A Digimon Frontier Fanfic

By: Sakura Martinez

Author's Notes:

For a fanfic with about 39 chapters and running, getting 133 reviews is a lot enough for me, of course, that doesn't mean you guys should stop reviewing… if that happens, I would have no clue as to whether people are still actually reading this thing or not (and that would be pretty depressing for me). Anyways, what I am trying to say is "Thanks". And now that I have already said it, here's the 39th chapter of The Rabbit on the Moon.

Enjoy!

End of Author's Notes

The Rabbit on the Moon

What Was Left Behind

There comes a time when every life goes off course. In this desperate moment you must choose your direction. Will you fight to stay on the path while others tell you who you are? Or will you label yourself? Will you be honored by your choice? Or will you embrace your new path? Each morning you choose to move forward or to simply give up and fall to the never-ending abyss of Darkness…

Takuya was glad that only a handful of soldiers were guarding the cell… and those soldiers were not even as good as he would have expected. He figured that they were rookies as well. With the Clone in command and thinking that no one would be coming to the rescue, he might have thought to put the rookies into some use. Takuya smirked seeing as how wrongly the Clone have planned all of this.

With the guards dealt with, Takuya took the key from one of them and proceeded to open the door. The moment that the others heard the door opening though, they proceeded with their plan – Attacking whomever it was that was opening the door and making their escape. That is why, when Takuya opened the door, you could imagine his surprise when he was suddenly knocked down by Kouji and Junpei while Tomoki and Teppei proceeded to take the key from his hands.

When the confusion caused by the sudden commotion died down, the four prisoners were surprised to see Takuya as the man under the helmet.

"Takuya?" Kouji asked. "Wait, you are the 'real' Takuya, are you not?"

"Of course I'm the real me!" Takuya shouted. "Now, can all of you please let me go!"

"What proof do we have that you are the real one and not the clone who is just pretending to be him?" Teppei asked.

"Um… guys, I don't think we need to ask for proof… since I don't think the clone would even disguise himself as the 'real' Takuya, well, not after he boasted about having killed him." Tomoki said. "Besides, he is wearing an eyepatch…"

Seeing that young Tomoki had a point, they all decided to let him go.

"And I was hoping for a warm thanks from you guys after all the trouble I went through." Takuya said, it was then that he realized that someone was missing. "Wait a minute, where's Izumi?"

Everyone was silent, which made Takuya all the more aggrivated as he repeated his question. "Where is Izumi? Where is she?"

"When we were caught… or should I say betrayed and handed over, Katsuharu and Chiaki took us to this prison cell while Kouichi took Lady Izumi somewhere else." Kouji was the one who answered. "We don't know where she is being kept, Takuya. I can say for certain that only Kouichi knows but it is also for certain that he wouldn't tell us."

Takuya cursed as he punched the nearest wall. "Damn it! How about Kouichi's Grandfather and Izumi's father? Have you heard of where they are being kept?"

"No." Tomoki replied. "But maybe we can find them down here as well."

"Well then, let's get searching." Takuya said. "After we get them out, we look for Izumi even if we have to go as far as turn this place upside down."

"That's a lot of confidence coming from someone who doesn't have any power." Teppei said as he took the weapons from the guards and handed them to the others who were unarmed. "But, I like it. Let's get this over with and get the hell out of here."

Everyone nodded at that. But even before Takuya could take one step forward, Teppei stopped him, Junpei and Kouji.

"Tomoki, and I can handle rescuing the two old geezers," Teppei said, his face and eyes looking forward and not at the people whom he was talking to. "You three needed somewhere else. Who knows what that creep may be doing with her. Leave this to us and we'll just meet with you guys later."

"Are you sure?" Kouji asked.

"Leave this to us, you guys just go on ahead and save Lady Izumi!" Tomoki said giving them a thumbs up.

The three nodded as Junpei said, "You two be careful now."

"Same goes for you, Junpei." Teppei said with a smirk.

"When you find and free them, you guys will do well to find armors such as the one I am wearing just to get past the crowded passage way and get to the boat. I hid it past the forest to the north of here. We'll meet up there." Takuya said as he proceeded to take off the armor from the two unconscious guards, handing the said armor to Kouji and Junpei. "I'm sure you guys can manage raiding an armory or something."

"Yeah, we'll figure a way through it." Teppei said.

And with that, they parted.

Izumi saw the pure anger and malice that the other woman had on her. It would appear that she wasn't thinking straight and had let the emotion and perhaps the chance for revenge get to her. Izumi could also not help but wonder if the clone had anything to do with this, if he had allowed this to happen or if he knew nothing of it.

Whatever the answer to those questions were, during this fray, Izumi learned that her powers are not able to destroy any part of the room but, Chiaki's was able to do that. Having dodge her earlier attacks, these attacks managed to hit and destroy the eastern part of the room. Of course, Izumi would have taken the newly opened path to freedom, but, she soon found out where she was being held. Atop a tower in the middle of the ruins.

Thanks to that discovery of where she was being held and that Chiaki could be the key to her freedom, Izumi made her way to the western part of the room where the door was.

"Your pathetic," Chiaki said as she readied yet another attack. "I cannot understand why he would fall for someone like you."

"And what makes you so sure that he would fall for you if you do manage to kill me?" Izumi retorted.

"Oh, I can ask help from Katsuharu for that." Chiaki replied, her eyes looked maniacal now. "You know that he can create illusions, right?"

"He won't fall for that." Was all Izumi managed to say before she hurled an attack towards her.

Chiaki immediately countered with her own attack just as Izumi expected, as before the attack hit her, she jumped out of the way allowing the water attack to collide with the wall close to the door. With the collision of Chiaki's power with the stone wall, an explosion occurred.

The Clone walked at a faster pace upon hearing the explosion. It was the second one and he knew it came from Izumi's room. Several possibilities of what might be the cause entered his mind, one was as impossible as the first. But, never the less, he ordered a soldier he passed by to sound the alarm and to check on the other prisoners as well.

Soon, soldiers were running about while the sound of the alarm boomed over Lone Island.

Suddenly, Kouichi and Katsuharu appeared before him as he made his way up the long and winding staircase.

"It would appear that someone managed to sneak in and free the prisoners on the underground dungeon." Kouichi said. "The four chosen ones are gone along with the Commander and the General."

The Clone's eyes became filled with anger as he punched the wall. "Damn it… any idea where they could be?"

"No." Katsuharu replied. "But it appears like it was not one of the escapees who caused the explosion. The energy that I'm picking up is from Chiaki."

"Chiaki? What is that woman playing at?" The Clone asked as he allowed himself to be teleported by Katsuharu and Kouichi to the scene.

By the force of the second explosion, Takuya, Junpei and Kouji knew that they were heading at the right direction. And, with the rubble as well as the dust that had greeted them, they knew that they were already close.

"What's going on?" Takuya managed to ask.

"How should we know." Junpei answered as they made their way further in.

Just then, they heard the alarm ringing throughout the whole ruins.

"Well, there goes our cover." Kouji said. "We better hurry up. Even if we find Lady Izumi now, we'll have one hell of a time escaping this place."

Takuya knew at that point that time was already running out. If Izumi really was being kept somewhere around here, he knew that she must be dealing with something to have caused all this commotion. He knew that thanks to whatever was going on, it would be harder to find her than it already is.

"Guys, let out your Guardian Spirits." He said. "It would be easier to track her down with them than just with us."

Kouji and Junpei nodded and not long after that, they were already darting for a specific direction following Kouji's Spirit Guardian, Lumos and Junpei's Spirit Guardian, Spark.

Izumi and Chiaki both coughed and had their eyes closed as the dust settled in on the now-destroyed room. Izumi, despite having expected an explosion did not expect having been caught in it or that it would be that big. Whatever attack Chiaki had used was certainly powerful than the first.

It was Chiaki who managed to get back on her feet first. Seeing that Izumi was trapped, she moved towards her, a ball of water attack ready.

"Well, well… I guess you were trying to use me to escape." Chiaki said as she moved closer. "Too bad that didn't work."

Izumi coughed, and as she tried to move she realized that her left leg was being pinned down by one of the pillars that had toppled over thanks to the explosion. It was at that time that she also felt the pain from it and the fear that she will die suddenly come rushing towards her like an innevitable wave.

She struggled to pull her leg off from the debri as Chiaki moved, but the more she struggled, the more it hurts her. Kaizen had materialized and was ready to use and do everything to help save Izumi, the little Guardian Spirit knew that even if she tells her to use the Level 3 power, she would not be able to use it in her current condition.

They were almost there. Takuya could see the big pile of rubble and a busted wall on the right not too far from where they were. But just as they were about to get there, the Clone, Kouichi and Katsuharu appeared.

"You!" Both the clone and the original said as they came face to face with each other.

"Kouichi, can you see now? The Takuya you are working for is not the real Takuya, this one is!" Kouji said.

"I could so electrocute you right now for betraying us, Katsuharu!" Junpei said.

"How is it that you are still alive? You should be dead!" The clone said.

"Sorry to disappoint, but I can't die that easily. Besides, I won't allow myself to be defeated by the likes of you. Now, tell me why is it that I can feel Chiaki's energy which seemed to be fighting with Izumi?" Takuya retorted. "What did you order her to do?"

"I didn't order her anything." The clone replied. "But enough about that, let's finish this right here and right now!"

"Lord Takuya," Katsuharu said to the Clone. "Please, let us handle this. You have more important things to take care of… namely, handing the extracted 'spheres' to the King."

The clone, despite wanting to remain and fight as well could only nod. "Alright. Make sure to end this quickly, and bring Izumi to me."

And before they know it, the clone vanished.

"Hey!" Junpei shouted, "I was about to get that guy!"

"Like Sir Katsuharu had said, He has more important matters to attend to, we can't let you spoil everything for us now, can we?" Kouichi spoke.

"Then that would make things easier." Takuya said.

"That's something coming from someone who has nothing left in him." Katsuharu spoke.

Takuya smirked, and was about to take off his eyepatch when Kouji held him back.

"Takuya, leave this to us. Go to Izumi." Kouji said and Junpei nodded at this.

"We can handle these guys." Junpei said.

Takuya only nodded and with the speed that he was hiding everyone, he managed to dodge the Kouichi and Katsuharu, surprising them along the way.

Chiaki's smirked widened knowing that Izumi was almost at her limit and victory was hers for the taking. She raised her hand towards her and let her attack fly. But, just as the attack was about to hit her detestable enemy, something flew by and before she knew it, another explosion occurred and smoke once again filled the room.

When the smoke cleared, Chiaki was surprised to see who was kneeling with one knee on the ground near Izumi. His left eye was closed, his eyebrows furrowed and his auburn hair was even messier than she remembered. He wore the same armor that the deserters had wore and are still wearing – the armor of the Organization, and his eye showed how angry he was.

"Takuya…" Chiaki gasped.

Takuya did not answer her, but instead, while glaring at her, he asked Izumi, "Izumi, are you alright?"

Izumi was surprised to see him, even though she had called for him. She could feel the tears starting to fall from her eyes – tears of relief at his coming.

"My leg," she managed to say. "It's caught by this pillar."

This seemed to have alarmed him as he quickly turned around and looked at her with both of his eyes, then looked at the pillar that had fallen on her leg.

"Izumi, hold on…" He said, and with a small amount of power, he managed to destroy the pillar with not even an explosion to go along with it. He must have seen the questioning look that Izumi gave him as he immediately said, "That's one thing I learned while practicing with boulders."

With the pillar gone, Izumi tried to stand on her own, but failed. Takuya saw that she was having a hard time trying to stand up, and so he took her to his arms and carried her. All the while, Chiaki was watching.

"Let's go." Takuya said. "The others are fighting still, We'll take this time to get you someplace safe."

Izumi burried her face on his chest and nodded.

Just as they were about to get out of the room, Chiaki sent an attack flying, almost hitting them but missing by a short distance. Izumi was surprised, but Takuya did not show any emotion of surprise. His face was dead serious.

"I won't let you." Chiaki said. "I can't let you walk out of here with her."

Takuya did not face her, nor answered her. Instead, he spoke with Izumi. "I think I already know the answer to this, but just in case I'm still going to ask… Izumi, did she do this to you?"

Izumi nodded and answered 'Yes'.

Takuya then placed her down and she gave her a confused look as she asked, "Takuya, what are you--?"

"How could you do this?" He asked as he turned to face Chiaki. Her Crimson Eye burning with hatred and her auburn eye mirrored the same emotion. "I thought you were my friend – our friend. How could you hurt her?!"

Chiaki did not answer at once. She was surprised to see Takuya's left eye, but soon she managed to speak. "I did this all for you, Takuya. That person is not good enough for you. Do you know the sin that her father had committed and the sin that your father was also a part of?"

Takuya looked over at Izumi who spoke, "She says that it is because of my father that her brother became nothing more than a puppet. She said that her brother is also a Chosen One."

"Her father was the one who proposed to use my brother in exchange for her daughter's freedom… and the freedom of you and Kouichi as well." Chiaki finished.

"And this is you're revenge?" He asked. "It is neither my fault nor Izumi's fault at what had happened to your brother. Trying to hurt us… for your revenge… you're pitiful."

"I wasn't trying to hurt you, Takuya… I could never hurt you." Chiaki said, she could guess where all this was going. "I care about you too much to hurt you, I just know that she isn't good enough for you!"

"Not good enough?" Takuya asked, taken aback by her words. "And who are you to say that? I can't forgive you… for what you did and what you tried to do. I never thought it would end like this, Chiaki, I had always thought you were a good friend of mine… guess I was really wrong about that."

And with that, Takuya readied himself to fight.

The Clone immediately took into his hand the 'spheres' where they had placed the extracted samples of the other Chosen Ones' powers. He then took a small sack and placed the 'spheres' inside. All the while, the whole ruins were beginning to crumble.

After making sure that he had not forgotten anything, Takuya's Clone prepared himself to be teleported back to the Castle. Just as he was about to be teleported, a powerful explosion caused a glass container behind him to shatter. He immediately jumped out of the way, and soon afterwards vanished.

Unknown to him, something fell out of the sack when he was making his escape. That 'something' was a 'sphere' that had a lavender aura inside of it.

"Do you honestly believe that you can defeat us?" Katsuharu asked. "I know how far you two have come, but that isn't enough for this."

"So you say." Junpei retorted. "I can never understand why you would choose to side with them. I had really respected you… how foolish could I have been."

"Even if you would know the answer, you will never understand." Katsuharu replied. "This is something I chose, something I have to do."

"Then I guess the same thing goes for you as well, Kouichi?" Kouji asked.

"This… it is something that I deserve for what my grandfather had done." Kouichi replied. "All the lies, the deceit… this is where I truly belong and Takuya made me understand that."

"Don't you see you're just being used?" Kouji said as he dodged an attack that could have blown his brains out. "Whatever your grandfather did, let him face the consequences. You don't have to answer for whatever he has done. And is fighting against your friends really what you want to do?"

It would seem that Junpei and Katsuharu had been oblivious to whatever discussion the other two were having as the two continued to fight. Exchanging blows with their weapons and with their power as well. It was not only the Chosen Ones who were fighting but their Spirit Guardians as well. The foundations of the ruins were already giving way thanks to the power that was being released from all these people.

Kouichi then summoned monsters from a portal. They were the same kind of hideous and grotesque monsters that had attacked Shore.

As the monsters appear and Kouji's jaw dropped, Kouichi spoke, "Now, do you see… Someone who can control these creatures from the abyss… is never meant to find and walk in the same light as you people. The truth that I've found… it's the truth that allowed me to see things more clearly."

Kouji was not about to give up yet. He has yet to fail in his mission and retrieving Kouichi was, and still is, a part of his current mission.

"Have you ever had a dream that seemed so real that when you woke up you didn't know what to believe?" Kouji suddenly asked as he eased his defenses. "Questions like: What would you do if what you thought was true wasn't, and what you thought wasn't true was. I guess, right now, you're in a dream, Kouichi."

"What are you talking about?" the other asked as another explosion occurred from the room that Takuya had went in to and another one followed, this time by Junpei who managed to make a direct hit with one of his attacks to Katsuharu.

"Bull's Eye!" Junpei shouted.

Kouji didn't care to look at his comrade and how well he was doing. He was focused on Kouichi as he continued, "But the choice you made, you chose to retreat into your dream and hoped to find a more perfect reality in it… something to drown away the truth, whatever it is, that you have learned. You chose to be a coward. You became so afraid of life… the strangeness of it all."

"How would you know!" Kouichi shouted as he made one of his monsters attack Kouji, but Kouji managed to fell it with one swift motion of his sword. Kouji saw the wavering resolution that the monsters have and guessed hat Kouichi must be feeling that as well. "You would know nothing about darkness, about my power!"

"Don't you see yet, Kouichi?" Kouji continued on, the shouts calling for evacuation echoed from below. "Sometimes, life is stranger than a dream, but you have to wake up from the dream no matter what life may have instilled for you. The only way you can truly wake up, is to face what lies hidden in your soul. I don't believe that these monsters are the materialization of your true power. I know what kind of person you really are, but because you hate your power, you allow that power to materialize into something monstrous. Everyone has darkness in them, Kouichi. Everyone reflects the darkness in their souls at one point or another and everyone can only hope that in those moments of dark reflection, that they are not alone. You're not alone, Kouichi. Can't you see? We came here for you. You have us, your friends!"

"Shut up! Shut up! SHUT UP!" Kouichi screamed before a puff of smoke took him away and he vanished from the scene leaving Kouji to only mutter his name…

"Kouichi…"

Izumi saw how serious Takuya was, and for the first time, she and Chiaki saw to what extent Takuya had managed to regain his power. She could guess that he was halfway in regaining his full-strength... if such a thing was possible.

Chiaki was trying her best to dodge his attacks of fury while letting out her own barrage of attacks. She didn't want to kill Takuya, and so with every chance she would get, she would target Izumi, hoping that the attack would get her. Unfortunately for her, Takuya seemed to be able to read her movements and would always come in between her attack and Izumi. This frustrated her.

Just then, they heard sirens. These sirens were much different than the alarm that was sounded before and with the sirens came the announcement for evacuation saying that the ruins would not hold up much longer.

Chiaki knew how far up they were, and new that there was no time to lose. And so summoning her powers, she teleported away leaving Izumi and Takuya at the crumbling tower.

But before she did, she spoke. "I guess I have no choice, I'll let you both be buried alive in this place. And if you do manage to escape, you will rue this day, Takuya, that you chose her over me."

Teppei could not help but laugh at their luck as he saw the "boat" that Takuya had brought.

"That idiot," he said. "I can't believe he got his hands on this baby."

"Is it bad?" Tomoki asked as he let General Kimura sit down.

"No, it's all good." Teppei replied. "We're really lucky that he brought this one."

Tomoki peeked inside the boat and saw one problem. "But, we won't be able to fit inside."

Teppei grinned. "That's what you think… and I bet Takuya also thought of that. But you see, this baby is one of the latest models that the Organization has. It's called an Omni-Craft."

"A what?" Tomoki asked yet again.

Just when Teppei was about to explain, they heard the announcement for evacuation.

"Well, just get in and help me get these old men in as well. You'll see what I mean once we get this thing going." Teppei said as he went over to Commander Orimoto and helped him inside the "boat".

Tomoki nodded, although unsure, he too also helped the General on his feet and into the vehicle. Once they were all cramped inside, Teppei went and took his seat by the steering wheel. Once seated he pushed a button that was hidden at the steering wheel.

The moment he pushed the button, the interior of the ship changed and the cramped space vanished and transformed into a wide room. The exterior of the Omni-Craft also transformed. The roar of the ship's motor changed from a boat's to a high-pitched sound that could only come from flying ships.

"No… way…" Tomoki gasped.

Teppei grinned. "Takuya did not know of this, otherwise, he would have been here earlier and we wouldn't have to go through that painful experience. Anyway, let's go and get the others."

And with that the airship zoomed into the direction of the tower.

Takuya felt the ground wobbling and he knew that Izumi could feel it as well. His mind raced for a way to escape as Junpei and Kouji came into the room.

"Did you guys get them?" Takuya asked as he once again carried Izumi in his arms.

"No, they got away." Koichi said remembering that he made Junpei check the rubble where Katsuharu was supposed to have been buried in and found nothing. "Even Kouichi ran away."

Junpei saw the state that Izumi was in and asked, "Lady Izumi, what happened to you?"

"She, Chiaki, decided that she wanted to eradicate me." Izumi replied. "And she would have succeeded if Takuya hadn't come along and interfered."

It was also then that they – Kouji and Junpei, noticed Takuya's eye.

"I'll explain later." Takuya said before they could question him about it. "For now, we need to escape, and fast."

Everyone nodded at this as they heard a deafening sound that could only mean something, somewhere had collapsed. Just as they were about to exit the room, the three other pillars supporting that part of the room also fell, blocking the exit and completely sealing them in with only the other side of the room – the one that had been destroyed first by Chiaki's attack, as their only exit. The problem was, they were several feet high above with nowhere to jump into and the possibility that they could jump and survive was just that – impossible.

"Now what?" Junpei asked. "I don't supposed you prepared for something like this, Lord Takuya."

Takuya shook his head. "How would I have known that you guys would have been kept separately? I could have been told of this sooner, Izumi."

"Yes, I think I should have done that and maybe you could have warned me of a psychopath named, Chiaki." She retorted.

"Hey! I didn't know she was like that." Takuya said.

"Alright, you two. We've all just be reunited and this clearly isn't the time for this." Kouji broke the argument, although he knew that the two were only just trying to let the tension subside.

Just as they thought that nothing else could possibly go wrong, the ground in which they were standing suddenly began to crack, letting out hissing sounds. Their time was obviously up.

As they were about to give up hope, they heard a different kind of sound as the wind coming from the destroyed wall began to blow stronger.

"What--?"

But even before Junpei could finish his question, the answer to everyone's question at that moment came into view as Tomoki waved at them from inside the Omni-Craft.

Teppei's voice then boomed from it, amplified by some sort of device saying, "Everyone, jump in quickly!"

"But my father and General Kimura!" Izumi shouted.

"Don't worry about them," Came Teppei's voice. "They're safe, we got them already."

Knowing that, everyone did not need to be told twice to get onboard the vehicle that Teppei had obviously found. The opening and the Omni-Craft was separated by a short distance that they needed to jump in order to board the vehicle. They were all ready to take that risk of jumping it rather than staying on the now-collapsing tower. Junpei was the first one who jumped and managed to land safely on the deck of the vehicle and Kouji soon followed.

As Takuya, with Izumi in his arms, was about to make a jump, the ground they were stepping on suddenly gave way. Takuya had to jump back just so they would not be caught by the collapse. But that 

did not help as the ground they landed on also began to crumble. Debris began falling making it even harder to navigate.

"Takuya! Izumi!" Tomoki shouted as he saw what was going on. "Can't you get this thing closer to them?"

"I would if I could, but with that much debris, there's nothing else I could do." Teppei said, sweat was forming on his brow as he tried to navigate better despite the debris that was also trying to "bring the hawk down".

"Takuya, what are we going to do?" Izumi asked, as she did so, Takuya saw the fear in her eyes. Who could blame her, after all.

Takuya gritted his teeth. This certainly was not how he planned his rescue mission to be. Sweat was also forming in his brow and his heart was pounding like it was about to burst from his chest.

"We don't have a choice, we have to jump over there." Takuya said, rather unsure of it himself.

Izumi looked at him with hopeful eyes full of expectation, as if expecting him to say any other kind of plan to do just that. So, she was rather taken aback when instead of a plan, Takuya said: "Izumi, just in case… I just want you to know…"

She could guess where it was going and she placed a finger on his lips before he could say anymore and said, "Takuya, don't… we'll make it. I believe in you."

And with that, she gave him a light kiss on the lips. Takuya was surprised at the gesture, then Izumi added, "That's for good luck."

"Yeah, we could both use that." Takuya muttered as he readied himself.

He then started to run, as fast as his feet would carry him. Izumi could not bear to look, burying her head on Takuya's chest as Takuya dodged and ducked away from anything that might hit them. Jumping on to some of them as they made their way to the vehicle where everyone had their breaths held hoping that the two would make it.

"Hold on." Takuya whispered to Izumi.

And with a shout, Takuya jumped. Izumi, whose arms were wrapped around Takuya's neck closed her eyes even tighter as she prayed that they would make it.

It was either because of the powerful gust created by the Omni-Craft, or maybe because Takuya's starting run was not enough, but soon, Takuya found that they would not make it. With whatever strength was left of his arms, and with the hope of keeping Izumi safe, Takuya whispered the words "Izumi, Fly!" into Izumi's ears before he threw here over to the deck where Kouji and Junpei were waiting with their arms extended for the two of them.

"No! Takuya!" Izumi shouted as Kouji and Junpei managed to catch her and bring her into the deck.

Takuya was falling fast as he frantically hoped that whatever he had on his mind would work. He closed his eyes and placed his hands together as if praying. He could feel it was working as he felt something hot in his back. He could only hope that he would make it before he hits the ground, after all, this was the first time he was going to really try using it.

"Come on… come on." His consciousness continually nagged him as he was falling. "Let me just call on my 'wings' this once."

But he was falling too fast.

"Kaizen, we have to help him!" Izumi spoke to her Spirit Guardian telepathically.

"I know how you feel, Izumi, but you don't have much energy left… it could damage you to even force to control the wind around here." Kaizen replied.

"I don't care." Was Izumi's stubborn reply. "I don't care what happens to me, just… save Takuya."

Silence was Kaizen's answer. Time was already ticking, and Izumi could no longer care if her Spirit Guardian were to give her a 'Go' signal or not. So, with what she could do on her own, Izumi stretched her arms into Takuya's direction and ordered the wind around him to allow him to levitate.

Teppei tried to force the Omni-Craft to travel faster, hoping to get underneath or even closer to Takuya amidst the falling debris. But it was useless, parts of the tower were falling too many, too big, and too fast.

Kouji and Junpei saw what she was doing, and the stress it was putting on her.

"Lady Izumi, what are you doing?" Junpei asked.

"Saving Takuya, of course." Was her reply in between laboring breaths.

Kouji could sense that her Spiritual Energy was already low, and whatever plans she might have, would not work with her doing the work alone. It was then that he remembered something that the Clone had said.

"It wouldn't have hurt that much if you people would have only lent your power willingly, transferred it willingly into that machine like how you could do with others."

"That's it!" An idea came into his head. It was a long-shot, but they could take whatever chances they have. And so, Kouji moved towards Izumi and placed a hand on her shoulder.

"Kouji, what are you…?"

Kouji, closed his eyes and focused, allowing his Spirit Energy to travel into Izumi and Izumi felt a renewed strength and partly understood what the Vice-Commander was doing. Junpei also saw it and decided to do the same. It was as if someone was instructing them what to do.

With the new strength she received from the two knights, Izumi's power began to work and Takuya felt as the others saw that he was slowing down.

"Kaizen, I still need your help. I can't do this alone." Izumi thought, a thought that traversed into the Spirit Guardian's own consciousness.

The words of Takuya once again entered Kaizen's mind as she saw how foolish she might have acted as a Spirit Guardian, and so, she helped Izumi by amplifying her power, allowing Takuya's fall to completely stop.

"What's going on?" Takuya wondered, and as she looked up she saw Izumi and understood that it was her doing. Allowing himself to relax, the burning on his back subsided.

"Teppei, what are you waiting for. Get Takuya." Kouji shouted as he continued to supply Izumi with Spiritual Energy.

"Aye, aye." Teppei's voice boomed over the Omni-Craft's speakers.

Soon, Takuya found himself being moved closer to the Omni-Craft and landing safely on the deck of the said vehicle. As soon as he landed, Kouji and Junpei both collapsed, exhausted. Even as Izumi was exhausted herself, she still managed to run towards Takuya to greet him with a hug, burying her head once again on his chest.

"Don't ever do that again." She managed to say in between sobs.

"Sorry." Was all he could say as he hugged her back.

There are moments in our lives when we find ourselves at a crossroad, afraid, confused, without a roadmap. The choices we make in those moments can define the rest of our days. Of course, when faced with the unknown, most of us prefer to turn around and go back.

Chiaki cursed as she fumed with anger, clutching her wounded arm and limping as she made her way into her room in the castle. She was confused. She could not help but wonder why Takuya would choose Izumi over her.

She wondered if saving him was not enough. She wondered if being with him during his loneliest times was not enough. She wondered if it was because of Izumi's status and of her beauty which is why she was chosen by Takuya. Whatever the answer was, she knew that she wasn't enough for the 'real' Takuya.

"If I can't have the real one, then I'll have to settle with the Clone." She thought to herself. "And, I have just the news that would gain his favor… and maybe I can make him hate Izumi as well."

A smile was plastered now on her face. She had faced it first-hand, Takuya's re-awakened power. It wasn't much compared to the power that the Clone now possessed, and she knew what the Clone would do once he hears that the 'real' one is still alive and has some power left in him. He would certainly come after the 'real' Takuya and try to once again take everything away from him… including his life.

Yes, she still wanted revenge to Izumi. And she had vowed to get that revenge even if it means killing the 'real' Takuya.

"Yes, Izumi will feel remorse…" She spoke. "…one way or another."

But once in a while, people push on to something better. Something found just beyond the pain of going or doing it alone and just beyond the bravery and the courage it takes to let someone in. Or to give someone a second chance. Something beyond the quiet persistence of a dream.

Katsuharu sighed as he was brought to face the King.

"I have heard, that you have returned." The King spoke, his eyes never leaving Katsuharu. "It is good to have you back… my son."

"Don't call me that!" Katsuharu shouted. He did not care about the looks those present were giving him. His eyes only rested on the vacant seat that was supposed to belong to the Queen. "I didn't come back here for you, nor do I help you because I want to."

The King followed his gaze. "Do not worry, my son… nothing will happen to the Queen… that is, if you continue to obey me."

Katsuharu closed his eyes as he gritted his teeth. He didn't want to hurt his friends and the people whom he had called his companions… but he didn't have any choice.

"That is much better." The King continued to speak. "Now, why don't you report to me everything you have found about the Organization, the Chosen Ones, and everything else that might help."

He had no choice. To save his mother, the Queen, he had to do as he was told – even it meant betraying everything he stood for and cared about… everything his mother stood for and cared about. And so, with a heavy heart, he gave the King the information he wanted. As he did so, he could not help but wonder what had happened to his once loving father.

Because it's only when you're tested, that you truly discover who you are. And it's only when you're tested that you discover who you can be. The person that you want to be does exist, somewhere in the other side of hard work, and faith, and belief, and beyond the heartache and fear of what life has.

Kouichi watched as the flying vehicle zoomed out of the Lone Islands. He knew, as much as he felt, that the others had managed to escape and all are unarmed. What's more, he had also learned of something as he watched the events of their escape unfold not to far from the scene. He had learned that Takuya still had "something" left in him.

He followed the vehicle's course with his eyes that had somehow regained life in them, albeit only a small bit of it. The voice of Kouji and his words still ringing in his ears. He wondered if what the Vice Commander had said is true, or was it only a front to get him to go back with them. He wanted answers, answers that he didn't know where to find.

He wondered if Kouji could be able to answer his questions. He felt like he could not go back and follow them… not yet at least, and so, with one last look at the disappearing vehicle over the horizon, Kouichi let out a sigh before teleporting himself to the Frontiria's Castle, thinking that for now, that place was what he calls home. But even as he looked at the room which had been given to him to stay in, he vowed to find the answers to his heart's questions.

There comes a time when every life goes off course. In this desperate moment, who will you be? Will you let down your defenses and find solace in someone unexpected? Will you reach out? Will you face your greatest fears bravely or move forward with faith? Or will you succumb to the darkness in your soul?

To be continued…

Author's Notes:

Well, that's about all for this chapter. The next chapter would conclude this short, albeit intense arc, so be sure to stay tuned for that.

Anyways, I have to give myself a pat on the back with those last set of italicized paragraphs. I really do love reading that part over and over and over and over… you get the picture. I have to say that I am quite happy with how this chapter turned out over-all, and I hope you guys enjoyed reading it as well.

I'm planning on drawing and uploading a scene for the final chapter of the whole fanfic, but of course, you guys would see it once the whole fanfic is finished (and once I get my hands on a Pen Tablet since I do not have a scanner with me). I have already planned that particular picture in mind, and it would be my first 'FanArt' featuring Takuya and Izumi from this fanfic. Anyways, that's still a long ways from here, and I might end up using that picture for the Rabbit on the Moon game that I am working on now.

Well, with all that said, I hope to hear from you guys soon! Leave a review, okay?

This is Sakura Martinez saying "PEACE" and signing out! Take Care, everyone!

End of Author's Notes