Little bit more action this time, but not much. I know things are starting slow, but they'll pick up.
Chapter 02 - Cubmon
Datirimon ran hurriedly along, rushing out of the cave mouth and into the tree line, hastily followed by the little orb of light through which Hiroki and Yukio watched. As they ran, Hiroki spoke up.
"Hey, uh, Datirimon?" He asked.
"Yeah?" The reply came, though Datirimon didn't slow down much.
"I don't mean to keep going on about this… but what exactly are Digimon?" Hiroki asked. "I mean, are they all like you?"
"Well… kinda. Some of them are way bigger, like that nasty bully who was chasing me, but some of them are so nice and brave! Like my friend!" Datirimon replied, happily.
"Hmm, well, I guess I'll learn more about them if we keep playing… but still, it seems strange." Hiroki said, pondering.
"What's so strange about it Hiroki? This little guy needed help and we came to help him." Yukio said confidently.
"Yeah but… how? I mean, this looks nothing like the game from before and my TV went haywire before this came up, it just doesn't feel right to me." Hiroki said, doubt in his eyes as well as his voice.
"Oh come on, Hiroki, now we've got a new friend to play with, what's wrong with that?" Yukio smiled at Hiroki who only shrugged.
"I guess…"
"So, Datirimon! Where do you live?" Yukio asked in an interested manner.
"The Digiworld, silly!" Datirimon replied matter-of-factly, still running as he ducked the branches of bushes and hopped the roots of trees. Yukio swerved the orb around these obstacles as well, and Hiroki wondered why he was so good at it already.
"The Digi…world?" Yukio said, confused.
"Yep-yep, all Digimon live in the Digiworld." Datirimon stated, still acting as if Yukio and Hiroki were stupid for not understanding.
"I suppose you live in the Digiverse too, huh?" Hiroki retorted sarcastically, peering at Datirimon from the corner of his eyes.
"No. Where's that?" Datirimon replied in total seriousness, clearly not understanding the sarcasm, and sweat appeared on Hiroki's forehead.
"Hey guys, wait!" Yukio cried suddenly, and stopped moving the orb.
"What is it?" Hiroki asked, and Datirimon stopped running too, turning to face them.
"Come on guys, we gotta keep going!" He said indignantly, but Yukio wasn't listening.
"Over there, I swear I saw something move behind that tree." Yukio said, rotating the orb to point at the tree.
"It must be him!" Datirimon yelled, and ran off immediately to where Yukio had indicated.
"Wait up!" Yukio exclaimed and quickly followed Datirimon. They rounded the tree in a matter of seconds, but the hope faded from Datirimon's eyes as they saw nothing was there.
"Aw, he's not here." Datirimon moaned, and looked at the floor.
"Huh… hey I'm sorry little guy, I must've been seeing things." Hiroki said, trying to comfort the little green ball. 'I know I saw something!' He thought.
"Oh well, we'd better keep going." Hiroki said, and Datirimon and Yukio both nodded, and turned to carry on the way they had come.
"Not so fast!" Something yelled suddenly, and a creature dropped out of the tree and landed right in front of them.
"Wah!" Datirimon yelled in shock, and Hiroki and Yukio's eyes both widened in surprise as well.
Before them stood a strange yellow beetle-shaped creature. It had two large pincers protruding from its mouth, and two small ball-shaped eyes just above them.
"The name's Subeetamon and I ain't gonna let you leave!" He said almost in triumph, staring them down.
"Oh! But we gotta!" Datirimon yelled. "I need to find my friend!"
"Tough luck, I'll get a big reward for finding you!" Subeetamon responded with a smirk. "Scissor Strike!"
The beetle-like creature leapt forward surprisingly fast, opening wide its pincers and flying towards Datirimon. Subeetamon landed and his pincers snapped shut with incredible force.
"Hahaha… wha?" He chuckled but then gaped in shock, as he turned to his side and saw Datirimon stood a few feet from where he had been, safe, with the orb of light beside him.
Yukio had manoeuvred the orb with amazing reflexes, bashing into the side of Datirimon and knocking him away from Subeetamon's attack.
"Leave my friend alone!" Yukio yelled from the orb, angrily, and Subeetamon frowned in return.
"You pest! After I am done with your friend I'm coming for you!" He yelled back, and poised ready to strike again.
"Datirimon…" Yukio said quietly. "You gotta run! Hiroki and I will distract him so you can get away."
"We will?" Hiroki asked, dumbstruck.
"Yes." Yukio replied sounding so determined that Hiroki dared not question him again.
Datirimon looked surprised and was about to protest as well, but then he frowned and nodded. "Right."
Without another word Yukio charged the orb forwards, right at Subeetamon, whose eyes widened in shock. Yukio turned the orb at the last second and avoided him, starting to fly in circles around him.
"Rargh! Enough of this! I'm going to end you now!" Subeetamon cried, furious, and began spinning around trying to catch the orb. Datirimon saw his chance and fled into the jungle as fast as he could.
"I hope… they make it… away from him!" Datirimon cried out to himself between breaths, and rounded another tree. Suddenly he felt something grasp his arm, and he was pulled off his feet. "Wah!"
Subeetamon heard the cry, and noticed as he spun that Datirimon had gone. Angered once more, Subeetamon scowled and suddenly stopped spinning, then turned sharply in the opposite direction. Catching Yukio off guard, Subeetamon's pincer collided with the orb.
Yukio cried out in pain and Hiroki noticed a spark spit out from the game's console, and Yukio's hands gripped harder on the controller unwillingly. He had been shocked.
"Uh… Yukio, it looks like we can get hurt, we need to get out of here!" Hiroki cried, but Yukio frowned.
"No. He'll go after Datirimon." He replied.
"He's going after us!" Hiroki protested and grabbed the controller from Yukio's hands. "Gimme that!"
Hiroki spun the orb around and sped off in the opposite direction, hearing Subeetamon taunt them as they fled.
"Hah! Running away are we? You can't escape me in my own forest!" He yelled and began to chase them.
Hiroki sped in and out of trees, weaving around in all different directions trying to lose Subeetamon, but every time he looked back he could still see him, running just a few feet behind.
Eventually Hiroki had an idea, and sped around a tree in a loop and back the way he came, while Subeetamon ran off in the opposite direction, not noticing what Hiroki had done.
Still panicked, Hiroki continued and fled further until he finally stopped amongst some trees. He breathed heavily, and his hands were shaking a little from the tension.
"Think… we lost him." Hiroki claimed, trying to calm down. He looked at Yukio and was shocked to see a sign of tears in his eyes.
"I'm sorry… Hiroki… I could've gotten us hurt… and now I've lost Datirimon too." He wailed, but Hiroki put a hand on his shoulder.
"Hey, don't be sad, what you did back there was very brave, braver than me." Hiroki smiled, and Yukio relaxed.
"I guess you're right… and we'll find Datirimon again, I'm sure of it." He said with renewed confidence.
But at that moment their peace was shattered again as they heard the familiar yell of Subeetamon behind them, and he was closing in on their position fast.
"Oh man, this guy just doesn't give up!" Hiroki said, about to speed off again.
"Hey, guys, over here!" A familiar voice came, and Hiroki and Yukio saw Datirimon's head sticking out of a tree.
"Wha… Datirimon? How…?" Hiroki began, but Datirimon interrupted.
"No time to explain, get inside!" He exclaimed and Hiroki nodded, and flew at the tree trunk, which he passed through as if it wasn't even there and stopped inside of it.
"Whoa." Hiroki and Yukio said together, but there intrigue was interrupted.
"I know you're he- huh, where did they go?" Subeetamon's voice came, sounding like he was right beside them, but they could not see him through the fake trunk of the tree.
"What? How could I lose them? Oh man, Goblimon isn't going to be happy with me!" Subeetamon scolded himself, and they heard the sound of him storming off back into the jungle.
"Phew, that was a close one." Hiroki sighed in relief. "How did you find this place Datirimon?"
"I didn't…" He replied, and the orb turned to face him.
Yukio and Hiroki gasped in shock, as there, stood beside Datirimon, was another creature whom they had not even noticed until now, due to their fear.
About twice the size of Datirimon, this new creature looked like a small lion, with yellowy-golden fur covering his entire body, and whiskers sticking out of his cheeks.
His ear twitched as he peered almost sternly at the orb that Hiroki and Yukio looked through, but then his face softened.
"Cubmon yay! I found you!" Datirimon cried and ran up to his friend, leaning his head which was also his body against him, a thing as close to a hug as his armless creature was able to give.
"Greetings," the new creature said with his eyes still fixed on the orb. "I am indeed Cubmon, and I found this strange tree last night as I fled Goblimon." He explained.
The two boys still looked surprise, but Hiroki seemed different, his eyes were wide and he seemed to be fighting mixed emotions of shock and gladness.
"Hi… Cubmon," Hiroki said, and then he broke into a wide grin, scrunching his eyes.
Yukio looked at Hiroki, reminded a moment of that first day, and then turned back to the screen and smiled at Cubmon as well.
"So you're Datirimon's friend." He added.
"Indeed, I try to keep this little thing safe, he can ill protect himself." Cubmon said.
"Hey! I can too protect myself!" Datirimon cried and breathed in, puffing himself up.
Yukio laughed at the sight. "Don't worry Datirimon, not everyone is meant to be a fighter." He said.
Datirimon let out a gasp of breath as he couldn't hold it anymore, and looked a little sad. "Aw."
"Come now, I think Subeetamon has left, but if we wait too long he may come back." Cubmon said logically.
"I agree." Hiroki stated and, still holding the controller, proceeded to exit the fake tree along with Cubmon. Datirimon followed.
"…What the?" Hiroki exclaimed, because as they exited the tree they were almost blinded by the bright light of day. "Wasn't it night time a second ago?"
"No," Cubmon said. "The storm overhead was blocking almost all light from the Sun, but it must have passed while we were in there."
"Huh…" Hiroki said, but shrugged it off.
"So, what now?" Yukio asked
"We ought to get out of this jungle if we can, Subeetamon and other Digimon working for Goblimon might still be around here." Cubmon said and together the two Digimon and the orb began to walk away.
"Who's Goblimon? And why are Digimon working for him?" Hiroki asked, curiously.
"Goblimon is the Digimon we ran from. He attacked Datirimon and I unprovoked before, and then chased us. I tried to hold him off as Datirimon escaped, but he was stronger than anything I have ever seen, and I was forced to flee as well." Cubmon said, bitterness and anger evident in his voice as he described the events.
"Apparently, there is a reward for anyone whom brings him Digimon, but I don't understand." He went on, now looking both angered and upset.
"What don't you understand?" Hiroki asked, concerned.
"It is clear to me that Goblimon wants these Digimon so he can hurt them, I do not know why, but that much at least is clear," Cubmon explained. "But what I do not understand is why other Digimon are attacking their friends for some imagined reward. Our own kind are turning against us." Cubmon finished, sighing.
"This used to be such a peaceful place, before the storm."
"Don't worry Cubmon; we will help you find a way to stop him." Yukio said with confidence.
"Right!" Hiroki added in exclamation. "If we stick together, they don't stand a chance!"
Yukio looked at Hiroki, surprised, as until now he had been unsure about everything, but now he spoke with confidence as well.
"Yeah!" Yukio said happily, and the two boys clasped hands.
"Scissor Strike!" A yell suddenly boomed behind them, and a figure shot out from the trees above them.
"Datirimon, look out!" Cubmon yelled and dived in front of his friend.
Subeetamon's attack struck the side of Cubmon, who yelled out in pain and fell to the ground. Datirimon cried out as well, in shock, and ran behind a large nearby tree root.
"Aah! Cubmon!" Hiroki yelled and moved the orb to the side of the fallen Digimon.
Subeetamon laughed nastily. "It looks like your friend has met his fate, and now you will too!" He yelled, and advanced towards Datirimon.
"Datirimon!" Yukio yelled, and looked at Hiroki in desperation to do something, but Hiroki was staring at the fallen Cubmon, his eyes welling up with tears.
"Cubmon… I'm so sorry, I should've saved you." He said, eyes wide in emotion. Suddenly the orb of light briefly glowed brighter, and a small jet of the light flew out and touched Cubmon's wound, where it instantly sealed the small cut.
Over by the tree, Subeetamon advanced further on the terrified Datirimon.
"Ready to meet your maker?" Subeetamon taunted with an evil grin, and Datirimon cowered away.
"Cub Flame!" A yell came, and a fireball smashed into the back of Subeetamon who cried out in pain and turned around.
Stood proudly, Cubmon had gotten back to his feet and now glared at Subeetamon angrily.
"What?" Subeetamon said in disbelief, glaring back at Cubmon, but the intensity of Cubmon's stare got to Subeetamon, and his face turned to panic.
"Ah, forget this!" He cursed, and fled into the forest.
Datirimon came out from behind his root, relieved, and Yukio and Hiroki breathed a sigh of relief as well.
"Wow, Cubmon that was amazing!" Hiroki said proudly.
"Yeah, you were so brave!" Yukio added.
"It was nothing; it is my duty to help those in need." Cubmon replied matter-of-factly.
"Thank you anyway, friend!" Datirimon cried, and ran up to Cubmon and leaned against him again.
"See? I knew we could take on these guys together!" Hiroki exclaimed happily. Cubmon looked thoughtful.
"Cubmon?" Hiroki said, unsure.
"I wonder… where did you come from exactly?" Cubmon asked, peering into the orb of light, within which he could just make out the faces of Hiroki and Yukio.
"Uh… well, we're not really sure. My TV went haywire and then we could see the inside of a cave." Hiroki explained, and Yukio and Datirimon nodded in confirmation of this story. "Why?" Hiroki added.
"Earlier, as I fled from Goblimon, I saw four strange lights in the sky. I would not have noticed them had it not been for their stark contrast with the storm. They scattered towards different parts of the island, and I wonder…" Cubmon trailed off.
"Wonder what?" Hiroki asked.
"If those lights were you arriving here - it is the only thing that makes sense. You are clearly not Digimon." Cubmon finished his thought.
"Huh… well I guess that makes sense." Hiroki added.
"Wait, you said you saw four of them?" Yukio butted into the conversation.
"Yes. Why?" Cubmon added.
"Well, if that light was us, then doesn't that mean there are three more kids here as well?" Yukio said excitedly.
"Hmm, I had not considered that." Cubmon admitted.
"I bet it does!" Hiroki cried out gleefully. "I wonder where they are."
"I may be able to guide you in their direction; I saw roughly where they went." Cubmon told them, thoughtful still.
"Then it's settled!" Hiroki declared. "We have our mission; we must find the other kids!"
Yukio nodded.
"Hiroki! Yukio's mother is here!" Hiroki's mother called from downstairs.
"What? Aw man, you have to go?" Hiroki cried, and Yukio nodded sadly. Both of them had forgotten that Hiroki was only staying for a couple of hours.
"You're leaving?" Datirimon asked sadly.
"Yeah…. I gotta," Yukio said, disappointed. "But I'll be back!" He added determinedly.
"Come over tomorrow." Hiroki told him, assuredly.
"Hmm… if that's okay with you, then okay." Yukio agreed, and the two children smiled at one another again.
"Very well…" Cubmon said, and then yawned. This caused Datirimon to yawn as well, and the two Digimon suddenly realised how tired they were.
"Datirimon and I need to rest anyway, so we will meet you tomorrow." Cubmon told them.
"Okay…. But wait, how will we find you?" Hiroki asked, doubtfully.
"Well, if you enter this world anything like earlier today, we will find you." Cubmon answered, and the two boys seemed to think it was a good idea.
"And if you don't, we'll go back to the cave where I found you, in case you appear there!" Datirimon added happily, speaking for the first time in a while.
"Well all right then. Tomorrow we will begin our search for the other kids!" Hiroki declared again, and the Digimon and Children said their goodbyes.
Hiroki got up and turned the game's console off at the wall, and the TV turned instantly back. In the Digiworld, the orb of light slowly faded from view and Cubmon and Datirimon set off for the cave where Datirimon had first met the children.
Back in the real world, Hiroki and Yukio said goodbye for the day as well.
"I wonder why this happened…" Yukio mused, staring at the now dark TV screen.
Hiroki was about to answer, but at that moment his mother yelled again, sounding irritated that they were taking so long, and so the two boys headed downstairs so that Yukio could go home.
End of Chapter 02