Chapter Text
“Taichi!! We found Agumon!”
The group had been running for a while. Just enough time to start to worry a little.
”Ah, look who’s back to the Digital World...”
Ken stiffened as a clawed hand grabbed him and held him up by his shirt collar.
“Why do you keep trying to mess with me,” Ken jabbed, no fear in his eyes as he glared at the dark creature in front of him. “I’m not afraid of the darkness anymore.”
Devimon growled, tightening his grip.
”You were always supposed to be the Kaiser. You never had any chance of being happy. Until those meddling pests came in and ruined everything. Wasn’t it more fun to rule the world? You can’t do anything now without Miyako and Hikari’s powerful new weapon.”
“Silphymon is not a weapon. Digimon are not weapons.”
”Oh, but they always were to you, were they not, Kaiser-sama?”
Ken’s glare only got angrier, as he clenched his fists.
”You can’t do anything without your precious Daisuke or Wormmon. You’re worthless without the darkness. It was always there, and it always will be. Come home.”
Ken punched Devimon hard in the face, and he finally let go of him, Ken landing on the ground with a slight roll.
As Devimon growled and grit his teeth in pain, Ken smirked.
”Takeru taught me that one.”
“YOU WILL REGRET EVER MESSING WITH ME. WE WERE ON THE SAME SIDE.”
”No. We were never on the same side. I didn’t care about anyone other than myself, and I doubt you do either.”
Devimon yelled furiously, as dark energy surrounded him.
”INSOLENT CHILD!!”
Beams of Dark Energy were shot from Devimon’s hands, racing towards Ken.
”What a shame. You really could have been useful.”
Ken’s eyes widened, but his legs wouldn’t move. As much as he despised it, as much as he wanted to run, it was like the darkness was trying to call him back.
“KEN!!”
And Agumon jumped in front of him, screaming as the darkness enveloped him.
”How...disappointing. Oh well.”
Ken’s body finally allowed itself to move, stumbling forwards so fast he just went tumbling to the ground.
He hissed through his teeth, lifting his head to see Devimon holding Agumon, who seemed to be suspended in the middle of a small void.
”Give him back!!” Sora started running towards Devimon, before Jou pulled her back. “NO!! AGUMON!!”
“We can’t defeat him alone, Sora.” Jou hesitantly mumbled.
Mimi remained in shocked silence.
”If you want Agumon back, come to the Kaiser’s old base. But you’ll have to trade someone.”
Devimon laughed coldly, as Ken slowly got up from the ground, clenching his fists again.
”What do you want me for anyway?!”
”Oh, nothing much anymore. Just for the fun of breaking every last bit of hope you all still have.”
Devimon turned away and spread his wings before Ken could punch him again, flying off into the dark sky.
Once he’d fully disappeared, Sora got to her knees and pounded on the ground.
”Agumon...”
”I...agh...”
As hard as they tried, nobody could think of anything to say.
Ken turned to Jou, Mimi, and Sora, with a firm look despite the situation.
”As much as I hate to admit it, he was right about one thing. We can’t defeat him without the rest of my team. My best friends. We have to save them.”
The three older Chosen Children just stared at him, along with the other Digimon.
”You can all go find the rest of your group. I have to find mine.”
”Alone? Are you sure, Ken-kun?”
He nodded.
”You have to find Taichi, and Yamato, and Koushiro. I used to be the Kaiser. I think I can handle a few Digimon. And besides,” Ken grinned playfully, surprising everyone. “I can always punch more people!”
Against all odds, Sora laughed.
”Alright, Ken-kun. We trust you. Go save your friends.”
He nodded with a fire in his eyes, turning away and opening a portal back to the Real World, giving one last reassuring nod before jumping through.
As the portal closed, Sora chuckled again with her hands on her hips.
”I definitely get why he’s a Chosen Child now. With that confident grin...he reminded me of Taichi.”
Mimi smiled, nodding. “I was thinking the same thing.”
”I guess Daisuke-kun’s optimism has really rubbed off on him.” Jou added.
”No,” Sora shook her head. “I think he found his own.”