Ominous Flame
Chapter 51
Author Notes: Damn it's been a while. Far too long in my opinion but that's what happens when you're given additional assignments and projects during the tail end of the semester. So let's fix that with a long awaited update. I do not own Digimon.
3rd P.O.V
The temperatures were starting to drop as the days have gone on. "And you have a little brother named Shinya. Have you been dreaming about him?" Shagumon had been silent the whole time, listening to Tommy prattle as the others were asleep. Trying to reserve what strength they had.
"About your size, slightly different eye and hair color?" At that the child nodded, his eyes bright. "Yeah! You told me so many stories about him. Though...I never told you, you reminded me of my own brother, but nicer. We were close." Things were strange.
This whole situation was strange. "Is that right..." Since being imprisoned, not once has Cherubimon shown himself. Rather he had been hellbent on gathering fractal code-sending all of his digimon minions, Takuya included out.
Often times this dark flame digimon would return to guard them with many wounds despite his armor. He would shrug off the concerned questions and looks from the prisoners, more focused on seeking answers from them. Whoever was awake and offered, would try to help him make sense of his dreams and restore his memories.
"Alright. So what this about a forest full of tvs?" Often times it was Tommy and Koichi trying to answer these cautious questions. Because from the first day they were trapped...they realized that the individual standing before them wasn't Takuya.
Rather Shagumon. An entity with none of their favorite pyro's compassionate personality with vague insight on his past feelings. He was rash, rude, and impatient. Like a ticking time bomb he was also unpredictable. "That was where we first met. I found you after you shifted into your human form for the first time."
Even though he didn't harbor any sort of grudge against the group, just looking at JP sparked an irritating feeling deep in his chest. With Zoe he was uncomfortable and found it difficult believing her words. And though Koji was the third best option, his own temper and impatience nearly got him set aflame.
Multiple times. "Let me guess, Ophanimon's doing?" Red eyes shifted to the celestial with a scrunched up expression. He could see her breathing through the chains. Chains that Cherubimon forced upon her.
She had another day or two...at best. "You told us she had set you to go find answers. To find out who you were and to save the digital world, though we didn't find out about that till later." He huffed.
"Fat good that seemed to have done. Here I am back at square one, pissed off more than ever." Shagumon sighed as he rested his head back against the wall he was leaning on. His gaze returned to his captives.
All of them, even Tommy was trembling within the barred cage. Shagumon could see their breath as the temperatures turned colder. He couldn't feel any sort of chill, if anything he was always warm. "Are you done asking him questions now? He's barely gotten any sleep."
Both turned to find Koji sitting up, glaring straight through the fire elemental. "Do you plan on answering in his place? Without being an annoying prick?" Koji bristled at that, his hand lands palm down on the ground.
As if he was about to stand up and take the bait. "I will...Koji calm down." Only for his twin to place a hand on his shoulder. Keeping the peace, as per usual. "You're lucky Koichi's here to save your ass Takuya." At that Shagumon snorted.
"I have no fear of you human. Get some rest kid." Pushing himself off the wall, he digivoled. "Slide evolution-Saldomon." From digiman to digibeast, Saldomon approached the cage. Settling on all fours a few feet from the cage, his wings nestled onto his back.
Immediately the trio could feel the warmth, their chilled breaths and shivering gone. "Should any of you fall ill or freeze solid it'll be a pain to deal with." At that Koichi smiled. "Thank you." Even if this wasn't exactly the boy he found himself close to, he could see something warm in his eyes.
Something familiar. "Thanks Takuya! Night~" Saldomon huffed as Tommy laid down. His big yellow hat turned into a temporary pillow. "You know, this would be ten times easier if you just let my brother break those chains on you." Even though Ophanimon's light faded, they could still see them.
The chains that made Shagumon whole. That kept Takuya from breaking free. "I don't trust any of you, bandana boy. Sides, how do you even know this Takuya guy is still alive? Suffice to say if Cherubimon used him to make me-he's probably long gone."
It was always strange hearing such a deep, guttural voice from Saldomon, though considering he was made out of the fractal code of a lot of powerful, feral beast digimon, it made sense. Well, as much sense as anything else going on.
"Do YOU truly believe that? You never seem to correct us when we call you Takuya?" Deep red meets night blue. "Would it matter if I did? You'd still call me that. It's easier if I just go along with it." At that Koichi furrowed his brows.
A pang in his heart. "You didn't answer my question, so I would like a reply." At that the giant flaming creature curls into himself. His tails wrapped protectively around him. "I-I don't know. There are times I feel something instinctively, like I already know more than I should."
He huffed, slowly releasing flames from his mouth. "I know the dreams and visions the kid and you explain to me. And 'Takuya' feels right. So...I don't mind being called it. But as far as me being him? This guy you all are desperate back-I don't know if I am him." There was hesitation as he shuffled slightly.
The confidence Shagumon usually had, wasn't there. "I was made to replace him. I'm not him, I know that much, especially when you all look at me with those damned hurt eyes. Say I let you break these chains...and 'I' die and he doesn't come back? What then?" Koichi sat up, resting his head onto his knees.
"I feel like your personality is from Takuya, but because of Cherubimon's influence, it's different. I think you and him would merge, connecting memories and feelings. Much like what's already happening." Saldomon wasn't sure how to feel about these hypothetical decisions.
Unlike with Tommy who just shares stories with the digiminion, Koichi was one to always state what ifs and ideas. It was interesting, but something told the flaming monster that even if this human version of his was still around, he wasn't made for this philosophy bullshit.
It really didn't help with the headache. "In the end...I guess I can understand 'Takuya' and I suppose I am him. Still in the end, should these chains break-neither of us will really matter. We'll still be monsters. Beings that should not exist. Do you think this human version will want to live knowing what he's done?"
At that Koji rolled his eyes. "We had a similar argument with you before. You're not a monster or evil." At that Saldomon raised an eyebrow. Unsure if he should be amused or just assume the warrior of light to be stupid.
"Hate to break it to you but I was literally created for your demise. I'm still keeping you prisoner despite supposedly being a 'good' digimon." Flashes of his past-of places he didn't recall going to recently being destroyed.
Ash and rubble in his wake. "If what Tommy's said is true...both before and now there's a lot of fractal code on my hands. I've turned many into digieggs and destroyed all around me. There's a very special place for one as terrible as me-and it's not a peaceful life."
He would have to be foolish to believe otherwise. "Even with stained hands, as Takuya you chose to do good with them. It wasn't what you wanted to do, but what you had to-and the moment you realized something wasn't right you stopped and helped those in need." Saldomon hissed.
Turning his gaze away, unable to meet theirs. "You don't become a saint for fixing past mistakes. You don't get redemption being a murderer. If I were you two...I'd give up on trying to save 'Takuya.' Because if he is around deep within me...he's not going to want forgiveness or a second chance." That he knew for a fact.
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"Having fun chatting with the little kiddies." Ranamon was watching him with arms across her chest. "Are you going to report to Cherubimon?" He knew she was aware of his little interactions with the humans, Bokomon and Neemon.
He didn't even need to switch forms as he questioned them. At this point it was due to habit and keeping them warm. "I was there when he made you...both times." Saldomon paused, actually meeting her expressions.
She looked uncomfortable as she stood there. Her shoulders hunched. "Is that right?" Despite the clear nervousness she felt she kept looking at him. "The first time you were tricked, the second time while unconscious-both against your will."
Honestly he didn't expect answers from her. With how gung-ho she was on following orders, he had expected her to report his strange behaviors immediately. He would have had to kill her, but still.
"Why bother telling me this?" She sighed, struggling to find words for a moment as she fidgeted in place. Those crossed arms tightening. "I-when me and the others were 'born' we were told that this war would be for the good of all digimon kind." Now that was something he had never heard before.
He always wondered what the point of this war was. Why all did Ophanimon and Seraphimon summon humans from another world with such desperation? Honestly Saldomon didn't see this coming as he waited for more.
The warrior of water looked down then. "We would make a new world. One where we all would prosper without worry of discrimination between humanoid and beast digimon. Lord Cherubimon had often felt attacked as he constantly argued with how their system of order worked."
It was ironic, how close this sounded to the war that took place before the three celestial's time. Disagreements between beast and man, causing a war that was stopped by one lone digimon, only for that digimon to become corrupt.
History sure loved to repeat itself. "Are you going to get the to point of this story? Or should I just barbecue you now?" She pouted then, deflating slightly. "I-even though me and the others caused so much destruction, I thought we were doing good." He found her form shiver under his scrutiny.
Or was it from anger? "I have legions of fans, Lord Cherubimon had many willing followers to fight in this war. We were promised peace and prosperity under his rule. But the moment I told him those humans were captured he-"
She took a breath, controlling herself. "I don't know exactly what he plans on doing with all the fractal code, but this world and everyone within it is going to be destroyed and reshaped into his own twisted desires." His eyes widened then.
Understanding where all that was going. "I take it both of us are added into that particular scheme?" She met his eyes again. Her accent strong as her eyes narrowed in frustration. A side he couldn't recall ever seeing before.
"I'm saying sugar-is that we're running out of time. We are the last of his main forces that protect him. And there's no guarantee he's going to take us with him as is when he starts the creation of his new world." Within seconds he shifted into Shagumon.
Slowly walking up to her. "He already knows there's something wrong with you. But he's decided not to bother since he's confident that no one can stop him now." He towered over her, practically shadowing her despite being in a his humanoid digiform.
Still she didn't move. "I don't want to die Shagumon. I don't want to lose the fans I spent so much time gaining, Even if this world isn't perfect, I get to be the queen of the sea, the star that glitters in the dark. He's going to take that all away. Especially now that Ophanimon's turned into a digiegg."
That was the main reason he left the dungeon. He wasn't sure why, but he had to leave, his feelings a mess that he couldn't even begin to fathom. And it didn't help that all of the others within their cage began crying and shouting in dismay.
It was difficult to deal with. "So what are you saying Ranamon?" She raised one hand up, it floated in between them. It was low, and faltered slightly as it stayed in place, but she still held it out nonetheless. Her decision made.
"I don't know if those brats have what it takes to beat Lord Cherubimon. But...they're our best shot of surviving through this mess. I'd rather we take the chance now that he's distracted from gathering the last bits of fractal code. Now are you going to be keepin a lady waiting or what?"
At that he smirked. "I don't see too much of a southern belle before me. But I get what you mean. What the hell...I don't have much of anything left to lose." His hand grabbed hers. "Finally. Let's give the darlings a moment to grieve and make a plan." Their alliance was official.
to be continued
Author Notes: I love making this water woman sassy, between this and her southern accent it's a load of fun. Especially when we get some sneaky alliance action going on here.
Honestly wasn't originally planning on having this happen but hey-Ranamon isn't stupid. A bit reckless sure but she knows when things are wrong, and after seeing how things have turned, I could see her her swapping sides.
Either way, water nymph is turning anti-hero lol. Ok that is it. Guys thank you so much for reading. If you like the series so far please feel free to fav/follow/review as it would mean so much to me. I'll see you next time, tcao for now