Chapter 35: The cat and the wizard
It was said that after the creation of the world, Fate made an island emerge from the depths of the ocean, far away from the continents and the other islands, and named it "World's End." The Great Spirit created adult and perfect level monsters to inhabit the island. They were the first digimon.
Fate shared knowledge with them, allowing them to know that on the day Light would be born, Light's partner would come to World's End as an egg descending from the sky. The digimon from that island were to protect and raise Light's partner, in order to prepare her to one day aid the savior of the Digital World.
The digimon from that island, led by a perfect level fox priestess called Taomon, built a temple in honor of Light, whom they believed was a goddess equal to Fate. They waited for the arrival of the egg for thousands of years, and one beautiful, starry night, it happened. The egg descended from the sky enveloped by a beam of white light and gently landed in the main part of the temple, where there was no roof. Along with the egg came a small machine and a pendant in which there was a rock with a drawing that resembled an asterisk.
They painted that symbol on every wall of the temple. Every day and every night, the egg was worshipped, which didn't stop after it hatched. The little digimon born from that egg learned of her holiness before learning how to talk. Once she evolved to Nyaromon, she pronounced her first word:
"Hikari."
"Correct." Taomon told her, caressing the small monster on the staircase of the temple, from where they could see the whole island and the dawn breaking. "You are the partner of the Goddess Light, who will come to save this world one day."
"It's her name." Nyaromon said. "It's what everybody calls her."
"You… had contact with her?" Taomon asked, amazed.
"I think so, but I wasn't able to see her." Nyaromon replied.
"Then, you must work on your spirituality!" Taomon decided. "You must meditate and try to reach Light. I'll spread the word that nobody is allowed to distract you from it."
Because of Taomon's decision, Nyaromon was left alone most of the time, in order to meditate. When someone came by, they were as laconic as possible towards her. She tried to start conversations but nobody cooperated. The fox digimon censored Nyaromon for trying to deviate from her duty.
"I'm lonely." Nyaromon used to say. All she wished was to have someone who would have real conversations with her, someone who would understand her feelings.
"Light is always with you." Taomon said back. "She's the only one you must connect with."
Sometimes, in her dreams, Nyaromon could listen to a baby crying and other people calling her "Hikari." She couldn't see the child, but only discern her as a spot of pink light surrounded by darkness. Nyaromon called for her and ran after her, but could never reach the baby. She got more frustrated as time passed, as she saw Hikari as the only one who could free her from solitude.
Hikari would be her friend. They would talk, play and laugh together. Nyaromon lived for the hope of meeting that girl.
She took centuries to evolve to Plotmon. In her dreams, she observed as Hikari slowly grew up. By the time Plotmon began her combat training, the child enveloped by light could already walk and speak a few words. The digimon called her amidst the darkness. To her surprise, Hikari, still hidden in light, sometimes turned in her direction. She felt they could finally meet, but there was someone who stopped that from happening. That person, whom the girl called "Onii-chan," was always by Hikari's side and told her that there was nothing there when she tried to reach Plotmon. The little monster grew to resent that person.
Plotmon wondered if the girl really knew about her and wished to meet her as well. Would Hikari like the monster? Taomon and the other digimon constantly told Plotmon about the important destiny she would fulfill together with Light, but Plotmon wasn't as interested in that as she was in how their relationship would be.
Because she had acquired a holy ring around her neck with her evolution, Plotmon asked Taomon to attach the little machine and the pendant to the golden jewelry. That way, she could feel closer to Hikari, even if it didn't help her to connect with the girl. Every afternoon, the little digimon was trained in combat by Kentarumon and Yukidarumon. At night, Taomon instructed Plotmon on her importance and the History passed down by Fate. The mornings were for her to meditate. Plotmon still tried to engage in conversation with the other inhabitants of the island, but they all only spoke what was necessary. In other words, everything anyone ever talked to her about had to do with practical things or her destiny as the partner of the savior.
Plotmon could only hope it would be different once she met Hikari. The glimpses of the enlightened child gave the digimon a warm sensation in her heart.
At times, she sought space away from the islanders and went to the beach to watch the waves. The rays of sunshine the sand reflected at her didn't bother Plotmon; they were nothing compared to the blinding light that kept Hikari away.
One day, a huge red serpent monster with a golden head carapace and a metallic lightning-shaped horn appeared on that beach, coming from the ocean, which startled Plotmon. He demanded to speak with the ruler of that place. Plotmon was paralyzed by her shock; that was the first time she had ever seen a foreigner. Hundreds of questions raced through her mind, but she wasn't able to ask any of them. In a few minutes, Taomon arrived at the beach.
"This is the sacred land chosen by Fate, you are not allowed here!" Taomon told the sea monster.
"I'm Megaseadramon, chosen King of the sea folk." He introduced himself. "I have an offer for you: become part of my domain."
"We only serve the Spirit of the World and Light." Taomon stated.
"It would be a good opportunity for the population of an isolated island like this to be integrated to a larger community." Megaseadramon told her. "You can keep your autonomy and benefit from-"
"We're not interested!" Taomon roared. With a movement of her hands, she made a brush as big as her appear. "Leave now or may the fury of the gods befall you!"
"You're making a big mistake." Megaseadramon said, turning away and returning to the ocean.
"Why did you send him away?" Plotmon asked the priestess. "Nobody ever comes here! He was just offering-"
"We must not trust anyone outside World's End." Taomon explained. "That digimon could be one of the agents of chaos that you and Light will fight one day to save the world."
"Does the world really need saving?" Plotmon asked, spiteful. "It seems to be doing just fine!"
"You're ignorant to what happens at the outside world." Taomon pointed out.
"So are you!" Plotmon accused.
"Fate shared knowledge with me! I know the dangers that are to come!"
"How can you know that Fate told you the truth?!"
"Don't blaspheme, Plotmon!" Taomon reprehended. "Do you think that your destiny is a lie? That Light-?"
"I know Hikari is real, but what if she's not what you think?!" Plotmon shouted. "Maybe she's not a goddess or a savior! Perhaps, she's just a kid! Nothing more than a little girl!"
"She's so much more than that!" Taomon contested. "And so are you!"
"Why does she have to be more than that?!" Plotmon cried. "Why do I?! Why do we have to be like that? Can't Hikari and I just be friends? Can't we just be normal children? Do we… do we really have to fight some mysterious evil force that is coming?"
"The reason for Light to cross to this world is to save it with you." Taomon reminded her. "Your duty is to serve her and fight for her. Don't deviate from your path because of your petty desires."
As always, Plotmon's feelings were dismissed. To the islanders, she didn't have value as an individual. She was nothing but a tool for Light. In her dreams, she called out for Hikari to come and take her away from that place, but that boy hidden in the shadows kept telling the girl to ignore her. Plotmon once again tried to run towards the child enveloped in pink light, but wasn't able to move from her place. All she could do was cry, never receiving comfort.
Centuries flew by without any change until Megaseadramon returned. Plotmon was instructed to remain in the temple, but she followed Taomon, Kentarumon and Yukidarumon to the beach without them realizing it. The sea monster remained with the lower part of his body in the water as the other half rose from the waves, into the air. On the sand, a small robotic monster inside a metallic round ship with a transparent window looked at the islanders with contempt.
"We told you already that we wouldn't be part of your domain!" Taomon said to Megaseadramon.
"I'm not here as a king, but as a general of Seraphimon." Megaseadramon clarified.
"I'm Seraphimon-sama's right hand, which makes Megaseadramon my subordinate. You should be speaking to me." The robot said. "I am Nanomon."
"It doesn't matter who you are! You are not welcomed here!" Kentarumon shouted.
"Leave immediately, before Fate's ire befalls you!" Yukidarumon threatened.
"So it really is as I was told." Nanomon commented. "You are worshippers of the Spirit of the World who believe this piece of land to be sacred."
"It is sacred! This is the birthplace of the partner of Light, savior of the Digital World!" Kentarumon said.
"Quiet!" Taomon ordered. "Don't reveal anything to these foreigners!"
"Seraphimon-sama is the only savior this world has!" Nanomon stated. "He's the only one that was chosen by Fate!"
"Light was not chosen by Fate! She's its equal!" Yukidarumon raised his voice. "Whoever this Seraphimon is, he's nothing compared to her!"
The robot shivered in cold fury.
"And here I thought you'd be honored to serve Seraphimon-sama…" Nanomon spoke with spite, while turning the round ship on. "Disrespectful lunatics like you deserve no mercy!"
The ship flew to where Megaseadramon was. The red monster looked at the island with sorrow for a few seconds; then, he dove into the water. A few minutes later, the sea retreated.
"He's going to cause a tsunami!" Taomon shouted, making her giant brush appear. She used it to write spells on air and create a magical barrier. However, when the giant wave came and covered it, the barrier began to crack.
Hidden in the woods, Plotmon was terrified. The barrier wouldn't last long; she and everybody else would drown. The digimon shut her eyes closed and cried:
"Hikari! Help!"
She found herself in the familiar dark space; the little girl involved in light was standing a few steps in her front.
"Calling me…" The girl murmured, walking in the digimon's direction.
"Hikari, I've told you already that there's nothing there!" The invisible boy said.
"Someone's afraid! Needs help!" The girl insisted, kneeling in front of Plotmon. Both the pendant and the small machine attached to her holy ring shone when Hikari's hand touched the monster's forehead. Plotmon felt her body filling with a gentle warmth as she was blinded by intense pink light.
"You won't suffer."
Hikari's promise was the last thing she heard before losing consciousness.
After the island disappeared under the ocean, Megaseadramon emerged. Nanomon's ship was floating on the water.
"What a senseless waste of lives." The sea monster lamented.
"They deserved that for disrespecting Seraphimon-sama." Nanomon said.
"Maybe if we had talked to the rest of the islanders-"
"The rulers have the responsibility of choosing what's best for the people under them." Nanomon pointed out. "That's what you did when you swore allegiance to Seraphimon-sama. Not everybody is that smart, though."
Suddenly, a bubble made of pink light came from under the water and floated between the two monsters. Stuck to the walls of the bubble there were a small machine and a pendant containing a rock with the drawing of an asterisk. Inside the sphere, there was an unconscious Tailmon.
Intrigued, Nanomon took the bubble to his laboratory. He wasn't able to take the digimon out of it. Nevertheless, he studied the properties of the mystical rock he would call crest and the machine he would call digivice.
Wizarmon lived in the dirty alleys of Shooting Star District, the poor part of Sapphire Town, at the South of the Server Continent. Since he had evolved to adult level and gained psychic abilities, it became easier for him to steal valuable objects from the rich without being noticed. Their owners wouldn't get less wealthy, anyway. They would simply buy new stuff and complain about what happened during extravagant meals. If Wizarmon was caught, the law dictated that he was to be executed, like most criminals were, only for new criminals to take their places. Those without luck had to find ways to survive. Meanwhile, statues and paintings of the Bloody Lord were more noticeable and well preserved in the richest parts of the town.
He spent his nights in a tiny apartment in a decaying building, with a Gazimon and an Impmon, his long-time accomplices, where they usually had fun after a day of burglary. It wasn't safe for digimon like them to wander the streets after the sun was down; the police loved to take in anyone they deemed suspicious, which most of the time meant anyone who lived in that neighborhood. Many digimon Wizarmon knew, including those who had never stolen a penny, had been arrested and never seen again. That was such a normal occurrence that he knew it was a mistake to get attached to anyone. Just like it was futile to try to abide to the laws of a system designed against him. The world was a cruel place and there was nothing to do about that.
It was one of those usual nights filled with cheap booze. Wizarmon was almost falling asleep, with his back at the only window in the room, as he tried to hold his set of cards and stop his two companions from seeing it. Out of nowhere, intense white light came from the outside, forcing Gazimon and Impmon to cover their eyes while screaming in pain. Shouts came from all directions. Wizarmon fell forwards while closing his eyes and covering his ears, but the screams didn't stop. He could listen to them in his mind, millions of agonizing voices crying for help.
Several days passed. Impmon and Gazimon slowly recovered; they had more luck than those who had looked directly at the beam of light that had crossed the sky that night, who would never see again. Wizarmon could still hear the screams. He couldn't sleep nor do anything else. During the mornings, he walked aimlessly on the streets, as if trying to escape the voices in his mind. One day, his disorientation became so severe that he didn't notice when the night fell. He tried to find his way back home, afraid that the police would come for him. However, something was different. He couldn't see Seraphimon's paintings anywhere and most of his statues were vandalized. Confused, he asked a passerby what had happened. That was how Wizarmon came to know that the Lady of Infinity Mountain had killed the Bloody Lord after he destroyed the Cloud Continent and corrupted its inhabitants' data.
Desperate to free himself of the cries of the dead, Wizarmon flew to where the Cloud Continent used to be. He didn't have a plan, nor was he thinking clearly; he just wanted to make his torment stop. But it got worse as he got closer to the giant dark sphere hovering in the sky. At some point, the digimon lost himself among the dreadful feelings invading him, as if he had become part of that concentrated mass of pain.
He didn't remember who he was or where he had come from. He sank in darkness, feeling hundreds of hands pulling him in different directions while uncountable voices begged for their misery to end. After what could have been days, he listened to a different voice.
"You're going to be okay now." It said.
When Wizarmon came to himself, he was greeted by silence.
The digimon was in a bed with red silk sheets, in what seemed to be a bedroom inside a mountain. Next to him, there was an ultimate level angel digimon standing. He could listen to a faint sound of rain in the distance.
"Megaseadramon found you floating at the sea nearby the sphere and brought you here." She informed him.
"Here?"
"File Island." She explained. "I performed a spell to help you to control your psychic abilities."
"I never had problems with them before."
"There was never a tragedy like that before."
That angel digimon had the upper part of her face hidden by a helmet. Her skin was pale and her lips trembled.
"Are you the Ofanimon that-?"
"Don't call me by that name!" She ordered. "I don't want anyone calling me how my brother used to!"
"I'm sorry." Wizarmon murmured.
"Why were you heading to that sphere?" The angel asked.
"I just wanted to make the voices stop. I was losing my mind…"
"If that's all you wanted, you won't have to worry anymore." She assured. "You're free to go back to your old life if you wish. Unless…"
"Unless what?"
The angel showed him a small smile as she sat beside him on the bed.
"I'm creating an organization of digimon knowledgeable in magic and with psychic abilities to help to appease the pain of my brother's victims. I'll call it 'Sanctuary.'" She told him.
"I can read minds, but I've never learned magic."
"I can teach you."
"Listen…" Wizarmon hesitated. "I'm not that kind of digimon. I'm not selfless or brave… I'm just a burglar. There are surely others more worthy of learning from you."
The woman took a couple of minutes to respond to that.
"I could've stopped my brother sooner." She said. "Right from the beginning, when he started to talk about the mission Fate had given him, but I didn't. Now, I can't stop thinking about how many lives I could've saved if I hadn't been so passive… everything I'm doing is too little too late. I can still feel his blood drenching me…" Her voice became lower and sadder. "Yet, everybody praises me… I'm called 'savior,' as if none of that was my fault. Do you think you're unworthy because you're a burglar? You're nothing compared to the walking pile of wrongness I am."
"But I heard that you had been chosen by Fate." Wizarmon contested, recalling parts of the conversation he had with that passerby. "If the Great Spirit found worth in you-"
"I was never chosen by Fate." She confessed. "I made that up because I thought it would put the digimon at ease… that it would make them feel hopeful…"
"You're the strongest digimon now, aren't you?" He asked. "Why do you even care about the feelings of others? Why put yourself through that much trouble?"
"You heard them crying, didn't you?" The angel murmured.
"But you can block their voices, right? You don't have to listen to them!"
"That wouldn't make them stop suffering!" She contested. "I can't pretend they're not in pain! I can't allow them to continue in eternal agony!"
"There's no way those souls can be saved!" He stated.
"There has to be a way! I won't stop looking until I find it!"
"Why?!" Wizarmon asked, confused. "What do you gain from that? Is it just to have peace of mind? Just so you won't feel guilty?"
"When someone is hurt, you help." She said, as if stating the obvious. "It's just that, you do what you can to comfort those in need. Why would you have to gain anything from it?"
He wasn't expecting that explanation. Until that point, Wizarmon had believed that life was simply a struggle and that you had to think only about your own survival. That woman's words shook his core.
Wishing to understand her worldview, Wizarmon accepted her offer to be her apprentice. Soon, he became a priest, dedicating his prayers to comfort the corrupted souls. He became one of the best magic users in the Sanctuary, earning the angel's praise. Wizarmon didn't get along well with the other members of the organization, especially with a Monzaemon he found creepy, but didn't mind that. He was there only because of his Queen.
From her, Wizarmon learned things beyond magic. Feelings he didn't know came to be born in his heart. By watching her hard work in not only searching for a way to save the monsters from the Cloud Continent, but also to make the world a fairer and kinder place, he began to believe that she could actually change things, that maybe the world didn't have to be the hopeless Hell he had known for most of his existence.
But the Academy and the chosen children opposed her. For too long, she refused to fight them, seeking a peaceful solution. Wizarmon kept his faith in her. He was sure that she knew best and that she would triumph in the end. But things didn't unfold the way he expected.
He watched, powerlessly, as his Queen was banished to another dimension by the same chosen children she had been merciful towards, surrounded by the souls she had tried so hard to save.
Everything had been a lie and he let himself fall for it, as if he was some moron, as if he hadn't experienced in his everyday life what a harsh place the world really was. That was a truth that would never change; he was at fault for forgetting it and for believing in that foolish angel.
Wizarmon left the Sanctuary after Ofanimon's demise.
He was called "traitor" for that action, as if he was the same as the Monzaemon who stole a book and switched sides. However, their words didn't bother Wizarmon. Only her words ever mattered to him. Her naive but beautiful words were like a glimpse of sunshine in a dark abyss, promising an enlightened world impossible to reach. He would never listen to them again.
But Wizarmon found it hard to bounce back to his old life. He felt empty and numb. The idea that her enemies had won enraged him deeply. Maybe, if he made them pay, somehow, he would no longer be bothered by that hole in his heart. He went to a black market and got his hands on a strong poison. Then, the mage planned an invasion to the main base of the Academy. There would be a party there, where they would feast, sing and dance over their victory against Ofanimon. They wouldn't see him coming.
He could be killed before achieving anything, but it didn't matter. Nothing really did. The same people, the same ideas, the same patterns would keep winning again and again no matter how many people fought to change things. Those grown accustomed to power and privilege would hold tightly to those things until the end of the world. His effort could be futile and make no difference in the big picture, but if Wizarmon could at least ruin one of those monsters' celebrations, if he could instill fear in them for just a few minutes and erase their smug grins, that would have to be enough satisfaction.
He got into the base, unnoticed, and mixed the poison to their food. The members of the Academy attending to the party thought they had destroyed all their enemies and were so happy; believing they were invincible, they weren't careful enough. Wizarmon could actually escape from there alive and maybe be able to kill more Academy agents. After delivering the poison, the mage searched for an exit, but ended in the dungeons, where a human adult wearing a beige kimono was imprisoned.
The man was held by chains that attached his trembling arms and legs to the wall of a cell. He had his head down and kept murmuring things the mage couldn't understand. Wizarmon made a movement with his staff, which caused the iron bars to fall to the ground and break. The human looked up to him; his skin was pale and his red eyes were lifeless.
"Who are you?" The man asked in a husky voice.
"Wizarmon, priest of the Sanctuary." The digimon replied, only then remembering that he wasn't that anymore.
"There are still guys like you around?" The other asked, sounding indifferent. "What was the point of trapping Ofanimon, then?"
The realization of who that human was made Wizarmon's blood boil in his veins.
"You're a chosen child!" The mage shouted, pointing his staff to him.
Wizarmon was standing before one of the culprits of his Queen's defeat. She used to talk about those humans as poor victims of the Academy's manipulation; her mercy for them was what brought her down. In that moment, the mage had the chance to inflict some pain to that person. However, the lack of fear in the other's eyes bothered him.
"The chosen children were killed." The man informed. "I'm just a copy… a thing created by the Academy to power the holy beasts… I was even branded…"
Wizarmon noticed the tattoo on one of the other's hands. Small tears were being formed in the man's eyes, but he didn't cry. The digimon wasn't able to look into his mind for some reason.
"They used to call me 'sweet little Kanda,' you know?" He muttered. "I was the bearer of love… the one who worried the most about them… I took it upon myself to take care of them… but all I could do was to watch my friends die…" A couple of tears rolled from his eyes. "Now they're things too… we're objects to be used by the Academy… to protect a world that isn't ours. We can't escape… we can't fight back…"
Wizarmon felt his heart sinking. Despite not being able to see into the other's mind, it was easy to recognize in his eyes desperation as deep as the ocean. Kanda was someone who had given up on expecting anything good from the world. The digimon could no longer see an enemy in front of him, but someone broken beyond repair, someone for whom he could feel sympathy. Because of that, he made an offer.
"Would you like revenge?" Wizarmon inquired. "I've poisoned almost everybody in this base, but there might still be someone left for you to kill."
"Nanomon." The other said as a spark of fury appeared in his eyes. "I want to kill that demon with my own hands… and be the last thing he'll ever see."
Kanda showed him a malevolent smile as the mage freed him from the chains. The artificial human stumbled over and picked up a piece of a metal bar. Later, Wizarmon found Nanomon and Gennai for him. The first escaped; the other was turned into a bloody puddle by Kanda's hands.
Kanda turned the camera in his new office off, once his first announcement as "Gennai" was made, accusing Nanomon of treason and mass murder. In that moment, Wizarmon, hidden in a corner, believed them to be alone in the main base. Kanda shared with him his plans of taking control of the Academy and to later destroy it from the inside out. The mage didn't have any place to go nor did he have a purpose to fulfill. Therefore, he stayed with Kanda.
Wizarmon didn't believe in anything anymore. Only by causing pain and destruction he could be distracted of his emptiness. Kanda talked about destroying the Sanctuary as well, which didn't earn a reaction from the digimon. Ofanimon was gone anyway; that organization didn't mean anything to him without her. Wizarmon tried to convince himself that following and believing in Ofanimon had been nothing but a huge mistake. Nevertheless, his heart still ached when he thought about her.
They found Nanomon's laboratory and his research on memory mirrors. Kanda had the idea of using them to put the Academy members under his control. He also retrieved a crack in space and time that was left behind after Ofanimon's banishment. One day, the artificial human would break all those mirrors and end that institution once and for all. The crack, that only he knew how to destabilize, would be used for him to end himself. Those ideas didn't thrill Wizarmon, but he didn't oppose them. The mage felt like he was just going through the motions of life, not thinking too deeply about anything, incapable of caring. Wizarmon wished there was a way to free himself from that numbness.
There was a secured computerized door in Nanomon's laboratory, which took a long time for Kanda and Wizarmon to break through. Once they managed to open it, they found inside a huge computer. Its screen was as large as the digimon's body; it had an average size keyboard, seven huge metallic boxes that reached the tall ceiling were connected to it. Behind the computer, there was a glowing pink bubble that had a digivice and a pendant containing a crest encrusted in its walls. Several cables were stuck to the sphere and the little objects attached to it. While Kanda went to the computer to figure out what all that was, Wizarmon approached the ball. He could discern a Tailmon sleeping inside it.
The sight of someone trapped in a sphere evoked bad memories in him. Without thinking, Wizarmon reached out and touched its warm exterior.
"Who are you? Are you alright?" He asked in thought. "Wake up, please!"
Tailmon suddenly opened her eyes. The light orb cracked and broke down. Wizarmon caught her before she hit the ground, where the crest and the digivice fell.
"Hikari!" She cried, looking around frenetically. "Where is she? She was just here! The wave! What happened?! Where am I?!"
"Please, calm down!" Wizarmon asked, but he wasn't heard by the other. In an attempt to help the cat monster, he established a telepathic link with her. He felt himself being thrown amidst her chaotic stream of memories, coming to know everything that had happened to her. His heart ached for what he saw.
"It's okay! You're safe now!" He assured her as his consciousness returned to his body. "I'm here with you. You don't have to be afraid."
Embraced by him, Tailmon slowly calmed down.
"My island… Nanomon and Megaseadramon… they killed everybody…" The cat said in a pained voice. "They're all dead… everybody I knew…"
"I'm sorry for that." Wizarmon murmured.
"Hikari protected me… I'm alive because of her…" Tailmon added. "I don't know if she knew who I was, but she saved me…"
"That person involved in light… she was human, wasn't she?" Wizarmon asked, glancing at the pendant and the digivice on the floor. "Is there a sixth chosen child?"
"It's not exactly that." Kanda said, getting away from the computer and approaching them. "I've only begun to retrieve information from Nanomon's files, but I can already attest that this digimon is ancient and so is her link with that human girl."
"What are you trying to say?" Wizarmon asked.
"Tell me, Tailmon…" Kanda said, getting close to the cat. "Did you have those objects before meeting Nanomon?"
"I've had them since Fate made my egg descend from the sky." She replied. "They connect me with Hikari. Taomon said she was a goddess that would save the world one day."
The man rolled his eyes at the mentions of deities.
"Fairy tales aside, you seem to be connected with this girl since your existence began. I believe Nanomon studied that connection to create the other digivices and crests." Kanda theorized.
"Then, this Hikari is indeed a sixth child!" Wizarmon stated. "Why wasn't she brought along with you guys?"
"She was still learning how to talk back when she saved me..." Tailmon said. "Maybe she was too young to be brought to the Digital World."
"I have to research further to know more, but this Hikari isn't the sixth child at all." Kanda told them. "She's the first one. The original chosen child, you might say."
"Can I meet her?" Tailmon asked, getting away from Wizarmon. "I've wanted to meet her for my whole life!"
Kanda took almost one minute to reply.
"We'll see about that." He said, smiling. "I'll study more, why don't you take her to rest somewhere else, Wizarmon?"
"Sure." He agreed.
The mage took her to a room that had some beds. She sat on one next to a wall and he sat by her side.
"You were in my mind." She murmured. "I could feel you there."
"I was trying to help." He explained. "Sorry if it was a bad experience."
Tailmon smirked briefly.
"That's the first time anyone has ever apologized to me." She said.
"Do you want to talk about it?"
"Don't you already know?"
"Yes, but… you might feel better if you talk about it."
"What do you gain from helping me to feel better?" Tailmon asked.
That question made Wizarmon remember a conversation he had with Ofanimon a long time before. Only in that moment, after having lost so much, he understood his former Queen's feelings. He saw in Tailmon someone who needed help and wanted to help her, without expecting anything in return. He didn't want the cat to suffer anymore.
"What do you want to do now that you're free?" He asked.
"Meeting Hikari is everything I've ever wanted." She replied. "I've been always waiting for her, imagining how my life would be after I got to know her…"
"But you don't want to fulfill the destiny you were told about, do you?" Wizarmon questioned. "You don't want to be a warrior, just her friend."
"Is that… selfish of me?" Tailmon asked in low voice, looking down. "I've been taught to think only about what was best for the world, but…"
"I met someone who was like that." Wizarmon mumbled. "She sacrificed herself for the world and only suffered because of it."
"Was she someone important to you?"
The mage didn't answer that question.
"If there's a way for you to meet your Hikari and for the two of you to live a peaceful and happy life together, I'd like to help you with it." He told her.
Tailmon looked up to him with tear brimmed eyes.
"Thank you." She said.
A few days later, an amnesiac Bastemon was brought to the main base of the Academy. Soon, other digimon would arrive. Kanda decided to keep Tailmon a secret and moved her to a secluded room, where he disclosed to her and Wizarmon some information regarding the cat's partner.
"Her name is Yagami Hikari, a girl that was born in February 28th of 1992. She lives in Tokyo with her older brother and parents."
"Have you seen her? Can I see her as well?" Tailmon asked, anxiously.
"I saw some photos, but the files then got corrupted and were lost. Unfortunately." Kanda said. "But don't worry, Tailmon. You'll get to see her when I bring Hikari to this world."
Both the cat and the wizard were startled to hear that.
"What are you planning for Hikari?" Wizarmon asked, seriously.
"I've learned many interesting things from those files." Kanda told them. "The properties of Hikari's crest make me think that she might have more power than any human could in the Digital World."
"You want to make her the 'savior,' just like Taomon and the others!" Tailmon accused.
"I don't believe in saviors, prophecies or any nonsense like that. I'm not stupid." Kanda said. "And it's because I'm not stupid that I can't turn a blind eye to a source of power that can put an end to the Sanctuary once and for all!"
"The Sanctuary was already defeated!" Wizarmon stated.
"Ofanimon is still alive!" The man raised his voice. "She's still coordinating the remains of the Sanctuary from that alternate dimension where she was trapped. I know a merchant that works as my informant. From what he has told me, Ofanimon plans to destroy the world."
"That is not true!" Wizarmon shouted. "A naive, kind-hearted fool like her would never… she'd die a thousand times before doing that!"
"It's a plan named 'Salvation.'" Kanda continued. "I don't know the details, but it involves destroying the Digital World and killing everybody on it to replace it with a new and shiny world of her creation."
"That's awful…" Tailmon muttered.
"He's lying, Tailmon!" Wizarmon yelled. "The Queen would never hurt innocents! He's just trying to manipulate you to fight for him! For his petty revenge!"
The man glared at Wizarmon with an intensity none of the digimon had seen before. His mouth twitched into a joyless smile.
"I believed you were over that silly loyalty towards her." Kanda commented in low voice, looking down at the other. "I hope you're not thinking you can just go back to the Sanctuary after being by my side."
"Nobody knows I've been here!" Wizarmon stated.
"I can make everybody know. I have all the ways for that." The man assured in a cold tone. "And if any funny idea about taking away Tailmon crosses your mind, I'll make sure that every corner of this world hears about the Wizarmon who wants to take down both the Sanctuary and the Academy with a Tailmon designed to surpass Ofanimon. What do you think would happen, huh? How long until her loyalists kill both of you?"
The mage digimon pointed his staff in the man's direction.
"If I just kill you, none of that happens." He said.
"Oh, please!" The other chuckled. "Nanomon wouldn't create a tool that is easy to kill! If the two of us fight, you're the only one who will go down!"
"We can only know for sure if we do it!" Wizarmon spoke in defiance, ready to cast an attack spell.
"Wait!" Tailmon shouted, putting herself between the two. She turned to Kanda. "I just want to know one thing: after Hikari and I defeat Ofanimon, will we be left alone?"
"Tailmon!" Wizarmon felt betrayed.
"After you kill her, you and your partner can live happily ever after as much as I'm concerned." Kanda answered, smiling. "It's really a low price for you to pay."
"We have a deal, then." The cat said.
"Great!" Kanda exclaimed, heading towards the exit. "Starting tomorrow, I'll train you personally. I'll make you the strongest digimon alive, Tailmon. You'll make Hikari proud."
After the man left them alone, Wizarmon threw the staff on the floor in frustration.
"Are you angry at me?" She asked.
"He's just using you to get revenge at someone who did nothing wrong!" The mage shouted, glaring at her. "And you're just going along with it?! You're willing to kill a kind digimon just so you can live with your partner afterwards?! How can you be that selfish?!"
"Ofanimon is special for you, right?" She asked, softly. "The one you cared about and who sacrificed herself?"
"I don't care about her! She's an idiot! She's…" His voice broke while he fought his tears. "I was fine before I met her! I had an uncomplicated life! The world made sense to me and I accepted how things were! But then she had to come along and fill my head with her stupid ideals just to be defeated afterwards! That moron messed me up… she broke me… I should hate her!"
"I won't kill her." Tailmon promised.
"What?" Wizarmon asked, not understanding what the other meant.
"I just need that guy to bring Hikari to me. If I become the strongest digimon, I'll be able to do whatever I want. Hikari and I could flee and nobody would be able to stop us!" Tailmon explained. "If Ofanimon is as kind as you say… if she's that important to you, then I will never harm her. I'm sure Hikari wouldn't want to hurt an innocent either."
Wizarmon was taken aback by Tailmon's determination, immediately regretting calling her selfish. Everything she had ever dreamed about was to meet Hikari. Nevertheless, she came up with a risky plan just to spare Ofanimon, someone she never met, in consideration for his feelings. Wizarmon wondered if he would do the same thing in her situation. He was sure that he didn't deserve her kindness.
"You have a good heart, Tailmon."
"So do you, Wizarmon."
After a while, Kanda began to send Wizarmon in various missions to locate Otae. One day, after talking to the merchant Wisemon, that man's informant, the mage followed a lead that took him to a pyramid in the middle of a desert. There, he fell for a trap and lost consciousness. When he woke up, Wizarmon was tied to a chair, in front of a wooden table across from Nanomon, who was holding his staff.
"Hello." Nanomon greeted. "Glad you could come."
"Wisemon isn't just Kanda's informant…" Wizarmon muttered.
"You know how merchants are. Always after profit!" The other commented, smirking. "I have a secret camera in the private lab where I had hidden that Tailmon. I saw you taking her out. How is she?"
"You care about your prisoners now? Don't make me laugh!"
"I don't care about her, but her situation concerns me." Nanomon said. "Is Kanda interested in acquiring Yagami Hikari's power?"
The mage realized that he was talking to the only person who was at least as knowledgeable about Tailmon's partner as Kanda was. He loathed Nanomon, but couldn't ignore that opportunity to help the cat.
"What can you tell me about Hikari?" Wizarmon asked, starting to read the other's mind.
"She's extremely dangerous." Nanomon informed. "Besides having a peculiar personality, her crest was made to give her limitless power. The girl almost tore apart the fabric of space-time continuum as an infant when I sunk her partner's island. There's no telling what she could do to the Digital World if she ever came here."
"You're trying to scare me." Wizarmon murmured, despite knowing that wasn't the case. He could see in the other's mind the terror he had for that girl.
"As a former follower of Ofanimon, you should be interested in stopping that child from ever coming here." The robot said. "Removing a 'savior' from the picture is the first thing a conqueror does to take over a land."
"Hikari is an innocent child!" Wizarmon stated. "Don't project your twisted morals on her!"
Nanomon chuckled.
"Have you never heard that ultimate power corrupts ultimately?" He asked. "Her being a child makes it all worse. She could damn the world even without meaning to."
"Tailmon wouldn't let her do that!" Wizarmon contested.
"That cat is nothing but a tool of Light. Her will could easily be overpowered."
"Liar! Tailmon would never… Hikari saved her! She cares for her!"
Nanomon smirked.
"I'm sensing that you care about that Tailmon." The robot said. "I have a proposition for you. I can tell you about a portal to the human world, so you could take Tailmon there. Hikari shouldn't be dangerous in that place; those two could even live there together. In exchange, you'd help me in getting my Academy rid of that filthy clone."
"Do you think I'd help you get back the Academy after everything you've done?!" Wizarmon roared. "If it wasn't for you, the Queen would still be here!"
"She's an evil woman who killed her own brother!"
"Seraphimon was a tyrant! She did that to save the world!"
The two glared at each other for almost two minutes. Then, Nanomon took a deep breath and spoke again:
"Who is more important to you? Tailmon or your former Queen?"
"Why should I have to choose between them?"
"If you take that Tailmon away-"
"If you get the Academy back, what will you do to the Queen?" Wizarmon inquired, seeing the answer in his mind.
Nanomon stayed silent for a brief period.
"There's no point in lying to a psychic." He sighed. "She found a way to communicate with her subjects and is reorganizing the Sanctuary. It's not enough to keep her trapped. Ofanimon must die."
Wizarmon trembled in fury, trying to free himself from the ropes and tear the other apart.
"But Ofanimon is going to die anyway if Yagami Hikari comes here, along with many others." The robot continued. "Your Queen will be killed by your new friend, who will become Light's war machine. If you flee with Tailmon, at least you could be happy with her, away from this messy world. Isn't it better to concede and hold onto a chance of happiness than to cling to a loyalty that can't bring anything good to you?"
Wizarmon remained silent as those words sank in his mind. He knew that the other wasn't lying. Nanomon went to him and cut the ropes.
"When you change your mind and decide to cooperate, you know where to find me." The robot said.
"Do you know what will happen to you if I tell Kanda about your whereabouts?" Wizarmon asked, coldly. "He would be happy to give you the painful and slow death you deserve."
"It wouldn't be smart of you to cut your options like that." Nanomon affirmed. "You can't trust someone emotionally unbalanced like Kanda. To trust the human girl would be a mistake with apocalyptic repercussions. The Sanctuary must know about your betrayal by now, you can't go to them for help. Not to mention that if they found out what that Tailmon is, she'll be killed in the blink of an eye."
Wizarmon left that place in silence. He couldn't stand the idea of allying himself to Nanomon and turn against his Queen. Just by thinking of it, he felt ill. However, he didn't tell Kanda or Tailmon anything about that digimon once he returned to the main base. In an ideal world, Kanda, Nanomon and the Academy would be all destroyed, Ofanimon would be freed and Tailmon would be with Hikari.
Tailmon endured centuries of intense training by Kanda, keeping the hope of meeting Hikari. Maybe her plan would work and she and her partner could turn the tables against that man. Then, Wizarmon wouldn't have to go through the ultimate betrayal of giving the Academy back to Nanomon and allowing the robot to kill his Queen.
One day, Wizarmon was called to Kanda's laboratory, where the man showed him files about five human children in a computer. Each of them had been assigned to a crest and a digimon egg. Kanda's crest of love was guarded in a small glass dome nearby.
"What's the meaning of this?" Wizarmon asked.
"These are the new chosen children. I found their data in the computer a while ago." Kanda explained. "In a few weeks, I'll bring them to the Digital World."
"Are you bringing Hikari too?" The mage asked, hopeful.
The man smiled maliciously, getting up from his chair.
"Do you mean… bring her so she and Tailmon can run away?" He asked, clearly enjoying Wizarmon's shocked expression. "I have all my subordinates touch a memory mirror so I can keep an eye on their thoughts and change them when necessary. Did you really think I wouldn't do the same to Tailmon?"
"If you've done anything to her…" Wizarmon could feel deep hatred overflowing from his heart.
"I haven't. Not yet. Maybe I'll do something to her one day. I could erase her memories and replace them by ones in which she is only loyal to me." Kanda said. "But for now, I'd like to let her keep hoping to see the partner she will never meet."
"You said you'd bring Hikari here!" Wizarmon roared. "What was that talk about that girl's power and how you couldn't turn a blind eye to it?!"
"She has a huge amount of power, it's true. Too much in fact, it's nearly impossible to control." Kanda leaned towards Wizarmon while showing him a large smile that, combined with his wide open eyes, resulted in a disturbing expression. "I don't like not being in control."
"This will break Tailmon's heart…"
"I'll just have to use the mirror to give her happy memories." Kanda said. "Now, if you're too sad about it, you can continue to keep her company and be the only friend she needs. Wouldn't that be nice?"
Wizarmon stood there, unable to move a muscle, feeling as if the world was crashing down on his head.
"I don't think I need to tell you, but if you go to Tailmon and open your mouth about any of this…" Kanda whispered in his ear. "It won't end well for you."
The man left and the mage fell to his knees, defeated. The only card he had left in his sleeve was Nanomon. It seemed that it was finally time to abandon Ofanimon to help his friend. But the idea horrified Wizarmon. Despite his complicated feelings and his wish to be able to let go of her, Ofanimon was still too important to him. It was one thing to turn his back to her followers, but to do something that would directly harm her, that would result in her death, made him want to die.
Nevertheless, he couldn't allow Tailmon's situation to continue.
A couple of days later, under the excuse of a new lead regarding Otae, Wizarmon returned to the pyramid, in the hopes that he could find a way out of his dilemma. While discussing what to do, the subject of Vamdemon's interest in the Academy's main base and Nanomon's desire to destroy the vampire's army gave the wizard an idea. He told Nanomon about Kanda's space-time crack that could destroy a dimension, but hid the information about the mirrors that had been used on the members of the Academy.
It wasn't exactly his ideal scenario, but it was the best way out Wizarmon could wish for.
"Not enough!" Kanda told her during their daily trainings whenever he didn't think her attacks were acceptable, which was all the time. He made her fight robots and fight simulations of monsters above her level. She wasn't allowed to rest until she succeeded in defeating them.
"You can do better than this!" He told her, whenever her body was thrown to the floor, walls or ceiling of her training room. So many times she thought she was going to be torn apart. The pain he put her through was nearly unbearable.
"Don't you want to meet Hikari?"
The promise of meeting her partner was what motivated her to keep going. She was constantly told that Hikari was powerful beyond imagination and that, together, they would be the greatest force in the Digital World, able to put an end to the Sanctuary. She didn't care about any of that, though. Once she met Hikari, they would flee together and be happy. Tailmon just had to put up with Kanda a bit longer. She just had to be patient and brave.
Once Hikari found her, everything would have been worth it.
Besides Kanda, the only other company she had was Wizarmon. The mage digimon interceded when Kanda pushed her too far. When Tailmon was too tired and sore to walk, Wizarmon picked her up gently and took her to her bedroom. It was smaller than her training room, but was also completely white and had no windows. The electronic door could only be opened from the outside. There was a tiny air duct close to the ceiling and a pillow on the floor where she slept.
Kanda was the one who brought her daily rations, especially designed to increase her strength. Sometimes, Wizarmon brought something tasty for her. Tailmon liked to eat the treats while talking to him. She looked forward to his visits, when he told her what he had done during the day. Sometimes, he was too vague about it, but she didn't mind. Tailmon enjoyed listening to his stories about the outside world. The cat asked him to describe everything: the sky, the sun, the stars, the ocean… she barely remembered those things anymore. They were like fragments of dreams, like Taomon and the others from World's End. Her entire reality consisted of training with Kanda, talking to Wizarmon and dreaming about Hikari.
However, her dreams became different. Tailmon couldn't go to the dark space anymore. She couldn't listen to Hikari nor see her figure hidden by light. Instead, Tailmon had what her imagination could create about the girl. She imagined peaceful days with her, when they would get to see everything Tailmon had begun to forget about and much more.
She had been waiting since the beginning of her existence. But Hikari would certainly come.
One day, Kanda didn't show up to her training. Wizarmon entered her bedroom alone, holding a box.
"We're going out." He said.
"Out?" She asked, confused. "Where?"
"To the human world." Wizarmon explained. "Let's find your Hikari, Tailmon."
Wizarmon and Tailmon reached the balcony filled with snow. To their surprise, a little girl wearing a pink robe was there, seemingly waiting for them. She smiled brightly at the sight of them. Carrying Tailmon and his staff, Wizarmon landed a couple of steps away from the girl. The cat let go of him and took a step in Hikari's direction, holding her box. She gazed at the child as if afraid she would vanish.
"Are you Yagami Hikari?" Tailmon asked, although her fast-beating heart already knew the answer. Her partner was a lot more beautiful than she could have imagined.
The girl took the digivice from her robe's pocket and showed it to the digimon.
"Hello, Tailmon!" She greeted. "I'm so happy to finally meet you!"
"You know who I am…" Tailmon murmured, feeling her eyes getting warm because of her tears. "Were you waiting for me too? Then, when you saved me that time…"
"I don't remember doing that, but I was told about it." Hikari said. "I'm sorry I couldn't do more for you."
"Don't apologize for anything!" Tailmon forbade, opening the box and taking the pendant with the crest out of it, to give it to the girl. "We're together now! That's all that matters!"
Hikari pulled Tailmon to a tight hug, which the cat gladly accepted. Wizarmon observed the two attentively. He tried to peek into Hikari's mind to understand how she knew about Tailmon, but there was some kind of force blocking him out. Maybe it had something to do with the girl's alleged powers. But that shouldn't matter anymore, now that those two would stay in the human world.
"By the way, that is my friend Wizarmon!" Tailmon said suddenly, breaking the hug to point at the mage.
"Hello!" Hikari greeted, while putting the pendant around her neck. "I've heard a lot about you."
"Who could've possibly told you about me?" The digimon inquired.
"That will take some time to explain properly." Hikari murmured, scratching her head. "We can talk about it in our way to the Digital World."
Both digimon stared at her in shock.
"You want to go to that place?" Tailmon asked in a whisper. "Why?"
"I need to save the Digital World from a dangerous digimon who wants to destroy it." Hikari explained.
"A dangerous… digimon…?" Wizarmon asked, tightening the grip on his staff.
"She's called Ofanimon." Hikari said.
Tailmon took a step back. Wizarmon shivered. But none of the digimon had the chance to say anything.
The girl's older brother suddenly opened the door to the balcony. The boy stared, astonished, at the three individuals. In a weak voice, he asked:
"What's going on, Hikari?"
With this chapter, the third arc enters its final part. Thank you for the reviews.