Disclaimer: I don't own the rights or ideas or attacks of Gabumon. This story takes place in an alternate universe/timeline. I hope you (the reader) finds the overall story is enjoyable.

CHAPTER 7: BUGS!

"Thank you for keeping me warm last night," I said removing my sweat jacket as the sun already began heating the day. "I didn't anticipate being in a desert."

"Anytime Baldo, I'm going to wash up before we get going,' Gabumon walked over to the pond.

I opened my backpack. "Only 5 knives left," I counted the blades talking to myself. "Gonna have to be careful throwing them." I searched the ground picking up several sharp looking rocks.

Gabumon splashed water on his face but threw sand the second time his hand entered the pool. "Hey," Gabumon said. "Where's the water?"

"Gabumon look out," I pulled the Digimon by his fur coat narrowly missing a set of teeth like the metal on a bear trap that clamped shut where he was sitting.

Realizing that its prey eluded it, a giant legless monster with large sharp teeth burrowed from underground vertically into the morning's sun. The tube stood almost 40 feet tall.

"Oh no, Sandromomon," Gabumon yelled.

"Sandromomon?"

"A giant worm type Digimon. Its saliva pools luring unsuspecting Digimon," Gabumon answered looking skyward.

My head followed suit. "Why are the bugs so big in your world!? It's got to be over 30 feet tall."

"Quick this way," Gabumon led us toward a rock formation.

"Keep running it's right on our heels."

Gabumon stopped and fired his Blue Blaster attack but Sandromomon kept up its pursuit as if the wall of blue flame wasn't there.

"Well it was worth a shot," Gabumon said running beside me.

"It was a nice try," I yelled to him. "How come he didn't attack us during the night?"

"Sandromomon remain stationary until their pool's disturbed," Gabumon answered. "Since we had your water…"

"We never touch the pool," I finished jumping onto the rocks then reached back for Gabumon. Helping each other, we climbed to the top of the formation. "Are you sure we'll be okay up here?"

Gabumon stared over the edge. "Yes, Sandromomon can't tunnel through rocks and we're too high for him to reach," Gabumon said. "We'll be able to leave once he goes back underground."

"I guess we have no choice but to wait him out," I watched the worm circle below us. I turned to Gabumon. "Can you use your horn to fight?"

"I never tried. I always used my Blue Blaster or Digivolved."

"Digivolve? Can you Digivolve again?"

"Yes. I can Digivolve into Garurumon then into WereGarurumon and under the right circumstances into MetalGarurumon," he answered.

"Wow. You can change into all of that?"

"Yeah but I can't do any of it without Matt's help."

Sandromomon continued circling the base of the formation. It didn't look like it was going to stop anytime soon.

"I'm sorry," I apologized holding the inactive Digivice. "I don't think I can make this thing work and since Matt isn't here. You may be stuck in this form for a while."

"I know," Gabumon sighed.

"Listen we'll just have to work on getting you stronger as you are," I said pulling my bamboo sword. "Is the blue blaster the only attack you know?"

"Yes," Gabumon replied staring at me.

"Well let's change that," I pointed my sword at him.

"Are you sure about this? What if I hurt you?"

I smiled. "Then we'll know you're getting stronger. Besides we need to do something while we're up here. Brace yourself and attack me with your horn."

I charged Gabumon who dodged and coward toward the edge. "Baldo, this isn't funny."

"I know but we need to get stronger otherwise we'll be defeated," I swung my sword widely missing my friend on purpose. "We'll need any advantage or surprise we can get."

Gabumon countered with his horn when I attacked with my sword. We clashed blades several times. Exchanging volleys, I saw Gabumon smiling. 'At least he's enjoying it' I thought. 'Gabumon will have an ace up his sleeve now.' As I parried, the Digimon disarmed me. We were both breathing heavily.

"Nice job Gabumon," I grinned.

"Ah you held back," Gabumon said modestly.

I walked near the edge grabbing my blade. Sandromomon remained above ground and just stared up at us. "No, I didn't but I'll beat you next time," I put the blade away. "I think we should work on your flame."

"What's wrong with my flame," he sounded defensive.

"It's powerful and great if it makes contact with an enemy but it takes too long if it misses," I informed. "Unfortunately, it gives bad guys time to get behind you."

"Do you really think so?"

"Yep," I answered. "Why don't you try holding it a little longer and try to condense it into a more powerful fireball instead?"

"I'll try but what should I shoot at," Gabumon asked.

"Me, of course."

A worried expression crossed Gabumon's face entering his voice, "O-Okay."

"Don't worry," I smiled. "I need to get stronger too. Otherwise I'll be even more useless to you."

"You're not useless."

"Maybe not but since I can't help you Digivolve, I need to be able to take a hit or two," I stood across from the Digimon. "Try and hit me. I'll try dodging and see if I can get behind you."

Gabumon hesitated. "O-Okay. B-Blue Blaster, ha!" The flame fizzled out. This exercise was clearly going to be harder than I thought.

"You've got to try Gabumon."

"I can't Baldo."

I growled a little. His refusal will hinder both of our survival in the future. "Hmm," I mumbled coming up with an idea. "Alright then we'll up the ante.

"I'm going to try taking off your fur when I get behind you," I smiled seeing the surprise on my friend's face. "You can stop me anyway you can."

"I'll try."

"Here I come," I rushed Gabumon again.

He fired his blaster but I sidestepped it and him touching his fur pelt. Gabumon moved like lightning recovering. He held his flame a minute longer then fired a solid ball. I dodged it and watched the ball strike a tree on a distant rock formation.

I rushed again and Gabumon used his drawn out flame. I avoided it then tugged his fur once more. Gabumon swung his arm then followed up by thrusting his horn. I jumped back creating distance. The Digimon powered up another fireball.

"Don't be afraid to use your surroundings," I yelled over to him. "They can be as effective as the attack itself."

Running at him, Gabumon released his stored up fireball toward the ground in front of my feet. The rock exploded sending me and some debris skidding along the top of the formation.

"Ouch," I said after I finished grinding against the rock.

"Baldo, I'm sorry," Gabumon ran over.

"It's alright Gabumon," I stood up.

"Your arm's bleeding," he cried upset.

I checked my elbow. "Just a skinned elbow," I smiled hoping to elevate his concerns. "I'm impressed how fast you learned those attacks.

"That was a very powerful fireball," I said balling my fingers into a fist. "And we'll keep making it more powerful."

"I never focused my power before. Was it strong?"

"Yes. It destroyed solid rock but I'm even more impressed by that display of close combat. You're fast on your feet," I answered genuinely. "You'd make a great fighter."

Gabumon rubbed his head. "You think so."

"Yep. The sun's setting," I watched the pink and orange hues fill the cloudless sky. "I guess we'll camp up here tonight," seeing that Sandromomon remained above ground at our feet.

"I can't believe we spent all day fighting," he grabbed his growling stomach. "I'm starving."

I tossed him a whole can of ravioli. "Here enjoy."

"What about you my friend?"

I held up a pack of crackers. Gabumon looked annoyed. "I didn't really like the flavor of them cold."

"Well I didn't like them either," his eyes shifted several times to and from the can.

"Just eat them," I laughed. "I promise as soon as we get out of this desert I'll eat to my heart's content."

Gabumon used his horn to pop the top. "That's cause of you, Baldo."

I smiled chuckling. "Nice job Gabumon. Does it hurt when you use your horn?"

"A little but not as much since your first attack."

"I'm sorry I didn't intend to cause you pain."

"It's okay my friend," Gabumon smiled chewing two beef casings. "I'm sure the more I use my horn the stronger it'll become and the less it will hurt."

My eyes turned spotting the tree Gabumon struck earlier. It continued billowing thick smoke into the sky as the sun disappeared.

"Even so," I trailed off.

"You're funny," Gabumon laughed. "You're nothing like Matt. He never sparred against me."

"Yeah well I'm not Matt."

"No, you are not," I looked at the happy Digimon. "In fact you're the exact opposite of him and I love that about you my friend. You like me as I am and it makes me feel stronger even if I'm not."

"Gabumon," I blushed. "Good night."

"Night Baldo," he slept away from me.

I rested on my back facing the starry sky. The rocks must have absorbed the day's heat as I didn't even need my hoody for protection tonight. Something prevented me from falling asleep as easily as Gabumon.

'Where is Matt' I thought. 'How can he lose his Digivice?' I held the gadget in front of me. 'I wish I could make this thing work and give Gabumon the strength he's relied on his whole life.' A shooting star passed overhead 'But most of all I wish I was Gabumon's partner.' A small tear trickled down my cheek.

Gabumon started whimpering and shaking. 'He must be having a nightmare.' I sat up wiping my face. Wandering to Gabumon's side, I placed my hand gently under his fur pressing against his warm skin feeling the little notches along his spine. Shortly after his shaking and whimpering ceased, as I started drifting into dreams 'I wonder what Garurumon looks like… Maybe a dinosaur?' I traced a notch 'a stegosaurus perhaps?'