Digimon Frontier Deluxe
Disclaimer: I do not own Digimon. If I did DigiFuse would still be called DigiXros.
Takeshi: That's right; we're delivering a special service. We have two chapters for you instead of one.
Manabu: This time we go to the Continent of Wood, where Katsuharu duels within himself. An old enemy returns.
Alger: A special guest appears at the end too.
Chapter 11: The Devil of a Wooden Man
Franken the Trailmon rides over the tracks, and inside the DigiDestined do their individual things while waiting to arrive in the Continent of Wood. JP is distracting himself with the outside scenery from Dinobeemon, Zoe and Chiaki are conversing in girl talk, Teruo is chatting with Bokomon and Patamon, Kouji was in an argument with Takuya as usual with Kouichi being a referee, Neemon is sleeping with Tommy, and Teppei is with Katsuharu staring outside.
Katsuharu thinks over the recent plans Takuya came up with-not going to the mountain together to deal with Vikemon, splitting up to check for the amulets around the obvious power plant, giving BlackImperialdramon time to evolve and cause trouble because he decided to trust JP-and how bad things turned out. 'I should be the leader.'
Ever since he went to school he has always been the head honcho, the big guy, the one everyone turns to. Now he's taking directions from some idiot, an idiot who is stronger than him, but still an idiot. He's seen enough; time for action.
They come to the next stop-in an area within the Forest Kingdom they've never been to and Takuya hasn't burned down during his Vritramon berserk period-where Franken drops them off. "Here we are, Wood Terminal or whatever..."
"Thanks Trailmon," Kouichi says to the machine.
"Yeah, whatever, and the name's Franken." Franken backs up and leaves them at the spot. "Whoo, blah blah blah! Whoo, blah!"
"Alright, where's the trail leading to now?" asks Takuya as he looks at his map.
"It's leading further into the woods," Kouji says while doing the same as him. "But the signal will disappear when we get close like last time."
Zoe raises his hand and says, "We could go as far as the signal leads and search around."
"That's a good idea," Teruo agrees, though he has a frown, "but it could take a while. The marker locates so far ahead, and it's well after noon."
"Teruo is right," Bokomon says as he holds up his tome. "We should set up camp nearby before we look for the amulet."
"Oh good!" Neemon sighs and hits the ground with his behind. "I thought we were gonna skip breakfast again."
"Yeah, no kiddin'. I'm wasting away here," JP jokes while holding his belly, and the others laugh.
"Alright, let's gather firewood. Everyone else look for any of them meat apples." Takuya smiles as he and his friends head into the forest, away from the marker.
Teppei goes out picking up some wood and dry leaves, but he notices Katsuharu lying by a tree. "Katsuharu?"
"What?" He sounds irritated.
"N-Nothing..." Teppei returns to gathering wood. He could tell what's bothering him by now, but won't voice it.
Eventually the others come back with meat apples attached to sharpened sticks. Kouji then prepares a fire in a rock pit, made courtesy of JP and Teppei, and the roasting begins. As the apples cook, twilight hits the skies and blankets the forest in partial darkness.
Takuya sees the apples cooking, and after his stomach grumbles he picks up one. "Takuya, that's a bad idea," says Kouichi while shaking his head.
"Trust me; it's not so bad." Takuya smirks while pointing at him. "We can eat them slightly undercooked; it's better that way."
"No it's not," Zoe argues, facepalming herself.
"That's it." Katsuharu tosses a stick aside, and stands. He then walks over to Takuya, saying, "I've had enough!"
"What's with you?"
"I've had enough, of this!" Katsuharu tells him, before pointing at him frustrated. "Of you!"
"What's wrong with me?" Everyone begins to take this seriously, looking at the two face eachother.
"I'm sick of this. We've wasted days finding these amulets when we could have been done allot sooner!" he says with clenched teeth. "All because of your ideas!"
"Just what are you implying?" asks Takuya.
"I'm 'inferring' you're a terrible leader! If I were in charge we'd atleast be halfway done, but instead you take the harder routes because you don't think!"
Kouji stands up quickly. "Alright, that's it! Where do you get off saying stuff like that?"
"Oh don't you start; you know more than I do he's a moron!"
"That's not true," Kouji defends.
"Thanks Kouji!"
"He's an idiot." Takuya falls backwards. "But he's a better leader than you think."
"You think that?"
"We know that!" Zoe adds, standing up to back up Kouji.
"Atleast he respects our decisions and makes the right choice." JP states proudly for his buddy.
"Katsuharu, you're not being fair; even if he's made some mistakes you're not perfect either," Tommy shouts.
"Guys..." Takuya is touched; he had no idea they feel this way towards him.
"Like I'm supposed to buy that bull." Katsuharu crosses his arms. "I bet if I led the group to finding the next amulet and getting it I'd do it by tonight."
"Katsuharu, don't," Chiaki says to him.
"What is that, a wager?" Takuya asks, as if accepting it.
"Takuya, you've gone through so much to protect us," Zoe begins turning to the fire wielder, "and all he's doing is complaining. You don't have to prove anything to him!"
He pauses for a moment to think, before grunting. "Fine."
"Takuya..."
"If you can get the Amulet of Wood without anyone getting hurt before nightfall, then you be the leader." Takuya holds out a hand to him. Katsuharu stares at the hand intently, already to accept his deal.
"Got it." He shakes.
Kouji facepalms himself. 'That idiot! He's willing to put our lives at risk to prove a point?'
"But I'll be the only one going with you," he responds, and releases Katsuharu's hand.
"What? But the whole point-"
"It doesn't matter if it's one or a hundred you're leading. I'm the only one needed to see you," he tells him.
He pauses, staring into the gogglehead's eyes. Katsuharu looks over at the others sighing, and says, "Fine," before heading into the woods following the marker.
Takuya grabs a roasted meat apple and goes after him. But Zoe grabs him by his arm. "Takuya, are you really going to do this?"
"It'll be fine."
"No it won't!" JP states. "You're going into a darkening forest with only one other person."
"Yeah. At least let us go with you!" Tommy offers.
"I can't let you guys get hurt just so I can prove a point," he tells him, clenching his fist tightly. "Besides, if he doesn't get this out of his system that'll affect our teamwork down the line. We all need to work together to defeat the Demon Lords, but I don't want to risk anyone's life."
Takuya bites into his apple and takes off after Katsuharu. "Don't worry; if there's trouble we'll call! Kouji, you're in charge til we're back!" And they're gone.
Zoe sits with a huff, worried about the fate of their leader. "Takuya..."
"What do you suppose that was about?" Neemon asks.
"I'm not sure..." Patamon declares. "I think Katsuharu's angry at being ignored."
"Is he always like this, your friend Takuya?" Chiaki asks of Kouichi.
"Can't say. I've only known everyone here a day before you guys met us..." Kouichi answers.
"But, isn't he your brother?" Chiaki points to Kouji, who is sitting down watching where Takuya and Katsuharu have gone.
"It's..." He stays quiet. He doesn't want to talk about the time he was Duskmon. "It's a long story..."
"O-Okay..." Chiaki looms over to Kouji, wondering if she should talk to him instead.
Inside the forest, twilight's settlement begins to lift as Takuya and Katsuharu continue through the woods. Katsuharu is rushing as he tries to reach the marker fast before night completely takes over. "Oh balls. The marker went out."
"So, what now?" Takuya asks him as they continue.
"Let's see... We're in a forest, and there's nothing here but trees. I don't see any change in the landscape..." Katsuharu begins to come up with an idea of where it could be. Gathering data to his hand he shouts, "Spirit Evolution," before evolving into Petaldramon.
"Got a plan?"
"This is faster!" He wraps Takuya in his tail and drags himself in a beeline. Eventually he comes to an opening, where surrounded by smaller trees stands a larger, much older tree. "I knew it! I knew it had to be the most obvious thing in a forest!"
He returns to being his human self and holds out his D-Scanner to the tree, but nothing happens. "Huh? It's not working."
"Are you sure it's this?" asks Takuya.
"It has to be! It can't be anything else!" he shouts back in anger.
"Look buddy, you..." He stops when he sees something moving behind him. He shouts, "Look out," before pushing Katsuharu out of the way. A claw comes out of nowhere and strikes Takuya, sending him into the dirt.
"Ow, what the hell...Takuya?" Katsuharu pauses when he sees the damage done to him. Frantic and scared, he shouts, "Takuya," before going to his side. "What happened?!"
"Ah nuts. I only got one?" speaks a voice as horrifying and insane as a demon. Katsuharu turns around in shock to find a devil in a golden mask. He dons crimson wings and spiked boots, with red orbs running down its left arm and body. "Oh well. I'll take this."
"You... Are you with the Demon Lords?" Katsuharu doesn't waste time; he transforms into Arbormon. "Machine Gun Dance!"
"How dull." He smacks Arbormon's extending kick to the side, and slashes him in the abs.
"Blockade Seed!" He fires a seed at him this time, but even with the vines around him the devil breaks free and kicks Arbormon through several trees.
"This is pathetic; your attacks bore me more than those other kids, before they took my arms." He stares down at Takuya, paralyzed and unable to move. "Can't move huh? That's my Stun Claw; it takes away the bodily functions of anyone I hit. I'll cut you up instead, poor bastard."
"Katsuharu, call...the others..." Takuya forces out.
"Oh, so you can still talk huh? Guess it doesn't shut down everything," says the devil Digimon with laugh.
"Leaf Cyclone!" A hurricane of sharp leaves attack the devil, who doesn't take his eyes away from Takuya. Petaldramon comes forward. "Hey asshole! Ready for round two?!"
He grabs Takuya and prepares to play with him. Petaldramon stops in his tracks. "Wait! Thousand Spikes!" His attack restrains the Digimon, allowing him to grab Takuya with his tongue. "Takuya..." He can see he's still unable to move.
"I'm bored; die now." He breaks free and raises his claw. The orbs on his chest and the eyes on the left side of his face shine. "Deep Sorrow."
Light flashes from him, bright enough to blind Katsuharu. But it also causes him pain and forces the boy to devolve. His body riddled with scars, he glares up at him. 'No... This can't be...' "Was this...what he meant by...calling? Did he know I wouldn't be able to stop him?"
Katsuharu raises his D-Scanner and plays with it to try and get a signal. The Digimon kicks his device away and stomps on his back. The poor boy hacks out blood. "Die."
"Roses Rapier!" A thorny vine shoots out and stabs the devil several times. He stumbles away from the kids and turns back to face his attacker. Before him stands a beautiful woman Digimon with a rose for a head and a flower theme.
"Who the hell are you?"
"None of your business." She uses her thorn whips forward to capture Takuya and Katsuharu-he manages to grab his D-Scanner during her arrival-and enter the tree with them.
"Oh... This got so much interesting."
"Hey!" The devil turns around to see the DigiDestined's arrival. Rhihimon aims his spear. "Who are you?"
"Oh? I think you're the one who killed Vamdemon, right?" Rhihimon's eyes widen. The devil turns to Blitzmon and Chakmon. "And you two are the ones who took my arms."
"Took your arms?" It then hits the beetle. "You're...IceDevimon!"
"That name is outdated." He raises his arms out to the side. "They now call me NeoDevimon. The power I received from Beelzebumon's gluttony made me stronger."
"We took your arms last time," Blitzmon says before he returns to being human. "You want a repeat?!"
"Wait, where's Takuya? And Katsuharu?" Shutumon asks, fearing the worse upon seeing IceDevimon-who broke Takuya's ribs to that point-and the boys' disappearance.
"Wouldn't you like to know..." NeoDevimon laughs calmly.
"Why you..." Shutumon flies forward to attack, but Rhihimon gets in the way. "Kouichi?"
"Leave NeoDevimon to me, Kouichi, JP and Tommy," says Garmmon with a growl. "Try to find Takuya and Katsuharu."
Kouji and Tommy revert to their human forms too. "Guilty Claw!" NeoDevimon shoots a grimly claw of darkness at them.
"Rot Kreuz!" Kouichi summons his red cross to protect them. "Do it now!"
"Takuya!" Shutumon shouts as she looks for him through the skies.
"Double Spirit Evolution!" Kouji, Tommy and JP transform into their strongest forms.
"BeoWolfmon!"
"Daipenmon!"
"RhinoKabuterimon!"
"Ooh, so you've all become stronger." NeoDevimon's eyes shine, his body falling into an orange aura. "Deep Sorrow!"
Inside the tree Katsuharu opens his eyes, and sees that the inside of the tree is more hallow than he had anticipated. "What's this?"
"You're inside the Great Oak," says the red Digimon. "I am Rosemon, the guardian of the Wood Amulet. It's a pleasure to meet with the Legendary Warriors."
"Wow..." Katsuharu holds in a nosebleed staring at the erotic appearance of the Digimon. He shakes himself out of it to say, "So, do you know where it is?"
"I do; it is spread within the roots of the Great Oak, where AncientTroiamon's amulet resides." Rosemon crosses her arms under her chest. "However, it won't be unlocked at this moment."
"What? Why?"
"The Elemental Amulets can only be possessed by those who hold the spirits they belong to, but you... You cannot reach the amulet with a selfish heart like yours." Rosemon points at Katsuharu's chest. "Your heart holds the same form of sins that killed them in the ancient world, the demon who caused Lucemon's descent."
"W-What?" Katsuharu falls on his behind. "I'm filled with sin?"
"Is it not true? You were jealous of the leadership he held and wanted it for yourself. You didn't think about anyone but yourself, and ignored your limitations." Katsuharu pauses and looks down at his hands. "And look what happened? You were beaten, and your friend is paralyzed."
"No..." Katsuharu curses himself at his failure. "I can't believe this is really my fault... He went with me, and kept the others behind, because he knew something would happen..."
Hitting himself in the head, he hears noises outside. "The others!"
"They've come for you two. Do you wish to fight with them?"
"... Yes. It's time I made up for my selfishness." Katsuharu raises his D-Scanner and transforms into Arbormon. He then passes through the tree, where he finds Shutumon and Daipenmon thrown through wood. "Guys!"
"Katsuharu!" shouts Rhihimon. "Where's Takuya?"
"He's in this tree, but first," Arbormon runs towards NeoDevimon, who smacks him aside with his arm. But he extends his arm and grabs his. "Go, now!"
"What? And leave you behind?!" RhinoKabuterimon asks in shock.
"No, he means this!" BeoWolfmon aims his arm cannon. "Licht Angriff!" His beam and missiles pulverizes NeoDevimon.
"Thunder Laser!" JP's lightning strikes him, but it also shocks Katsuharu who devolves. Shutumon flies in and catches him.
"Hawaii Death!" Daipenmon comes in and strikes the right side of NeoDevimon's body, freezing him partially in blue ice.
"No! This isn't funny you little meat sticks!"
"Good." Rhihimon turns to BeoWolfmon, who nods. Wielding Trinitat, he forms his triangle technique. It fires at NeoDevimon and traps him in a prison of light.
"Trinitat Schneider!" Rhihimon forms energy around his spear and flies in. But as he does the form of Duskmon illuminates over him for everyone to see. He strikes the triangle, piercing through and destroying it.
The triangle explodes, revealing half of NeoDevimon's body charred and ripped off. "You little bastards... I won't forgive this!" He turns to Katsuharu, attempting to get one hit in.
"Katsuharu, duck!" Rhihimon raises his weapon up, preparing to finish him off. Katsuharu quickly ducks to the ground. "Schwarz Lehrsatz!" He flies towards NeoDevimon and pierces through him with a staff powered by darkness.
NeoDevimon roars in pain as he reveals his DigiCode. Rhihimon raises his D-Scanner. "It's time to ditch you into the dusk; DigiCode, Scan!"
The devil's data enters his device, and his egg flies away. The others fall down tired, Zoe and JP returning to their human forms. "That was hard..."
Katsuharu falls back and sighs. "You're telling me..."
"Well done, warriors." Out the tree walks Rosemon carrying the unconscious Takuya.
"Takuya!" Zoe rushes over to her and takes their friend.
"Who are you?" Daipenmon asks. JP gains a nosebleed seeing Rosemon's alluring form.
"I am Rosemon, the guardian of the Wood Amulet," she repeats before turning her eyes to Takuya. "The Warrior of Flame will revive from the effects of Stun Claw by tomorrow morning. Had he been a Digimon he would have been fine within the hour."
"T-Thank you," Zoe says as she places Takuya down to chest his wounds.
Kouichi returns to his human self. "Rosemon, can you lead us to the amulet?"
"I don't need to; it is right before you." She gestures to the oak tree's roots. "But it won't come out, until your friend of AncientTroiamon's power changes his heart."
"Changes his heart?" Kouji turns to Katsuharu, who is deep in thought after the battle. "Katsuharu?"
"I'm sorry guys. I shouldn't have done all of that..." He grabs his head and wrinkles his fingers through his hair. "I did all of that, and screwed up. I haven't grown at all. I'm still the same jerk who bullied Tommy before I came; even gaining the power of wood didn't change me."
"As long..." Everyone turns over to Takuya, who has opened his eyes. "As long as you get it... This is about all of us...not just you. You don't have to do... something like this to be recognized."
JP smiles a bit, realizing that's how he felt when he turned jealous over Takuya. Kouji helps the gogglehead up. "Thanks Kouji."
"Don't mention it. Can't walk right anyway, or ever."
"Hey!"
Rosemon stares at Takuya as she examines him, without moving from her position. 'Interesting. He managed to regain consciousness sooner than I believed.'
"Takuya..." Katsuharu goes over to the goggleboy. "I'm sorry."
"Hey, like I said it's fine. I know I can be kind of an idiot, but just talk to me about it. It's my duty to take into account everyone's well-being."
'That sounded too mature to come from him...' "Did that attack restart your brain?" Kouji quips.
"Quiet, you." He elbows the younger twin, who then pulls on his ear. "Ow! Hey, I'm still numb!"
"Then you won't feel this!" Kouji continues pulling, and the others laugh.
"Okay, okay, uncle!" Hearing the safety word, Zoe takes Takuya out of Kouji's hands. "Let's get back and check up on the others. They're probably eating all the apples at the moment."
"They better not!" JP rushes off first.
Katsuharu smiles. 'They treat him like that, and he still gets to give the orders... I guess he does deserve it.' His D-Scanner then shines, and draws towards the tree. The roots within the ground shine, and from the top of the tree rises an amulet. "My amulet?"
The Emerald flies down towards Katsuharu and enters his body, leaving the kanji Ki. Rosemon gives a half smile. "It is done; you've put aside your selfishness and gained AncientTroiamon's power."
"Wow. So cool..." Katsuharu looks down at his D-Scanner with a grin.
"That happened sooner than I expected, but I'm glad. Now that you have what you need, you have the rest of the amulets to gather," Rosemon says as the tree withers away. "I must now go prepare for the upcoming battle against the Demon Lords."
"So, can you tell us who will be guarding the others amulets?" asks Kouichi.
"I cannot." She shakes her head. "It's been so long; I'm afraid not all of the amulets will be safely protected. HeraklesKabuterimon has fallen time ago like Etemon, before your arrival, and now I may not even know if the others are still safe."
"Well, Vikemon's safe; we saw him days ago," Tommy says, pointing to his chest.
Rosemon nods to him. "Then there is still hope. Goodluck, children." She then flies away, into the dark skies. In that same forest an eye watches them through a tear in the fabric of reality, before it disappears.
Elsewhere...
Lilithmon, in the castle of the Rose Morning Star, closes her book when she feels a presence. An eye opens up in reality before her. "So, what did you see?"
The eye then shows her visions of what happened, leaving her cupping her chin curiously. "So, they're collecting something... But what?" Unfortunately, it's not giving audio. "No matter. This works fine."
The eye then fades away, and she returns to reading her book. That's when Barbamon appears. "Lilithmon, it was a failure! NeoDevimon has fallen in battle! Was that really your plan?"
"Hell no. I only sent that guy to test them out," Lilithmon says with a grin. She turns the page on her book. "I wasn't expecting anything out of that IceDevimon anyway; he's Beelzebumon's department."
"And what is your real plan?"
"I'm going to handle the kids myself, personally. Since most are boys this shouldn't be too hard." She raises a cup and drinks from the glass, blood dripping down the side of her mouth across her fangs. "I've actually had my eye on one of them." Her laughter sprawls throughout the castle.
The Next Day...
The DigiDestined wait at the terminal station. They can't move on without a Trailmon, and the time it'll take for them to reach the next country would only tire them out should they fly.
As they wait Kouji beats on his shoulders. "That Guilty Claw really hurt."
"Hey, you didn't get paralyzed did ya?" Takuya asks with his arms crossed, speaking up after finally regaining his senses.
"Takuya, you should be a little more careful," JP says out of concern.
Zoe nods. "You're risking your life like it doesn't matter."
"Oh calm down; I've always been like this."
"That's why I'm worried," she whispers.
"What?"
"Nothing." She turns away.
"No, you said something. What is it?" She keeps her eyes away from him. "What? Don't keep me hanging."
"It's not important. Just drop it." The others stand back and watch the fight start up.
"Right, because you never have anything important to say," he snaps in a low voice, but she manages to catch it.
"What was that!?" Zoe locks 'horns' with him. "How can you say something like that to me?"
"And there they go..." Kouji mutters staring at the two.
"Does this happen allot?" asks Teppei curiously.
"It stopped for a while, but yeah," Tommy confesses.
"It makes me wonder if they grew up at all..." Bokomon sighs as he looms over Takuya and Zoe's childish fighting. In the background the noise of a Trailmon.
"Whoo! Oh dear," speaks Mole the Trailmon.
"Alright, let's see..." Chiaki looks through her handbag and frowns. "Uh oh. We're out of bits."
"What?!" Everyone shouts.
"...And your goggles look stupid!" Zoe finishes and turns away from Takuya, who does so in return.
"Hey, lovebirds, we have a problem!" Kouji shouts to draw their attention.
They stare at Kouji with a look of anger. "What's that?!"
"We're not lovebirds!" Zoe states with the same tone.
" Kouji, how could you say something like that?!" JP adds, though it doesn't help the situation at all.
"Wait... We have to fly now?" asks Takuya after taking in all that's said.
"All aboard. Leave tickets in the holster," says Mole after stopping, and letting his doors open.
"Yeah... About that..." Takuya stops when he sees someone step out from the train. His eyes widen and he remains stunned seeing her.
A beautiful woman dressed gothic lolita style steps down. She has long blond hair and emerald eyes that shine like the most beautiful gem. Her light skin tone and lips colored purple gather his complete attention with a starch redness over his face. "It's okay, Mole," she says to the Trailmon with her hand placed to his cheek. "Let them onboard. Is that okay?"
"O-Okay!" says Mole as he blushes.
"Good day to you, children," she says with a smile. All the boys, including Bokomon and Neemon, hold tightly, and follow her into the train starting with Takuya.
Zoe and Chiaki frown with narrow eyes staring at the woman. "What just happened?" Chiaki asks.
"I don't believe this..." Zoe grumbles jealously.
Tommy turns to Kouichi, both of whom not falling head over heels for the new girl, and asks, "What's going on?"
"I guess... We're boarding the train..." he answers, following the others inside. The girls enter as well, and Patamon feels nervous staring at the woman.
Kenshin: We hope you enjoyed that.