Story Title: Crest Armors
Chapter Title: Back To the Real World... As Sad As It Is
Author: Mathais
Rating: PG-PG-13
Category: Digimon Adventure 02
Archive: Only
Warnings: Chosen Children Fighting, Lack of Digimon Partners, Use of Dub Names
Pairings: TK/Kari, pending Davis/Yolei, pending Davis/Ken, pending Ken/Yolei, pending Tai/Sora, pending Matt/Tai, pending Izzy/Mimi
Summary: The digidestined have been granted powers to help in the coming battles. Now that the digimon are out of commission for a while, they'll need those powers more than ever.
Disclaimer: I do not own digimon and the concept of Crest Armors in their current form are mine, though other variations of this idea are no doubt out there.
References: None.
Notes: I know that Joe has two brothers, but I don't feel comfortable using their original names, so I'm just giving him one brother, a blend of the two.
TK yawned as he awoke. His muscles were sore; the week of training had been harsh on his young body. He rolled out of bed, climbing to his feet. The Child of Hope winced; the cold stung his feet. Slapping his yellow slippers on (Kari thought it would be funny if they featured a bunny), TK padded out of the room he shared with his older brother. He quietly walked past each of the rooms, their occupants asleep within. When he reached the simulated garden, however, two people were already there.
"Hey TK." Kari smiled weakly, hair hanging limp, a testament to how tired she was.
Cody merely nodded, moving over on the stone bench, creating space for the other boy.
TK sat down, taking the silent invitation. The three just took in the serenity of the situation.
Cody was the one that broke the comfortable silence. "Did you guys know that I keep cords of attachment with almost everyone I meet?"
The Keepers of Hope and Light shook their heads, silently urging him to go on.
"I know when someone I'm close to dies or is sick, even before I am told." He sighed then. "My bond with my dad is broken."
"Did it hurt?" TK asked gently.
"A lot." Cody nodded. "I've gotten over it though."
Kari wrapped her arms around the young child, drawing him closer.
"I also know my relationships." He went on, holding back the tears that threatened to spill over his eyes. The older digidestined winced; nobody in the group liked seeing another one of their number cry. "My mom and dad betrayed me."
TK and Kari took in a deep breath.
"I don't know where to go, guys." The reserved boy was letting down his shields, just this once.
"We'll think of something, don't worry. Just relax." Kari soothed.
"I'll bet one of us will take you in. Maybe even my family." TK reassured.
"Or mine." Kari jumped in.
"Thanks guys." Cody smiled slightly, wiping his eyes.
"You're a friend. We wouldn't betray you." TK added with a smile.
Cody grinned.
Meanwhile, Kari was counting down and when she reached one, all three plugged their ears.
The only thing that could describe the state of everything was pandemonium.
"Morning has official begun." Kari smiled grimly as Davis slid into the garden. The previously three, now four and the youngest of the Digidestined, listened to the older kids and grimaced.
"Please let us never be like this." TK prayed to the Digital Gods.
Kari placed a hand to her head as she, along with TK, Cody, and Davis, stared down at the pile of older kids. "You didn't learn anything, did you?"
Tai rolled his eyes, but didn't move.
All eight of the older digidestined were in a pile, exactly how they'd ended up for the mornings since they had came here.
TK neatly sidestepped them. "I'm going to make breakfast. Coming Cody?"
"Sure!" The younger boy followed the blonde as they left the hallway.
Davis shook his head as the eyes of those in the pile turned to him. "You got yourselves in this mess and you get yourselves out!"
A voice echoed from down the hall. "You're not coming in the kitchen Davis!"
The goggle-headed boy pouted, running after the other two. "Hey!"
Kari raised her hands. "I'm setting up the table!" She rushed out quickly.
"Help?" Tai called out miserably as he shook his leg. Joe yelped as he kicked his own leg out in surprise. Matt growled as he yanked his hand away from Ken's crotch, who responded by twisting himself to the left, falling out of the group altogether. He quickly ran for the bathroom, leaving the other seven in a pile.
"COWARD!" Yolei snarled as she managed to break free, chasing the former Digimon Emperor.
"Anyone notice how the younger kids always just leave us like this?" Mimi wondered.
"Can't blame them." Izzy snorted before he ducked out of the pile, twisting around, just barely missed putting his face into Joe's thigh before breaking free completely. He also left quickly.
With five left, it was easy for them to break out of the pile and breathe a sigh of relief.
"Last day." Tai glanced wearily at his companions.
"Let's hope our parents are forgiving." Sora agreed quietly to the unspoken yet felt by all line.
With a weary sigh, the five stood, brushing dust off their pajamas. Matt ran a hand through his hair before sighing again. "I need some more gel."
"You can borrow some of mine." Tai offered as the two of them headed to what was designated the boys' bathroom.
Joe ran a hand through his frazzled blue hair, deciding instead to return to the room he shared with Izzy instead of going to the large bathroom. The two girls could hear him muttering about where he placed his hairbrush.
Mimi also ran a hand through her hair, which had returned to its normal strawberry blonde color. She didn't want the extra effort of maintaining the regular dye jobs to keep it the bright pink she had before. Sora stretched a bit, turning to the other girl with a smile.
"Let's change so we can see what TK and Cody's got for us."
"Yeah."
The two females of the original seven left for their shared room.
Half an hour later, all twelve digidestined and Gennai were in the dining room of his underwater house, eating the breakfast that TK and Cody had cooked with a little help from Davis.
The blonde-haired Child of Hope sucked on the end of his chopsticks, carefully waiting for his chance. As quick as a flash, he snatched up the last piece of toasted bread, munching and crunching happily on the roll. The lazy grin on his face after he finished merely goaded Davis and Matt.
The Second Goggle-Wearer pouted. "I wanted that."
"That was cheap Teeks." Matt frowned.
TK rolled his eyes and stood, leaving the room for a second. He came back with another plate of the rolls, two of which were immediately taken by Matt and Davis.
"We're out of rice." Sora frowned.
"I'll get some more!" Cody volunteered, standing and heading back off to the kitchen, Sora in tow. The two brought out some more rice; Cody refilling bowls. Even Gennai was going for more.
"So, what's going to happen now?" Gennai asked.
Tai set his bowl down, the first to speak. "We're going to calm our parents down first."
Mimi nodded. "That would be the best action."
"Past destroying more control spires, there's nothing else to play but the waiting game." Izzy added after taking a bite of the cooked fish he had placed into his bowl.
Murmurs of assent passed along the other digidestined with the Child of Kindness speaking up. "We know that Arukenimon and Mummymon were attacking us with Control Spire Digimon, but we don't know who were controlling them. Obviously, until they reveal themselves, all we can do is take away the things they've been feeding upon."
Gennai nodded. "Right."
TK hesitantly placed his bowl down. "Are we going to have another Spiral Mountain incident?"
The original digidestined winced.
"By Azulongmon, I hope not." Mimi muttered.
"I'd suggest adding Zhuqiaomon, Baihumon, Ebonwumon, and even Huanlongmon to that." Izzy added.
Ken twitched. "That bad?"
Davis spoke up, slightly confused. "Who are those last four?" Yolei and Cody murmured in agreement.
"The rest of the Guardians/Sovereigns. Zhuqiaomon of the South, Baihumon of the East, Ebonwumon of the North, and Huanlongmon of the Center." Izzy explained. "Think Digital Gods."
The three newest digidestined shuddered.
The thirteen ate in silence, until the dishes were being washed by Joe and Matt. Beyond that, there was nothing left to do but wait.
Dressed in the clothes they had first arrived in (though they had been washed, courtesy of Sora, Cody, TK, and Yolei), the twelve waited patiently for the signal that they could go home.
Gennai raised a hand into the air when he felt a mental command, robes appearing over his body. He drew a circle in mid-air, sealing it with a big D. Then, the children and teens watched as he pricked his finger with a hidden knife, droplets of blood hitting the ground before disappearing. However they had no time to wonder at this as the area in front of Gennai started to glow a wavy myriad of colors, like the Aurora Borealis. All seven originals were startled to recognize it as they way they had first gone to the Digital World. As that fact sunk in, a wave of light the colors not unlike a rainbow seashell shining underwater overcame all of them and, despite training, the twelve screamed as all balance left them unexpectedly.
TK fiercely tried to rectify himself as he lashed a hand out, catching Davis's hand in the process. The two together steadied themselves as Davis grabbed Ken's hand and TK grabbed Cody's. They formed a chain, which eventually became a circle as everyone felt the sensation of floating overcome them.
"Transporting never took this long." Mimi gulped.
"We were too busy screaming our heads off for Azulongmon knows how long last time." Joe replied wryly.
"If we were prepared, I think it'd be rather enjoyable." Izzy added.
Yolei made a face at the older teen. "So says you." A moment later, her glasses spiraled off into nothingness. "Damn."
"How come Joe's are still there?" Kari asked curiously, clinging tighter to Tai and Cody. That was all Fate needed as Joe's glasses did the same, disappearing to wherever Yolei's went to. Joe scowled at the Child of Light, who by now was trying valiantly to stifle giggles without using her hands. She ultimately failed as her laughter rung across the space between the human world and the Digital World. The others soon joined it as they laughed and laughed until it seemed like all their troubles disappeared.
That was, of course, when they abruptly appeared mid-air in TK's room in his apartment, crashing in a huge pile on the bed as they pulled others close to them to avoid smashing against the wooden floor.
Nancy Takaishi flung the door open, gapping in shock at the mess of people in her son's room.
"Hi mom." TK offered a feeble smile. "I'm back."
Not even half-an-hour later, the twelve digidestined were assembled in front of worried families.
TK and Matt were alternately being hugged by Nancy and Malcolm, the latter dropping emotional fortitude. Matt was explaining quietly the circumstances, reassuring the parents, while TK was acting the stuffed bear. Actually his mom was hugging him so tightly that he could hardly breathe, let alone speak.
Tai and Kari were in a tag-team lecture by their mom and dad. Kari, TK could tell, was tuning out the whole conversation via the "I'm the Angel of Light, cute girl, I know I'm wrong" expression. Tai was listening avidly, or at first glance. He really was just thinking about their next action against what was threatening the Digital World.
Sora just hugged her mom, whispering apologies to the crying woman. There was no lack of love there.
Mimi was alternately being yelled at and being hugged by her mom and dad. She looked like she was enjoying it.
Izzy was given a lecture from his dad and a huge hug from his mom. Nothing remarkable about that, past the sheepish expression on the techie's face.
Joe was being stared at by his brother as his mom and dad lectured him. He got off relatively easy since he was the adult of the group, though he didn't escape unscathed.
Cody was chatting quietly with his grandfather, explaining that he knew that his mom was freaked. Grandpa Hida was consoling the boy, though Cody's emotional barriers were up again. Such a thing made TK a little sad; he thought that they'd made good progress on him.
Yolei was in a mass of crying siblings, hugging them fiercely. She smiled, though tears were in her eyes. It was obvious that she missed her family and wished her parents were there.
Jun was, surprisingly, hugging her younger brother like he wouldn't be there tomorrow. Respecting this, Davis hugged back and made no move to escape the embrace.
Ken was being hugged by an extremely relieved mother while his father apparently deciding between yelling at him and hugging him. Thankfully for the Dark Spore-infected (though he didn't quite know this yet) genius, it was the latter.
When the initial reunions were over, the digidestined started explaining the situation.
Tai, as the unofficial leader of the armored digidestined clenched his hands and fidgeted as he explained. He told of the Blackwargreymon threat and what was disturbing the very fabric of their Digital World with the Destiny Stones being destroyed. Davis, as the unofficial leader of the magic-using digidestined, took up the story from there. The fire and ice mage told of Blackwargreymon's gradual destruction of the Destiny Stones and the despair that followed every such incident, watching their digimon get blown away. It was cumulated with the arrival at the last Destiny Stone and subsequently the unveiling of Hope and Light, TK and Kari respectively. Davis went on to talk about the out-of-action digimon and the training the twelve had undergone, to protect the failing Digital World in the absence of the digidestined's digimon.
TK wrinkled his nose. Damn, the scent of tears was really getting to him. They stung, saltiness burning his nose. He really hated the increase in senses sometimes that was a factor with the Crest Armors.
"Umm..." Yolei spoke up hesitantly. As the group riveted their attention to her, she grew more confident. "Where are Davis, Cody, and I staying?"
"We decided that already. We will be taking in Cody." Mrs. Izumi gestured to herself, her husband, and Izzy, who first looked shocked, then surprised, which finally melted into a happy "I-guess-I-have-a-little-brother-sorta" smile. Grandpa Hida just nodded his head in morose acceptance.
"Davis will be staying with us." Mrs. Ichijouji said clearly, eliciting a smile from Davis, who felt two bonds strengthen in his mind. Ken gave a smile too, glad that his DNA partner was with him. Jun smiled slightly too, but she solemnly informed the adults that she'd better be allowed to visit otherwise there'd be hell to pay.
Mimi's father spoke up next. "Yolei will be with us then." He smiled reassuringly; Mimi's mother also doing the same. Yolei smiled back as Mimi squealed, already planning the things they'd do together. Yolei's three siblings echoed the promises Jun stated earlier.
The groups soon dispersed. Cody and Yolei were hiding, the pain caused by their still too fresh to want to see them. The Inoue siblings entered their apartment discreetly, knowing that their parents would question if they were caught. The older Hida simply entered for there was no way his daughter would question his authority. Or where he had went. He still had all his facilities after all.
TK sighed as he sat on his bed. It was almost time for their enemies to start their counter-attack. After all, they had just removed one of their major players, a Mega. He rubbed his chest where it started hurting less since Azulongmon had been released. He guess the freedom of the Guardian had inspired hope again and the closest thing this Digital World had to a god, which subsequently aided the other crests, also fueling the magic that Davis, Yolei, and Cody now relied on.
He rubbed his head. They lived in a technological world, but magic was entwined in the very heart of it, brought upon by evolution the time differences brought upon. With magic came a price and all were feeling it. The constant training with magic tired everyone out. Even the Crest Armors used magic to an extent, but it was more dangerous for the newcomers into the fighting.
His headache growing worse, so TK fell against his pillow, falling asleep. And as he slept, he dreamt...
Fluffy white clouds overhead did nothing to hide the bright blue sky. The light of the sun shined down on the grass, morning dew on every strand. Large oak trees surrounded the field, leaves wet with the morning's water. A gentle breeze wafted through the area, bringing the scent of the forest into the glade. Pure, untouched, just there.
He stood in the middle, enjoying the serenity. The breeze caressed his face, dirty blonde strands catching in his eyes. He raised a hand, replacing the white fisherman's hat he had removed to enjoy the wind brushing against his face, though he still enjoyed the wind. Light shined on his face, brightening some parts and darkening others. He raised a hand to the sun, the warmth seeping through his fingers.
TK's head snapped up as darkness started creeping through the area, the trees withering one by one. A tree soon grew in the middle, dark and foreboding. Instead of leaves, this tree was filled with spiked balls, like spores.
A voice started chanting through the area and TK was compelled to listen.
Twice destroyed and twice returned,
to the where from where spurned.
Taken to the world by one's desires,
the hatred it carries will ignite hatred's fires.
Twice dead and thrice born,
covers the world with the black darkness of scorn.
Nine will stand and nine will fall,
three will try and three will call,
and one forgotten will help five.
By the power of Miracles and Destiny to stay alive,
twelve will grow and dormant power will not lie,
with these energies darkness will finally die.
TK wrinkled his nose. The rhyming sucked, but he got it in memory. Was it a prophecy? Was it a clue? He didn't know, but all of a sudden cold shook over his body, drawing him away from the tree of darkness. He glimpsed crimson eyes, chilling him to the bone, and most of all familiar. He couldn't quite place it, however. Red light shot toward him and he screamed...
...only to awaken moments later. Grasping his chest as sunlight peeked through his window, TK was dismayed to find that he had broken out into a cold sweat. However other things took precedent in his mind and he raced out of the room and grabbed the phone, dialing a number.
"Hi. Tai? Can you call a Digidestined Meeting after school today? I think we have a problem."
Mathais waves a hand. "I think we finally found a way to get some screen time for us in."
Shinkaa frowned. "I hope this isn't bad."
"It's just using regular format instead of script." Chibi Tomoki added. "We're only experimenting."
Mathais waved. "It's our two-year anniversary! We're updating our first story cause of it!"
Chibi Tomoki giggled and flashed a V-sign. "We thank you for the reviews!"
Shinkaa nodded, the sapphire earring in his right ear flashing in the light. "Yeah!"
The light avatar of the author wrinkled his nose. "Sorry it took ten months... That long, damn!"
All three waved. "Bye!"