Child of Balance
Chapter 7: The Black Gears and Evil's Face Part I.
In Hindsight, they should have known things were about to get worse after Joe found where the Black Gears were coming from. Or when they realized climbing that mountain didn't do much more than give them a good view.
Narumi should have trusted her gut, but in her defense she simply thought she'd eaten too much the night before. Like all bad situations this one started as a normal day (or days as it may be).
Well, as normal as eight kids lost in a new world can get.
"You know, I think I miss the desert heatwave right about now," Naru said, shivering slightly as she wrapped her arms around herself, trying to keep warm.
"I don't know, it's cold but I think we can handle it a little easier than heat stroke," Sora said, though she didn't sound so sure herself.
"I wonder if it'll snow!?" T.K exclaimed, grinning over at them.
"If it gets any colder, that is a very high probability," Izzy replied, and Matt snorted.
"If it gets any colder we're all going to be digi-popsicles," he quipped.
"Ah, it's not that cold guys," Tai said, laughing.
The others looked at the goggle-head weirdly.
"Maybe if you a penguin or an Eskimo," Izzy said.
"Think about it like this. If it snows, we'll throw some snowballs," Tai said, grinning.
"Oh, and we could build snowmen!" Mimi said, clearly excited.
"Or make snow angels," Naru suggested, smiling.
Gomamon looked at Gabumon, and whispered, "What do you think Snowmon is?"
Gabumon shrugged slightly.
"Maybe a digimon from their world, or some sort of game perhaps?" he suggested.
The other digimon blinked, wondering if perhaps Gabumon was right or not. The kids all chuckled at the conversation between digimon and Izzy began to exsplain.
"It's nothing like that," he began. "It's kind of hard to explain."
"Is it edible, maybe?" Tentomon asked.
"I'm starting to think Snowmon isn't exactly a food or a person," Renamon began, and Naru grinned and nodded up at her partner.
"You're right, Renamon," Naru said. "It's actually Snowmen, not Snowmon. It's a statue made of snow that we make back home. Then we take stones or other small objects and create a face for him. Sometimes we even give him a scarf or a hat."
"Yes, Narumi is right. The best part about snow though is snow balls, which are balls made of snow that we throw at each other. It's a fun game that we play during the winter months," Izzy explained.
"You throw food?" Tentomon asked, and Naru shook her head.
"No, well yes... but snow isn't food. I guess you could eat it, but I wouldn't recommend it," she said.
Naru watched as the others continued to talk, discussing what they'd do if or more like when it snowed.
She had to admit, the prospect of snow sounded fun. She wasn't exactly one who overly enjoyed the winter months, not like her brother or sister. She liked snow, but the cold had always irked her a little.
Her mother had a habit of wrapping all her children up in layers of clothes if they went out to play in the winter, so it wasn't that bad. Currently though, Naru only had a thin shirt, that while it had longer sleeves and a high collar, the sleeves only went just slightly passed her elbows.
At least I have my gloves, Naru thought as she rubbed her hands together, looking at the silver gloves she wore.
"You know, they're just trying to be cheerful, rather then think negatively," Naru said as she moved to stand beside the blue haired boy.
Joe looked down at the blonde and sighed, crossing his arms. He knew she was right, but they really needed to take this more seriously.
"Get serious, everyone. It'd be horrible if it started snowing right now," Joe grumbled. "None of us have heavy clothing on..."
"What's the matter with that?" Tai asked, hands behind his head.
"Lighten up a little, Joe," Sora said, patting Joe's shoulder. "We're just trying to look on the positive side of things. Otherwise we'd all be miserable."
Joe sighed.
"You just don't get it do you," Joe said. "It matters. If one of us get's sick, we'd be in big trouble. Also, if it snows now we'd not be able to camp out anymore."
"Hey, Tai, when's it gonna snow do you think?" TK asked in excitement, completely ignoring the blue haired boy.
"Probably any second now," Tai answered, happy for the distraction from what Joe had brought up.
"Right on Joe's head as well!" Matt added, jokingly as he chuckled.
"That'd be funny!" TK laughed.
"I can't wait to see his face," Tai quipped.
"Go ahead, ignore me, but when you get sick or your tootsies freeze, don't come crying to me. I'll just say I told you so; it's always best to be safe rather than sorry," Joe said.
Naru could see he was getting a little annoyed with everyone's laughing and joking around.
"Alright, lets just keep moving. I think we need to remember that we need to find somewhere to stay the night soon, and preferably somewhere relatively warmer," Narumi said, and everyone nodded after a second.
They continued on, and soon they came to part of the forest which was covered in snow. It was odd, behind them it was cold but there was no snow, but in front of them was even colder and covered in the white flakes.
"Great," Naru said, sighing and Renamon placed a comforting hand on her shoulder.
Out of all the digimon Renamon seemed to have the easiest time in the cold, probably because she had fur everywhere. Gomamon also had fur as did Gabumon (a pelt at least), but Renamon's seemed thicker and better suited to wintery weather.
They all stood in the rocky area, which thankfully was a quite a bit warmer since it was covered in hot springs big enough for one person, maybe two. At least, it would be if it wasn't so boiling.
"There goes my hot bath," Mimi muttered sadly as she sat before one of the boiling springs.
"Ah man," Tai grumbled.
"We'd be cooked if we were to jump into this," Tentomon said, a slight tone of remorse in his voice.
"Yes, boiled alive, there is no doubt about that," Izzy confirmed, nodding.
"But it looks so inviting," Palmon said, looking at the purple colored boiling water.
"Well it would be, if you were a vegetable," Matt said.
Naru snorted, mentally wondering if she should point out Palmon was a plant-like digimon. So it might not bother her in the long run, at least in theory.
"Look, finding a place to bathe is the least of our worries, compared to starving that is," Joe said, drawing everyone's attention. "We need to find something to eat and there's nothing edible in sight!"
"But there is, Joe!" T.K said, smiling.
"What are you talking about? There's nothing here but a bunch of rocks and boiling water!" Joe said.
"Look!" T.K said, pointing in one direction.
Everyone looked in the direction the boy was pointing, and there was a shocked silence. Joe's jaw dropped, and everyone else gasped in surprise and glee.
"You've got to be kidding me," Joe muttered. "Tell me I'm imagining this. What would a refrigerator be doing all the way out here? Even so there's no way it's working, no electricity or outlet."
"It's for real!" Tai exclaimed, moving closer to the kitchen appliance.
"Hey, were there's a fridge, there's gotta be grub," Matt reasoned.
"No way, that's not possible! There's not way!" Joe insisted.
"We won't know until we look," Sora concluded, moving closer to the fridge. "Come on, there's no time like the present."
"I don't really think that's a good id..." Joe began, but he was cut off.
"I want hot cocoa." Mimi's said, hands clasped in front of her happily. "Oh...I wonder if there is any fruits?"
"What's hot cocoa?" Palmon inquired, looking at Mimi questioningly.
"Huh, oh it's a chocolate drink that's hot. People drink it when it's cold out, it helps to warm you up and taste good too," Mimi said, smiling.
"I can't believe this," Naru muttered, still getting over the fact they'd found a fridge in the middle of nowhere.
It was like the phone booths or the vending machines the Numemon had hidden in. she sure hoped this time wasn't like that.
"I don't really understand, but it seems to really be here Narumi," Renamon said from beside her, and they watched as Tai opened it to reveal dozens upon dozens of eggs.
"Whoa, eggs!" Tai said, and everyone could see the rows of eggs inside.
"Wow...there must be a zillion of them," Agumon said.
"Probably not quite that many," Izzy said, a look on his face as if he was trying to guess the exact number of eggs inside the fridge.
"At least we have food now," Sora said, and Tai grinned and nodded.
"Yeah, These will keep us all fed for a month!" Tai exclaimed, obviously happy.
Narumi felt her stomach growl, and sighed. It had been some time since they last ate anything. Part of her wasn't so sure it was a good idea to eat the eggs, who knew where they came from or if they were someone elses property, but her hunger won out. If she didn't eat something soon her stomach would start eating itself.
"Wait a minute, you shouldn't even touch them, we don't know if they're safe for human consumption!" Joe warned them.
"Then I'll be the guinea-pig, if I turn purple and orange you'll know they're not edible." Tai said, smiling reassuringly.
"I don't think you'd turn purple and orange, Tai," Naru said, shaking her head. "I think Joe means we could get sick, or die worse case scenario."
"Exactly, if we're all bed ridden than we'd be stuck here for days and who knows what could happen," Joe said.
"But we've got to eat something," Matt argued. "I say we go ahead, sometimes we've got to take risks. Besides, they look fine."
"They look yummy," T.K said.
Naru grimaced, and looked at Joe.
"I'm sorry Joe, I get where you're coming from but they're right. We've got to eat or we'll be worse off," she said.
"I can see what you mean, Naru," Joe began. "But there is more to it, even if the eggs are edible they still don't belong to us. That'd make us all thieves!"
"Unless you want to end up eating the rocks, we don't have too much choice," Matt said, stuffing one of his hands into his pocket.
"I'm sure they'd say yes if they knew we were in trouble," Sora assured Joe. "But as Matt and Narumi pointed out, we don't have a choice if we want to eat anything."
"Exactly, we'd tell them it's an emergency situation, if there is anyone to claim them," Izzy said. "I doubt we'd have to worry about this though, we've been here for some time and have yet to spot a single human being. Other than ourselves of course."
"Rationalize away," Tentomon said, nodding.
Joe sighed, his face fell some and he gave up. He could see all of their points, and at least Naru seemed to want to agree with him. She at least understood where he was coming from, but he also knew they were right.
At least about the eggs; they did need to eat, and the eggs were the only thing around. He just didn't like the idea of taking what didn't belong to them.
"Right, so let's get cooking!" Agumon said excitedly, and the others nodded.
Naru pretty much floated around helping Sora and Biyomon who handled making sunny-side up eggs, and T.K and Patamon who were making boiled eggs.
She personally made scrambled eggs with Matt and Tai's help – mostly Matt's, Gabumon's and Renamon's since Tai was as useless at cooking as most eleven year old boys.
Apparently Matt had some idea how to cook since he sometimes took care of cooking at home for him and his father. Narumi couldn't help but feel surprised that he trusted her enough with this information, and for some reason her stomach felt all fluttery.
It confused her, but it wasn't something she hadn't felt before when she was around Matt. Like when she'd woken up after the whole Seadramon ordeal, only to find she'd been using Matt as a pillow.
Soon enough, Tai and and the others had left to find some things that could be used for a fire later, and for plates and bowls now.
"You got this, Naru?" Matt asked, looking at her from where he sat on his knees beside her.
"Yeah, you can go ahead and help Tai and the others," she said, smiling widely.
Matt nodded, stood up and headed to help the others. This left Naru to finish the eggs with Renamon who mostly just watched since she had no idea how to cook something like eggs.
It was about ten or so more minutes before they'd all just about finished. Joe was finishing up another pair of chop sticks when the boys arrived back carrying sticks and rocks, along with other things that could be used for bowls.
Thankfully there happened to be a large circular stone that was quite a bit like a table big enough to sit all of them comfortably.
"Très gourmet," Mimi said as she sat the last bowl of eggs down on the table, and they all sat down to begin to eat what they'd cooked.
There seemed to be enough eggs to feed all of them and then some.
"Go on, dig in everybody," Biyomon invited cheerfully, placing some food in her bowl.
That was all it took to break the small traces of tension, and everyone heaped their bowls with whatever type of eggs they wanted. None were shy about trying a bit of all the eggs; sunny-side up, boiled or scrambled.
Narumi only wished there was something to go with it, to make it less bland. Salt and pepper, or any type of seasoning... even some fish or something along those lines. She shrugged as she dug into her food.
At least it's edible and filling, she thought.
"I haven't had a meal like this in a long time, my stomach's chimin'," Tai said after swallowing another bite.
"How long has it been since we last ate?" Sora wondered aloud. "Seems like so long ago."
"Perchance, because we've been living off what we can acquire in the areas we are in?" Izzy suggested.
"I don't know about that, but If we had some ketchup to go with these eggs, it would be perfect," Matt said.
"Yummy, I love ketchup on eggs," TK agreed.
"That sounds pretty gross to me," Sora said, and Naru nodded, it did sound pretty gross. "Now cheese, that I wouldn't mind having."
Naru smiled, nodded.
"I agree, though I think I would prefer having ramen with this,"
"Ramen?" everyone (sans Joe and Tai) asked.
"Who's ramen?" Agumon asked.
Tai laughed.
"Not who, what," he answered. "Ramen is a noodle soup, it's delicious, and something my sister here is addicted to. I swear, if she could she'd survive on ramen alone."
Naru pouted as the others chuckled lightly.
A few moments later Gomamon looked over at his partner, observing that the blue haired boy hadn't seemed to touch his food.
"What's the matter, Joe, you haven't eaten anything?" he asked.
"Oh, I was just thinking that if we were able to go home ketchup, cheese or ramen wouldn't be a problem." Joe sighed, looking down into his eggs morosely. "Oh well…I guess it doesn't matter."
"Oh great, now I'm homesick," Mimi said, sighing as she placed her bowl down in front of her.
She couldn't help but think about her family, her mother, and father. She missed being able to lay in the sun and just relax. Most of all she missed being able to know where home was and how to get there.
"You're right, now I wanna go home too." T.K said.
"It's been ten days since we've been here. I wonder if anyone has realized we're missing and tried to find us," Izzy pondered, and the others all sighed.
Sora shook her head, trying to think on the brighter side of things.
"Cheer up everyone! Tell you what, tell me how you like your eggs and I'll try to do my very best," Sora said encouragingly, and they all couldn't help but smile back at the orange-ish brunette.
"I prefer my eggs to be covered in salt and pepper, but I doubt we'll find any of that around here," Joe said.
"I like soy sauce, just the thought of it makes my mouth water!" Tai exclaimed, following Joe's example.
Naru laughed, shaking her head.
"And you think my taste are weird," Naru quipped. "I've already said my preference, but I don't expect you to be a miracle worker Sora."
"Ditto," Matt began, but soon his lips quirked upward in a half smirk-smile. "But I wouldn't say no to salsa."
Sora laughed.
"How 'bout a reality check instead?" Sora said, jokingly.
"Better than Ketchup," Naru said, smiling at Matt teasingly.
"I'll have mine with mustard and jellybeans," Izzy said.
Tai gave a nervous laugh, along with some of the others as they stared at Izzy strangely.
"That doesn't sound very appetizing, Izzy," Tentomon said, and then tilted his head slightly. "What are jelly beans?"
"It's a form of candy," Izzy said.
"Gross," Mimi said, shuddering.
"Yeah, how gross." Matt commented, a hint of a joke in his tone.
"Don't knock it until you try it," Izzy said, matter-of-fact.
"Jellybeans, that sounds good." T.K said.
"Eh, disgusting more like. My favorite is eggs topped with maple-syrup, yummy! Sometimes I like them with cherry's on top!" Mimi exclaimed, a bright smile on her face.
"That's weird," Sora cringed. "Cherries on eggs... at least maple-syrup is not as strange sounding."
"But I bet it's good," T.K added in.
There was laughter from many in the group, though Joe still looked a bit down.
"You're all making me lose my appetite, I just like plain eggs! Salt and pepper, simple and good," Joe sighed. "I really wish we could talk about something other than egg recipes."
"Don't be so hard on yourself, they're just having fun. Making light of a bad situation," Gomamon said, trying to calm Joe down.
It didn't seem to be working out too well.
"Yeah, it's better to laugh about it than wallow in self pity," Naru said softly.
"Come on, Joe, join in on the party," Matt said, encouragingly.
"I think it's really too late for him, guys. I think Joe thinks we've all gone a little crazy over these eggs," Tai joked, laughing almost nervously.
"Well really, jelly-beans and cherries on eggs, that's just crazy talk." Joe huffed, shaking his head and placing his bowl of barely eaten eggs in front of him.
Gomamon sighed. "I'm afraid Joe's just not the kind-a guy that's meant to be adaptable."
"Just what is that supposed to mean?" Joe snapped, looking at Gomamon with narrowed eyes.
"Let's face it Joe, you're kind-of a stick-in-the-mud," Gomamon said. "You should try chilling out, live a little."
"I'm just practical!" Joe retorted, anger creeping into his voice. "Someone has to be the reliable one around here, someone has to think of these things."
"You're stuffy!"
"Someone has to have their head on straight, who knows what could happen otherwise!" Joe argued, nearly yelling by this point.
"You wanna fight, Joe? Huh, huh, huh?" Gomamon asked, moving around almost like you would expect a boxer to, if that boxer was a digimon that resembled a white and blue seal.
"Sure!" Joe began standing up, but Matt stepped between the two before they could actually begin to fight.
Naru was close behind. She didn't like to see friends fight, she never had. She might know Martial Arts, but she'd never begun learning to start fights.
She'd begun taking Martial Arts as a hobby, and to help her be able to protect her family – from what, well you never know when you might need to defend yourself or someone else.
Turned out she was a very good student, and learned rather quickly.
"Hey, you gotta calm down." Matt said, grabbing a hold of Joe's arm in order to hold him back.
"Matt is right, Joe. Gomamon doesn't mean anything by it, he's just trying to cheer you up," Narumi said, picking Gomamon up in case he did try something.
She didn't think he would, but she could see the digimon needed to calm down some as well. It also helped in case Joe decided to fight anyways.
He'd have to attack her to get to Gomamon, and she knew Joe well enough to know he really wasn't the violent type. Neither him or Gomamon were.
"I am calm!" Joe said, pulling his arm from Matt. He winced slightly as he pulled his arm into himself some. "Why'd you have to squeeze my arm?"
"Sorry, but you just don't seem to be yourself today Joe. You're acting like a basket-case." Matt said.
"I am just trying to be careful. Anything could go wrong, or happen," Joe argued. "I'm telling you guys, you're all asking for trouble!"
Joe stormed off, and everyone sighed.
"I didn't mean to upset him more," Gomamon said, looking up at Naru from where he was held by her. "I just wanted to try and cheer him up."
"I don't know what's gotten into him lately," Sora muttered. "He's just so unlike Joe."
"It could be the stress," Izzy suggested and Narumi sighed.
"I think it's a bit of everything," she began. "We all just need to calm down. Fighting amongst ourselves will only lead to bad places."
They all nodded, understanding and agreeing.
It was strange how such a petite girl, one of the youngest in the group – her birthday being much later in the year than the others – could be the mediator so easily. She just seemed to know what to say when things got rough and balanced them all out rather well also.
Suddenly they heard T.K's voice coming from the direction they'd found the fridge.
"Hey, look what I found," T.K called and they all moved to stand with him and Patamon.
T.K was standing by a pile of what looked like apples, though they were golden with an almost orange-ish tent. There was a moderately large pile of them, enough for them and the digimon.
"Oh wow, are those apples?" Tai asked.
"No, they're better," Agumon said, in wonderment. "I never thought I'd get to eat one though!"
"They just seem like apples to me," Mimi said.
"They're sweetapples, each one taste like a different desert or sweet," Renamon explained, a small tone of excitement in her voice.
"How is that possible?" Izzy wondered.
"Really, they taste like any sweet?" T.K asked and the digimon nodded.
"Yes, but they're rare, even rarer than meatapples these days. Once, quite some time ago there was an abundance of these apples, but no longer," Palmon answered. "I wonder who left them?"
"I don't know, I never saw anyone," Naru said, looking around.
The others all nodded, also not having seen anything. Not even the digimon had noticed anyone, but than again, they were piled by the fridge, or more like behind the fridge in such a way they probably wouldn't have seen anyone from where they'd eaten.
"I say we chow down," Tai said, grinning as he grabbed one of the apples and went to take a bite.
"No!" the digimon cried, a look of panic on their face.
Tai stopped short of biting down and looked at them oddly.
"What's the matter?"
"You have to cook them first, Tai," Agumon explained, sighing in relief that his partner hadn't taken a bite. "It's the same for meatapples, which taste like any sort of meat."
"Okay, I understand why a meatapple would have to be cooked," Matt began. "But why would a sweetapple. What if it's a sweet or desert that should be served cold?"
"Oh, well the cooking isn't long at all. Just a few seconds dipped in one of these hot springs should do it," Biyomon said, smiling. "And I've heard that sweets that should be served cold taste as if they are cold and hot deserts taste hot. Of course, you should wait a minute or so for the apple to cool off before eating it."
"Makes sense," Izzy began, rubbing his chin. "The cooking process probably unlocks something in the apples... like the flavor of each sweet for instance. Without that they probably taste strange, like eating an egg without cooking it first."
They others grimaced at his analogies but nodded.
"Well, let's cook these apples and have desert," Naru said, smiling. "Though, someone should go get Joe."
"I'll do it," Gomamon said, and Naru allowed him to hop down from her arms. "I'll be back before the apples get cold."
The sweetapples were just as great as the digimon had described.
They each tasted differently, and surprisingly flavors of deserts common in their world. It made Naru wonder how similar the two places were, she already come to accept that the digital world (that they were currently in) and home were two different places, if not dimensions all together.
She had been surprised by the flavor her sweetapple had been; Dango. The others had flavors ranging from Strawberry short cake, pie, chocolate, cheesecake, ice cream and on. Personally, Dango was one of her favorite foods. Her mother would go out and buy them some every sunday as long as they'd been good the previous week.
After that it wasn't long before the sun set. Unfortunately, Narumi had to deal with Tai and Matt getting into an argument.
It was ridiculous, really, but she wasn't all that surprised. Her brother and Matt had similar personalities, though they were also opposites. So it was bound that the two would butt heads more often than not.
While it had been a major annoyance for everyone, especially when they ended up dragging poor Joe into their fight, Naru could also understand what had caused it.
Tai had wanted to climb Infinity Mountain, the tallest mountain in their area, if not the entire digital world. Matt felt it was too dangerous.
Naru agreed with both boys. While it would be dangerous to climb, it was also the best place to get a lay of the land, and find out where they were and where to go next.
Unfortunately it had taken her and Sora yelling at the two boys to get them to stop fighting over something so obvious.
What choice did they really have?
It was dangerous, but in the end she felt Tai was right. Though, Tai could have gone about explaining it better, and realizing Matt only had the best intentions at heart.
In the end she'd made the decision for them. Pointing out exactly what she thought of the matter. They'd all climb it after a nights rest, and a good meal in case they came across violent digimon.
She made it clear that while they both had valid points they really had no other choice but to climb Infinity Mountain and it wasn't worth fighting over.
Soon after they had all found a cave to sleep in for the night, and she along with everyone else had fallen asleep. Morning seemed to come too quickly, but that could have simply been Sora's loud wake up call.
"Joe's gone!" Sora cried once they'd all sat up startled.
"Gone?" Tai asked, blinking. "What do you mean, he's gone?"
"Gone as in not here, Tai," Sora said, sighing. "I woke up and noticed he wasn't here. I went out to see if he had woken before us, but I only found a note written in the dirt. I think..." Sora bit her lip and Naru groaned.
"He went to climb Infinity Mountain, didn't he?" she asked and there were gasps and wide eyes all around.
Sora shrugged.
"I don't know, but I don't know where else Joe and Gomamon could have gone," Sora said.
By now everyone was standing, all of them rather worried for their friend.
"We have to go after him," Matt said, running a hand through his hair. "This is my fault..."
"No, it's mine," Tai began. "We've been kind of pushy..."
Naru scoffed.
"That's one way to put it," she said. "It's both of your faults, but at the same time it's no ones. We don't know your fight or the way we've been treating Joe recently has anything to do with why he chose to go alone."
"Right," Mimi said. "But that doesn't matter, right? We need to go after him."
For once Mimi was talking sense, they thought, a little surprised by her sudden change. Most were used to the rather ditzy and almost self centered comments. They'd come to understand Mimi was rather spoiled at home, but also had a good heart and was by no means stupid. She just had a different way of seeing things.
"Yeah, lets go!" T.K exclaimed, and he began to walking quickly from the cave.
Matt was quicker, stopping his little brother with a hand on his shoulder.
"Not so fast, T.K," Matt said. "We've got to think this over first."
"Matt's right," Tai said, to some of their surprise. "We'll go in groups. Sora, and I will go after Joe by air, and everyone else will follow up after us on foot."
"Just the two of you?" Matt asked, unsure if that was the best idea.
"Biyomon can digivolve into Birdramon, and fly. Agumon can become Greymon, in case Joe's in trouble," Tai explained.
"You should take someone else as well," Izzy said. "Gomamon hasn't digivolved yet and if there is trouble... Birdramon and Greymon might need the help."
"I'll go," Naru said. "Renamon can fly as Kyubimon as well, and she's one of the more powerful digimon we have."
"Hey," Palmon said, almost seeming to pout if that was even possible for a digimon.
Naru smiled over at the plant type digimon.
"No offense, Palmon. I know you all are powerful, I just meant Kyubimon can hold her own against a higher level digimon longer if need be."
"My species is a bit different from most digimon, it's why I'm so powerful. Really, it's thanks to Narumi. How my species is raised plays a part on our power, intelligence and personality in the future," Renamon said, trying to find the right words.
"What do you mean..." Naru trailed off and Renamon sighed.
"It's hard to explain, but it takes a bit more for Renamon in general to digivolve. The fact it happened so quickly says something about our bond. I have seen some of my species before, none that I have known have digivolved passed Kyubimon and those that have are rather experienced digimon who have been Renamon or Kyubimon for many years."
"That's right, I've heard some things about Renamon's in the past, of course I haven't really given it much thought until now. I'd forgotten you were a data attribute," Tentomon said.
Renamon nodded.
"This is all very educational," Matt said. "But we need to get moving. We don't know how long ago Joe left."
Everyone nodded and Renamon, and Biyomon digivolved and with one final word to the rest of the group they took off for Infinity Mountain.
"Birdramon!" Sora cried after Unimon had blasted the large bird down part of the mountain.
Sora slid down to the next trail ledge to make sure Birdramon was alright, concern swimming in her maroon eyes. Naru looked on worried about the girl.
"Naru, let me drop you off with Joe, it could become dangerous if you stay on my back," Kyubimon said, looking back at her slightly.
Naru nodded and jumped off once Kyubimon was low enough. Running over to where Tai and Joe were she noticed Agumon digivolve to Greymon.
"What were you thinking, Joe, running off alone?" Naru asked.
"Hey, he wasn't alone, I was with him," Gomamon protested and Naru sighed.
"We know that, we were just worried," Tai said, and Naru nodded.
She couldn't have said it better herself. It was soon after that one of Unimon's attacks hit the mountain side and sent rocks falling down the side. They all crouched down some, away from the rock slide (Greymon shielding them as much as he could) and noticed how Unimon had turned his attention to Sora and Birdramon.
"Oh no," Joe muttered, standing. "He's going after Sora!"
"Kyubimon!" Naru cried and Kyubimon looked back at her partner, and than to Sora in understanding.
What caught her attention though was the difference in Narumi, Kyubimon was positive she'd seen her partner's eyes flash crimson...but she had no time to think of that.
"Fox Tail Inferno!" Kyubimon called, intercepting Unimon's attack at Sora and Birdramon.
"Meteor Wing!" Birdramon cried once she'd taken to the air.
Unimon was a quick flier, and was able to evade the fiery attack from Birdramon, headbutting the digimon in the gut area and sending it back down towards the mountain where Sora was.
"Sora!" Joe yelled in concern. "This isn't good... we're loosing."
Naru clinched her fist, wishing there was something more she could do. Something that could help Kyubimon, but there was no way she could take on Unimon. Maybe hand to hand combat would work against some types of digimon, like the more humanoid types, but not against Unimon.
It was that black gears fault, she realized as she glared at the black gear protruding from Unimon's back. Suddenly she turned upon hearing Gomamon yelling for Joe. Turning in the direction she figured the blue haired boy had gone, she gasped.
"Joe, don't..." she trailed off, realizing her words were too late as Joe jumped onto Unimon's back and began to try and pull the black gear out.
Narumi sighed, and muttered, "Boys...so stupid." She shook her head in exasperation, slapping her hand over her face.
She watched with apprehension as Joe struggled to pull the gear out, Gomamon trying to talk sense into the boy while Joe argued reasons why he had to get the gear out.
"Joe!" Gomamon exclaimed in fear as he saw his partner falling from Unimon's back to possible death.
"No," Naru muttered, eyes widening.
"Joe!" Tai gasped, and moments later they noticed Gomamon begin to glow.
"He...Gomamon is digivolving," Narumi said under her breath.
"Gomamon digivolve to... Ikkakumon!"
They all were surprised to see just what sort of digimon Gomamon had become. Before he was on the medium size, and more seal like. Now he kind of reminded them of a large walrus-polar bear cross with a horn on his head.
"My turn," Ikkakumon said after catching Joe on his furry back. "Hold on Joe, cause we're going for a wild ride."
Kyubimon came to stand by Narumi, checking discretely to make sure she was alright. Sora and Birdramon were also recovered and hovering some distance above Narumi and Kyubimon. Tai and Greymon were not far from were his sister stood.
"Should we help?" Sora asked, looking from Birdramon, the others, and back to where Ikkakumon had knocked Unimon down the mountain a bit with a headbutt.
Considering Ikkakumon's horn it probably didn't feel to good for Unimon. Kyubimon shook her vulpine head, the golden-yellow fur moving lightly with the movement.
"No, this is not our battle," she told them, and after a hesitant moment they all nodded in understanding.
This was Gomamon (currently Ikkakumon) and Joe's battle. This was Ikkakumon's fight and chance to prove himself.
"Harpoon Torpedo!" Ikkakumon said, and two of his horns were launched at Unimon (though, another one appeared pretty much immediately after, as if he'd never fired his horn at the flying digimon).
"He's too fast, you missed," Joe said, and Ikkakumon chuckled.
"I don't think so," Ikkakumon said and they watched as the horns split open to release missiles which hit Unimon.
The black gear was dislodged and destroyed, while Unimon took to the skies and flew off.
"Yeah!" Joe exclaimed, and the others cheered.
Above them, away from their view was a tall dark figure, with tattered black wings that sort of resembled a bat-like humanoid. He was almost what you'd expect to see from a child's nightmare.
"They're getting more powerful," he muttered, teeth clinched together as he looked down on them. "But... that girl. I sense something different about her."
His eyes narrowed as they locked on the blonde girl with Kyubimon, which became Renamon moments later. She was different from the others, she had a power about her. He had an inkling exactly what sort of nuisance she could become in the future, along with Renamon.
Though Renamon wasn't surprising to him, that species had always been powerful while still young. Their rookie forms being able to handle fights against champions by themselves if they had the time to plan and use their cunning tricks and speed.
He was loosing his focus though. Kyubimon hadn't been the only one to notice the sudden difference in the blonde girl, he too had taken notice of the crimson color her eyes seemed to flash. With his superior eyesight that wasn't hard for him to accomplish, and it intrigued him. Just what made this girl so different from the others?
