First off, Happy Birthday to me! (Sorry, had to say it. Posting this is a good present to me.)
Next, I guess you feel that it is a little confusing with multiple Destiny versions running around. I'll try to simplify somewhat. The youngest Destiny is now teamed up with Fate. She eventually becomes the version talking to Kazu, Kenta, Yamaki, Suzie, and their digimon (after many, many prophecies). She does not remember being here in her past or that she has met these people before as a small child. She will only be interacting with that group. Afterwards, ( again, after several other prophecies) she will eventually become the Destiny that encounters the tamers in the story "Destiny." After she finishes that one, she finally (after the rest of her innumerable prophecies) comes to be the Destiny that is shown in the first chapter of this story, and is currently talking to Takato, Rika, Henry, Jeri, Ai, Mako, and their partners. This one has memories of the events covered in "Destiny" so she can more easily interact with the tamers and digimon. Thus we now have a very vague timeline of her life.
From this point, you will only be dealing with two points of her life. Two versions of Destiny. They are still the same person, just at different points in her lifetime as a prophetess and fulfiller of prophecies. You will have the one with Kenta's group (which I referred to as Destiny B in the footnotes of the last chapter) and the one with the main group of tamers (which I referred to as Destiny C in the footnotes of the last chapter). While I will not be referring to them as anything other than Destiny in the story, you can tell the difference by who she is interacting with or, later, which reality she is in. (Another hint is that Destiny B will keep her hood and cloak up while Destiny C will keep her face revealed in this story. After all, she got into that habit in her last encounter with the tamers.)
I hope that clears things up a little. Overall, I know time travel can create confusion. But I love the opportunities it can create in the right hands. Hopefully mine are the right hands. So, give it a chance.
Oh, and in case you didn't guess, I do not own digimon, the tamers, or a lot of the stuff in the story. I did invent the characters of Destiny and Fate. Basically, if it was on the show, I don't own it. If it's new, then I likely devised it. However, I'll try to claim my stuff. And you may borrow them if you like. Just give me credit and let me know so I can see.
Silence, except for the approaching emergency vehicles, greeted the prophetess' words. All the tamers and digimon stared in shock at the girl the majority had believed to have just died. Destiny was simply standing in the street, her back to the chaos, and apparently ignoring everything except for those she was facing.
The first to speak to her was Ai. The young tamer, while mildly surprised at the older girl's arrival, responded to the increasing strange circumstances of the children's lives with the acceptance of innocent youth.
"Hi Destiny," she greeted. "Why are you here today? Did you come for Suzie's party too? Because we're busy right now, but we were just there."
The dark-haired girl narrowed her eyes, as if considering or trying to remember something. By this point, another had found her voice. And this one was not nearly as friendly as Ai's.
"Back to ruin someone else's life?" asked Rika harshly. While she had been just as horrified at the thought of the young child's possible death, it had also reminded her of Ryo's funeral. All the tamers had attended, even as the grieving father had glared at them. Rika had ended up wearing a dark dress, a real change for her, and spent too much time staring at an empty coffin. After Devimon's attack, there hadn't even been a body to bury. The unfairness of it all: his death, the blame Ryo's family had placed on the tamers and digimon for the event, and knowledge that Destiny had known, all of it had burned in her mind all this time. And now she intended to express her frustration. "Last time we saw you, not only do we get dragged around without a clue of what was going on, but we come home to find out you forgot to tell us that one of our friends and his partner were dead. So, now you show up again. How many are you going to kill through your interfering this time?"
"Rika…" gasped Takato.
Destiny looked down at the ground, ashamed, "I understand you hate me, all of you. I would in your place. I know that prophecies cause pain to those tangled within them. And it was a heavy burden to bear once, and yet I am here again to ask too much of you."
"Wait a minute," frowned Henry. "I thought you didn't get to remember past prophecies. So how do you remember us or what happened last time you were here? Or do you not actually remember?"
" Surprisingly, I do. It's rather interesting, to actually remember more than fragments. I needed to remember because you remember. And it seems for this one, I'll be dealing with you again… I think," she answered, her expression narrowing as she considered carefully her thoughts.
"'Think'? I thought you were so wise and all-knowing," Rika snapped, her fury not nearly spent yet. "And when did any of us agree to get involved with your plans and prophecies again?"
"Digimon Queen," sighed Impmon, having reverted to his rookie form while the girl had ranted. "Queen of the temper in my opinion. Shouldn't you listen a little before you attack Dee? That way you'll have more ammo to throw at her. Or we could just stand around waiting for you to calm down on your own. Which could take a while, toots. Totally up to you. But, considering she did kind of help out some last time, I think listening is a better option." The purple rookie made a face. "Oh great. I sound like Braniac with his whole 'give peace a chance' attitude."
Jeri, with more reason than most to accept the dark-haired girl's advice, asked, "Destiny, the prophecy did cause a lot of pain last time we met, but you also did us some good." Her eyes glanced over at her partner momentarily. "What is it that you need with us?"
The prophetess took a deep breath, "I need you to come with me somewhere. No questions asked."
"Why?" wondered Guilmon. "If we don't ask, how can we know?"
"The reason you can't ask me is because," she answered slowly, "I don't know."
"Why did she just introduce herself?" Kazu whispered to his friend. "We've met her before."
"Maybe not," answered Kenta, his voice equally soft. "Remember Takato, Henry, and them said she apparently doesn't remember events from other prophecies? She doesn't remember meeting us. Or maybe she hasn't met us yet. She time travels, remember? For her, it might be the first time she's run into us."
Kazu narrowed his eyes, trying to work through the mess of paradoxes and headaches that came whenever he tried to figure out a time travel movie. "And I'm guessing she doesn't remember her younger version meeting us either."
The bespectacled child nodded. Upon the girl's arrival, those present ended up being organized into three groups. Those with absolutely no idea what was occurring and did not wish to find out. These included kids from school like Ayaka and Jeri's half-brother, Masahiko. They had moved so that they had the picnic table between them and the stranger who had popped out of thin air. There were those who had a small idea or whose natural curiosity out-weighed any fear. The members of this group included concerned parents, the Monster Makers who had attended, and surprisingly Henry's sensei. They were in front of the picnic table and closer, but still at a fairly safe distance. Finally, those with the greatest familiarity with Destiny stood together. This group was essentially the tamers and digimon and they stood between her and the other party guests. Not because they thought she would attack, but because she was addressing them.
"So," asked Kazu slowly, a grin forming on his face. "Are you going to ask your 'girlfriend' what she wants, Kenta, or do I have to do it for you?"
The tamer's face turned beet red and he began stuttering uncomfortably. His tiny pink partner patted the boy's face in concern. Kazu chuckled lightly.
"Hi!" called Calumon to the cloaked figure. "You're back again. Did you come for cake? You'll have to wait for Suzie to blow out the candle first. I don't know why, but that's what they said."
Yamaki, pulling off his sunglasses, stared at the girl, "You said that we need your help. Might I ask what with? Last time we spoke with you, you brought news of a threat to both worlds. Is the situation of a similar magnitude this time?"
"Last time…" she considered. "I take it we've met encountered each other before then. To answer your question, at this moment in time, the existence of both worlds is as safe as can be expected. While there are always those on the edge who may someday cause harm, they are currently no danger. What I come to you about is of a different matter."
"And that would be?" asked Kenta, noticing that she had avoided answering directly about the safety of the digital and human world.
Destiny, her words as calm as everything she had spoken so far, turned her hooded head towards the bespectacled tamer. "How far would you go to save a friend? Would you travel to another world? Would you be willing to leave now if it meant saving Ryo and his partner?"
"What do you mean you don't know?" shouted Rika, causing the nearby paramedics and car crash victims alike to flinch. While the tamers and digimon had been in discussion (or in Rika's case, argument) with Destiny, the professionals had gone to work on the chaos. So far, emergency personnel had left the children alone, but it was hard to ignore an angry Rika. "It's your job to know these things!"
"See, what did I tell you," muttered the purple rookie, covering his ears. "More ammo."
"I'm not allowed to know much ahead of time for this prophecy," the dark-haired girl explained. "There are actually two prophecies, but they are sort of interconnected. And one is… it involves me a lot. So I won't be allowed to know much in advance. The other one, involving you, is supposed to be connected. But I'm not allowed to know much yet. Which annoys me."
"Welcome to our world," retorted Terriermon and Rika at the same time before giving each other a horrified look, completely shocked to be thinking what the other had been.
Henry frowned, "Why would you be directly involved in one and why two at once? As far as I understand your job, this isn't normal."
Destiny's gaze swept across the faces of those she wanted to call her friends but felt she never would be able to. Her deep blue eyes locked on Impmon's features, longing and loneliness easily seen in her expression. She closed her eyes with a sigh.
"The reason this time is so different is because one of the prophecies is different," the girl explained carefully. "While the one involving you should be fairly normal, I think, the other is personal."
Renamon, thinking back to their first encounter with the prophetess, figured it out. "This is your last prophecy, isn't it? And the one for you…"
"… will hopefully reunite me with Fate," finished Destiny in a whisper.
"Wyo?" asked Suzie hesitantly, her young face brightening. "We could get Wyo back?"
Kazu pointed out, "I don't know if you've just been bouncing around the universe too long or what, but last time I checked, psycho Devimon killed him and Monodramon. Completely blasted him…"
"… to data," the prophetess interrupted. "No body and no one absorbed their data. Correct?"
"…No way," gasped Kenta suddenly.
"…Impossible," declared Yamaki softly at the same instant.
Destiny, hidden beneath her hood, reminded the man, "You should realize by now that very little is truly impossible."
"Okay, in case you were wondering, I haven't suddenly gained telepathy," complained Kazu. "So it would be nice if one of you would tell me what is going on."
His friend sighed, "Do you remember the television show at all?"
"I remember Tai once digivolved Agumon into SkullGreymon. Kind of like Takato and Megidramon. Later, he had MetalGreymon instead," he answered, grinning as he remembered the show.
"Focus. Do you remember Primary Village? Where Ken ended up wandering to after he got over his 'evil Dark Spore, creepy Digimon Emperor' stage?" reminded Kenta.
"And he got his partner back because Wormmon had turned into a digi-egg," nodded Kazu. "But what does this…?" The boy stopped in mid-sentence, his eyes widening. "But Ryo isn't…"
"He was Justimon at the time. So, technically, yes he was a digimon at the time of his death."
"Kazu, I'm willing to admit you have greater knowledge of the television program you are speaking of," acknowledged Guardromon. "I'm afraid I am not able to follow your references. What is it that has excited all of you so greatly?"
"Well, buddy, I don't know how to tell you this, but we think that jedi knight girl is suggesting that when Justimon was killed, the pair came back as…"
"… a digi-egg," Destiny finished.
"So part of the reason for your visit is another 'save the world' scenario," summarized Takato, "and the other is to get your partner back."
The girl nodded, "Basically, yes. I believe the main prophecy would definitely be of a similar nature to the last one you participated in, even if I don't know all the details yet. The other… I'll try not to involve you anymore than necessary. I know you must dislike anything to do with me after all that's occurred. I can handle my problem myself."
"Destiny," sighed Jeri. "You called us back to the digital world after we were left alone."
"Because Henry's dad didn't tell us what the whole plan was," complained Terriermon.
The rabbit's partner rolled his eyes but did not defend his father. He had forgiven, but would not forget.
Mako added, "You brought back Impmon to us."
The purple rookie grimaced. The young tamer wasn't just meaning that the prophetess brought back the tamers to the digital world and their partners. She also saved him after Kiwimon… Well, he owed Dee. Maybe that was why he kept an eye on the mini-version. Yet, if the car crash was anything to go on, his efforts had not been enough. On the other hand, older Dee was here now. It was probably better to just leave the weird things to Braniac and focus on the situation at hand.
"I can understand why you did not share Ryo and Cyberdramon's fate with us," Renamon declared, "I do not like it, but I understand. And you deserve to have your partner back. A digimon and their tamer have a powerful bond. The thought of losing Rika and never regaining her is impossible to consider for me."
Jeri looked down at that moment and once more Impmon was reminded of how much pain he had caused her. And if it wasn't for them being dragged into the last prophecy, the girl would still be as alone as Renamon was suggesting. And as alone as the blue-eyed girl was now. How many ways could he feel obligated to help her?
"You helped Takato keep his promise to play with me again," grinned Guilmon.
"So as much as I'd hate to say it," growled Rika grumpily. "We're in. But that doesn't mean we trust you. And we'll help you get your friend back too."
The dark-haired child stared in silence at the group's support. She knew that they would always support each other, but she had not expected such treatment for herself. Destiny had thought it was far too much to ever hope for. They may not trust her completely, for good reason, and yet they would still try and help her. Not just fulfill a prophecy or save the world, but help her.
A certain purple virus understood her surprise. The smart thing would be to have as little to do with her as possible, but they rarely did the smart thing. If they did, Impmon knew he would have died alone in the digital world a long time ago. But the tamers and their partners believed in second chances.
Destiny stated finally, "Very well then. Are you ready?"
"Ready to go when you are, Dee," grinned Impmon. "Just… where are we going?"
"Another reality," she answered.
"Wait! What about our pare…" Henry tried to ask, but they were already disappearing.
"So all we have to do is go find them. Just like that?" asked Kenta suspiciously. "It can't be that easy."
"The boy and digimon are now back in the digital world," the girl confirmed. "All they need is for someone to lead them back."
"And I assume that you can't do it," prompted Yamaki.
The hooded head nodded, "While I can help, you must be the ones to find the lost ones. Besides, he would not know me and so I cannot guide him back."
"Let's go get Wyo," declared Suzie, hugging her partner tightly.
"Hold on," her father ordered. "You can't be planning to leave now. You're not going anywhere until Henry gets back."
"They will not return for some time," the prophetess explained. "And they will leave now or risk losing their chance." With that cryptic statement she raised her arm. From the depths of her shadowy sleeves, a bright light emerged and created a colorful shape in mid-air. A portal to the digital world. "I would not suggest trying to stop them."
Janyu Wong narrowed his eyes, "So you plan to kidnap them? And what do you know about my son."
"I would not 'kidnap' them, but I would ensure that what must occur, will occur," answered Destiny, her calm voice gaining a dangerous edge. "And because they are needed in the digital world, I will see that they arrive there. No matter what obstacles may try and block the path."
"Wow," Kazu muttered. "Kenta, your 'girlfriend' has a backbone. Be sure to never forget her birthday or anniversary."
"Shut up," he hissed back.
"It's okay, Daddy," assured Suzie. "I'm a big giwl now. I help beat bad guys like Henwy. Me and Lopmon will go get Wyo back."
"Yeah, it's just a quick search and rescue mission," Kazu added. "We'll keep her safe and if anything comes up, me and Guardromon will handle it."
"After all," grumbled Kenta, "our last rescue mission went so well."
His friend reminded him, "We did save Calumon and I found my partner, Guardromon."
"And we ended up facing more Devas, getting separated, running into a crazed Beelzemon, and of course dealing with Zhuquiaomon: president of the 'I hate humans' fan club."
"Pii pii, pii pii pii," added MarineAngemon.
"Right, and bringing back D-reaper Jeri to the human world," the bespectacled boy translated.
"Come on. What are the chances that could happen again?" asked Kazu.
Yamaki sighed, "With my luck concerning digimon, very high."
"You're on our side now," reassured the boy with the cap. "That means you are now entitled to 'tamer luck.' Takato has tons of it. How else would he be able to pull off all the cool miracles? You're a tamer to the creampuff, so you should get better luck now than you did when you were just a creepy government agent."
The adult tamer, now resigned to his imminent journey to another world with only these children and digimon for company, shook his head. "Wong, please inform the members of Hypnos that they are to take orders only from you, your fellow Monster Makers, or Riley Ootori and Tally Onodera in my absence."
The stunned parent asked, "You can't be serious."
"Yes!" shouted Kazu. "Time to get Ryo. Alright cloak girl, lead the way."
"Bye Daddy," called Suzie as she stepped through the portal, still holding a ribbon-covered Lopmon. "Save me the cake and I'll open my pwesents when I get back."
"Suzie, don't…" he tried to order, but he was left speaking to empty air; the tamers, digimon, Destiny, and the portal were gone.
And now they are off on their separate missions. And yes, I seem to have a problem with Rika. But I actually like her from the show. But she does not like others telling her she cannot control her life; whether it's her mother, other adults, or Destiny. She hates the ideas of prophecies because she loses control in her mind. Thus, she naturally has some issues with the girl. And Ryo and Cyberdramon's deaths bothered her. While she is not really romantically involved with him (she is twelve, people! The most that any of these kids would have is maybe a crush or something. Ryo, fourteen, might be closer to actual strong, long-lasting feelings, but I still just think he is enjoying teasing Rika. Now if I do have any couples, I will attempt to keep them appropriate for their ages: awkwardness around each other, lots of blushing, maybe a short kiss after a life-or-death situation, ect. Sorry about that rant. I just find it odd how many fan fiction writers have these super complex relationships for pre-teens), Rika did like Ryo somewhat. She has had trouble letting people close, with trusting people. So when she loses one of her friends, she reacts with her usual behavior: get mad and lash out. I repeat: I do not hate Rika. I just understand how she reacts.
Now, since I have brought up the issue of relationships, I will warn you. I will touch on most of the obvious ones I noticed when watching the show. I will not carry them to extremes. I will not drive a particular couple into the ground. There will be hints that I feel work with what has already occurred. Any other relationships (romantic or friendship) that I decide to hint at in the story will be those I believe make sense. Is that a problem?
Thanks for reading the story (and my long rant on relationships) and I hope you did not get insulted or take anything personally. I just feel this is the only way I could make it work for me. I'm not the best at writing romance anyway, let alone one between kids. This strategy works for me.
Please leave a review.