My first fanfiction ever. I don't really expect to be good since I have only the main idea in my head. Details are something I have to work on...

~TAICHI~

I looked at my little sister desperately. She was angry, but I didn't know what had her riled up so much. I looked around our dark surroundings. There was only one other with us.

I looked at him, or it. I couldn't really tell because it was a part of the darkness. Hikari just stared out into it while I braced myself to protect her if I had to.

"Hikari," I said in a soft whisper, "we have to get out of here."

"No, Taichi. I won't leave my best friend in there!" She stared out into the dark massive figure.

"Really? What if he wants to belong here? The Darkness isn't allowed to have hope?" The mass seemed to sneer at us.

A chill ran up my spine. I was supposed to be Courage, yet I was scared. No! I can't let this thing get to me. I opened my mouth to speak but I was silenced with fear as the thing came out of the shadows. I couldn't make out the details of his face, but I know we knew each other. Like he was someone I knew I could trust with my life.

"Weren't you going to say something, Tai?" He was mocking me and I couldn't do anything.

Frozen in fear, I could only just stare with my mouth open like an idiot. He continued. "You can't hurt me? I would think Courage would have taken over to protect his dear sister!" He laughed at me and Hikari vanished from my side.

"No!" I finally managed.

At that moment, I woke up in a frenzy. The sky was still dark out and I heard a groan from the top bunk. "Taichi?"

"It's okay, Hikari. Just a small nightmare. Go back to sleep," I whispered in assurance.

"Okay." I waited until she was fully asleep.

I stared at the bottom of her bed, thinking about the mysterious dark figure.

~YAMATO~

I looked at Taichi in despair. He looked like he was about to cry and what was I doing? Nothing… Nothing to help my best friend when he needed me the most.

TK was better at this. My little brother always did his best to make sure others were alright. I try but I don't think I'm a very good friend. Not right now anyways. Everything negative that I forced out of my mind years ago were coming back to haunt me.

"Taichi…"

He looked up at me. Tears filled his eyes. "I have to save Hikari."

"You can't save her if you're going to be putting yourself in danger," I said.

He flared up. "What about you? You lost your brother!" He marched away, but turned back. "Wouldn't TK want you to help save him? Some friend you are."

The remark stung. Of course, I would do anything to save my little brother. Just like Tai would do anything to save Kari. And I was a good friend, wasn't I? And is it the right thing to do to let my friend risk his life to the unknown? Friendship should be doing what's best for them.

I didn't really notice the surrounding darkness. It just felt natural here. Something I was very uncomfortable with.

A soft voice was flowing through the area. A very familiar voice that I would used to hear from… who? "What's wrong, Matt? Don't you want to be the best friend everyone can have? Or are you really just looking after yourself? Even your brother isn't your friend."

I watched as the Digidestined appeared and disappeared around me. Tai and TK were lingering around me the longest. Tai with his grim smile filled with determination. I couldn't make out TK's face. It was partly hidden in the darkness.

Tai vanished and left me alone with my brother. I won't lose my Friendship with him, ever.

"Really? I understand, but what if he doesn't want it?"

I fell into the darkness and woke up, sweaty. I looked around the guest room of my mom's apartment. I stared at the family picture I had set up on the nightstand. There was a crack in the glass. Right between me and TK.

I immediately grabbed the frame and stared at it. I would have to take this as a sign. I'll keep a very close eye on my brother. No matter how grown up he is he'll always be my little brother. I'll do anything to protect him and my other friends.

I picked up my cell phone and called my girlfriend. Hopefully she'd understand why I called so late.

~SORA~

I was with the other girls of our group. Mimi, Hikari, and Miyako sat with me on the picnic bench, watching the others goof off.

All of us felt like a family together. Each of us had a special job. I was like the mother, caring for everyone. Yamato was the father figure of our group. Taichi was the oldest brother who would protect all of us from danger. Jou was the doctor care for us. Mimi was the oldest sister who looked out and would voice her own opinions and advice. Koushiro would be the genius in the family. Daisuke would be the immature brat that everyone loved. Miyako is the little sister that always stuck with her older sister that was her role model, that being Mimi. Iori was the youngest who understood the most since he learns from the other's mistakes. Ken is the one who keeps us all together when we get out of hand with our antics. TK and Hikari were very different from the typical family members I had in mind.

TK was always a happy kid that would resolve the family problems we had. Kari would do the same thing. Maybe it was because they had the biggest hearts and went through both adventures of saving the world. The only differences between them were that TK was more helpful while Kari was more determined to make sure things were alright.

Our "family" was having a little get-together. We always did since there wasn't much to worry since we already took out MaloMyotismon. Everything and everyone was so peaceful.

But the peace didn't last long. The sky darkened and the tree we were sitting under shriveled up and died. The lush green grass we sat on turned yellow.

The boys stopped horsing around and immediately rushed over. Everyone around me began to slow and fade out. I floated in nothingness as I tried to understand what happened.

One moment Mimi and I were making fun of Kari's and Miyako's crushes on who we think they liked. Now I was alone in this darkness.

Images appeared around me. Many were from when I went to that summer camp and the adventures I had with Tai and the others. Little TK would stick with me, like I was his older sister. Things were so different back then. I still held the Crest of Love.

"Love? What is that really, Sora?"

I looked around the darkness. I could make out a tall, skinny figure a little past the memory images. His build was like TK's but I couldn't be sure since a lot of people seemed different as silhouettes.

"Aren't you going to answer me, Sora?" He took a menacing step forward.

"Love is caring for those who matter to you," I replied defiantly.

He hesitated slightly and stepped back. He regained his composure and laughed. "Really? Well, how do you feel about your friends abandoning you?"

"The Digidestined don't abandon each other. We stick together as a team. Like a family."

"Families don't always stick together…" He chuckled slightly. "Didn't you know that?"

He was referring to Matt and TK. Of course we knew, but both boys learned how to cope with it. At least Matt did. It's hard to figure out what TK really feels on the inside.

He seemed to know what I was thinking. "That makes it hard for you to know if he really cares for anything, huh? He probably hates everyone because they always need him to make them happy."

I glared at the shadow. "You can't say that about TK!"

Another dark chuckle came from his direction. "You want to be Love? That's okay. Just remember that a broken heart brings the most pain when dealing with the feeling."

He disappeared and the memories did too. Everyone else flickered back into the scene. The atmosphere was different, almost hostile.

Hikari cried next to me as we all turned against someone. "I thought he cared about all of us, Sora."

I looked at the figure. It was a little bit hard to make him out and I couldn't identify him. I couldn't say anything to her. Instead, the figure replied in a voice that was similar to TK's, "Love is relative when it comes to perspective. Like what we believe is good and evil…"

My friends and real family surrounded me for a while, but vanished again to leave me alone.

It was at this moment, my cell phone buzzed to awaken me. I quickly reached for it and looked at the caller ID. Yamato… What was he doing up?

I answered willingly since I had no intentions of returning to that nightmare. "Matt? What's up?"

~KOUSHIRO~

I sat at a computer in the school computer lab. Weird. I don't remember ever having to get up for class. I also thought that it was supposed to be a Saturday. It must be a dream then.

I glanced around my dream world and smiled at my friends as they anxiously waited for me. Obviously they wanted to go to the Digital World.

I typed in a few codes and got the portal open. "It's all set!"

Taichi got to his feet. "Alright, Izzy!" He pulled out his digivice and activated the portal. "Let's go!"

We entered the alternate world and were immediately greeted by our partners. I laughed as Tentomon buzzed around me happily.

"It's great to see you again, Koushiro."

"Yeah, it's been a while," I replied happily.

We all held our usually abnormal picnics around a lake. Yamato and TK were helping setup the food. Jou was busy cooking the barbeque as I opened up my pineapple laptop. The girls sat under the shade and were talking to Ken, Daisuke, and Iori. Taichi had gone off somewhere.

He soon came back, wearing some dark blue swim trunks. He threw a small duffel bag at Kari and cannonballed into the lake, wetting Yamato. The other boy was unfortunate as to be walking in that direction.

"Tai!" Yamato had begun to pull the brown-haired boy to shore.

Everyone laughed as both began to mock fight. TK laughed as the two older boys weren't having any luck hitting each other. I sighed and looked back into the laptop. Not that there was much to look at in the screen. We saved the world, anyways.

The food was all done and everyone crowded around the tables to get a helping. The food didn't last long as we went back for seconds. The digimon actually went back for thirds and fourths.

"Let's all go for a swim!" TK cried. He took off his shirt and was already wearing his swim trunks.

He ran towards the water and turned to face us as he swam on his back. Daisuke laughed and ran after him. Taichi and Yamato had a competitive glint in their eyes as they charged into the lake. Jou and I nervously laughed, but stayed on dry land with Iori, who could not swim.

The girls went to change and they soon came out. They all went to hang out with the others while the three of us on shore stayed nearby.

TK, although first to go in, came out to dry. His lopsided grin matched the happy glow in his light blue eyes. Patamon and the other digimon tackled him and he fell backwards into the water with a laugh. They had been playing tag and Patamon was the only one who never became It.

"You're it, Patamon!" Gatomon cried as she tagged him.

"You're gonna get it! All of you!" Patamon jumped off TK's head and flew to chase the nearest digimon.

TK still smiled as he grabbed his bag and went somewhere to change. Iori could not help but comment on TK's attitude. "Does he always have to take things so lightly?"

Jou answered. "That's TK, for you. Only serious when the darkness comes and takes away something he cares about."

I nodded. "That's how most of us are. I won't take action unless I'm certain on what to do."

"And I don't do anything unless I know we have a chance," Jou said with a smile.

Iori nodded as he understood. "TK never jumps into action unless he has a need to do so."

Hikari came out of the water and looked around. "You're talking about, TK? Where is he anyways?"

I looked around. It was taking him quite a while to change. "He's been gone for about fifteen minutes."

Jou was starting to get worried. "It shouldn't take that long."

Yamato overheard and was about to say something when we heard a yell from the trees. He ran over to his bag and grabbed his digivice. "Gabumon!"

"Right, Matt!" Gabumon was covered in light as he digivolved into Garurumon.

The two of them went to look for TK, thinking that he must have yelled for help. Kari did the same as Angewomon followed her. Patamon were at their tail.

I motioned for Iori and Jou to go ahead. Gomamon digivolved into Champion and then to Ultimate. Iori had Armadillomon armor digivolve into Digmon and quickly left.

I called out to the others. "Guys! Hurry up! We have to help TK!"

Tai was first to move and pretty soon, all the digimon were ready to move. I rode Kabuterimon and scouted the area to make sure we were headed the right way.

Everyone followed Tai and I as Greymon trampled the trees on his rampage.

I slowed as we neared Yamato fighting some digimon. Angewomon and Patamon fought some others and backup was on their way.

I jumped off safely as Kabuterimon let out an attack. "Electro Shocker!"

Attacks blazed through the air and one digimon attacked everyone with a massive attack. Everyone was blown back and our partners dedigivolved.

I struggled to pick up Motimon. I looked around at the damage. Everyone else was passed out near their digimon partner. I struggled to stand up with Motimon in my arms.

"Are you alright, buddy?"

Motimon nodded slightly. I checked to make sure everyone was safe. There was only TK missing. Yamato gained consciousness first and checked around for his younger brother.

We found him in a tree. Taichi and the rest woke up and managed to get the boy down safely. Being very weak, Patamon had reverted back into his Fresh form. Poyomon was carried by Hikari and she gently laid the digimon down next to his human partner.

I immediately taken out the laptop and checked his injuries. Jou was taking note of what was wrong with him.

Now, I know this is a dream, but I'm compelled to find out what I can do. Plus, I actually feel some pain from that final blast. I'm very confused here. Was this really a dream?

I was answered by my laptop freezing and sizzling. Everything slowed and faded around me. The trees lowered their branches as if to signal sorrow and despair. I sensed a dark, menacing shadow behind me.

I turned slowly to see a gaunt young boy staring at me with dark blue eyes. A lopsided frown stuck on his face. His black-blonde hair draped over his dull eyes.

"This isn't a dream. It's supposed to be a nightmare."

"Somehow I don't think waking up will do the trick," I muttered.

The small boy frowned. He reminded me of someone. Or at least someone's opposite. "How does it feel to know nothing?" I looked at him with questions in my eyes. He rolled his eyes. "To know nothing to help others. Especially your friends." He sneered. It was an odd gesture from a small boy.

"I don't have to know now. I just have to learn it as I go along."

"Really? How are you going to learn when you don't even know what true Knowledge is?" He vanished and things moved again.

I stared blankly at my computer. It was dead. Jou looked at me expectantly. I just continued to stare into space.

"Koushiro? Is something wrong? I need you to tell me what these wounds are from. Koushiro?" Everyone else tried too, but to no avail.

I felt just as lost as I did when Vademon took away my curiosity of the world. Not being able to supply the needed information was unbearable. Not being able to think. I was about to lose it when I chose to wake up at that moment.

I had a little help in waking. My computer was beeping, telling me that the file download was ready. I sighed and stared at the machine. At least I still had my curiosity and Knowledge, if not nothing.

~MIMI~

It was great to be back in Japan. I love America, but Japan is my home and all of my friends are here. Especially my closest friends, the Digidestined.

We were together in the Digital World. We actually wanted to hang out at Vegiemon's restaurant. So here we were in the restaurant, having fun.

Miyako laughed as Daisuke tried to impress Hikari with his antics. He had gotten over his crush, but he still acted that way to annoy his friends. The poor boy rubbed the back of his head as he pulled the fork out of his hair.

Taichi smiled. "Nice try, goggle boy!"

Daisuke smiled too. "Hey, TS! I bet you can't do it better!"

TK blinked. "Juggling forks? Maybe, I don't know."

Hikari and Miyako giggled as TK began to juggle. They were actually laughing at the face Daisuke made when TK threw a few forks into the air and caught them all. TK wore a huge grin as he kept it up for two minutes.

He would have done it longer, but Yamato snatched the forks from midair. "You'll hurt yourself, little brother."

Sora took them from her boyfriend. "And you'll hurt yourself, Matt."

Taichi took a sip from his drink. "You gotta admit, though, TK's good."

Everyone chuckled lightly, but something about the atmosphere became awkward. Being a large group, we split up into three tables. Hikari sat with TK, Yamato, and Taichi. Daisuke was with Ken, Iori, and Miyako. That left me with Sora, Koushiro, and Jou. It was only awkward because Sora and I were gossiping rather loudly.

"I'm telling you, Sora! TK and Kari look so cute together."

Sora rolled her eyes. "You're too loud, Mimi."

I looked up at TK and Hikari. The two had looked away from each other. Taichi raised a brow at his best friend's brother. Yamato was holding back laughter.

Daisuke's table hid their smiles, but I heard them snicker. Koushiro and Jou didn't really think much of the matter.

TK broke the light tension. "We're just best friends. Don't have to twist things up, Mimi." His quiet voice was barely audible, but everyone heard.

At that moment, Yamato couldn't keep in his laughter any longer. He laughed with some food still in his mouth. He choked and Taichi hammered him on the back. TK, worried, went around the table to make sure his brother was alright.

I felt awful for almost causing so much trouble. But I couldn't help being Sincere all the time. I just spoke what was on my mind. It does a lot of damage to have no impulse control though.

"Is it better to lie then?"

I looked around. The restaurant scene froze. I tried to figure out who said that. It actually came from near Yamato's table.

"Well? Is it? Lying must bring some relief from the pressure of having to always be Sincere."

"No! Lying just makes things worse."

"But, then the truth hurts sometimes, doesn't it?"

"It's better to see them hurt, than to make them believe in something that's wrong!"

"Then why don't you tell them what you truly think? Tell them everything that flashes through your mind. Like how some things shouldn't work, what might be the best way to fix certain problems, and other things I know you want to have a say in."

This invisible person was so annoying. I don't say everything on my mind because I know there's a time and place for that stuff. I critique things based on more than my perspective.

Time moved again. Yamato downed his glass of water and still continued to laugh, despite it almost killing him. TK blushed madly, but went back to his seat. Hikari and he refused to look at each other directly.

Sora frowned. I immediately apologized to her and Yamato. "I'm sorry. I wasn't thinking clearly."

Sora nodded and replied, "Maybe we should change the seating arrangements."

I quickly stood up. "I've got the perfect arrangement!" Everyone looked at me. TK and Hikari scooted their chairs apart from each other. Taichi and Yamato stared at their younger siblings with smiles on their faces.

Daisuke smiled, knowing he wasn't really a part of my plan. He didn't really have anyone to be worried about. Ken became nervous as to what I had in mind. I suspect that he knows I know he likes Miyako, somewhat. Jou and Koushiro were uncomfortable to how awkward it was going to be with putting cute potential couples together. Iori had a look of confusion on his face. Sora already had Yamato, but she worried for the rest.

I was about to speak, but TK stood up quickly. "Mimi, please don't do this." He picked up his hat and placed it on his head in a way to hide his blush. "It's not necessary."

I don't know why, but I wanted to argue with the blonde boy. "It'll be nice. Besides, I want to talk with the others, too."

Sora decided to side with TK. And things went downhill from there. Everyone got into a big argument on whether or not I should move the seating arrangements. I sat in the middle of it all, seeing the chaos I started.

The shouts were deafening and I began to wish that I kept my mouth shut. I shut my eyes tight and opened them again when I heard someone calling my name. "Mimi! Time to get up."

I sat up in bed and sighed in relief. "Okay, Mom! I'll be ready soon."

~JOU~

This was not good. I ran along the moving hospitable bed. We had to move quickly, if this patient was to survive. It didn't help me that this was my very close friend!

I rushed into the room and made sure my gloves were secure. I hooked up the complicated equipment to TK's weakening body. His breathing was slow and I was scared that if I didn't this right, he would die.

I looked at the main doctor and he took over. I watched. I was supposed to be watching the actions the doctor made to attempt to revive the unconscious Digidestined. I wasn't, mainly because I was too worried about his well-being.

Time crept forward slowly. I was intent on making sure things would be okay. They didn't because I heard the heart monitor let out a long beep. My eyes widened when I realized I failed.

Things felt stopped. The sounds of the room faded out, except for the dreaded beeping. It was mocking me.

"TK! No! You can't die!"

The beeping turned into words that I couldn't get out of my mind. "Reliability, huh? You just caused one of the Digidestined to die! Couldn't you have done anything?"

"Shut up! I can still try!"

"Give it up! He's dead! Go on and tell his brother. Do you think he'll forgive you?"

The beeping finally stopped and I stared at the doctor. "I'm sorry, Jou. Sometimes patients have to die. You can't save them all."

"I'll tell the others," I managed to choke out.

The doctor nodded his head solemnly. He knew that I had known TK. "It's not your fault, Jou."

I left the room with my head down. Yamato was up and pacing the hall. He spotted me and noticed my melancholy mood. He instantly flared up. "TK! Jou! I thought you could save him!" He was clouded by grief and rage.

Taichi and Sora restrained him from attacking me or any of the other medical staff. "TK would want you to calm down, Matt!"

"I have to do something! TK!" He tried to struggle, but stopped. Not bothering to hold in his tears, he cried on Sora's shoulder.

Mrs. Takaishi was crying softly behind her, now only, son. Mr. Ishida only looked away.

How could this happen? I was supposed to protect him and make sure he was alright. How did I fail? The others won't see me as Reliable as I was before.

Again that beeping sounded. I bolted awake and stared at the stupid alarm clock. A nightmare! I sighed in relief as none of it really happened. But still, I felt bothered.

~KEN~

I stared at the mirror and couldn't believe my eyes. No! I got rid of him when I decided to take on the Crest of Kindness!

The Emperor stepped out of the mirror and laughed at me. "What? Did you think that you would get rid of me that easily? I'm you! I'll always be you!"

"That doesn't mean that I have to be you," I said coolly. It's best to not fly off the handle right now.

"Oh please, you don't know how to be nice. You pretend to be nice, but are you really kind?"

I clenched my teeth. "I know I can be kind. I'm nice so I can repay the world for what I did as you!"

"But what if I don't want to use you as a host anymore? I can always try to be the Emperor through someone else!" The Kaiser fell back into the shadows. His appearance changed slightly. His hair became slightly flatter, but messier. I could see him wear a hat. He took off his glasses and thrust them on the floor. "I mean, why should I just be you when I can rule the world as someone else?"

I ran forward and tried to land a punch. He lunged forward and dodged my fist. He tackled me and it reminded me of when TK attacked me. I shielded my face and head with my arms, but the Emperor punched my stomach. I fell to the ground where he kicked me in the chest.

I coughed up some blood, but tried to stand up. He scoffed and said in a smug tone, "Thanks for being kind enough to let me beat you up. You can't even fight yourself."

"You're not me and I'm no longer you," I managed to groan before letting the pain consume me. I closed myself away from the darkness. When I opened my eyes again, I found myself in bed. I was a bit sore, but I was okay. Wormmon crawled up the bed to check if I was alright.

"Ken? Are you okay? Who aren't you?"

I shook my head. "Don't worry, Wormmon. Just something of the past."

He was still a bit doubtful, but went back to sleep. I laid back and stared at the ceiling. I hope I never have to see that side of me again.

~DAISUKE~

I was cornered in the darkness. My hero and his best friend glared at me. Taichi made a move to grab my goggles from my head. I winced as they snapped off.

"You don't deserve these!"

Yamato just spat at me. "You call yourself a friend?"

I shook in fear. What was going on? What did I do wrong? "I don't understand!"

Taichi rolled his eyes. "Where's your Courage?"

"And Friendship?" Yamato added.

"You're going to abandon everyone to protect yourself?" They both exclaimed at me.

I tried covering my ears, but that didn't help keep them out. Both older boys raised their fists. I shut my eyes and waited for them to punch me. I jumped up when something soft and cushiony hit my face.

"Daisuke! Mom wants you up to clean your room!"

I stared at the pillow that fell to the ground. It was better than having Taichi and Yamato punch me. I picked it up and threw it back at Jun. "I'll get to it later!" I got up from bed and decided to get ready for the day.

~MIYAKO~

I felt the glares of Mimi and Sora penetrate me. I knew they weren't around, but it wasn't like I could just escape from this endless maze of grocery shelves.

I made another turn and was stuck in a dead end. I turned around to head back, but both girls already trapped me in there. "What did I do?"

Sora crossed her arms. "We thought you cared about the group!"

"How could you lie to all of us?" Mimi's eyes burned a hole into my brain.

"I'm sorry! Whatever I did I'm sorry!"

"Love can't be taken advantage of!"

"And Sincerity isn't something used to purposefully hurt others!"

Both loomed over me. "How do you think the others feel about you betraying them?"

I turned away, but fell myself crash into the shelf. My glasses cracked as they hit the ground. I blinked back the tears, but failed. I sank to the ground and cried.

"Miyako? Hey! Wake up!" I looked up to see my brother, Mantarou, staring at me. "Are you okay? It's almost morning and I heard you bump into the wall in your sleep."

I rubbed my eyes and found that they were a little damp. I head hurt slightly and I guess it was from the crash. "I'm alright." I stared at my older brother. "Get out of my room!"

He smirked and went back into his room next door. I curled into my blankets and tried to forget about my nightmare. Maybe a little bit more sleep will help.

~IORI~

Grandfather's kendo studio was bare. I made my way towards the sliding door to leave. I opened it and found Koushiro and Jou staring at me, angry.

"Guys? Is anything wrong?" I was slightly nervous as both had their arms crossed.

The younger of the two spoke first. "How can you not use Knowledge to save the team?"

"What? Koushiro, what are you talking about? Jou?" I looked at the medical student, hoping that he could clear things up. Boy was I wrong.

"You can't be Reliable if you don't trust everyone on the team!"

Was he talking about Ken? But I do trust him. I trusted everyone with my life. "I don't get it."

Both of them stared me down. "How would your father feel knowing you fail us because you doubt us?"

I shook a little. The few memories I had of my father flashed through my mind. "But I didn't fail," I began, "Did I?" I staggered backward and fell.

I tried to stand up several times, but each time landed with the same result. I continued to fall backwards and that was when I tripped over the kendo equipment.

Enraged, I picked up a helmet and through it at the closing door. I regretted it after I realized I was just dreaming.

I blinked slowly as I realized I threw my pillow across my bedroom. "Iori? Is everything alright? Your grandfather wants you up for early practice."

I picked up the pillow and placed it neatly on my bed. "Okay, mom! I'll be ready in a moment."

I looked out my window to see the sun starting to rise. Kendo should take my mind off of things.

~HIKARI~

I felt the darkness creeping up around me. I screamed. Taichi! TK! I need you!

The darkness stopped moving towards me. It paused for a moment as if wondering about something. "Do you really need him?"

No, I didn't want the darkness to read my mind. But it was in my head. It couldn't help it. "I'll always need my brother…"

"Not that buffoon. The other one…"

TK? "He's my best friend. He's always there when I need him!"

"You rely on him too much." The darkness took a form. The only light around here came from around me. I saw the form and thought it was TK at first glance.

"Why do you look like TK?"

The lookalike frowned. "It doesn't really matter. But you need him too much. Aren't you strong enough to fight off the impending darkness?" He grinned evilly. Shivers crawled up my spine.

"Of course I am!"

The figure evaporated and the shadows became misty. "Prove it, Light. Next time the darkness comes, try to fight it off without help from Hope."

I saw it retreat and I immediately went after it. "Hey! Come back!"

"Hikari! I need to leave already," Taichi shouted.

I woke up and stared at him through our open bedroom door. "Oh. Sorry, Taichi. I was just talking in my sleep."

He came back in and stared at me. He looked tired. Maybe it was the nightmare he had last night. "Are you alright? A nightmare?"

I shook my head. "Not exactly a nightmare, but not a good dream either."

"I have to get to soccer practice, but I'll be back soon. Okay?"

I rolled my eyes and laugh. "I'll be alright, Taichi."

He smiled and left the bedroom again. "We should get all the others together. It's a nice Saturday after all!"

I climbed down the bunk bed and locked myself in the bathroom. I'll be alright. I'll try taking on the dark figure's challenge. I'll have backup though. Just in case.

~TAKERU~

I sat in the middle of the darkness. I sat there because I didn't really want to stand up and go exploring whatever this place had in mind. I hated it here. The emptiness. The loneliness. The dark sense of evil that loomed over the atmosphere, making it unbearable for something like Hope to exist.

I decided that I had sat here long enough. I won't get out if I at least to attempt to leave.

After a few steps of walking, I thought I saw Hikari here. Was she crying? I immediately went after her. I took a step forward, but my legs were stuck. Confused, I looked down. My legs had literally turned to stone.

"Hey! What gives?" I looked back up to get Hikari to help me. What I saw instead made me freeze. "Hikari?"

Around me, I saw the six other Digidestined. "Guys? A little help?"

They didn't come near me. It was like I was some disgusting creature they found. I stood on a rotating platform and it faced me with Taichi.

"TK, you shouldn't be a Digidestined." His voice was icy. "You have no Courage when you face evil."

I turned to my brother. He did nothing to help me against what Taichi said. "You don't really have any real Friendships neither, little brother."

It continued as I faced every member of the team. "You don't have the Love of anyone. Not even your own family."

"Is your Sincerity really the truth?"

"How much Knowledge do you even have to apply it to life?"

"Your Reliability never existed. You're still that weak little boy that cried all the time."

The newer members took their place in between they had a lot more to say to me.

"TU! You can't do anything right!"

"How can you try to destroy the Darkness alone and leave us here to fend for ourselves?"

"I don't understand how I could ever admire a person like you!"

"Where's the Kindness you usually show to others? Or is that just an act?"

I couldn't really shut them out. I wanted to, but I had to hear this. I wasn't weak. I am strong, or at least strong enough to fight for myself. But I would never fight my friends.

They all started yelling at me and I couldn't make out anything they said. I found that I could move again, but I stumbled inside their little ring.

I collapsed and looked up at Hikari. She offered me her hand with a smile. Cautiously, I took it. She helped me up and I relaxed a little. Big mistake because she spiked her knee into my stomach and once again I was lying on the ground.

"You're weak, Takeru!" I winced as she used my full name. "And you're supposed to be Hope. I don't need you to be Hope. I can carry out both Light and Hope. You can't do anything! Why don't you go back into the darkness?"

Back into the darkness? Is that where Hope comes from? I picked myself up, not trusting the others. I managed to get on my knees, but was kicked down. I looked up at my best friend. She didn't really care that I was getting hurt by everyone.

Yamato didn't care either. He just stood there looking at me with the cold eyes he used to look at Taichi with. "Big brother," I groaned.

"I don't know why you're calling me that," he snapped. "I no longer have a brother worth having."

It was a heavy blow. Taichi gave me a kick that sent me to the edge of the darkness. I clutched my badly hurt chest and started to whimper. It was something I hadn't done in a long time. Not since I was eight had I ever cried. I stopped when I realized that crying doesn't make things better.

Crying only let out your pain. Then when you're done, you still have to face the problem. After defeating Apocalymon, I decided to always fight for what I believe first. There would never be a time to cry until after I completed my task.

The others left me and my low whimpering. I laid there for a long time before I felt the shadows move.

I instantly sat up and looked around. "Who's there?"

The darkness seemed much more peaceful now. I never noticed how the silence was welcoming. Being alone seemed to help me too; there was no one to bother my thoughts.

"Why have you been trying to fight off the darkness then, TK?" The shadows asked. "Doesn't Hope come from the darkness anyway? After all, there is no need for hope if the darkness isn't there to give it a need."

I thought back. Maybe the shadow was right. But I couldn't lose my Hope. It made me who I was.

"I'm not asking you to abandon hope, TK. I just want you to return into the darkness with your hope."

I stood up slowly. "The darkness?" I stared at the empty black. A part of me hated it and feared it. "I can't…"

"Don't worry about it. You're not ready for it. You can stay in the Light for as long as you want. But just remember that the darkness will let you return if you feel the need to come back."

I looked at my newly remade tag and crest. It glowed its pale yellow in my hands. No. I won't leave everything behind. I looked back at the darkness. It wasn't going to force me. I know that. But was it really something that I could turn away from?

I watched as the dark was replaced by my room. I looked out the window. A dream, but not quite a dream. I sighed as I stepped out of my bedroom and walk into the bathroom. I'll think it over after I see the others.