Chapter 10: Resonance Entities I & II
"And so my friends, this brings us to the desolation that lies before you. However, as much as we are forgotten and forsaken, we maintain hope. For is not the most precious flower that which is surrounded by weeds?"
"I suppose that's true. But how long before the weeds overcome the flower and choke it to death?"
"This is why it is imperative the flower maintains hope that someday a wayward traveler will discover it and place it back amongst its own kind."
"But if a traveler never comes along, the flower dies without hope."
"My young Digi-Destined, you are too pessimistic. There is always hope to be found."
Nestled beneath the shady canopy of one of the many magnificent trees, Kiela rested her head on her knees as she attentively observed the conversation between Trio and their newfound host named Gadolmon. Standing somewhere between one and two feet tall, the Digimon was nothing more than a pair of black eyes that stuck out from underneath a flowing white beard and prominent handlebar mustache. Although he probably didn't require its use, he supported himself on a large stick which lay off to the side as the three sat upon the ground.
For the last half hour, Gadolmon had explained to the two Digi-Destined the history of the church and how it came to be in its present condition. Although he was unsure of just exactly when or how it was built, the structure had, for as long as he could remember, served as an oasis for Digimon who needed a place to rest from crossing the desert. Now it served as a safe haven for Digimon too weak to survive within the city. Or at least it used to.
"So this 'Head Master' and his cronies are actually the ones responsible for all this?" Kiela asked.
"Unfortunately so," Gadolmon replied. "Many years ago, the Head Master arrived in our town as just another vagabond. Over time, however, he steadily began to gain more and more leverage amongst the inner workings of the city. He established alliances with the strongest Digimon he could find, creating his own syndicate that he utilized for his own greed. He placed unfair taxes upon the citizens of the city, and those who failed to pay were dealt with accordingly. Now, most Digimon that used to call this town their home have fled in fear. I know it's hard to believe, but this place wasn't always called Gravestone City. That moniker came into existence after his arrival."
"You couldn't pay the taxes?" Kiela deducted. "So they sent a message by destroying the church."
Gadolmon only closed his eyes and nodded.
"Didn't you fight back?" Trio questioned.
Gadolmon let loose a slight chuckle, making his mustache bob up and down. Staring back at the Digi-Destined, his ebony eyes seemed to pierce straight through him and into the forest beyond. Although calming, his gaze seemed hollow and empty.
"Within these walls lie only peaceful Digimon. We are solitary and pacifistic. That is how life always has been known to us. When there is conflict, we prefer to pick up the pieces and rebuild rather than have one of us never return. Besides, nobody even knows who the 'Head Master' really is. He lives in the shadows, running his organization from behind an iron veil of secrecy. Nobody I know has ever actually seen him."
"But why allow yourselves to be pushed around and bullied?" Trio asked, his voice growing in intensity. "Why not fight for your happiness?"
"It's not so simple…"
"Why not?" the brunette demanded to know. Although he wasn't shouting at the Digimon, his voice carried an underlying tone of anger.
Grabbing hold of Trio's arm, Kiela gently reminded her friend that there was no need to be rude. Seeing he was overreacting, the Digi-Destined calmed himself and apologized.
"It's quite alright," Gadolmon assured. "I understand your frustration that we don't stand up for ourselves. But you must remember, we are far outnumbered and fighting would only bring us greater destruction. Our best option for survival is just that; survive."
Shifting his eyes to the ground, Trio picked at a nearby flower sprouting from the cracked earth.
'Why do I get so worked up over stupid little things? It isn't my place to tell anyone what they should do. But even so, I feel like I have to help them somehow.'
Quickly changing the subject, Kiela turned back to Gadolmon.
"You keep saying 'we', as in there are more Digimon here than just you."
Beneath the thick layer of snow white beard, Gadolmon's eyes perked up as his mustache raised slightly. Behind his hairy exterior, it became apparent he was smiling widely.
"Indeed there are," he replied enthusiastically. "They're right behind you as a matter of fact."
Raising a boney finger, he directed their attention into the thick brush beyond where they sat. Seeing nothing but the dense forest, they thought perhaps the Digimon were hiding out of fear. Peering deeper into the thicket, neither of the two could make out anything that even resembled a Digimon.
"I don't see anything," Kiela stated, squinting her eyes to get a better look.
Gadolmon let out a lighthearted laugh as he reached for his walking stick. Pulling himself up, he braced himself against the staff.
"My dear Digi-Destined," he replied. "Learn to see with more than your eyes. Silence your mind. Let go of inhibitions and follow the unknown. Do not think…feel. Only then will you find what you seek."
Slightly unsure about how to go about heeding their host's advice, Kiela watched as Trio immediately picked up on the hint, sitting cross-legged in a meditative pose. Following suit, but still unsure about how to go about it, Kiela copied him and closed her eyes.
Pushing all stray thoughts from their consciousness, they focused on the tranquility of the forest and the warm kiss of the sunlight as it flickered between the branches above. Maintaining calm, steady breaths, the rise of their chests with each intake slowed as they reached an almost subconscious state.
In the depths of her nirvana, Kiela could only hear the undisturbed peace of her surroundings. As though she had fallen into a realm of pure bliss, she sat amongst the cooling shade of the trees and flowers, unaware of anything but her own breath. Although faint at first, a rhythmic beat began to creep its way into her head. Two pulses followed by a silence began to repeat themselves over again, gaining in intensity and volume. Subconsciously, she recognized the pattern as that of a beating heart.
But it was not her own. Seemingly carried by the air around her, she could feel the beats within her chest synchronizing with her own. This mysterious sense was followed by a glowing warmth that filled her body and spirit. For a brief second, she was convinced that she had become whole as the essence beckoned her.
Shooting her eyes open, she found Trio staring back with the same profound expression on his face. No words were needed to exchange what they had just experienced. Rising to their feet, they took off running into the depths of the entangling woods. In their hurry, Gadolmon merely stood against his staff, eyes beaming widely.
'Go forth my friends, and seek your destinies. They have been awaiting you.'
Breaking through the suffocating density of the forest floor, the Digi-Destined sprinted out of sight and into the depths of the unknown. Like the needle of a compass, they were pulled and guided amongst the entangling vines and branches that tore and clawed at their clothing in a desperate attempt to hinder their pursuit. Leaping and climbing over the remains of fallen logs, the pair searched and hunted for the source of their calling.
With eyes narrow and focused, Trio swiped and batted the obstacles before him, caught in the intoxicating thrill of the chase. Within that moment, nothing else mattered as the world slowed around the brunette. He no longer heard Kiela calling out from behind him, nor anything else. Swinging a glance, he noticed that the caramel-skinned girl was no longer amongst him. Halting in place, the world came crashing back as the adrenaline began to subside. Now stranded alone in the depths of the indoor Amazon, he swiveled in circles, trying to get his bearing. The gripping lure that had been present just a few seconds ago had vanished, leaving the Digi-Destined without means of direction. Raising his hands to his mouth, he shouted without luck into the wilderness in hopes he could relocate Kiela or Gadolmon.
'Damn it…now what do I do?'
Contemplating whether to turn back the way he came and retrace his path or continue on blindly, Trio sat down amongst the piles of dead leaves and grass to calm his breathing and regain focus. Bands of sun passed through holes in the canopy above, casting spotlights onto various factions of the forest floor. The sheer solitude of the brush carried an overbearing sense of tranquility and unease. Allowing his gaze to wander amongst the streams of sunlight playing off the variety of pastel flora, his attention was peaked at a movement of shadows in his right peripherals. Darting his eyes in the direction of the phantom, he found nothing but brush. Not but a few seconds later, a rustle of branches caused him to shift quickly in his seat, straining to capture the evasive figure. From his right again the silhouette reemerged and vanished like smoke in the wind. Standing up, his head twisted and turned at a frantic pace, hoping for any glance. Gathering in speed and frequency, the illusion dashed amongst the foliage, neither hiding nor revealing itself. Despite his best attempts, the creature always remained two steps ahead of his field of view. Like a gentle breeze, the bushes and tree limbs shook and rattled with the darkened blur's evasion.
"Why won't you show yourself?!" Trio questioned, not so much a demand as a plea. Not entirely sure of how to make an approach, he crouched down and placed an open palm out in the same fashion he would with a strange dog.
"I know who you are. There's no need to be scared. You're my Digimon… my partner. I know it. Please…don't run from me."
Upon those words, the ghost of the evergreen stopped and all became still. In that moment, Trio's muscles tensed while his breaths became shallow and rapid, not from fear but anticipation. Directly in front of him, the dense curtain of leaves parted gingerly as the Digimon emerged cautiously into the open. A blackened snout was the first to emerge, followed by a pair of soft amber eyes.
Stepping forward bit by bit, the Digimon at last revealed itself in full, head held low in a skittish posture. A fading gradient of charcoal to white ran from its back to its underbelly, accented by numerous small spots in the same gentle amber as its gaze. Protruding from its head was a small pair of spiked ivory horns that curved forward along the length of its skull. Walking on four skinny legs that gave way to four large hooves, Trio instantly recognized the Digimon as having identical characteristics to the deer he used to hunt back home. Placing his palm carefully on the Digimon's snout, he ran his hand along the smooth grey pelt of the Digimon in awe.
"Hello…" he at last managed to utter.
"Hello…" the Digimon replied shyly.
"What's your name?"
"Chitalmon… What's yours?"
"Trio," he replied with a smile. "Nice to meet you, Chitalmon."
"You too," the creature replied.
No more words were spoken beyond that. Within the meeting of human and Digimon, a joining had been created between introverted souls. There, amongst the stagnant inner workings of the magnificent sanctuary, the pair took in the fulfillment of each other's company.
Turning back into the brush, Chitalmon led his human partner back in the direction he had arrived.
Beyond the range of the newfound pair, Kiela rushed among the forestry, now caught in her own race of fate. As she had followed behind Trio upon entering the forest, her attention was quickly drawn to a most confounding sight. A small, glowing orb of a brilliant white seemed to hover off in the distance, drawing her like a moth to a flame. As she approached the object, it darted off with astounding agility. Now caught in the orb's grasp, the indigo beads of her blouse bounced with each stride as she gave chase. Her quarry, however, proved most elusive. Dipping and diving between the constricting vines, its small size allowed it to maneuver far more easily than the human.
"Wait!" she cried, stumbling against the protruding roots. "Where are you going?!"
Never faltering, the light continued to remain just out of reach of the Digi-Destined. Twisting and turning, it drew her farther away from Trio, who was still caught in his own endeavors. Continuing relentlessly, she charged forward in their game of cat and mouse, never allowing the orb out of her sight. With each stride, she slowly but surely began to close the distance between herself and her target. Like her fellow Digi-Destined, she wasn't entirely certain beyond a doubt what she was after, but she had enough instinct to give her an educated assumption.
Ducking her head below a thick branch, she followed the bobbing and weaving glow tirelessly. Now only a couple of feet behind, she forced her legs to work double-time to catch up to the elusive sight. Stretching a hand forward, she pawed in vain, only managing to clutch empty air with each swipe. Reaching a small clearing, the landscape opened up, giving her the opportunity to sprint without hinder. Seizing the opportunity, she made a bounding leap, grabbing hold of the sphere and wrestling it close to her body. With both hands preoccupied, she tumbled and rolled across the forest floor, clutching her arms close to her breast. Sliding to a halt, she landed on her back staring up at the treetops above. Breathing a sigh of relief, she looked down into the crook of her arms to examine her treasure.
At first the creature she cradled remained immobile. No bigger than a softball, the Digimon's brilliant glow stemmed from the soft coating of reflective white feathers that covered its body. It had no nose or ears to speak of, nor hands or feet. Its only extremities to speak of were two transparent wings of a vibrant purple hue sprouted from the top of its head, giving the appearance of colored glass. Loosening her grip, Kiela hoped she hadn't accidentally crushed the fragile looking puffball in her fall.
"Are you alright?" she asked in concern.
A ruffling of feathers answered her inquiry as the Digimon revealed its set of majestic midnight-blue eyes. Begging to be released from the Digi-Destine's hold, it gave a flutter of its wings, to which Kiela answered by letting the odd little creature free.
Taking flight, the radiant Digimon seemed to bounce as it floated in place, looking upon Kiela with a charismatic curiosity. Likewise, she looked back with a happy intrigue. The effeminate Digimon gave off a youthful and carefree persona, its blue eyes gleaming to match the smile plastered on its face.
"Play?!" it requested joyfully.
Slightly taken aback by the question, the black-haired girl couldn't help but let out a childish giggle. All the Digimon wanted to do was play; so innocent and full of spirit like her kid sisters.
"Sure, I'll play with you. But you have to tell me your name first," she teased, waving a finger.
"Diosamon! Diosamon!" she chanted gleefully, fluttering in circles around the Digi-Destined. Over and over the Digimon sang her name proudly, filling the air with its chorus.
"Alright, alright," Kiela interrupted. "So your name's Diosamon, huh? My name's Kiela. You're a cute little thing, you know that?"
Obviously pleased by her comment, Diosamon buried herself in Kiela's bosom, beaming with affection.
"Kiela! Kiela! Kiela! Kiela!" she chanted.
The Digi-Destined couldn't help but smile at the purity of the Digimon. Although she only appeared to speak only in simple words, Diosamon had an uncanny ability to convey her message clearly through her facial and body expressions.
"Let's see what this thing says about you," she said, tapping on her Digivice. After some trial and error pressing the four buttons, she managed to activate the scanner, bringing up a life-size hologram of the Digimon. She still had yet to fully understand how to operate the strange contraption strapped to her wrist. Some of the time it seemed to take on a life of its own, while others it seemed to fight her every step of the way when she needed its assistance.
"Let's see," she began. "Diosamon; Small Angel Digimon; You're a Rookie, and your special attack is Spirit Shockwave. Very cool."
"Play now?" Diosamon repeated.
"Sure, we can go play now, Diosamon," Kiela answered, embracing the Digimon in a friendly hug. "Then we'll go find Trio and the others."
Taking off into the woodlands, the pair chased and frolicked amongst the trees, weaving in and out in their game of hide and seek. Childish laughter from both Digimon and human broke the tranquility of their little piece of heaven. For the two of them, there were no worries or troubles to be found. The world was perfect, knowing each had found their guardian angel.
Lurking high in the shadows of the forest canopy, the painted mask of the cloaked figure peered through the brush upon the unfolding meetings of Digimon and partners. Two long, lanky black legs dangled off the edge of its perch, swinging back and forth gaily as it carefully observed the two new additions to the Digi-Destined team. From behind said mask, a smile crept across a face that remained hidden from the world outside.
"Such a delightfully touching sight this is," a low voice droned. "It's almost enough to move me to tears. But alas, the cast of this performance remains one character short. No matter. Six of the seven Chosen pairs are set, and soon the gears of fate will be set in motion. Be wary, Digi-Destined; soon you will come upon me at the crossroads. Until then, I bid you farewell."
Retreating back into the concealing depths of the shadows, the specter dissolved into the darkness without as much as a sound.