Falling through the air on a bed was NOT how Judie wanted to spend her time after such a great sleep!
They crashed into a forest, but the bed cushioned their fall.
Slightly dazed, Judie pulled on her pads, belt, and tied on her mask snuggly.
"Are you okay?" Palmon asked worriedly.
"I should be okay…"
The green-masked turtle looked around.
"Why's it so humid?"
"It's some kind of tropical rainforest, but not one I'm familiar with…"
Judie sighed.
"It all happened so FAST…Where are we?"
She sighed, looking up at the sky.
"…We should look for the others."
"Right." Palmon agreed.
The walk was tense and quiet, and Judie stopped when she spotted a bunch of bananas up in a tree.
"Palmon, can you reach high enough?"
"Yep! Poison Ivy!"
The vines wrapped around the food, pulling it free and letting her partner grab one off the bunch.
"Man, I was starved! Ready to eat, Palmon?"
The Digimon nodded, grinning.
Peeling it, she sighed in frustration when no banana revealed itself.
"WHY ME?!"
Palmon was eating happily, and jumped at the sudden shout.
Something pink fell to the ground beside her, and turned her head to see it.
"…EW!"
Jumping to her feet and away, she put on a disgusted face.
Looking up at the sound of strange laughter, they saw a yellow Digimon that looked like Nume-Sludge and a strange pink mouse on his head.
"Palmon, who are they?"
"It's Sukamon and Chuumon, also known as the Digi-Losers."
"Hey, thanks!"
"Sukamon and his mouse buddy are always together because they share the same teeny, tiny brain." Palmon explained.
When Sukamon started throwing something similar to Nume-Sludge at them, Judie ran.
But she stopped and turned on them as fast as lightning.
"Stop it! It's not funny!"
"You're okay, but you've gotta pay a…what do ya call it?"
"Pay a toll!"
Judie quirked an eye-ridge.
"A toll?"
"Does she think she can use our woods for free? She's gotta pay! Like that mask, for instance."
Judie, at the end of her patience, stomped her foot.
"NO!"
The two seemed surprised at the outburst.
"What part of NO don't you understand?! Now leave us alone!!"
"I think she insulted us…"
"What do you think?! YEAH I did!!"
"She did?"
He seemed to glare at her, and more of the pink gunk started to fall.
Bolting, she dragged Palmon with her.
She tired, however, and leaned on a tree.
"I've had enough…I need some of Rosie's hot chocolate…"
Sukamon came down the trunk of the tree, and grabbed her belt, touching the device still clipped there.
It glowed, along with the two Digimon, scaring the crap out of poor Judie.
They jumped down, seeming rejuvenated and happy.
They said they were a 'whole new person', and they would 'be good from now on'.
"Have you seen anyone else like her?" Palmon asked.
"As a matter of fact…"
"Yeah, we have!"
Judie smiled brightly.
"Really?"
Sukamon blushed.
"Well, it wasn't NEARLY as pretty as you, of course…But we saw one fall into the old ruins with a Tentomon."
Her smile grew to a grin, and she nearly cheered.
'It's Donnie! It HAS to be!'
"Listen, you two, can you take us there? It's important that we find them." Palmon informed.
"Okey-Dokey!"
"No funny business!" Judie's partner warned.
"Cross our hearts!"
"And hope to die!"
"Well, of all the absolutely RIDICULOUS things to say…"
The two Digimon led them to the edge of the island, and showed another flowing a few yards away.
Judie shook her head in frustration, putting her hands on her hips.
"How do we get over there?"
"A gorgeous girl like you must have a big brain."
She smiled slightly.
"Why THANK you, Chuumon."
"Before you go, maybe you could give us a big thank you kiss."
Eye twitching and face blank, she stared at the smoochy faces they were making.
"…Palmon…"
"On it. Poison Ivy!"
The vines attached to a tree across the small river of water, and Judie grabbed hold before they swung across.
Once her feet were firmly planted on the ground, Judie released her partner and stood up.
"Thank the lord we got out of there in time…"
"It's okay! We'll wait till you come back!" Sukamon called to them.
"Don't hold your breath!" She yelled back, sticking her tongue out.
Spinning on her heel, she started walking into the forest, purposely swaying her hips tauntingly.
Palmon followed her, and the two were soon near the old ruins.
"Let's hope he was telling the truth, or I'm gonna go back and give him a piece of my mind!"
"Only one way to find out!"
Running for the entrance, she looked around in the dark.
"DONNIE!"
The purple-banded turtle turned only to be knocked back onto his shell.
"I was so worried I wouldn't find anyone! Are you okay, Donnie? You didn't get hurt when you crashed, did you? Have you found the others?"
Her nervous rambling gave Don time to sit up.
"Judie, calm down." He soothed, and she tried to breathe again.
He rubbed her shell softly, and it seemed to calm the shaken turtle.
"Everything's okay, alright? Just breathe…"
After a moment, she nodded, pulling back slightly.
"You never told me what you were doing…"
Don felt his voice catch at the watery green eyes, and swallowed.
"I'm deciphering these hieroglyphs…I saw them at that factory, when we fought Andromon."
"I remember…Why do you need to study them?"
"They could help…"
"What about the others?"
"I…haven't found them yet…"
Judie sat back, looking confused.
"Then why aren't you out looking for them?"
"I'm sure the answer to everything is in here."
Still looking unsure, she shrugged.
"Once you're done, we'll go looking, right?"
"I promise."
Nodding, she leaned back and gave him space to pick up his laptop and keep working.
She'd hear him mutter something under his breath, like he didn't even realize it.
She'd just smile and pretend nothing happened, and secretly tried to figure out what he was saying.
Even though she wasn't the smartest turtle, she was often eager to learn things no one wanted her to know.
But boredom started settling in, making her eyes wander and her arms twitch with excess energy.
The large Black Gear rotating in the floor, grinding against the bricks, seemed ready to make the green-banded turtle go insane.
"Donnie, are you almost done?"
When she got no response, she straightened, looking at the purple-banded turtle.
"Donnie, did you hear me?"
It was like he didn't hear her, but he kept muttering to himself.
"Donnie?" She asked, louder this time.
Tentomon seemed to grow uneasy as Don didn't respond.
Judie stood up, feeling hurt.
"DONNIE!!"
The turtle seemed to jump, looking at her like he'd just come out of a trance.
"Why are you ignoring me?!"
He seemed confused, but he started panicking when it looked like she was ready to cry.
"Judie, I wasn't-!"
But the tears were already rolling, and the rambling hysterics soon followed.
"I'm hungry, I'm tired, an ugly Digimon tried to kiss me, and I just wanna go home!!"
Palmon soon joined in on the tears, and the poor genius turtle didn't know how to make them stop.
If it had been Mikey, he'd have gotten him some cookies or something sweet, but Judie seemed different.
She was more complex, not as easily satisfied, but easily hurt.
Palmon seemed to calm down first, but she still had tears in her eyes.
"Why were you ignoring us? It's like we're not even here!"
"I'm not! But this is important! I just-!"
"Then maybe I should just LEAVE!!"
Judie, still crying too much to be able to see clearly, ran further into the ruins.
Tentomon, worried for the poor girl, followed her.
She ran through halls, around corners, with the bug Digimon calling for her to stop.
When Judie tripped over a root sticking out of the wall and ceiling, she was sprawled on the floor, the tears dripping down her chin and onto the floor.
Tentomon landed beside her, looking worried.
"Judie?"
She lifted herself up, eyes closed.
"Wh-Why does he always care more about his stupid computer? Why can't he see I care?"
"He doesn't realize it because he thinks you deserve better."
She looked at the Digimon, the tears making her eyes shimmer.
"R-Really?"
"I'm positive. Now come on. We need to be careful. One wrong turn, and we could get lost in here."
She nodded, still sniffling, and stood.
As they walked around, her tears dried and her voice became more even.
She stopped, looking at a wall closely.
"Hey, Tento."
The bug Digimon hovered beside her.
"Do you think we're going around in circles?"
"What makes you think that?"
She stared at a wall.
"I remember this weird smudge on the wall…"
Looking around, she furrowed her brow slightly.
"Labyrinth…"
"What about a labyrinth, Judie?"
"I remember Don mumbling something about a labyrinth…We're definitely in this deep…"
She shook her head, and headed forward again.
A voice seemed to crackle for a minute before becoming crystal clear.
"Judie? Judie, can you read me?"
She stopped, looking confused.
"Donnie?"
She heard a sigh, and took the device off her belt, hearing the sound coming from it.
"Thank kami it works…Look, Judie. I'm going to navigate for you, so just go where I tell you to, okay?"
She nodded on instinct.
"Sure, Donnie."
"Okay…now take the first doorway on the right. When you get to the end, turn left, but be careful of the next room. There's a big hole in the middle of the floor."
Judie followed his directions exactly, not wanting to get lost, and nearly fell into the hole in the floor.
Shaken and trembling, she hardly kept her stutter at bay.
"D-Donnie…"
"There should be a narrow ledge you can use to get across."
His calm voice made her hyper-sensitive nerves settle, and she inched along the ledge carefully.
Once on the other side, she waited for more instructions.
"Donnie? Donnie, can you read me? Is something wrong?"
An evil laugh made the air chill, and she turned around to see a centaur-like Digimon across the gaping hole they'd already passed.
"Tentomon! It's been such a long time!"
"Centarumon! Half man, half horse! You really don't want to get on EITHER of his bad sides!"
Judie took a step back.
"Take a left!" She heard Don's voice cry, and she bolted, taking a left.
As they came to an intersection, Centarumon galloping behind them, it felt like her heart was going to explode.
"Another left! Through the doorway!"
They followed the order, and were soon caught in a dead-end room with Centarumon gaining.
"Donnie? Donnie?! It's a dead-end, Donnie!! Are you there?!"
"Solar Ray!"
Tentomon pushed the young turtle to the ground, and both managed to dodge the blast.
Some bricks came loose from the wall, and Judie got back onto her feet.
They moved out of the doorway, and Centarumon jumped in.
"Your bravery is noted, but that alone will not gain you any mercy."
"Tento, now would be a good time to Digivolve…"
"But I can't."
She gave him a wide-eyed look.
"This better be a really stupid joke, Tento, or so help me-!"
The wall started cracking, and fell away, showing Don and Palmon.
"Get out of there!"
"Coming!"
She was almost out of the hole when Centarumon threatened to blast her.
"JUDIE!"
The device glowed.
"Palmon, Digivolve to…TOGEMON!!"
She tried to distract Centarumon as the turtles got outside, but a blast nearly smacked into both their shells.
"DONNIE!"
Another bright glow.
"Tentomon, Digivolve to…KABUTERIMON!!"
They were out in the open, Centarumon walking outside to face both Digimon.
"Solar Ray!"
"Electro Shocker!"
"Needle Spray!"
The two combined attacks beat his, and hit him so hard that the Black Gear embedded in him popped out, breaking.
"That felt…interesting…" Centarumon managed, falling on his side weakly.
He got up soon, seeming back to his old self.
"Where am I?"
He looked up as the two turtles came closer.
"That device on your belts…"
Taking them off said belts, Don looked at it and him curiously.
"What about them?"
"I have seen it before."
He led them to a special room in the ruins, which showed a carving of their devices on the wall.
"It is the mystical symbol of the Digivice. These ruins are its temple, and I am its guardian. The Digivice is a preserver of the light. The last line of defense against the darkness that threatens existence."
Don looked down at it, amazed.
'How can such a little thing be so powerful?'
A heavy footstep made the two turtles turn, and Judie grabbed Don's hand when she saw it was Leomon.
"Leomon? What are you doing here?" Centarumon questioned.
"To destroy them. The children. I warn you, Centarumon. Do not interfere with me."
"No, Leomon!"
The large lion Digimon raised his fist, ready to strike, but Centarumon stopped his fist.
"I said NO, Leomon! The children possess the Digivice! As the guardian of its temple, I must protect them as well!"
"Protect them from ME? Good luck! Fist of the Beast King!"
Centarumon dodged, luckily…
"Solar Ray!"
Leomon was knocked into a wall, but he sure wasn't out!
"Now let's stop this madness before one of us is hurt!" Centarumon reasoned.
"Leomon."
"…Fist of the Beast King!"
Centarumon was slammed into a wall, unable to fight any longer.
"…The children must be destroyed…"
Don moved Judie behind him, still gripping his Digivice tight.
"Not this time!"
The glow from his Digivice made Leomon pause, and he held it closer.
The screen glowed brighter, making the Digimon cry out in pain.
Seeing the reaction, Judie held up her own, and the combined light sent Leomon scurrying out of there.
"A preserver of light against the darkness…" Don muttered as Centarumon led them to the entrance room.
The large rotating Black Gear still seemed to make Don's mind spin with thoughts, but…
"Centarumon, do you know how to stop the Black Gear?"
"No. I'm afraid I don't have the strength nor the knowledge to oppose Devimon and his forces of darkness."
Don sighed, settling down with his computer again.
"Not again!" Judie whined.
"How else am I going to learn how to stop that Black Gear?"
A frown on her face and irritation in her eyes, Judie turned to it.
"So it's YOUR fault, huh? Well, take this!"
Kicking it with all her strength, she was surprised when it stopped and restarted, going in the opposite direction.
They ran to the edge of the island, seeing it was moving in the opposite direction as well.
"Great job, Judie!" Don congratulated.
She blushed, grinning.
"No prob."
THEN she saw Sukamon and Chuumon across the little split of water…
"Hiya! I knew you couldn't keep away!"
Don looked confused, but the green-banded turtle just looked disgusted.
"So, are we gonna go on a date or what? What's your phone number?"
Feeling jealous, Don glared at the two Digimon.
Judie, on the other hand, was a bit less…mature…
"Not even in your dreams, dog breath!" She called.
"At LEAST blow us a kiss!"
She smirked.
"Okay!"
Blowing a raspberry, she turned to an amused Don.
"What?"
"Nothing, it's just…You look cute…"
Blushing again, she smiled.
"Well, everybody says so!"
Tentomon nudged her shell, and she understood.
"Well…you looked cute when you were working…"
The purple-banded turtle blushed too, and gingerly took hold of her hand.
"Then I guess we both agree on something…"
"Yeah…Donnie?"
He turned his head back to look at her, and saw the soft smile.
"I really like you, you know that?"
He felt sure he'd faint from all the blood rushing to his face…
"…I really like you too, Judie…"
She nuzzled his shoulder comfortingly.
"Then I guess we're a 'package', huh?"
Don really thought about it, and smiled.
Nuzzling her head, he chuckled.
"Wouldn't want it any other way…"