A Digimon Fanfic
By Sakura Martinez

Author's Notes
Alright. I tried my best to update yesterday (Sunday) as I have promised but... It seems my desire to finish reading the last book of the Hunger Games trilogy was stronger than my desire to finish writing this chapter. Hence, the delay.

Since I have finished reading all the books that I can read at the moment, and as I wait for a stock of the second book of the Mortal Instruments series, I think I can update a bit quicker this time. Although, I can't promise that for sure.

Anyways, I will explain more on the post author's notes. So, for now, enjoy the third from the last chapter of the fanfic.

End of Author's Notes

The Rabbit on the Moon

Extinguished Flame

That's what it takes to be a hero, a little gem of innocence inside you that makes you want to believe that there still exists a right and wrong, that decency will somehow triumph in the end.

Chaos gripped the hilt of the sword and pulled it away from his chest and threw it on the ground. A large wound punctured his heart, which would have killed anyone under normal circumstances. But, they were beyond normalcy now. There was nothing "normal" with what was happening. With what was unfolding.

Chaos eyed them with as much anger and hatred that could have been possible to show. His eyes burned with deep crimson, much deeper than how his "normal" eyes looked like. Blood trickled from the large wound on his chest, he breath raggedly.

He growled at them and bared his teeth.

The Chosen Ones jumped back with Shinya dragging Takuya as far back as he could, for it was in Seraphim's, Chaos' possessed body, teeth that they first saw signs of his transformation.

At first, Kouji thought that he had did it. That he had managed to do what others deemed impossible - kill Chaos. After all, it's not everyday you plunge a sword into someone's heart so far that the tip of the sword had touched the ground and see that someone still alive.

Chaos' transformation, if they had seen it earlier in their journey, could have unnerved them.

His teeth, began to turn into, what could only be described as, amazingly sharp and jagged like shark's teeth. They retained their pearly white color but they could tell that, if those teeth would sink into any part of their body, it could easily rip them apart.

His skin began to peel, slowly revealing a reddish colored, like a badly burned skin. It was as if his whole body was a burning coal. His nails began to grow longer and longer until it was sharp, black-colored claws instead of normal fingernails.

His arms bulged with muscles, veins protruding here and there. The white in his eyes had turned black, thereby enhancing the color of his dark-crimson pupils.

The hair, the light-brown hair that belonged to King Seraphim, vanished. In it's place were tendrils of flame, black in color. In his forehead, two horns like a Minotaur's, could be seen.

The clothes, the regal armor that he wore prior to his transformation shatters as his body began to grow and grow in size. In it's place was a white tunic that could have matched the beautiful dress that Lumina wore.

At the thought of the goddess, Kouji could not feel anything but a pang of guilt. Even if the others did not say or think it, it was there. The reason why Lumina was so weak and why she was unable to protect herself.

She had, as Chaos said, interfered with a battle between mortals. That was a taboo amongst the gods, so much so that the breaking of such an oath would strip a god half of what power remains of him.

Twice Lumina defended them because of his desire to be the hero. Twice her powers were reduced until she only remained as powerful as they would have been if their powers were not taken from them.

However, it was not enough to defend herself from Chaos attack. His pride and arrogance cost them the life of the goddess and, now, their lives as well.

"We came here to protect her." Kouji found himself thinking, holding back tears of grief, remorse and lost pride. "Instead I..."

It was as if Kouichi could understand the turmoil within him for he quickly snaps him from his thoughts.

"Don't beat yourself up over what happened." Kouichi told him as they continued to watch Seraphim, no, Chaos, transform into a creature that they could only tell was born from the darkness. "It won't help us...or Lumina... if Chaos only gets himself much more stronger from feeding from our negative emotions."

"He is right." Kouji thinks to himself as all he could manage to give his twin was a nod.

His focus returns to the now-monstrous-looking Chaos.

The Chaos that was now standing before them did not look a bit like a god. On the contrary, he looked more like a demon. A demon summoned from the very depths of the abyss - of the void.

Chaos, with his transformation in what could only be easy to describe as a large, burning minotaur-like demon, twice the height of the Chosen Ones, howled. It was a howl that shook the Crystal Castle. Shook it enough to shatter the remaining crystals. There was no hope of preserving the castle now.

His eyes fixed on them. He opens his mouth and charges up an energy in them.

It took all the effort they could muster to get out of the way, just in time as the pillars and the beams fell.

The power of the attack, however, managed to destroy most of the castle. If anyone would come at this moment, they would no longer beheld the beauty and splendor of the once-magnificent castle was now reduced to nothing but ruins.

"I guess you have finally showed us your true colors, Chaos." Shinya managed to say when the dust settled in. "So this is what your true form is like."

Chaos laughes, then, when his laughter died down, he spoke. His voice boomed even louder than before, more sinister and more omnipotent in nature.

"My true form?" Says Chaos, his eyes glinting behind the flames that have begun to erupt around him. "There is no need to summon that to defeat the likes of you humans. No, I will reserve that for when I have won this battle!"

At those words he lounged again at them. It took only a brief period of time for the battle against the God of Darkness to resume.

Takuya stared at the palm of his hands where he could feel Eos' power. He swung his arm and when it rested on the left, the sword materializes in his grasp.

It was light. He waved the sword around, testing it and testing himself, wondering if Eos would require him to use a different style of fighting.

He learned, however, that Eos would not hinder how he had come to learn to fight. That the sword was like an extension of his arm. It moved as he wanted it to move. It was the perfect fit for him.

"If I had had you before," He told the sword as he looked at it. "I wouldn't have had a hard time fighting."

The sword hummed. Takuya could not tell if it was the sword's way to communicate. But, he smiled, imagining that it was.

Takuya closed his eyes and let out a breath. The sword vanished. He then looked around wondering what he was supposed to do next. He had made his choice, why then was he still in this white space of nothingness?

The answer was simple. His task was not yet done here.

Takuya then looked around but, as far as he could see, nothing has changed. He walked and walked, not really sure where he was going or where he was supposed to go. As he walked, he continued to wonder, what else must he do? No matter how hard he thought about it, no answer came to mind. All he know is that there was still something he need to make a choice of.

Suddenly, he saw them. His friends, fighting against a monster, a monster that somehow Takuya knew to be Chaos. The images of how they are fighting against the monster that is Chaos hung in the air, easing in and out, as if it was just a memory being played for him.

Then, the image shifted to show him. He was standing in front of Chaos, no longer as a minotaur but in his godly form. Chaos' handsome features reminded him of the beauty that belonged solely to the gods. He didn't seem to look much older than he was and he looked normal except for the color of his hair, his eyes and the dress he was wearing.

Even from the image being played out before him, Takuya could feel the immense power radiating from the god but, Takuya noted how weak and weary Chaos looked and how he, himself, looked as stronger than the god.

This, of course, baffled and confused the young man and he found himself wondering what this all meant.

"This is one of the last choices you have to make in this war," It was Izumi's voice who spoke as she appeared beside the floating image. "I have been allowed, with Milanai's last pool of power, to show it to you, Takuya."

She looked so real, not like the holographic projection that he had seen. She smiled at him, it was a sad smile, a sad, beautiful smile that only she could give.

"Izumi, is that really you?" He asks, although he already knew the answer to that. Of course it was her!

Izumi nodded. "I don't have much time, Takuya. Even at this very moment, Milanai is dying and soon...even I will..."

He didn't want her to finish what she was to say. He knew he would not bear to hear it and he cut her off as soon as he could saying, "No, you won't. I would make as many pact as I can with Eos to ensure that!"

Izumi smiled. It was still a sad one. "Thank you."

She then turned toward the image of Takuya and Chaos in battle where the others could only watch. That is, except for Shinya who seemed to be helping him.

"The Mirrors of Dark and Light fighting against the Forgotten God." Izumi said, it was the knowledge given to her by Milanai, that spoke. "And Chaos will fall. However..."

"I have to decide how that happens...and if...I would even kill him." Takuya finishes.

Izumi nodded. "The choice has dire consequences, not only for you, Takuya but, for the whole world as well. Now that Lumina is gone, Chaos is the only living god present to sustain the magic of the world. He is the only one now with whom the spiritual force of the world revolves around, if you kill him..."

"I would be destroying not only the cause of the suffering but also destroy our civilization's only hope for defense...there would never be another Chosen One nor would the Elven folks manage to sustain their life in Endlessia...they would have to find a means to live without magic." Takuya realizes the heavy burden placed on him. "But, if I do not fight and kill him..."

"Then the world will be destroyed and all that Lumina had fought for will be lost." It was Izumi's turn to finish his sentence.

Takuya slumped back down to the ground, his hand rubbing his temple. He didn't think it would actually come to that choice. How was he suppose to choose when the outcome will not only affect him but will affect the whole of Endlessia? The choice he made before, on whether to wield Eos, seemed small compared to this. And he didn't try to deny that fact to Izumi, who seem to understand his predicament.

"It is a tough choice." Izumi told him. "But, it's a choice that you have to make because it is a choice that you alone can make."

"But...I don't have the right to answer for the whole world." Takuya said, he was still slumped on the ground. "This world, it has depended on magic far too much. We are too dependent on magic...and what about the Elven folks?"

"The Elves have been aware that this would happen, sooner or later." Izumi notified him, and then proceeded to tell him that they have long planned of the day when they return to the place from where they came from - a world far away. "They will return to their home. The real place where they truly belong."

Silence filled the air. Even though Izumi had said that the Elves have welcomed this choice for a long, long time, Takuya knew that it was a hard sacrifice for them to make. Regardless of where they came from, Endlessia had been their home, ever since the history of the world began and they were the first of the intellectual species.

"Are you going to back down on your word?" A voice deep within his mind asked. He knew what it was, it was the part of him that wants Chaos to pay for the crimes he had committed. The part of him that solemnly promised to put an end to the suffering that he and his friends have found themselves tossed into.

"But...wouldn't I, in turn, cause suffering for the people of Endlessia?" He argues with himself.

It was as if Izumi could read his trail of thoughts, for as she said, "If you don't decide on one thing or another on this matter, Takuya... a lot more people will perish and they will suffer far more than they could bear. Every moment that Chaos still lives is a moment to be feared...I know your reservations but, you must also know and realize by now the strength that we humans, and the rest of Endlessia possess. It may cause a setback or unease when magic is taken from us but our race will live on and find new ways to provide those things that magic may no longer give."

Takuya knew what she says is true. They have proven the strength that humans can possess and can call upon under dire circumstances but he still has his reservations. How would they explain to the world that there won't be any Chosen Ones to protect them? Was it right of him to decide for them by himself? Was it right to take whatever comfort the thought of having a defender, a Chosen one, can give?

"Is it the right thing to do?" He found himself asking out loud.

Izumi smiled. "We won't know what the future brings but, one thing is certain, Endlessia will persevere with our without people like us."

Takuya looked at her. Her eyes were filled with determination and confidence. She was confident of his decision, she knew what he would choose and how he will stand. Takuya could not help but smile, she knew him too well.

Takuya then nods. "I guess...since I already put a strain on the trust that people have placed on me...this is the least I can do."

"It's not 'the least' you can do, Takuya." Izumi said as she began to disappear in a haze. "It's everything you can do to ensure the world's survival..."

And that was the last thing he heard before he allowed himself to return to the battle at hand. HIs mind was set. His choice had been made.

He only had little time to react. Not only was the minotaur version of Chaos that much more stronger, faster and generally physically fit, he himself was in no way a match for him. He was weak, bloody and disorganized - much like the rest of his allies.

"How can we hope to defeat him?" Kouji groaned as he blocked Chaos' claw attack with his sword.

He buckled up, his knees on the ground trying to fight Chaos' strength. He gritted his teeth, not willing himself to give up despite the fact that his whole body was shouting at him to just lie down, just accept defeat and rest. His pride wouldn't allow him to just quit, it was the only good thing left about his pride - it kept him going.

He could hear Chaos laughing, gloating, knowing that with only two of them remaining to fight - himself and Shinya - there was no way they could win.

"How did it end up like this?" He wondered just as Chaos managed to scoop him up in a death grip with Chaos' hand, his free hand, on his throat carrying him off, his feet dangling in the air.

Kouji's mind was already foggy, his head swirling with thoughts when he find himself falling down and the sound of Chaos' screaming in agony.

Kouji's mind did a double take as he crashed on the ground. "Did I just hear Chaos in pain?"

When he opened his eyes and adjusted them, forced them to look at what was happening, he sees Takuya with a beautiful sword in hand pushing Chaos back. Shinya had regained his footing and was helping him, shooting white flames. He looked in awe as the Kanbaras continued to wound and push Chaos back. It was as if something was ignited within them, an energy to overcome the evil that is presently before them.

It was then that Kouji realized and accepted, somewhat disheartened and foolish, he wasn't the one in the prophecy and neither was it his brother... it was them.

Takuya came just in time before Chaos could suck the life out of Kouji. He came back just in time to save Kouji's neck from being snapped into two with not so much of an effort from Chaos. He came back just in time to surprise Chaos with an attack that severed his whole, right arm - the one that was trying to choke Kouji - sending sputters of blood, golden blood.

The shock was apparent on Chaos' face. He didn't expect that Takuya was still alive. He didn't expect Takuya to cause him so much trouble and pain. What's more, he didn't expect Takuya to be the wielder of the one thing, the one artifact, that can destroy him.

"How-?" Chaos growled but he was cut from what he was about to say when white flames, those accursed flames, shot out at him, engulfing him. He howled in pain, he felt his skin burning as it never before and never thought it capable of. No one has managed to fight him like this.

Willing all the power he has, he stopped the flames from utterly consuming him as he jumped away from his attackers, gripping his bleeding shoulder with his other hand.

Takuya landed next to his brother and Chaos could not help but look from one Kanbara to the next. He didn't think it would be possible. He had thought the prophecy meant only one person, it didn't say that the Mirror of Light and the Mirror of Darkness are two different persons. Light and Darkness had always been one, so, why did the Destined One be in the form of these two brash humans? He didn't know the answer to that.

He glared at Takuya and Shinya, who were both undeterred by his gaze filled with hatred and death. They no longer feared him. The loss of their fear is a big problem for him. He knew he had to do something, something that would make them fear him and not him fear them.

He knew that it was time. Time to remind the humans of how pathetic and weak their existence is. He made his way, hurriedly towards the throne. One touch on the throne would return him to his godly form, stature and power and then...

"Nothing will stand in my way!" He shouted as he managed to jump out of the flame attack summoned by Shinya, and land near the throne. His throne. He touches it and at once, he feels his power returning. The wounds inflicted on him vanishing.

In a splendid yet dark light, Chaos was transformed. From the grotesque monstrous creature to the handsome, young god with fiery-colored hair and golden eyes. There were no scars on his body, no golden blood and he felt no fatigue.

Takuya gritted his teeth. He did not want Chaos to return to this form, and he could see by the annoyed expression on Shinya's face, neither did he.

Chaos laughed. He was thrilled to be back to his real body. He could feel his power, the power that had been taken from him, now back and ready to be used however he willed them to.

He looked at the two humans who had caused him problems and he grinned. "Now, let us see how well you fare against my true powers!"

And once again they were fighting. Even when the odds in sheer numbers were against Chaos, he proved to be more than an even match against Shinya and Takuya. It confuses him how these two humans could stand neck and neck with him but he merely shrugged it off as the fact that they are different from the others who were Mirrors of Light and Darkness before them.

Takuya did not think the battle would be too taxing. He had thought that, since he was wielding Eos, Chaos could easily be defeated. He had not accounted on factors such as fatigue seeping in, Chaos' physical strength and speed. It was far from the easy battle he had hoped this would be.

"This is not a walk in the park." He managed to say as he and Shinya defended each other from a barrrage of Chaos' attack - all of which are unrelenting.

"What did you expect?" Shinya asked as he sent tendrils of white flame to block and consume the black flames heading on their direction.

Takuya sidestepped Chaos who was back to slashing at them with his own sword - a rapier that was the color of blood from pommel to the tip of the blade, dancing with decorations of small, tongues of fire - and countered him with a swift, upward strike only to be blocked by Chaos as well.

While Takuya and Chaos danced the dance of death, Shinya made sure to provide backup to his younger brother. He didn't move all that much for between the fatigue that was seeping into him and the wounds he had receive prior to Takuya's return, it was already a miracle that he can still fight alongside him.

However, Chaos has other plans. He knew the dangers he faced while battling between the two Destined Ones. He knew that the only way to ensure victory for himself was to deal with them one at a time. It is with that knowledge that Chaos decided to attack Shinya head on knowing that the older Kanbara was weak and exhausted and would no longer be able to keep up with them.

But, Takuya also guessed what Chaos wanted to do and planned to do for, within seconds he was at Shinya's defense, pushing Chaos back that in the end, Chaos decided to abandon Shinya and deal with Takuya first.

Soon, they found themselves at the top of the stairs, back in front of the two thrones. Takuya could not help but notice how this exactly replicates the image he had seen in that place. How the time was fast approaching when his decision must be put to action. He wonders if Chaos knew of it, of what awaited them here at the top of the stairs, far away from the others.

"The look on your face," Chaos said as he wiped the golden blood that had begun to flow out of an open gash on his left cheek. "you already know what is to come...at least, what that tree had seen was coming."

Takuya nodded. "You seem to not care if this is the place where you will be defeated."

"The visions that were shown to you may have hinted that," Chaos said, his eyes never leaving Takuya. The grip on his cursed blade not lessening. "but, those visions are only one of the many things that could happen. The future is not set in stone, you should be very well aware of that, Takuya."

"For once, I agree with you, Chaos." Takuya replied.

Silence. Neither of them moved for they know that the first one to move may be the first one to drop dead.

"I still don't understand why Lumina was so fond of humans, why she placed her trust once again on the fragile beings who seem to only know destruction." Chaos voiced out. Takuya could not help but sense a kind of pain in his voice. "Even when they killed me during my mortal phase, and even as she said she loathed them, there was still that part of her which loved and adored you creatures. Even when she knew that this is my revenge...revenge to the humans for stripping me of the one gift they could have given me - to be able to walk with them, talk to them and learn about them, as my sister has - she could not help but side with the lot of you. I don't understand why you are so special to her."

Takuya did not speak. He didn't know what to say or if he should even say anything. How can he know what the goddess thinks? A while back, he had thought that the gods were nothing more than a fancy of the human mind. That they were not real.

Chaos shook his head and pointed the sword at Takuya. "Perhaps it is fated that you should be the one to hold on to Eos. Perhaps...you are the one who can give me an answer of what makes Lumina see you as beings worthy of her protection. Show me, human, what made you and your kind special in her eyes!"

And that was all that was needed to be said before the battle resumed much more deadly than before.

The force of the battle and of their attacks sent sparks ricocheting off of their blades. Parry. Slash. Dodge. Counter. Sidestep. Block. Thrust. Motions repeating like a cycle and all Takuya could do was stand his ground and fight. With each attack he manages to block or manages to wound him, he learns something about the god of darkness. With each attack Chaos manages to block or manages to wound him, Chaos learns something about humanity - things he did not know or did not wish to believe were true about them.

With each attack they block and parried; with each attack that manages to wound their opponent; their hearts resonated with each of these attacks.

It seemed to go on forever, neither of them willing to let up on their attacks and defense. Takuya pushed back the feeling of fatigue and the sharp stings that erupts in his body every time sweat trickles down on his wounds.

But, try as he might it still returned to the fact that he is merely a human fighting against a god who shows no sign of fatigue. In the end, Chaos manages to pin Takuya on the back of the throne, his crimson sword deeply wedged on Takuya's side.

Takuya let out a cry of pain but he held onto his consciousness, afraid to collapse and never wake again.

Chaos plunged the sword deeper and Takuya cried out even louder. HIs cries echoing around the castle.

"Takuya!" Shinya shouted as it reached him.

Around him, the other Chosen Ones began to stir. Katsuharu coughed blood as he tried to push himself off of the ground. Tomoki gripped his wounded calf trying to stop the bleeding as he skipped his way towards Shinya. Junpei tried his best to walk towards them without falling or vomiting, which failed, his head was filled with clotted blood. Teppei slumped on a nearby pillar, or what remains of it, unable to stand. Kouichi, despite his own heavy set of wounds, helps his brother out of the debris and crater, limping as they walked to where the others are.

"This is not how you expected it to end, isn't it?" Chaos asked, whispering over at Takuya's ear.

"This...is...not the...end." Takuya said behind gritted teeth as Chaos took withdrew his sword from the him and he slid to the ground.

"You fought well for a human." Chaos said as he stood, towering above Takuya. There was a hint of respect in his voice. "You are better than Yuuki or Kaien... but, I am not as weak as I was back then."

Chaos then plunged the sword into Takuya's heart. In one quick attack, Takuya lost all of his consciousness. His head falls down and blood flowed freely from the wound on his chest as Chaos retracted his weapon.

Shinya's eyes widen in horror as he felt Takuya slip away into the void and saw Chaos descend to them to finish the job he had started.

All Shinya could think of, as he charged head on towards Chaos was how he had failed on the one thing he swore he would not fail in - keeping Takuya alive.

To be continued...

Post Author's Notes:

And that is the end of this chapter. It's certainly not the end of the chapter you all might have thought but, before you go and throw something at me (deadly or otherwise) wait until you finish the whole fanfic. I don't write things just to write them and every action in this story has meaning and has a reason, so don't go getting all angry on me.

Like I've said, I'll try to update as quickly as possible with only two chapters remaining (if my calculation is right and if I don't decide on adding something to the story). Now, as for the next update, it would either be on Wednesday or Thursday of this week.

I am really thankful for the people who are still reading this and who are giving their reviews like utsukushii04, FireFairy219, dogluv101, and Impstar who had reviewed recently.

Well, I am a bit drained after writing this (and hungry) so, I'll leave it to that. Hope you guys review this chapter and tell me whether you liked it or not. Just don't go into a full flaming frenzy, lol.

So, until the next update, this is Sakura Martinez saying "PEACE" and signing out. Ja ne!

End of Post Author's Notes