"Sora's Crest of Love"
Sorry for the long wait. Please enjoy and review!
Much to the shock of Tai and Joe, the two girls had actually gone into the palace and taken jewelry that they liked the best before they set off.
Then again, they weren't sure if it counted as stealing if the Geckomon and Otamamon allowed them to take it without putting up any type of a fight.
Mimi had chosen a pair of gold earrings that were shaped like a flower with emerald green gemstones in the center of them.
Daisuke had picked out a gold necklace that had a heart shaped diamond charm for herself and got a gold ring with a ruby stone for Sora and a gold bracelet with a star shaped rose quartz stone for Kari.
She didn't want the other two girls to feel left out and was a bit upset over how sad Kari was when they were lifted into the sky, so Daisuke grabbed something for the girl to cheer her up when they returned home.
When they were done, the group climbed into the swan boat and went back to where they would meet up with Matt, TK, Izzy and the other Digimon.
"Okay, we're here." Tai said as the boat was at the shore of the forest.
"Whew! I'm tired." Joe said as Tai got out and held his arms out to Mimi.
"Come on Mimi, get off your thrown." He teased while Daisuke and the Digimon jumped down from the boat.
"Huh! I wouldn't exactly call this a thrown." Mimi pouted.
"Yeah, well I wouldn' call you a princess." He said.
"Guys over here!" Matt's voice echoed making everyone turn and see the blonde leading his group over.
"Hey, it's Matt!" Joe exclaimed.
"It's been so long since I've seen you. My, you've…shrunk." Palmon said to Tsunomon and Motimon as they were with Koromon.
"Don't rub it in!" the three In-Trainings said turning away in a huff while Motimon, the only one with hands, put them on his hips.
Daisuke laughed as TK hugged her around the waist and she patted his head.
"So, where's Sora?" Tai asked Matt.
"We thought you might know. We haven't seen her." Matt informed.
"That's weird. It's not like her to disappear like that." Tai frowned.
"Where could she be?" Veemon asked.
"I don't know." Daisuke shrugged feeling worried.
"Well, actually I think I saw Sora." Mimi said suddenly making everyone look at her in surprise.
"So where did you see her?" Tai asked.
"At the Gekomon's castle, but I might have been dreaming." She said.
"I think you're right. It must have been a dream." Joe agreed.
"Actually, I forgot that when I was just about to eat one of those Mushrooms of Forgetfulness when I was Agumon, I heard a voice that sounded a lot like Sora's." Koromon informed.
"That's real weird." Tai commented.
"But then…if Sora is actually close to where we are, why doesn't she come out and tell us?" TK asked.
"Well, maybe Sora just doesn't want to. Even worse, maybe she just can't." Matt said, then his Digivice went off.
"All I know is we gotta find her quick." He said as most of the group checked their Digivices to see a red dot away from the one that showed where they were located.
"It's almost like we're playing tag with her." Tai said.
"Come on, the signal points this way." Izzy said as the group started walking, searching for Sora and Biyomon.
The sun was beginning to set and everyone was searching around for Sora and Biyomon, calling out their names as they did so.
Everyone was becoming worried that they were unable to find their friends and wondered what the duo was up to at the moment.
"Oh, why don't we find a spot to rest for the night? Or better yet, the next couple of weeks? My feet are killing me, not to mention every other part of my body." Joe whined as Mimi stopped walking and fell to her knees, worn out.
"I can't go another inch." She complained.
"Hold it. I'm getting a reading on my Digivice." Matt announced.
"Really? Well, what is it?" TK asked.
"What's that buzzing?" Patamon questioned.
"I wonder if it's Sora." TK said.
"What's that sound?" the child of Courage asked now that it was getting louder.
Then, this big wasp looking digimon flew down from the sky and came after us, but we all ducked down to not get hit by it.
"Flymon's here!" Koromon cried out.
Flymon started shooting out his red stingers at the group and they all jumped or ran out of the way to not get stabbed by them.
"Maybe this Digimon analyzer that Gennai gave me can help us out. Here he is. Flymon." Izzy said as he pulled out his lap top and the image of the bug with its stats came up.
"Classified as an insect Digimon. A Virus type and I think we already know what its attack is and it's not very pleasant. And here he comes now!" The child of Knowledge cried as the bug came at them for another attack.
Getting back up, the group started running out of the way from the attacking Digimon.
Matt and Tai were almost hit by the stingers that were shot at them.
"Careful Tai!" Koromon cried.
"Look out Matt!" Tsunomon yelled.
"Koromon digivolve too…AGUMON!"
"Tsunomon digivolve too…GABUMON!"
"Agumon." Tai said smiling.
"Gabumon!" Matt said as he stood beside Tai.
The two Digimon fired off their attacks but missed as Flymon flew out of the way.
"It's just not working. They need more help." Motimon stated.
Gomamon used his Marching Fishes, but they missed, then Palmon tried to grab him with her Poison Ivy to hold the bug still, missing him as he fired off his stingers at her and Mimi.
Flymon was about to attack again, but there Birdramon flew in overhead and hit him head on with her Meteor Wing.
"Looks like the Calvary is here." Veemon grinned.
"It's Birdramon!" Motimon cried out.
"If Birdramon's here, then so is Sora." Tai said as the red bird flew away from the group after she saved her friends.
"Sora!" Tai yelled as he ran off to find her, Matt, TK, Daisuke and their Digimon close behind them.
"Wait up, Tai!" Agumon called.
"We're coming!" Gabumon cried.
"I'm going with you!" TK exclaimed.
"TK, wait up!" Patamon gasped.
"Slow down, we're coming too!" Daisuke scooped up Veemon and followed.
Sora found a lake and started jumping across the rocks that made a path for her, making her way across.
Then, Tai jumped out from the bushes, cutting off her path, and startling her.
"Sora, it's you." Tai panted.
Turning, Sora went to run in the opposite direction, but found her path cut off by Matt.
TK, Daisuke and the Digimon all soon arrived, blocking Sora in and making it so she was unable to run off anywhere.
"So, why were you running away?" Matt asked her.
"Enough running. Tell us what's going on." Tai demanded.
Sora appeared distressed as she looked away from her friends.
"Sora?" Matt questioned.
"Sora, does this mean that…you don't like us anymore?" TK asked.
"No of course not." Sora shook her head.
"Then what's wrong?" the child of Hope asked.
A few seconds passed before Biyomon flew over and landed next to her partner.
"Sora, why don' you tell them?" Biyomon encouraged.
Knowing she had no other choice, Sora started talking.
"Okay. It happened the night that Biyomon and I left camp to find Tai. I saw a strange Digimon. He looked like a bowling ball with wings and he was talking to something in a giant bubble." She explained.
"Could you hear what he was saying?" TK asked.
"Yeah, I heard him talking about our Crests." Sora said.
"What about them?" Tai asked.
"He was saying that each of our Crests has its own special meaning. For example, Tai, yours is the Crest of Courage." She said.
"The Crest of Courage? Oh! That's right. And then the Crest started to glow." Tai said remembered something.
"And the Crest you have, Matt is the Crest of Friendship." Sora said looking over to him.
"Friendship." Matt said thoughtfully as he held his Crest.
"And mine?" TK asked.
"Yours is special, TK. It's the Crest of Hope." Sora said.
"All right. I hope we can get back home." He said to his partner.
"And as for Daisuke, they had no idea about. In fact, they seemed shocked that there were eight of us here." Sora said looking over at the duo of Miracles.
"Interesting to know." Daisuke said as she shared a look with Tai.
"Daisuke's is the Crest of Miracles. We found out about it when we found it." Veemon spoke up.
With hat said, Sora then started talking about the rest of the Crests.
"Izzy's crest is the Crest of Knowledge. Joe's is the Crest of Reliability. And Mimi's is the Crest of Sincerity. And finally mine…mine is the Crest of Love." She finished off staring down at her own red Crest with a depressed look.
Tai was smiling as he looked at her.
"Wow, the Crest of Love. That's just perfect for you, Sora." Tai told her.
She tensed up and then turned to him with a mad look.
"No, it's not! You're wrong! Don't even say that, Tai! It's not like me at all!" She yelled.
Everyone was surprised and confused by the girl's anger.
"But Sora, it is like you. You're always thinking of everyone else." Tai insisted.
"No way! I don't care what happen to everyone else. The truth is, you don't know the first thing about me. So back off!" She shouted.
After her rant, she seemed to figure out what she had just said and gasped in horror before she looked down ashamed.
"I'm sorry, Tai." She said.
"Sora, what's the matter?" Tai asked.
"It's just that my Crest…it won't glow! It's because I don't have any Love." She said shocking everyone.
"You love us, don't you, Sora?" TK asked.
"I don't get it. Why is it that girls always have to get so emotional when it comes to love?" Tai asked making Daisuke and Veemon glare at him.
"Leave her alone, Tai." Matt said.
"I was just joking around." Tai said.
"The Digimon thought I was funny too. She said that we all thought we were hot stuff. And he mocked me because I would never be able to get my Crest to glow." Sora said looking upset.
"Sora, DemiDevimon is a brainless little creep. Don't listen to a thing he says. He's been messing with everyone lately trying to break us up." Daisuke told her.
"That's it? I thought it was something serious, like they were gonna stop making those stuffed bean bag animals. Besides, DemiDevimon is a liar." Tai said.
"It's true. It started back when I was on a girls' soccer team. My family owned a flower shop. It was my mom's whole life." She explained.
She went into this story on how her mother didn't let her go to the final match because of her wounded knee and then talked to her about quitting soccer to take over the shop, which Sora wasn't too happy about.
"I walked around for hours. I found myself at the soccer field. The game had just finished." Sora said.
"What happened?" Tai asked.
"We lost the game 6/3. My teammates were so depressed, that they didn't even notice when they walked by me. I felt like I had let them all down. Like it was all my fault. My mom said I had to be part of the family business. No questions. That's how she is. It's like it's the only thing that's important to her. She doesn't understand. That's why I know he wasn't lying when I grew up not knowing what love is." Sora said as she stood up, yelling and about to throw her Crest away, but Tai rushed over and grabbed her hand.
"Sora stop it!" He ordered.
"Let go!" She yelled.
"Even if what you said is true, you shouldn't believe a word from that loser DemiDevimon. He's just a creep who's trying to hurt you." Tai said as Sora then burst into tears, shocking everyone.
"Wait, wait! Don't cry, Sora. Matt, help me out. I don't know what to do with her when she starts blubbering." Tai begged.
"Just let her go, Tai. She'll be okay." Matt said looking away with his arms crossed.
"Boy, Matt's like a real grown up." Agumon said.
"Now, if only he would cut his hair." Gabumon mused.
"Ugh, you idiots know nothing about girls. You're all handling this all wrong." Veemon complained.
Stepping forward, Daisuke placed a hand on Sora's shoulder as the girl continued to cry.
She knew it must be very frustrating for Sora that her emotions had gotten the best of her and she was sobbing in front of everyone.
Daisuke would hate it is she lost control of her emotions and started crying.
"Oh, sorry. I know you're upset, but I'm sure your Crest will glow. Don't worry about it. And don't bother listening to something an evil Digimon says. They're just trying to mess you up and weaken you by making you doubt yourself." Daisuke said.
"Sora, I forgot to thank you." TK said softly making her stop and look at him in surprise.
"You told us not to eat the mushrooms, didn't you? I wanna thank you for saving us." He said.
"Right, TK. We thought DemiDevimon was up to no good, so we kept out of sight and made sure you guys stayed out of trouble. We were even there when you guys were working in the restaurant, Matt." Biyomon explained.
"Huh? I had no idea." TK exclaimed.
"You didn't have to hide from us. We were all worried." Tai said.
"Sora just needed to be alone for a little while. But she really didn't want to be separated from you guys, please understand." Biyomon said.
"Sora, I like you." TK said.
"Huh?" she asked looking at him.
"So please, don't go away again. I don't like being away from you. When you're round, I don't miss my mom as much." He giggled.
Sora looked awed by what the boy told her while Daisuke smiled.
"TK… I'm so, so sorry." Sora rubbed at her face to dry her tears.
Just then, everyone heard Joe's voice and they turned to see the rest of their team running over to them.
"Hey!" Joe cried.
"Hey, what took ya guys so long?" Tai asked.
"Well, we would've been here sooner, but Joe fell in the river." Mimi said.
"Hey, Mimi, you're the one who was hungry and tired and had to sit down every five minutes." Joe pouted.
(That night…)
Once everyone had gathered together, they decided to set up camp for the night.
Everyone curled up on their own chosen spots on the ground and fell asleep where they were.
Unknown to them, DemiDevimon had snuck up on them.
In his claw was a needle and he was aiming it at Sora.
Sensing something amiss, Biyomon woke up and saw DemiDevimon about to attack her partner.
"Sora, watch out!" She yelled.
Diving for the girl, Biyomon covered Sora's body with her own and took the needle, waking everyone up in the process.
"Biyomon! No Biyomon! Please wake up! BIYOMON!" Sora cried as she pulled the needle out.
"Sora, I will protect you." The pink bird whimpered.
"Sora, what's wrong?" Tai asked.
"Oh, DemiDevimon!" TK exclaimed.
"Oh, that s it! Someone get me a stick. I'm gonna beat him like a pinata!" Daisuke growled.
DemiDevimon flew back with a grimace as the sky got dark, the only light coming from the fire that was still burning.
When the dark clouds moved away, the full moon was red and a creepy black dragon pulling a black carriage was flying towards the group.
"Hey, what is that?" Tai asked as the snarling monster got closer.
Everyone cried out as a coffin that was black with gold decorating it fell out of the carriage as the dragon flew off.
The coffin opened up and a man wrapped up in a cape was floating down to us.
"DigiDestinds. Your journey ends here." He laughed darkly.
"That's it! That's the thing DemiDevimon was talking too." Sora said.
"It's Myotismon!" Veemon growled in anger.
"Never mind the stick. Get me a stake and crucifix." Daisuke glared with hatred at the vampire.
"Myotismon?" Tai looked over at the duo of Miracles.
He was stunned by the anger and hatred that radiated off of them.
"That's Lord Myotismon!" DemiDevimon yelled.
Myotismon laughed as he sneered down at the children and their Digimon.
"These Digidestinds are making me feel a little…batty." Myotismon said before he pulled his cape out, a swarm of bats coming after them called Grizzly Wing.
"Come on, guys. Let's go!" Agumon said as he led the digimon out to fight and protect us.
He and Gabumon fired off their attacks as Motimon digivolved into Tentomon and used his Super shocker while Patamon used his Boom Bubble, the bats getting burned to a crisp, electrocuted or blown away.
"They're still coming after us!" Mimi gasped.
The group cried out as the bats swarmed around them.
"Mimi!" Palmon cried out.
"Palmon digivolve too…TOGEMON!"
"Let me try to get my point across." Togemon said as she rushed at the bats and then used her Needle Spray, taking out most of them.
"Way to go!" Gomaon cheered.
"Gomamon digivolve too…IKKAKUMON!"
Ikkakumon used his Harpoon Torpedo to attack Myotismon, smoke blocking our view.
"Wow, way to go!" Joe said.
Myotismon stepped out of the smoke and everyone gasped.
"Can't defeat me that easily." He taunted as he used his Crimson Lightning, a whip made from red light and hit Togemon with it, hurting her.
He laughed like a maniac as he hit Ikkakumon with a second whip, then flew down and used both whips to hit all of the Digimon.
"Tai, he's just too strong for us." Agumon said.
"Now what?" Tai asked.
"I'm going in next." Veemon narrowed his eyes.
"Go for it." Daisuke nodded.
"Veemon digivolve too…ExVeemon!"
Flying up into the air, ExVeemon released his X Laser at Myotismon who dived out of the way of the attack.
That didn't bother the dragon who swooped in and started assaulting the vampire with a series of punches and kicks.
Myotismon seemed to be struggling a bit to block each one, a bit stunned by the power and ferocity of the Champion.
"You can do it, ExVeemon!" Daisuke called out to him.
"You two possess more power than the others. Why is that?" Myotismon asked as he ducked under ExVeemon's arm.
"Because we never give up!" ExVeemon growled as he kicked at Myotismon who jumped away.
DemiDevimon then swooped down at Daisuke, trying to snatch her Crest.
"Don't worry, boss, I'll help!" He cried.
The second his clawed foot touched the Crest, it shot out a golden light that made DemiDevimon cry out in pain and he flopped to the ground.
"Never mind." He groaned.
Glaring down at the Digimon, Daisuke kicked him, sending him flying away from her.
"ExVeemon can't do this on his own. I need to help stop Myotismon." Biyomon groaned.
"It's no use! You can't do anything in your condition." Sora told her.
"Please understand, Sora. I have to go." Biyomon said as she tried to go, but the orange haired girl wrapped her arms around her to hold her back.
"No! Biyomon, you can't! You'll get hurt! I won't let you! My decision is final!" Sora yelled.
"Sora, why can't you understand?!" Biyomon cried shocking her partner.
"Biyomon digivolve too…BIRDRAMON!"
The red bird took to the sky and used her Meteor Wing to get Myotismon, but he just covered himself with his cape and protected himself from the attack.
"Geez, where's Buffy when we need her?" ExVeemon grunted.
Myotismon flipped his cape out of the way, then hit Birdramon and ExVeemon with his Crimson Lightning, making her screech in pain.
"BIRDRAMON!" Sora cried.
"ExVeemon!" Daisuke gasped.
Crying out, ExVeemon managed to flip his body around and spread out his wings, stopping his descent to the ground, shaking off the attack.
He had taken a worst beating from BlackWarGreymon before, he could candle Myotismon.
Sora started running towards her partner as she fell from the sky in pain.
"Birdramon, no! I LOVE YOU!" Sora cried making her Crest and digivice glow red.
"Birdramon digivolve too…GARUDAMON!"
Garudamon was a bird creature that stood up on her legs with arms and had two wings on her back with long blonde hair, she was red with blue and white markings all over her and she was ready for a fight.
"What? Where is that glow coming from?" Myotismon asked as he shielded his eyes.
Garudamon went over to Sora and gently picked her up in her hands, looking down at her with green eyes filled with admiration.
"Sora, I can feel your love. It's making me strong!" Garudamon said.
"My Crest…it glows." Sora cried in relief.
"Garudamon is the Ultimate form of Birdramon. She commands the sky and protects the earth. Her attack is a flaming bird called Wing Blade." Tentomon explained.
"Ah! Why is it now the Crest of Love glows as I was about to claim victory?!" Myotismon growled.
"I'll protect you, Sora." Garudamon said as she flew up and hen used her Wing Blade attack, which was a giant bird made out of flames that went down to Myotismon, who countered with Grizzly Wing, the attacks both equal.
"I did not anticipate such strength." Myotismon said as he blocked the light.
"Come on everyone, climb on." Garudamon said as she came over to the group.
ExVeemon flew over and returned to his Rookie form, joining the others as they climbed into Garudamon's hands to escape from Myotismon.
"Next time you won't escape!" Myotismon yelled.
(Later that day…)
Garudamon had found a safe place near a lake to set everyone down.
With the danger long gone, she returned to her In-Training form and everyone relaxed while they could.
"All you had to do was stop worrying about it, Sora and you got your Crest to work!" Tai said.
"When Biyomon was in danger of getting hurt, I realized that I was acting just like my mom. Know what I really realized? My mom loved me all along." Sora said with a loving smile.
"It was your love that helped me digivolve, Sora." Yokomon said cheerfully.
"I'm glad." Sora said to her.
"You see? You are capable of love after all." Yokomon smiled.
"I felt something. I guess it was your love shining through." Tai said.
Daisuke and Veemon snorted at that.
They knew that Tai had definitely felt Sora's love.
He had felt it for much longer than this and he wouldn't realize it until he was in high school.
"I felt something too. It made me feel uncomfortable." Joe spoke up.
"Love shouldn't make you feel like that." TK frowned.
"That's right, TK. I know why you feel uncomfortable, Joe." Mimi said as she walked over to him with her hands cupped together.
"Why?" He asked her.
"These were in your pocket." Mimi said as she handed over some seeds that she held, and Matt played his harmonica.
"Oh, I guess it wasn't love." Joe sighed.
Everyone then started laughing.
It was a normal moment for them where they could be happy and enjoy their time together.
Matt stopped playing as thunder boomed and black clouds rolled in as the familiar maniacal laughter of Myotismon filled the air.
"I know that laugh." Sora said looking worried.
"Oh, now give us a break!" Daisuke growled.
The DigiDestineds and Digimon all huddled together, preparing themselves for an attack as they waited for Myotismon to appear.
"You foolish Digidestinds! The eight of you are no match for my power. Prepare for your ultimate destruction." Myotismon laughed as he hid in the dark sky.
The dark clouded soon passed and the sun shone down on them.
The danger was gone for now.
To be continued…