Adventure: Unto the Third Generation
Chapter 02: Son of Courage
Nine Years Ago
Back then I was only six years old. While the world overall was still adjusting to the existence of Digimon and the Digital World, I had been raised up by the leader of the Digidestined. For me, the concept of Digimon was no more shocking than the concept of kindergarten or ice cream or anything else is to a child.
All the same, I was still not prepared on the morning that my television set began to glow.
"Mommy, I think the TV's broken. I can't see my cartoons."
There was a sigh from the next room. "I'll be there in a minute, Tet. Are you ready for school? It's almost seven."
Her eyes went wide when she came in the room. "Oh my gosh. Tai, honey? You're going to want to see this."
"What's 'at?" mumbled my dad, walking around the corner with a toothbrush in his mouth. The years had been kind to the Digidestined of Courage. Having almost reached middle age, he still retained the same childish spark in his eye and not a wrinkle on his face. Becoming an official diplomat had changed his appearance some though. He kept his hair much shorter, and grey was beginning to appear. His manner of dress was often more subdued and less colorful, which could be a problem as he would frequently wind up traversing the Digital World in a suit and tie.
Occasionally the man would gripe about how often his job kept him from spending the time he would like with his wife and son, but becoming the official representative for the Digital World was the job Tai was meant for and he knew it. Even if it left him with less than the advisable amount of sleep most nights.
Taichi Kamiya blinked wearily at the television screen before realizing what was about to happen. Then it hit him. "Oh!" he shouted, his toothbrush dropping to the ground.
My dad ran to my side and embraced me in a tight hug.
"Dad, lemme go. Can you fix the TV? I want to finish Ultraman before school."
My father laughed. "Buddy, I don't think you're going to school today."
"Really? Why not?" I asked.
"Well, you know how Daddy has his friend Agumon? And Mommy has her friend Zurumon?"
"Yeah, what about them? Are we going back to the Digital World.?"
"No, buddy. I think it's going to come to us."
The television screen began to bulge and warp. An ovular shape emerged, and plopped down on the carpet. For a moment, the whole room went silent and the TV set returned back to the program I'd been watching before.
Then the egg fell onto its side and rolled up to my lap.
"Tetsu, you're about to meet your best friend."
Present Day, Present Time
When we moved back to Odaiba four years ago I was against it. Moving meant changing school systems again, letting go of my old friends (sure I could visit on the weekends, but that wasn't the same), changing my day-to-day routine, and the worst part of it all was losing our apartment. Call me weird, but I liked the apartment. It was compact, as big as it needed to be and no more. We all knew where everyone was, we never went long without seeing each other, and on occasion it provided good motivation to get out of the house.
At first I hated having a full house here. To me it felt so huge, it seemed like I could get lost. Not really, it was a normal sized house. But like most people, young me hated the unfamiliar. I told my parents that it was ugly, that I'd be embarrassed to bring people here, that I couldn't bring myself to sleep in a place like this.
None of that was true. We have a beautiful home, and I knew it even then. I could go on about it, but you don't care. So I'll skip to the best part. That would be the fact that right outside my window the roof extends, an informal terrace of sorts, and it is the perfect place to lay and look up at the night sky.
Yeah, I know I'm lame alright? Mom says I get it from my dad. There's just something about the stars. They make me think. Or sometimes, they keep me from thinking. I'm banking on the latter tonight.
An insistent knock comes from the window. "Tetsu please," Agumon growls. "I just want to talk."
I've been ignoring him for several hours now, and I'm starting to feel guilty. Agumon's a good friend. I just don't want to deal with anybody right now.
"Just leave me alone," I reply. "We can talk tomorrow, okay? Get some rest."
The incessant tapping finally stops, and I hear Agumon's sullen footsteps as he walks away.
Don't be mistaken by the way, this isn't the same Agumon who accompanied my father. That one is gone. Like most of "The Chosen's" children, I happened to inherit the same type of Digimon he had. Well, mostly the same type. My partner is a lot bigger than that Agumon, and a deeper shade of orange. His voice is rumblier and less childish too. Aunt Kairi has speculated before that he might be the reincarnation of an Agumon she and my dad met when they were kids, but since he doesn't have any memories from before meeting me it's impossible to tell.
Like most human-Digimon pairs who met at a young age, we are borderline inseparable. He's more to me than a pet or a friend, or even a brother. Agumon is a part of myself and I'm part of him. That's how I've always seen it. Until now, I guess.
Tai Kamiya was my dad, not his. What I'm feeling right now is something I just can't share with Agumon, and that kills me. It isn't that I don't want his support, I just can't really accept it. How can you expect a Digimon to understand death?
The tapping at my window starts again. I groan. "Please Agumon, go away."
"It isn't Agumon," a soft voice replies. The window opens and my mom pokes her head out.
For someone who did not know my mother, it would be hard to tell she was grieving at all. Her face does not bear the marks of someone who spent any great deal of time crying, nor does she appear at all foul tempered. At worst, Mom seems stoic and distracted. Maybe a bit tired. I can see the change in her though. The usually chipper and inviting demeanor my mom typically exudes is gone. I haven't seen her like this before, and it scares me.
She probably feels the same way about me.
"Hi Mom," I say. "Sorry if I missed dinner."
"It's fine Tetsu, I know you're occupied. Though you have been rather harsh to Agumon."
I sigh. "I'll make it up to him. After tomorrow."
She nods. "See that you do. In the meantime, you have a visitor."
I'm briefly taken aback. Typically Mom can read my moods so well. "I'm not really up to seeing people right now."
My mom shrugs and ducks back in the window. "I think you will feel differently."
Then yet another human head emerges.
"Nice night for stargazing, isn't it?" asks Jyu.
My heart rate increases slightly at this unexpected visit. Casually, Jyu leans out my window and crawls onto the roof as he has done dozens of times before.
"How long have you been out here, Tetsu?"
I shrug and turn away. Some immature part of my brain enjoys being seen as sullen and serious for once and doesn't want my reaction to spoil this image. For this reason, I just can't let Jyu see me blush.
"Most of the day, I guess. I haven't really been keeping track."
He lays down beside me, hands behind his neck. "I get that. You're going tomorrow?"
"Of course I am. He's my dad. I would never forgive myself if I wasn't there to see him off."
Jyu is quiet for a second. "Just thought I'd check."
It takes me a moment to remember what he's referring to. When it comes to mind, I wince. I turn to face Jyu. "Sorry, I wasn't thinking. That was different though. You were younger and his death was much more shocking, for everyone."
"I was only two years younger," said Jyu. "And at least my dad signed up for what killed him. They didn't even give yours a chance. Tai didn't deserve that."
"None of us do," I say. "Doesn't change anything."
The conversation goes cold for a moment. We both stare up into the abyss with which I have become so comfortable.
"Do you think it would be easier if Agumon were still here?" asks Jyu. "His Agumon, I mean. The older one. Maybe to talk about him and what happened. Who better to give the eulogy tomorrow?"
"I haven't really thought about it, but it seems right somehow that the two went together. Also, if Agumon had died and my dad lived, Dad would still have Mom and me and everyone. But who would Agumon have had? I'm not glad he's dead, it just makes more sense."
Jy nods. "When my dad died, I always wished that Wormmon had stuck around. He'd been my first babysitter, one of my first friends. We were so close… It was hard, losing them both at once."
I don't know what else to say but "Yeah."
Jyu turns to face me. "I can stay if you want me to. I've already asked and Mom is fine with it."
Damn it, Yolei. Why did you have to wait until now for that one? I shake my head. "No. I really would like that, but this isn't the night."
Now it's Jyu's turn to look a tad flustered. "That isn't what I-..." He composes himself and I try not to laugh. "Right. That's okay too. Call me if you need anything?"
"Of course."
The boy sits up, then starts to lean towards me. He pauses for a second while I hold my breath, then pulls away
"See you in the morning."
Jyu heads back inside. I remind myself not to smile. My father has just died. My family is devastated and I will be attending a funeral tomorrow.
I smile all the same. Never have been a very good listener.
For the first time since I heard the news, I think that maybe this won't be the end of the world.
The suit hangs off my lanky frame awkwardly. Not surprising, considering it had been my father's. The subject of getting me fitted for a new one had come up, but this felt more appropriate.
There isn't an actual casket at the funeral home. Even if we had been left a body, it's a Kamiya tradition to cremate the dead, as it is in most of Japan. There is an assembling of the people most important in my father's life, and a photo collage commemorating him. Everyone's favorite photo is the same, the group photo taken at the end of their original adventure.
My mother and I are among the first at the funeral. Agumon came too, but he's quiet this morning, standoffish. I can't tell if it's because of how uncomfortable he is at this kind of event or because I was rude to him last night. I need to apologize, but for the moment my attention is elsewhere.
Besides the people we actually want here, this funeral has also been attended by two NDMS Agents. That is the National Digimon Monitoring Service. With the massive increase in the Chosen population since 2002, most nations have developed some form of federal service to monitor Digimon activity. As my father's friends possess some of the most powerful Digimon in the country, they are a frequent thorn in our side.
The two agents today are ones I have met before. I don't recall their names, but one's tall and other is short, both with identical black haircuts. The shorter one has a Kumamon, the taller a Kotemon. The Rookie level Digimon have taken a seat on the floor and converse with each other. Their human partners remain vigilant, scanning the crowd with suspicion. I can't stand them.
I'm standing by my mother stewing when a hand pats me on the shoulder. "Holding up okay?" asks a friendly voice.
Her name is Taji. I consider her a cousin, though not by blood. She's the daughter of Matt and Sora, and noticeably takes after her father. Aside from having a Gabumon as a partner, Taji also inherited his short, spiky hair and taller frame. She's a year younger than me, but I look up to her in a way.
I shrug. "I'm alright. Haven't seen Gabumon around."
She shakes her head. "He stayed home. Tama's sick and they didn't want to leave him and Biyomon by themselves."
That makes me chuckle. Tama and Taji are twins, but he has always been treated like the younger one. Not without good reason. He must HATE having a babysitter. Especially knowing his parents would have no issue leaving Taji by herself.
"I heard Mrs. Ichijouji finally let Jyu come over for the night." Taji lets her words hang in the air.
"Yeah. Not the best timing, but I'm sure she knew that."
Taji nods. "Right of course. I'm sorry; this is a time for mourning."
"Hey, are you Tetsu?" a blond boy asks. I don't recognize him, he speaks Japanese with a thick American accent. Most likely the son of one of my dad's UN friends.
"Yeah," I say, shaking his hand. "And this is my friend Taji. I don't think I've met you before."
"Not since we were little. My name's Mark, Mark Tachikawa. My mother was a friend of your father."
I think for a second, putting the pieces together. "Oh! You're Mimi's son. Thank you for coming. It's nice to meet you."
"You too, though I wish it had been under more positive circumstances."
A bipedal flower walks over, nudging Mark in the abdomen. "You aren't going to introduce me to your new friends? Wow, one second with the other Digidestined kids and you're already an elitist snob."
Mark winced. "Floramon, you aren't funny. Guys, this is my partner."
We greet the Digimon and I gesture to the corner where Agumon has gone to sulk on his own.
"So do you guys not have many Digimon in America?" I ask.
Mark tilts his head quizzically. "Well of course we do. To the best of my knowledge, pretty much every country has more people with Digimon than without at this point. What makes you ask?"
"You're partner called us Digidestined kids. I took that to mean you didn't know many others."
"I mean, of course I don't know-" Suddenly Mark's eyes widened slightly. "Oh, okay. Well I know plenty of Chosen in my home country. Digidestined is a different thing. You guys don't spend much time on American websites, do you?"
"I guess not," I say.
"I'm more of a sports person," Taji adds.
"Okay," says Mark. "Well Digidestined usually refers to our parents, the main twelve who saved the world forever ago. And some people use it to describe us, their children, too.
"We're kinda celebrities."
Ena stands stoically at her husband's funeral. Her son and the friends of her husband are relying on her to be strong, the new head of the Kamiya household. But she doesn't feel strong. She still hasn't quite accepted the fact he is gone.
Only three nights ago the phone call had come from the UN's security division. Her husband had been in the Digital World in a convoy with several other dignitaries and their Digimon. Then it was attacked. The assassination was executed swiftly and with total brutality. The Digimon involved in the assault had only been at Champion level, and wouldn't have lasted a second in a fair fight with Digidestined of Courage.
But the attackers had not been looking for a fight.
There were no survivors.
The assassins were immediately found and arrested. Three armed men and a Digimon were all it took to catch the UN unaware. An investigation into who had ordered the attack and why was still ongoing, but Ena doesn't expect any satisfying results. In an age of alternate dimensions and Digi-Gates, people are harder to track than ever. Even if this case is resolved, it isn't like that will change the reality for her family.
"Ena, it's been some time hasn't it?"
Mrs. Kamiya turns to her friend. "Yolei, I'm glad you could make it."
"Of course. Ken and I always held Tai in the highest respect. The fact he's gone now…" She shakes her head. "This world isn't what we thought it would be back then."
Somehow the way Yolei says that causes Ena's stomach to sink. "No, none of us could tell what the future holds. We are all very grateful for what my husband and the rest of you did though. You changed everything."
Yolei smiles sadly. "Perhaps not all for the better."
Before Ena can question just what Yolie means by that, the Digidestined interrupts with "So how is Tetsu taking it?"
Ena sighs. "He's trying to be tough, as usual. I guess he thinks that is what his father would want, him being the man of the house now."
"But that isn't true?"
"Of course not. Tai would want him to have whatever support he needs. He's barely spoken to me about his father. I don't think he's said a word to Agumon."
"You know how it is with boys and their fathers," says Yolei. "When Ken died, it was just about the end of Jyu's world. I don't think he would have made it without a friend like your son."
"Well, I think Jyu's probably the best support Tetsu has now too," says Ena. "How did you handle Jyu, back when his father died? What did you say?"
"I'm sorry Ena, but I don't think mine is an example to follow. I didn't handle things well back then. I'm not sure I'm handling them well now."
Ena suddenly recalls the details of Yolei's living situation and fights the urge to scream at herself for being so inconsiderate. "No! Yolei, you're being too hard on yourself. We all know you are doing the best you can, under the circumstances."
"Yes, that may be the case. Remember your own advice though. Times ahead will be hard. If you make a mistake, please know that's okay."
Over Yolei's shoulder, Ena sees a figure come into view. He is tall and pale, dressed in all black. The clothes on his back are tattered and torn. He is much older than the Digidestined, and even were he not, Ena knows them all by sight. It also seems unlikely he would be a UN employee given the state of his dress. Frowning, Ena approaches him.
"Excuse me sir, are you a friend of Taichi?"
The man's eyes, wide and vacant, take a second to focus on Ena's face, as though he's just been woken from a dream. When he actually sees her, he takes the woman by the hand. "Oh, you must be his wife, Ena! What a pleasure to make your acquaintance, though under such tragic pretenses."
Ena feels something brush up to her leg and growl. Looking down, she sees that it is her partner Elecmon. "Is this guy bothering you?"
"No, no my good friend!" the man says, unhanding Elecmon's partner. "I apologize for being so forward! I am merely delirious in remorse for my fallen hero. To answer your question, my lady, it is the sad truth that I never made your husband's acquaintance directly. I am a strong supporter of the Digital World and its interests so I can assure you we had a good deal of mutual friends. Well, one in particular but I would suspect Mr. Kamiya would not recognize him now. Not to question his character, your husband had buckets of it! It seems he didn't keep the watch he should have on certain territories-"
"'Scuse me, did you get invited?"
The man turns to find himself face to face with a tall, blond man. On his head rests an orange Rookie level Digimon who seems slightly perturbed.
The corners of the man's mouth turn downward. "Takaishi."
"Yeah," says Takeru. "Have we met?"
"No, no I'm afraid we haven't. However I am quite aware of your work."
"I appreciate that, but this service is supposed to be exclusive to friends and family. If you aren't either, I'll need you to leave."
"Certainly, certainly," mutters Hiraku. "I wouldn't want to impose. Please have a lovely service. I suppose I will need to say my goodbyes utilizing my own method." The man leaves without another word.
Takeru looks at Ena. "Have you seen that creep before?"
"No. He just showed up at the service. He looked sick. Do you think he's homeless?"
"I don't know. If he bothers you again though, you should tell one of the agents. This is our friend's funeral, we shouldn't have to fight."
"If anyone has some words to say, now is the time."
The audience is solemn as the pastor steps down. Kairi and my mother manage to look somewhat composed. Mimi's openly weeping. I can feel myself starting to shake. Here I am in front of all these people, my friends and family, about to lose control. Dad would be so embarrassed…
Then a hand caresses my own. I look to my right and make eye contact with Jyu. He gives me a nod. I return the gesture.
After a moment where no one takes the podium, Takeru stands up and approaches the front of the room. He takes out a folder and puts it on the stand before him, clears his throat.
"Taichi Kamiya was a good man. Everyone here knew him in one way or another, but I don't think anyone knows him like the six of us who spent months in the Digital World with him in '99 do.
"We almost didn't survive that experience. By all rights we shouldn't have. We were a bunch of children with next to no survival skills, in a world we didn't understand, with monsters actively trying to kill us. Any other group of children, or people of any age, would have died. That's why they say we were special. They attribute it to our destiny or whatever. I think they're wrong. The only thing we had that no else did is a leader like Tai.
"He wasn't the oldest of us or the wisest. He wasn't the strongest or, in truth, even the most compassionate. What Tai had like no one else I've ever known is courage. Time and time again he put himself in harm's way to make sure his friends, some of whom he had just met, would be safe. He never gave up on one of us. He dragged us through the Digital World kicking and screaming, all the way home.
"In the end, he did the same thing for our entire world. Both of them.
"Tai was the example each of us tried to live up to, and despite our continual failure he would always lead us to try again. He isn't the last hero in this world, he isn't even the last person to save it. But every great champion who has come since has shaped himself in the mold of our fearless leader.
"But now that man is gone. Taichi Kamiya, husband and father, diplomat and soldier, Digidestined and friend has passed on. That… that is a hard world to live in. But we don't have the luxury of failure. The champion of courage is gone, so we have to be the new champions. We need to take some of the courage he left in each of us and use it to create the world he deserved. We have to keep this hero in our hearts and remember what he would do in times as trying as these…
"And hopefully we can all be Tai when we grow up."
Takeru takes a seat. A few other people speak after him. One of Tai's coworkers from the UN, a friend from college, and my aunt Hikari. I should speak too. I'm Taichi Kamiya's son, his only child. I should eulogize him too. But even with Jyu's hand on mine, I'm already falling apart. Tears cloud my vision, even if I stop them from pouring down my face. If I go up there alone, I wouldn't be able to hold it together.
So I stay in my seat and wait out the service.
I hold the door open for my mother as we leave. It's still light outside, but the sky is overcast. It feels appropriate for the occasion.
The funeral home is a short drive outside of Odaiba. There are no buildings close by, only open fields and a single parking lot. From the top of this hill that the house rests on, I can see pretty far in all directions. I clear my head by zoning out and gazing down at the parking lot, when something unexpected makes me wrinkle my brow. A tall man who I can't really place. There's no one else out here. Did he leave the funeral early?
Is he headed this way?
"Hey Mom, do you know that guy?"
Mom sighs. "Him again. Keep Agumon close, Tet. I think something's wrong with him."
Beside her, Elecmon bristles. "Neither of you need to worry. I can handle one loon by myself. He should know better than to interrupt our family today."
"Wait! Please just calm down my friends!" the man pleads, drawing closer to my mother and I. "I have only come to pay my respects. Believe me, I realize the position I've put you all in but my mutual friend insisted upon the matter."
"You again?" Takeru asks. "Didn't I tell you to leave?"
The man smiles. "Ah Takaishi. It's good to see you one last time."
Then the man raises what I realize too late is a Digivice to sky. "Digiport, open!"
A bright light shines from the device, and above us a small black shape takes form, laughing.
Agumon tilts his head. "I thought you needed a computer to do that?"
The small black shape descends gradually toward his partner. "I've learned a few new tricks during my long reprieve. As have you, I must admit. But now you are one fewer. Making my task simpler."
I squint upwards. "Are we supposed to know you?"
"Well, you aren't." A round, bat-like Digimon lands upon Hiraku's shoulder. "As for the rest, only by a different name."
"Demidevimon?" asks Mimi. "Didn't you get eaten?"
The creature sighs in his deep, strange voice. "You never were bright, were you, child? Let me give you a hint…
"Demidevimon, Digivolve to… Devimon!"
Floating above Hiraku, his partner shifts his shape. The giant black being appears humanoid, but he also possesses tattered wings and twin horns. Both hands end in devastating claws. The Champion level Digimon smiles to reveal a mouth full of sharp teeth.
"So you weren't expecting me?"
Takeru steps forward, clutching his Digivice. "There's no way you're alive! Angemon killed you."
"And as I'm sure Angemon would attest, death is a slippery business for people like us. But why don't you let he and I talk? Preferably before I kill all of your pretty little friends."
The monster smiles down on us. "What will it be, Patamon?"
The two agents charge out from the funeral homes, Digimon in tow. "Everyone get back in the house!" yells the tall one. "We have this handled."
The two agents pull their Digivices from their belts like guns, already aglow.
"Kumamon, Digivolve to… Grizzlymon!"
"Kotemon, Digivolve to… Dinohyumon!"
Previously there had stood an animate teddy bear and a child in samurai armor. Now in their place stand a humongous quadrupedal bear-monster and a reptilian-humanoid wielding two akinake-swords, with one even larger one strapped to its back. They might not look very official, but they sure are badass.
"Please stand down Devimon," says the Dinohyumon. "There is no need for violence here. Go in peace and we will not pursue you."
"Oh I'm sorry gentlemen, you misread my intentions. I have no need to fight you-"
"Go now!" yells Takeru. "You don't know what he's capable of!"
"I would much rather fight with you! Touch of Evil!"
A hole opens in the air behind Dinohyumon, and from it emerges one of Devimon's clawed hands, stabbing deep into the unsuspecting Digimon. Dinohyumon opens his mouth in a silent scream for a moment. His eyes shift to red.
"What's he doing to him?" yells the warrior Digimon's partner.
"There is no time to explain." says Takeru. "Patamon, let's settle this!"
"Patamon, Digivolve to… Angemon!"
Facing Devimon now stands an equally gigantic human figure. The being is armored, with half a helmet covering the upper portion of his face. Upon his back are six wings of light.
Angemon snarls. "Do we have to do this again Devimon? The last time I killed you."
"Last time killed us both, the way I remember it. I thought it would be more fun if we had our rematch in this world you seem so possessive over."
That's right, thinks Angemon. Because whoever dies here is dead forever.
Dinohyumon turns to face Angemon. He raises a blade.
"Akinake!" he cries. Just as he is about to lunge, Grizzlymon intercepts, taking the blow.
"Please my friend!" says the Grizzlymon. "Come back to your senses! You've been corrupted."
"Let… Me… GO!" With a surge of effort, Dinohyumon sends his friend flying to collapse in the dirt.
"It's two-on-two, Mimi," Palmon tells her partner. "How do you like those odds?"
"Not one bit! Let's get in this!"
"Palmon, Digivolve to… Togemon!"
A sight too ridiculous for the pre-Digital World earth, the latest participant in the fray is a behemothic cactus in the vague shape of a human being. Outfitted with bright red boxing gloves, of course.
"You need to cool your head, Dinohyumon! Needle Spray!" Togemon leaps in the air and spins around, directing a rain of needles onto the opposing Digimon.
Devimon laughs as his thrall takes the hit. "Well what a brilliant maneuver. Perhaps I should try it for myself?" The dark Digimon spins around, releasing Black Gears in a sinister spiral.
"Angel Staff!" cries Angemon, spinning his staff around to destroy the majority of the projectiles.
"Watch out Togemon!" yells Mimi, and her companion quickly dodges out of the way of another gear. Unfortunately, this gear proceeds to fly straight into Grizzlymon's neck.
The huge bear Digimon lets out a cry of pain. Then his eyes turn red.
Both of the corrupted Champion Digimon turn on Togemon. Grizzlymon growls.
"Ah, okay," says Togemon. "If you insist, I'll happily send you straight back to Primary Village."
"Don't hurt them too bad!" Takeru insists. "Remember, if you kill them here they can't come back."
Togemon blinks. "Oh yeah. And I guess that means neither can I."
The Champions lunge.
"Your allies are turning against each other," says Devimon. "Just like last time, their strength is my own weapon. There's no one left to fight against me, Angemon."
"There's still me," says the Holy Digimon. "Hand of Fate!"
Devimon takes the attack head on, screaming. The overbearing light assaults his senses and causes his functions to stall.
When the light dissipates though, he's still there.
"I've had some time to prepare for this, friend, and I'm not about to make it easy on you. Death Hand!"
Angemon is hit with a dark counterpart to his previous attack. Based on his Holy alignment, it shouldn't be nearly as damaging to his digital composition as Hand of Fate was to Devimon's. The Dark Digimon's maneuver is practiced though, and surprisingly effective. Angemon refuses to cry out in pain, but feels the fight begin to drain from his body.
For just a second, he falls to his knees.
Devimon sneers above him. "Your friends will die for your arrogance first. Then, all of File Island."
On the ground, almost everyone has retreated to the funeral home for safety. In the midst of the fight, only Takeru, Mimi, Mark and his partner Floramon, Matt with his Gabumon, and Hiraku remain. A little further away from the action are Agumon and I.
"They told us to get inside," Agumon growls hesitantly. "Shouldn't we go?"
From his voice I can tell that isn't what he wants to do. It almost brings a grin to my face. Agumon and I always have thought way too much alike. "This is my dad's funeral. I don't care who this Devimon guy thinks he is. If he wants to interrupt, he's made a new enemy."
My partner looks at me from the corner of his eye. "I think you mean two enemies."
A hand grabs my shoulder, yanking me back. "Cut it out, Tet. This is no time for you to be playing hero."
The hand's owner is just a tad shorter than me, with a white bucket hat which used to be Takeru's covering his messy blonde hair. That's Kin, Takeru's son. He's a year younger than me, yet he always seems to think he knows better.
I jerk free of his grasp. "I know what I'm doing Kin. If you're so scared, get to safety yourself."
The boy makes a face at me and murmurs something about immaturity, but takes my advice and slinks off for the funeral home. Not so quick to follow is his partner Muchomon, who's bright red and looks like a cross between Gabumon and a toucan.
The bird shakes his head at my partner and says "Agumon, I'd at least expect better from you. Don't encourage the child's recklessness. Save the fighting for the Digital World, or not at all! You're not the type for this."
Agumon's eyes narrow. "I follow Tetsu. Always."
The brightly colored Rookie follows his partner back to safety. Mine follows me toward the action.
As we rush toward the fray, Togemon is knocked over by her more bestial nemesis. Grizzylmon sinks his teeth into her boxing glove, trying his hardest to tear through it. "Get a hold of yourself!" rasps the Champion level cactus, throwing ineffective punches with her other hand at the creature's head.
"Agumon, we have to help her," I tell my partner. "Aim for the gear in his neck."
Agumon grunts affirmatively. I haven't seen him this excited in years.
"Pepper Flame!"
The fireball makes a beeline for the offending gear, only for Grizzlymon to turn his head at the last second. Instead of reaching the intended destination, my partner's attack strikes him on the nose.
The good news is Grizzlymon is getting off of Togemon. The bad news is that he's charging at us.
"Shit. Agumon, run!"
I turn and dart away from the tremendous bear as it crashes toward us. Agumon stands his ground. His fireballs bounce off the thing's head and neck ineffectively, but still he stands between me and the beast. Grizzlymon is almost upon him, and Agumon glowers up at it with no signs of fear.
At the last second a humongous blue wolf tackles the bear out of the way, barely sparing my partner. Grizzlymon fights to right himself, but the wolf sinks his teeth deep into his opponent's neck and pins him to the ground.
"What are you doing?" screams Matt, not much further from the action than I am. "Get the hell out of here!"
Above my head, Dinohyumon flies by. Several yards away he crashes into the ground, leaving a distinct crater. The Champion Digimon sighs deeply as the darkness leaves his system. Immediately he degenerates into Kotemon.
Beside me, a brown Digimon with leafy frills on the back of its head and a skull-like mask lands. On its back is a smiling Mark.
He pats his partner's neck. "Nice shot, Kiwimon! Now Togemon has some room to move."
Behind us, a battered Togemon grunts, then falls backward, degenerating into Palmon. "I- I'm sorry. It's been so long, guess I'm a little outta shape."
Mimi hurriedly embraces her partner. "You did wonderful, Palmon! Take a nice long nap now."
"Maul Attack!" cries Grizzlymon, and Garurumon collapses beside him.
Grizzlymon advances on the remaining humans, growling.
"Garurumon, get up now!" demands Matt, backing away from the competing Champions. One of his crutches hits a rock and the man topples over backward.
I run to him, while Agumon tries to provide cover with fireballs. I help the Champion of Friendship to his feet, but Grizzlymon continues his advance, undaunted. Right before he reaches us, a brown shape sails above us.
"High Jumping Kick!" yells Kiwimon, striking the bear directly on the nose. Grizzlymon roars and backs down slightly, eyeing the Kiwimon with trepidation.
"You want to fight, huh?" asks Mark. "Well a fight is what we'll give you."
Above us, Devimon and Angemon continue to clash. Devimon is easily the faster of the two and can deftly evade most attacks sent his way. Angemon has the advantage of strength, but is forced to use his staff mainly to block his enemy's punishing maneuvers. It is unclear who possesses the upper hand, but the demon is definitely having more fun.
Devimon laughs as his claws hit home, raking a grievous wound across Angemon's back and severing one of his lower wings. Data openly seeps from the blow; in futility, Angemon tries to hold it in with his left hand.
"Admit it angel, you just aren't as good as you used to be. Peace times haven't treated you all that well, and now that the war has come calling you aren't for the task."
"This isn't war, Devimon," Angemon interjects. "This is the foolish last stand of a fiend who should have learned his lesson. It's not too late for you to leave with your life. No matter what happens to me, you won't destroy the others."
"Death Hand!"
Angemon cries out as a burst of dark energy consumes his lower body.
"Yes… Yes…" murmurs Hiraku, staring up at the fight absently. For so long his master had prepared him for this moment of triumph against those who had once attempted to stomp out the ancient darkness they both worshiped, but never could he have come close to visualizing this glory. His partner in darkness is truly the most beautiful creature he's ever witnessed.
Then a right hook crashes into his jaw. Hiraku drops to the ground.
"Call your monster off," demands Takeru. "If this fight lasts a second longer I'll smash your Digivice with my heel."
Hiraku gives his assailant his usual hollow smile as his hand snakes into the folds of his coat. "My dear Digidestined, it seems the years typing old stories have not softened you to the degree we feared. I am duly impressed."
The vagrant leaps to his feet and lashes out with a knife, barely missing the author. "That doesn't mean that I will hesitate to gut you like a fish."
Takeru flounders for a second, then steps toward the man. Hiraku jabs for the other man's chest. Without hesitation Takeru reaches out and grabs the knife by the blade. Hiraku tries to wrench it away, or continue to stab forward, but finds his dagger will not move.
Takeru's hand has tightly grasped the blade, and blood drips between his fingers.
"There are a lot of scary things in this world. I've fought plenty of them, but I've never fought them alone. I've always had my friends. I guess that makes you the braver man. I'd never fight me alone."
For the first time since he met his partner, Hiraku feels his blood run cold.
Kiwimon ducks and weaves around Grizzlymon's attacks. He's done a good job so far keeping the berserk Champion away from those of us too weak to fight, but the bear hardly leaves him enough room to breathe, much less counterattack.
On his back, Mark looks pretty queasy.
With help from Mimi and the agents, I've hauled Matt to a safe distance from the violence. Beside me he sits with an unconscious Tsunomon on his lap. "Damn it. Gabumon…" he mutters to no one in particular.
Mark almost throws up as Kiwimon lurches out of the way of Grizzlymon's thunderous paw. "Al-alright bud, we have got to wrap this up. Move back a bit and- and let him have it."
Kiwimon grunts an affirmative and suddenly does a backwards flip away from his opponent. This action throws Mark far from his partner. The boy hits the ground and bounces, then goes limp.
Mark's steed does not react at all to the unexpected departure of his rider. Reaching the peak of his flip, Kiwimon points his beak toward the offending Champion.
"Pummel Peck!"
A creature, like Kiwimon but smaller, flies from the end of the Digimon's beak and strikes Grizzlymon in the skull. The bear Digimon roars painfully in response, temporarily immobilized. Kiwimon lights on the ground before him and, confused, hesitates. He looks backward, toward Mark's resting place.
I groan with impatience. "Kiwimon! Go for the neck while he's distracted!"
The bird Digimon looks at me, fury in his eyes. "Useless child, don't think you-"
"Crescent Dawn!"
An explosion rips Kiwimon from where he stood, leaving a crescent shape in his place. In the air he degenerates into Floramon, who lands in an unconscious heap beside his partner.
Well crap.
Grizzlymon sneers and turns toward us. With all of the battle-hardened Digimon out of commission and Angemon focusing on Devimon, nothing stands between the humongous bear and our party of weak humans and Rookies.
Nothing except me.
Digivice in hand, I step forward. "Guess it's time to shine. Let's make this one count, partner."
Agumon says not a word. Instead, he launches himself forward with a bestial growl. Fireballs cause the air to ripple with heat, but they cause little damage upon striking the Champion. Other than flinching slightly, Grizzlymon hardly reacts. My partner takes advantage of the flinch nonetheless, raking his claws against the monster's front legs.
Grizzlymon falls forward, and for once it looks like we've had a positive impact on the fight. I grin and something warm rises in my chest. In my grip, the Digivice starts to glow white hot. Even as it starts to burn I hold on tight, ready to finish this…
But then Grizzlymon's back leg lashes out and Agumon goes toppling down the hill.
I cry out and the growing power within my device dissipates.
I run off for Agumon, heedless of someone's voice shouting a warning. Grizzlymon rears up as I pass before him and I'm suddenly overcome by just how huge Champion level Digimon can be. His claw simply swiping in my direction sends me back on my ass. His paw crushes down on me and all the air leaves my lungs. Despite my fear, I can't even manage a scream. Black spots appear in my field of view.
Maybe growing up with Digimon desensitized me. Digimon were cool. The fact my parents had to fight against some with their own was, in my mind, a cool, formative experience they had that caused them to be heroes. The NDMS were a hassle because I didn't need to be scared of Digimon, and our parents had the strongest ones anyway. I'd never considered going up against a fully grown Digimon with my own two hands. It certainly had never occurred to me that they could kill me.
Just as my thoughts turn bleak and I feel like I'm going to literally give up the ghost, Grizzlymon disappears from atop me. I gasp in sweet, sweet oxygen. It takes a few seconds before my eyes and ears recover to the point I'm able to follow what's going on.
Kumamon is collapsed onto the ground, his infection evidently resolved. Above him is a monstrous Digimon, but a familiar one. The insectoid Champion has green armor, four legs, and a pair of scythe-like arms.
I give him a grateful thumbs up. He issues an off-putting, cricket-like hum in response.
A boy's hand pulls me to my feet. "I'm sorry for the delay," says Jyu. "I still don't have a good handle on Snimon's Digivolution. I can't trigger it on purpose."
As a Digimon and their human partner gain experience, they eventually reach a stage where they can access greater levels of power at will. To start off though, it usually only happens on reflex when one of them or someone they deeply care for is put in danger. I would like to think I know what triggered this one.
Good thing I'm too flushed with adrenaline for my blushing to be obvious.
"Should… should you be helping… Takeru?" I wheeze.
"Oh, right!" says Jyu. We both look back up to the battle in the sky.
Angemon has succeeded in putting a few small holes in Devimon's abdomen from standard hits and attacks. They don't seem to be slowing the demon down though, despite him losing data at an alarming rate. On the other hand, Angemon has a few cracks in his armor, and is missing yet another wing. Good thing he doesn't actually need them to fly.
Jyu speaks up. "Snimon! Get-"
"Don't bother," says a tired voice. It's Takeru, approaching us. His hand is bleeding pretty bad, but he's holding the knife by its handle now. Behind him the vagrant is on the ground, face first. "The last thing we need is another ally getting infected. Let's keep it simple."
With a massive punch, Devimon shatters the front of Angemon's helmet. The angelic Digimon is forced to back down as he lifts a hand to grasp his exposed face. The devil cackles. "Are you ready to surrender, adversary? Perhaps I might spare the lesser of your friends. If you beg."
Angemon ignores him. "T.K., are the others clear?"
"The fight down here is over," yells Takeru. "Time for you to wrap things up."
The angel smiles in a way that could be taken for a grimace. "Finally."
Angemon envelops himself in light.
"Angemon, Digviolve to… MagnaAngemon!"
What emerges has similarities to Angemon, but is undeniably… more. Not larger, but grander. The helmet has evolved into a large, holographic face-shield. The six wings are now eight. His armor is all-encompassing and fearsome. And the staff of Angemon has been replaced with a purple blade that emerges directly from the Ultimate Digimon's wrists, with a pair of wings of its own for the hilt.
"So Devil, is this the power you sought to face on this day?"
Devimon raises his arms before him in a defensive gesture. "You're done holding back then? ...Show me what you are now."
The archangel raises his blade. "Master, what is your will toward the beast?"
Takeru turns away from the fight. For a second, his face is a struggle of its own. I see something new there. An anger. A hatred. He's under its power for but a moment. Then it's gone.
"Send him away," says Takeru, obviously drained. "We've had enough violence today."
"Very well." MagnaAngemon lifts his blades and it tears into the very fabric of the sky. In a circle he carves and a massive gold structure appears from the hole. Slowly, it opens.
"Heaven's Gate!"
An otherworldly light shines down upon the two flying Digimon. Devimon flinches away, but it is to no avail. His body is torn by the heat, stripped into strands of data. His very essence is sucked into the gate. Slowly his physical form is taken from this world into the next.
When its work is done, the gate begins to close. Just before it vanishes though, the deep baritone voice of the demon lingers for one last line. In the air hangs one word, "Coward."
A knock comes from the motel room door. Koushiro is stirred from his reverie. The laptop is still in front of him, Tentomon is still watching the TV… And it's almost eight at night. What day is it? How long has he been awake?
Pushing the thoughts back, Koushiro Izumi rises up from the side of his bed. If he wants to get his assignment resolved, he first must deal with this interloper.
"Koushiro, you here? I wanted to talk to you."
Izumi hesitates, but opens the door. "And what is it you want to discuss, Takashi?"
T.K. looks more than a little uncomfortable to be here, but that isn't the main thing that registers with Koushiro. For one, he's wearing different clothes, nice clothes. It must be a different day from their last meeting, which answers at least one of Koushiro's questions. Second, he's been hurt. One of T.K.'s hand s has been heavily bandaged, the wrappings already stained with blood.
"May I come in?"
Koushiro obliges. T.K. has the courtesy not to comment on his old comrade's current living arrangements, and indeed hardly seems to notice the room's state of disrepair. He quickly locates a chair mostly free of dirty clothing and stains to seat himself in. Tentomon doesn't acknowledge the Digidestined, only briefly allowing his eyes to flick over the man before returning to his program.
"Today was a crazy day," says T.K. "It was Tai's funeral. Didn't see you there."
"I seem to have lost track of time. It's an issue I have. I'm sorry."
T.K. shakes his head. "No, that's… well, it's not fine, but that isn't why I'm here. There was an attack. Devimon came back. It was like something out of a nightmare. I've been dreading that exact circumstance for so long, but then it happened.
"When we were kids he was literally the devil to me. None of the monsters we fought terrified me as much as him. But today I faced him as an adult, and he was nothing. We've gotten stronger since then, since we stopped being heroes. Things aren't better now, but the problems we have to face are different. In some ways, they're bigger. And that made me think of you."
Both men are silent for a second. Then Koushiro asks "So I take it you killed him?"
T.K. sighs. "No. Maybe I should have, but it didn't feel right. I had Patamon send him back to the Digital World as data. It'll take him a while to come back and I doubt he'll be the same when he does, but he's not gone."
Koushiro frowns. "I agree, Takashi. You should have killed him."
"Have you gone to see them?"
Koushiro's expression doesn't change at all. "No. I haven't."
"Well, you should. Whatever your reasons are, you came back. I don't think you're a bad guy, Koushiro. I know who you used to be. A child needs a father." Even one like you, he barely manages to contain.
Once again, the man's expression is absent.
His supply of words nearing depletion, T.K. heads for the door. Just before he leaves however, he musters up all the Hope left to him for a final statement. "You'll do the right thing eventually. Just try to manage it before everything goes to shit again."
"I'll take it under advisement, T.K."
My life, my friends, my family, they'd all been on the line. And I still hadn't done it. I still couldn't make Agumon Digivolve. Even against an enemy of my father, I was relegated to the role of bystander.
Something has to change.
"What is it you're thinking so hard about?" Taji asks.
We're in my room, along with Agumon. We've been hanging out here almost since the fight ended, waiting for the others to arrive.
"Nothing important. Just today, the last few days. It's a lot to process."
Taji nods solemnly without comment.
The door swings open and out goes anything relating to solemnness. In walks Tama.
"Tet-man! What the heck's going on? Gabumon said we needed to get over here. It better be good, I'm probably still contagious and you'll have no one to blame but yourself when you-"
"Show some tact, child," interrupts his partner, Biyomon. "This is Kamiya's home. Allow your host a moment to speak."
Behind them, Taji's Gabumon shoots me an apologetic look. I know the Ishida household sometimes has trouble with his antics and mouth, but the truth is I enjoy Tama's company. Every group needs a funny man, especially in times like these.
The last one to arrive is Jyu and his partner, Wormmon. Not unlike Takeru, Jyu wears his Digimon like an accessory, but as a scarf instead of a hat. Wormmon naps blissfully around the boy's neck.
"Didn't realize you were having a party tonight, Tetsu. Any particular reason?"
"Yes," I say, mustering up my courage. "What Takeru was saying today got me thinking. The experience that made our parents into who they are was going to the Digital World. That's where all of them discovered what they were capable of and how much they could be. It's where they discovered their closest friendships and deepest held values. Without those months of wandering about, it's safe to say none of us would be here now.
"So I think we should go back."