After the Coronation

Kemba followed in after Theos, watching him go to the bed. This was not the end of the night they had envisioned. Kemba walked to a clothing rack that he had been given as a gift by the Princes and removed his armor; hanging it. The thought of Jared's death weighed on his mind but he knew it hurt Theos more. Dan and Jared...both victims of Cursed Exodus. Victims of Ara. Somehow, Bai Hu refused to let them escape and continued to ruin their lives.

"Cursed Exodus," he murmured. "No matter where we go they appear....if we ran to W.A.D.A. next they would follow. How many will die in this war for me? How many would die from W.A.D.A. for me? Even if I ran now the war will still happen.....what about after.....what should we do after Kemba,"


Kemba sighed and walked to the bed sitting on the side. Kemba reached out his paw and took Theos's front hoof, he took a moment to consider his words. He had warned Theos about the dangers of the coronation, but not even he could have predicted this outcome.

He stroked Theos's paw with his thumb, "Theos...this kingdom is going to war to protect you because they love you. You took the place as prince and became the adoptive nephew to Cora. Having the title of Prince means that people will die so that you can live. If you....we...cannot learn to live with that truth then we need to leave everyone behind. After the war, we should go to a corner of the world where no one can find us. Grow old together in seclusion. Perhaps somewhere in the Tundra." Kemba crawled on to the bed and laid next to theos.

"Or...we find Ara...and make her leave us and our loved ones alone. We make the hunter become the hunted. Cut the head off of the dragon and let the body squirm." Kemba said sounding a bit harsh, a coldness behind his golden gaze. "Those are our only options." Kemba reached for Theos's face and caressed his cheek.

"You know I stand by you with whatever you want to do."

Theos listened to Kembas wonders wondering himself. When Ara had killed Dan he had been filled with vengence and now a second death in her name. Shouldn't he be equally as angry as before? Why wasn't he? Could he not get any more furious than that moment.....it felt familiar. Like that moment he seemed to blank out that moment where his body kept moving when his mind couldn't in the mines. He didn't remember it very well now. His mind had blanked it from view but it was still there. His dreams were sometimes filled with blood.

How often could those bloody nightmares come to haunt him not. The image of Dan and Jared standing before a smiling Ara making their bloody corpses dance with her purple webbing popped into his head. It was a horrid thought and left him silent. How many others has she killed he wondered. How many others danced on her strings theirs faces and bodies but wisps of memories long forgotten......

"What I want....." Theos thought about it a long moment. He had no idea what he wanted. He didn't have the strength to go against her....not now. What he wanted was to go to the highest peak and feel free again like he was in the mountains. That would never happen not with the memories of ghosts haunting him. He needed to sever that webbing.

"I want to prepare for the war," Theos said his head coming up to look out the window. "Tomorrow we'll head to the training grounds and train along side the troops. We need to get stronger if we hope to win this war." And to kill Ara he thought though he didn't say it. That was still a ways off.

"What I want....." Kemba cocked his head as Theos paused to consider his next statement. "I want to prepare for the war," Kemba sat up as Theos looked to the window. So, Theos would fight with the kingdom.

Kemba closed his eyes a moment to consider Theos's decision. This wouldn't be like the mines, this would be in some ways worse. Everything would be calculated and days and nights would be thrust into the heat of battle never knowing if that would be the last day. Their opponents wouldn't be as easy to squish as some spiders. They'd be fighting actual trained fighters who live under a tyrants rule.

Kemba looked to his paw and realized he was trembling with fear. The thought of what was to come scared him. He held his paw so Theos wouldn't notice it trembling, "Tomorrow we'll head to the training grounds and train along side the troops. We need to get stronger if we hope to win this war."

It was then that it hit him, Theos would want to fight on the front lines. He always had an obsession with being a hero like in the tales he heard on the mountains. The front line, where most of the fighting and death would be. Theos's greatest chance at being killed. Kemba's mind ran rampant with such thoughts, and he had to talk to Theos. Everyone spoke of war, but no one knew what it was like. Especially Theos. Kemba knew this, he remembered the battle of his hometown. The brief exposure of that battle before he was whisked away to safety by his father.

That battle would be common place. The thought and memory increasing the beating of his heart behind his pristine white fur, and the cold chill through his bones. His ears could hear the screams from that day again and the clashing of metal and claw. His nose catching a faint smell of blood, burned flesh and fur. His breathing began to pick up as his mind transported him back to that time. His body became stiff and he started to shake.

"The first casualty of war." Stall's words ran through his head as he remembered Jared's body dissipate. Thinking that the next casualty could be Theos. Kemba shook his head and looked to Theos, "You can't fight." Kemba said holding his paws to his bare chest. A hopeless attempt to stop himself from shaking. "You absolutely cannot fight....you have to stay in the palace!" Kemba yelled; his voice cracking.

"War isn't some fight we can train for and get stronger and win! Stall killed Jared! He and those Scomparsa people will kill so many more! What if the next casualty is you, or even the final casualty!? What if Coraggio ends up like Aello!? I promised I would never watch you die again! You can't be sure....that we can win...." Kemba curled up and put his face into his knees. "Even if you become powerful....a stray arrow...or bullet...or whatever..." Kemba wrapped his arms around his legs and squeezed tightly.

"Theos......I could die too."

Theos frowned at his words. This was all true. They all could die any given day of the war or become maimed even. Theos slid out of bed going to the balcony. He stood there in his fathers grooves looking to the sky.

"I once wanted to be able to fly. Like birds in the nests I grew up in. One day I did fly even if it was for a brief moment. All I saw was endless blue and my fears of falling and my fears of dying melted away. I was able to reach out and touch it for just a brief moment and taste the feeling of flight. That endless blue was calming but lonely. Until someone reached out and pulled me from it.

"Have you realized it yet Kemba? There is no such thing as heroes. Only martyrs. They are all dead. They all died for what they believed in and it gave them the title of hero.

"Back in the mines when you went to face mamemon. I told you I wouldn't let you do something I wasn't willing to do myself. Yet I did....my words... and my actions were complete opposites. I hated the thought of being with someone that wasn't my mate. I hated the thought of you doing such things with him......I learned to hate in those mines. I was such a naive child. Here I thought I could come down off my mountain and just be hey world here I am! Do you need a hero? And actually become one with a human at my side.

"I'm no hero though. I'm a blight. Dan was a hero....Jared was a hero. Me....well I'm just a bystander watching everyone be heroes but me. I am no hero Kemba.....despite my desire to become one I'm not. They all had something to believe in. Dan and Jared they believed in me. They believed I could do good in the world. I believed I could save the digimon and humans I met. I don't believe it any more.......I saved one life and killed two. It's far from even don't you think," Theos looked over his shoulder slightly if Kemba hadn't joined him at this point.

"I'm going to fight Kemba....there is no stopping that. I have nothing from my childhood to believe in any more. All I have is the here and now. I have a kingdom willing to die for me. This time.....this time I am willing to do it in return. We die heroes.....or live with regrets. Once the war is over.....We can return to my mountain. They didn't expect us to be under nose before. Doing it twice in a row well they would doubt that as well. I want to return there and train. I want to see familiar friendly faces and I want to touch the sky again.......I want to be free," Theos finished talking. He stare at the stars....when he was young the way they twinkled...he thought they were singing a song only they could hear.

Midas voice echoed in his head:

Sleep near to me my son, lay down your little head.
Sleep under the star lit sky, and dream your dreams tonight.

Dream a dream were we dance and play.
Dream a dream where we spend the day, walking side by side.
So lay your head tonight.

Listen to the sound of my heart, it beats in time to yours.
Let it be the peace that makes you sleep.

Under this star lit sky.
So go to sleep my son, don't worry about the day.
Just rest now your weary eyes
and think of me tonight, and I'll be here watching close keeping you safe this night.
Even if we part our ways, remember
 this star lit night.
I'll be in your heart and mind, always by your side.
So go to sleep tonight. So go to sleep tonight.

Go to sleep my little precious one.


At some point Theos started to sing along. He wished his father was here. His strength and kindness....he could see them through the war. His legs had been sturdy enough to hold Cora through their childhood. They had only become stronger with time he was sure.

Kemba felt the bed move as Theos made his way to the balcony and pulled his head from his lap to watch him in silence.

"I once wanted to be able to fly. Like birds in the nests I grew up in. One day I did fly even if it was for a brief moment. All I saw was endless blue and my fears of falling and my fears of dying melted away. I was able to reach out and touch it for just a brief moment and taste the feeling of flight. That endless blue was calming but lonely. Until someone reached out and pulled me from it.

Have you realized it yet Kemba? There is no such thing as heroes. Only martyrs. They are all dead. They all died for what they believed in and it gave them the title of hero."

Kemba's expression soured as Theos spoke of his shattered dream. He relaxed his legs and continued to listen.

"Back in the mines when you went to face mamemon. I told you I wouldn't let you do something I wasn't willing to do myself. Yet I did....my words... and my actions were complete opposites. I hated the thought of being with someone that wasn't my mate. I hated the thought of you doing such things with him......I learned to hate in those mines. I was such a naive child. Here I thought I could come down off my mountain and just be hey world here I am! Do you need a hero? And actually become one with a human at my side.

"I'm no hero though. I'm a blight. Dan was a hero....Jared was a hero. Me....well I'm just a bystander watching everyone be heroes but me. I am no hero Kemba.....despite my desire to become one I'm not. They all had something to believe in. Dan and Jared they believed in me. They believed I could do good in the world. I believed I could save the digimon and humans I met. I don't believe it any more.......I saved one life and killed two. It's far from even don't you think,"

"Theos..." Kemba murmured.

"I'm going to fight Kemba....there is no stopping that. I have nothing from my childhood to believe in any more. All I have is the here and now. I have a kingdom willing to die for me. This time.....this time I am willing to do it in return. We die heroes.....or live with regrets. Once the war is over.....We can return to my mountain. They didn't expect us to be under nose before. Doing it twice in a row well they would doubt that as well. I want to return there and train. I want to see familiar friendly faces and I want to touch the sky again.......I want to be free,"

Kemba looked down at the bed sheets, contemplating Theos's decision. It was a disturbing topic and once again Theos was showing a strength that Kemba kept lacking. Theos's heart never wavered unlike his own. He kept saying how he was going to protect Theos and be his shield but he hasn't been able to do it. He had been the complete opposite. Their love was a curse. Theos would have been better off going with Max that day. At the very least, Jared would still be alive and Coraggio would not be at war. Theos was not the blight, Kemba was. He knew that now. Theos's dreams had been destroyed because of him, Dan was dead because of his decisions, Jared was dead because he stayed with Theos and Coraggio was at war and countless lives would be lost by that same reason.

His heart felt heavy and his throat felt like it had a stone in it. He knew if Theos was to be happy, he couldn't continue to be with him. Kemba's ears twitched when Theos began to sing, he looked and listened to the words. He had never heard Theos sing that song before. It was a slow song that had a warmth to it. It was beautiful.

"That song...it's beautiful. I've never heard you sing it before." Kemba said. He got up from the bed and stood just shy of the entrance to the balcony. The familiar moonlight lighting up his beautiful white fur, his sad gaze reflecting the light. It was one of the best things about this room, that moonlight.

Kemba clenched his paws together as he tried to find the strength to say what was on his heart. He listened to Theos, if he explained the song...but he was more focused on what to say.

"Theos......you're not a blight. Everything you've endured up until this point is because of me. If we had never met, you would have been better off. I know you'll say it isn't my fault but it is. The mines, Jared, this war....your shattered dream." Kemba reached a paw over his heart.

"I...I realize now that as long as you continue to stay by my side. As long as we love each other, things will continue to happen. Bad and horrible things. If I had not urged you to keep that mine a secret, Dan would be alive. If I had not mated with you that night, you would have gone to W.A.D.A and met a human. If I had not gone to Blake's arena, you would have never met Sheila. If I had not taken you with me..." Kemba teared up. "You would have never come here...and Jared would be alive....Coraggio would not be going to war and the countless lives that will be taken....the happiness of the families that will turn to sorrow. The weight that is on your shoulders. The self blame. None of it would happen." Kemba smiled.

"Theos, it's no secret how I feel about you. The way you talk fills me with strength, your kiss with warm love. Your touch that relaxes my body. You are the person I was willing to grow old with, but after you said all of that. The good does not outweigh the bad." Kemba softened his gaze.

"We can't continue to be together. I love you enough...to let you go. Fate has dictated nothing but heartbreak and sorrow with our unity. After the war, go to your mountain and be free...I will....not be joining you. I'm going to travel to the Tundra...and seek out Aello. Rebuild it and live alone. The last of my kind." Kemba's face was wet and his voice was broken.

"Everyone who ever meets you...they love you. You will find happiness....love. My life is a curse and tears down everyone around me...my friends that died in the mines when I was a captain should have hinted at that. Hell, the complete annihilation of my village and people. I am the only blight, you are just a victim." If Theos attempted to approach him he'd move back.

"Nothing you say can change my mind. I love you too much to continue to hurt you. I don't want to marry you anymore...I will protect you in the war...and make sure you live....that will be my final gift to you." Kemba said his heart was in pieces and his face was wrought with tears. He hated himself, he hated that he had to do this but he felt that this was the right thing to do. He was shaking again and couldn't hide it. If Theos approached him again, he'd not move this time. He'd let Theos approach and he'd watch whatever he would do.

"That song...it's beautiful. I've never heard you sing it before."

"I had never heard it either....not til my father sung it to me in the mirror world," Theos explained. He continued to gaze at the sky.


"Theos......you're not a blight. Everything you've endured up until this point is because of me. If we had never met, you would have been better off. I know you'll say it isn't my fault but it is. The mines, Jared, this war....your shattered dream." 


"I...I realize now that as long as you continue to stay by my side. As long as we love each other, things will continue to happen. Bad and horrible things. If I had not urged you to keep that mine a secret, Dan would be alive. If I had not mated with you that night, you would have gone to W.A.D.A and met a human. If I had not gone to Blake's arena, you would have never met Sheila. If I had not taken you with me..." Kemba teared up. "You would have never come here...and Jared would be alive....Coraggio would not be going to war and the countless lives that will be taken....the happiness of the families that will turn to sorrow. The weight that is on your shoulders. The self blame. None of it would happen." Kemba smiled.



"Theos, it's no secret how I feel about you. The way you talk fills me with strength, your kiss with warm love. Your touch that relaxes my body. You are the person I was willing to grow old with, but after you said all of that. The good does not outweigh the bad." Kemba softened his gaze.



"We can't continue to be together. I love you enough...to let you go. Fate has dictated nothing but heartbreak and sorrow with our unity. After the war, go to your mountain and be free...I will....not be joining you. I'm going to travel to the Tundra...and seek out Aello. Rebuild it and live alone. The last of my kind." Kemba's face was wet and his voice was broken.



"Everyone who ever meets you...they love you. You will find happiness....love. My life is a curse and tears down everyone around me...my friends that died in the mines when I was a captain should have hinted at that. Hell, the complete annihilation of my village and people. I am the only blight, you are just a victim." Theos listened to it all remaining motionless.


"Nothing you say can change my mind. I love you too much to continue to hurt you. I don't want to marry you anymore...I will protect you in the war...and make sure you live....that will be my final gift to you." 

"We both blame ourselves. We are both blights in our own way and together we bring catastrophe," Theos said not denying any of it. Even if he did he doubted Kemba's feels would just disappear because he said it wasn't his fault. Just like Theos....

"Your the only thing that keeps me sane you know? Without you this darkness in my heart and the thoughts in my head. They would consume me......I don't want to be that demon," Theos said referring to the demon that had nearly stolen Kemba from him.

"An ends to a means....Ara has been our thorn since the very beginning. Her spiders killed your friends. Her spiders killed Dan and her web reaches out even further. Stall is like one of the spiders in that mine. He said their reach was vast and I believe him. No matter how far we run they will come after us.....after me... because of me you will continue to suffer Kemba.

"You are the shield that protects my heart and the sword that gives me the strength to fight. Without you I'd rather fall on my own blade," Theos finally turned towards him. He approached and sat before him firmly is shoulders squared and his eyes sharp.

"Together we are a catastrophe. Let us turn our own fate and turn loose our catastrophe upon our foes. They have given us our nightmares now let us become theirs. Stand beside me Kemba my strength is yours and your strength is mine. Together we will destroy the very things that haunt us. If you wish to train in Aello we will go there we can train anywhere. We will become stronger and we will learn to fly together!"

".....if you still wish to leave I will not stop you," Theos said his drive fading. "But I will never take another mate....my heart will be forever yours and forever on an opposite continent if you do." 

"We both blame ourselves. We are both blights in our own way and together we bring catastrophe," Kemba gazed at the ground with a frown.

"Your the only thing that keeps me sane you know? Without you this darkness in my heart and the thoughts in my head. They would consume me......I don't want to be that demon," Kemba was reminded of the other Theos. How could the real Theos think that he could become like that monster Sheila created?

"An ends to a means....Ara has been our thorn since the very beginning. Her spiders killed your friends. Her spiders killed Dan and her web reaches out even further. Stall is like one of the spiders in that mine. He said their reach was vast and I believe him. No matter how far we run they will come after us.....after me... because of me you will continue to suffer Kemba.

"You are the shield that protects my heart and the sword that gives me the strength to fight. Without you I'd rather fall on my own blade," That wasn't true, to Kemba, Theos was much stronger than he was. Theos suffers only because of the life they have. The one Kemba dragged him into and was to selfish to let Theos go up until now.

"Together we are a catastrophe. Let us turn our own fate and turn loose our catastrophe upon our foes. They have given us our nightmares now let us become theirs. Stand beside me Kemba my strength is yours and your strength is mine. Together we will destroy the very things that haunt us. If you wish to train in Aello we will go there we can train anywhere. We will become stronger and we will learn to fly together!" Kemba looked up at Theos, the firm look in his eyes.

There it was again, that strength and determination he had seen time and time again. The strength that picked up Kemba's spirit when it began to falter.

".....if you still wish to leave I will not stop you," Theos said his drive fading. "But I will never take another mate....my heart will be forever yours and forever on an opposite continent if you do."

Kemba had stopped shaking, looking to Theos and stared at his face; the moonlight to his back. It darkened his features all except the glow of his yellow eyes.

Kemba cleared his eyes, "I wish I was strong like you." He said. "I'm always wavering in my decisions...even moments ago when you asked me what we should do and I said we had to run or fight...I thought I was prepared to fight. Then the memory of Aello came back to me and I realized that we could go through another tragedy like that I got scared. I'm no shield....I have no real strength. When it counts, I have yet to protect you." Kemba grasped his arm and gazed to the floor.

"I mean, that is why I love you is because you give to me what I lack. How can you grow stronger when all I do is cry or run or make trouble for you? Where people gravitate towards you, they die around me. I want to latch onto you and never let go and I have for almost a whole year...but look where it's gotten us. You know its true. You can be happy without me, I know that. When I leave to separate myself from the world...live alone...I want to know that you'll look for love again. I don't want you to cling to me because the fact is you don't need me."

He gave a half smile, "Any girl...or boy...would be lucky to have you. You can escape from Cursed Exodus...they didn't know we were even here until we announced the coronation. They won't find you again if you go quiet. You said you want to fly and I know you can. You're wings are being weighed down by me...mine were clipped the day my village burned. Fate has made it very clear that I am not allowed to have a happy life." Kemba nodded.

"I will always be forever grateful to you for showing me a small bit of happiness and will always love you no matter where you go or who you meet. It will be very painful...but seeing you smile...it has always been what I wanted."

"I wish I was strong like you." He said. "I'm always wavering in my decisions...even moments ago when you asked me what we should do and I said we had to run or fight...I thought I was prepared to fight. Then the memory of Aello came back to me and I realized that we could go through another tragedy like that I got scared. I'm no shield....I have no real strength. When it counts, I have yet to protect you." Theos thought about his words. He was Theos strength and greatest weakness.



"I mean, that is why I love you is because you give to me what I lack. How can you grow stronger when all I do is cry or run or make trouble for you? Where people gravitate towards you, they die around me. I want to latch onto you and never let go and I have for almost a whole year...but look where it's gotten us. You know its true. You can be happy without me, I know that. When I leave to separate myself from the world...live alone...I want to know that you'll look for love again. I don't want you to cling to me because the fact is you don't need me."



He gave a half smile, "Any girl...or boy...would be lucky to have you. You can escape from Cursed Exodus...they didn't know we were even here until we announced the coronation. They won't find you again if you go quiet. You said you want to fly and I know you can. You're wings are being weighed down by me...mine were clipped the day my village burned. Fate has made it very clear that I am not allowed to have a happy life." Kemba nodded.



"I will always be forever grateful to you for showing me a small bit of happiness and will always love you no matter where you go or who you meet. It will be very painful...but seeing you smile...it has always been what I wanted."


"If you leave my side......It will never be shown again...my smile. I'd want you to be the last person to ever see it," Theos said his brow furrowed. "You survived those mines far longer than me. You survived the destruction of your home.... You're a survivor. You are a lot stronger than you think. I told you I won't stop you....I love you too much. If you wish to leave me I will let you go in the name of the love we have.

"I hope you find what you are looking for in Aello.....I hope one day you will return to me...I hope I live that long to see you once more....I hope............a lot of things," his voice trailed off. So this was it. Kemba was convinced everything was his fault that he wasn't strong enough. He could grown stronger he could be stronger than Theos if he tried. When it came down to it though in the end......he was giving up before he even tried. Theos couldn't get mad at him. He wanted him to live and survive and he couldn't do that beside Theos.

Ara had taken it all. His friend, grandfather and now his lover. It was just like he was back on those lonely mountains being left behind as he watched all the birds fly away. He was once more alone and now with broken dreams. He looked over the railing towards the city. Its lights shining against the darkened sky. They didn't seem bright this night to him. Just like his broken dreams.

"If you leave my side......It will never be shown again...my smile. I'd want you to be the last person to ever see it," Kemba frowned, "You survived those mines far longer than me. You survived the destruction of your home.... You're a survivor. You are a lot stronger than you think. I told you I won't stop you....I love you too much. If you wish to leave me I will let you go in the name of the love we have." Then it was the end of their relationship.

"I hope you find what you are looking for in Aello.....I hope one day you will return to me...I hope I live that long to see you once more....I hope............a lot of things," Kemba held his pained chest, he knew that wouldn't be possible. It would be worse for him to see Theos again after they leave one another. Despite Theos's words, he didn't doubt he'd fall in love with another person.

"I hope...you learn to fly and....and that you can find your dream again." Kemba said his arms dropping at his side. He wondered if Dan would be angry with him for this decision. He could imagine that Dan would scold him but it had to be done. He would miss Theos.

Kemba turned to look to the bed and began walking towards it with a somber look. "I hope you'll forgive me." Kemba stated. He wondered if he should leave the room and find another place to sleep. This wouldn't be a shared room between them anymore after all.

As Kemba reached for the bed to climb on, the sheets moved away from him on their own. Kemba was shocked, "What the..?" he said. "Sorry guys, but I can't allow you to sleep yet." A familiar mage's voice rang out. Kemba turned to the balcony to see Magi floating into the room.

"I was on my way back to my chambers after putting the Princes and young Ike to bed when I noticed Theos on the balcony. That song he sang caught my attention, I haven't heard that song in many years. Not since Midas sang it to Cora as a lullaby." He made his way into the room with his arms crossed behind his back.

"Needless to say, I've listened to your entire conversation. Sorry for the eavesdrop but I'm most certainly glad I did for what you two are about to do is more foolish than anything Midas had ever done." Kemba looked down at the rug.

"I know you don't want to see us part ways...but even you can't deny the problems we cause." Kemba said. Magi gave a hearty laugh and Kemba looked at him a little angry at his reaction, "Forgive me but...from what I've heard neither one of you have caused any such thing. You are children in love...poised to be married in the years to come. Those are the only things you are guilty of." Magi responded.

"How could you say that? After knowing what we've done and been through?" Kemba said angrily. Magi thought a moment before speaking, "Hmm. Well, as far as I know neither one of you have the ability to dictate fate...do you?" Kemba looked at him cocking his head.

"Everyone has to die. It is predetermined. How they die is irrelevant. It may seem as if someone caused it and it could be true, but what they don't realize is that fate just used them as a tool to carry out their death." Magi stated.

"What are you talking about?" Kemba asked, he didn't understand what Magi was talking about. "I am a master of countless sorceries but even I do not have the power to alter time and space or the power to avoid death. When Anubismon comes for you, there is no stopping him."

"So what then? We're supposed to just be okay with that? Being a tool? That doesn't make this any less true." Kemba said. "Hmm. The fact is, while you two believe this foolish notion that your are to blame and wallow in unjustified self-pity, your mental health will be in jeopardy."

"You will be unable to fight at full strength and as a result, will make mistakes and those mistakes could get you killed before your assigned time. Time is a fickle creature, always ebbing and flowing. It constantly branches based on the decisions you make and for every branch, there is a determined fate. For example, the two of you together, if you stay together, will lead to a different future than when you decide to split." Magi walked in between the boys and held out his hands.

"As the medic of Coraggio, it is my job to heal all manner of wounds. Even mental and emotional ones. Though I will only heal what the injured will let me. I can show you just how dumb this drama show is...I can show you the branches of time neither of you took and the effects it had on everyone else." Magi looked from Kemba to Theos.

"If you love each other like I know you do...then take my hands. Let me show you instead of tell you...then you will know just what I'm talking about. Though the choice is yours. Should you wish to leave yourselves as is, then send me away...and I will go." Magi would wait for there decision.

Kemba looked at Theos, his paw shaking. What would Magi show them? Did he even want to see it? Would it be more heartbreak? Did Magi know something they couldn't? "I don't know...I love Theos but seeing something from the past...I don't know what good it will do." Kemba said. He found it ironic...looking to Theos for strength yet again. He wanted his confirmation that everything would be alright.

"I hope...you learn to fly and....and that you can find your dream again." Theos never would at this rate. He turned away.



"I hope you'll forgive me." They both were hurting...there was nothing to forgive.



"What the..?" he said. "Sorry guys, but I can't allow you to sleep yet." Theos looked up and moved out of his way a bit so he could land.



"I was on my way back to my chambers after putting the Princes and young Ike to bed when I noticed Theos on the balcony. That song he sang caught my attention, I haven't heard that song in many years. Not since Midas sang it to Cora as a lullaby." He made his way into the room with his arms crossed behind his back.



"Needless to say, I've listened to your entire conversation. Sorry for the eavesdrop but I'm most certainly glad I did for what you two are about to do is more foolish than anything Midas had ever done." Was it? Theos questioned silently. He looked to Magi with a frown.



"I know you don't want to see us part ways...but even you can't deny the problems we cause." Theos gave him a cocked head at his laugh. He didn't understand it, "Forgive me but...from what I've heard neither one of you have caused any such thing. You are children in love...poised to be married in the years to come. Those are the only things you are guilty of." Magi responded.



"How could you say that? After knowing what we've done and been through?" Theos remained silent. Magi was wise so he had to wonder what he was going on about, "Hmm. Well, as far as I know neither one of you have the ability to dictate fate...do you?" Kemba looked at him cocking his head.



"Everyone has to die. It is predetermined. How they die is irrelevant. It may seem as if someone caused it and it could be true, but what they don't realize is that fate just used them as a tool to carry out their death." Magi stated.



"What are you talking about?" Theos could only faintly cast the gist of it. "I am a master of countless sorceries but even I do not have the power to alter time and space or the power to avoid death. When Anubismon comes for you, there is no stopping him."



"So what then? We're supposed to just be okay with that? Being a tool? That doesn't make this any less true." Kemba said. "Hmm. The fact is, while you two believe this foolish notion that your are to blame and wallow in unjustified self-pity, your mental health will be in jeopardy."



"You will be unable to fight at full strength and as a result, will make mistakes and those mistakes could get you killed before your assigned time. Time is a fickle creature, always ebbing and flowing. It constantly branches based on the decisions you make and for every branch, there is a determined fate. For example, the two of you together, if you stay together, will lead to a different future than when you decide to split." Each choice they made branched out like a tree...that was the image Theos picked up on anyway. Those choices expanded into twigs and so on and so forth.



"As the medic of Coraggio, it is my job to heal all manner of wounds. Even mental and emotional ones. Though I will only heal what the injured will let me. I can show you just how dumb this drama show is...I can show you the branches of time neither of you took and the effects it had on everyone else." Magi looked from Kemba to Theos.



"If you love each other like I know you do...then take my hands. Let me show you instead of tell you...then you will know just what I'm talking about. Though the choice is yours. Should you wish to leave yourselves as is, then send me away...and I will go."

Theos looked at his hand and did not waver as he nudged his head into it. He wanted to see the other fates. What would have happened if he hadn't come off his mountain. What would have happened if he had saved Dan....or both instead. He wanted to understand why fate dictated this course for them. Why none of the others? Fate deals the cards and knows how the digimon will play their hand before they even lay down. It was a mystery beyond true understanding even Theos had to admit that.

"I want to learn," he finally voiced looking to Magi with his deep set eyes.

Kemba watched Theos accept the unknown and he resolved himself to do the same. He placed his head under Magi's palm as well, he would see these so called branches. Magi smiled, "Then let us take a journey...this is a very high ranking spell and will drain me but...we're going to sleep soon so I do not mind." Magi closed his eyes and opened them again. A surge of power running over them, he began to speak in a language that the boys could not understand and with each word of power, they felt themselves falling away. Their eyes began to glow a fluorescent white and they became stiff.

The room opened up and fell away, and they found themselves floating. Separate from their bodies. Kemba looked at himself and was frightened, "What happened!?" He exclaimed. "Do not fret Kemba, I simply took us to the astral plane. It is here that you will learn of your foolishness."

Kemba turned his head to see Theos there and felt at ease, "I thought we would be more....see through." He said. Magi chuckled, "You aren't dead. This is an intense form of meditation that takes centuries of study to achieve...or the right spell of course. Now, enough chatter. Let us go now to the place you both need see." Magi said.

Kemba looked and nodded at Magi. The warlock simply thought, and they were there. Bai Hu, and it was bright morning the familiar sand and faces. It made Kemba ill to be back here, if only in a vision.

"What we're seeing, is a collective of your memories I pulled from your minds. Here in the astral plane, we can view the what ifs you two are so keen on lingering on." Magi smiled and pointed at a fountain. "I believe that is the fountain that Theos was discovered by Jared. Only, Theos isn't here...because he decided to stay on his mountain. Ignorant of the world." Magi waved his hand, and they moved to view Jared staring out his window. He was sad and looked miserable.

"Jared watched that fountain every day hoping he'd see another Jyagamon tribe passing by. Jyagamon are social by nature, pack digimon. Eventually, loneliness is disease that kills them. Of course, no Jyagamon tribe ever came and neither did Theos. He kept his promise to his love and tried to survive but..." Magi waved his hand and they saw the day and night exchange cycles very fast. "Fast forward to today..." They could not see Jared looking out his window any longer.

"Where is he?" Kemba asked curiously, Magi moved them into his home; fazing through the wall. They saw Jared filling the bathtub with water, he filled it to the brim and turned off the faucet. The old digimon could be seen weeping, then the next moment he stuck his head into the water. Kemba looked away unable to watch.

"Today...Jared kills himself cursing his old age." Magi said frowning. Kemba looked once more when Magi removed them from Jared's home. "No one cared."

"That's....terrible." Kemba said and Magi nodded. "Yes....but on this date...he dies whether Theos meets him or not. Remember what I said...how he dies is irrelevant." Kemba began to understand now what Magi was talking about. He had to wonder then about Dan.

Theos tied to walk on the thin air as they floated there. His gaze on his stiff body standing there. It looked so strange to see himself. "Do not fret Kemba, I simply took us to the astral plane. It is here that you will learn of your foolishness."



"I thought we would be more....see through." He said. Magi chuckled, "You aren't dead. This is an intense form of meditation that takes centuries of study to achieve...or the right spell of course. Now, enough chatter. Let us go now to the place you both need see." Meditation? So anyone could possibly learn to do this with enough time.



Theos had never seen the city from above. Even if he had mixed feelings about it. Still it was beautiful the colors of the sand and the fountain and nothing but blue skies as far as the eye could see.

"What we're seeing, is a collective of your memories I pulled from your minds. Here in the astral plane, we can view the what ifs you two are so keen on lingering on." Magi smiled and pointed at a fountain. "I believe that is the fountain that Theos was discovered by Jared. Only, Theos isn't here...because he decided to stay on his mountain. Ignorant of the world."Thes watched Jared with sad eyes. To think just moments ago he had been laughing...

"Jared watched that fountain every day hoping he'd see another Jyagamon tribe passing by. Jyagamon are social by nature, pack digimon. Eventually, loneliness is disease that kills them. Of course, no Jyagamon tribe ever came and neither did Theos. He kept his promise to his love and tried to survive but..." But.... Theos questioned internally. "Fast forward to today..." Theos moved closer to peer in the window.



"Where is he?" Theos watched him his gaze growing wider as he watched Jared... his mouth dried and he wanted to cry once more. He wanted to stop him but there was nothing he could do. He was already dead....and this...this was but an illusion.



"Today...Jared kills himself cursing his old age." Theos was grateful when they left the home. "No one cared."



Theos would have never met him....so he wouldn't have cared then either. As much as he hated to admit it. Yet he cared now....things happened and it made him care about things he would have never otherwise care about....he had made Jared smile.... even if it had only been for his last year in the world.

"That's....terrible." Kemba said and Magi nodded. "Yes....but on this date...he dies whether Theos meets him or not. Remember what I said...how he dies is irrelevant."

"Even our deaths are unavoidable," Theos said solemnly. There were no heroes....only martyrs. "What about Dan and Kemba would they die or live if I never came down?" Theos didn't care to ask about himself. He knew the answer....he'd die eventually....alone in those mountains.

"Even our deaths are unavoidable," Kemba looked at Theos, he wondered how seeing Jared die a second time but more horrid then the first effected him. "What about Dan and Kemba would they die or live if I never came down?" Kemba thought about himself but he was afraid to know the answer...what would have happened to him? Though knowing of Dan...is something they both shared.

Magi waved his hand and their astral forms were taken to the first day Dan started. They saw him happily walking and humming a tune, it brought a smile and a warm feeling to Kemba. "Yes...young Dan...the armadimon you both were so fond of." Theos never met him so he had no friend to lean on. He was just another new face, which was nothing new in this place." Magi turned his head to Kemba. "Thus Kemba did not bother with him...they would never meet." Kemba looked surprised. "Never meet Dan...?" He thought back to how he used to be. How many new faces he saw and ignored, he didn't doubt Dan would be just such a face.

"Dan was paired with a couple of veterans and because of his ability to dig, they worked him hard. He did all of the work and soon young Dan's happiness faded away. He became just like everyone else, miserable and unhappy. He made no friends and would spend nights alone in his borrow while his brothers were mostly away. He only ever smiled briefly when they were home, but it never lasted long." Magi answered. Kemba frowned and clenched his paws, "The day....the day he went and found that cart of ore with us....the day he died. Show me." Kemba asked.

Kemba had to know if like Jared, Dan was to die on that date. Was Kemba really not at fault for Dan's demise? He needed to know.

Magi did as he was asked and took them to that day, they saw Dan...frowned and being worked as his group. The other two digimon just gathered the ore his claws bled to gouge from the walls. Seeing how Dan was mistreated made Kemba angry, he had to remind himself that these events never transpired.

"Dan dug his section clean of ore. His group left Dan behind in the mines when the day was over, his claws were bleeding and he could not move as fast as them. He needed immediate medical attention, but the day was done and his group wanted to leave. Dan's personality still shone through even in all of this. He did not want to be a burden to them, and kept his injury to himself. As he was making his way back to the freight elevator..." Kemba was stricken with a sense of fear. It washed over him like a wave.

He began to shake, he knew what was coming but he couldn't pull his eyes from it. They saw Dan limping, leaving full blood prints as he moved, and the blood attracted the spiders. He looked up horrified as he was swarmed by KoDokugemon and retreated into his shell. "His shell was hard and sturdy enough and the spiders could not break through, however, with so much blood loss...he grew to weak to remain and unfurled." Magi frowned as Dan came out of his shell.

The spiders leaped onto him, biting into his flesh. Dan yelled and screamed for help at the top his lungs, he was crying and no one came. Everyone was gone and they saw Dan get dragged away into the darkness yelling and leaving a trail of blood behind him.

Kemba dropped down on all fours, he couldn't prevent himself from crying silently. The horrid screams ringed in his ears, it was enough to make him sick if it possible in this form. He couldn't speak, and Magi gave them time to process this truth.

"Dan....never met you both...but died all the same...on that day. Kemba however, knew how to survive...and did. As far as most of the branches dictate, you continue working the mines...being protected from Cursed Exodus's spiders because of the foreman named Joe. Though why he kept you safe, I do not know." Magi said.

Kemba knew why...and it made him feel even worse. Mamemon kept him from being eaten all this time...because of his sick liking of him. Kemba hated this. "None of this is right..." He said.

"As for Theos...your decision not to leave the mountain was temporary. From that point in time, when you changed your mind to wait....your branches converge to one location. You leave the mountain at a later time...engulfed by loneliness...excited to see the world...but if you recall the desert having that very bad sandstorm last month? You decide to leave the mountain the day before it happens....the trek across the desert is taxing on your body and you do not make it to Bai Hu. Instead, the sandstorm engulfs you...and your branch ends there." Magi looked at him. "You drown in that sandstorm."