For those who don’t know who Stanley Kubrick is, he was a very talented (but kinda strange) film director a few years back. He directed lots of great films such as Lolita, Day Of The Flight, Flying Padre, The Seafarers, Fear And Desire, Paths of Glory, Killer’s Kiss, the Killing, Dr. Strangelove, the Shining, Full Metal Jacket, Barry Lyndon, 2001: A Space Odyssey, Eyes Wide Shut, A Clockwork Orange and Spartacus. He was the intended director of Steven Spielberg’s A.I. as well, but sadly he kicked the bucket before the film could be made. Pity.

Anyway, this is just how I think Mr. Kubrick would have directed this episode. I just love this one, it’s one of my favorites.

Well, enough about that, on with the story!

The night, the stars, our light shone through the dark,

‘Liberation’ by the Pet Shop Boys.

A fantasy. Something that nobody could ever possibly imagine. Not even a being with the purest soul could see it. Only she, she alone was able see the green grass, the purple orchids, and the blue crystal water and the flowing waterfalls on the mountain peaks. Anonymous animals, of all kinds roamed free from the darkness and showed themselves to her.

The butterflies flew around her bare body, like a spiral staircase up to her long dangling hazel hair. The tigers, stroking against her smooth legs, like a feline offspring would to their mother, their giver of life. The animals gathered round her, surrounding her like a ring of chains, happy, calm, quiet and innocent were they all. She sat down on the grassy surface, clearing the hair from her face and smiling in all directions at her visitors. She gave a simple laugh as the animals of the Garden began to wail noises of laughter and joy. It seemed like the animals were more soft and passionate with the female rather than the male. They felt a hidden power within her body, a source of energy that could not be identified. This unknown entity inside of her was what made the animals and the other beings in the Garden wonder what it was. Only the Creator Himself knew, since He was the one who created her, after forming the male. And even He wouldn’t tell the others, well, not just yet.

The female’s attention was drawn away from the animals when a large feathery eagle flew across the shiny orb from the blue sky above, temporarily blocking the light emitting from it. The eagle had flames for horns and flames for wings. This was no ordinary animal in the Garden. And she hadn’t ever come across this one before. When the light shone again, the eagle swooped past the female. When she looked up she saw and knew exactly who it was. She knew who that was flying being so bright and so dear to her.

"Hey." The female said softly, getting up from the ground, "Where are you going?……" The other animals looked up at the fiery eagle, "Who are you?" Silence. The eagle flew into the darkness. Not to be seen again…..

"Hey, look!" cried Joe, "It’s Birdramon!" Sora blinked and her eyes finally returned to the Digital World, after having fallen into her strange what seemed like long trance. Her mind came to remind her that Birdramon was about to rescue her friends who were in some deep trouble at this precise moment.

"Meteor Wing!" cried Birdramon in a loud howl like a wolf crying in the face of the silent full moon.

Flymon caught in flames as Birdramon’s attack made a direct hit on him. To the others it was like a giant lantern set ablaze with anger and rage unleashed in the smoke. The smoke crackling and sizzling while Flymon slowly fell to the ground with a loud crash in the trees. He was no more. And Sora’s friends were alive and well. She had saved them from getting killed. She smiled in the shadows of the dark green leaves. Birdramon flew back at her direction and howled again. It was about time she went before the others could find her.

But while running Sora thought to herself once again the same old questions. When could she finally turn around and stand up to them? She wondered. Especially when Tai was leading the gang. How could she possibly explain especially to him about how she felt and why she kept running away from them? Or was maybe was it just because of Tai? No. It couldn’t be Tai. What possible difference could it have made if he wasn’t around? Yes. Said another voice in her soul. NO!

"Hey, if Birdramon’s here, then so is Sora!" Tai’s voice said in the distance, "Sora!"

"Wait for me, Tai!" cried Matt’s voice.

"Me too!" said Agumon’s voice.

"Me three!" said Gabumon’s voice.

"Hey, guys!" shouted T.K.’s voice, running after his brother Matt.

"Hey, T.K.! Don’t leave me behind!" said Patamon’s voice, gliding and swooping across T.K. as the six of them ran after Sora.

Sora heard their shouts, one after another, her name could only be heard in the constant echoes making way through the atmosphere like a waves spreading out onto the sandy surface of a hot shiny beach. Sora ran as fast as her legs would allow her to move. Left. Right. Left. Right. Left. Right. Left. Right. Faster. Left Right. Left. Right. Left. Right. Left. Right. Left. Right. Left. Right. Left. Right. Left. Right. More paste. The voices were drawing nearer to Sora, like a ghost haunting the mind of a killer. Not leaving and not stopping. Continuously going and going and going. And not knowing where she was running, Sora blinked her eyes.

The female walked along the Garden, against the cool soft breeze of the wind that told her to turn to the opposite direction. She opposed the orders of the elements of the atmosphere and continued going forth. She was walking through an area she had not seen before. A mysterious area that had no name. But most importantly, there stood a large apple tree on a hill directly in front of the female. The scent of the tree beckoned the female to walk closer to it. Slowly she walked. Left Right. Left. Right. Nothing was able to take out the attraction between her and the tree. It was like a positive magnet pole attracting a negative magnet pole with all its might and force. Little did she know she was approaching the most essential object the Creator Himself had stated her to steer clear away from. But it was too late, for her mind was now in the hands of the demonic serpent itself. The female blinked.

Sora continued to run through the forests, reaching and deeper into the depths of darkness itself, or so it seemed to her. The voices becoming more worried, expressing sadness, sorrow, concern. She panted more and her legs ached more as she forced them to speed up. Sora blinked.

Red thick blood oozed out of the apples of the tree. Like small fierce rain clouds the apples rained heavily with blood while still hanging onto the tree. The colors of the leaves and branches were stained from beauty to violence. They were covered in a somewhat unwashable color of red. Never to reveal their beauty ever again. The green grass became stained as well. The stream of red blood flowed down the hill at the female’s direction, wiping out everything that came in its path, like unleashing a ruthless and painful reign of eternal terror. The blood streams spread in all directions, soon covering the entire hill in red and then going forth across the grassy fields and possibly through the Garden itself. The female stared in absolute shock and deep paleness. It was like a monster coming out from her nightmares, which she could define herself anyway. She was confused, and scared. She opened her mouth and tried to scream, but nothing came out from her lungs. Silent she was. And silent she would always be. The female blinked.

"Sora! You’re alive!" cried Tai panting after having halted Sora from her long path down the corridor of shadows and trees. Sora made no hesitation to turn back. But she only came face to face with Matt.

"Sora! Why are you running from us?" exclaimed Matt breathing deeply after their long chase which as if seemed to have lasted for hours. Sora had nowhere to run.

With her face looking glum, her eyes stared to the empty ground. She knew that getting away now was useless. Any move she made now would just a big mistake. She stood there like a sad looking statue with no friends and with no happiness. She was still, motionless, silent. Tai and Matt gazed at her empty face in confusion. They lowered their brows and looked down to her covered face in the shadows of her hair. It wasn’t long until the T.K. and the other three Digimon caught up.

"Sora. Why are you running away from us?" said T.K.. The Digimon stood silent. Biyomon was nowhere to be seen, for some apparent reason. But just before anyone began to ask, there she descended from the sky, like an angel sent down from the Heavens to do his job. Her worried look glued onto Sora’s cold hearted look.

"It’s okay, Sora. You can tell them." Said Biyomon. Sora only gave a faint moan of fear and anxiety. Biyomon concerned look stuck onto Sora’s eyes. Not leaving her until she did what Biyomon said.

"You don’t hate us, Sora? Do you?" said the worried voice of T.K. once again. His facial expression transformed into a determined to know kind of look.

"No. It’s not that." Said Sora shaking her head sideways like a dandelion being blown in opposite sides by the strong forcing winds of nature.

"Go on, Sora. Tell them the truth." Went Biyomon, patting Sora on the back. There was a few seconds of silence and the sound of blowing wind filled the air, until she finally spoke again.

"Alright. I’ll tell you." She said softly. Matt stepped backwards and leaned against the branch of a tree, crossing his arms. T.K. remained still. He seemed more calm than he was a few seconds ago. Tai was still in the same spot, with the same face, with the same feelings and the same emotions for the girl with the blue hat standing in front of her. He seemed determined to know. Sora knew. She knew by the way he looked at her, his anxious face nearly overwhelmed Sora, but nevertheless, she continued to talk, "The day, I left the group, Biyomon and I stumbled across a little flying bowling bowl with wings."

"What was it?" said Tai.

"I wasn’t sure, but it was talking through a jelly like hole. Like some sort of portal."

"Do you remember what it was saying?" asked Tai again.

"Yeah. It was talking about the Crests which we possess." Sora looked at her own heart symbol crest and sighed in what seemed like deep grief. This puzzled everyone who was listening, but especially Tai. He seemed more shocked rather than puzzled, "It said that our Crests all contain different kinds of powers……

Izzy’s crest is the Crest of Knowledge………

Joe’s crest is the Crest of Reliability……..

Mimi’s crest is the Crest of Sincerity……."

Sora turned to the day dreaming Matt who looked like as if he was paying no attention to what Sora was saying, but in fact, both his ears focused on Sora’s timid voice, "Yours is the Crest of Friendship, Matt."

"Friendship." Matt said to himself, holding the tag to his crest, gazing motionless at it. It made perfect sense to him now. It was becoming all clear. Sora turned her head again to face Tai, who was still in the same looking position as he was and still with the same facial look. He too was like a statue, a worried looking one this time.

"Yours is the Crest of Courage, Tai."

"Courage…….Courage!" Tai suddenly had a flashback when Agumon told Tai to gather his courage when trying to get through a powerful barrier in Datamon’s pyramid not long ago. But there was still an unanswered question that Tai had. Where could this sudden source of courage have come from when they were in the pyramid. Was it because of Sora maybe? His great determination to rescue her before she could get hurt? Could Tai actually have a crush on….. No! Denial. It couldn’t have been. What possible difference would it have made if it was somebody else, like Matt, maybe? It couldn’t have been Sora.

"What’s mine, Sora?" asked T.K. with his constant questions.

"Yours is the Crest of Hope, T.K.."

"Alright. I hope we can get back home." Smiled T.K.. Tai still looked worried about Sora. She was still looking depressed as before. What was bothering her? Tai thought.

"And mine, mine if the Crest of Love."

"The Crest of Love? That’s just perfect for you Sora." Said Tai with a slight smile on the side of his lip.

"No, it’s not!" shouted Sora, suddenly outraged by what she heard, like a volcano finally erupting from its long dormant sleep, Tai was just speechless, Matt just watched helplessly, "Don’t think that way, Tai! That’s not like me at all!"

"But Sora, you always care for us all." Said Tai hesitantly, giving the sort expression to calm Sora down from her sudden rise of anger.

"The problem is Tai, you don’t know about me at all! None of you do! So back off!" Sora’s face was now turning red in heat, breathing deeply as if she was suffocating from the waves of the salty sea. Her eye lashes lowered when she finally came to her senses and sighed. She looked at her crest and gave a sniff.

"I’m sorry, Tai," she said meekly as if she had just turned from the aggressive Hyde to the innocent Jeckyll, "It’s just that my crest won’t glow."

"Why not, Sora?" Tai said trying to pull himself together after the most unexpected shock.

"I don’t have any love. I just can’t love. And I don’t know why. Even DemiDevimon says that."

*Flashback*

"Excuse me, but are you DemiDevimon?" said Sora.

"That’s me all right! And you must be Sora." DemiDevimon said with a slight chuckle, "You’re one of those Digidestined. You have the Crest of Love. Huh. The Crest of Love! Huh, huh."

"Why are you laughing?"

"You don’t really think you’ll make it glow, do you?" sniggered DemiDevimon.

"Well……."

"Think about it! Your mother really doesn’t love you. Remember that little incident years back? She wouldn’t have said all that if she loved you! Just face it! You can’t love anybody! And nobody loves you back! NOBODY!" DemiDevimon began to cackle as Sora’s eyes widened beyond the eyelids themselves. It looked as if Sora was going to have a massive stroke, with her body shivering, mouth wide open and tongue shaking inside her dry speechless mouth. It was like a grotesque monster from her deepest nightmares suddenly coming alive, ready to pounce on the frightened Sora any second now….waiting…..passing……

*End of flashback*

"That’s why I think I should I quit now before any else bad happens. I’ll just slow you guys. And I have realize that I’ll never be able to truly love anybody! AAAAAA!!!!!!!!!!" Sora’s rage rose again as she gripped her crest tightly into her palm and was just about to throw it before Tai ran up to her ‘rescue’ and grabbed her arm, twisting it by accident. Sora gave out a cry of pain, "LET GO!!!!!!! LET GO TAI!!!!!!!" Tears ran down her cheeks and her screams transformed into high pitch sounds.

"SORA! LISTEN! CALM DOWN!" cried Tai struggling with Sora, "Even what DemiDevimon says, it’s not true! Don’t listen to that little SOB! He’s only trying to make unhappy!" Sora at that moment burst into tears and let out all the sadness she felt inside her heart. The cruel and wicked world she was in abused her enough to make her shed tears in sorrow and Sora managed to release herself from Tai’s grip and run off into the forests, making an almost invisible trail of wet tears while going even more deeper, deeper into the shadows of the leaves of the dark trees once again. Tai reached out his hand, crying out for Sora.

"Sora! Come back! Where are you going?" he said. T.K. and the Digimon were just speechless. Their faces were pale as ever. It looked as if they’d just seen a terrifying ghost that was just about to frighten them with its devilish acts. But Matt remained silent all the way, still not moving from his position, still with his arms crossed, he was looking away, ignoring the crying sounds of Sora as it began to fade away into the trees.

"Just leave her alone, Tai. Let Sora solve her own problem." Biyomon gasped at what Matt had said. He was like a cold hearted person with no feelings at all for anyone so in need of help, such as Sora. How could he act this way, even after what had just happened? But Tai had already made his moves. He seemed angry with Matt for how he had reacted. It was time to take matters into his own hands.

"OW!!!!!!! WHAT WAS THAT FOR TAI!" shouted Matt after having received an unexpected punch in the nose from the raging bull Tai Kamiya. A single thin stream of blood ran down one of his nostrils.

"I CAN’T BELIEVE YOU MATT!!!!!! AFTER ALL THAT!!!!!! YOU THINK YOU’RE SO COOL! AND ALL YOU CAN SAY IS LEAVE HER ALONE!!!! WELL, ALL I CAN SAY THAT THAT’S DEFINITELY NOT COOL!!!!!! YOU ACT LIKE SOME ARROGANT YOUNG RICH SON OF A BITCH!!!!!! THAT’S ALL I CAN SAY!!!!!!" Tai’s veins were beginning to reveal themselves. His blue veins his neck trying to jump out of his skin. His eyes covered in red vessels. And the hard thick tears flowing out from his eyes, tears of anger and rage. His teeth shut tight, grinding against each other, leaving molecular white sediment fall to the ground itself. Matt had never seen Tai this angry before. Was it because of Sora?

No point asking. Tai had already left the scene as he dived into the shadows of the leaves of the dark trees, shouting out Sora’s name. Matt rubbed his nose and wiped the blood leaking from his nostril. And the only response he gave out was a faint sigh of deep true angst. Tai had a point there. Maybe he shouldn’t pretend to act like an adult too much. It would his friends emotionally. It was time that he should try to sort out his own problems now. "Aw, shit." He said.

Sora ran through the forest as fast as she could, away from the evil and harm the world was hitting upon her. Her eyes shut. Flooded in her own tears. She kept on running, tripping over stones, splashing over puddles, or whatsoever she happened to stumble across. Her nose red, blocked by the flem and mucus in the paths of her nostrils, she breathed through her mouth, letting out cries that increased in volume. Soon the entire forest was infested by the echoes of her screams. Her hair sweating like as if the rain had messed up her nicely combed hair, all ruined now. Her mouth dry as ever. Nothing came in, only cries came out. Sora began to cry more as she ran faster. She opened her eyes.

It was like déjà vu experience. There was apple tree, in front of her. The red viscous blood pouring down uncontrollably from the apples and leaves themselves, like a giant rain cloud of red liquid. It was terrible sight. Indeed. The blood flowing down the hill, flooding everything in its path. The animals running in panic in random directions, the birds chirping in fear. The clouds gathering up against the bleeding tree and growing darker and darker and soon they were pitch black. And a few inches towards her, the lay a half bitten red apple, squirting out more red blood onto the ground. The animals were literally eaten by the blood as it covered them up in red, leaving nothing but bones in less than a second. It wasn’t long before the blood reached the rivers and transformed the waterfalls and the rivers into blood as well. Soon the entire place was covered in red. And all that remained was herself. She cried in tears and covered her ashamed face. "I’m sorry……" she said before a large serpent rose from the blood and opened its mouth and began to devour her slowly. Sora blinked her eyes.

Sora had reached the end of the path. All there was now was the stretched out shiny ocean. The sun descending slowly after a hard day of work shining all the way through the afternoon. It was almost coming to evening. The area was deserted. Only the sounds of the small waves rushing against the soil could be heard. Sora made a few steps forward, sniffing and wiping her red eyes. She sat herself on the grassy green surface. She bend her knees together, cuddling herself up, trying to make herself warm and comfortable. She sank her head into her legs, with her arms wrapping round hr knees, and she weeped some more, silently.

Tai ran through the trees, looking in every direction. But everywhere he looked he saw nothing but darkness. The sun was soon setting and it was getting late. He had to find Sora soon before she could hurt. And he wouldn’t want that to happen….. No, he must continue looking for her. Otherwise he would be the one blamed for not taking care of Sora. But his luck suddenly jumped hogh up when Tai finally reached the end of his path and saw quiet Sora, scrunched up like a little ball, there in the middle of grassy hill, leading down into the wavy sea. Tai couldn’t help but smile in tears. He was so happy to see that was all right. But why did he have that urge to cry? He wondered as he went round Sora and stood in front of her.

"S-Sora?" said Tai quietly. Sora lifted her head to come face to face with Tai. Her wet teary eyes shone in the sun’s rays, Tai could see. It was just beautiful. He thought to himself. They sparkled into his eyes like diamonds that were the most precious ever. Sora gave a forced smile when after paused for a few seconds in Tai’s eyes.

"Tai?" she said in a croaked voice.

"Sora…..you know…..there’s something I’ve always wanted to tell you…….but…….to be honest……" Tai finally let it out after some more hesitation, "…….I like you……" Sora opened her mouth slightly and raised her head higher at Tai, who stood in front of the sun itself, blocking its light. Sora sat in Tai’s shadow now, "I like you Sora. I like you because I think you’re cute…….and sweet…..always caring for us. You’ve looked after all of us, especially me, being the leader and all. In a way, you’ve begun to love us all. There’s no doubt about that. It’s just pure understanding." Sora paused like a mindless object, trying to reach into her inner self. But still, nothing could be claimed. It was still unclear for her. Everything. But Tai then offered his hand to her. Sora gazed at Tai and then at his hand. Without saying anything Sora took his hand and Tai pulled her up from the ground like trying to release her from deadly quicksand. Sora sank into Tai’s chest and began to cry again. Tai wrapped his arms round Sora and hugged her softly, rocking her back and forth, sideways left and right.

"I’m sorry." She said.

"It’s okay." Tai whispered in her ear, "You won’t have to go through this alone. Ill go through it as well, but not for you," Sora looked up at Tai, "but with you, Sora. Together. No matter how painful it is. I’ll be there with you, always, never alone."

"Tai……."

"It’s okay now, Sora. I’m here now, don’t be afraid."

"Tai, I just want to tell you something. Something I’ve been keeping in my heart for years. Something I was afraid to tell you and the others, but mostly you. But now I think the time is right. I just want you to listen to what I have to say." Tai listened……..

*Flashback*

"Mum, please. I have to go to the girl’s soccer match." Said Sora, already dressed in her soccer uniform. It was the finals today. Sora never wanted to miss an occasion important as this one. It was like choosing between life and death for her. Her mother sat there still, watering her flowers. Her back was facing the determined Sora.

"But Sora, your leg, it still hasn’t fully recovered yet." She answered.

"My leg’s fine, mum. You don’t have to worry about me." Sora replied looking down at her bandaged leg.

"Hush. The flowers are very sensitive you know."

"But, mum…."

"Sit down, dear. I want to talk to you about something very important." Sora knelt down, trying not to hurt her nearly healed leg. Hands on her knees, she listened to what her mother had to say.

"I want you to stop going to soccer practice and help out here in the flower shop." Sora gasped in deep shock.

"What? I’m not going to work here with smelly old flowers!" she exclaimed in an angry tone.

"I can’t believe a girl like you could say that! My decision is final!" Sora’s tears began to rush down her eyes after her mother’s harsh words were spoken.. She bolted up, shaking her head vigorously and cried.

"WHY?! WHY CAN’T YOU UNDERSTAND ME!!!!!!!!!!!" Sora rushed out the door and left her mother before she could turn around and stop her. In less than a minute she was already out of the apartment.

Sora wondered around for hours, trying to overcome her stresses. But she finally reached the soccer stadium and was met by the sad sign of defeat. Sora mourned in grief when she realized that her team had lost the game 6-3. Sora was motionless. And even when her team mates walked by they didn’t even notice her because of their most utter craving, suddenly shattered like glass, all the way back from the beginning again. It was most unbearable. And a disgrace to the whole team, was Sora.

*End of flashback*

It was already dark, the children and Digimon had already made a camp and were ready to go to sleep. The only problem was that Tai and Sora were still missing. Matt was the only one awake when Tai finally arrived. Matt was about to ask about Sora’s absence but suddenly saw that she was already asleep in Tai’s arms. Tai, carrying her like a baby, approached Matt, who was sitting by the fire, looking into the dark blue sky.

"Matt." Said Tai. Matt gave no answer and looked at Sora, "Look, I’m sorry about that punch. I didn’t really mean to…."

"It’s okay, Tai…..how’s Sora doing?"

"She’s had a long day. Better get some shut eye now. Wouldn’t you say Matt?" Tai smiled. Matt smiled back.

"Sure thing, pal." Chuckled Matt as he put out the fire.

Matt made himself to bed while Tai carried the sleeping beauty to her sleeping bag and opened it. Laying her gently onto the cushy surface and slowly pulling the silky blankets over her. Tai smiled all the way, and finally finished it off by kissing her warm forehead gently.

"Sleep well, my angel." He said as he slwoly walked away, watching Sora breathe in and out while the fogs of her warm breathe could be seen coming out of her mouth. Tai smiled again and soon, he himself fell into his own dreams and imaginations, drifting off onto the blue clouds, and into the happy face on the moon……..

The female approached the apple tree step by step, looking round it in curious observation. It was no tree she had seen before. Definately. She walked up the grassy slope, still walking round it as she got closer and closer to it. The scent of the tree still attracting her. The serpent in the leaves grinning an evil grin looking at her approach. By the time she reached under the tree near the branch of it, the green serpent bopped down behind her and gave her a slight fright. The female jumped after having heard the sudden rustle of leaves behind her. When she turned around her eyes were already glued to the serpent’s reptilian eyes. The female looked at the serpent’s scaly body. This was no animal she’d seen. Oh no. And by the instant she looked at the end of its body she saw that the serpent held a single red apple at the end of its tale. Her eyes were now attracted to the shiny red apple that she saw. She couldn’t resist taking her mind off it. Not even for a split second. For it was probably the most beautiful thing she had seen. It glamored in her eyes in twilight. She moved closer, closer to it, reaching her hands to the fruit she so ever wanted to taste while the serpent itself laughed silently, hissing and nodding its head slowly. "Take it. Eat it."

The children and Digimon were suddenly awakened by the noise of a sudden crash. Everyone got up immediately, only to encounter the figure of the vampire Digimon Myotismon himself. All was shocked and still by his presence. DemiDevimon flew by his side, grinning like he always did, that annoying grin.

"Well, Digidestined, we finally meet." Myotismon said.

"Who’s that?" said Tai.

"It’s…..it’s Myotismon!" cried Izzy, scared half to death of this surprise visit.

"You idiots! Can’t you get it right? That’s LORD Myotismon to you!" said DemiDevimon, "Bow down to your new leader!"

"Hmm……this place is making me, a little batty." Said Myotismon, covering his cape, "Grisly Wing!" More than a million swooped out of Myotismon’s blue cape, all flying directly for the children. Agumon, Gabumon, Patamon, Gomamon, Patamon, Biyomon and Tentomon came to the rescue however and began to rid the bats that were trying to attack their friends. The children gave in support and this even things up a bit, but not for too long though….

"AA!!!" cried Mimi as a few bats down at her back.

"No! Get away!" shouted Joe when a bat swooped onto his face.

"MIMI!" cried Patamon.

Patamon digivolve to…….TOGEMON!

"JOE!" cried Gomamon.

Gomamon digivolve to…….IKKAKUMON!

And with the help of Togemon and Ikkakumon, the bats were completely wiped out within minutes. But Myotismon already had other moves up his sleeve while keeping the Digimon occupied.

"Crimson Lightning!" Togemon and Ikkakumon were hit. Myotismon laughed in victory as he then quickly went off for the others to finish off. "HA! Is that all you’ve got? Crimson Lightning! Ha! Ha! Ha!" No use. All the Digimon had already fallen into the strength of Myotismon. He was far starnger than any of them combined. That was a fact. Everyone gasped as Myotismon made his way to the children, walking in laughter like some mindless jester. Sora was the only one with her wounded Digimon in her arms.

"Sora, I have to stop him." Moaned Biyomon, sounding mindless of what she was saying.

"No, Biyomon, you’ll get hurt." Said Sora, holding Biyomon back.

"But Sora, please! I have to fight him! It’s our only hope!" Biyomon’s voice was raised.

"No, Biyomon! I’m not letting go! My decision is final!" cried Sora shutting her eyes and hugging closer to Biyomon so that she won’t escape from her grip. Biyomon began to cry.

"But, Sora! WHY?! WHY CAN’T YOU UNDERSTAND ME!!!!!!!!!!" Those words. Those same words. Where did they come from? Where had Sora heard those same words before? Who was Sora thinking of? She blinked her eyes and opened them wide. Once again, she was in another place…….

The female suddenly paused. The serpent’s smiley grin at once dimmed for the first time ever. Her once curious face now frowned and transformed into the face of anger and hatred. She slapped the apple from the snake’s tail as it went rolling down the grassy hill with a loud thud. The apple split open and black worms began to crawl out of the core and free itself into the soil of the Garden. Never seen again. The serpent, surprised by what happened, turned his face to the female. All it could see now was the refusal of the offer it had made to her. Its temptation had indeed failed. All the serpent felt now was shame and failure. For he was not the victor of this game. And never would be. Not here. Not now. The female blinked her eyes.

"WHY?! WHY CAN’T YOU UNDERSTAND ME!!!!!!!!!" Sora cried as she left her mother’s room and ran out of the apartment in tears.

She saw it now. It was all so clear to see. Like a bolt of lightning striking her mind at the speed of light. Like a Buddhist monk finally reaching his Enlightenment after his long years of meditation, the answer to all pain and suffering, and reaching for Nirvana. She realized that all this time, her mother truly loved her deeply. Now it made sense. Perfect sense. Her mother was only afraid that she would get hurt in the soccer game. It wasn't because that she didn't want her to have fun. Not at all. Sora, previously misguided by her so to be believed moral thoughts, understood that now she wouldn’t want to make the same mistake her mother did. And…….

Biyomon digivolve to…………BIRDRAMON!

"Meteor Wing!" Myotismon managed to block her constant attacks. To him Birdramon was still a weak opponent to him. Nothing but a useless pest.

"Crimson Lightning!"

"AAAAAA!!!!!!!" shrieked Birdramon. Sora got up running for Birdramon, crying in tears once again. Her eyes shut, running forward without seeing what she was to walk into.

"NO!!!! BIYOMON!!!!!!!! I LOVE YOU!!!!!!!!!!!" Open.

She looked at the serpent sternly in sharp eyes. In rage quite she was. For what the serpent had tried to do. The serpent stared back at her. Shocked by how she had come with the thought of the denial of temptation. This was a whole new meaning to it. With the temptation failed, the serpent took its position, and then turned itself to mere solid stone. The female wondering what happened to the serpent, was about to touch it, but before even laying a single finger on it, the solid snake began to blow away with the wind like sand being pushed away into the atmosphere, spreading all parts wide into the nothingness. It started off with the tail and then finally ended with the head, blown away for all eternity. Never to be heard of. Never to been seen. For it would tempt no one……ever again…….. Close.

Birdramon digivolve to……….GARUDAMON!

The giant eagle descended to the ground and lifted Sora up with her palm. Sora opened her eyes and saw it was none other Garudamon herself, the Ultimate form of Birdramon. Sora amazed by this, was still. Even after the visions she had just witnessed. This was to much for her. But her tears had stopped and had already evaporated into the cold and dark sky.

"Sora…….I can feel your love. It’s making me strong!" said Garudamon. Sora looked at her Crest and saw that for the first time, it finally glowed. The light, the blue light shone was its brightest ever. Finally released from its cold and dark prison. Freedom was such a good feeling. Indeed.

"What? Now the Crest of Love is beginning to glow?" said Myotismon blocking himself from the light being emitted.

"I’ll protect you, Sora." Said Garudamon bravely as she swooped up into the air, "Wing Blade!"

"AAAARRGGGGHHHH!!!!!!!!" shouted Myotismon as he fell to the ground hard, which everyone agreed he very much deserved after all the things he had caused. Garudamon quickly took the others into her hands and immediately flew of into the moon, escaping far away from where they were at the precise moment. Away from Myotismon and his dark army………….for now……….

"You won’t get away with this!" shouted Myotismon in the distance from behind Garudamon, who continued to fly through the night sky, holding her friends tightly with her.

The shore was beautiful. The waves came in calmly and the spund of it was like beautiful music being played in the mists. Just beautiful. Yokomon and Sora sat together as the others gathered round her, in joy and happiness. Tai especially smiled at Sora a smile never like before and knew that Sora had finally found the element she had seeked for so long: Love. And it was love that made her strong in every way. Love was what made her so loveable to the others. No doubt about that. She was like the pure goddess of love.

"Now I realize," said Sora, "My mother loved me all along. She just didn’t want me to get hurt at that soccer match. It all makes sense now!" she smiled and laughed. Yokomon laughed jumping continuously on her knees.

"And it was your love that made me digivolve, Sora!" said Yokomon. Sora winked at Yokomon and hugged her.

"I know. I’m so glad that I’m able to love now."

"Me too, Sora." Said Yokomon again. Matt interrupted.

"Hey, you know what? I think I felt something. I think it was the presence of love all around us." Said Matt suddenly standing up.

"That’s funny, I kind of felt uncomfortable." Said Joe.

"That’s odd, love isn’t supposed to make you feel uncomfortable." Said T.K..

"I know why," said Mimi chuckling, "These were in your pockets." Mimi handed out a few pieces of pebbles.

"Well, no wonder!" Joe said in an embarrassed manner. Everyone laughed like hyenas and great humor came round along with the love, until everyone went back to sleep.

That night, Sora slept peacefully in her sleeping bag. She began to dream, dream of her inner most fantasies and imaginations. Far beyond the naked eye could see. Dreaming, yes, dreaming, manifesting everything and everyone she thought of……hence…..the Garden….yes…..it was the Garden of Eden…………

No more……ever again………

She saw the male finally come back from his long walk around the Garden. Her happiness overwhelmed, she ran to the male, hugging him immediately as her skin made contact with hers. The male happily hugging her back. And the female in return clearing the male’s spiky brown hair from his face, and for the first time brushing his lips onto his, slowly, surely and passionately. Animals watched in all directions. Amazed by what their eyes displayed. It could not be. But it was. Oh yes. For even the Creator Himself intended this what seemed like most unexpecting and unusual encounter. The element of love had thus been created…..and this story thus…….concluded how love was first made……oh yes…….

Sora opened her eyes to find a single arm wrapped round her neck. Sora turned her head and saw it was the arm of Tai Kamiya himself. His arm, so warm, so hearted, so pure. Half asleep, Sora gave a moan and tried to shake out of Tai’s arm. It proved useless. It was stuck to her. For the attraction of love caused it not to go away. To remain there in pure condition. It was the love of Sora Takenouchi attracting the love of Tai Kamiya. Yes.

"T-Tai……" Sora wanted Tai to let go of her. But Tai would not. He could not. He wanted not. He desired not.

"No….." he said softly into her ear, "because I love you, Sora…….."

"I…..love…..you……too…….." Sora said before she finally fell into her dreams again. Tai at the same time sank well asleep with Sora. Shutting his eyes slowly, with the last image he saw was the hazel haired girl with the power of love itself. Dreaming too. Dreaming the same dreams…..over……and over……and over again…….and again…….and again………

The male and female made their way out into the sunlight, animals of all sorts gathering round. For their first child had been born. The female cleared the long dangling hazel hair covering her child, while the waiting eyes watched, and there lay a small baby girl in her arms, sucking the milk on her mother’s nipples on her naked breasts. Her eyes shut and blind from the shiny light. Worry not. For it will get used to it in a matter of days. Moans and cries were the only sounds the baby gave out. The animals wailed out cries of joyous happiness. Triumph and victory were their thoughts. Goodness over evil, of which anybody neither knew nor existed. And the couple, together with the animals, walk forth, forth into the light of the shining circle. Into the light……..yes……..into the light of the Creator…….

I’d like to apologize if there’s anything in this story that seems offensive to any of you readers.