Hello, I'm so sorry that you had to wait so long for this new chapter. My laptop kicked the bucket then I went on a leadership retreat where I couldn't access the internet. I've been waiting to do this chapter for sometime now because I get to introduce Saemon's evolution. I hope you'll like it as much as I do. Anyway, I don't own Digimon, never have, never will. Don't forget to follow, favorite and review. Enjoy!
Chapter 8:
The Emperor's New Home
Once returning from the Digiworld that night, they adjourned without further discussion on their revelations. Questions lingered in all of them, alarming enough to split the group, their departure only delayed the inevitable outcome. However, their adventures in the Digital World was the start of an onslaught that would prevent them from returning to the matter. A splinter had been inserted into their relationship, a minuscule divide between members which would widen with time.
Yet, our heroes remained oblivious to the coming trouble as they separated to their respective homes for the night. Just like every day, Kouki, Yolei, Cody and TK walked home together, an unusual hush dulling their normal conversations. They said their farewells in the elevator, leaving each Digidestined to their own thoughts, wrought with unease from the events of the day. Despite Gatomon's response to the situation, Kouki was fairly certain of the rest of the group's distrust towards him. He doubted they'd ever return to how things use to be after this.
You know it's true, you've lost their trust.
Don't think that's true, Kouki. The others will forgive you in no time. It's just going to take them time to observe all that info.
"I'm going to sleep," Kouki announced as he set his school bag down, allowing Saemon to jump out. He was worn out, there was too much for him to think about and he felt like he couldn't do it anymore. After all the time he spent fretting over the group's reaction, their acceptance seemed almost too good to be true. Perhaps, after given time for the gravity of the truth Kouki had hidden from them, they would reveal their true anger with him.
If nothing else, they would no longer trust him after this.
Davis would no longer trust him.
Kari would no longer trust him.
"You mean Ken is the Digimon Emperor?" Izzy exclaimed, snapping Kouki out of his daze.
Last night had been a long and sleepless one, spent worrying over who the other Digidestined would treat him. When there seemed to be no change in their accepting attitude, Kouki found himself helpless. He wondered if they were truly mad at him, if they even wanted to be around him anymore. If nothing else, he wished they'd just go ahead and tell him.
You have no place with this group anymore.
They don't trust you.
They don't even need you.
All the want you for is so you can defeat Ken.
Then they'll toss you aside like trash.
"Right and as emperor he's not just a genius he's an evil genius!" Davis explained, fully engaged in recounting the events of their previous day in the Digiworld to Izzy. He'd been avoiding Kouki during the school day, ignoring any attempts the latter made to start a conversation. There was no going back to the way things were before.
"I just don't understand why such a talented, smart person would want to hurt others," Cody huffed. The youngest of the group wasn't acting any differently towards Kouki, but then again, they weren't very close. It was only a matter of time before he would cut Kouki off too.
"He seems so nice," Kari sighed. Unlike Davis, the Digidestined of Light hadn't been ignoring Kouki, rather it seemed as if she'd been trying to engage with him more. But that was impossible, surely, she wouldn't want anything to do with Kouki. She was probably disgusted with him keeping secrets from the group. "I can't believe the Digimon emperor is only a kid like us."
Once he defeated Ken, they'd throw him aside.
"-ki! Kouki!"
Kouki jumped when he felt a hand on his shoulder. Kari was there, looking worried, her hand on his shoulder. He shrunk inside himself upon realizing the whole group was looking at him. And at the sight of Davis' glare, he wanted nothing more than a hole to open in the Earth and swallow him.
"Sorry, what did you want to know?" Kouki questioned.
"How is it that you know Ken?" Izzy prompted. The member of the 1st generation Digidestined seemed unchanged, and Kouki wondered if they had told him about the secret he'd kept. Maybe he should have been listening when Davis debriefed Izzy.
"We used to go to the same school, and we just got along well. I didn't know him too well, he was more of an acquaintance than anything. After I moved we stopped talking."
The door slammed open, startling the group as Yolei enter, wielding a handful of bags. "Hey guys, sorry I'm late! But look what I've got!"
Shimon jumped from Kouki's lap the minute the bags were set on the floor, pulling out her treat of choice. She'd been distant as of late too, and Kouki couldn't help but wonder if she was mad he'd made her keep a secret from her new friends.
"You're the best Yolei! You can be the head chef in the cafeteria any day," Demiveemon proclaimed around his mouth full of cookies. Crumbs splattered across the floor, and his fellow Digimon grimaced. When the small dragon Digimon would learn manners, no one knew.
"Oh! I found this, there's an article in it about Ken," Yolei said taking out a magazine.
"I'll take that," Davis snatched the magazine out of her hand.
"Hey! You gave me a paper cut!" Yolei yelled.
"Yeah that's him! The evil kid!" Davis said looking at the picture
"Who would think that such a normal looking boy could be the Digimon emperor?" Cody questioned with a deep sigh.
"His smile makes him look so gentle," Kari commented sadly.
"Uh yeah but his hair kinda makes him look like you Kari," TK joked.
"Let me see it," Izzy said grabbing the newspaper, "Oh this kid. I've seen him on the news before."
"Look at his IQ! He could program my computer any day!" Yolei said.
"Are you crazy?! He may be smart, but that guy is rotten to the core!"
"Well he's not just smart he's got dashing good looks," Yolei insisted.
"And he's athletic too," Cody added.
"Hey, I'm just as good at sports as he is!" Davis protested.
Kouki should join in, joke around with them, act like nothing was wrong. But that was incorrect. Everything was wrong.
"Okay, okay, don't get your knickers in a twist, let's just find him!" Izzy focused to group once more. He turned back to his computer, inserting a disk. "I'll use my map program to find him."
What are they doing? Kouki frowned, not having the nerve to ask the group since it had been his fault for spacing out. He looked over to his partner, confused when he didn't receive an answer to find her not even looking at him. Of course she was mad, he shouldn't have expected her to forgive him.
"Here it is," Davis announced. Why Kouki followed the group to Ken's house at night was beyond him. He'd already tried to talk the genius out of being the tyrant ruler of the Digimon only to be ignored. Surely this wouldn't work either.
As they drew within sight the of the building, the group was surprised to see the group of police cars parked in front. "You kids shouldn't be here." One of the officers had seen them and began to herd them away from the scene.
"What's going on?" Kouki asked, trying to catch a glimpse of what was happening behind the officer.
"That boy genius, Ken, is missing and hasn't been found anywhere," the officer replied, "Now you kids had better run along.
"Run away? I bet I know where he's gone," Davis whispered as soon as they got far enough away from the scene.
"I think you're right," Izzy said, "Ken is most likely in the digiworld. But it's dangerous to just walk in there."
"But the longer we wait, the longer he has to plot against us," Kari pointed out.
The next day, the group met back up in the computer lab after school. All were tired from the last night's venture. Once Kouki had returned he fell into a restless sleep, plagued by nightmares which made it near impossible to feel rested by the time he'd woken up.
"We need to make a new plan," Cody advised.
"We need to find out what he's doing to make a plan," Izzy pointed out. He pulled up the mapping program he'd created of the Digiworld, and the group gasped as they saw the previous white spaces filed in with black.
This is all your fault.
You failed them.
Kouki had the power to stop Ken yet he hadn't used it. Who knew how long it would take Kouki alone to take care of Ken without worrying about destroying the towers. A matter of moments perhaps and then piece would once again be restored to the Digital World. And he would no longer need to bother the other Digidestined his his presence. No one needed to tell him, Kouki knew he didn't belong with them anymore.
He stepped forward to the computer between the ongoing argument on their next course of action. Davis and Izzy had ceased their bickering to watch the Digidestined of Dreams as he held up his Digivice to the computer.
"I need to go."
"What on Earth was that about, Kouki?" Davis snapped as soon as he'd followed his friend to the Digiworld. He'd been avoiding his fellow Digidestined as much as possible, but to just charge in without assessing the situation was a very un-Kouki like thing to do. Davis couldn't put his finger on it, but…
Kouki just seemed off.
"He's close."
It was so dark.
Okay, well that wasn't exactly the response Davis had been expecting. It seemed apparent his fellow Digidestined was out of it. So, Davis did the next best thing, he turned to Saemon. "What's wrong with him?"
The small ice Digimon shook her head, growling in frustration. "I don't know. I can't, I can't get through to him. It's like something's blocking me." She was trembling, her tail pulled between her legs. And oh god, how long had Kouki been acting like this and Davis didn't notice.
"Davis!" Veemon tugged at his shirt, pointing to the figures emerging from the pool of lava. This was so not the time. Kouki was unresponsive, he wouldn't help him fight, and he needed to get his friend out of here. And where were the others?
Had it always been this dark?
"Veemon, armor Digivolve," Davis ordered, pulling out his Digivice. He didn't have time to deal with the lava Digimon. Not right now.
The Digidestined watched in relief as Flamedramon took Veemon's place, finally something was going right. Only to pale again when Flamedramon's Fire Rocket caused no damage. And how could he be so stupid as to think a fire attack would work on Digimon made out of lava?
"Buddy, snap out of it, we need you," Davis panicked, grabbing onto Kouki's shoulders and roughly shaking his friend. This had to work, what else could he do, he needed Kouki to snap out of it. "I'm sorry for ignoring you today. I was mad. But I'm not anymore, I understand. So please, please just snap out of it!"
"Look, it's a land of fire, kinda like that movie.
Davis perked up, he'd never been so glad to hear one of TK's lame jokes. The cavalry had arrived. Finally.
"A little bit of help here," Flamedramon called out to the new arrivals, still trying to delay the lava Digimon from reaching his partner.
Davis let out a sigh of relief as Hawkmon and Digmon joined his partner as they fought back the Digimon. The others came to him, all of them eyeing Kouki with similar states of confusion. Saemon looked even worse, whatever was happening to her partner was obviously taking a toll on her as well.
"What's wrong?" Cody questioned.
"I don't know," Davis admitted. For once he'd readily admit he didn't know what had happened, or how to fix it, or what to do about it. And it scared him.
A bone chilling roar interrupted his panicking. The ground shook beneath the group as the giant that was Skullgraymon landed. And were there Digimon really that small in comparison? Davis had only heard of the dark evolved Digimon, and he knew they had no chance.
"How can we beat that thing?" Davis asked.
He had to do it.
He had to prove he was useful.
He needed to prove himself to the group.
So he could stay with them.
"I have no id-!"
"Saemon."
The group turned to Kouki in shock as he seemed to snap out of his daze. He stepped forward, past the rest of the group, his small Digimon trailing behind him. And it was official, Kouki had lost it, there was no way he could defeat Skullgraymon alone.
But then Davis saw it. The way the small Digimon stepped beside her partner, her tail lifting with newfound confidence. She knew something the rest of them didn't. Saemon was unbothered by the prospect of going against the huge Digimon by herself.
Kouki took out his Digivice, watching the giant Digimon step ever closer to him and his partner. He took a deep breath before yelling.
"Joint Evolution!"
A chill overpowered the sweltering heat of the ponds of lava surrounding the group as a bright light developed partner and Digimon, forcing the other Digidestined and armor Digimon to look away. What took their place, took Davis' breath away.
In Saemon's place was a Digimon he had never seen before and could only be described as an angel. Long, ice blue hair flittered down to the small of her back. Wings, which appeared to be made of ice, stretched out on either side of her, each the span of Davis' height. From what Davis could see, she wore a light blue cloak, draping down to reveal a darker skirt. Silver armor wrapped around both of her shoulders, her wrists and formed a collar around her neck. White boots barely grazed the ground as she floated inches above the rocky surface. A fluffy, blue tail tipped with white peaked out from her wave of hair, and similarly colored ears poked out on her head, much like those of a dog, or Saemon. Drifting from her collar, almost blending in as if a strand of hair, was a white ribbon. She held a rod, taller than Davis was, with meticulous white designs.
And beside her? Beside her was Kouki. His tennis shoes had changed into a pair of white boots, similar to the angel's in style. A smaller version of the staff was held in his hands, with blue designs twisting up the rod. The silver armor twisted around his shoulders, wrist and neck just like the Digimon's and an ice blue ribbon drifted down his back.
It was like a fog had cleared.
"It's Shiroangemon," Gatomon gasped. Her eyes were shining as she looked at the angel.
"You know her?" Kari questioned. The beautiful caramel color of her eyes were still locked on Kouki. And Davis had really lost her to him.
Gatomon nodded, "She was one of the five Celestial Guardians who saved the Digiworld. There was a rumor there were humans traveling with them, but I didn't think it was true. Until now."
"The Celestial Guardians?" TK prompted.
"They're said to be some of the most powerful Digimon. There was Shiroangemon, Kageiomon, Supakumon, Boeimon, and Ogonnomon," Patamon supplied.
"What is this?"
Right, Ken and Skullgraymon were still here. But the Digimon Emperor looked just as amazed as Davis felt. Rightfully so, Davis found himself thinking bitterly.
Shiroangemon rose elegantly in the air, her feathered wings pumping. "Skullgraymon, prepare yourself," she warned, shooting towards the larger Digimon. She swung her rod in a circular motion, "Frozen Dynasty!" The land below her grew covered in ice as she flew, the lava reverting to a state of solid earth with the sudden temperature change.
"Scattered Light!" The Digidestined turned to Kouki who had yelled, a ball of what seemed to be pure light forming on the end on his rod. He angled it toward Skullgraymon, watching as it shot off the end of the rod.
"Frosted Power!" A ball of ice formed on Shiroangemon's staff, and as Kouki's attack shot beneath her, she touched the end of her rod to it, the balls combining to form a swirling mass of light and ice.
"Scattered Power!" Partner and Digidestined shouted in harmony as the mass separated. The almost bullet like pieces struck Skullgraymon, causing the massive Digimon to Dedigivolved back to Agumon.
Had that really just happened?
Shiroangemon glowed for a moment before Dedigivolved to Saemon and then Shimon, falling from the sky she'd previously been soaring in. "Shimon!" Flamedramon shot forward in the air, catching his friend before barreling back to the ground as he too Dedigivolved to Veemon.
Before the group, Kouki collapsed to the ground, returning to normal. Davis couldn't blame him, not after that spectacular display of power. Running forth to his friend, Davis propped him back up into a sitting position, carefully checking his breathing. Just in case.
Ken, on the back of an Airdramon, appeared to be contemplating something before ordering the Digimon to pick up Agumon.
"Agumon!" Kari cried out, "TK! Do something!"
But it was too late, they would be long gone before Patamon armor Digivolved. And besides, they had bigger things to worry about right now.
