Chapter Text
MegaGargomon, Sakuyamon, and Justin stared in awe at the newly transformed Gallantmon Crimson Mode, temporarily forgetting that they were in the middle of fighting off a massive Parasimon invasion.
The fight hadn’t been going as well as any of them hoped. Parasimon may be Mega-level Digimon, but they stood no chance against the Biomerged Mega individually. They made up for the particular weakness through sheer numbers, even subduing MegaGargomon’s colossal form.
All hope seemed lost when Gallantmon suddenly erupted with crimson light, obliterating all of the Parasimon that pinned him.
His light washed over his exhausted allies, bringing them renewed energy.
“Beautiful,” Nonaka Rika breathed.
Gallantmon CM had never heard the proud Tamer give him such a compliment before. She hadn’t had the chance to see his new form during the battle against the D-Reaper, preoccupied as she had been against her giant enemy.
He forced himself to refocus his attention on his task. His time as Gallantmon Crimson Mode was limited, and every second counted. If the mode change wore off too soon, the Tamers’ chances against the invasion would worsen, and Gallantmon would be forced out of commission.
Takato’s human body couldn’t handle the strength of the mode change. After the D-Reaper, the Tamaer had only held on long enough to watch the Digimon be forcibly returned to the Digital World before he’d collapsed.
He woke a day and a half later, scolded by family and friends alike for hiding his condition from them.
The same would likely happen after he devolved this time, but it was a sacrifice he was willing to make. His only regret was that he would miss out on celebrating Rika’s birthday with everyone; if the Parasimon didn’t ruin her celebration already.
A spark of anger flared through Gallantmon CM, directed towards the Parasimon. The parasites tormented Rika, causing her so much pain, on a day everyone wanted to make memorable for her. That was unforgivable.
Golden eyes narrowed in determination, Gallantmon CM stretched out his glowing white wings. He would make the Parasimon regret their decision to invade their world. He flew straight for the Digital Zone, slaughtering every Parasimon that dared cross his path, uncaring for the green blood that splashed across his once pristine armor.
If he’d known that this would be the last time he saw his friends, Gallantmon CM would have looked back at them at least once.
He lifted his holy spear, Gungnir, over his head and hurled it into the heart of the Digital Zone.
“QUO VADIS!”
A large beam of crimson light poured out of the zone, cleansing the chaotic Shinjuku streets of all parasites.
“Time to go home,” the knight said, eager to leave the ominous dark space through the closing portal.
He started to descend but stiffened as he sensed a new, much stronger presence rushing towards him.
Before he even had the chance to investigate, the culprit crashed into him from behind, wrapping his arms around him and crushing his wings between them.
“Found you,” a gravelly voice purred, sending chills down Gallantmon CM’s spine.
“Release me!” The knight ordered, struggling against the grasp without success. His eyes widened as he realized his attacker pulled him further into the Digital Zone, away from the rapidly closing exit.
“Never. You won’t escape me so easily now that I’ve found you.”
Gallantmon CM realized with horror that his captor was trying to force him to devolve, but that was the least of his concern as the portal closed, sealing his fate.
“No!” His assailant’s gleeful cackle nearly drowned his cry of anguish.
“No going home for you, Hazard Child.”
Gallantmon CM slumped forward, defeated and frustrated. Images of his parents and his friends flashed through his mind, tormenting him with the knowledge that he wouldn’t be going home to them like he thought he would.
Pain soon gave way to anger.
“All I wanted was to go home… you took that from me.”
The DigiCore sealing the Hazard cracked, and a malicious red aura surrounded the angelic Digimon. It gave him the strength to break free of his captor, who no longer laughed.
“It’s all your FAULT!!” The enraged knight screamed, eyes glowing red as he unleashed the not-so-holy energy in all directions.
Unfortunately, Gallantmon CM got caught in the aftershock of his attack, sending him hurtling in the opposite direction, form flickering as his evolution dissolved.
“… wake up.”
A hand closed onto Takato’s shoulder. His eyes snapped open, and he instinctively lashed out, only for his hand to be caught by Guilmon’s clawed one.
Takato blinked a few times and found both Tsukauchi and Guilmon hovering over him.
“Sorry. I didn’t mean to startle you,” Tsukauchi said as he took his hand off of Takato’s shoulder. “I couldn’t find any other way to wake you, You looked like you were having a bad nightmare, and it was starting to affect the electronics.”
“Was it,” Takato said groggily, sitting up in what he recognized as his bed. “Sorry. I didn’t know I could do that.”
“It must have something to do with your new modifications,” Tsukauchi theorized.
“Probably,” Takato agreed. “How did I get here? The last thing I remember was sitting at your desk after I finished giving my statement.”
“You fell asleep almost instantly, and I brought you here,” Tsukauchi explained.
“Weren’t you going to have Makoto pick me up?” Takato asked, cocking his head to the side.
“I was, but I didn’t want to disturb your sleep when you already get so little,” the detective said.
“Sorry… I didn’t mean to take you from your work,” Takato apologized.
Tsukauchi put a hand on Takato’s downturned head, ruffling his hair.
“You never have to apologize for taking my time. I’m your guardian. My time is yours. I’m only sorry that I haven’t been able to give you all of the time you needed so far.”
Takato peeked up at him shyly.
“You’ve done more than enough for me,” the boy said, trying to assuage Tsukauchi’s guilt. “Were you able to go back to work? How long was I out for?”
“You were asleep for five hours, and I brought my work home with me so that I could be here if you needed me.”
“Thank you,” Takato said. Sleep had been difficult for him ever since they were trapped in the Digital World.
They may not have physically required sleep in the Digital World, but the mental benefits were still essential.
Between all of the attacks that he and Guilmon endured before the Royal Knights found them, sleep was hard to come by. Takato still struggled with it even after being brought to the Royal Knights’ stronghold. Alphamon had taken it upon herself to stand guard by his room during those initial few months to give him the sense of security he needed to sleep. He had never been more grateful for her support.
Neither Alphamon nor the other Royal Knights ever ridiculed his need to be watched over, even if he felt embarrassed over needing something he should have long outgrown. Nevertheless, it was the only way he managed to get any sleep until his body and mind stopped anticipating danger at every turn.
“Do you want to talk about it?”
Takato stared at Tsukauchi blankly, realizing he’d spaced out as the detective spoke.
“Do you want to talk about your nightmare?” Tsukauchi asked. “You were crying and muttering ‘your fault’ in your sleep.”
“Oh…” Takato traced the dried tear tracks he hadn’t even realized were present. He took a moment to gather his thoughts. “I dreamed of the day I first got trapped in the Digital World.”
“During the big Digimon invasion,” Tsukauchi recalled.
“A large number of Parasimon attempted to take over our world. Guilmon and I went to destroy the source and succeeded.”
“But the portal closed before you could leave.”
Takato nodded, expression darkening.
“With everything that’s gone on, I never realized I’d forgotten something important about that day until now.”
“Oh?” Tsukauchi leaned forward. “What did you forget?”
“Someone kept us from leaving the Digital Zone,” Takato said, hands balling into fists. “We didn’t get the chance to see him at that time, but there’s no mistaking that voice.”
Guilmon growled as the memory returned to him as well, and Tsukauchi’s face twisted as he caught on.
“Daemon.”
Takato nodded.
“I think I finally know what he wants from us.”
Tsukauchi didn’t say anything, allowing Takato to gather his thoughts.
“He’s after the Digital Hazard.”
“What’s that?” Tsukauchi asked, confused.
Takato gestured to Guilmon’s chest symbol and the one on his, although his shirt hid it.
“I told you about Guilmon’s dark evolution before. The Digital Hazard is the source of his destructive power.”
Tsukauchi paled.
“That’s not good. Can he take it from you?”
Takato shook his head.
“Although I never designed Guilmon with the Hazard in place, it’s buried within his coding and can’t be removed.”
“IF you didn’t mean for Guilmon to have the Digital Hazard, how did he get it?”
“I don’t know. All I know is that Guilmon’s a vessel, and I’m the trigger. Now I know why Daemon didn’t kill us and why he went out of his way to torment us. He wanted to release the Hazard.”
Takato started trembling as he remembered the chaos from Megidramon’s birth.
The dragon’s short existence caused destruction throughout the Digital World and was seen even in the Real World.
It had been a blessing in disguise when Beelzemon defeated him, rendering the Digital Hazard dormant again.
It was a wonder that the same destruction didn’t occur when Takato unleashed the Digital Hazard again during his confrontation with Daemon. Hw had a feeling that the only reason it hadn’t was that Takato and Guilmon had Biomerged during those clashes. He was still unsure if that was a good or bad thing.
If the Hazard unleashed in this world…
This world had heroes, but Takato didn’t know if they could subdue Megidramon the same way Beelzemon had.
“Hey.”
Tsukauchi clapped a hand onto Takato’s shoulder, snapping the boy from his panicked thoughts.
“We won’t let anything happen to you,” Tsukauchi promised. “Daemon will never get his hands on you again.”
“There’s no way you can promise that.”
“Perhaps not,” Tsukauchi conceded. “But we’ll do everything within our power to keep it from happening.”
“And if he does get a hold of us?”
“We’ll do everything in our power to get you back.”
“What if,.. what if I lose control? I don’t want people to get hurt.”
“You won’t,” Tsukauchi said. “You’re stronger than you think. That same desire will help you remember why it’s important to keep the Digital Hazard in control. Remember that you aren’t alone if it’s too hard for you. We’ll help you.”
Takato knew he would do whatever was in his power to prevent Daemon from achieving his goals, but ‘what-if’ scenarios haunted his mind.
“If Daemon succeeds and I lose control,” Takato began, his voice shaky. “You need to promise to—”
“We’ll make contingency plans, but do not ask me to do what I think you’re about to,” Tsukauchi interrupted Takato sharply as he pulled the boy into a tight embrace. “There’s no need to go that far.”
“But what if….” Takato began, only to get hushed as Guilmon joined the hug.
“We’ll face whatever comes our way, Takato. We always do. Don’t let fear consume you.”
Takato closed his eyes and took a deep breath to suppress his anxiety, taking comfort within the protective embrace he was ensconced in.
The odds may seem stacked against them right now, but he and Guilmon would get stronger. They wouldn’t let Daemon get the upper hand against them again. It was too early to lose hope.