A/N: This is VERY divergent from canon - as in everything changes, and a couple of characters become extremely OOC. There will be blood, death, and enough angst to drown in. If you're okay with that, then have fun. If not, there's a nice little back button to get you out. Don't say you weren't warned.
Since this isn't canon, I obviously don't own Digimon. And this is rated M for graphic violence - just to be safe.
The sun shone brightly down on the colorful landscape, sparkling off of crystal blue water and filtering through leafy emerald treetops. Small sounds and the occasional flicker of movement showed that life carried on in this small valley, hidden away near the desert border. Here, the world was lush and green, though beyond the cluster of trees, the land turned rocky, the ground gradually drying out until the dirt became fine saffron sand.
But slowly, like a creeping sickness, the light dimmed, the cheerful sounds dying away as something twisted invaded the bright haven.
The dark creature made its way into the oasis as an arrogant king might stride into the city slums, simultaneously dismissive and disdainful. Cold eyes scanned carefully for the prize it sought, and lit up in wicked anticipation as the object was found. There, nestled almost lovingly amidst the roots of one of the trees, cushioned by soft green grass, laid a bright white egg with vivid purple splotches.
The digimon's eyes narrowed, and one clawed hand reached out to wrap itself around the fragile egg. "So," the monster's deep voice rumbled. "This puny little thing is to help that tiny human creature defeat me? Nonsense. I will crush their insignificant hope into dust, and… wait…" Those digits paused, a calculating gleam entering the creature's eyes for a long moment. And then a cruel, twisted smile stretched over sharp fangs. "Or, better yet…"
The dark one concentrated, an expression almost of pain crossing its features as darkness bled off of its form. The small, dark spores hovered briefly near their master, but then gathered around the defenseless egg… and sunk inside. Finally, with a rumbling laugh, the creature left the oasis.
Slowly, gradually, the sounds of life returned. And the sun shone down… on a steel grey egg with deep violet markings.
Three weeks later;
"Are you sure he'll be okay?" Anxious blue eyes looked searchingly into the elder boy's own brown, the younger child obviously worried.
The older boy smiled, reaching out to ruffle dusty black hair. "Yeah, he just needs to rest some. A little food -"
"A lot of food!" the little digimon interrupted, making both young boys laugh.
"Okay, a lot of food, some rest, and he'll be good as new. It's not weird for a digimon to drop to a lower level after a big fight, I promise. Now, I can work on setting up the shelter, if you can go scrounge us up some fruit, okay, kid?"
A bright smile lit up delicate features, and the child jumped to his feet. "Okay, I'll be right back, and I'll have us a good supper!" The smaller face tipped up toward the treetops, and the eager young voice called out. "Stingmon, I'm going to get supper – you keep watch, okay?"
A large, green insectoid digimon called back, the buzz in his voice not hindering the two children's ability to understand his words. "I understand – call out if you need me, and hurry back."
As the little boy ducked into the forest, he dimly heard the elder scolding his own partner. "And you be more careful – you could have gotten de-digitized and sent back to Primary Village, and then where would we be? Stingmon and the kid would've had to escort me to come get you!"
After about an hour, the little boy sat back and studied the pile of fruit and berries collected in his jacket. 'That should be about enough' he decided. 'Time to-' A loud crashing sound interrupted his thoughts, making the child jerk around to face the direction he'd come from. Wide eyed, he scanned the forest in front of him, scrambling to his feet when he heard a familiar voice cry out. 'That's Stingmon!' he thought, fear lancing through his chest as he broke into a run. 'I've got to get back – they need me!'
By the time he made it back to the clearing, whatever had attacked – for there had clearly been a battle – was gone now. Panting from the exertion, he looked frantically for his friends. A patch of pale green caught his eye, causing the child to cry out as he dashed towards his small partner. "Leafmon!" he cried, tears welling up as he scooped the battered little digimon up in shaking hands. "Leafmon, what happened? Where's… Oh!"
The fallen form of the older boy registered in his mind, and the child scrambled over to his side. The little one's horror-stricken gaze took in his friend's dull, pained eyes, the limp form – and the thick, viscous crimson spreading from the gaping wound in the boy's chest. Some part of the child's mind vaguely recalled the first aid courses his brother had allowed him to tag along to, and the boy desperately pressed his hands to the wound to try and stop the bleeding.
A wild-eyed glance failed to spot the older boy's own partner digimon, but the chest beneath his hands was heaving, a horrible whistling wheeze sounding as the boy tried vainly to breathe. That once-smiling mouth opened, the older DigiDestined trying to impart some knowledge to the younger, but all that escaped blood-stained lips was a wet, hacking cough. Panicked, the younger child failed to register the fear light up the elder's eyes when the little green digimon leaned against his partner.
As the tears in those bright blue eyes began to fall, the little boy threw back his head and wailed, confusion and fear and helplessness overwhelming him as a blinding white light erupted from the mechanical device on the child's belt.
Brow furrowed in confusion, trying to make sense of the fact that his computer had just spit out a strange electronic device, the dark haired pre-teen stalked down the hallway. Another brilliant flash of light erupted from his closed bedroom door, and the boy felt his heart stutter as he realized he had left his younger sibling alone in the room.
He was already whirling about as the light faded, but the sound of his beloved – if occasionally irritating – little brother shrieking spurred him into a frantic, scrambling run. The boy barreled through the door, desperate questions already leaving his lips as he burst into the room. "Ken! What…!"
Ichijouji Osamu stumbled to a stop, mind temporarily blanking at the sight of his little brother pressing on the bloody chest of a strange boy about Sam's own age. And then he pulled himself back together, dropping to his knees beside the terrified child as he shouted at the top of his voice. "MOM, DAD – CALL AN AMBULANCE!"
A/N 2: Told you. If this bothers you, then leave now - it only gets worse from here.
The little snippets we get in Adventure 02 of Ken and (apparently) only one other DigiDestined child intrigued me, particularly since one of the pair was so very young. There was SO much potential for disaster - and this is where that train of thought led. Next chapter: older Ken, repercussions and a few familiar heroes.