The Station of Your Memories
By mousey
Disclaimer: I do not own Digimon. I also do not own Minkymomo in the Station of your Memories/Minkymomo in Tabidachi No Eki, from which I based this story on. I'm just doing this for fun, got it?
Authors note: This is my first fic! Please R&R and tell me if you like it! I apologize for any grammar or spelling mistakes. Oh, and actually, the correct translation of the Japanese title is The Station of Departure, but the Station of Your Memories is what the cover of the tape says so I'm just sticking with that.
Chapter 1: The Train Ride and The Old Man's Tale
If you are lost and forget your dreams, look in your memories. There, you will always find your dreams.
Kari looked out the window of the train and sighed. It was pouring outside, and so dark. The only sense of light outside was the occasional lighting. It was the kind of day where you felt so comfy and safe when you were inside and warm. Nothing can hurt anybody, or so it felt. Kari thought of Gatomon. She missed her so much. But she remembered the promise all the Digidestines. Everyone decided that for this summer, they would never venture into the Digital World unless it was in desperate need of help. The reason for this was that they felt that they needed a break from it. They had battled and fought so much that they never really had much time for themselves. Even the Digimon needed a time to relax.
Kari was on her way to her home. She had spent most of her free summer time at a camp that was pretty far from her home. Now, summer was almost over, and she would soon be able to see Gatomon again. She sighed again and this time thought of all her Digidestined friends. She hadn't seen any of them over the summer either. Not even Tai, who went to soccer camp-not to be a camper, but a counselor. Davis went to the camp, although almost unwillingly. He couldn't bear being apart from Kari. He still had that crush on her, and Kari told him she would be fine since she was going to meet TK there, just to make him even more jealous. TK didn't go to her camp, though. He went to his grandmother's house. She had been a little sickly lately and it was TK's job to convince his stubborn grandmother to go see a doctor, as well as increasing his writing skills by having a private writing tutor. Matt, on the other hand, was on tour with his band. Sora was busy playing in the High School Tennis Championships. Izzy was spending most of his time working to create a new computer program. Joe was studying for medical school. Cody was at a day camp about how to debate. Mimi, of course, was busy in America. Last time Kari heard from her, she was helping her mom make new recipes and inventing crazy food. Ken was studying, trying to keep his grades back to like when he used to be when he was the Digimon Emperor. He had once said, "The only good thing about the old me was that he had really good grades!" Yolei was taking a computer camp. It was not until she was going through this list that she realized something: everyone was pursuing his or her own current dream, except her. So, what is my dream, anyway? Kari thought to herself.
"Never be discouraged by people around you, Miss." Kari turned. The man sitting across from her in had spoken. He had an old wrinkled face, but his eyes were kind. They had a slight glimmer of sadness, but also one of excitement.
"Oh, it's not that I'm discouraged or anything, Sir, it's just…" Kari started, "I miss my friends a little more than I expected, and I'm just, well…"
"I can tell you have more on your mind then that," replied the man, "But I will not question you any further on the subject." The man smiled.
"Missing some friends you said? I remembered leaving my wife for the war. I missed her terribly! And to make it worse, I never saw her alive, ever again." The man's eyes had wandered and his face had a sad smile. Kari sympathetically said, "I'm sorry." The man looked at her and said, "Well don't be. I'm about to go see my daughter. I haven't seen her for 50 years."
"Wow! Fifty years?" Kari shouted, surprised. The man chuckled and took out an old passport. He opened it, and there was a picture of a young man standing next to a young lady. The young man's eyes were like that of the old man's, but a lot happier.
"When I last saw my daughter, she was in here," said the old man, pointing to the young lady's stomach.
"Wow! This man is you, sir?" Kari asked.
"Yes. I was much more handsome back then." Kari smiled. Suddenly, the conductor spoke.
"Ladies and Gentlemen, we will soon be arriving at the Middletown Station. Please be ready to get off if this is your stop."
"Well, that's my stop," said the old man as he got his belongings together. "You're going further, right?"
"Yes, much further," said Kari.
"Well, have a safe trip, and take care."
"You too, sir." The train stopped and the old man headed for the door. Kari smiled and waved at him and the old man waved back. After the man got off the train, the conductor spoke again.
"Ladies and Gentlemen, due to the weather, we will stop her for a moment longer. Please wait. Thank you." Kari shook her head and said to herself, "Another delay. Mom will probably worry." Kari stood up and opened the window. She breathed in some air. The air inside the station was not fresh or terribly pleasant, but it was as close as she could get. Then, something happened so suddenly. It was so strange that even when Kari looked back on it when she was much older, she couldn't explain it fully. It wasn't like the Dark Ocean. That, she actually shared with somebody who could help explaining it. This was very different.
Kari blinked and everything went blank. A cold wind rushed by her as a deep voice rang out loud and clear.
"You, we have waited for."
"Huh?" Kari said, looking for the speaker. She looked out far and suddenly saw flashes of images. Train whistles blew. Soldiers marched off. A different voice started to speak.
"At this station, Middletown Station, we give a salute to the brave men who will fight and protect our country." The trains started to leave and blew their whistles harder. A huge statue of a lion was unveiled.
"This lion commemorates the soldiers. It comes with a legend saying that when this lion roars, the sound of departure will ring," said the narrating voice again.
"You, we have been waiting for," said the deeper voice.
"Wow," Kari said to herself once she got back her senses. "Kari, you've been dozing off way too much." Kari sat back down and looked across at the empty seat in front of her. Suddenly, she saw an old passport.
"The old man's passport! I've got to give it back to him," Kari shouted, unaware of the adventure this passport was going to make her go on.
So, how do you like it? I know, pretty dumb and corny, but it's my first fic, and it's going to get a lot better. R&R!