Chapter 41: Epilogue

The only sound in the Digital World was the screams from Takeru and Hikari.

The Digidestined watched, with Taichi and Yamato hugging the two of them tightly.

The Digidestined were happy that Arkadimon had been defeated but they couldn't bring themselves to celebrate. After all, just having one casualty counted as a major loss for them already.

Things went by in a blur to Takeru and Hikari. All they remember was crying into their brothers' shoulders. Eventually Wisemon and Leomon reached the battlefield, seeing the state of the Digidestined, Leomon went up to them.

Leomon: "I see. I'm sorry that I wasn't much help, Digidestined."

Koushiro: "Don't worry, Leomon. I'm sure all of you did your best while buying time for us."

Noir landed next to the Digidestined.

Noir: "I surveyed the area. No trace of Arkadimon. Unfortunately… no trace of anything else too."

Wisemon: "I see. Digidestined… let us go to the tree."

The Digidestined wordlessly got on the multiple Komondomon that had come over transport them.

As the reached the tree, the Digidestined disembarked from Komondomon, except for Takeru and Hikari, both had cried themselves to sleep.

They all sat near the base of the tree, pondering on what to do next.

A gate opened in front of them suddenly. Gennai stepped out of it.

Gennai: "Congratulations on defeating Arkadimon, Digidestined."

Taichi went up to him.

Taichi: "And where were you when everything went down?"

Gennai: "Preparing for the worst outcome."

Yamato and Sora quickly went up and grabbed Taichi before he did something.

Gennai: "We were watching the battle. The bearers of Light and Hope… I fear there may be some irreparable damage."

Taichi: "And who's fault is that?"

Yamato: "Taichi."

Taichi turned away.

Gennai: "Their Digimon sacrificed themselves quickly and tried to draw power from the Digimentals to reduce the burden on their partners."

Gennai started to look to the floor, looking sorry.

Gennai: "Unfortunately, the sheer energy needed for such an evolution is too much. Coupled with their emotional turmoil and the extent they have pushed themselves in the past few days… I fear for their condition."

Koushiro: "Are you trying to say…"

Gennai: "They will survive, likely. Their powers from the Holy Digimon will keep them stable. However, I'm unsure how possible it will be in the Human World."

Yamato: "What are you trying to say?"

Gennai: "Their connection with the Holy Digimon's powers is strongest in the Digital World. Until they recover… it is best if they spend their time in the Digital World."

Taichi: "For how long?"

Gennai looked away.

Taichi began to walk towards Gennai.

Taichi: "Gennai. How. Long."

Gennai: "It will be based on their conditions when we bring back their partners. Worst case… indefinitely. Best case, likely they will be able to leave the Digital World for some time before needing to come back."

Taichi slowly walked back to the group. He went up to the tree and punched it.

Taichi: "DAMMIT!"

Sora walked over to him.

Sora: "Taichi…"

Gennai: "We will do our best to bring back their partners as soon as possible. For now, keep them in the Digital World."

Gennai opened a gate and went through it.

Daisuke: "So… what now…"

Ken: "They will need to stay within the Digital World constantly…"

Leomon walked up to them.

Leomon: "If possible, we can try and build a living space for them. It is the least we can do for you Digidestined after all you've done for us."

Miyako: "That would be nice."

Leomon: "I shall get to work on it immediately. Do you know where they are likely to prefer?"

Taichi and Yamato looked to each other.

Taichi: "How about we wait for them to wake up?"

Yamato: "After all, at best this will still be their permanent home."

Leomon: "Understood."

Leomon went towards the tree to inform Wisemon of the situation.

Koushiro: "Now what…"

Taichi pinched the bridge of his nose and sighed.

Taichi: "We need to go back and inform our parents on everything. Especially Ms Takaishi and my parents."

Koushiro: "I'll do my best to update the gate. If Takeru and Hikari can't come out of the Digital World, I at least want to make sure their parents can come in."

Mimi: "Oh, so the gate still doesn't work for those without Digivices?"

Koushiro: "For now. I'll try to make it better."

Taichi placed a hand on Koushiro's shoulder, and for once Taichi looked defeated.

Taichi: "It's fine, Koushiro. Rest first."

Koushiro: "But…"

Taichi: "No buts. Just rest. Everyone deserves it."

Koushiro looked down before nodding. Ken opened gates for everyone, and they all went through it. The Digidestined arrived in their own homes, except for Yamato, who had requested to be sent to Takeru's home.

Yamato left Takeru's room and saw Ms Takaishi at the table.

Yamato: "Mom?"

Ms Takaishi: "Yamato? Where's Takeru?"

Yamato walked forward towards his mom. His mom quickly embraced him as he cried.

Yamato: "Takeru… he's… alive… but I… I…"

Ms Takaishi stroked Yamato's back to comfort him.

Yamato: "I… I don't know… when he can… come back…"

Ms Takaishi: "He's safe, right?"

Yamato: "Yes…"

Ms Takaishi: "Alright. Why don't you wash up and stay here tonight? I'll inform your father. You can tell me about it tomorrow, ok?"

Yamato: "Would… Would that be ok?"

Ms Takaishi: "Don't worry, Yamato. Your father and I are at least on speaking terms. And after everything that all of you have been through, I'm sure he will understand. I know I would."

Yamato wiped his tears and began to walk towards the bathroom.

Ms Takaishi sat back down, placing her head in her hands.

Gabumon looked at Ms Takaishi worriedly.

Gabumon: "I can explain what happened if you want…"

Ms Takaishi: "Can you? Please do. Is my Takeru safe?"

Gabumon got onto the chair and began to explain to Ms Takaishi what had happened.

Taichi had appeared in his room. He took a deep breath.

Taichi: "Ready, Agumon?"

Agumon: "Yes…"

Taichi opened the door.

Taichi: "I'm home."

Mrs Yagami: "Welcome back, where's Hikari?"

Taichi: "Mom… we need to talk. Are you free right now?"

Mrs Yagami: "Taichi? You're scaring me. Where's Hikari?"

Taichi: "Please sit down, mom."

Although slightly reluctant, Taichi and his mother sat down at the table.

Taichi: "Hikari's fine. She's alive."

Mrs Yagami: "Thank goodness."

Taichi: "But… we're not sure when she can come back."

Mrs Yagami: "What are you saying?"

Taichi took a deep breath and began to explain what had happened.

Mrs Yagami: "So… Hikari is in the Digital World. And Tailmon… is gone?"

Taichi: "Yes, but I'm not sure about Tailmon. They're Digimon so they should be reborn but I'm not sure how long it will take. Gennai said they are working on it."

Mrs Yagami: "I see… can we see Hikari now?"

Taichi: "Mom… we already told you long ago… without a Digivice… we aren't able to bring you in safely."

Mrs Yagami: "But can't I use your's?"

Taichi: "Mom… it doesn't work like that. Each Digivice is specific to one person. We can't just share our Digivices like that."

Mrs Yagami: "Then promise me that you will see Hikari every day and make sure she knows we love her."

Taichi: "Mom… have Hope. There's still a chance she can come back."

Mrs Yagami: "Promise me."

Taichi: "Mom… you know I am already going to do it, even if you don't tell me to."

Mrs Yagami went over and hugged Taichi, tears in her eyes.

Mrs Yagami: "I already lost you for a year… I can't lose Hikari forever…"

Taichi did his best to console his mom, but he ended up shedding a few tears as well.

Takeru began to wake up. He looked around the unfamiliar space.

"Where am I..?"

Takeru looked over to the right, seeing Hikari in a separate bed.

"Leaves? Seems we are still in the Digital World…"

Takeru brought his hand to his forehead and tried to remember what had happened.

"Where's Patamon… and Tailmon? What happened. Where's everyone..?"

Takeru began to remember what had happened and tears began to fall from his eyes. Hikari began to wake up as well. She turned to Takeru and worriedly went over.

She hugged Takeru.

Hikari: "Takeru…"

Takeru: "They're gone, Hika… they're gone…"

Hikari: "Keru…"

Takeru looked at Hikari. Hikari looked on the verge of tears as well, but she was doing her best to not cry.

Takeru: "H-Hika… I-I… I would rather you c-cry with me…"

Hikari turned away, trying to hide her face.

Takeru: "P-Please, Hika… d-don't hide your t-tears… not with m-me."

Hikari turned back to Takeru and hugged him tightly. Tears began to flow freely. Wisemon watched with Gennai on the side. Gennai had a sad look on his face.

"Just a day. Just one more day and I can get your partners back."

Gennai turned to Wisemon.

Gennai: "Let them rest after I talk to them. If they wake up again then you can contact the rest of the Digidestined."

Wisemon nodded as Gennai walked over to them.

Gennai: "Takeru, Hikari."

Takeru and Hikari turned to him.

Gennai: "One day. One day and I will bring you your partners. You have my word. For now, please rest. As long as you two rest, we will be able to bring your partners back quicker."

Takeru and Hikari looked relieved.

Hikari: "T-Thank you…"

Gennai: "No. Thank you, Takeru and Hikari. The both of you have sacrificed a lot for the Digital World. I believe you two can feel it, correct?"

Takeru and Hikari looked to each other before turning to Gennai.

Takeru: "We feel… different... like... we are home..."

Hikari: "It's… not like before whenever we were in the Digital World…"

Gennai: "Correct. I'm sorry to say but the two of you are bound to the Digital World now. The last evolution your partners underwent has made the Digital World the only lifeline remaining for the two of you."

Takeru: "You're saying… if we leave…"

Hikari: "We'll die?"

Gennai: "Based on your current conditions… I would say you two could probably leave the Digital World for at most a day, before needing to come back here. That final evolution caused some irreparable damage to both of you. The Digital World is the place where your powers are the strongest."

Takeru: "So we will die… if we leave for too long..?"

Gennai: "I believe so. Only in the Digital World will you two be able to use the powers of the Holy Digimon without much burden. That power is the only thing keeping you two alive."

Hikari: "Then what… what happens if we are in our world?"

Gennai: "You will likely get more tired the longer you two stay. But you two should be back to normal once you come back to the Digital World and rest."

Takeru: "So… we can stay a day… in our world but… come back here to sleep?"

Gennai: "Or whenever you two feel too tired to continue. After resting in the Digital World, you two should be able to go back to the Human World. Think of it like a recharge station for those robots in your world."

Hikari: "Thank you… Mr Gennai."

Gennai: "I wish we could have done more. Sorry."

Gennai walked off, leaving the two behind. Leomon came into the room with some fruits. He placed it down in front of Takeru and Hikari.

Leomon: "We gathered some food for you, Digidestined."

Takeru: "Thank you…"

Leomon: "Don't thank us yet. We're not done helping you two. We will help build a space for you two to live in. Rest first. We will discuss the details after you have gotten your partners back."

Hikari: "Thank you, Leomon."

Takeru and Hikari began to eat the fruits as Leomon left the room.

Takeru and Hikari had slept through the rest of the day and through the night. It was daybreak, and Gennai walked into the room with four eggs behind him. Two were darker in colour and looked like normal Digieggs. On the other hand, two of the eggs looked like the Digimentals of Hope and Light.

Gennai placed the eggs down on the ground. Gennai walked over to the side and placed a note with a thumbdrive.

"An incredible success. We were even able to detect and implant the power of the Digimentals into their main partners. It seems like that final evolution will remain available to them, as well as them being able to achieve their armor forms like normal evolutions. Still, for them to be able to release the full powers of the Digimentals... Qinglongmon made the right choice for his bearers."

Gennai turned to leave the room, but stopped just before he reached the exit. He turned to the two and smiled.

Gennai: "Thank you for all your sacrifices, Digidestined. Even Qinglongmon was impressed."

Gennai left the room as the eggs began to crack.

Voice: "Why do you get to be evolved already?"

Voice: "Who knows, old friend. Maybe that's just how Gennai made it. Plus, you two always relied on your partners for proper evolution."

Voice: "That doesn't explain why I'm not Tailmon."

Voice: "Hmph, you three are loud. See? They are waking up."

Takeru and Hikari began to open their eyes and felt a small mass on each of their chests.

They looked to the mass and their eyes immediately widened.

Takeru/Hikari: "Patamon/Plotmon!"

Both of them sat up immediately and hugged their partners tightly.

Devimon and SkullKnightmon watched on from the side.

Devimon: "I'm impressed that Gennai was able to separate the four of us."

SkullKnightmon: "Hmph, I shall go inform Wisemon."

Devimon: "You were never one for conversation. Then again, that efficiency was the best part of you."

SkullKnightmon began to walk away, while Devimon stayed by Takeru and Hikari.

Takeru and Hikari cried tears of joy as they embraced their partners. Soon enough, multiple heavy footsteps were heard. Taichi, Yamato, Koushiro and Sora arrived on the scene.

Taichi and Yamato let out sighs of relief. Koushiro walked to the side, seeing a note.

Koushiro: "It's from Gennai. 'Thank you Digidestined for everything. Takeru and Hikari were much more stable than expected. But then again, maybe we should expect that by now. They have always been exceeding our expectations. Regardless, I believe they will be able to spend about a day in the Human World before needing to come back to the Digital World to rest. Of course, if they ever feel too tired, they will also have to come back. Please ensure they come back before the time is up or else, they may perish. Also, I copied the gate program from Ken. It's inside the thumbdrive. Use it as you will, Koushiro.' That's all he wrote."

Taichi: "So one day, huh?"

Yamato: "That's not a lot of time."

Takeru and Hikari looked up to their brothers with wide smiles.

Takeru: "Onii-Chan… Patamon… he's back!"

Hikari: "Onii-Chan… we can go back!"

Taichi and Yamato walked to their siblings and embraced them.

Taichi: "Yes, Hikari. You can come home and see mom and dad."

Hikari: "Gennai said… he said we can go back for a day and then we need to come back to rest."

Koushiro: "So, just to confirm, you guys can stay out of the Digital World for a day then you need to come back? Then after resting, you can go out again?"

Takeru: "Yes."

Yamato ruffled Takeru's hair and had a grin on his face.

Yamato: "Don't do that again, Takeru. You worried all of us."

Yamato looked to Hikari.

Yamato: "You too, you little rascals."

Sora: "So, you two can leave now, right?"

Hikari: "Yep!"

Sora: "Then let's go! Your parents have been worried about never seeing you two again. Now you can tell them the good news."

Takeru and Hikari nodded with large grins. Takeru turned to Devimon, while Hikari turned to SkullKnightmon, who had come back.

Takeru: "What are you going to do now, Devimon?"

Devimon: "Well, I'm not your partner anymore, so I'm going to find other ways to get stronger. I believe SkullKnightmon is feeling the same."

Hikari: "Alright."

Takeru: "Just know that if you ever need it, we are always willing to help you two out."

Devimon grinned and outstretched his hand.

Devimon: "It's been a nice year, Takeru. Thank you."

SkullKnightmon walked over to Hikari and ruffled her hair before turning away. Devimon chuckled before the duo began to leave the tree.

The Digidestined arrived outside the tree and Koushiro plugged in the thumbdrive.

Koushiro: "If it works… I can send both of you home."

Yamato: "I'll go with Takeru."

Koushiro: "Alright, hope this works."

Koushiro opened the gates and the Digidestined all walked through their specific gate.

Hikari opened her eyes and saw her room. It had only been about a day and a half, yet it felt like forever since she had been in her room. Taichi placed a hand on her shoulder.

Taichi: "Shall we?"

Hikari nodded enthusiastically and the three of them walked towards the door, opening it.

Takeru opened his eyes to see his room. He took a deep breath and turned to Yamato.

Takeru: "Is mom at home?"

Yamato: "Yes, just like four years ago, she is trying to avoid getting involved in this incident. Are you ready?"

Takeru looked down to Patamon. Patamon smiled back. Takeru gave a smile before turning to Yamato and nodding.

Takeru: "As ready as I'll ever be."

Yamato: "Then, the stage is your's."

The trio opened the door and walked into the living room.

That's the end of this chapter. As we know, 02 has a certain epilogue... Have fun reading!