I know it's been a long time. Jeabird has been having tons of personal problems which is why we put the story on hiatus. Please don't rush us as we'll get the chapters done at our own pace. Thank you for understanding. Amelia belongs to Jeabird, Kyle belongs to Heisei255, and I thank them, and Black Cat Angel for helping me with this story.
Not only did Duskmon throw BurningGreymon around like a sack of trash, he took the Digidestineds' attacks without even flinching! Later, Takuya came up with a plan to beat him, but that just started an argument with Koji, who knew Duskmon was too powerful to fight. Meredith found herself consumed by the darkness and Duskmon offered to help – an offer that she accepted. Duskmon, accompanied by the gogglehead girl, attacked the group. Koji didn't have much choice, since the big man himself showed up and smacked KendoGarurumon hard, turning him back into Koji. Then things got weird. It was like Duskmon was in pain and then darkness covered everyone! Takuya and Meredith woke up alone in the Dark Terminal and when the Dark Trailmon offered them a chance to go home... they took it.
Along a lone track the Dark Trailmon traveled through a wasteland that was devoid of any other life – rocks jutted out of the ground and boulders were occasionally spread around. Aboard of the Dark Trail were its two haunted passengers. Takuya and Meredith had an air around them fit with the dreary surroundings that was blurring past the windows. The Dark Trailmon was speeding along with no word to its passengers or even a hint of slowing down. Takuya hung his head as his mind flashed back to what he had told Tommy what seemed like only moments ago.
Takuya opened his eyes, staring sorrowfully at the ground, "Yeah. That was some plan alright." All that planning with so much hope behind it… wasted in mere minutes.
Meredith didn't even move or offer a response to Takuya's words – there was no jumping to help him this time like other times. She just sat sideways on her own train bench while hugging her knees to her chest. The more she thought about what had happened, the tighter she hugged her legs. The more she thought about what she had done, the less she understood. Sighing she buried her face in her legs – lost and confused now that she had a clearer mind.
"Who even am I?" The haunting question was muffled by her legs – keeping it trapped for her ears only.
A sad but slightly twisted smile appeared upon Takuya's face, "Oh well, doesn't really matter now. We're going home."
As the words left Takuya's mouth the Dark Trailmon released a low whistle. The world was morphing as well and small dark blue spores of Fractal Code littered the air outside of the train cabins. The morph swallowed the Dark Trailmon whole – taking it and the passengers back to the real world. The heavy air shifted and both occupants were caught off guard – mentally pulled farther off balance. A dull ache took over their bodies as the appearance of both changed. They could both feel that something had changed but they were not sure what had changed – they did not completely care either.
There was a flicker in Dark Trailmon's glowing eye, as if it had seen what went on within its cabin. Even if it had there was no slowing or stopping the whole time it crossed tracks that floated in the middle of nowhere. The empty space though gave way sudden to the familiar station that the group had originally been called to what seemed to be forever ago. Dark Trailmon came a gentle stop at the end of the tracks – letting off steam from the breaks.
"This is it, kids. End of the line." Dark Trailmon's words were punctuated by the doors swinging open.
Takuya stood at the now opened door. Looking around he took in their surroundings – took in the train station.
He was confused, "Huh? Wait a minute. This isn't home."
"It's not?" As the question slipped out of Meredith, Takuya stepped off.
Takuya was puzzled by their surroundings, "Where are we?"
Takuya looked to Meredith, but his eyes widened and he flinched back – surprised. Meredith, her attention having been drawn by Takuya's flinch, was caught by surprise. She took a step back as her eyes quickly looked her best friend over.
Takuya now had light green eyes – granted those eyes were dull and a bit lacking in light. Markings of white sprouted form below its red pants on the left side while reached just below its collarbone. The red pants that hid where the mark started was attached to a studded metal belt that had an enlarged, hanging belt buckle that bore the Symbol of Flames. From the buckle close to the bottom was two straps that wrapped around connected to the back of the belt. A red ring was around each ankle while gloves red gloves upon its hands – the gloves having two bolts at the hands and a studded cuff. The hair upon its head and the fur of its tail were an orangish red color – horns poked through the mess of long hair upon its head. Golden hoop earrings decorated the creature's pointed ears' earlobes.
Meredith now had a light blue skinned tone and deep brown eyes – white markings mimicking tear tracks were below her eyes. Pale faded sky blue hair reached past its waist but was gathered at the very bottom by a dark blue ring - two white feeler's came through the blue hair. Sapphire earrings worn upon the elven ears that it had as well. Small white pearls wrapped around its neck and its wrists. A tail was the same color as its skin until it turned a dark royal blue at the forked finned end, protruded from its lower back. A dark blue halter top was worn while dark blue gypsy pants bore a black band that housed a large white emblem that bore the Symbol of Water in a pale turquoise.
"Takuya?" Uncertain by the appearance before her, Meredith hesitantly called his name.
Stunned by the familiar voice coming from an unfamiliar appearance, Takuya responded with, "Meredith?"
"What happened to us?" Meredith's words shook slightly.
"I don't…" Takuya stopped speaking – memories flashed before his mind's eye.
Takuya was not the only one who suddenly remembered either. The memories rushed back to Meredith as well. At the same time they both turned to the elevators in the center – both of them called to look there because that was where their adventure had originated how ever long ago they had left.
"I get it. This must be where we all left for the Digital World! But," Takuya paused and looked over his shoulder, "Hey! What's up? Why are we here?"
"Bye kids." Dark Trailmon's voice was low and sorrowful – barely heard in the camber that was devoid of sound besides the faint breathing of the two humans. Not merely much words said from Dark Trailmon as if it didn't care if they were safe or not as long it made it to its destination.
The doors closed all together and that startled both of them. Takuya and Meredith fully turned around – wanting answers from the Dark Trailmon.
"Hey!" Takuya shouted it – wanting there to be no chance of going unheard.
"Wait a second, we're not done here!" Meredith's words, just like Takuya's, had fallen on deaf ears.
A harsh wind blew from the tunnel, causing both of them to stop. The wind blew their hair back – not being able to see what they could sense they both squinted their eyes. Meredith shielded her lower face, squinting harder with she saw an outline – she did not want to believe her eyes. Black fog rolled out of the tunnel and fear struck them as they got a full view of someone neither of them wanted to see.
Duskmon.
Duskmon began to approach the two, laughing with every step he took towards the terrified duo. To put distance between them Takuya began to back away – sweat rolling down his face and terrified eyes locked onto Duskmon. After a couple of steps and realizing that Duskmon was not going to stop, Takuya turned and bolted. Meredith though stood frozen – her fear having rooted her to the spot. Takuya noticing that Meredith was not moving he paused – he was terrified of what Duskmon would do if he caught them. He had to help her and the thoughts of what may happen cemented that thought more.
Takuya grabbed her wrist, "Meredith, come on! We gotta go!"
Meredith turned after a couple of seconds of Takuya pulling on her wrist. The two of them raced across the train station. The elevator doors weren't open and there was no buttons to hit to make it open.
Takuya dropped Meredith's wrists in favor of pounding on the door, pleading the doors, "Open up! Please! Let us in! Oh, oh, please!"
Meredith backed against the doors to get as far away as possible from Duskmon. Duskmon was mere steps away from them and would reach them in a matter of seconds since they were trapped. Takuya and Meredith both toppled into the elevator when the doors opened on their own. As Takuya laid in the middle of the floor he screamed seeing that Duskmon was at the door while Meredith quickly crawled backwards until her back hit the back wall.
As the two were terrified for their lives, the main train station above them was functioning as normal. There was no hint at all above ground what was happening to the two of them. People stepped off of the normal train that arrived in no hurry and even when the announce came on there was no hint of anything at all.
"Shibuya Station. This is Shibuya Station."
The peaceful atmosphere is broken when the doors to the elevator is opened. All attention was on Takuya and Meredith. The appearance of the two confused the people in the station – they weren't sure if animals had gotten into the station or if they were kids were in costumes. Takuya was in the corner gripping his head tightly while his eyes were tightly shut. Meredith had her head tucked against her knees with her hands clamped over her head. The commotion caused the two to release their heads and look first at the people and then to their hands.
"Oh, man – look at my hands!" Takuya was surprised.
Meredith stared down, "My hands, they're webbed!"
Seconds after their simultaneous words they both let out surprised and confused yells. Takuya's yell was interrupted though by fire that came spewing out of his mouth. Meredith choked suddenly and started to cough up water. The audience that they had jumped away – terrified by the sight before them. Takuya and Meredith bolted out of the elevator and through the crowds with people stumbling over themselves to get out of the way for them.
"What's going on?!" Takuya was alarmed by what was going on.
"I don't know!" Meredith was just as clueless.
Wanting to get out of the crowded location they found themselves jumping onto a train without thought. The train sped through the station without acknowledging the fact that Takuya and Meredith were clinging to the roof of the train.
The train that they were clinging to pulled into the Jiyuugaoka Station – plenty of people around since it was five something in the afternoon. The moment that the train was still Takuya and Meredith jumped from the top of the train. The shadow they cast though went over a group of people. Attention was pulled from the ticket machines and to the shadows that had been cast but the two were concealed by a tree.
Takuya moved leaves to peek out, "Is this some alternate universe or something? Wait! It's...our home town!"
Meredith peered out, "It's like we never left."
"It's all the same." Takuya paused and looked at his hands, "Well, except for me." The one question that boggles his mind. Why did he and Meredith turned into Digimon?
The leaves started to rustle while the tree itself creaked looking behind them on instinct they were greeted by Duskmon. Duskmon peered at them and they stared back frightened by his appearance.
Takuya gave a scared scream, "Leave us alone!"
Everyone stopped and looked up, this time everyone saw the two. Meredith and Takuya had jumped from the tree and were in the middle of leaping from building to building to try and escape Duskmon.
'Mom! Dad!' Takuya was calling for his parents in his mind.
After a while they arrived to a deserted street. The deserted street though looked familiar to them. Hiding behind a lamp post they paused, there was no sign of Duskmon anywhere around them.
"Hey, look." Meredith pointed toward two houses.
They were on their home street. Their houses right beside each other – the Kanbara name plate hanging outside of the yellow house and Meredith's family name plate outside of the blue roofed house was proof of that. They were so close to home, they were so close to their families.
Takuya stared stunned, "It's...it's my house," without thought, he made a run for his house, "We made it!"
A car came from the side street suddenly and Takuya barely jumped out of the way.
Meredith, who had been following a couple steps behind Takuya, was easily able to dodge the car, jumping and even doing a somersault in the air that resulted in her landing on the car hood. She jumped off quickly so she could kneel beside Takuya. The two passengers looked out their open car window, both were taken aback by the appearance of the two.
Takuya looks to the car's passengers, "I'm sorry, I - uh -", Takuya's eyes widen in recognition, "Michi, it's you!"
Michi was trembling as she stared at Takuya. The two freaked out over him and Meredith, screaming. The car window rolled out as Michi was hugged by her mother and brought close to her, hoping to protect her.
"Wait! We won't hurt you! It's us, Takuya and Meredith! Don't you recognize us?" Takuya shouted, desperate.
"Why are you doing this? Why are you acting like you don't..." Meredith started to trail off as she saw her reflection in the window, "...know us?"
Takuya stood, grabbing his face and backing away, "My face! Nooo...!" Seeing his reflection, he could barely recognize himself.
They both jumped away, splitting up. Takuya ducked into the tree that was outside of his house while Meredith hid in the tree that was in her yard. Both of them were stunned for a moment about their appearance. Meredith's attention snapped to her house when she heard a door slam shut, through the window she saw very anger version of herself mid bolt to her room.
"W-what?" Meredith was stunned. She knew what was going on.
Meredith watched as her father didn't even look up when she passed him. She watched her father finished putting things away only to move onto the table when he was done. Meredith sat there stunned by what she was witnessing. This had all happened days ago, didn't it? In the stillness, she looked to her D-Tector that was pure static on screen.
The screen reflected her face, but then the reflection moved, "Pearlmon."
"Thank you very much, Dad!" The shout that came from inside the house tore Meredith's, Pearlmon's attention from her D-Tector.
Pearlmon sat in the tree as the argument took place. Her heart felt like it was breaking at the scene. The accusatory words about her mother and brother moving out echoed, she felt horrible for having said that to her father. Pearlmon watched as Meredith stormed out of the house yet Pearlmon saw her father's head drop and his shoulders shake slightly. Pearlmon reached up to wipe away tears, but realized that there weren't any to wipe away. She blinked and placed her hands onto her face, there were no tears and the realization of not being able to cry suddenly sank in.
Meanwhile, Takuya sat in a tree, pressing buttons on his D-Tector. His reflection on the screen mimicked his reaction. No matter how hard he tried, the device wouldn't do anything, especially after all the button pounding he'd been doing for the last few minutes.
"Flamon." The voice carried from between the static.
Takuya, Flamon, paused and stared at his D-Tector. Taking it as a sign maybe something was working he began to press more buttons. It was clear though that he was more desperate now.
"Come on, do it", he commanded, "I wanna be myself again! Just turn me back!" Unfortunately, he remained the same appearance which caused him to sigh in defeat.
"Uh… Oh, that's just great, I'm stuck! What do I do? I can't go home looking like some freaked-out mutant!" He'd better find a way to reactivate his D-Tector, otherwise, he'd be on the news as mutant experiment running lose. Not to mention yelling at his device wasn't working either. Hopefully, Meredith had any ideas on what's going on her end.
"Takuya!" he heard his name and looked down from his spot. He saw Pearlmon waving him down. "You're not gonna believe what I found out!"
But before she could utter her discovery, he heard something phenomenal. "Mom, I'm back." Flamon heard himself, or rather, his human half.
"Huh? Wait a minute. That's me!" He saw himself putting his hat on the chair's backside at the dinner table. This doesn't make any sense! He's right here, standing outside!
It was like seeing a television program based on his life! That couldn't be right! Flamon IS Takuya! What's going on here? What is going on here?
"I don't understand", he muttered. He inspected much closer, glimpsing another object there. There on the table, was a birthday cake; the same cake for his brother's, Shinya's birthday! It was like he… he… went back in time!
"This is… oh wow, I'm going crazy! This can't be possible!" He jumped out of the tree and joined Pearlmon.
"Believe me, I know. I saw myself, too." Flamon looked at her in shocked. So they're both on the same page? Seeing their human doubles and back before they received the message.
"But what's going on? Why are there human clones of us when we're standing and breathing right here?" he watched his friend in thought. She was thinking the exact same thing.
Pearlmon hesitated, "Maybe, that's why we don't look like ourselves." It's a good hypothesis, but it doesn't explain why they were sent before Ophanimon's message.
When, he looked back at the inside his house. He saw the clock. It was 5:41 and Shinya's birthday, which means it was also the day he received Ophanimon's message!
"But honey", he heard his mother, Yuriko, on the phone, "you can't be late tonight. It's Shinya's birthday!"
Oh yes, he remembered it all like it only happened yesterday. It didn't surprise him if his dad got home late; he was always a workaholic.
Shinya jumped in. "And tell Dad I want something big! A forklift!"
Flamon cautiously peeked in, along with Pearlmon. He watched himself being bored and reaching for a strawberry, but he pulled back. The human boy thought he saw something. He shrugged.
"Now honey, I know that you're busy", Yuriko continued, "but how would you feel if the kids didn't acknowledge your birthday." Takuya went back to minding his business.
"Man…" he groaned, "I am bored. My whole life is boring. Hmm."
Flamon watched the display. He already knew how it all went down. Every memory of that day. He was in disbelief, "I dunno how… but it's true! This is the day we left! We've come back on the same day we left for the Digital World!"
While still being hidden, Flamon clenched the windowsill. He watched the scene that was playing out, trying to understand what was going on and why it was going on. Pearlmon stood back and watched as Flamon stared into his house, staring at his mother's back.
Flamon squeezed his eyes shut to try and stop tears, "Mom! I remember now. You had to wake me up 'cause I'd overslept as usual."
Hearing his strained voice, Pearlmon got closer to her friend. She placed a hand on Flamon's shoulder, but even when he opened his eyes he didn't look to her. He looked Shinya who was laying on the ground, reading a comic book.
"Shinya… We used to fight all the time. Didn't we, birthday boy?" Flamon choked up and stopped talking.
Flamon looked at the photograph at a nearby table with a soccer ball next to it. It was a photo of Takuya, Meredith, and Shinya at a younger age with his father looking at them with a smile. Meredith had on her soccer uniform and posing with a peace sign; Shinya was all smiles; but Takuya's smile was the biggest of them all.
"Dad… you promised that… you'd play soccer with me next weekend. But I left. Why?" He tried to swallow in his cries.
He should've stayed; he should've just stayed behind and enjoyed his life with his family. It wasn't fair! There was a pain in his heart, and it felt like it was being torn to shreds.
Pearlmon sadly looked at Flamon. She hated seeing this side of him. It wasn't like him to be upset. "Takuya…"
"I could've been at home with my family, waiting for Shinya to blow out the candles on his stupid cake," Flamon's voice cracked, "I never should've gone!"
Flamon closed his eyes and stopped trying to hold the tears as they began to streak down his face. He started to sob as he lowered himself down off the windowsill, his shoulders quaking with each breath. He couldn't bear to see it anymore; he hated himself even more in deciding to go to that stupid journey!
Pearlmon watched through Flamon's torment through hurtful eyes. She did the one thing she believe was fitting at a time like this. She pulled him into a hug and let him cry on her shoulder. He welcomed the gesture.
Pearlmon held Flamon as he broke down – seeing her friend so broken, she felt the urge to cry, but no tears would come. Pearlmon reacted on instinct that suddenly come over her while thinking of how to comfort Flamon – an instinct that found her licking away Flamon's tears. Despite not understanding why she was doing it, Pearlmon could not find the strength stop the action. It was as if it wasn't her that was doing it.
"After everything, I wish I could cry but I have no tears to shed." Pearlmon's voice was tight – you could hear the onset of tears but there was no sign of them.
Pearlmon had never thought she'd utter those words or ever wish to cry. Not being able to cry though when all you felt like doing was crying was frustrating. The pain and sadness that normally caused the tears to fall was crushing – it wasn't until then that she realized that tears had helped in their own way. Not being able to cry made the situation feel even worse.
So upset, but no tears to shed to prove just how much pain she was suffering.
It felt wrong not being able to cry despite the pain that radiated within her. It felt like a betrayal almost. Pearlmon could understand what Flamon was going through. She felt rivaling emotions. Flamon was the only one of the two that could shed tears though. He didn't have broken tear ducts like Pearlmon.
"Meredith, what do we do?" Flamon's broken voice shattered the tear soaked atmosphere.
"Weren't you the one with the plans?" Pearlmon's question jarred Flamon.
Flamon pulled back slowly to look at Pearlmon. Looking for a reason for the strained words, he searched her tearless face. Her eyes were glassy and lacked light; the look of her eyes startled Flamon. The look worried him.
"What do you mean?" Flamon spoke quietly, as if he did not truly want to know what Pearlmon had meant. What was she talking about? He had no idea on what to do next. That's why he asked to his best friend. Maybe she has something in mind.
In that moment the frustration that had built up from not being able cry mixed with the simmering anger from what had happened rose within Pearlmon, "No matter what we did– no matter what I had to say, you had to be right. You had the best plan in the world and we weren't allowed to question it at all."
"I was wrong." Flamon's voice was weak.
Flamon was fully aware of what he had done. He was fully aware of the situation he had put everyone in, aware of the situation that he had caused.
"No, you were a jerk." Pearlmon both meant and didn't mean her words.
"I thought we could do it." None of the bravado that Flamon had was present, there wasn't even a hint of it.
"I don't care about that. Do you know what you did?" Pearlmon's voice broke, the moment it did, she lowered her head.
"I messed up, that's what I did. We're all split up now. Who even knows what happen to the others. I let them down." Flamon watched as his words caused Pearlmon to curl her hands into fists.
"I was terrified and put in an impossible place." Pearlmon's soft words barely reached his ears.
Hesitating Flamon reached out and tilted her head up. The look on Pearlmon's face broke his heart to see. She looked wounded – pained more than she had when she had been physically hurt. Flamon never wanted to see that look on her face. Never.
"I'm sorry – you didn't want to fight Duskmon and-"
"No! I was terrified to even voice my own thoughts! I was terrified that going against you was going to cause me to lose my best friend! I was terrified that I was going to lose you." Pearlmon's words struck a chord deep inside of Flamon.
"Nothing would cause us to stop being friends." Flamon's voice sounded certain of that.
"You say that, but you didn't see the look on your face when you demanded to know what my plan was when I said I wasn't going to fight. You didn't see the way you looked at me." There was nothing to be said in response to Pearlmon because she was right, he didn't know what he looked like in that moment.
"Those thoughts and fear, they drove me to join Duskmon." Pearlmon curled in on herself after those words, still no tears came even though she felt like she was breaking almost. She wanted to cry so much, it was like bottling up on many emotions tightening in her chest.
"I'm sorry." Flamon didn't know what else to say, but Pearlmon did look to him.
Flamon sat there on his knees not even bothering with trying to wipe his tears away. Pearlmon sat there taking in the sight of her best friend, taking in the sight of Flamon's tears falling onto the grass in the evening light. There was nothing to say, no, neither one of them knew what to say.
"5:40? I'll never make it!" Takuya' shout from inside the house reached the two of them.
Flamon's eyes widened, "What if I didn't make it? If I don't get on the train, then everything will go back to normal! I'll be...me again!" A confident grin crossed Flamon's face.
"Oh no..." Pearlmon knew what was coming. She knew that look too well. The look of a dumb plan.
"Takuya, you've got a train to miss!" Following those words Flamon stood and promptly jumped into a tree.
Pearlmon hesitated for a second because of the bad feeling she got, but she still followed Flamon. From the tree they watched as Takuya flung open the door and dashed outside. He got to the last step before stopping, looking around because he heard someone shout for him not to go, but there was no one insight.
"What? O...kay...Talk about talking to yourself..." Takuya looked at his phone, "Oh man, look at what time it is! I gotta jam!"
Takuya took off running towards the train station despite Flamon having tried to stop him. Flamon and Pearlmon dropped from the trees, crouching like cats as they watched Takuya race off. Pearlmon noticed Meredith first, but they watched as Takuya and Meredith ran alongside each other talking about the message. Witnessing the event before was like watching a home movie without noticing there was a cameraman.
Takuya and Meredith run past a boy playing soccer with his dad.
The little boy brought his leg back, preparing to kick the ball, "Here it comes!"
As the boy kicked the ball, his dad's cell phone rang and he answered it, turning away from the little boy slightly. Due to the dad not paying attention, the ball went right past him. When the ball passed through the dad's field of view, he just watched as the ball rolled past him.
The little boy whined, "Dad, the ball!"
"Sorry, the phone - that noise!" The dad tried to explain to the boy as to why he had missed the ball.
Flamon and Pearlmon jumped from a tree, taking to the sky for a matter of moments before landing in another. This continued for a couple of moments as they jumped from tree to tree. Muscles throbbing. Limbs aching. Hearts pumping. They ignored each function coursing through their bodies. Their main objective is catching up to their past selves from going onto that Trailmon. On the street, though Takuya and Meredith chased the ball – well it was going the same way as them.
"I'll get it!" Takuya shouted the words back as he caught up to the runaway ball, "Kids these days." Grumbling the words under his breath he placed his foot on the ball.
For a moment, in the evening sun, the shadows were together – Takuya, Flamon, Meredith, and Pearlmon all together in shadows. For a moment, it was peaceful. A truck was speeding towards Takuya and Meredith though so it was only a moment. The truck hadn't been noticed just yet seeing as Takuya calmly kicked the ball back to the father and son. Flamon dropped from the perch he and Pearlmon had taken and before Pearlmon could grab his arm to stop him, Flamon had already approached Takuya.
"Don't go!" Flamon shouted the words at Takuya – the words didn't reach Takuya though.
"Look out!" Pearlmon shouted the words before quickly dashing in to tackle Meredith out of the way of the truck.
"Don't go!" Once again, even in mid-tackle, Flamon spoke the words to Takuya.
Upon crashing to the ground the four grunted in pain. The truck driver opened the door and poked his head out, looking to the group.
"You okay?" The truck driver called it back to them, trying to see them through the smoke.
Takuya and Meredith looked around, disorientated for a moment. They both glanced to their phones, ignoring the driver's question.
Takuya stared at the message on his phone, "What? Oh no!" Takuya looked to the drive, "Hey, buddy, what time is it?"
The driver was confused, "What? Uh...couple before 5:45!"
Takuya groaned hearing that and pushed himself up, "Huh? Oh..."
Once up, Takuya grabbed Meredith's wrist before taking off running.
"Takuya…" Meredith groaned.
The driver just stared after them, "Hey, kids, where's the fire?"
Flamon and Pearlmon sat on the truck, watching as Takuya and Meredith ran towards the train station. Watched as Takuya and Meredith ran full speed towards their 'destiny'. Full speed towards the Digital World. They were running out of time. Their human counterparts are getting closer to the train station. Telling them - or rather, warning them - had no effect. Even appearing before them seemed like the two humans saw a hallucination. What else can they do?
"I gotta figure out a better way to stop myself because I won't stop!" groaned Flamon as he and Pearlmon watched Takuya and Meredith run off.
"And neither will I!" Pearlmon was annoyed, yet there was a hint of worry that could be seen in her eyes.
Flamon looked to Pearlmon, "But how?"
Pearlmon looked down as she thought, "Maybe we should think about what we were thinking that time. All I remember was a new challenge and you pulling me with you."
Flamon tilted his head, "Well, I remember thinking if I didn't make it, I was going to miss out. Yeah, miss out on hurting my friends." His ears lowered and his eyes downcast. His heart felt heavier than his shoulders. All the more reason to stop their past selves.
As the two looked back to the fleeting figures of Takuya and Meredith dark fog rolled in and blocked their view. Seeing the fog caused both of them to freeze up. Duskmon was back and once he appeared in front of them Flamon reeled back, petrified while Pearlmon was frozen in place staring at Duskmon. Flamon began to back away, terrified and shaking. He backed right off the truck moments before the truck took off – the truck taking off cleared the dark fog and erased Duskmon.
"Takuya!" Pearlmon quickly jumped from the truck and made her way back to the terrified Flamon.
Flamon stared forwards, one arm raised to shield his face, "It...wasn't real! What now? Uh..."
Flamon looked defeat, "How can I stop myself if I can't even think straight? Don't go! Takuya! Don't...go!"
"Not again!" Pearlmon groaned as Flamon took off after Takuya and Meredith once again.
Takuya and Meredith had already reached the train station, weaving through the crowded streets to reach the ticket dispenser.
Takuya heard the whistles of the train, "The train's already on the platform!"
"Meredith," Takuya gulped, "We don't have money."
"Rats!"
Takuya and Meredith looked at the machine as lights started to light up in rapid succession. The screen flashed randomly and tickets started to fly out of the machine.
Takuya grinned, "Maybe this is Destiny!"
Flamon landed on a cab with his eyes deadset on the train station. He had a goal in mind and he wasn't going to stop.
Takuya started to run up the stairs towards the train, "Wait! My destiny!"
"We're outta time! But we haven't gotten on the elevator yet. There's still a chance!" Flamon tried to focus on succeeding rather than failure.
Flamon jumped and Pearlmon followed a couple of seconds later. They landed on top of the train, ending up face to face as they clung to the now speeding train. Flamon looked away from Pearlmon, choosing to look over his shoulder and to the city they were leaving behind.
Tears began to form in Flamon's eyes, "Goodbye, Mom!"
Flamon closed his eyes and ducked his head as the tears fell, the wind whisked them away and caused them to fly through the air. Pearlmon watched not only as Flamon cried but as his tears flew through the air and were quickly left behind by the train.
The train was speeding along the tracks while Flamon and Pearlmon hitched a free ride on top of the train. Trying to find their other selves, Flamon decided to hang down so he could investigate the train. Ignoring the guy in the business suit who was somehow too deeply engrossed into a newspaper to even notice him Flamon looked around the train car. His eyes landed on Koji's figure through the window, just past a boy who had on a blue hat and a long sleeve maroon shirt under an unbuttoned short sleeve green shirt.
"Hey! It's Koji!" The recognition of Koji didn't last long though.
The recognition was replaced by confusion when Takuya took note of the boy with the blue hat, "Wait a minute...there's two Kojis?"
Flamon was just staring now, "Man, I'm really losing it. He looks so much like him, but...that can't be Koji." They both had the same faces, which made Flamon believe he must be hallucinating. Not to mention, Koji said he didn't have any siblings, so it's got to be something else. Right? Possibly Koji got a copycat stalker, maybe?
Hearing everything Flamon was saying, Pearlmon decided to peek as well, she at least took a moment to marvel at the fact that the business guy that was directly in front of them was too engrossed to notice them. Yet Pearlmon also looked at the boy in the hat. Watched as the boy turned to look towards Koji, watching Koji. The mystery boy didn't seem all that happy at all – almost looked angry as he watched Koji in truth.
"His eyes... they remind me of something, or someone." Pearlmon hummed in thought as she continued to regard the mystery boy. Had she met this person before? It bothered her that she couldn't recall what or where she had seen those eyes before.
When the business guy in front of them twitched slightly, as if he was going to look up Flamon and Pearlmon both pulled back up, so they were on top of the train.
"He's not, then...who the heck is that guy?" Flamon was puzzled.
Pearlmon was still deep in thought, trying to figure out who or what the mystery boy's eyes reminded her off. Both being in thought didn't notice at first that the train was pulling into the station. When the air that pushing against their bodies became less and less, they both however took note that the train was not only slowing down but pulling into the station. From there vantage point on the train they both looked across the platform. Pearlmon briefly wondering if she could catch sight of Zoe, J.P., Tommy, Amelia or even Kyle.
"Shibuya Station. This is Shibuya Station." They both knew what would come soon upon hearing that announcement.
Takuya took off out of the train, dragging Meredith behind him, "Huh? Hey, wait!" The words escape Takuya as he spotted Koji in an elevator.
Takuya raced across the station platform, dragging Meredith who was able to sort of keep up with him towards the elevator. Flamon and Pearlmon are watching all of this go down – they still remember it well. Neither of them was too surprised as they watched Takuya and Meredith jumping into the elevator or Takuya yelling as they do it. Flamon and Pearlmon though got to watch as the Koji-look-alike had tried to reach the elevator as well. They got to see that as they jumped towards the elevator themselves.
The boy in the hat started pounding on the closed doors, "Uh! Oh...huh."
The boy took off the moment he saw that the elevator was going down – taking off to where the stairs were. Flamon and Pearlmon both landed in front of the elevator.
"Uh...huh? It's the other Koji!" Flamon seen as he tried to open the door to the elevator.
Pearlmon glanced at Flamon, who was trying to open the door before making a choose. Pearlmon took off after the boy leaving Flamon at the elevator.
'Who is that boy? Why does he look so much like Koji?' The thoughts raced through Pearlmon's mind as she raced after the boy.
Meanwhile, Flamon had managed to pry the door open which then led him to sliding down the cable. "Uh!"
Pearlmon was bounding down the stairs after the boy, but a scene before her began to unfold that made her heart stop. She watched as the boy who had been racing down the stairs trip, gravity pulling him forwards. Nothing registered to Pearlmon besides seeing the boy begin to fall as she lunged forwards, trying to catch him. Her fingers just graze the back of his green shirt before gravity fully took him and time sped up from the crawl it had been going at for Pearlmon. Pearlmon stood on the stairs staring at the boy with her heart beating painfully since he didn't move. After what was a couple of seconds but felt like hours, the boy had opened his eyes. His eyes landed on Pearlmon and stayed there, staring. The boy had to blink though, for a second instead of Pearlmon, he saw a girl with long red hair staring at him, looking as if her world just shattered before her eyes.
While Pearlmon just watched the boy take a painful tumble down a flight of stairs, Flamon was sliding down the cable down to what he would assume to still be the Trailmon Station that was below Shibuya Station. As the light for the elevator blinked going past the actual floors, Flamon continued down with the elevator due to him sliding down the other tether that the elevator had that stopped it from having a dangerous encounter with gravity.
"K-Koji..." The boy's voice was weak, and it was a struggle to keep his eyes open at this point.
Pearlmon stood back, still on the stairs, as everyone started to gather around the boy's body. No one taking note of her due to what had just played out in front of them. She was trembling and she raised the hand that had grazed his clothing. Not knowing what to do, she began to back away, backing up the stairs. Taking a shuddering breath, she turned away from the boy and raced up the stairs – running towards Flamon.
Koji stood in the elevator watching out the doors as it descended, meanwhile Takuya was on the ground. Takuya was watching out the back window of the elevator as they plunged into the depths of the unknown. The elevator finally stopped descending and the doors opened – Koji leant slightly to look out of the doors.
Takuya rubbed his hat covered head, "Man, I really gotta stop landing on my head!"
Both boys took in the sight outside of the elevator though. There was so many kids around their age standing on the train platform that neither of them had known existed before that moment. Some kids were talking to each other while others were scoping out the trains that were awaiting depture.
Takuya stood up as he pulled out his phone, "Huh? So weird. Were all these kids called here the same way we were?"
The trap door on top of the elevator was lifted and moved to the side, revealing Flamon.
Flamon peered down into the elevator, "It's already gone too far. I gotta do something! Okay. Here goes nothing."
Having dropped into the elevator Flamon stood there. He was staring at Takuya and fighting with himself. He knew what he had to do. Pearlmon slipped down and landed softly beside Flamon – trying not to draw attention to them. The scene before them was surreal, Takuya and Meredith stood there staring out at the Trailmon. The two before them hadn't set off on their journey yet.
Flamon raised his arm – the movement caught Pearlmon's attention. When he reached out to touch Takuya, Pearlmon grabbed his shoulder. Flamon stopped before he touched Takuya's shoulder.
"Takuya," Pearlmon called his name softly, "I can't go through with this anymore. What about the Spirits? What about the Digital World?"
Flamon looked to Pearlmon. The look that was on his face was of pain. In that moment, he looked broken.
Flamon sniffled as tears came to his eyes, "I know, but what about you, Meredith? You were one of my very first friends."
Pearlmon opened her mouth but she couldn't find any words to say that could comfort her friend. She closed her mouth and chose to listen – there was more to what Flamon was going to say anyways. Pearlmon was on the verge of crying from the look on her face – yet no tears were coming.
"I couldn't stand to see you get really hurt or worse," Flamon gulped, "it… it… it would break my heart."
Flamon closed his eyes as tears started to roll down his cheeks. He didn't even try to stop them, he just let them fall. The words hung in the air for a couple of moments. Pearlmon took a deep breath before drawing closer to Flamon. She hesitantly touched his cheek with her hand – Pearlmon stopped though and thought about the words she wanted to say. As she thought, some of her friend's tears slid onto her palm.
"Wouldn't it break even more if that's what's happening to our friends?" Pearlmon's voice was soft and colored with worry.
Pearlmon flashed back to the mysterious boy, "I couldn't save someone. And I couldn't stop the darkness."
Flamon watched as Koji left the elevator but then his vision got a little dark around the edges and Koji stopped, looking back to him. Koji's words from before, questioning why Takuya was in the Digital World blared in his head. The whole scene rushed back to him – his eyes widening and he inhaling sharply.
"Koji!" Flamon called out as he came from the memory.
As the clocks on the platform chimed signaling six o'clock two laughing boys pushed Tommy onto a Trailmon while the door closed as soon as Tommy was inside. J.P. took a step back onto the Trailmon when the door he had been peering out of swung shut on its own while Zoe who had been eyeing the platform, possibly thinking of getting off, watched as the door in front of her swung shut – keeping her on her chosen Trailmon.
Flamon remembered running to catch the train, "Guys!"
Seeing the scene before them made them remember when they first met Tommy, J.P. and Zoe. Meeting them on the Trailmon and going to the Flame Station in the Digital World. They remember how the ride got rougher and they got thrown around – how they had been swallowed by the phantom shells of Digimon. The phantom shells being what they now know to be the Legendary Spirits that they had connected and bonded with. When they first heard about the state of the Digital World and how Bokomon told them all about Cherubimon and about restoring the Digital World. Then DemiVeemon hit them both – him hatching from his egg and deeming them his parents.
"Bokomon! Neemon!" Flamon was worried about those two.
"DemiVeemon!" Pearlmon had spoken his name at the same time as Flamon.
The most recent events blared in their heads. They remembered the argument that Koji and Takuya had gotten into. Duskmon. The fight with Duskmon and how it had been so much harder because Meredith had joined Duskmon. The fight would've been hard even if Meredith hadn't joined Duskmon. The pain that Duskmon had while calling Koji's name came to them as well. Most of all they remembered the darkness. The darkness that had surrounded them.
Flamon stared past Takuya who stood in front of him, open mouth staring at the train platform. Flamon raised his hand to reach out to Takuya, to grab onto his shoulder. Before he did though, he pulled his hand back and just stared down at it. There was so much going through his head at that moment.
Closing his eyes Flamon curled his hand into a fist and placed it over his heart, 'I can't just pretend like none of this ever happened. Even if we did go home, we'd never be the people we were.'
'If we went home, we never would have met the others. We never would have helped anyone – they might still be suffering if we went home.' Pearlmon wasn't sure what they were supposed to do at this point.
The sound of wheels starting to turn and smoke being let off by trains drew their attention. The Trailmon were pulling out of the station. For a moment, they stared at the Trailmon and watched as they pulled out of the station. It hit them then.
Flamon swallowed hard, "And the others..."
"They're in trouble." Pearlmon knew that and she knew what needed to be done in her heart.
Flamon nodded, "...we can't leave them!"
Pearlmon's face became determined, "Not ever again!"
That's when they noticed that standing before them was still Takuya and Meredith. Neither of them were moving towards the Trailmon that were leaving the station.
"Uh...Takuya!" Flamon tried to get Takuya's attention.
Pearlmon did the same, "Meredith!"
This time, their words seemed to have reached the two that stood in front of them. Both future Warriors seemed to be jolted from their stunned states.
"Run! Get on that train!" Flamon issued the command.
"Don't just stand there, go!" Pearlmon was urging them forward.
Flamon grew slightly irritated and raised his voice, "Move it! Go, Takuya!"
Pearlmon was in a similar state but her teeth became shark like, "Come on! Let's go!"
Takuya jolted into motion, surging forwards towards the departing trains. Meredith wasn't left behind but instead got dragged behind Takuya across the platform. Flamon and Pearlmon remained at the elevator though and were busy trying to regain their breathing. Takuya and Meredith managed to catch a Trailmon and once safely on, they looked back over the guardrail.
Flamon stared after them, "Go follow your destiny, Takuya."
Pearlmon smiled slightly, "You too, Meredith."
The moment that they might have had was ruined. Ruined by an unwelcomed guest – a boomerang guest at this point. Duskmon.
With Duskmon in front of them Flamon went to take a step back as to put distance between himself and Duskmon. Before his foot touched the ground though he stopped. Instead of taking a step back he shifted and took a small step forwards.
Flamon bent his knees slightly, taking a fighting stance, "No! I won't run away! Our friends are waiting. They need us! And I won't let you get in the way."
Pearlmon takes a steadying breath as she stared Duskmon down, "I may have swore to myself that I wouldn't fight Duskmon, but you're not him!"
Duskmon releases a guttural roar as the two in front of him challenged their fear of him.
"I'm not afraid. I'm not afraid of you!" Flamon threw his head back as he loudly declared the words but he also burst into flames.
Pearlmon growled slightly as her teeth turned shark like once more, "I won't back down – not when my friends need me! I won't let them down again!"
Flamon growled and lunged forwards, "No more!"
Pearlmon charged forwards, "Get out of our way!"
Flamon's fist connected to Duskmon's jaw just as Pearlmon had gone to sweep Duskmon's feet out from below him. Instead of falling to the floor Duskmon vanished into a mass of shadowy miss. Flamon and Pearlmon were left coughing and panting. The two of them though were being observed by a familiar red eye like structure – DarkTrailmon.
"Huh? Dark...Trailmon?" Flamon couldn't believe his eyes.
Pearlmon stared, "You came back?"
DarkTrailmon was just there on the tracks, in all its glory, "Well, I didn't think I'd see you two again. Thought you wanted to go home."
Flamon straightened himself, "We did. We went home. But...it was the same, and we weren't." Flamon looked to his hands, "I turned into...this freak show! 'Cause I couldn't figure out who I was."
"This taught us – no, it reminded of us of something very important. This trip, it was just a stop of the journey we still have to finish." Pearlmon still wanted to go home but not now, she wanted to return to her friends and finish the journey they had started.
DarkTrailmon took in their words, "I see."
"Koji was right. I didn't know why I was there. But I do now." After Flamon's words both he and Pearlmon began to descend the stairs.
"Trailmon, you have to take us back." Flamon wasn't afraid anymore – he wasn't going to run away anymore.
Pearlmon was staring DarkTrailmon down, "We need to return – take us back to our friends."
"Are you sure? Seems to me, that's what got you here in the first place." DarkTrailmon's question didn't stop either of them – they just continued to approach DarkTrailmon.
Flamon merely hummed, "Mm hm."
"Yep." Pearlmon was certain of her decision to go back.
"This is a one-way ticket, kids. I can't turn around if you get any second thoughts." DarkTrailmon's words still didn't stop the two in their tracks.
"That's not gonna happen. I've made my decision." The confidence in his decision burned in Flamon's words.
"And so have I." Pearlmon's words flowed out with a strong current of confidence and determination.
"I guess you have. Alright then. All aboard." With that DarkTrailmon opened its doors to Flamon and Pearlmon.
Seeing the doors open to them, a determined smile crossed both of their faces.
Flamon and Pearlmon stepped through the door – taking the first step back to their friends. Once inside they stood there for a couple of minutes – listening as the doors swung shut. Slowly DarkTrailmon started to move, pulling out of the station. They were on their way back to the Digital World.
"You know, before we left, I used to think my dad messed everything up – sometimes I thought he did it on purpose," Pearlmon's eyes started to actually mist up, "Takuya, let's make a promise. When our journey's done and we actually can go home, we give our families another chance."
Flamon turned so he could look out the window of the door that he still stood in front of – Pearlmon peering out the window next to him. DarkTrailmon was chugging along away from light that was the what was left of the platform while Flamon remained silent at first. He leaned forwards to get a better look at what was coming – Pearlmon waited though.
Flamon glanced at Pearlmon, suddenly watching her face. The misty eyes weren't hard to miss – it pulled on his heart. Seeing Pearlmon so sad hurt. Stepping back from the door he turned to Pearlmon. Flamon reached out and placed a hand on her cheek – the action caused Pearlmon to blink which caused a small tear to escape which got wiped away by Flamon.
"Once we're back home after we kick Cherubimon's butt, we'll do something for them. I'll be a bit nicer to Shinya – maybe I'll clean something for my mom so she can take a break." Flamon laughed as he imagined the face his mother would have if he surprised her with something like that.
Pearlmon smiled at Flamon, "So, it's a promise?"
Flamon nodded, grinning, "Of course it's a promise!"
Glancing out the window, looking back to the platform that they were speeding away from Flamon was picturing his parents and Shinya at the kitchen table, "I love you, Mom and Dad. Happy birthday, Shinya. See ya soon."
Flamon was torn in a way. He was firm in his decision to return to the Digital World but it didn't change the fact that he wanted to see and be with his family again already. DarkTrailmon made no hint of stopping or turning back, just like it said even though Flamon leaned forward resting his head on the door as he started to cry. After a couple of moments that Pearlmon spent watching her friend, not sure what to say Flamon pulled back wiped his eyes.
"You know, if you keep this up, you're going to be the Warrior of Water." Pearlmon cracked the joke it caused Flamon to crack a small smile.
"And Koji - this time things will be different. I know it's not a game now." Flamon's mental mind though reminded him it wasn't just Koji though, "Hang on, We're coming! We won't let you down. Any of you." There was J.P., Zoe, Tommy, Amelia and Kyle too.
DarkTrailmon wasn't oblivious to what was going on, "Sounds to me like you've figured things out there, kids."
Bits of data began to flow down the tunnel that DarkTrailmon was traveling down.
"Flamon Digivolve to... Agunimon!"
"Pearlmon Digivolve to... Sakanamon!"
"Not bad. Not bad at all." DarkTrailmon almost sounded impressed.
In a wrapping flash of light DarkTrailmon emerged into the Digital World where it quickly pulled into the Dark Terminal once again. This time having brought two passengers there rather than taken two passengers from.
"End of the line. Hmm. Or maybe not. I think that's up to you. Good luck." Despite the monotone that DarkTrailmon had the good wishing sounded rather sincere in a way.
Agunimon stepped off, "Alright. This is it. Everything starts now. I've got another chance, and I'm not gonna blow it!"
Sakanamon stepped off beside Agunimon. Both of them stood there on the platform of the Dark Terminal looking determined. They knew to a degree what was coming their way and they were ready to face it.
Looks like Takuya has finally grown up! I just hope it isn't too late. To find out, tune into the next Digimon: Digital Monsters!