A Fading Hope Chapter 17

A Fading Hope chapter 17: Final Stand.

Songs:
Chapter 34 by Riddle TM. (part two)

Here we are now at the bitter end
Holding onto loyalty and hope
We have courage, friendship and love
A magic stronger than anything you have.

I see around me people I love and I feel strong
Nothing can stop me now.
You took my family, can take my life
But I won’t be defeated,
That at least is clear.

Life is precarious,
But that doesn’t mean we can’t have hope.
I’m not afraid anymore.
Here’s to life, and here’s to love.

And you underestimated us
You don’t understand friendship or love
Now Tom Riddle, this is the end.
The last thing to be defeated is death.

I Will Believe from Narnia. (part two)And I know
That I could never go it alone
'Cause I believe
I'd be lost without You here beside me

Chorus
It's like daylight
At midnight
It's my favorite dream when nothings really as it seems
Don't wake me
Just take me
Take me by the hand and I will believe

We have always been protected
Little ones should run and hide
But we expect the unexpected
When love arrives and calls us all inside
And I know
That even when the wind blows
I'll be fine
'Cause You and I will get by 'til Springtime
Chorus
Don't close your eyes, I'm right beside you
Don't be afraid, I'm never far
You and I were always meant to
Wake the dreamers from the dark
Come out, come out wherever you are
Chorus

I Chose these songs for different reasons. both were songs I'd used before, but the sections I wanted weren't right for the previous chapters. They fit, though, for this one. Chapter 34 is... it is this chapter. In the song, Harry is going to face Voldemort and Die. in the chapter.. this is the bitter end. T.K. and Patamon will either win... or they won't. But win or die, this is it. The end. And all he has to hold onto is Patamon- his loyalty, his friendship- his friendship with Kari, the power of her Crest, the power of his own crest- hope. that's it. but just because it's a risk doesn't mean he can't have that hope.
The second one... an early draft of this chapter had him pretending Kari was with him, but that got nixed. still, I chose this because it was, to me, Kari whispering to him that she was with him.
Make of that what you will.

Story:
This was another hard chapter to write, even though I managed it in an afternoon. It was a bit emotionally draining, though not as bad as the Dark Ocean chapters.
but I had to do it, this final battle, that we've been building to for a year now, justice. I couldn't be sloppy and have some weak little battle with a few attacks. I also wanted some epic images in there, something that you all would be able to see- like the dome of darkness and web of light. 
I was worried, a bit, that there was too much dialog, and *almost* thought about leaving out the part where Devimon admits T.K. is the Small one... but in the end, I had to keep that. I just had to. plus, T.K got to yell and be all sad and furious. which is a bonus.  Plus Devimon got to gibve his reasons speech- and keep attacking during it, because he's not a stupid monologuing villain.

Oh! some of the lines are direct quotes. Devimon's "make this easy on yourself and hold still" comes from episode 13 and "Despair and Die" comes from Narnia."

just thought you might find that cool.

I love the image of the lacework light gleaming with all the colors of the crests. it might be my favorite image from this chapter... or from this work actually.

one of my favorite lines "I think you should shut up!" bless you, T.K. bless you.
What were your favorite lines?


and then T.K. wakes up and we get the revelation that Patamon didn't die this time, but he's Togomon. and hungry. d'aww. see? I have funny!
and you all guessed it, didn't you? I could never kill them all off. I told you I like happy endings. so everyone lives! everyone lives! Well, Kari's missing. and non captain Koromon got deleted. I almost killed off Captain but then remembered that I promised to let him live. so little Koromon got it instead.
the reunions are sweet, though. T.K. just sobbing, "you're alive!" and everyone hugging and joe getting fishbreathed by Gomamon... but Kari's missing.
I was worried that Tai was too calm about it, but at this point he's just- so worn. he won't let himself believe that she's dead. there have been so many miracles. there can be one more. And right now, everyone needs him to be strong... and he knows that T.K. is blaming the heck out of himself if something bad did happen, and Tai's... grown, in the last bit, enough that he knows that the others need him. it's not just about Kari, he's worried for everyone.
what did you think?
another favorite line because I just punch you in the feels :
"Whatever Devimon did to us, I'm weak as a kitten." Agumon said. "No offense Gato- oh." His face fell.

yeah. I went there. I'm terrible.

but things.. are looking up. devimon's gone. they are free... it's over.

but the story still has two chapters so don't go anywhere.

hedgi