Chapter 10: The call of the ocean

The ocean. A beautiful place really, a place where most would think positively of. But then again, when were the Digidestined like most people?

Her surroundings were dark, but then again, this had been a common occurance for her. Going to sleep often brought her to this weird place. However, this time was different. The dreams always started and ended at this beach with nothing much happening. This time, dark murky creatures appeared from the waters. They almost looked like they were made of mist. She took a step back in fear. What else could she do? She didn't have her friends or her guardian angel to help her. The creatures advanced towards her.

"Stay back! Don't come any closer, I'll scream!"

"Oh, child of Light, no one will come and save you even if you scream."

The creatures moved forward and attempted to grab Hikari. However, they passed through Hikari. Despite them phasing through Hikari, she had felt a murky and dirty feeling as they phased through.

"I see, this isn't over child of Light. We will come back for you…"

Hikari woke up with a scream, waking up Tailmon instantly.

Tailmon: "Hikari?! Are you ok?"

Hikari: "Just… fine… it was just a nightmare…"

Tailmon: "What happened?"

Hikari: "I was at that beach again… but this time these strange creatures came out of the water and wanted to take me somewhere…"

Tailmon: "Could they be Digimon?"

Hikari: "I… I don't know… they looked murky and lacked any real facial features, except for their eyes…"

Tailmon: "Make sure you tell Takeru."

Hikari: "But-"

Tailmon: "We had an agreement, Hikari. You agreed that if the weird dreams got worse you would tell Takeru."

Hikari: "We did not. I agreed that we would tell someone. I never specified anyone."

Tailmon: "And who else would you tell?"

Hikari glared at her.

Tailmon: "Checkmate."

Hikari: "Fine."

Tailmon: "Well, you should probably go get ready for school."

Hikari: "Yeah... Yuck this shirt has so much sweat."

Takeru was walking to school alone. Usually, he would walk with Miyako and Iori, but recently he couldn't help but feel a little distant. The three of them didn't really have many similarities. Miyako was older than him and Iori was the youngest in the group, despite being one of the most mature. The only real similarities would be the fact that they live near each other, and that they were Digidestined. But then again, they weren't as close as the first group was. After all, it's not like they were stuck in the Digital world and had to rely on one another to survive. Takeru felt that the second group just didn't have that connection the first group had.

Takeru came out of his thoughts and saw that Hikari was in front of him. He rushed forward to tap her on the shoulder when she suddenly turned sharply.

Hikari: "Don't touch me!"

Takeru; "Eh? Sorry Hika."

Hikari: "Oh, it's… no I'm sorry Takeru. I've just been a little jumpy lately."

Takeru: "You ok? Do you want to talk about it?"

Hikari: "Actually-"

Just then Daisuke ran up.

Daisuke: "Hey, you two! Better hurry up. Don't wanna be late!"

Takeru: "Oh, yeah. Come on Hikari let's go."

Hikari: "I'll tell you later, ok?"

Takeru: "Hmm? Ok. Just… if you don't want to talk about we don't have to."

Hikari: "No, I… I'll tell you."

Takeru: "Alright. So, race you to class?"

Hikari: "You're on."

Patamon and Tailmon watched the scene from their spot on the tree.

Patamon: "They really bond well…"

Tailmon: "Mmm."

Patamon: "What's wrong?"

Tailmon: "It's just… Hikari has been having nightmares. I'm worried for her."

Patamon: "Is that odd? Takeru gets nightmares too."

Tailmon: "It's just… I have a bad feeling about them."

Takeru was staring at Hikari during class.

"What could be bothering her?"

Just then, Takeru saw static appear on Hikari. It was like an old television from way before they were born. (Remember this is the 2020 timeline so they were born around 2012.)

Takeru: "Hikari!"

Hikari was spacing out. She was thinking about her nightmare from last night.

"What could those… things want from me? Are they Digimon? Or are they something else…"

Just then, Hikari realised that she could no longer see her classroom. Around her, she could only see a gray landscape. When she looked down, her feet were halfway into water.

"What?! What's happening?!"

Voice: "Hikari!"

Hikari looked towards the voice and saw Takeru looking at her with a concerned look. She could no longer see the gray landscape either. She suddenly felt lightheaded and started to fall. Takeru, was quickly by her side holding her up.

Teacher: "Yagami, are you ok? You should go to the nurse's office. Get someone to go with you."

Takeru: "I'll bring her. Hikari, you able to walk?"

Hikari: "I'll be fine."

Hikari stood up but almost immediately needed to support herself using Takeru. Takeru brought her out of the classroom before talking to her.

Takeru: "Are you sure you're ok?"

Hikari: "Sorry, it's just… the nightmare I had today. It was… weird. Sometimes at night when I'm sleeping, I dream of this gray and dull beach. Usually nothing happens, but today my dream was different. These weird… creature came out of the water and tried to grab me. They tried to grab me but their hands just… went through me. They said that it wasn't over and they would come back. I… I don't know what to do."

Takeru: "Hika... do you think Koushiro would know what to do?"

Hikari: "I… I don't know. They might not even be Digimon…"

Takeru: "Whatever they are, I won't let them have you. I will do my best to ensure you're safe… erm with the help of everyone else of course."

Hikari leaned onto Takeru's shoulder.

Hikari: "Thanks, Keru."

Both of them had a light blush as they entered the nurse's office.

Takeru: "Make sure you rest well, ok? If you're not fine after school, then you don't need to come to meet us."

Hikari: "Alright, thanks. Hopefully, I'll get to see you guys."

Takeru left Hikari at the nurse's office, he went back to his class for a normal school day, while Hikari spent her time resting. Nothing had happened during the day. But all was going to change after school ended.

Takeru: "Hey, so how are you feeling?"

Hikari: "Better. I don't think I'll go to the Digital World though."

Takeru: "Alright, you want me to bring you back to your home?"

Hikari: "I'll be fine, it would be out of your way. Just update me on what happens in the Digital World, ok?"

Takeru: "Alright. See you tomorrow then."

Hikari and Takeru went their separate ways. Hikari ended up sitting at a bench to relax by the beach near their school. That was her biggest mistake. Soon after she had sat down, she realised that she could only see gray. Hikari, on instinct, closed her eyes.

"No… not again…"

Tailmon was surprised Hikari hadn't called out for her. Hikari usually would call out to her if she fell asleep on the tree in school. This time however, Tailmon woke up only to see Hikari on a bench far away.

"Hmm maybe she is really stressed with her nightmares… maybe she just forgot to get me."

Tailmon looked around, and seeing no other humans around, she jumped off the tree and started moving to Hikari. Just as she was about to reach her, she realised that there was static appearing on Hikari.

Tailmon: "Hikari!"

But it was no use. Hikari was gone, the only thing that remained was her red backpack. Tailmon immediately grabbed the bag and started running on all fours towards Koushiro's office.

Takeru walked into Koushiro's office with a slight frown.

Daisuke: "Hey, where's Hikari?"

Takeru: "She wasn't feeling too well so she won't be joining us today."

Koushiro: "I hope she gets well soon. Let me just send her a message before you guys go."

Knowledge: "Hi, heard you weren't feeling too well. Get well soon."

Koushiro: "Alright-"

Just then Tailmon slammed into the room.

Takeru: "Tailmon? Hey, isn't that Hikari's backpack?"

Tailmon: "She disappeared!"

Iori: "Hikari?"

Miyako: "Didn't you say she went home, Takeru?"

Takeru had a look of panic and quickly went to Tailmon. He was completely oblivious to anything else around him.

Takeru: "She disappeared? Explain."

Tailmon: "I just- she suddenly had… had static on her and next thing I know she's gone…"

Koushiro: "Well, not that it helps much, but she doesn't seem to be in the Digital World…"

Takeru: "The beach… yeah that's what she said…"

Takeru immediately ran out of the door leaving everyone stunned. Tailmon reacted first, tossing Hikari's backpack towards Koushiro's table and darting out of the room after Takeru.

Koushiro: "Err, I guess I'll continue searching the Digital World?"

Hikari opened her eyes and saw that she was on a beach. There was a lighthouse that was emitting light, but it wasn't very clear as everything was dull and barely had colour.

"Where am I? What is this place?"

Hikari looked around and saw there was a cave near the cliff side. She held her Digivice close to her and felt a slight darkness from the cave yet, she felt drawn to it. She began to walk into the cave and near the entrance she saw small creatures with dark spirals on their hands.

"Child of Light…"

Hikari: "Who are you?! Don't come closer!"

"Save us…"

Hikari: "S-Save you? Are you Digimon?"

"Digi… mon? We… we don't know…"

Hikari: "Those dark spirals around your arms… it's the work of the Digimon Kaiser…"

"You do know about this… please help us… Child of Light…"

Hikari: "Is that why you called for me?"

The creatures began to move outside of the cave. Hikari watched as they passed her.

"Do they think I can help them? I don't have Tailmon… how can I help them remove the spirals? Why are they leaving this dark cave? Do they think I have powers related to Light?"

Hikari followed them out of the cave and saw the creatures did seem to resemble some underwater Digimon. Hikari pulled out her Digivice and it immediately analysed the Digimon.

"Hangyomon, Ultimate Level… how did the Kaiser get here? And why did he take these Digimon?"

Just then, Hikari felt wind coming from behind her. She quickly ducked and looked upwards, seeing an Airdramon fly by. The Airdramon spewed black fire onto some of the Hangyomon, deleting them instantly.

Hikari: "No… What can I do… Someone… please help us… Tailmon… Onii-chan… Takeru… Please help me!"

Takeru reached the beach by the school with Patamon on his head, and Tailmon trailing behind him.

Takeru: "Hikari!"

Patamon "Takeru…"

Takeru: "I shouldn't have left her… I told her I wouldn't let them get her. What do I do now? What can I do?"

Tailmon: "Takeru… Hikari wouldn't want to see you like this. Have Hope."

Takeru looked at Tailmon with a small smile before Tailmon heard a faint voice.

"Tailmon…"

Tailmon immediately whipped her head towards the voice's direction. She began to run towards it only stopping when she reached a ledge. Takeru and Patamon ran behind her and stopped as they heard the same voice calling to her.

"Tailmon… Takeru…"

Patamon: "No doubt about it… that's Hikari!"

Tailmon: "But where is she?"

Takeru: "She's not in this world or the Digital World… she's trying to call for us…"

Tailmon: "But how do we get to her?"

Takeru surprised even himself. It was as if he couldn't control his body.

Takeru: "I'm coming for you, Hikari."

With that statement, Takeru started to run and jumped off the ledge. Patamon and Tailmon, both in a panic, jumped after him.

Takeru, Patamon and Tailmon all landed on a cliff side. Takeru got up first.

Takeru: "Where is this place..?"

Tailmon: "It definitely isn't the normal Digital World… There's a lot of darkness here…"

Hikari: "Tailmon! Takeru! You guys came to save me!"

Just then the Airdramon started to circle back and charged in Hikari's direction.

Takeru: "Hikari! Don't worry! Patamon!"

"Patamon, Armor-Evolution! Pegasmon! Soaring Hope!"

Pegasmon: "Rodeo Gallop!"

Pegasmon rammed into Airdramon from the side, preventing the Airdramon from attacking Hikari.

Tailmon: "Hikari, I need to Armor-evolve too!"

Hikari: "I have my Digivice… but my Phone isn't here… I don't have the Digimental."

Tailmon: "No…"

Tailmon looked back to the battle, Pegasmon was dodging the fireballs thrown by the Airdramon. Tailmon suddenly realised that there was a high amount of dark energy coming from the lighthouse. Tailmon immediately ran over to the cliff and jumped on Pegasmon, who had just passed by the cliff.

Tailmon: "Pegasmon! Aim for that lighthouse! Its dark energy feels like a dark tower!"

Takeru: "Got it, Pegasmon go for it!"

Pegasmon: "Silver Blaze!"

Pegasmon's attack hit the lighthouse, causing the structure to crack and the white building collapsed. There was indeed a dark tower inside it.

Pegasmon: "Shooting Star!"

Pegasmon's attack hit the dark tower. However, it didn't collapse or show any signs of damage.

"They've figured it out… abandon the plan. We must get the child of Light!"

Hikari turned around to the source of the voice, but what she caused her to shake in fear. The Hangyomons' dark spirals fell off and they began to start morphing into the very creatures that Hikari had seen in her nightmares.

Hikari: "No… not you…"

"It's a good thing your device wasn't so advanced. If it was it would have been able to detect that we aren't even Digimon."

Hikari: "What are you..?"

"We will bring you to our lord and master, Dagomon. He rules over this dark ocean, even treated us as if we were Digimon and named our species, Scubamon. You won't escape us child of Light. We will show our appreciation to Lord Dagomon by bringing you to him, as his bride."

Hikari: "Takeru! Tailmon! Help!"

Takeru and Tailmon looked to Hikari and saw the creatures advancing towards her.

Takeru: "Pegasmon! Turn around and get to Hikari!"

Pegasmon turned quickly and tried to fly past Airdramon. However, the Airdramon was able to ram into Pegasmon just as he went past him. Pegasmon ended up crashing onto the ground reverting to Patamon. Takeru and Tailmon were thrown off, but Takeru quickly got himself up and started running to Hikari.

Takeru: "Hikari!"

Hikari turned to run but one of the Scubamon grabbed her left arm. Hikari clenched her Digivice, and it started to glow a little. Just then, it cracked, and a shield of light surrounded Hikari, causing the Scubamon to recoil from Hikari as if it had been burned.

"Impressive… you can still call upon the powers of light, but it won't be enough to stop us!"

The Scubamon threw a spear towards the shield, intentionally aiming it to break the shield without harming Hikari. The shield shattered instantly, as the Scubamon grabbed Hikari again.

Takeru: "Let go of Hikari!"

Hikari: "Takeru!"

Hikari reached out to Takeru with her right arm. Takeru took it with his left. The moment Takeru and Hikari grabbed each other, a white light surrounded them. Unfazed, Takeru used his momentum to swing his right arm towards the Scubamon. The Scubamon got instantly deleted as it came into contact with the white light around Takeru and Hikari. Both their Digivices cracked again and displayed an odd symbol that seemed to be a combination of the crest of Hope and Light. The crest of Light was in place of the sun in the crest of Hope.

Patamon and Tailmon got up from a distance and suddenly gasped.

Patamon: "This power... it's like!"

Tailmon: "With SkullGreymon... but even stronger!"

"Patamon Warp-Evolution! Seraphimon!"

"Tailmon Warp-Evolution! Ophanimon!"

Takeru and Hikari were enveloped in a shield and were brought close to their partners.

Seraphimon: "We will not forgive you for hurting our partners! Ascension Hallow!"

Lightning started to fall, striking the Scubamon and Airdramon who was behind Seraphimon. The Airdramon got deleted instantly, while the Scubamon were on the ground weakened.

Ophanimon: "Perish, for laying a finger on my Hikari! Sefirot Crystal!"

Ten crystals appeared behind Ophanimon, all unleashing a pink light that deleted all the remaining Scubamon around them. Takeru and Hikari both were lowered to the ground and the shield around them disappeared.

Hikari had her head down as Takeru approached her.

Hikari: "I want to go home."

Takeru put his hand on her shoulder.

Takeru: "Then, let's go. That's why we came for you."

Hikari looked up to Takeru and gave him a small smile, before collapsing into his arms.

Ophanimon: "Hikari!"

Takeru: "She's… fine… just… exhausted…"

Seraphimon: "Are you ok, Takeru?"

Takeru: "Just… tired… feels… worse than… against SkullGreymon…"

Seraphimon nodded and grabbed both children into his arms. Seraphimon and Ophanimon flew up into the sky where a beam of light had appeared. They ended up back at the same beach next to their school. The sky was getting dark and the sun was setting. The two large Angels started to fly towards Takeru's house.

Takeru: "Ophanimon… revert back… Seraphimon can bring us... back to my home."

Ophanimon looked towards the two children in Seraphimon arms. Hikari was passed out in Takeru's arms, while Takeru was lying down with one eye open. It looked like he was either in pain or about to fall asleep.

Ophanimon: "Are you sure?"

Takeru: "It's… very draining… Hikari has… been through enough…"

Ophanimon positioned herself above Seraphimon and reverted to Plotmon, landing softly next to Takeru's head.

Seraphimon: "Takeru, are you sure you will be fine?

Takeru: "Yeah… Just… tired…"

Plotmon: "We need to call Koushiro and tell him we're alright…"

Takeru: "Got it…"

Hope: "Izzy… got Hikari… we're alright…"

Knowledge: "Thank goodness, where did you guys go? Why didn't you contact me? Where are you guys now?"

Hope: "Not now… Tired… call Onii-chan, Sor and Joe… my house… Onii-chan unlock…"

Knowledge: "Sigh alright I'll get them to come over. But you're going to explain what happened when you can."

Hope: "Got it… thanks…"

The group arrived at Takeru's house via the balcony, but not before Seraphimon reverted into Angemon, who was a much smaller size and could actually fit into the house. Once there, Angemon put Hikari down on Takeru's bed as Takeru walked outside. Takeru typed a quick message on his phone and immediately his head slammed on the table as he passed out from exhaustion.

Koushiro: "Well, they got Hikari back."

Daisuke: "Where were they?"

Iori: "They can tell us when they are ready. He called for you guys, so you should go over to him."

Miyako: "He sounded super tired… wonder what they did to be so tired~"

Joe: "Please get your head out of the gutter."

Yamato: "They are just friends, at least that's what they say…"

Sora: "Well, it doesn't matter. Let's just go over and talk to them."

Koushiro: "You guys can go first. We will inform the rest of you on their conditions. Sora, you think it would be a bad idea to use birdramon to get there?"

Piyomon: "If I fly high enough we definitely can."

Gomamon : "Let's just hope Joe doesn't get sick this time!"

Joe: "Let's just… go…"

The group ended up landing in a secluded park near the apartment that Takeru lived in with his mom. Once they landed, Yamato immediately sprinted towards the apartment with the older Digidestined following him. Yamato opened the door and immediately rushed over to the slumped figure at the table.

Patamon: "Don't worry, he's just tired."

He saw the message on the phone and started to laugh just as the other Digidestined came in.

Yamato: "He left us a message. 'Don't worry we fine in short Hika went to a weird place somehow we went mega despite a dark tower we very tired Hika on my bed please wash her left glove Ill explain when Im awake moms out till tomorrow btw' He must have been really tired. That was horribly written and it doesn't have punctuation."

Joe did a quick check up on Takeru before moving over to go into the room to check on Hikari.

Sora: "Well, whatever happened it sounds like what they did a few days ago when they brought Agumon back. Except it seems it was much bigger scale this time."

Koushiro: "It's really odd. They shouldn't be able to evolve under the influence of the dark towers and yet those two are able to do it even if they get extremely exhausted after it."

Just then, Joe came out of the room.

Joe: "From the looks of it, they both seem to be suffering from extreme exhaustion. Nothing too serious. As long as they rest a bit they should be fine. And considering that this is likely a digital issue, they'll probably get better faster than normal."

Yamato: "Well, that's good to know. I don't think it would be a good idea for us to bring Hikari home right now so let's just keep her here."

Joe: "I'll go wash her left glove you guys figure out how you want to do their sleeping arrangements."

Yamato: "Thanks, we'll bring Hikari into mom's room and we'll put Takeru back into his room."

Sora: "I'll go over to Hikari's home and get a change of clothes for her."

The group went about their duties when Takeru's phone started to ring. Yamato went over to pick it up and saw that it was their mother.

Yamato: "Hey, mom. Don't worry about me picking up the phone. Takeru was tired, so he's asleep right now."

Ms Takaishi: "Ok, what's going on? Is it the digital world again?"

Yamato: "Err- what made you think that?"

Ms Takaishi: "Well, there were reports of two large angelic beings in the sky. And I know Takeru, he doesn't sleep at 7."

Yamato: "Erm… he's fine don't worry. He's just really tired. We aren't actually sure what happened but he assured us he was just tired. If it helps, Joe also said it's just exhaustion."

Ms Takaishi: "Alright, can you make his meals tomorrow? I won't be home because I have to work overtime because of these supposed angels."

Her voice went to a whisper.

Ms Takaishi: "I also need to figure out a way to cover this up."

Yamato: "Thanks, I'll handle Takeru's meals. Don't worry about him, just worry about yourself."

Yamato ended the call and turned to the other Digidestined, including Sora who had just came in.

Yamato: "Well, it seems that they were seen flying overhead."

Patamon: "Maybe I should have flown as Angemon instead of Seraphimon… it would have been much harder to see us."

Joe: "Wait, Seraphimon? I thought you two flew over as Angemon and Angewomon?"

Patamon: "When we were in the weird place Takeru and Hikari did something and then both Tailmon and me felt really strong. We ended up evolving straight to Seraphimon and Ophanimon. It was a similar feeling to when we handled SkullGreymon."

Koushiro: "Well that explains things much better than Takeru's message. Can I have their Digivices? I should probably run some tests on them."

Patamon went to the room to grab Hikari's Digivice, while Yamato grabbed Takeru's.

Sora: "Wait, since when were their Digivices cracked?"

Koushiro: "Oh, it's been like that since SkullGreymon, but I never brought it up because they still seemed to function normally. Although, they do seem to be more cracked now…"

Tentomon: "Don't get too interested in them, Koushiro… you still need to catch up on your sleep…"

Joe: "I agree, it's not healthy for you to stay up late so make sure you don't work yourself to exhaustion."

Koushiro: "Alright, alright. Let's just put them in bed then we'll go."

Patamon landed next to Takeru's sleeping form and put his ears in front of his eyes as he snuggled into Takeru. Meanwhile, in the other room, Plotmon had snuggled into Hikari's arms as they all entered a peaceful slumber. The rest of the Digidestined had left the house, with Yamato and Sora intending to come back the following afternoon.

I'm pretty sure some of y'all would know that I took reference from the fourth ending of 2020 for how they ended up going to sleep. :D