This chapter is a little shorter than the previous one, but don't worry, chapter 8 will be a long one…
I own the crests. Any resemblance to any made up crest is purely accidental.
Chapter 7 : Darkness and sorrow
Angel stood up and looked at the others.
- So, what are we gonna do, now?
Dorumon smiled.
- We should go looking for the tags and crests.
Coronamon nodded.
- Those crests might help.
Jamal seemed frustrated.
- But we don't even know where to find them. What are we supposed to do? Ask for help? We can't just trust any Digimon.
Hope looked at him.
- We gotta find them. Lucemon warned us. Without the tags and crests, we don't stand a chance against those four evil Digimon.
He sighed.
- We don't know anything about those crests. We don't know where to start searching, we don't even know what they look like.
Takao ran a hand trough his hair.
- Lucemon surprised me when he talked about the tags and crests. I used to think it was only something from the TV show.
Angel shook her head.
- Well, I'm starting to think that this TV show was based on a true story.
Stephen snorted.
- Never occurred to you that this Lucemon might have lied to us? I bet he's laughing right about now, thinking those foolish tamers were naive enough to believe him. I can't believe you trust him. He looks like a freak with those bat wings.
Hope glared daggers at him.
- How dare you! Judging merely by appearances is wrong and stupid! If you won't look past appearance, shut up and keep it to yourself!
He sniggered.
- You're an idiot…
She growled.
- You want to say that to my face?
- Anytime.
She took up a fighting position.
- Okay, come on tough boy! Bring it on!
Beelzemon sighed.
- Come on, you two, that's enough.
Keeping his eyes on Hope, Stephen shouted at him.
- Shut up, demon! You're not my father!
She clenched her fists.
- Don't talk to him like that!
Angel took a step forward.
- What the hell is wrong with you, Stephen?
Victoire looked angry.
- You're behaving like a jerk.
Beelzemon put up his hands in a peaceful gesture.
- Guys…
Hope looked at him and then at Stephen.
- Sorry, Beelzemon, this is personal. Nobody insults my friends and get away with it.
The fallen angel sighed.
- This is crazy. We should be fighting the enemy instead of fighting each others.
He restrained her.
- I cannot let you do that. Wizardmon…
The Wizard Digimon gestured for her to follow him.
- Come with me, Hope.
She ckenched her teeth. He spoke in a soft, soothing voice.
- Come on, come with me. I want to talk to you.
She followed him.
- What do you want?
He sat on a rock.
- Look, if we fight each others, we don't stand a chance against Daemon and his followers.
She sighed.
- If there's something wrong, why can't he just talk about it, huh?
He looked down in sadness.
- If he doesn't want to talk about it, we can't make him. I can read people's mind, but I wouldn't use that power unless I have to. I respect people's privacy. It's his right not to talk about it, It's his choice. We need to stay focused. The fate of both worlds is in our hands, we don't have time for quarrels. Now, let's join the others so we can decide where to start searching for the crests.
Elfmon smiled.
- I have an idea. Let's find a village and ask for informations. We don't have to talk about the tags and crests. Maybe they'll tell us more about what's going on in the Digital World. I say a village is as good a place as any to start searching.
Beelzemon shrugged.
- Fine by me.
Angel nodded.
- Let's go.
Victoire sighed.
- Ugh! My feet are killing me. Je suis vannée.
Tsukaimon, perched on her shoulder smiled.
- We've been walking for two hours straight. Don't worry, there must be a village nearby.
Victoire groaned.
- I've been walking for two hours straight, you haven't.
Gaomon turned to them and she smiled.
- I'm sure there's a village not too far from here.
Kory looked worried.
- Uh, guys… Don't freak out, but there's a data stream and It's coming right at us…
Jamal groaned.
- If people could just stop using the Internet for a few days…
Dorumon looked panicked.
- Run guys! If it catches us, we'll end up who knows where and we might be separated!
They started running, but it was too late. The data stream engulfed them and they disappeared. Only Beelzemon was left behind. He sank to his knees and held his head with both hands.
"I'm completely useless…"
A swirling black hole appeared under his feet. A tendril of smoke curled around his legs. He fell into the gaping pit.
Hope groaned and dusted the dirt off her clothes. She had escaped the data stream, but the others were gone.
- WIZARDMON? VICTOIRE? KORY?
"Oh yeah, that's very bright. Yell at the top of your lungs, so the bad Digimon can find you…"
- BEELZEMON?
She started looking for someone, anyone. Then, she saw the gaping pit.
- ANYONE IN THERE?
Without a second thought, she jumped into the gaping pit.
- Beelzemon?
She gasped.
- You're here! Oh jeez, don't scare me like that.
Beelzemon was huddled with his head on his knees.
- Come on, we gotta get out of here and find the others. Beelzemon?
She shook him, but he wouldn't move.
- Beelzemon, what's wrong with you?
- I'm completely useless, always have been.
She was shocked.
- Don't say that! It's not true.
A bitter laugh escaped him.
- Oh, but it is. In my Rookie days I was a weakling. That's why I hated Guilmon, Terriermon and Renamon. They could digivolve and I couldn't. I was a jealous, selfish jerk, still am.
She shook her head.
- Selfish? What are you talking about? I know what selfish is. I've been surrounded by selfish people for years. You're the only one who take care of me. You never think of yourself because you're always worried about me.
He shook his head.
- I didn't want Ai and Mako to grow up and go on with their lives. I didn't want you to grow up and I didn't want you to have a partner because I'm a wretched, selfish mon. All I ever care about is myself.
She growled.
- You love your partners and you didn't want them to leave. So? What's the big deal? Who wants to be alone? Where would I be without you? I'd probably be hungry and sick, maybe dead.
He hid his face in his arms, dejectedly. She gasped.
- Beelzemon! There's a sinister curl of black smoke trailing toward you! I don't like this. Let's get out of here.
He didn't move.
- Everything is pointless and meaningless.
She looked at him.
- You have to snap out of it!
A sad sigh escaped his lips.
- When I realized I couldn't digivolve, I hated everything and everyone more and more. I would've done anything to digivolve. I was weak and walked all over. I couldn't take it anymore. Then I met that Deva, Catsuramon. He offered me the power to digivolve to Mega, but there was a catch. The Sovereign, Zhuqiaomon wanted something in exchange. I had to kill the tamers and their Digimon. I badly injured the Digimon and I killed Jeri's partner. I still don't get why she begged Gallantmon to spare me, still don't get why they forgave me… Jeri's partner was right. To have power is not to be strong. I'm still weak, selfish and useless. I don't deserve to have friends.
The thin black smoke gathered unnoticed behind Hope as he slumped to the ground, leaning against the wall of the tunnel.
- What are you trying to do, huh? You're trying to make me hate you? Is that it?
He sighed.
- If you don't believe me, ask the friends I don't deserve.
She gave him an angry look.
- Oh, I believe you, alright. Why would you lie about that? But if you think I'm gonna hate you because you've made mistakes, you're way out of your league. Your friends don't hate you and neither do I. Who are we to judge? If we were to judge others for their mistakes, then we'd have to judge ourselves for our mistakes as well!
He sighed.
- I nearly killed your partner the night he arrived at our home. He joined me outside and I was so mad I wanted nothing more than to attack him, make him go away. I was afraid he was gonna take you away from me and I nearly destroyed him that night. But I saw Jeri's partner, or a ghost from the past anyway and he stopped me just in time. What I did, there is nothing more selfish than that. I always screw up. Always.
The smoke twirled menacingly toward them and settled around him like a shadow, growing bigger and bigger. His eyes were blank.
- Whatever I do, I always screw up. When Jeri was held captive by the D-Reaper, I tried to save her. But I failed miserably. They needed me and I was useless.
Hope started crying and she slapped him. He held his red cheek and gasped.
- If you think I'm just gonna stand there and watch as you destroy yourself, you have another thing coming! Don't you get it by now? It's the darkness in your heart that has created the cave in the first place! The darkness you've been carrying around with you the whole time, the darkness burried in your heart. Do your realize how strong your negative feelings are? They produce a powerful destructive energy. You have to erase all the negative feelings, otherwise you'll never get out of here. Our friends need us, they're counting on us.
Beelzemon shivered.
- And how am I supposed to do that?
She stared at him.
- If you're going to do it, then it has to be because you want to. You listen to me. You can't change the past. What's done is done. What you can do is shape the future. You're not alone. Who said you had to cut yourself from your friends because they left the fighting to others and went on with their lives? You can still see them. And I'm not going anywhere, so…
Tears ran down his cheeks.
- Beelzemon, we're all that stands between both worlds and the forces of Evil.
He lifted his head, his eyes alive again.
- We have to protect our families, our friends, the innocent… We can't let Daemon destroy everything we hold dear…
She nodded.
"I'm finally getting through to him!"
The black smoke relinquished Its hold on him and circled up near the ceiling of the cave.
- It can't be worse than the D-Reaper. I can do this, I have to.
She smiled.
- And you won't do it alone.
He looked at her.
- I was never really alone, I cut myself from everyone. I used to think people were selfish, serving their own interests. But they're not all like that. I hurt so much and so many times that I didn't allow myself to trust anyone.
He shivered.
- I've been carrying all that pain for years. Too much pain inside of me, trying to carry all the hurt alone.
He burst into sobs and tears fell down her cheeks. She hugged him.
- Oh, Beelzemon, I had no idea… It's okay, just let it out. Everything's gonna be all right now… Your friends love you and as long as I live, I'll be by your side. I promise and I always keep my promises.
Tears splattered her shirt.
- I can finally say it. Hope, I love you as if you were my own daughter.
She gave a little laugh.
- I already know that, you silly. Why else would you worry so much about me? But It's a good thing you can finally say it. I love you too and I hate to see you hurt. I hate it and I would give anything to take the pain away from you.
As she said that, a bright light appeared right above them and the black cloud of smoke disintegrated. He stood up.
- Everything's gonna be all right now. I know what Leomon meant. I know what true strength is.
The cave faded away and they saw a rock wall. They walked over to it. The bright light emanating from the wall floated over to her and a crest fell into her hands.
- My tag and crest! It's the crest of compassion.
He looked at her curiously.
- How do you know that?
She smiled.
- I just do.
He returned the smile.
- Compassion… makes perfect sense. Let's find the others. You're not afraid of heights, are you?
She shook her head.
- Good.
He picked her up and flew away.
She wasn't used to this, but she was so worried about her friends that she couldn't think about anything else.
- Beelzemon, how are we gonna find them? They could be anywhere.
He sighed.
- I don't know, Hope. I really don't know.
She clenched her teeth.
- Those data streams can be a real pain in the neck… Three hours. We've been travelling for three hours and still nothing. We have to find them.
The wind caressed her face and she felt safe in the arms of her father. Despite her worries, she fell asleep. She woke up half an hour later.
- Beelzemon, did you find something?
He nodded.
- I see a village. Maybe we could ask there.
He landed and they walked toward the village. They were greated by a Digimon who eyed Beelzemon with suspicion. He looked like a prairie dog with rabbit ears and he had metal gauntlets and long, sharp claws.
- Who are you and what are you doing here?
Hope looked at her D-Ark.
- Prairiemon, Beast type Digimon, is the Armor digivolved form of Patamon through the Digi-Egg of Kindness.
The fallen angel looked at Prairiemon.
- I'm Beelzemon and this is Hope. We're looking for our friends. We've been travelling for hours, but still nothing. Maybe you've seen them. Six humans and their Digimon partners.
Prairiemon smiled.
- We'll you've come to the right place. They're here and they asked informations about what's going on in the Digital World. I still can't believe the Digidestined are here, in our village. Azulongmon Bless them. Follow me.
They followed Prairiemon to the village. A cute Digimon asked Prairiemon who they were. He had red clothes, red butterfly wings and pointy ears.
Hope looked at her D-Ark.
- Bucchiemon, Fairy type Digimon, is the Armor digivolved form of Wormmon through the Digi-Egg of Kindness.
She frowned and looked at Beelzemon.
- How many of those Digi-Eggs are there in the Digital World?
But it was Bucchiemon who answered her question.
- Hundreds, maybe thousands scattered all over the Digital World.
She frowned even more.
- I thought only the Digidestined could move them and use them.
Bucchiemon nodded.
- Some of them were meant to belong to the Digidestined. Prairiemon and I are friends. When we were Patamon and Wormmon, we went looking for Digi-Eggs. We wanted to become stronger so we could protect our friends. We both chose to use a Digi-Egg of Kindness because we're best friends. Now, follow us and we'll lead you to your friends.
When Hope saw Wizardmon, she walked over to him. Angel smiled.
- I'm glad you found your way back to us.
Kory looked at them.
- Are you all right?
Beelzemon and Hope nodded. Victoire sighed.
- Well, good. You might want to hear what the villagers told us.
Two Digimon asked them if they wanted something to eat and something to drink.
Hope looked at her D-Ark once more.
- Floramon, Vegetation type Digimon. It's body is protected by a petal helmet, but when an enemy is not around, the helmet opens up and shows its smiling face. And Gazimon, Mammal type Digimon. A canine-rabbit hybrid. Though a quadruped by nature, it can stand upright and it can hold its own in battle.
Floramon and Gazimon suggested various type of food and drinks and then left the Digidestined to talk. Beelzemon turned to them.
- So, what have you heard so far?
Takao looked gloomy.
- This village is a refuge for homeless and oppressed Digimon. Daemon's followers attacked many villages. Truth is, nowhere's safe. Many Digimon in this village have lost friends.
Hope clenched her fists.
- This has to stop. Too many innocents suffered because of them.
Angel looked at her.
- What are we gonna do? Our Digimon can't digivolve to Ultimate.
Hope looked determined.
- We have to find the tags and crests. I found mine, so It's up to Wizardmon and me, for now.
She showed them her tag and crest. The symbol on the crest was a teardrop inside a heart.
- It's the crest of compassion.
Wizardmon smiled at her. Jamal looked at them and nodded.
- There's always hope. All we have to do is find the tags and crests and show those evil Digimon what we're made of.
Floramon and Gazimon came back with food and drinks. The grateful kids and Digimon thanked them. Gazimon smiled at them.
- Don't thank us. We're the ones who should be thanking you. You're the chosen ones. You're fighting for all of us and the fate of this world.
Floramon nodded.
- We know you're going to teach those evil Digimon a lesson and save this world. We have every faith in you.
They turned and left.
Victoire shivered.
- I hope we won't disappoint them…
Angel smiled.
- As long as we believe in ourselves, there's nothing we can't do.
Takao looked at Kory.
- You're don't seem nervous, not even a little. How can you be so serene at times like this?
Kory shrugged.
- I don't know, I am, that's all. There's a reason why we're here and I know we can do this.
Jamal nodded.
- You're right. We can't give up. We're fighting for our families, our friends, the good Digimon. As long as there are things worth fighting for, we have no reason to give up.
Takao laughed.
- Last year, I was playing the card game with my friends. If someone had told me I would find myself in the fight of my life… But sooner or later, we'll have to fight, right?
They heard panicked screams.
Angel stood up.
- Now's a good time to start…