know me better than that Hikari," he confessed. "He may have the Digital Record and he may know my fear, but he does not know my heart."
He placed his hand over his chest. "That is something you know more than anyone else," he said painfully smiling.
"Takeru," her quivering voice said putting her hand on his heart startling him, bringing him peace. "Your heart is beating so calmly now. We all can be selfish sometimes, but that does not mean our feelings are not truthful," she admitted. "You just have to be yourself, no matter how others think of you," she smiled. "Just no more inviting girls to concerts or leading them on with the Mr. Nice Guy thing," she said twisting his arm slightly giving him peace as if playing with him and lightening the mood. "You know, now that we're finally together."
Takeru could not help but adore her in his pain. "Fine, fine," he winced pretending to be hurt by the twisting. "No more party favors for Yamato." She really did have something about her that made all of his fears and anxieties disappear.
"Silence!" Freitmon yelled out ,not to happy with the results, unleashing a flurry of vectors at him and her. The attack landed all around them, but did not strike them.
Takeru shuddered surprised that he had not been killed.
"This is no longer amusing," Freitmon scoffed raising the ground surface they were standing on on so it was just the three of them.
"But will this same power be reciprocated?" he questioned. "It is your turn for the vectors child of light!" he called out as a couple vectors went out towards the two of them.
Takeru watched helplessly as one of the Vectors grabbed Hikari's head, her eyes powerless to resist, Takeru unable to do anything to stop it.