CHAPTER 8
"How dare you defy my orders!"
Wisemon was furious. He was standing in the same dark place he was before. All around him were his four wizard servants all looking hurt from the beating they had just received. He was particularly angry at FlameWizardmon whom he learned was the one who started the fight.
"I gave you all a simple order! Was that so difficult to follow?" Wisemon shouted. He raised his hand and FlameWizardmon slowly rose into the air. He was gagging and clutched his neck as if there was a hand crushing his throat there. After several agonizingly painful moments, Wisemon swung his hand down and FlameWizardmon hit the ground face first.
Wisemon seemed to finally calm down. "If you had not gathered any information at all, I would destroy you all now."
"My Lord... are you pleased with the information we have relayed to you?" a very weak Sorcerymon asked.
"Yes. I have seen a greater picture of this incident." Wisemon replied. "This creature, Lucario, has somehow traveled to the world of humans and sought help from the humans to return to his home world. The whereabouts his brother, Riolu, are currently unknown. He could have stayed in his world or he could have gone here yet if his description is true, his presence would be too small for me to notice."
"Master...what is your next course of action?" Wizardmon asked.
Wisemon thought for a while before answering. "Is it not obvious? This creature is neither human nor Digimon. It is an abomination; a foul creature that must be purged from the world of humans."
"Master...may we-"
"No." Wisemon said sharply. "I cannot trust any of you with a plan this crucial. I shall dispatch someone else to destroy the abomination."
His servants didn't respond. Their master turned away from them and said: "Go. You are all dismissed."
They slowly got up except for Flame Wizardmon who was barely conscious. As Witchmon walked away, she grabbed FlameWizardmon's head.
"Serves you right." she muttered angrily.
Lucario was downright depressed. He did not know where his brother was. Is he in this world or did he remain in his home world? He really didn't know.
Now, the possibility of finding his brother seemed to be none. Really depressed, he sat on the branch of a tree near Rika's house while watching the full moon.
"There's one other possibility. He could have entered this world but there's a chance he could not be in the city. For all we know, he could be in another city, another country even."
Yes, Ryo was right. It would be totally impossible for them to search the entire world. It's not just difficult but Lucario didn't want to cause trouble for the Tamers. Their only hope was for Yamaki to find a way back to his world. But what if Riolu wasn't there? What would he do next? He really didn't know.
"Lucario." He turned at that voice and saw Renamon appear on the branch next to him. "You alright?"
He sighed. "I have been better."
Renamon walked over and sat down next to him. They just sat in silence not knowing what to say.
"The moon's beautiful tonight, isn't it?" Renamon said trying to break the silence.
"Yes indeed." Lucario replied. "Even in another world, the moon's beauty does not change."
That conversation quickly died out.
"Renamon...am I...am I causing trouble for you and your friends because of the search for my brother?" Lucario asked nervously.
"Is that what's been on your mind?" Renamon asked. "Well, I asked Rika about it; she said that she really didn't mind. And I'm sure everyone feels the same way."
"Even Impmon?"
"Well...I'll admit, he can be a jerk sometimes but-"
"If you look deep inside him, you would find the good in him." Lucario continued.
Renamon nodded. "Yes. Reeeeaaaaalllyyyy deep."
This caused Lucario to laugh for quite some time. After he was done, they both looked at each other, a surprised expression on their faces.
"That was the first time I heard you laugh." said Renamon.
"And you telling a joked seemed odd." Lucario said in reply. "No offense, but when I first saw you, you did not seem like the type to joke around."
"Well, I'm not. That's Terriermon's job."
Lucario gave a small chuckle. "Renamon, you know so much about me yet I know almost nothing about you."
For several minutes, Renamon told Lucario about herself, Rika, the rest and the adventures they had in the Digital world. She told him about their battle with D-Reaper, Gulfmon and Parasimon. By the time she was done, they were both very tired and sleepy and decided to go to bed.
As Lucario lay down looking at the ceiling, he tried to sort out his thoughts and find out what he really wanted.
"What does my home world have that this world does not?" he thought to himself. The answer was: plenty of places to explore, close friends, a sense of belonging and, hopefully, his brother Riolu.
"Now what does this world have that my home world does not?" he thought again but the answer came to him quickly.
"Renamon..." he whispered. His eyes widened because even he was surprised. He imagined finding his brother here in this world and Yamaki found a way back to his home world. He then thought about leaving this world, leaving Renamon...
That very thought caused a painful stabbing sensation in his chest. He wanted go go home but he didn't want to leave Renamon. He wanted to stay with her, to be with her, to fight along side her, to-
His eyes widened in surprise. Could he be falling her her? Lucario had never considered this possibility but the thought made his heart race like it never did before. Into his mind came the image for the two of them just sitting together enjoying each others company. Like what just happened a while ago.
But then, a sad thought came to him. Even if he did love her, could this kind of love be even possible? One between two beings from completely different worlds? And if it turns out that Riolu was back in his home world, doesn't that mean he had to chose between this world and his home?
"Where do I truly belong?" Lucario whispered before he finally fell asleep.
He had a nightmare that night. In it, he saw both Renamon and Riolu bound by by chains and suspended over a large menacing spike which would impale them if they were dropped.
"Choose." a loud booming voice said. Lucario looked at his brother and Renamon; they both had fear in their eyes.
"I...I cannot! You want me to choose who means more to me?" Lucario demanded.
"Time's up." the voice said and Riolu and Renamon began to fall.
"NO!" Lucario shouted as he woke from his nightmare. He sat on his bead panting and sweating while terror filled him. He told himself that it was just a dream and that Renamon and hopefully his brother were alright. It did however take several moments before he could go back to sleep.
After a while, he sensed someone enter the room. He thought it was Renamon who probably woke up because of his scream but it took several moments before he realized that this wasn't Renamon.
He immediately rolled to the side just as a blade came down and sliced his pillow in half.
