Ch. 12

Kari was listening.

There was light where she was, a lot of it, warm and comforting. Many voices were speaking, and although none of them was speaking to her, she could hear them clear as day. All of her senses were silences save for one little something in her heart that picked up the feelings of others and made them her own.

She wasn't drawn within herself. In fact, it was quite the opposite. She was in tune with everything else around her like never before. Light was guiding her, showing her a side of life that she hadn't been able to sense earlier. Her body was floating. She was free.

She heard Ken first of all. He was the easiest to reach, been in the same state as she. As she wondered about this strange inner space, he spoke to her, telling her to search for herself, for something within everyone else, and free them. Time was running short, he warned, the one you trust may turn against you, though it may not be his intention.

There's more, Kari, there's more...

But no matter how hard she tried to hold on to him, he faded away, still calling out, telling her to search deeper. Then his voice was overlapped by another, the one of her friend. Gatomon was speaking to herself, wondering what to do, hesitating whether to come. Come where? Kari didn't know. Suddenly, Gatomon's feelings of anxiety turned to alarm.

No, not you...

There was fear, then anger, followed by yet another voice. She concentrated on Gatomon, but then she also faded into the background.

I'm sorry, Gatomon, but I can't come out now, not yet... I have to keep looking.

The third voice was that of her love, deep and smooth. But it was hard to make out his words and feelings. There were so many of them, all running into each other like debris in a tornado. It bothered her to see him so torn, though she couldn't figure out why. More than one voice spoke to her from him, talking over each other.

It's peaceful

She has to die

So beautiful

I love you

Guardian of light, the ultimate enemy

Talk to me, please

Kill her, kill her now, make her suffer

I love you

She was blind, mute, and drifting in what felt like cool watery space. There's nothing but light and his voices around her. Yes, voices, and they were all his, though a few sounded odd. Carefully, she reached for him, probing the deepest part of his heart with her own. But something kept her out, creating a barrier around him. Every time she reached out, a freezing chill made her withdraw.

She listened to the voices argue with themselves. Bit by bit, they began to sound different. Her love's voice grew stronger as it overpowered the other. A bit of time passed when the argument quieted and there was peace all around her. Trying all her might, she focused on him only.

I love you, she heard him thinking. I don't know when it started, but I've loved you even before this life. I don't want to lose you.

She felt his hand on her, so strong and sturdy. She listened to him making silent vows to himself to always protect her, that there's nothing else in the world worthy of coming between them.

Not the digital world, not the real world, not the digidestined.

Someone else cut in. Tai. He was worried about her, and suspicious of her love. He was close, very close, and the rest of her friends were there, too. It was still very peaceful, despite the many feelings drifting about her. Everything felt okay.

It's going to be okay, Tai.

He didn't hear, of course, but that was okay, too. It's going to be fine... It's going to be fine...

I'm taking you home, little sister.

No, don't take her from me.

Kari felt the light around her tremble like a shockwave. She struggled to reach out, to feel her body again. Someone's arms was around her, carrying her off the ground. Tai.

I don't want to go, Tai. Please let me stay. It's alright.

Her senses were coming back. She felt him solidify around her, his chest supporting her head. Trying hard, she brought herself a little close to the physical world. It felt cold, and getting colder by the moment. The air was vibrating, shaking her whole body. Tai's, too. No one was moving.

Her heart was beating, but that was not what she heard now. The thumping was getting louder and louder and drowning out everything else. All the voices ceased to speak as she felt their attention turn to her love. As she tried once again to reach out to him, she felt pain, and a deadly struggle.

Then she was seeing. Not with her own eyes, but someone else's. She saw herself lying in Tai's arms, his head turned nearly all the way around to look at the vampire lord behind him, who seemed oblivious at the moment, totally wrapped up in something else.

A sparkly line caught the corner of her eye. She peeked to the side and saw the rim of a pair of large, round glasses. Yolie. She was looking through Yolie's eyes, as well as feeling the panic racing through Yolie's mind. Time was ticking by, the seconds marked by the giant, invisible beating heart.

More voices were talking, clamoring all at once.

Kill her

Kill her

Kill her

Kill them all

The corps of darkness was shaking with excitement. Daemon raised his eyes to the black sky one last time before making the final push forward. All the pieces were in place. The time has come.

KILL THEM!

She drew in a sharp gasp of air as the mental shout shocked her out of her peaceful state. Tai was so surprised that he almost dropped her. The thumping did not cease. In fact, it got louder as the digidestined gazed without a sound at Myotismon. Energy burst forth with the strength of a nuclear explosion, accompanied by a foul purple mist that filled the empty space that is the new battle arena.

Kari lifted her head slowly to see past her brother's shoulder. He was no longer holding her up, or even himself, for that matter. He had fallen to his knees, a glassy look in his eyes. It was at that moment she realized how unprotected they were in this world of lost dreams. The shock had gotten him.

Behind Tai, the mist was just starting to clear, revealing the caped figure that stood with its head down. Its entire body was vibrating, sending off visible waves in the tendrils of violet. Moving Tai away carefully, Kari began to climb to her feet.

No, please….

He wasn't moving, just standing there, and she couldn't see his face. Blood was pounding in her ears, drowning out her own footsteps. She approached him, a little bit at a time.

"Myo-san?"

It may have been her imagination, but he seemed to look up a little bit.

"Are you alright?"

[Run.]

She started. The voice had come from within, but it was no her own. Her feet came to a stop by themselves. Time was surreal.

[Run.]

Another moment passed before she realized that her friends had not joined her. Somehow she didn't need to turn around to know that they were frozen, paralyzed in their spot. The mist had gotten them, making easy targets out of their bodies and leaving her alone to face whatever came next.

[RUN NOW!]

The voice shouted into her head the same moment Myotismon raised his eyes to the sky as darkness burst from his body. The fraction of a second before she covered her eyes instinctively, Kari saw the scar on his neck, glowing like a falling star.

Even as she screamed into the desolate space, she saw through the slits of her fingers the body of her love swell and transform into the grotesque shape of VenomMyotismon.

Gatomon opened her eyes.

Although her body was suspended by an invisible force, she could still see and hear the world around her, as much of a world as it will ever be. Her senses had been temporarily sharpened, and there were voices speaking.

That's right…. I am also a part of the guardian.

She closed her eyes again. It was clear that there was nothing she could do, but that was fine. This time, she will trust in Kari to win her own battle.

I understand now, Kari. I understand.

The hulking beast stared down at her, its eyes threatening to bore a hole right through her. She tried to stand her ground but her knees were shaking like crazy. This was all too familiar, too much. Not again.

One huge claw raised and came down. She dodged and turned just in time to see the ground smashed to pieces under its mighty force. A hideous laugh boomed from the giant mouth lined with fangs.

"Myo-san, no!" It came out much softly than she had hoped, practically inaudible over the sound of falling debris.

Another hit, this time much harder. Dust flew up all around her and something sharp cut her cheek. A few more, each missing her by inches. Though he had not moved at her, she ran circles around him, trying her best to avoid each hit, tripping and stumbling along the way. But none of the hits were aimed at her, not a single one. No, he was toying with her, waiting to see how long it would take before her legs finally failed.

She wasn't sure how long the game of cat and mouse went on. The nonstop crashing and bursts of explosion shook her and head to toe. For the first time in so long, she felt truly helpless.

He toyed with her, the way he had that night in her room, the way he had so many years ago, and the way Danny had in that alley. When she fell once again, having lost count how many, she found tears as well as blood trailing down her face.

I've finally lost.

Daemon felt his whole body shake with excitement. Trying hard to steady himself, he raised one hand and drew a line in space. His corps awaited expectantly.

The portal opened.

Triumphant at last, he turned to his soldiers and made the final declaration.

"The Guardian of Light has fallen!"

He was hovering over her now, the way a cat would a dying play that no longer amused it. It was time for the kill. She wanted to run, to get away, but the odd angle of her ankle and the bolt of pain that racked her body every time she tried to move it told her it was impossible. Frantic, she wondered if death would be swift.

But death didn't scare her. However odd it was, as she half-laid on the ground, dirt and blood smeared all over her clothing, the idea of dying didn't frighten her on bit. There were other things on her mind, even at this moment.

It hurt more to know that she had had this one chance and lost it.

One chance to change him.

One chance to show him the world.

One chance to love.

I'm in trouble now, but love had not left. In trouble and in love, sometimes it's such a fine line.

She looked up at him, at those cruel eyes, so different from the pair of blue ones that shun in the moonlight. And yet, in her mind, she saw the beautiful blue pools.

"Myo-san, please don't do this," she croaked softly.

Another voice answered her this time.

"Oh, but he must."

She did not notice the spreading darkness behind the giant digimon until now. A black hold tore open the thin air. A stocky, hooded form stepped out and looked around.

"Not my ideal place for a grand entrance, but I suppose it will do." Glowing eyes fixated on her. "Don't you think so, child guardian?"

Something pointed her mind in the right direction and the word came out with anger before she could realize it. "Daemon."

The other sneered under the hood. "Kari, is it? It's been long. Such a pity to have to crush such a beautiful child, but what must be done must be done."

Another jolt of pain came from her ankle. "You're using him."

"Beauty AND brains. I applaud you." Daemon took a step closer to VenomMyotismon, who had stopped moving as if on cue. "You see, you kids have been in my way for a long time. First that boy emperor who opened the gate to the Dark Ocean and sealed me in. But that was not the worst of it. It seemed that I had enough power to break out easily."

She had no response to him. Her mind was working quickly, taking it all it.

"You," Daemon continued with a cruel sense of satisfaction. "Now you are special. It wasn't an accident that you were the closest to the boy when the gate was opened and that you were the first to help him. After the gate was closed, you were designated as the guardian of the gate, the light that seals the darkness away. Quite a job for such a small child, but you seem to have handled it pretty well." He paused. "Tell me, Kari, do you still glow in the dark?"

The mist suddenly thickened and she found herself showered in the unnatural night. A dim light was been emitted from her skin. She was a lone firefly.

"It's fading, good," Daemon commented as the mist dispersed. "Once it's completely gone, my soldiers will join me"-he gestures at the surrounding- "right here. From here, we will access both worlds, and restore darkness, the way it's meant to be. And then," thick maliciousness seeped into his voice, "they will have your lover boy for a chew toy."

She opened her mouth but he cut her off. "Of course, it's not easy to put out a light such as yours, which is why I sent Myotismon here to you. His data was floating about last your last battle, power with no direction. I must say that I am impressed by his power, but physical and mental. The latter I am not too crazy about. This bond between you two was an unfortunate obstacle, but it did help weaken your resistance against him. Now, how do you put out a light, you ask?"

VenomMyotismon raised one claw in anticipation.

"By killing the candle maker."

The claw came down, aimed directly at her. Daemon's face split in a wide grin, savoring his well-deserved victory. Kari could see him, she could see everything though she had closed her eyes. The realm of lost dreams lit up.

Light expanded like a balloon all around her. Her body felt warm. Nothing hurt anymore.

The guardian must protect the light from the dark.

The child goddess is the key and the lock.

Open the case that holds purity. Close the gate forever on all that is black to the soul.

I can do it.

Daemon let out a pained, inhuman shriek as the light struck his entire body, sending him careening into the dark portal.

The giant claw of VenomMyotismon changed direction in midair and plunged deep into his own skin, digging a deep trench at the base of its neck. Two black spores fell out in the river of blood and vanished before they even hit the ground.

Both the digital world and the real world cleansed itself with rain.

Guarding the portal anxiously, Ladydevimon, Marinedevimon, and Skullsatamon were quite surprised to see their leader come tumbling out of the blackness, followed by a ray of light that stun their skin.

Daemon would lay for many month after that, unable to speak or move. His corps would care for him loyally, remembering all this time, another humiliating defeat.

The digidestined escaped their paralysis just in time to see the ragged figure of Myotismon pull himself to his feet.

The walls of the arena had been crushed. One side led to the digital world, one side to the real world. Raindrops from both worlds mingled and for a moment it seemed as if the entire universe, known and unknown, was but one big storm.

Kari climbed to her feet shakily. A pair of sapphire blue eyes looked into hers then disappeared into the forests of Server. Her ankle was hurting again as she limped toward the digital world.

Tai started after her but found his leg caught on something. He looked down to see Gatomon holding him back by the pant leg.

"It's okay," she said softly. "Let her go."

"But…."

"Trust me." She gazed toward Kari's disappearing silhouette. "Trust her."

She wondered through the forests of Server. Rain drops the size of ping pong balls pounded her body, drenching every inch. Sometimes the ground was so muddy that she had to literally drag herself through it. Her ankle was screaming with pain, and when it got bad, she crawled. There was very little going through her mind as she concentrated on her search. Time was irrelevant.

She found him sitting under a tall pine, head down, knees drawn up with his arms resting on top. The top portion of his uniform was too torn to do any good. He had discarded them aside, exposing his bare torso to the rain. His blond hair was pasted to his forehead as he looked up at her. A long time passed as neither of them said anything. She stood there before him, looking for words and finding none. The sound of rain drowned out the rest of the world.

At last, he smiled weakly. "You won, Kari," he said tiredly but with joy in his voice. "Thank you."

There was nothing left to say, so she did what naturally came next. She went to him, buried her head in his bare chest, and let her tears run with the rainwater and his blood. He wrapped his arms around her tightly. There was no more reasons to let go.

Time passed them by cautiously.

When the rain stopped they were still together, holding each other as the sunlight washed over them. Her eyes had dried as she raised them slightly to meet his. There was nothing left to say, nothing left to do, and no way to prepare for the future.

He kissed her and she didn't pull back.

There was no reason to.

The digidestined made their way home with many questions lingering on their minds, but no one made a move to ask. After all, Gatomon explained that everything is all right now.

"She'll tell you when the time is right," she had said, "Don't worry. Kari will tell you."

Many miles away, the boy emperor opened his eyes. At first he wasn't sure where he was, then it all came back and he smiled gently.

When his mother followed the doctor into the room, her tears froze when she saw him sitting upright, the waning evening light shining on his face. He waved at her slowly.

"We won, mom," he whispered as she held him tightly. "We won."

When the clear night drew near, they laid on the grassy field of Server, entwined in each other. He held her close to him, the one that was once his enemy, now a friend and more.

"What happens now?" she asked him.

"Now I try to stay here." Her back was to him as he stroke her hair.

"Where else do you have to go?"

He already knew how she would respond to what he had to say next. "I can't live as I am. The spores kept me alive. Without them I am weak. I may not even be able to keep myself from disintegrating for more than a month." She started and tried to face him but he held her tight. "Don't turn around, please," he pleaded as she stopped moving. "It's hard enough to tell you this now."

"So what will you do?" There was a quiver in her voice that tugged at his heartstring.

"I will travel, try to find the guardians of the digital world, perhaps start with Azulogmon and Geni. It's my only chance."

"Do you think they'll help?"

"I will beg for their forgiveness on my knees if I have to," he told her, knowing that it was the truth, "I won't like it, but I'll do it. I'll ask for their help, and return to you. I promise."

She slid her fingers through his. "Tell them Kari sent you."

They slept under the stars of the digital world that night. When she woke to see the light of dawn, he had already left. Carrying hopes and prayers in her heart, the guardian of light walked down to the beach and watched the sunrise through her shining tears.

THE END