I don't own digimon.
Story 92
Just Another Fight. Really? Shit.
Miguel Parks was not expecting a sword in the mail. Not that anyone sent him mail to begin with, but this felt like it violated some kind of postal code. Yes, those crappy anime stores had to get their swords… somehow. But this felt different. Clearly the attached envelope with the proper custom forms was proof of that. Or maybe the note that was attached to the sword directly.
Letting out the sigh, the fanfic writer picked the sword and papers up. Gingerly opening the door to his apartment, white walls and faux hardwoods stared back. Heading over to the one and only table in the little place, Miguel set everything down. Ignoring the various emotions swiftly bubbling to the surface, he scanned the area in search of something to actually open up whatever was keeping the katana. If nothing else, he could just display it. Because you know, the last person I know who did that didn't regret it in the slightest here. But I digress.
Miguel didn't need to look far for a tool to fix this problem. Taking the form of a pair of scissors, he made honestly quick work of the bindings. Which just raises further questions on the parts of customs. Questions that are probably best left not answered here.
"Here goes nothing." Miguel muttered and unsheathed the katana. Staring at the blade, the world around him melted away. A nausea-inducing void stared back.
'It's been too long, Miguel.'
Gazing about in search of whoever it was that was speaking to him, Miguel didn't need to look far. Taking the form of the battered and broken corpse of a woman, something about her felt familiar. Yet, the name escaped her. Right on the tip of his
"Uh… is there anything that I can do for you?" Miguel answered, not completely certain what tone was best for this situation. For now, he decided upon serious. That felt right here. If not, he would just change it and everything would be good.
Laughter echoed across the sanctum.
"It's been too long, dear Miguel. The Jester of Dreams wishes to know how you've been." the Jester of Dreams cooed and Miguel froze. They were clearly friends, but in what capacity remained to be seen.
"Uh… okay?" Miguel answered as he tried to meet his audience's gaze. Easier said than done with the massive height difference between our fanfic writer and the jester. "I honestly wasn't expecting to get a katana of all things in the mail."
Watching the Jester of Dreams shift about, Miguel took it as an acknowledgement of hearing what he said.
"I'm happy to hear that. I've spent an unspeakable amount of time being killed. Would've loved something different, but the Jester of Dreams will take what she can get." the Jester of Dreams answered and Miguel froze. Pain echoed about his head, refusing to leave him alone here. Why did it have to happen now? Was his mind trying to remember here? Entirely possible.
"Okay… if we've met before. Could you maybe clue me in?" Miguel inquired and was met with a light breeze. The nauseating mindscape melted away, a massive entrance to what one can only assume to be a school lie in front of them. The petals of cherry blossom trees lay on intricately carved pavement, complimenting the mix of modern and classical Japanese architecture here.
"Welcome to Hope's Valley Academy, Miguel." the Jester of Dreams announced, Miguel taking a moment to look around in the hopes of seeing her full body. Sadly, that was not the case here. If anything, it was perhaps harder on account of all the large buildings here. That, or she doesn't want her friend to see all the damage done by the timekeeper. Yeah. That was likely it. "Located in some part of Japan (doesn't matter), this was supposed to be your home for the next couple of years." the Jester of Dreams explained and Miguel gulped. He didn't speak a lick of Japanese, let alone have any of his fics translated into it. A part of him had wanted to do a mix of both, but the opportunity had either never come up or he conveniently managed to miss it on all fronts. Whatever the case, he was paying dearly for it now.
Nonetheless, the fanfic writer made his way up to the door like the protagonist he was intended to be. Even if the walk did look absolutely awkward on account of the sword he was forcing himself to hold currently.
"So I just need to head through?" Miguel inquired, his words falling on deaf ears here. Was his connection with Jestery cut? Or was this something else entirely? He honestly couldn't say for cer-
Miguel didn't get a chance to finish his thought, intense pain echoing across his body. Crumpling to the pavement, his gaze came upon the doorway. There, a boy stood. Dressed like he was pulled from some wannabe YA novel - black t-shirt with the name of a band he didn't recognize with tan shorts and sandals. Oddly, a pair of katanas hung from a belt. Yet, the actual details of the boy's body were blurry and on the verge of fading from existence. Oh. Figures. Even in the off-chance that this particular blade had made it out before that world had been destroyed, some things just can't be stopped. LIke it or not, this was how things are going to be going forward.
"Who… are you?" Miguel croaked out and watched the boy approach. Attempting to reach out and help the fanfic writer back up, all that accomplished was the boy's hand phasing right through. "So you're a ghost then?"
The boy does not answer. Instead, he chose to just get down on Miguel's level. Attempting to touch the katana this time, all that accomplished was the boy getting sucked into the blade and in turn, Miguel.
For a brief moment, Miguel felt… better. Then the pain returned to his body, but doubled. Attempting to stand back up, he somehow managed to do just that. Inching closer to the door, he managed to touch the doorknob. Nothing happened. Phew. Glad we're not doing this either a third or fou-
Just to spite me, that was when the world reverted back to the nauseating dreamscape. Because of course it did. Somehow still facing the Jester of Dreams, he still couldn't see her face. Kind of rude on her part.
"Do you have a clearer idea of what you were forced into?" the Jester of Dreams announced and Miguel reluctantly nodded. Not that this changes the question in the slightest. Nor the many other questions that likely swirled about the fanfic writer's mind. Especially after the whole possession thing.
"Not really, if I'm being honest with you." Miguel answered and was treated to a chuckle. Uh… that's certainly not a way to instill confidence in the slightest. If anything, that probably made the poor guy even more confused. A perpetual state expected here if one knew the full extent of his work. But you, dear viewer, don't. Whether or not that's a good thing or perhaps a bad thing, remains to be seen.
"The Jester of Dreams doesn't expect you to blitz all the way through in one go. Just take it slow and you'll understand, Miguel." the Jester of Dreams cooed and got what appeared to be a look from Miguel here. An honestly understandable reaction to have here. "Remember, your friends are here for you. After everything, you're still here. That has to mean something."
Her words rolled out and Miguel nodded. While only sort of following here, that made sense. In some kind of twisted way. Even if that too brought with it a fair share of questions. Questions that they sadly did not have the time to answer. Mostly on account of light piercing into Jestery's sanctum.
"Uh.. until we meet again?" Miguel announced as his eyelids grew heavy. As much as he wished to fight the feeling, it wouldn't let him. If anything, it almost was accepted with the sense of grace of a professional writer.
.
Back in reality, Miguel slowly opened his eyes. Letting out a yawn, his gaze fell upon the katana. Still gripped in his hands, it was probably a good idea to sheath it.
"That… certain was something." the fanfic writer muttered and took the time to calm himself. In the face of everything that had just occurred, there was little doubt that his memories had been tampered within. How much and on what level remained to be seen. Especially with all the other things that had occurred as of late. Between the claims that there was someone who kidnapped one of the 'digidestined' and then the attack by all those demon digimon, it had been a challenge to write and brighten people's days. Yet, the fanfic writer still had to try in some capacity. That was the least that could be done here. "How exactly to explain this to my friends?"
Raising a finger to his chin, Miguel thought it over. Probably leave out the part where he was visited by someone claiming to be his friend and then possibly getting possessed. Yeah, that was probably the best. Even if that did make one of the digidestined shipping him a katana just as odd, if not odder. Better yet, how exactly did they know where to send this? Now that was a question he should've asked the Jester of Dreams about. Probably just get blown off here, but the fanfic writer shoved that thought away. Sheathing the katana here, a sigh escaped his lips. A shame that he didn't have anything in the way of a stand to display the weapon. Though, there was always the option of leaning it up against a wall. While it doesn't ensure any safety, that was oddly not a worry for Miguel. No, things like writing up the rough drafts and maybe editing stuff that was in need of that stuff ra-
Or would've, if not for the sound of a rock crashing through his window. Shooting a look in that direction, Miguel was met with a figure with spiky reddish orange hair. Dressed like a younger Daisuke Motomiya, it's frustratingly obvious who this is. But, I have to say it anyway. The timekeeper, in his stupid flesh.
"I would like that katana of yours." the Timekeeper announced and watched Miguel poke his head out of the window. Quite happy with the way that his plan was going so far, expected of a douchebag of his caliber.
"Uh… no?" Miguel answered and was met with a glare, followed by the dao broadswords coming out. Because of course they did. Couldn't have a genuine Timekeeper moment without them in some capacity. That
"That was an order. A shame that I need to kill you now." the Timekeeper announced and watched Miguel freeze here. Lasting only a moment, he knew that he was well out of his league. Yet, a part of him knew that this was a necessary evil to commit. Even if the likelihood of dying was quite high and he had no clue how exactly to fight with such a weapon. All the more reason to try as a protagonist of this alternate version of our shared canon.
"Bring it." Miguel announced, his voice taking on the tone of someone who no longer existed. Figures. Of course a teeny-tiny part remains.
Unsheathing the katana, Miguel jumped out of the window. Thankfully, this apartment was not high up. If it wasn't, then things would be different and we would instead be looking at a blood spatter on the concrete.
"To think that some part of that accursed world remains." the Timekeeper announced and watched Miguel approach. Pulling his blades back, he waited just a moment to see if the fanfic writer would at least walk right into him. Sadly, that wasn't the case. Instead, Miguel stood his ground. Holding the katana up in such a way that it could block both attacks, that didn't stop his opponent from going through with this attack. Knocking the fanfic writer back, their gazes met. "Do you know how much your existence pisses me off?"
Miguel raised an eyebrow. Did his opponent simply not realize just out of the loop he was? While a part of him wanted to say 'very', that felt like the wrong answer here. No, the timekeeper was expecting him to answer that way.
"Enough to kill me." Miguel answered as he stood up. Pulling the katana back, a sigh escaped his lips.
Katana Wave!
Swinging the katana forward, Miguel watched a curved energy projectile shoot out. A far cry from the beam that Jo managed not that long ago, this was the true power of the weapon. One not seen in a number of years. I say that, but let's be honest here - it's not particularly spectacular. Nothing on that of a unity or even one of momma kitty's special attacks. But it's a part of this mess's long history. So it works out in the end.
"No. All I want is you and stupid fucking blade to be erased to prevent any wild cards from appearing." the Timekeeper announced as he took the projectile head-on. Doing little to phase him, he countered with a kick to the stomach. Knocking Miguel back to the pavement, his grip tightened around the katana. Which gave his opponent even more reasons to begin smashing said hand with his boot. God forbid you actually fight like a rational person. No, we're instead getting a rabid beast of a spoiled child who's throwing a tantrum. "I'm a busy man, after all. You should be glad that I'm taking time to deal with you."
Miguel rolled his eyes and spat on the Timekeeper's leg. For that, the timekeeper responded by smashing his foot down on the katana. Breaking it in two with ease, his gaze shifted back to the fanfic writer.
"Look what you made me down. A shame that all of your friends are de-" the timekeeper responded, only to stop mid-sentence. Oh.
What appeared to be miniature hands had grown out of the katana, pulling the two parts of the blade together and back into one, complete sword.
'Get up. I thought you were my archnemesis! This idiot is far beneath you.' a voice announced in Miguel's mind, energy surging across his body. While he didn't recognize whoever it was talking to him, they felt familiar to him.
"Uh… you're right?" Miguel thought and headbutted the Timekeeper's legs. Knocking his opponent back, that provided just enough time to stand up and charge for him. Slamming his katana into the dao broadswords, what followed was a clash of blades. While firing forth a special attack perhaps would've been better, you honestly can't beat this.
"Oh. Now you decide to fight back. Color me surprised, but it won't matter." the Timekeeper announced as he managed to knock Miguel back once more. This time, the fanfic writer managed to catch himself before getting knocked to the ground. "This will be your end."
Miguel gulped. Closing his eyes, he took the time to calm his nerves. For some reason, images of people that he didn't quite recognize flashed in front of him. Trying their hardest to reach out, there was no way to remember them all at once. Instead, he could focus and perhaps bring forth that woman he had heard. Regardless of her status of being his archnemesis, of course. Yes, that would be best.
Opening his eyes back up, Miguel was met with a blue glow around the katana. Staring at it for a couple seconds, he whispered a name under his breath.
"Aqua Luli."
The glow around the katana intensified, only to dissipate right after. Normally quite an odd thing to do, that could just be chalked up to the mermaimon that was beside our fanfic writer. Except this one had more of an undead appearance. Most of her skin was missing, leaving big chunks of bone on full display here. Nor did that explain the inclusion of a massive rusty anchor ready to strike the Timekeeper.
"Took you long enough." 'Aqua' muttered and shot Miguel a look. Getting a shrug back, the undead mermaid digimon shifted her focus over to the Timekeeper. "Oh well. Good of a place as any for a scurvy dog like me to get my pound of flesh."
Swinging her anchor into the opponent, Aqua watched the Timekeeper get knocked back. Quite a considerable distance, in fact. Sadly, said distance was not enough to actually get rid of this fucker. No, it only served to enrage him that much further. Quite impressive considering how angry he was to begin with.
"How. Fucking. Dare. You." the Timekeeper screeched as he charged for the pair. Dao broadswords pulled back, he was more than ready to slice and dice them all apart. Why you would expect anything else is beyond me. "I destroyed that world. There should be nothing left. Not those stupidly named Hunters or even your friends. What made you think a dead world would even be the perfect place to set up camp in the first place? Oh. I know! Every last one of you is an idi-
"Shut up."
Miguel closed the distance, stabbing his katana into the Timekeeper's chest. As he did that, Aqua slammed her anchor into the opponent's head for good measure. Even with the damage done, it still wasn't enough to take him down. No, we're still a long way from reaching the point. But, this is an excellent start of sorts. Not that their opponent would be in agreement on that front. No, he would continue to gloat and attempt to get on their nerves. How successful such an attack was, remained to be seen. Considering that it accomplished not much, we can infer that this idiot will need to go back to the drawing board. At least, I hope he does. Would be odd if he looked at this and thought 'this is totally working and I should continue going down this path'. Knowing him, the odds are 50/50.
"Yes, we were all idiots who were trying to figure out our place in the universe, but that isn't a reason to continually exterminate us all!" Miguel screeched, the words registering only after they had been spoken. Good going… I think? Hard to really say in this situation.
"Fine then. Show me and those that wish to instill proper order the strength of your claim." the timekeeper taunted and took this as his opportunity to disappear.
Miguel sheathed the katana, fatigue setting in right after. Crumpling to the ground, Aqua managed to catch him in time. Letting out a sigh, her gaze turned to the fanfic writer. For all the things that changed, some things had very much hadn't. Perhaps that was a good thing. Right now, they need to get ready for whatever else might be planning to take you on. Knowing their streak of luck, it was only a matter of time before someone or something decided to make their move.
.
Deep Space
A tall mechanical figure paced back and forth the bridge of his ship. The crown jewel of the fleet, every part had been chosen specifically for this occasion. Ironic, considering how few parts actually went into the ship directly. The rest went into special flourishes - a proper set of quarters, a viewing window and even a spot to look out and admire the absolute nothing that was space. Sooner or later, they had to be getting clo-
Right as he thought that, Pluto came into view. Once thought to be a planet, it had lost that right centuries ago. Tempting as it would be to destroy it in a single blast, such an attack would give away their position.
No, they would bide their time and wait for the signal. Then, it would be time to strike.
Harlequin's Notes:
You know what, I'm happy to see them.
The angels on the other hand, not so much.
Also, happy 9th Anniversary, DA03.