02/14/2012

Disclaimer: I, Fan Rider Ryu, own nothing belonging to Toei Animation, Toei Broadcasting, The Prodigy, or any other lyrics and/or characters within. I simply write ridicules stories based off such works.

FanAuthor's Note: Alright guys, now on my fourth chapter. Hope to get some feedback from some of you guys soon, and any critique is welcome and asked for.

Chapter 4: Heading North

/Cyber Sheep Floor 7, 7:05 a.m.

The smell of bacon and boiled eggs was drifting around a certain room on the Cyber Sheep Hotel's 7th floor. Dmitri was happily munching away at his breakfast, one sandwich in hand and another left unmarked on a plate besides him. He sat at the one desk the room had, turning his gaze towards his now waking roommate.

"Morning, care for a sandwich?"

Colin wiped his eyes clean, and stared with half-awake eyes at the bacon and egg sandwich that sat on a plate, almost welcoming him to devour it.

"Don't mind if I do."

He reached out for the sandwich, only for his hand to be smacked away by Dmitri.

"Aren't you going to brush your teeth first?"

Giving his roommate a 'What are you, my mother?' look, he stumbled out of his bed and headed for the bathroom. A few minutes later, with his face washed and breathe smelling minty fresh; he went again for the sandwich (this time meeting no opposition) and went about consuming it.

"So, you have any plans before you head back in the VR?"

"Aren't we going together?" asked Dmitri, wondering if his new friend had gotten bored of him already.

"What, of course we are. I just thought you'd want to go the store or take some things to the laundry room first."

"Oh, right. Nah that stuff can wait till later. Let's get a move on, don't want to keep your girl waiting." With that, Dmitri head off to the bathroom with a fresh set of clothes in hand.

"How is Asami 'my girl'? We've met once, and spent a total of 5 hours together."

"What? I can't hear you; the water's rather loud in here."

No tap was actually running at the moment, a fact Colin knew perfectly well.

"You heard me, I said how is…"

The shower head had just been turned on, and Dmitri could be heard singing over the roar of the water.

"What? I still can't hear you friend, you'll have to wait till I'm done."

"Smart-ass."

/Cyber Sheep Main Lobby, 7:19

"Did she happen to mention to you when she'd be heading back online?"

They were passing the reception office on their way to the arcade, where the receptionist Colin had charmed yesterday winked seductively at him, which Colin returned. Dmitri missed this exchange as he answered Colin's question.

"No, must have slipped her mind. What, worried your girl's gone and found someone else to party with?"

Colin sighed and responded, "For the last time, she is not my girl."

Before either of them could continue arguing the point, the receptionist had appeared in front of Colin, holding a card out to him.

"Sir, sorry to bother you, but you seemed to have dropped this yesterday. I wanted to make sure you got it back."

Smiling, as he knew he had dropped no such thing, he took the card politely.

"Thank you, angel. Nice to know someone's watching out for us guests."

"It's my job sir. Have a pleasant day." With that, she walked off back to her desk, her co-worker stifling a giggle as she took her seat.

"What was that all about?"

"Why, I simply forgot my card yesterday. That lady was nice enough to give it back to me."

"Lady? She's barely older than me. She's like what, 25, 27 tops."

Colin smiled to himself hearing this, "Yeah, I know."

"What's on the card?"

Showing Dmitri the card, he could see a phone number and room number were written over a standard hotel services card.

"Okay, when and how?"

Colin put on a face of mock confusion as they entered the arcade and headed for the 2nd floor.

"Why whatever do you mean, 'when and how'?"

Dmitri smirked and took his seat at a terminal, "All right playboy. You don't want to tell, by all means stay quiet. Maybe I won't let slip to Asami what a player you are."

"Dude, for the last time, she is not my…"

Dmitri was already under the effects of the VR machine, so Colin's words fell on deaf ears. Taking his own seat next to him, he proceeded to place his V-Pet and Pass Card in their respective slots, and slip his helmet on.

"See you inside, smart-ass."

/Digi-World Loading Screen, 1st hour

Welcome back, Tamer. Did you sleep well?

Colin did not seem amused, "I swear to the high God, if you drop me into the game again, I'm gonna find a way to infect you with a Trojan."

Whoa, no need to be hostile now. Why would I do such a thing?

Colin glared aimlessly at the white void he was floating in. Suddenly, a menu appeared out of nowhere in front of him, offering him to select the new clothes or the outfit he had on last time. Pressing his finger against the option for his old outfit, the one with the red tie, he suddenly flashed brightly before having his clothes return to his person. A mirror appeared before him once more, this time showing something shocking to Colin.

"Why do I have a scar over my left eye?"

You gained that scar during your tussle with Goblimon. Due to players not experiencing extreme pain in this game, you weren't away you had gained one in game till now. We can easily have it removed if you so wish.

Colin thought about it for a moment, then shook his head, "Nope, I'm keeping it. Makes me look more awesome than usual."

As you wish.

The mirror went away, and a flash of light emitted to the right of Colin. When it dimmed down, Kumamon floated in its place.

"Hey Colin, where are we?"

"Loading screen, buddy. Wait a second; they'll have us back by our campsite in just a second."

"What's a loading screen?"

Colin sweatdropped, remembering that the little bear didn't know he was part of game.

"Just wait and see."

They both flashed again, and the computer voice spoke once more.

Player and partner Digimon to be sent to last pitched campsite. Launching!

"Wait, what do you mean launchinggg?"

Both orbs of light rocketed downward, the white void dispersing as they flew down once more to File Island, towards a tent near the North East of the island.

"BASTAAAAAA-"

/Download Plain, 1st hour

"Candlemon, do you hear something?"

The usually silent candle Digimon listened for a seconded, then nodded.

"Yeah, it sounds like someone saying 'taaaaa'"

"TAAAARRRRDDDD!"

Two orbs of light rocketed down to the campsite, only to stop suddenly before touching the ground, and reformatting into Colin and Kumamon.

"…I really hate whoever is the guy behind porting my butt down here."

Dmitri chuckled a little, "Yeah, they seem to like tossing you down here like a rock, don't they?"

"You mean to tell me that you landings are smooth sailing?"

"Yup, pretty much."

Staring darkly at his friend for a moment, the boy lightened up and looked around the campsite, noticing that only his tent was still up.

"Okay, so where's Asami?" He quickly added, "And don't start that 'my girl' crap again."

Smirking, the college boy replied "She left this note, and a little hand-drawn map with it."

Taking the note and stretching out the map, Colin checked its contents.

Colin and Dmitri,

If you're reading this and not currently headed with me towards Popsicle Town, then I must have gotten up earlier than you two. Here's a map of the way there; I'm headed there with BlackGatomon and Mikemon, they seem to know the way. You two should head there as well, and buy supplies. Watch out for those Goblimon who want your head.

Asami

There was a little heart drawn next to her name. Colin smiled after reading this and checked the map, which he figured the two cat Digimon had drawn. The scratches and holes left in the paper being evidence for this theory. It seemed simple enough. The path showed that they should walk towards the thin grouping of trees to the right of the plain, and continue on a path found in the woods there.

"Okay then, guess she couldn't wait. Hey Kumamon, ready to level up past these guys?"

His partner gave him the thumbs up (paw up), "Like you even have to ask. Let's go!"

The little bear had begun sprinting off again, to the left of the plains and away from the trail showed on the map.

"We're going that way, buddy." Colin pointed in the direction the cub should be heading, and he altered his course to do so.

Dmitri and Candlemon playfully laughed at this, and Colin chuckled a bit himself, as he pointed his D-Arc at his tent and absorbed it back inside.

"Shall we follow my enthusiastic silly, old bear?"

"Sure, but don't have any illusions of out-leveling Candlemon and me."

The three jogged (Candlemon hopped quickly) after the quick little cub, into yet another set of trees.

/Flake Woods, 1st hour and 5 minutes spent.

"Not tuckered out yet?" Colin cried out, his partner still a good few paces ahead of them.

"Nope, hurry up you slow pokes!"

The Tamers were not in any real hurry to speed along, taking in the scenery of the sudden tundra like appearance the game had taken on as they entered the woods. There was little to not like about the woods they were in. the soft snow, the pleasant chill in the air, the glaring pair of trees blocking their way up ahead…

Wait, what?

"Colin, are you seeing what I'm seeing?" asked Dmitri, his hand moving for his card pack just in case.

"You mean the two Halloween like leafless trees baring Kumamon's way? Yeah I see them." Colin also moved for his cards, all the while the two of them walked on over to the trees.

"Let me refresh my memory a bit." Dmitri opened up a menu on his D-Arc and scanned one of the two tree Digimon before him.

Identification: Woodmon. Champion-level Digimon. Attacks are Branch Drain and Woody Smash.

"Ooh, another Champion eh? Sounds like fun." Colin was about to swipe a card, but Dmitri held him back.

"Wait a minute, friend. This may just be a misunderstanding. Let's not start any unnecessary trouble." Walking up to the Woodmon, he addressed them both, with Candlemon in tow.

"Greetings, mind if we pass through here? We're just trying to get to Popsicle town."

The Woodmon to the left of him snorted, while the one on the right responded gruffly, "And we want to have some of that Download Plain sunlight, while the day is still young. Step aside, fleshy."

"No need to be rude, comrade. We can easily step aside if you're in a hurry."

Now both the Woodmon snorted, "Hah, that's a good human. Let your betters pass, we ain't getting any younger. I feel like I'm gonna turn into a Cherrymon any day now."

One of the Woodmon started to move forward, but then Dmitri bared His way.

"I'm sorry, what was that last comment? 'Let your betters pass' was it?"

"Yeah, what of it?"

"Well, all I see before me is a glorified jumble of twigs. When my better gets here, I'll be sure to let him by. Course, we'll be here for a while till that happens, so why don't You two step aside? Us Tamers and partner Digimon have more important places to be than chatting with some future firewood."

The Woodmon turned scarlet hearing this, and brought his arm up in fury.

"You DARE talk to us that way? Woody Smash!"

He brought his arm down in the dirt, as Dmitri had back-stepped in time to dodge the blow, smiling as he went.

"Have it your way." He took out his Digivolution card and swiped it through his D-Arc.

Digivolution Activate.

A familiar egg formed around Candlemon, who had started rushing towards the sentient trees.

Candlemon…digivolve to…Meramon!

The human tor- flame came upon the two tree Digimon, and drew out both his palms towards each of them.

"Fireball!"

Both Woodmon busted into flame, before dispersing into data and being absorbed by Meramon.

Battle Concluded. Tamer and Partner were Victorious. Woodmon (2x) deleted. EXP raised by 60 points. Combat Zone disengaged.

From where the two Woodmon were, two cards came flying towards Dmitri, who skillfully caught both without dropping them. He then turned to see both Colin and Kumamon crossing their arms and giving both him and Candlemon a cross look.

"You just wanted to hog those two for yourselves, you rat bastard."

Dmitri couldn't help but smile a little, "What, why would I do that? Is it my fault you were slow to engage them? Or that Meramon is naturally able to quickly delete nature Digimon like them?"

Choosing the let this playful slight go, the boy and his cub walked by the other two without another word, and continue on down the path shown on the map.

"Dmitri?"

Surprised at his silent partner suddenly becoming vocal, Dmitri replied, "Uh yeah Candlemon? What's up?"

"Maybe we should let those two get the next one, just to be fair, huh?"

Moving a hand down to pat his partner, then thinking against it as he would likely singe his hand, Dmitri settled on friendly smiling down at the animate candle and nodding.

"Sure thing."

/Flake Woods, 1st hour and 10 minute spent.