Chapter 6: Fall and Rise


His body was sore and ached in the most painful ways. Even opening his eyelids was barely manageable, yet he did it.

Looking around at his surroundings, he saw the same lavishly decorated bedroom. He wore the same pajamas as before: loose blue pants and a plain white T-shirt. His normal clothes lay in a folded pile, while his shoes lay at the foot of his bed.

He inched his weak body forward, forgetting about the clothes and toppling off the bed. Half crawling and half walking, he entered the hallway.

The digimon needed to be freed in order to save the others and possibly him if they had the strength remaining.

His current thought was rudely awakened by a rumble beneath him and a sobbing feeling in his heart.

Oh, no Kari!

He turned around and headed for the staircase barely in sight. As soon as he reached it he threw himself sprawling down the stairs. His thoughts weren't rational and he only thought of getting to Kari and the others as soon as possible. It didn't matter if he added more aches and pain to his present collection.

When finally the tumble steadied he continued on his crawling path to the entrance hall. He forced himself to his shaking knees and peered in through the door.

"But he wants me here. He's the one who sought me out."

"What?" The digidestineds, excluding the sobbing Kari, asked.

"It's true," a looming Tk responded, "I went looking for Devimon, for he could offer me something I was lacking. That something is attention."

"And now King Takeru has all the attention on him."

Matt's body seemed to drop and lose spirit. "I'm sorry, Tk it's all my fault—"

"No it's not." He didn't know where it came from, it just spilled out from his mouth. For the most part he didn't understand what was going on. But whatever it was, it wasn't Matt's fault. He watched as 13 heads turned in his direction. He stumbled forward, maintaining his footing.

"WHAT ARE YOU DOING HERE!" Devimon looked absolutely furious, he glared over at the newest Tk with a look of foal disgust. He quickly reached for the remote that would initiate the pain.

"Tk?" The tears had stopped and now Kari's voice was small and questioning. Devimon pushed down the button, sending Tk into continuous convulsions accompanied by the same scream of pain that words could do no justice. "TKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKK!"

Kari ran forward, past the startled faces and straight into the flinging limbs. She was send backwards from a raw blow to her face.

Devimon stopped the pain and Tk remained motionlessly in an awkward position, his eyes blank. Kari crawled forward again, nestling the new Tk's head in her lap while slowly stroking his hair. A stream of blood ran down her chin from her swelling lip. She continuously repeated in a soft, cooing voice, "Tk."

The other digidestineds recovering from shock and attempted to make their way over to the pair. "WAIT, IT'S DANGEROUS!" They stopped in their tracks and looked back at Devimon. "He's an impostor."

"Why would you care if we're put in danger?" Tai snapped back.

"I wouldn't want you getting hurt, then Tk might be snapped back into goodness." The original Tk stared blackly at Devimon.

"Tk," Kari rocked the both of them forward and back. A face of worry plastered her face. Suddenly, she looked directly at the original Tk, her voice strong, "reveal yourself Miragemon!"

He double blinked and slowing his disguise melted away. A rough laughter erupted from his voice.

Devimon was displeased. "YOU LITTLE POMPOUS ASS, YOU WEREN'T SUPPOSE TO REVEAL YOURSELF!"

Miragemon ignored him and charged for Kari.

Time slowed.

Every movement became elongated. Miragemon inched forward his teeth snarled, while the flustered digidestineds muscles flexed and they tried to defy time. But they were too far away. Kari was left exposed and open.

The Miragemon held out its long, yellow claws and brushed her face lightly.

A vibrant golden flash erupted in the room.

Time speed up.

After the sudden burst of intense light all eyes were temporarily blinded. As life returned to them one image met their eyes. It was Tk.

He had spurted from his position in Kari's lap and now stood firmly blocking her from the attack. A golden light radiated off of his body, its glow never ceasing in intensity. In his hand he held a single nail.

It was then that all noticed the lack of Miragemon. Only one person knew what had just happened and he would never tell. That same person had a haunting look in their eyes.

Devimon was shaken, but he was also the first to get over it, "Very well King Takeru, you've shown some impressive powers. Maybe I won't kill you now, but I will indefinitely torture you." He reached for the controls to Tk's pain.

The golden light disappeared and Tk collapsed onto his knees. His body began to convulse, but he resisted it. After a moment he managed to lessen the seizing, though he was still twitching and turning, he managed to get to his feet.

It was then they he did something so incredibly shocking and disturbing that it was hard to know whether he himself realized what was happening or the dangers that would follow.

Tk clenched his heart and ripped threw layers of skin with his bare nails. Blood flowed freely, coating Kari in a thick layer. And with his rapid twitching the blood came in spurts.

If the digidestineds had recovered from earlier shock, it did no good. For they were sent back into that hallow and breath taking state of being once again. The blood was everywhere, yet Tk kept ripping.

It was harder than he imagined. His sudden movement threw off his aim and he often was spilling more blood as an effect. At last he found it. He clenched onto something hard and smooth; he yanked. Along with another spurt of blood came a black and circular stone. This was the cause of his pain.


Devimon was getting more and more worried by the instant. Tk's resistance to the pain was growing. Then it happened. He ripped it out.

He held it up in his hand and then threw it to the ground.

It was hard to tell whether Devimon was more scared or angry. Which ever it may be they were both easy to identify by his furrowed brow.

This boy, who had most defiantly lost more blood than healthy, was calmly walking up towards him. He got within a foot's distance and then reached into Devimon's pocket. He took out his green D3 and pointed in at the wall behind him. A beam of light shot through it.

Devimon quickly came back to his wits. Crap!

He reached out and hit the digivice out of Tk's hand. The boy fell over, his deed already done.


Tk did the most remarkable and scary of things. He actually walked up to Devimon and reached into his pocket. His digivice let out a green light that Devimon quickly stopped. Tk crashed to the ground.

The horror spread threw Kari's heart. His body was still; he might not be breathing. To attempt a stunt like that after shedding so much blood was horrific. Kari got up and ran towards his crippled form. Devimon stood in her way.

"GET OUT OF MY WAY!" Her plea was hysterical and her body flung forward.

Devimon was not going to move, his only chance to survive now was for the King to die. For Tk had just freed the Digimon with his D3; they would be coming any moment. But if Hope died, then they would lose power and not be able to destroy him.

The boy must die, and quickly!

He grabbed the slimy and frantic girl, keeping her from her path. Tai ran forward quickly followed by the others, "LET GO OF MY SISTER!"

A gigantic something crashed into the side of Devimon's head. He stumbled forward, and noticed the digidestineds were still far away. Double Crap! They were here.