Chapter 3: The Power of Rivals!
Legend
Italics shows character thoughts
Word shows Date, time, and location
-Word- Shows Noises, or actions such as sighing
PS: Thanks to Wen-san for her help and Broken Angel for all of her help as well!
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Digimon World, Western Hemisphere (Near the Great Plains)
POV: Riku Sakamoto
Riku trudged on ahead of the group, with Dracmon at his side. The group entered the realm of the Western God, Baihumon, to explore the land and get a feel for how the 'game' worked and what and how they wanted to go about saving it. The idea was pretty large so each child thought that oppurtunites would present itself and so, in the meantime, they would explore and have fun!
Riku and Dracmon were so excited they couldn't contain themselves, as if they were going to explode if they didn't get to see some fighting, some city, or something! They wanted to see what this world was like, Dracmon was created just recently so even for him it was an exciting journey!
"Come on you slow pokes! Hurry up!" Riku yelled back to his companions.
"Yeah, yeah! Or I'll come back there and herd you along like cattle!" Dracmon taunted while jabbing his tail at the three humans and Digimon.
"Shut up, Sakamoto! We'll get there when we get there!" Tommy snapped back vigorously with Commandramon at his side keeping alert and quiet incase of attack.
"Forget them, Dracmon! Lets go and see what's over that ridge!" Riku yelled to his partner who floated after him.
Riku had to admit that him and Dracmon were like peanut butter and jelly, which happened to be both of their favorite foods, despite the fact that the Digimon world didn't have PB & J. They both loved alternative music, both loved pranks, both thought that Taiki was wimp, that Draggers was a stiff, and that Ayumi was just plain weird. In fact they were like the perfect pair, like two bad seeds growing together.
They raced up the ridge at full speed, Dracmon taking the lead with his ability to float. They ran like they were honestly racing to win, like it was important to them to see who was faster, to see who was dominant in that category. The victor could brag, and bragging rights was something they both loved.
"I beat you!" Dracmon yelled as he reached the top of the ridge while floating backwards. He laughed happily and floated up and down with glee.
"Next time I'll get you…for….sure…." Riku said with increasing difficulties as he reached the ridge as well. He stood stiffly at the top of the ridge and saw below him a vast plain, larger then a three football fields, or soccer fields in his mind.
Dracmon turned around and too became silent. He floated over to his partner and stood on his shoulder. Dracmon was about two and a half feet tall so he looked like a puppet on Riku's shoulders. They both stood in shocked silence at the sight before them.
What…happened to this place..?
"Hey, Sakamoto, what's wrong? Tired?" Ayumi jabbed at Riku verbally.
The three other children and their partners joined Riku and stood in the same stunned silence Riku and Dracmon were in, shook beyond words at the scene ahead.
On the plain known to the Digimon of the world as the Great Plains, stood a sad image that starkly contrasted its former glory. The first half of the plain was complete stone. Stone grass and tress were standing still and lifeless, shattered flowers lay over the ground where they had once swayed in the wind peacefully. Even the ground, that was once life giving top soil, was cold rock.
And even darker still were the Digimon made of stone. Digimon with four legs, two legs, some with metal bodies, all stood like statues. Yet, even as one looked at them you couldn't help but feel a sense of anguish and deep sorrow permeating from the stone erections, as if they had life held captive. The worst sights were of broken Digimon statues, as if they had jumped into the air and were turned to stone, only to fall to the ground and shatter instantly and die a pitiful death...or worse yet, an eternity of imprisonment.
"What happened?" Riku asked weakly, after looking the scene over.
"A battle." A deep voice resounded.
The four turned around and saw the image of a massive Digimon. He was large wolf with large teeth, blue and white fur, and powerful yellow eyes. He glared down at the humans instinctively with intent to attack.
"A battle?" Taiki asked sheepishly.
"Yes, between the forces of my Lord Baihumon and Zhuqiaomon of the South. We found against them to defend our home and now one of our sacred lands is scarred ….along with our companions who were defeated and turned as lifeless as the plains you see before you."
"You mean…they were real digimon before this?" Tommy asked.
"The fools shouldn't have gotten hit..." Riku murmurred softly, but his words were picked up by the giant Digimon nonetheless.
"Those fools were my…COMRADES!" The beast howled at the end in pain and agony. "They did not deserve a life of imprisonment! The least the enemy could have done is sent them to the Digital Graveyard! Those spineless, honor lacking fiends!" He bellowed.
"That's…horrible." Taiki said as he turned to looked at the sight once more. He knelt down and tried to suppress the feeling of pain that welled up in his heart, the pain that he felt when he looked on their miserable state of existence.
"No one deserves that! No matter what you've done...it just isn't fair.." Taiki spoke painfully, feeling a deep remorse that normally comes before tears.
"No crying!" Kudamon said as he hung himself down from Taiki's head and slapped his partners forehead with his little paw, "Be strong! For them, they big warrior, they want no crying!" Kudamon said rapidly as he rubbed his head against Taiki's cheek.
"Heh, yeah. I'll be strong for them." Taiki responded to his partner. Taiki looked up at Tommy who pulled him up to his feet and gave him a soft punch in the shoulder.
Sheesh…stop with the friendship act already. The only person you can rely on is yourself…I don't have time for friendship. Riku muttered as the sight of the two friends being all nice to each other and helping one another. The only person he needed was himself…and his little sister. He turned away from the group and silently wondered how well her day at school had gone. Riku, despite his outside, was a very understanding big brother. He loved his second grade sister more then anything in the world, and because he was the biggest bully around, no one dared to mess with her...he made sure of it.
It was his little known secret. His one little weak spot that everyone knew about but never used against him. There was some honor in being a good big brother and for everything he did he never heard anyone call him a bad brother and for that he was proud.
Well…I guess family is okay...they look out for you.
Riku then walked up to the giant beast, "Hey, what is your name? What are you doing here too?" Riku asked as if he was entitled to know.
"I am Garurumon, Champion Vaccine type Digimon. I am scouting the area looking for the enemy for my Commander, Leomon." Garurumon snapped back at Riku, "And you, you strange things, are to come with me. I must take you to my Commander to have you questioned. Comply and I won't harm any of you."
"Why should we--" Ayumi began to demand before Tommy cut her off with a hand that sliced the air.
"No, we'll go with him." Tommy said in a very serious tone, causing all of the kids to look at Tommy with wonder. Commandramon seemed to understand Tommy's feelings and stood by his side as a loyal soldier would.
"You have clear eyes, young one. You have the eyes of a Beast, keen and sharp. Never lose that sight." Garurumon told them as he turned and tossed his head, motioning for them to follow him closely.
The Children complied.
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Digimon World, Western Hemisphere (Leomon's Camp)
POV: Tommy Draggers
Garurumon led the Children and their partners further west until they came into the Camp of Leomon. Tommy was at the head of the group this time and was hoping for a more vigorous camp sighting but was sorely disappointed. They whole camp seemed to be dead, silent, in mourning even.
They must all be sad for their comrades….they must have cared a lot for each other. Tommy thought to himself. He was so far very impressed with the Beast Digimon and how the Western Hemisphere was run. Garurumon gave them a kind of insight into the world of the West.
Baihumon's realm was run with a Representation kind of goverment, much like the Ancient Romans did during their Republic years. The only difference was that Military experience was everything and one had only to be a great leader to have a role in the ruling of the realm, no political knowledge was needed. The top three generals would meet with Lord Baihumon and assess the land and make changes as they saw fit. Below them would be law enforcement and other civil branches.
There was also a great deal of trust involved in this system. Baihumon watched over the home base of the West, where a sprawling metropolis was growing for the Digimon to find ways to cause Metal Digivolutions, where Digimon would Digivolve into metal forms. The children were told that Terriormon did not always digivolve into Gargomon but it was a result of their experiments and because of that special digivolution Gargomon's were the top soldiers in the army, mostly under the control of the Greatest of the Three Generals of the West, Rapidmon. The other two Generals were Leomon and Ogremon. Orgremon had the third Beast battalion under his command and was currently dealing with the northern campaign. Rapidmon was so powerful in the country that he had the First Beast batallion and, recently, gained control of two metal battalions which he was using in the battle against the East. That left the last metal battallion to Baihumon for home defense.
Of course Tommy was the only one that found any of this interesting. He found the order that was brought through this highly regulated system of laws by those that protect, handing down to law enforcement who then enforced the laws with punishments was a very effective way to run the world. He was very much in tune with their thinking.
"I must tell the Commander of your arrival, wait here." Garurumon said as they reached the inner part of the camp. The camp was not really a camp, it was more a…place in the shade. The beasts slept on the ground and the only tent was Leomon's. They used the trees for shade during the day but it was nearing night time and so everyone was pretty cool and comfortable, if only a little remorseful.
"It's just too sad…" Taiki murmured, "They lost so many friends in that battle. There has to be a way to save them!" He petted Kudamon and in response the little Digimon wrapped himself around Taiki's right arm.
"Yes! Save them! Save them! Save them!" Kudamon repeated with glee as he coiled tighter around Taiki's arm.
"I agree, there has to be something we can do." Tommy said, giving a thumbs up to his best friend, sparking a smile in return from Taiki.
"Yeah, but you heard them, they were just turned to stone. I don't know anything about turning stone statues back into people and I know ever less about doing it for Digimon!" Ayumi exclaimed.
"Yeah! It's impossible to do anything with out knowledge. Stop getting so hasty." Falcomon stated in argument.
"I've got an idea." Riku chimed in, "What if we destroyed all the Digimon that turned them to stone? If we did that maybe their attacks will be lifted."
"Yeah! Yeah! Let's get em! Mwhahah! I can make traps to hurt them, pranks to annoy them, and scare them with tricks so we can POW them!" Dracmon said with hysterical laughter as he started to imagine all the fun pranks he could play with them.
"Yeah, we should so do that!" Riku beamed as they began formulating a number of awesome plans to get those Digimon back.
"Hmph, it won't be that easy. The enemy that attacked us has been hiding ever since the battle started." A rough voice spoke. "Greetings, I am Leomon. Welcome, Humans."
"Hi..." The children and the Digimon said at almost the same time.
"As for your thoughts, this would be true. If the Kokatorimon that attacked us were destroyed then our friends would return to normal. But, alas we have had no luck in finding them." Leomon stated, "But, I'm surprised that the prophecy has come true and humans have appeared."
"So you guys know about us too?" Riku asked.
"Yes, humans are said to be able to turn the tide in this war with strange powers. All of the four Lords want you on their side. I hear that Zhuqiaomon has even issued orders to capture any humans and bring them to him for a meeting. He is a dictator who cares only for himself." Leomon growled at the mention of the Bird God's name.
"I see, so we are pretty important, huh?" Ayumi questioned.
"According to legend, yes. Come, inside the tent." Leomon waved them all inside.
Tommy began walking towards the tent but noticed that Riku and Dracmon still talking and ignoring their command to enter the tent. Tommy approached them with Commandramon.
"Sakamoto, lets go." Tommy said.
"Shut up, Draggers!" Riku snapped, "I'm thinking of a plan!"
"What plan is that? You heard Jijimon, our digimon are rookies we need more experience before we go fighting." Tommy said, patting Commandramon on the head.
"So, what! Are you scared, Commandramon?" Dracmon taunted as he waved his butt at Commandramon.
"Don't make me shoot you." Commandramon said with irritation.
"Don't be stupid, Sakamoto! You can't do anything by yourself!" Tommy objected.
"Fine! You stay here and wait for me!" Riku said, with abnormal calmness, "I'll be back with the prize. You just watch!" Riku said as he shoved past Tommy and Commandramon, heading towards the forest.
"Yeah, you better bring the prize or I'll never let you live it down!" Tommy egged on, with the same strange calmness as Riku.
It was as if the other didn't care what happened…
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Digimon World, Western Hemisphere (Leomon's Camp)
POV: Riku Sakamoto
"That Tommy! Thinks he's so tough!" Riku fumed as he headed into the forest, following Dracmon who said he could see a lot better at night then in the day."Don't worry Riku! We'll set some traps up once we find them and POW! Hahahahahhaah!" Dracmon stated as he sniffed the air, "I smell data…lots of it!" Dracmon stated.
Dracmon was a data sucking Digimon, as a vampire would suck blood. So he could tell when Digimon were around by the excess data that floated around each Digimon, like a scent. They had only to follow it and then the would find the target.
After a small distance had been made Dracmon went on ahead to scout and Riku began setting up a few things planned for those Flying Digimon weirdo's. Riku laughed to himself as he went about his work, giggling with the finishing of each trap, trick, and prank he could find.
"Hey, Riku! I found them! Big birdies! Hahahah!" Dracmon said as he appeared once more.
"Great! Lead me to them and then we can have some fun!" Riku beamed.
Setting up a few more things with Dracmon's help on the way the two slowly advanced on the opening with a massive tree in it, used as a perch for the birds. Dracmon and Riku smiled at each other and Dracmon slowly floated up to the top of the tree and found the leader.
"WAKE UP!"
-CHOMP!- Dracmon attacked with his Undead Bite and latched unto the tail of their leader, Akatorimon.
"BUKAAA!" He cried as he instinctively tossed Dracmon from his tail, sending the little Rookie back to the ground and his partner.
In response a frenzy occurred, all the bird woke with a start and quickly found the cause. One human and a very silly Virus type digimon. The birds stared at them for a moment before realizing that Riku was indeed a human.
"A human! Our Lord wants all Humans to see him right away. Capture him!" Akatorimon said, sending the twenty some Digimon after the pair.
Riku and Dracmon then proceeded to run like scared little school girls with a mass of Kokatorimon, with their leader, giving hot pursuit.
Okay, now to survive death a la enraged Kokatorimon mob! Riku jumped over a log on the ground and quickly dived to the ground as Dracmon bit a vine that released a branch that was pulled back. The branch sprang forth, knocking two Kokatorimon backwards into their allies causing a kind of dog pile...only with big birds.
"HAHAHHAHA! That's great!" Dracmon said as he slapped his knee.
"COME ON, YOU CLOWN!" Riku yelled, grabbing Dracmon and pulling him through the air, "We have to get to the next trap." We have to wear them down so we can fight them!
It wasn't long before the birds were back on Riku's trail, in fact, Riku was hoping it wouldn't take long.
"NOW!" Riku said as he unleashed a second branch loaded with…Dracmon? The Digimon was sprung forward instantly in a flurry of leaves and twigs.
"CHOMP CHOMP CHOMP!" The Digimon cried as he bit into the arm of the lead Kokatorimon.
"BUKKA! Off me you little pest!" The Digimon demanded, too afraid to using his attack on Dracmon for fear of turning himself to stone.
"HIYAH!" Dracmon, released Kokatorimon and kicked him in the shin before catching up to an already running Riku Sakamoto. The other Kokatorimon surging around the bitten target of Dracmon's attack.
This is not working! They aren't getting any tired! Only one thing left! Riku and Dracmon propelled themselves through the forest, running into branches, jumping over logs, through webs, and past all many of strange looking Digimon who were quietly whitnessing to this bizzare passing circus of a chase.
Riku stopped and turned on his heels and picked up a vine, with Dracmon ready to bite it and sever it. The Kokatorimon saw this and stopped their advance, wary of what prank was next. The leader of the bird, Akatorimon stepped forward.
"Come on, Human! These childish pranks won't work on us!" He boasted.
"Hmph, really?" Dracmon bite the wire and a large rustling of leaves and a log came from behind them at an arc, ready to smash them to bits.
"AHH!" They all yelled in fear.
-WHAM!- The log collided with Digimon, sending all of them over Riku's head and into a clearing behind. Riku and Dracmon watched them in awe as they flew over head, like something out of a cartoon. The group landed with a large thud and a puff of smoke. Riku and Dracmon gave eachother a thumbs up and then took to the clearing to make a last stand.
"This is it Dracmon." Riku stated.
"Yep." His partner agreed.
"You, little runts! You will pay for this! And without those traps you are finished!" Akatorimon boasted as he formed his men up.
"Hmph," Riku smiled and stuck both hands in his pockets and looked at the ground as out of the shadows around the clearing a large number of beings began to approach.
"So you did bring the prize…" Tommy said as he walked out of the shadows and beside Riku. "I'll give you this one." Tommy smiled sarcastically.
"HAHAHA! Suckers! You feel right into our trap!" Dracmon laughed, as all around the Crack Bird Squad Leomon stepped out with his men. Taiki and Ayumi appeared along side Riku as well.
"What is this!" Akatorimon exclaimed.
"Oh, nothing. Just a plan," Riku began, "I didn't know if you were spying on the Beasts so I had to pick a fight with Tommy to make it look like nothing was being planned. I'm just glad he realized what I meant by 'I'll be back with the prize'...things could have gone badly if he hadn't."
"Yep, I realized it almost right away, this fool could never trick me, and had Leomon take down his tent and hide his men in the woods. Then we waited for you to get here. Stupid bird." Tommy finished the ploy, planned, set, and deployed by Rivals. "I guess you aren't completely useless, Riku."
"You either, Tommy." They responded, forgettig the use of their formal names.
"ACK! Take to the skies men!" Akatorimon yelled.
"No you don't! You give birds a bad name! Uchitake Drop!" Falcomon yelled as he flew over head, dropping small Bamboo cylinders that exploded all around the Akatorimon.
"Yeah! Bad birdies!" Kudamon said as he dashed around the group of birds, ramming any of them that tried to run. "Exceeding Light Dash!"
"Prepare yourselves." Commandramon stated as he shouldered his rifle and took aim.
"Yes! For our comrades and for revenge! ATTACK!" Leomon cried to his men, "Fist of the Beast King!"
"Noo!" Akatorimon yelled in defiance as the Beast Digimon unleashed their attacks on the birds. Falcomon continued to drop his bombs and Commandramon supplied support fire from his M16 Assassin (Rifle). Kudamon and Dracmon took a back seat in the fighting and watched silently. Commandramon unleashed his attack from his rifle and Falcomon kept the Kokatorion grounded with his barrage of bamboo bombs.
In a blazing display of colors and explosions all of the Bird Squad was completely destroyed, utterly and without remorse. After the battle Riku was praised as a Genius Strategist and the kids were given fruits, meat, drink, and celebrated all night long. It was also said that Riku and Tommy were the best of Rivals, and that their rivalry saved the day.
Each of the children laughed, ate and drank, and reveled in the fun of the game. This was by far the funniest game they had every played. It was even better when all the lost Digimon came back to the camp! There were thank you's all around! Digimon happy to have their friends back, a team restored, and comrades reunited. It was a joyous day indeed.
Yet, none of the children felt bad for the Digimon they destroyed….
After all, it was just a game.
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N/A: Okay! So there was less fighting in this one then I thought. Sorry if that disappointed anyone. But! There will be some in the next one! In fact, there will be a Digivolution in it as well. Also, I find it hard to put the focus on all the characters, so sorry if some chapters focus on some of them more then others, but by the end of the story all of the kids should have had plenty of spot light time. This was obviously a Riku heavy chapter (And Midly Tommy.)
But, as I like to be Flexible I want your opinion! Who should Digivolve first? Hmm? Tell me who you want to see first! And maybe I'll choose that person to reach the next stage!
As always, I hope you enjoy this chapter. Read and Review!
-Arc