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Chapter Text

1. Dagomon’s Call

“Tai!!” Kari screamed out, vocal chords straining even as Yolei tried to grab her to pull her out, but her hands went right through her. Her heart raced and she felt the all-too familiar pull. She was finally happy in her life – things were going well, and she was following her dreams to become a kindergarten teacher. She was even beginning to develop her first crush on a certain gogglehead then why was Dagomon calling for her now?

She could feel her brother rushing towards her but all he could do was scream into nothingness as he was blasted back. He couldn’t save her this time – he didn’t have Agumon. She saw the regret flash across his face – because even her friends who still had their partners could not get close to the dark portal. Even Gatomon who desperately tried to cling to her was forced away.

It's ok. I forgive you. Maybe this is meant to happen.  

Sweat beaded down the side of her face as she arrived in the all too familiar surroundings of the Dark Ocean. A place Yolei and Gatomon had once taught her to fight but maybe she just was not strong enough. Walking along the sand of the Dark Ocean, the waves of the water hit her legs, sending a chill down her spine – a chill she could sense was not from the water alone. She could feel the eyes watching her and this time it was not the Scubamon, but their master. The master that wanted her as his Queen.

And that was not all that lay within the Dark Ocean. They had banished Daemon to the Dark Ocean as well and now she was trapped. Trapped in this world with both of them, without her D-3, without her digimon partner. Even with mentally preparing herself for the worst, a scream left her when a tentacle wrapped itself around her smaller body, yanking her into the water against her will as the creature appeared in front of her.

“Let me go,” Kari brought a firmness to her voice, one she remembered having when she was only eight years old and standing in front of Myotismon. One she felt she shouldn’t have in this instance – in that moment, she knew her brother would find a way to get to her and even if she didn’t survive, she would die saving the world.

It had been a win-win situation but now it wasn’t the case. Gatomon wasn’t here – Tai was back in the real world but even if he were here, what could he do without Agumon? The older DigiDestined had all lost their digimon partners and as far as they knew, there was no way of getting them back.

Dagomon chuckled. “You do not need to fight this, Child of Light. We can do great things together. We can shape the world however we want. All you have to do is become mine.”

Kari struggled, despite him being bigger and stronger. Being Tai’s little sister had made her a fighter and although she had never been as strong as him, she didn’t want to give up without a fight. Davis is my leader – I can’t let him or my brother down. I have to try. I have to fight…even if I lose. 

Bile rose up her throat as despite her struggles, she was dragged deeper into the water, but she didn’t drown – not in the same way one would in regular water. It weakened her ability to fight, and she found that her struggles were beginning to lessen. She knew the Dark Ocean water was draining her energy and there was nothing she could do about it. Knowing this and knowing what was about to happen did not prepare her for what came next.

Screams left her at the intrusion, tears falling from her cheeks as she stopped fighting completely. There was no point – maybe the darkness was better. Even before Agumon had gone, Tai never had time for her, he never had the time to protect her. Maybe, maybe that was why the darkness had come back – while she still had her group of friends, it wasn’t the same. Tai had always protected her and now he wasn’t anywhere anymore. These were the last thoughts that flitted through her mind before her world faded into the darkness completely.

Chapter Text

2. Forging a Path

Tai stared at the spot where his sister had disappeared. Once again, he had failed her – she considered him her protector, someone she could always count on, but he hadn’t been able to do a thing. He should have held her close and never let her go. He was a hero as a kid but now he felt like the older he grew, the more he became a nothing.

Everything was changing as he grew up but not in the way he had imagined. He had hoped to become more settled as he grew up, not become more scattered. If things kept up like this, he would never be able to get Kari or Agumon back.

“Tai,” T.K.’s voice snapped him out of his thoughts, and he turned to look at the younger boy. He was watching him in concern, but he didn’t need that concern. Worrying about him wouldn’t bring Kari back.

“Don’t look at me like that,” Tai muttered, looking away before exhaling and looking at Ken. “How do I get there, Ken? How do I get to the Dark Ocean? You’ve opened a gate to there before, right? Help me get there. Help me save my sister.”

Ken frowned at that. “I tapped into my dark feelings and used my digivice but I’m not sure if that will work.”

Tai nodded, looking at his digivice. That didn’t sound too hard. Darkness had been a part of his everyday life – so it shouldn’t be difficult to tap into it. He had lost a large part of himself wanting to blindly follow the path society wanted him to take. He had forgotten his courage. The courage that he learnt back then and maybe saving his sister was only the first step, but it was a first step he was willing to take.

It hurt to fail the one little girl he had promised to protect with his life. But the darkness was soothing – he could see why Kari was pulled towards it. He could feel the water hitting his legs as well and as he looked up, the portal to the Dark Ocean had opened in front of him. There it was. The entrance to it. He stopped – paused as he turned to look at Davis.

“Are you coming?”