XxXXxX
In the moments following that display, which had stunned Tokyo for nearly a minute and was only now beginning to fade away, Guilmon thought, but did not say:
Damn it, Takato.
He risked a glance at Rinkmon who wasnÆt even looking at him.
HeÆs attention was completely captured by the fading light.
Seconds ticked by and to Guilmon they felt like hours; though the time dilation might have had something to do with that.
And then Rinkmon spoke.
ôYour Tamer is pretty ballsy, huh?ö He said.
Shit.
He knows.
Guilmon nearly smacked himself at that thought.
Well of course he knows. Takato had somehow managed to create a huge pillar of light announcing his presence. From which giant blue dragon wings extended, upon which had been written a challenging message.
You would literally have to be blind to miss it.
WhatÆs more, Rinkmon knew enough about UlforceV-dramon to recognize those wings for what they were, too.
What happens now? Guilmon wondered.
From a certain point of view, things were better now. Takato had decided to give his life to protect the people of this city and no more of them needed to get hurt. It was a heroic act of self-sacrifice.
Takato would die, Guilmon would follow him shortly into the grave, and no more innocent people would need to get hurt.
It should have been fine that way.
But things were different now.
Takato had been willing to give his life of his own free will where Guilmon had, in a moment of weakness, been weighing the possibility of trading itùtrading it, even though it was not his.
That lightùTakatoÆs Lightùhad blown away more than the darkness with its arrival.
GuilmonÆs doubts and hesitations had been erased as well. And it was like something that had been covering his eyes had been removed.
HeÆd been afraid of moving forward, he realized.
For the first time in his existence, heÆd been honestly afraid of moving forward. HeÆd been afraid of making hard choices.
HeÆd heard that he had only two options and heÆd halted in his tracks. HeÆd heard that it was Takato or the city and that choice had frozen him in place.
What the hell had he been thinking?
He was a Knight. A Royal Knight. It was his job to protect the innocent and the weak.
What right did he have to even consider trading their lives?
Doubt and hesitation had been replaced by shame and disgust.
Takato, IÆm sorry. IÆm so sorry. I nearlyàyouàoh, God, IÆm pathetic. But I wonÆt make any excuses; not when I can still make up for my mistakes.
HeÆd been so horrified by the two options that he had been presented that heÆd failed to even try looking for another one.
ôYeah,ö He said, finally replying to RinkmonÆs question. There was no longer any point in trying to hide Takato, for he would not hide away. The pride in his voice was just as impossible to hide. ôHe is.ö
HeÆd failed to look for any other options.
But now, he could see it. Illuminated by TakatoÆs Light, he could see another way.
And there was one.
ôYou realize IÆm going to go kill him now, right?ö Rinkmon asked. ôAnd then IÆm going to kill you.ö
There was one other option, but fear and indecision had blinded him. HeÆd known it was an option, but heÆd never had the faith to actually think æthis is possible.Æ Not just as a passing thought or an impossible dream but as æsomething I can do.Æ
ôNotàö Guilmon began, eyes and resolve hardening.
But it was there.
It had always been there.
ôàIf I kill you first!ö
Rinkmon was long gone, but he was already in pursuit.
His body glowed and something shifted and moved within him.
Something was happening to him and he didnÆt know what.
But it didnÆt matter.
This was a fight he couldnÆt allow himself to lose.
Nothing else mattered.
He had something to do; something he had to show Takato.
The thing he would createà!
TakatoàIÆm sorryàfor bringing Rinkmon hereàfor being weakàfor almost betraying youàI am so, so sorry. Butàpleaseàwatch me! Stand back and watch me! Support me for just a little while longer, Takato! IÆll show it to you! You and I arenÆt going to die tonight, Takato! Soàlet me show you the future!
XxXXxX
ERRORS DETECTED
ALGORITHMS ONE THROUGH SEVEN HAVE CONFIRMED FLAWS
æADULT FORMÆ CANNOT BE LOCATED
SEQUENCE CANNOT BE CONTINUED SAFELY
ATTEMPTING TO REPAIR ALGORITHMS
à
FAILED
ATTEMPTING TO HALT PROCESS
à
FAILED
MANUAL OVERRIDE ACTIVATED
EVOLUTION
XxXXxX
In the moments following that display, which had stunned Tokyo for nearly a minute and was only now beginning to fade away, Guilmon thought, but did not say:
Damn it, Takato.
He risked a glance at Rinkmon who wasnÆt even looking at him.
HeÆs attention was completely captured by the fading light.
Seconds ticked by and to Guilmon they felt like hours; though the time dilation might have had something to do with that.
And then Rinkmon spoke.
ôYour Tamer is pretty ballsy, huh?ö He said.
Shit.
He knows.
Guilmon nearly smacked himself at that thought.
Well of course he knows. Takato had somehow managed to create a huge pillar of light announcing his presence. From which giant blue dragon wings extended, upon which had been written a challenging message.
You would literally have to be blind to miss it.
WhatÆs more, Rinkmon knew enough about UlforceV-dramon to recognize those wings for what they were, too.
What happens now? Guilmon wondered.
From a certain point of view, things were better now. Takato had decided to give his life to protect the people of this city and no more of them needed to get hurt. It was a heroic act of self-sacrifice.
Takato would die, Guilmon would follow him shortly into the grave, and no more innocent people would need to get hurt.
It should have been fine that way.
But things were different now.
Takato had been willing to give his life of his own free will where Guilmon had, in a moment of weakness, been weighing the possibility of trading itùtrading it, even though it was not his.
That lightùTakatoÆs Lightùhad blown away more than the darkness with its arrival.
GuilmonÆs doubts and hesitations had been erased as well. And it was like something that had been covering his eyes had been removed.
HeÆd been afraid of moving forward, he realized.
For the first time in his existence, heÆd been honestly afraid of moving forward. HeÆd been afraid of making hard choices.
HeÆd heard that he had only two options and heÆd halted in his tracks. HeÆd heard that it was Takato or the city and that choice had frozen him in place.
What the hell had he been thinking?
He was a Knight. A Royal Knight. It was his job to protect the innocent and the weak.
What right did he have to even consider trading their lives?
Doubt and hesitation had been replaced by shame and disgust.
Takato, IÆm sorry. IÆm so sorry. I nearlyàyouàoh, God, IÆm pathetic. But I wonÆt make any excuses; not when I can still make up for my mistakes.
HeÆd been so horrified by the two options that he had been presented that heÆd failed to even try looking for another one.
ôYeah,ö He said, finally replying to RinkmonÆs question. There was no longer any point in trying to hide Takato, for he would not hide away. The pride in his voice was just as impossible to hide. ôHe is.ö
HeÆd failed to look for any other options.
But now, he could see it. Illuminated by TakatoÆs Light, he could see another way.
And there was one.
ôYou realize IÆm going to go kill him now, right?ö Rinkmon asked. ôAnd then IÆm going to kill you.ö
There was one other option, but fear and indecision had blinded him. HeÆd known it was an option, but heÆd never had the faith to actually think æthis is possible.Æ Not just as a passing thought or an impossible dream but as æsomething I can do.Æ
ôNotàö Guilmon began, eyes and resolve hardening.
But it was there.
It had always been there.
ôàIf I kill you first!ö
Rinkmon was long gone, but he was already in pursuit.
His body glowed and something shifted and moved within him.
Something was happening to him and he didnÆt know what.
But it didnÆt matter.
This was a fight he couldnÆt allow himself to lose.
Nothing else mattered.
He had something to do; something he had to show Takato.
The thing he would createà!
TakatoàIÆm sorryàfor bringing Rinkmon hereàfor being weakàfor almost betraying youàI am so, so sorry. Butàpleaseàwatch me! Stand back and watch me! Support me for just a little while longer, Takato! IÆll show it to you! You and I arenÆt going to die tonight, Takato! Soàlet me show you the future!
XxXXxX
ERRORS DETECTED
ALGORITHMS ONE THROUGH SEVEN HAVE CONFIRMED FLAWS
æADULT FORMÆ CANNOT BE LOCATED
SEQUENCE CANNOT BE CONTINUED SAFELY
ATTEMPTING TO REPAIR ALGORITHMS
à
FAILED
ATTEMPTING TO HALT PROCESS
à
FAILED
MANUAL OVERRIDE ACTIVATED
EVOLUTION
XxXXxX
