Chapter 41: There is no distance

Two days passed and Ryo recovered well from his injuries. Millenniumon was satisfied and was more permissive toward Ryo than before. He surprised Ryo when he allowed him to be put down on the ground.

"Thanks you," Ryo had said to the dark god.

Ryo was currently observing the surrounding of the temple, or the remaining of the temple after he fought Millenniumon a while ago.

"It seems so long since I discovered the true," Ryo commented, remembering how he reacted when Millenniumon told him he was his destined partner. The thought of him...being my partner was really upsetting. I didn't know how to react. Also, what Raziel told me about him. I can't believe I trust him now. Although, I learned to listen to him and also understand him. Ryo looked at Millenniumon, who watched him, just in case. He's acting more like a father than a digimon partner right now. That's quite funny now that I think about it.

Millenniumon noticed Ryo looked toward him and also giggling as if he thought of something funny. What stupid thing did he think about me? He asked to himself. I don't really care; Ryo is feeling better and happier. Even if he often asking to give more news to Monodramon, one time per day. Even so, you will lose in the end Monodramon. Ryo will be mine because it is our destiny. I learn to embrace it and I will succeed. I am too attached to you now, more than the Ryo of my world. The dark god raised his head and looked at the bright sky. I am the god of time and darkness. Light is my enemy, but I am attracted toward the light. It must be like what Raziel said, we are opposite, but attracted by each other's. We do not clash. I love you instead of hating you. He smiled as he looked toward Ryo, I wonder why, but no matters, we are partners.

Ryo looked at the sky and wondered where his world was. His mind was set into confronting his living nightmare. He survived the god of darkness; he could overcome another human being.

Monodramon was once again exhausted by his intense training. He ran, jumped, flexed his muscles fought against the other digimons to have better reflex and strengthen his courage that he often lacked, even after so many times. He was on the ground and panted as he thought, No matter how much I train; it won't help me as long as I cannot evolve without Ryo. We can only evolve through the digivice. The power of the bound between a digimon and his partner is used through the digivice. I...don't know how it is possible, but it's not important.

Agumon joined Monodramon and sat beside him, "Still train to your limits?"

"Y-yes," Monodramon replied. He closed his eyes and added, "My limits...are starting to back away toward the infinity. Of course, I'll never reach that."

"At least, you know when to stop now," Agumon replied.

"That's because you told me how important it was. I think...My wound would be heavier now, if it wasn't from you," Monodramon turned his head toward Agumon and saw, "Agumon. Thank you."

Agumon smiled and replied, "You are welcome."

"I'm so glad Ryo is alright. Even if it was thanks to Millenniumon," Monodramon grumbled before lightly hissing.

"Maybe Millenniumon is watching us right now," Agumon suggested.

"Oh! I am- Forget it," Monodramon said as he forced himself not to be afraid of the dark god.

"If it is the case, maybe Ryo is watching you," Agumon noticed.

The purple dragon waved to no one when they heard.

"What are you doing?" Taichi asked as he joined them.

"Waving, maybe Ryo is watching me with Millenniumon," Monodramon replied as he put his claw on his chin.

Taichi didn't reply and nervously chuckled, "You can't be sure if it is the case or not."

"I know, but I know he thinks about me or he would ask Millenniumon to tell me that he was alright. I know he cares for me and I cannot let him down. I'll show how strong I'll become," Monodramon said raising his claw in the air before his body made a loud crack, "OUCH! My arm," Monodramon whined, ruining his speech.

"You should rest until you can do something like that," Agumon chuckled when Monodramon felt on the ground and continued whining.

"Stop laughing!" Monodramon shouted as he stood up and was about to chase the orange dinosaur when he changed his mind and just puffed.

"I'm sure Ryo find you funny when you were whining," Agumon teased the purple dragon.

Monodramon gasped and raised his head, looking serious and hiding his pain like he never suffered from it, "I'm not whining."

"Not anymore," Taichi corrected the dragon.

"Not helping," Monodramon replied before walking away.

Ryo and Millenniumon observed what was happening with the chosen children.

Millenniumon internally laughed at the poor Purple dragon when he was suffering from his aching body. Even so, he admitted something; He really wants to be stronger for Ryo's sake. He knew he would have to eventually release Ryo. That pained him to let him go away, but he promised it and knew the boy would want it that way. I wish you would stay with me forever, but let's enjoy it for now,

"Monodramon is trying a lot to become stronger," Ryo said, worried for his friend when he saw him whining in pain.

"It is the price to protect you Ryo. I am extremely, but he isn't. That is why I was the one that saved you," Millenniumon replied, looking at the boy before sighting.

"Monodramon is trying his best to protect me. Always, you might not have to do your best, but that's because you were already powerful," Ryo replied. He looked at his friend before adding, "Even so. Thank you for showing me how he's doing Millenniumon."

"Anything for you Ryo," the dark god replied with a smile, grateful of his attitude.

"You're going to hold your promise right," Ryo said with a small smile.

Millenniumon realised he wasn't really asking it when he saw the small smile toward him. The boy knew he never lied and trusted his words. Things changed so much since our first official meeting. It looks like I will get what I want in the end...If he forgets about Monodramon. Little purple dragon, I will be Ryo partner and you won't be able to stop it. Not like the other Monodramon.

Monodramon ate with appetited after all of his training until his stomach was full. He lay on his back and belched. He sighted when thinking about his partner. I know I have to become stronger to be with Ryo again, but I cannot evolve. How can I prove it without the evolution? I will not do like Devidramon implied. Following the path of darkness is the last thing I want to do. It will be like becoming Millenniumon and I despite him. I will find a way Millenniumon, no matter what.

He stood up and walked outside. He looked at the chosen children. He didn't really talk to them, except for Agumon, who knew Ryo the most and Taichi. He tried to evade Mimi, who was the closest chosen child to Ryo, not wanting to hear her trying to cheer him up. He felt it would be like letting Ryo down. He would only cheer up when Ryo will be back by his side.

"I wonder if Millenniumon cheated in his proposition?" Monodramon asked himself when some doubt awoke. He couldn't evolve without Ryo and couldn't show how much stronger he was, "He better now. I promised that I'll protect Ryo for any evil influence. Even so, how can I evolve to the perfect form?"

This digivice has the ability to act as a normal one. It goes around the usual thing. The bond with Monodramon will allow him to evolve, but it won't need the crest to make him evolve into a higher evolution than champion. The voice of the past, when Gennai explained the digivice Ryo obtained came back from the past.

"My power comes from my bond with Ryo," Monodramon said.

He looked at the sky, slowly starting to be consumed by the darkness, in the endless cycle of the light and darkness; the eternal war between the two forces. He said nothing, but his mind was for Ryo, "What is a bond?" he asked alone.

"There you are Monodramon," a voice told him.

Monodramon turned around and saw Gennai walking by his side. Monodramon nodded, "It's been a while I didn't see you Gennai. I'm sorry. I'm always with Ryo and he doesn't really want to talk to you."

"It's normal Monodramon. He felt, for the right reason, that I betrayed him and didn't trust him. The pain remains alive in his heart. You were asking yourself something right?"

"Yes. I was wondering what a bond is. I know it is the link that unite my core to the heart of Ryo, but apart from that, I know so little about it. How can it grow? How can I still feel Ryo in my core despite the distance? Just like Millenniumon. And...How strong mine is compare to Millenniumon?" the purple dragon asked.

"I have some answers to those questions Monodramon. The first thing is that I don't know how strong your bond and Millenniumon is. Ryo is a chosen of light, but the darkness tries to draw the boy in it, but it was for a purpose that is starting to realise. As for you, it is created from nothing, but could become purer that a fateful bond."

Monodramon nodded and waited for the rest.

"As for how it can grow. That is something that depends on the person you are bonding with," Gennai said, looking at the dragon before adding, "Your actions matters. Everything you do for Ryo and everything he did for you matters. How you perceived it is also important. This is how a bond grows over the time Monodramon. Do not worry about it, it is growing."

"How can you be that sure?" Monodramon asked, a little unsure about it.

"You are feeling the bond," Gennai replied.

Monodramon put his hand over his core, resting inside his chest. He lightly smiled at the links uniting him with Ryo. He opened his eyes and understood what Gennai meant and also something he needed to try. He took a few steps forward and closed his eyes. He concentrated his energy in his bond.

Gennai observed the purple dragon and said nothing, knowing what he was trying to do.

Monodramon felt Ryo responding to his bond. He now realised it was what he felt when he evolved into Strikedramon.

"Bond has no distance. This is why the digimon having a partner with a chosen children are powerful. The bond is our source of power. Ryo, you are my friend and I'll use everything to protect you. No matter how scare I'll be, I'll face my fear dead on for you," Monodramon replied. His body lightly shined until it stopped. He opened his eyes and looked at his hands. Those weren't of Monodramon, but his Strikedramon form. He realised he evolved into Strikedramon without being near Ryo, "I evolve..." Strikedramon smiled and looked at the dark sky and replied, "Soon, you'll have to bring Ryo back."

Gennai nodded and smiled.

Millenniumon was the only one watching Monodramon evolution to his adult form. Ryo was resting against his chest and didn't witness it.

"He...evolves," the dark god said surprised. He lowered his head and looked at Ryo and sadly thought, It will soon be the time to say good-bye Ryo. It's too soon for me, but I can wait, I waited for a long time and I can wait for eternity.

He saw Strikedramon raising his claw at the sky and his mouth moving. Millenniumon knew what he meant, just as he thought, "Well played Strikedramon," he admitted.

AC: This is the end of chapter 41.

Next chapter: Until Next Time Ryo.