Chapter Twenty Six: Checkmate
"Takuya. Zoe. Koji. Tommy. J.P." I called wondering where they are. I was walking through a forest full of trees with faces. "Zoe? Tommy? J.P" I shouted wondering where everyone is. I stop when I saw a hut full of digimon. I ran over to ask if they seen anyone. "Hi. I'm sorry to bother you but did you see…" I trailed off not expecting the seen I was seeing. There stood about twenty digimon half of which were ill.
"Yes ma'am, how may we help you?" asked a digimon who my D-tector showed Knightmon.
"I was wondering if you seen any humans, we got separated and you know what it's okay, I think it's you who needs the help. I can lend a hand if it's okay with you." I said changing my mind. The digimon beside the injured look at me with new found hope in their eyes. "I'll go cook something you guys look like you're starving." I said rolling my sleeves up.
Tommy woke up from his memory of when he was younger. He was on a volcano. He walked around in the hot atmosphere searching for his friends. "Takuya, Sakura, Zoe, J.P, Koji" Tommy called. He looked and waited for a reply but there was nothing. He continued to walk around only to be scared by a hole in the volcano erupting. "Takuya help!" Tommy yelled.
Takuya was wondering around a blue place with rocks stacking on each other. They stop stacking on each other when then reach about two stories high. "This place sure is weird" commented Takuya as he continued to walk along.
"Geez, who do those boys think they're doing leaving a girl lost and alone." Zoe said as she walked around a forest. "Oh my, this place is beautiful" Zoe stated as she saw the pretty clearing. It was a wonderful view
"Takuya, X, Zoe, Tommy, Jack" J.P called looking for his friends as he trip over on the last name. [Me: who is Jack? He did really say that I check off the episode.]
"Where am I?" asked Koji as he stood looking through the trees. He was walking on a trail looking for his friends. "Tommy, Sakura, Zoe, Takuya, J.P" Koji yelled looking around. He met a Karatemon, a bird digimon. "I know all you're moves before you make them." He said to Lobomon. "Lobo Kendo" Lobomon said talking his sword and attacking Karatemon. Karatemon dodged with ease.
"Here you go." I said pulling down the last plate of the meal. "Dig in." I said as the digimon stuffed with themselves quickly.
"Thank you." They said as they started eating.
"These are delicious." Some said as they chewed more down.
"Glad to hear that." I said smiling as I started to treat the wounds on some of the digimon. "If I may ask, how did you get all of these injuries?" I questioned looking at the painful wound. The digimon look down at their food. "Ah you don't have to answer if you don't want to" I said waving my hands in front of my face.
"It's alright. we can tell her." Said BishopChessmon. "We were attacked by the black chess pieces." Explained BishopChessmon.
"But not all of you are chess pieces." I stated.
"We know. When some of us heard about the situation we decided to go in and help." Said Commandramon sadly.
"I'm sorry" I said. "I'll help with the battle if they come again."
"How?" asked Commandramon.
"I am a legendary warrior." I stated. Some looked taken back and others just smile with hope in their eyes. "Now, now we don't want this delicious meal Sakura cook for us to go to waste now do we?" asked KingChessmon(white). They all shook their head and continued to eat.
"You make yourself lonely; thinking that you're friends will eventually leave you. So you try you're best not to get too attach to them. Just like what happened with Sakura." Karatemon said.
"I know they will eventually leave so I'm just making sure I'm prepared." Said Lobomon. Karatemon continued to chat with Koji about how he doesn't trust his friends. Koji had enough and slide evolved to Kendogarurumon.
"It doesn't matter what form you're in. Your heart will always be open and easy to read." Karatemon said. Kendogarurumon charged at Karatemon. Karatemon dodge but was hit on the wing. Some of his feathers fell off. "I didn't expect you to be this fast" Karatemon said as Kendogar-urumon charged again, the same thing happened. "You're serious" Karatemon said in surprise and flew up high not expecting Kendogarurumon to hit him there. Kendogaurumon jumped off the ground and head butt Karatemon to the floor. Karatemon turned black and his digicode showed. Lobomon scan it. Koji turn back and waited as another eye opened he walk through it.
Kumamon slide evolve to Korikakumon and sliced Asuramon with his axes and scan his digicode. Tommy walked through the eye and floated out of Sakkakumon. Bokomon and Neemon greeted him.
"Over there" said one of the PawnChessmon in the hut. The digimon was pointing at me leading a group of life sized chess pieces.
"What are you doing?" shouted Greymon.
"I'm handing over the spirit" said the chess piece.
"I thought you were on our side." said Commandramon.
"You make me laugh, me on you're side." mocked PawnChessmon.
"Let the battle commence" said Queenchessmon. She pounded her staff down and the surrounding area turned to a chess board.
"Let's see who will win this time." I said smirking. I grabbed my D-tector and was about to scan it when a chair floated from the board and caught me in it. My hands were strap down. Shoot I can't scan my data this way. I thought. The digimon including the injured was force to go on the board. "This isn't a fair game we're missing one person." I said trying to prevent the battle.
"That will not be a problem." QueenChessmon stated and Kendogarurumon started to fall through the sky. "Koji!" I shouted as a collar went to my neck. Kendogaurumon looked at his surroundings and notice me and the chess game. "What's with this collar?" I shouted.
"It's so you can command where the digimon should go." She told.
"But it's their body they should have their own choice to where they can go" I said back. "What you're afraid that you can't handle the responsibility and the same thing will happen to them like Karadi" mocked QueenChessmon. I froze and remember the events.
Karadi and I was running away from a robber who ran to her house when the parents went to L.A. They told me to take care of her in the meantime. When we were cornered, I tried my best to defend us, but I was only eight at the time and the robber was four time my size and had greater strength. He took me out quite easily. Kardi screamed for help. The robber didn't like the idea so to make her shut up. He stabbed her in the heart. Karadi was died very fast and they blamed me for not keeping my promised.
I started to believe it was my fault after some time of being blamed. Tears started to run down my face. "Shut up" I scream struggling from the chair.
"It was your fault for not being strong enough to stop him." Said Queenchessmon. I struggle with the thought.
"I was eight!" I screamed back.
"Let the game begin" I shouted the collar started beeping. From the corner of my eye I could see Koji very confused.
I knew how to play chess but dealing with the thought that you have about twenty people's live on you're hand made me rethink my strategy. I didn't like the thought of being chain and only telling to do this and that. I prevent mines from jumping into areas where they could die or get injured.
"It's alright to be scared, well be fine" said BishopChessmon from my side.
"But…" I started and fade as I saw the faces and eyes of the digimon. They had serious face and knew their fates and wouldn't blame me for the deaths. I nodded understanding. "Knightmon B5" I commanded softly as he moved forward and took out a PawnChessmon. The opponent placed her rook forward and attack a Commandramon.
Commandramon died and his fractal code was taken. I winced at the pain the collar sizzle. The digiegg flew towards me. "I'm sorry" I said softly caressing it. "Sakura set me in play" KendoGarurumon shout.
"I'm sorry, but I won't" I said. Not yet. "BishopChessmon G5" I said and he moved swiftly taking out two players who tried to attack.
"I see you aren't going to play in the ones you really care about. I guess I should just battle my way there." QueenChessmon said. We continued to take turns in battle until QueenChessmon took out one of the digimon I needed to win. I had five digiegg beside me now. But QueenChessmon was losing by a couple more eggs. I felt the cold twine its way through me. Not now I thought as the cold made me shiver. I could tell the cold was infecting Koji for he fell. The collar had connected the pain the queen and the pawns would feel. My eyes started to fade to magenta it was a new color. There was something different about this change though. I was still in control and could tell what was going on. Though I barely got to talk. I concluded that the new player (Magenta Sakura) was an intelligent person.
I got Kendogarurumon in front of me and the rest of my players were advancing to the kings and queens square. "Let me go in battle" he said. "I would not allow that to happen… not yet." I said. The magenta had helped a lot with the strategy. "I want you to try and see if you can slide evolve." I said to Kendogarurmon. He was confused but try anyway. He couldn't slide evolve. "Just like I thought" I said. "Kendogarurumon I would like you to attack me" I said.
"NO" he shouted.
"Do so" I commanded. He did as he was told due to the collar. He sliced me and I change the direction of the chair so it cut the cuff off. I slipped off the chair and landed on my feet I rubbed my wrist trying to get the blood circulation flowing faster. "Execute Spirit Evolution" I said and scan my fractal code. "Dianamon."
"Kendgarurumon forward." I said as he gladly rolled himself towards the battle.
"Queen, forward one" she said and moved herself up on the board. "Queen forward" I said and flew beside Kendogarurumon. "BishopChessmon I want you to protect KingChessmon" I stated my eyes still magenta. BishopChessmon nodded and in the next turn he slid back to the king's side.
"Queen forward" QueenChessmon said and step forward. We were face to face. "I see you're trying to protect them all but will you be able to make it?" stated QueenChessmon. "We'll find out soon enough."
QueenChessmon and I started fighting. Sliding back and forth on the board we crossed our weapons. "You know it's just a matter of time before you lose again and you can watch you friends die, just like what you did to Karadi." She said.
"I wouldn't count on it. Arrow of Artemis" I threw an arrow at QueenChessmon. "You could have help her but instead you chose to run and hide, she wasn't dead yet." Lied QueenChessmon. "She was stabbed in the heart." I scream pushing her back. "Grand Cricket" She said and started pounding her weapon on the floor title. I jump out of the way as the ground I was at shattered. I realized I had just fallen into her trap. I was surrendered with soldiers. I bit my lips and remember the attack I had never used before in a battle. "Goodnight Moon" The ones surround me all fell asleep.
"Queen Stamp" screamed QueenChessmon and the warriors woke.
"Slide evolution. Rosemon X. Rosen Blood" I cover the surrounding titles with roses and seven large ones. It ate pawn and kightchessmon. The pawn and knight fell and their fractal code showed. "Chess pieces let me purify your sins and let your emptiness be filled with the joy and love of others" I said and scanned their fractal codes. Grademon was fighting with Kendogarurumon and Greymon.
"The battle shall end now." She said pounding me with her stick. I hit another title and fell down. I struggle to crawl up but she pointed the sharp end of her stick my heart. "You shall die the way Karadi did. Heart Breaker" she said lifting her stick and back down.
"Checkmate" I said as fast and loud as I can.
"What? No way" She said looking over at her king whom she left so helplessly behind was now surrounded with Kendogarurumon, Knightmon, Greymon, and five Commandramon.
Taking the time of confusion, I quickly sliced QueenChessmon off me with my rapier and stood up and sliced her various times. She faded and her fractal code appeared. "You highness, you shall be purify and let me handle your sins and let your emptiness be filled with joy and love of others." I said and scanned her fractal code. The chess board disappeared and the area was filled with what it was before.
The surviving digimon cheered and celebrated their end of the endless war. I hug and caressed each digiegg that I had been stupid and wasn't able to keep them alive. "I'm terribly sorry for this" I cried tears falling down my face. I was away from the hut so that no one could hear me. "I sorry Karadi." I screamed crying. "I'm sorry I couldn't protect you and left you in your time of need. I'm sorry. Karadi!" I continue to cry as the digieggs within my grasp hug me with it shell and the other eggs look sadly down.
"Don't blame yourself and stop crying." Said Koji sincerely. Surprised I quickly looked away to hide the tears.
"Who said I was crying" I said but my voice cracked. I grab Koji and started to cry on him, humiliated as I was. I was glad I had someone to cry on.
"Sorry about that" I said.
"Don't worry and remember what they said is most likely not true. I'm sure Karadi who ever she was is glad you are still alive." Koji said.
"Thanks…" I said hugging my knees and looking at the water. "We need to find the others, don't we?" I said standing up. Karadi I promise I will never let anything like that happen again. I hope you're happy wherever you are and have forgiven me. I will protect my friends better. I promised her.
"Yes we do." We stood up and waited for a portal. The scene faded away and the red hands appeared again. One grabbed my arm and towed me away. I reached for Koji. But miss as I was tossed into another eye.
"Sakura!" he shouted as he two was thrown to another eye.
