Ominous Flame

Chapter 48

Author Notes: Bum bu bu bummmm. I'm back. And with that we have a new chapter. It's time to continue from last time my friends. I do not own Digimon Frontier.

3rd P.O.V

Visions have been bombarding his head for awhile now. Images of people he didn't know-but felt like he should. A child known as Shinya and a pair of adults that look similar to him. A group of boys wearing uniformed attire with roguish grins.

Even those shapeshifting warriors that he and his allies had fought. The boy that stared him down, specifically his face was nagging him. But why? They kept calling him something else too. It made no sense to him. He had one mission.

His purpose for being was to destroy all in his master's path. Why...did he not want to obey? What was it about those kids that made him freeze and run away? Saldomon had no true answers. Especially after that blinding light.

It made no sense, but after that strange raven haired human touched him...there was a warmth, a warmth that not even his flames could create. It was strange, but not unwanted. Though...what he did was an utter disgrace.

Not once has he failed in killing his target or following orders. No doubt his master would be most displeased once he hears. No doubt angry and unmerciful. So he would have to try again. And this time succeed. "Saldomon...I have new orders for you."

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"So...let me get this straight. You're telling us that Ophanimon contacted you which is why you were in a daze after the battle. Telling you that Takuya is still fighting despite his transformation?" Koichi nodded at Zoe's question.

His mind racing ever since he returned to reality. "And then...she tells you that if we beat Cherubimon Takuya will be ok?" Now it was JP taking over the questioning. These two specific friends looking at him with a hint of skepticism.

Honestly he thought they would be a lot happier about this. This was what they had been wishing for. Actual confirmation-actual answers to their concerns regarding Takuya and stopping Cherubimon's rampage once and for all.

And after all the crazy things they've had to see and deal with, they shouldn't even be surprised. They were brought to another world-were given the power to turn into digimon and THEN were told to save the world they were brought to.

Finding out he got to have a one on one chat with an ancient angelic warrior that gave him hope to save his crush-friend, from her evil ex co-ruler should've been expected. At the very least it was a weird situation that wasn't necessarily bad.

"I know it seems strange. But-after everything, you can't argue that it's impossible. Especially since she not only knew the entire situation but also perfectly matched both Takuya and Bokomon's descriptions." Koji stayed off to the side of their little friend circle.

His face towards the shadowy forest, keeping his eyes peeled for trouble, though he was hearing everything loud and clear. Letting Koichi argue with the others. "I'm not doubting the talk-but I am doubting the timing of it all. Seems a bit too coincidental that she comes now after everything that's happening."

All of them had mixed reactions to the situation. The only one who seemed to feel the same way as him was Tommy, who crossed his arms with a pout. Like Koichi he was actually a little annoyed that no one else was jumping for joy.

He understands the concern that this MIGHT be a trick and there had been digimon in the past that have tried being sneaky because of ulterior motives. But this specific scenario shouldn't be something for them to overthink about.

"If she's been helping Takuya from the get go AND is the one who brought us here in the first place than it makes sense. She's a digimon warrior not an all powerful God." All this time, it's been celestial this-almighty ruler that.

But Tommy saw Seraphimon get turned into fractal code like any other digimon they've come across. And if Koichi's visions were true-and he saw the green wearing angel lady slowly but surely losing her powers and energy trying to help them...

All that while being in a cage on the far side of the world...of course she was limited in what she could do. Of COURSE she couldn't always be there when they needed her. She summoned them for a reason-and it wasn't so she could play babysitter and protect them all the time.

That wasn't why they were forced here in the first place-it was the exact opposite. Besides...even though he wasn't close enough to hear her like the warrior of darkness did, Tommy DID see him break one of those chain thingies that were suddenly visible on Takuya.

He believed Koichi, and he believed that it actually was Ophanimon, not Cherubimon or some other minion who thought they could take advantage of them like Koji and the others thought. They were being too paranoid. Again, couldn't really fault them for thinking so-but all the same this was too much.

And for once he was going to be completely vocal. Not that JP would let him really get the first word in. "Shorty look-I get you want to get Takuya back and this would solve all of our problems if this is true. But what if it's not? We go fight the big bad guy and win and poof there goes Takuya."

Tommy scowled at JP, not liking that tone he was using. He may be younger than them, but he wasn't stupid. When he first got here he may've been on the naïve and sheltered side, but he's been here right alongside the others.

Fighting, learning...getting his ass kicked and betrayed. Growing and maturing. Because of his insecurities he bit his tongue, hid his thoughts even when asked his opinion. Rather he let the others talk it out and follow the majority. Now...he couldn't afford to do that anymore.

His favorite goggle wearing brunette wasn't there to speak up for him. No matter what he WAS going to be heard whether they like it or not. "We've all heard and felt Ophanimon's presence before JP. Something tells me that if it was Cherubimon or someone else-Koichi would've been able to tell."

He gaze shifts then. Locking with dark blue. Koichi finds himself startled seeing Tommy look at him like that. Though appearance wise he hasn't aged a bit, those eyes were striking. Showing seriousness and confidence that would not have been found towards the beginning of their journey.

"Out of all of us-Takuya and Koichi's had the best instincts and observations skills. If something seemed wrong or off they were the ones that always saw it before anyone else. If he thinks it was her-then i'll take that chance." JP's jaw dropped at that.

And though Koji and Zoe didn't have as much of a momentous reaction to Tommy's words, they did both stare at him. For once taking his words into account. Listening to him for the sake of hearing him, instead of just letting him try and help but not expect much of it.

The young warrior of ice rolls his eyes seeing them. "Right now we know three things for sure. 1-Takuya is still fighting Cherubimon. 2-Koichi was able to help break Cherubimon's control if those chains were any indication. And 3-Cherubimon only has two warriors now."

Now that last sentence made all of them blink in surprise. "What makes you say that? Yeah, Arbormon and Grumblemon are history-but Mercurymon for all we know could still be lurking around." It was a bold claim for the kid wearing the yellow hat to say.

There was no confirmation that Cherubimon only has two warriors. Right now they only knew Arbormon and Grumblemon were down for the count. But, Tommy was expecting that rebuttal. And was ready to counter it with one of his own, though he tightly gripped his hat, seeking comfort.

"Well, they were all working together when they attacked Takuya and Koichi. If they all were attacking us now after taking Takuya-why wouldn't Mercurymon be there to make sure we were finished off?" It didn't make sense to him.

When it came to videogames and stories...when the bad guys are on a winning streak, and they're sure that the good guys are ready to be eliminated once and for all, they should do everything and anything to ensure that they won. Usually for plot convenience and a happy ending-they don't.

But this is reality, and from what little Tommy knows-Cherubimon seems to be a very capable strategist. He begrudgingly accepts that he knows how to make use of his bad guy role. First have his most powerful warriors split up to cover more ground.

Destroy any opposition down to the last, and should there be decent trouble from the enemy, gather those powerful warriors and have them strike with no mercy. The wicked celestial was very motivated in getting Takuya back and having him join his ranks.

And his brother in all but blood mentioned several times that though he never wanted to return to the bad side, he was far more powerful as a digiwarrior of evil. In general it didn't make sense to send Takuya, Ranamon and Arbormon out to attack them in what could've been their final battle without Mercurymon.

Especially with his dark reflection ability. All throughout the battle, there was a chance for Mercurymon to ambush them or intercept an attack...and he never did. So he either got turned into code, or he is no longer following his lord's orders. Either way-he's not involved.

As Koji already mentioned before-the elementals of wood and ground are already taken care of. The only real threat between saving Takuya and stopping Cherubmon once and for all is Ranamon. And even then it doesn't look like she's going to be much of a problem.

She's not surrounded by water, she has no allies other than Takuya to really take advantage of and though has her beast spirit, isn't going to be as mobile on land. And there was no doubt in anyone's mind that she wasn't upset or unshaken seeing her companions flee or die on her.

Draining rains her only spell that could cause issues, but Zoe's already been practicing her own spells to try and counter it. Having had enough of the southern water bimbo getting away with the same annoying tactics.

As far as Tommy's concerned, they've all been training, planning and working to stop the villain in their story. And they've nearly reached the end of their journey to saving the digital world. Now it was just about final preparations on how they're going to tackle things.

What were they going to do now that they're days? Hours? Away from fulfilling their roles. And he explained each train of thought patiently. As if they should've already come to these conclusions. It...was concerning to say the least.

"Tommy...how long have you been thinking about all this?" Bokomon was giving him a strange look, like the rest of them did. For the last several days both him and Neemon have been on the quieter side. Showing fatigue if the lack of comedic arguing between them is any indication.

This is the first time since Takuya's absence that white furred bookworms' really gotten involved in a conversation where he wasn't dragged in. But his expression didn't hold shock, he wasn't surprised. However he did look concerned and anxious.

Like the others, Bokomon wasn't hearing the words coming from an innocent human child. He was looking at a stranger that knew far more than he should've. And he knew why...though he hoped it wasn't what he was thinking.

"Takuya did a good job of hiding things from me...but in a sense he's basically a nicer version of my brother Yutaka. I could tell when he was upset about certain things And...I saw more than just my mom in the dream forest that night."

Just like that, both Koichi and Bokomon found themselves stiffening at the implications. "What do you mean Tommy?" He turns his attention to Zoe-who was really the only individual still completely in the dark about everything.

For better or worse, he would honor his surrogate brother's wishes. For now... "Not my secret to tell. But when we get Takuya back...there's still something he needs to say to us." His eyes return to Koichi again. With the younger of the yin/yang twins able to read his silent message.

'And you WILL talk to him...'

To be continued

Author Notes: Cards on the table-yeah this doesn't sound like Tommy. But I don't think we really got to see too much growth of the characters in the show. Episode by episode things were always going on, but we didn't see too much of it impacting them.

The only thing I could think of up the top of my head was Takuya when he got his beast spirit. He was traumatized by it...but it only lasted until the end of the episode. I feel like both in this story and in the show, we don't get too deeply into Tommy's head.

All his life he's kinda been pushed to the side, because he's too young. But the kid's smart, observant and he knows when there's a problem. I think being forced to fight and adapt to this world enhanced those qualities...and for Takuya's sake he's growing up ahead of time.

Does that make sense? I know i'm rambling but he's the one that from the getgo got along with Takuya, and I feel like would put in the most effort in his return. If I didn't ship the two to death, Tommy would be the one getting all the spotlight instead of Koichi lol.

But with that...overly long author notes, that is it for now. Guys as always thank you for reading. If you like this series please feel free to fav/follow/review as it would mean the world to me. And I'll see you next time, tchao for now!