Chapter One
This is a story from long ago, when the Digimon Sovereigns themselves used to come down and roam our lands. It's the story of my two brothers and me. When the three of us were young, we were taught that the world is full of magic. The source of this magic is the ever-changing lights that dance across the sky. The shaman woman of our village told us that these lights are the spirits of our ancestors and that they have the power to make changes in our world. Small things become big. Winter turns to spring. One thing always changes into another.
A lone figure climbed a mountain path, dressed in a hooded cloak, pants, and boots to keep out the cold. Even with her fur, the chilling mountain air sometimes became too much for her. But as she reached the top of the mountain, she felt a smile grow on her face. Pulling down her hood, she allowed the magical lights in the sky to bathe her face, highlighting her vixen features.
Renamon smiled at the Lights that Touched the Earth, watching the shadows dancing across them. Shadows of other Digimon and spirits, long since or recently passed. Streams of blue light came down and swirled around her, melting away the snow around her and growing flowers from the ground so she stood in a circle of spring while everything else was winter. Smiling still, Renamon knelt down and picked up a seemingly random stone. She imagined the stone's future owner in her heart, and offered the stone up to the lights. Smaller streams of blue light came down now, taking the stone and beginning its transformation.
But the greatest change I ever saw was that of my brother: a boy who desperately wanted to be a man.
His feet tapped almost rhythmically as he ran, and he panted a bit heavily. But there was a huge smile on his face, despite the danger he was in. Finally, he spotted two lone figures leaning on canoes up ahead. Both had golden blonde hair and cerulean eyes, except the older one of them grew out his hair a bit longer than the other. The older boy dressed all in black: his pants, boots, long-sleeved tunic, belt, even the furred cape around his shoulders. The other boy wore black boots, gray pants, a dark blue tunic, and black belt.
"Get down!" he shouted, startling the two figures a bit.
"What?" the older boy murmured, he and his brother staring at the boy running towards them. The boy's hair shined black as raven feathers, his eyes a sparkling dark lavender. His tunic and pants were silvery gray and he wore a black belt and boots.
"Get down! Get down!" the raven-haired boy urged, still running towards them. Suddenly, the two boys became aware of a stampeding herd of Moosemon right behind their oncoming companion.
"Ken!" the younger boy yelped as he and his brother dived behind the safety of the canoes. The third boy, Ken, jumped after them and they pressed themselves against the canoes, allowing the Moosemon to jump over them and continue running. Ken whooped and laughed, even if his brothers didn't seem to find the situation fun at all. Finally, the last Moosemon jumped over their heads and left the boys panting heavily from the shock.
Ken laughed. "Never try to milk a Moosemon." The younger blonde suddenly tackled Ken, sending them tumbling across the ground while the older blonde just shook his head. Finally, the blonde managed to pin Ken to the ground and started gathering spit in his mouth. "No, no. Don't! Don't!" Ken pleaded as the saliva dripped dangerously close to him. "No, come on! Don't! No, no, no!"
"Hey! Will you two knock it off?" The older blonde grabbed his younger counterpart by his collar, yanking him off Ken but stopping Ken from attacking. He held each boy under an arm in twin headlocks.
"It's all right, Yamato." Ken assured. "After today, he won't treat me like that anymore."
"Oh right, the big manhood ceremony!" the younger blonde said in fake enthusiasm. "It doesn't matter what the Sovereigns say. You'll always be our baby brother."
"Oh yeah?" Ken scoffed. "Well, wait until I get my totem."
"Baby brother!" the blonde teased, only to start their fighting again. Yamato sighed and knocked the two boys' heads together, ending the bickering.
"Hey, I said 'knock it off.'" Yamato ordered. "Now the quicker we get these fish, the faster we're going to get to your ceremony. So let's all just try and get along for a few hours." He looked to the younger blonde. "Okay, Takeru?"
"Whatever you say." Takeru agreed, making slightly choking noises.
"Okay Ke—" Yamato turned, only to see his youngest brother seemed to have slipped from his grasp.
"So what are we waiting for?" Ken called from his canoe, already paddling into the nearby river. Yamato looked to Takeru, still struggling in his hold, before letting go and allowing him to fall to the ground. The three boys laughed and whooped as they boarded their respective canoes, paddling down the river towards the fishing grounds.
It would take another couple hours to reach the fishing grounds, and then a few days to get back to the village where they lived. The shaman woman of the village would be returning any day now, having walked to the mountain where the Sovereign's Lights touched to the earth to get Ken's totem. The village of Odaiba stood in the middle of the wilderness, resting at the bottom of a small mountain that housed a cave they used for ceremonies such as this. Continuing a tradition that stretched back generations, the cave was painted with drawings that resembled holy areas and Digimon. Though many Digimon were needed by the village for clothes, food, and other supplies, their value was not unnoticed. By the laws of the Sovereigns themselves, all lives of Digimon are to be respected and cherished. This respect passed on into the totems everyone in the village received: a special trait meant to guide that person through their life. It was a very important ceremony, and finally Ken had come of age. When he finally reached twelve, he became old enough to receive his totem from the Sovereigns. It had been the one thing he waited for his entire life, and he felt that nothing could stand in the way. He just wanted to get those dang fish and get back to the village before the shaman woman got there. Still, that didn't stop the raven-haired boy from pulling off his antics such as riding a Unimon around until he hit a low tree branch and was knocked off.
After quite a few days of riding the rivers, the three brothers caught sight of the cave, where everyone prepared for the ceremony. Ken never felt so happy to row himself to shore, pulling his canoe up and taking a basket of fish over to a nearby tree to secure it.
"Ken! Ken!" several young children called for the boy excitedly as they approached. Like Ken, many of the children were excited to get their totems when they reached the right age.
"Ken, are you excited about getting your Spirit Rock today?" a girl asked.
"It's not a rock." Ken laughed. "It'll be my totem." The kids "oohh-ed" in awe as Ken tied a rope to the basket of fish and began hauling it up into the tree. "Yeah, I'll probably get, like, a Leomonfor bravery, or strength, or greatness. You know, something that fits me."
"How about a Greymonfor your fat head?" Takeru joked before turning serious. "Make sure you get that basket tied up."
"Don't worry." Ken assured. "No stupid Beast or Majin's going to get anywhere near this fish."
"Just tie it up." Takeru snapped before marching off. Ken mimicked his brother, sticking out his tongue before returning to his work. Suddenly, shouts came from nearby villagers: the shaman woman returned.
"Come on!" Yamato urged, he and everyone else running towards the cave.
"Come on, Ken, let's go!" the little girl laughed as she and the kids followed. "Rena's got your rock! Come on!"
"Come on, come on!" Ken growled, furiously trying to finish the knot. When he had it done, he hurriedly ran after the others. But a thud caught his attention and he turned to see the basket of fish fallen from the tree. He looked back and forth from the ceremony to the fish for only a moment before waving it off and sprinting towards the cave. No Digimon is stupid enough to come near the village.
After hours of preparation, the cave finally looked ready for the ceremony. The pictures received a fresh coat of paint, the floor swept as much as it could be, and a pyre built in the center of the room. As the village gathered, everyone began talking or dancing or playing music, the usual proceedings before the shaman woman came to start the real ceremony. Ken stayed by the walkway, waiting anxiously before he caught sight of yellow and white. He shouted excitedly, and the villages gathered to greet the shaman woman. They made a pathway for her as Renamon stepped past, the first Digimon shaman woman in a human village. Renamon no longer dressed in her winter clothes, her fur freshly combed and shining in the light of the torch she carried. When she reached the pyre, she threw the torch to the wood and it erupted into flames. Everyone cheered loudly for a moment before bowing in respect, as every ceremony went.
"Rena! Renamon!"
Renamon looked down at the voice and chuckled at the sight of a small human girl, reaching up and wanting to be held. "Well, hello there, sweetheart!" Renamon gladly lifted the girl into her arms. "What a big girl!" She swung the child around for a moment, earning a round of delighted cooing before placing the girl on her shoulders. Renamon turned to speak to the villagers, who sat down and waited patiently for her speech. "When each of us comes of age, the Sovereigns reveal to us a totem that helps guide us through our lives. Some of us use courage to guide us." The vixen looked to a young man only a few years older than Yamato. "Others, patience." Renamon handed the child back to her mother. "And, some of us, beauty." She looked proud at that last one, causing light laughter to rise from the crowd and herself. Renamon knelt down by the pyre, calling out to the man of the hour. "Ken."
Ken tried to not hurry, but he couldn't contain his happiness as he knelt down before Renamon. The fox took some paint from a bowl near her and dipped her fingers in it, carefully drawing a symbol on Ken's forehead.
"You nervous?" Renamon whispered.
"Excited." Ken breathed.
Renamon tried to keep her giggles quiet. "You should be. It's a good one." That only made Ken's excitement grow as Renamon raised her voice for everyone to hear, Ken included. "Ken, I have been to the Mountain Where the Lights Touch the Earth and the Sovereign Digimon have revealed to me your totem. To become a man, your actions must be guided by one thing." Renamon reached into the bag beside her and pulled out something wrapped in a cloth. Everyone leaned forward expectantly, wondering what the Sovereigns chose this time. Renamon began unfolding the cloth. "Your totem is…."
Ken's eyes grew and sparkled with every second he had to wait, his gaze locked on the cloth in Renamon's paws. Surely the Sovereigns chose something fitting for him. Something that meant power or strength or greatness or—
"Love!"
His thoughts skidded to a halt when he saw what rested in the cloth: a stone in an elegant shape that resembled a flame, with a skull in the core of the fire. A brown cord connected to it. Ken's mind went blank for a moment. "What?"
"Yes, love." Renamon assured, putting the necklace around the boy's neck.
Ken took the totem in his hand and stared at it with a mix of surprise and slight disappointment. "The Majin of Love?"
"A love that connects and unites all living things." Renamon explained.
Ken didn't quite hear her, too busy giving his brothers an "Are you kidding me?" look. Takeru struggled to hold back his laughs while Yamato just shrugged. "Who wants to trade?" Ken asked quietly.
Renamon suddenly grabbed Ken's jaw and pulled him forward. "There is no trading!" She bonked him on the head, but then smiled and took his hands in her paws. "Ken, just as Majin are the most unique of Digimon, Love is the most precious of totems. It reveals itself in unexpected ways. Let love guide your actions. Then one day, you'll be a man and will place your mark next to those of our ancestors."
At that, Ken looked to the wall that held said marks. Ken walked up to the wall, staring at the multitudes of handprints. He looked to his own hand. How badly he wished he could be up there; to walk amongst the villagers and say "I did it. I became a man." Or, even better, "I became a man at a younger age than anyone else." But this totem….surely there had to be a mistake. Except the Sovereign Digimon don't make mistakes. Renamon walked up to Ken, taking the boy's hand and raising it triumphantly. The village erupted into cheers, alleviating some of Ken's nerves.
But something still wouldn't sit right, even after Renamon pulled him into a comforting hug.
Once the ceremony finished, everyone walked off to prepare for the dinner they would have that evening to celebrate. Ken absent-mindedly joined the group heading towards the river to get the fish. The entire walk there, he couldn't stop holding his totem in his hand and staring at it, wondering if the Sovereigns tried to tell him something.
"There he is! Come here, Lover Boy!"
Ken groaned as Takeru came up, pulling the raven-haired boy into a side hug. The young blonde had yet to stop ribbing Ken for his totem. Ken pulled himself out of his brother's grasp. "Leave me alone."
"Aw, Ken, wait." Takeru pleaded, sounding sincere this time. "I'm sorry."
"What?" Ken asked, turning to his older brother.
"Your totem—I think it's really great." Takeru shrugged.
"You do?" Ken was beginning to think Takeru was hit on the head recently.
"Yeah." Takeru reached into his pocket. "And I made you something."
"Really?" the hopeful look on Ken's face died when Takeru suddenly plopped a crown of flowers on his head.
"Now when you skip around loving everybody, you'll smell so sweet!" Takeru laughed, only for Ken to shove the flowers back at him.
"Well, isn't this nice?" Yamato chuckled as he approached them. "Instead of fighting, you're giving each other flowers."
"Yeah, isn't it lovely?" Takeru laughed, tossing flowers all around Ken. "He's so in touch with his totem already." He continued to laugh, even when Ken elbowed him in the chest.
Yamato rolled his eyes. "Hey, oh Holy One, go take care of the fish."
"Sure." Takeru shrugged, skipping off and tossing flowers everywhere. "Ken loves me, he loves me not. Ken loves me, he loves me not. Ken loves me…."
Ken, beginning to fume with anger, picked up a rock and aimed to throw it. Yamato was quick to stop him. "Ken…."
Ken sighed in frustration. "Someday, I'm going to just…..he's just such a…."
Yamato chuckled and lightly smacked his brother upside the head, taking the rock from his hands. "Hey, bonehead, just because his totem is the Angel of Wisdom doesn't mean he's wise. I mean, look at him."
They watched as Takeru accidently danced a little too close to a Seasarmon tied to a post, which began barking at him and making him jump back. When some girls waved at him, he tried to play it cool only to step backwards towards Seasarmon and having the dog bite him in a very uncomfortable spot. His brothers winced in sympathy but laughed at his misfortune.
"Yeah….." Ken chucked. "I guess the Sovereigns messed up on both of our totems."
"You know, I felt the same way when Renamon gave me mine." Yamato said, tossing the rock away as they continued walking.
"Get out of here." Ken scoffed, not believing it. His eldest brother, Yamato, not sure of something?
"No, really." Yamato nodded, taking out his totem from under his collar. His was much simpler: it resembled a wolf with stripes on its back, similar to Garurumon. "I said, 'The Wolf of Guidance? What does that mean?' But now that I'm older, I know it's about being a leader." He tucked the totem away and tousled his brother's hair. "And keeping an eye on you two."
Ken let out a legitimate laugh, but his face fell into worry. "I just want to get my handprint on that wall."
"Just be patient, Ken." Yamato assured. "When you live by your totem, you will."
Ken smiled. "Really?"
"Guarantee it." Yamato nodded, holding up his hand.
Ken chuckled and they clapped their hands together, his worries beginning to diminish. "But, come on…." He held up his totem. "The Majin of Love? Majin are like Beast Digimon. They don't love anyone. They don't think. They don't feel. I mean they're—" They stopped suddenly when they noticed a group of people chattering worriedly, but what caught their attention was the Beast Digimon tracks leading into the forest. A few stray fish lay on the ground. "They're thieves!"
"You didn't tie it up, did you?" Takeru asked, holding up the severed rope that supposedly kept the basket of fish safe. Ken realized his mistake, and he chuckled nervously. Takeru was less than pleased. "You should've got the totem of pinheads!"
"Knock it off!" Yamato ordered before another fight could begin. "We'll just make another basket."
"'We'?" Takeru scoffed. "Oh no. No. It took me two weeks to make that basket! You get Lover Boy to do it. He's the one that's messing things up all the time. Typical Ken!"
Ken glared angrily, his fists clenching as he walked to a pile of weapons and scooped up a spear. "All right! I'll go get your basket." He growled and muttered to himself as he marched into the forest, following the tracks.
"Ken, wait! Ken!" Yamato called, only for his cries to fall on deaf ears. He turned and frowned at Takeru, crossing his arms.
"What?" Takeru shrugged innocently.
A/N: In case you didn't realize, this is the "Brother Bear" movie adapted to the Digimon universe! Recently I took about two dozen movies and made a list of Digimon characters that would match up with the movie's characters. The "Brother Bear" one really caught my eye, so here's the movie! Hope you enjoy!