Previously on Digimon Frontier: Chaos Rising
After Malevomon destroyed Chrysanthemon for disobeying his orders, he then unleashed a vicious attack on Breezy Village, scaring almost all of the Digimon away. Takuya and Zoe tried stopping the malicious ruler, but they just weren't strong enough. Malevomon easily overpowered the Chosen Children and stole Zoe's Beast Spirit. He would've finished them off for good, if it wasn't for Eldestmon. He came just in time to save the humans from certain destruction. But now, our heroes finally know what they're up against. And unless they find the rest of the Legendary Spirits, it will be impossible to defeat Malevomon.
So, without further ado, here's chapter eleven!
Uphill Struggle
Zoe's POV:
My consciousness slowly returned to me. I opened my eyes and the first thing I saw was the blue ceiling above my head. My back rested on a comfortable hospital bed. I sat up straight so I can get a better gage of my surroundings. But the very second I moved, jolts of pain vibrated throughout my body. A loud hiss of agony escaped my lips, which was only a sample of what I was actually feeling right now.
My body felt like it's been slammed through about ten brick walls; and through twenty automobiles after that. It was almost impossible for me to move without experience some intense pain in my body. It felt like my windpipes were crushed and at least twelve of my ribs were broken. I even felt some pain lingering in my back. Either there were some herniated discs in my spine, or there was a fracture in my vertebrae. Either way, the pain was too much for me. I was hurt so bad, I slumped back into the bed.
"Ow... It hurts!" I moaned, trying to endure the stiffness in my torso and in my back.
I turned towards the entrance of the Medical Wing and searched for any type of Digimon to help me with my injuries. It wasn't until I noticed a few Blisseymon walking into the room. They made their way towards the hospital bed I was laying on, ready to heal me and take good care of me. Before they got to work, each of the medical Digimon gave me a soft smile, reassuring me that everything's going to be alright.
One of them placed a hand on my aching head while another Blisseymon rested her hand on my injured ribs. I watched with amazement as their hands started to glow, thus starting the healing process. At first, I felt my body was on fire. But moments later, the pain started to fade away. If I was attacked by an ordinary Digimon, the Blisseymon would be able to fix me up in a matter of seconds.
Then again, Malevomon's no ordinary Digimon. His attacks are at least ten times stronger than many Digimon I know. In fact, I might even consider him on the same level as Lucemon; possibly even stronger. I mean, that big bully tossed me around like a beat up rag doll. It didn't matter whether I was Kazemon or Zephyrmon. Malevomon overpowered me just like that. And as a reward for thrashing me, he stole my Beast Spirit away from me. Then again, I should consider myself lucky he spared my life after he attacked me.
Since his attacks were so powerful, the Blisseymon had to spend a lot of time healing my injuries. What usually took seconds, now took minutes. (probably hours.) The pain receptors inside my body were going crazy. I cried as Blisseymon continued to heal my injuries. After what appeared to be a long time, the Blisseymon's power started kicking in. All the pain in my chest, back and head were all gone. Just like that, I was healed.
"Thank you, Blisseymon." I smiled. All of the Blisseymon formed a straight line and on cue, performed a small curtsey. After the polite gestures, they merrily skipped out of the Medical Wing.
"Can we come in now?" A familiar voice asked from the entrance. I turned to the front of the room and saw two Rookie Digimon peeping their heads at the doorway. I also noticed the huge smiles on their faces when they finally saw me sitting up straight.
"Bokomon! Neemon!"
"ZOE!" Bokomon cried.
Obviously, both of my Digimon friends were excited to see me. The two of them ran towards the middle of the room, where my hospital bed was. Since Bokomon got a head start, he was the first Rookie to reach me. He hopped onto the bed and dove into my arms, giving me a great big hug. I embraced him just as tightly. Small tears fell off of my face and on to the back Bokomon's head.
"My dear Zoe! It's good seeing those beautiful eyes of yours!" The Digimon wearing the pink elastic waistband said to me.
"Aw, you're sweet, Bokomon." I said with my cheeks turning red.
"Help! Somebody help me up!" The yellow rabbit shouted.
I looked at the edge of the bed and noticed Neemon trying hard to get on the bed. His arms grabbed onto the edge of the mattress and the Rookie held on for dear life, like he was hanging off of a cliff. Seeing the rabbit struggle to reach the top made me giggle softly. He's so funny, even when he's trying not to be. I know I shouldn't laugh, but that's what Neemon's there for. Oh, I'm so mean. Poor Neemon.
I got Bokomon's attention and pointed towards the rabbit. He released me and went over to his friend. Bokomon grabbed Neemon's hand and he helped him onto the bed. I smiled at my Digimon friend and welcomed him with my arms wide open. Neemon rushed towards me at full speed and dove into my chest. He wrapped his arms around me and tackled me back to the bed. My head slammed into the soft pillow. I may have gotten a small headache, but it's worth seeing Neemon's happy face again.
"Playtime!" The rabbit screamed all of the sudden. That's when Neemon began his tickle torture.
"Neemon, what are... Hahaha! Stop it... Hahahaha! I can't breathe! HAHAHAHAHA!"
I laughed uncontrollably as Neemon's tiny fingers danced on my tummy. But the more I resist, the more fierce his tickles became. I flipped over on my stomach and tapped out in defeat. Meanwhile, Bokomon sat on the mattress with a smile on his face, watching me roll with laughter as I struggling to breathe. After a few minutes of fun, Neemon got off me and sat next to Bokomon. It took a while for me to catch my breath. But after a while, I sat up straight, fixed my tangled blond hair, and turned my back to my friends.
"How you feeling, Zoe?" Bokomon asked. "Are you still hurt from that fight?
"Much better." I answered, letting out a small cough. "I'm still a little sore, but I'm alright now."
"Oh, that's wonderful news! For a moment there, we thought we lost you!" praised the Digimon wearing the waistband.
"What about you guys? Did any of you get injured at all?" I asked. Bokomon showed me one of his fingers. I noticed a small band-aid wrapped around it.
"Just a little cut. But it's nothing to worry about." Bokomon said with a smile on his face.
"Oh, you poor thing..." I teased.
I lightly grabbed Bokomon's hand and gazed at the bandaged digit. The Rookie looked at me awkwardly, wondering what I was going to do next. But I didn't let that bother me. I smiled at Bokomon and gave his little boo-boo a soft kiss. I could see the Digimon blushing when my lips made contact with his finger. He quickly pulled his hand back and turned his reddish cheeks away, which I thought was pretty cute.
"There. All better?" I asked in the best motherly voice I could.
"Well, um... Y... Yes, but... but I, uh... Zoe, I..."
"It's alright, Bokomon." I giggled. "There's no need to be shy."
"I... I have no idea what you're talking about." Bokomon protested.
"Come on, Bokomon. Don't tell me you've never been kissed before."
"Well... I, uh..."
"Hehe, I'm just kidding." I laughed.
The tension all around Bokomon started to lightened. His cheeks slowly went back to normal. Maybe it's the sound of my laughter, but who knows? Nothing wrong with a little teasing to ease the mood. I then noticed Neemon approaching me, with a smile just as big as mine. I can tell he's more than excited to receive the surprise I had in store for him.
"Hello, Neemon. Do you also have any injuries?" I politely asked.
"Why, yes I do!" Neemon answered.
"Aw, poor baby." I giggled, while patting him on the head. And then my voice changed to the motherly tone I used for Bokomon. "Show mommy your little boo-boo."
Neemon gave me a simple nod. Finally, he turned his backside towards me and bend forward. I assessed for scars, bandages, anything. I let out a light gasp when I noticed two band-aids in the shape of an 'X' stuck on Neemon's right butt cheek. The rabbit was ready for his treatment. I, on the other hand, had an awkward look on my face. You have got to be kidding me. He wanted me to kiss... that?
"Oh..."
That was pretty much all I could say. In all honesty, there wasn't really much I could say. As much as I wanted to help my friend, there's no way I'm going to put my lips on his... um, yeah. Then again, this is Neemon I'm talking to. When it comes to this nimrod, you'll find injuries pretty much anywhere, even in the most unexpected and unpleasant places.
"My turn. Go ahead, Zoe!" Neemon chuckled. I stared at the bandages hesitantly, still deciding whether I should do it or not.
"I, uh..."
"Well? I'm waiting." Neemon shouted impatiently.
"Oh, alright." I finally sighed. But instead of planting my lips on Neemon's posterior, I gave him a soft pat on the back. I know it's not the same, but at least it's effective.
I remember a couple years back, when I was taking care of little Tommy, all he wanted to do was cry. I too gave him a small pat on the back. His parents weren't around at the time, so I decided to take on the motherly role. Tommy was such a cute kid. I don't know whether it's my soft hands or something else I'm unaware of, but that relaxing gesture was enough to get him or anyone else to smile.
"Hey! That is not fair! How come Bokomon gets a kiss?" Neemon complained. Of course... you guessed it. Bokomon, here to save the day, with another painful wedgie to poor Neemon.
"Seriously! When do ever use your common sense?" Bokomon growled.
"Hey! What did you do that for?" Bokomon cried, rubbing his aching behind.
"You numbskull! Why would Zoe want to kiss your stinking, fat..."
"Alright, you two that's enough!" I said, trying to stop my friends from arguing with each other. Of course, that doesn't mean I couldn't stop myself from stifling a giggle.
"Ah. I see you're finally awake." A valiant voice spoke, capturing the attention of everyone in the room.
I looked towards the entrance of the Medical Wing and saw Swiftmon standing there, placing one of his swords back in his sheath. He made his way towards my hospital bed.
"Swiftmon!" I waved.
"Salutation, Legendary Warrior. I assume you have recovered from all of your injuries."
"Yeah, I'm alright." I answered. "How's everyone else?"
"Everyone appears to be okay. Well, everyone... except..."
That's when I saw the look on his face had changed, and not in a good way. He had his eyes on the floor for quite a while, indicating that the news he had for me wasn't pleasant. The room was filled with silence... uncomfortable silence. Oh how I hated the silence.
My thoughts then focused on a specific goggle-headed boy. The person I admire the most, the one who fills my heart with joy every time I think of him. I haven't heard any about him ever since I woke up. My heart stiffens every time I think of what happened back at Breezy Village. The two of us fought hard together. But alas, we didn't have the strength to defeat Malevomon. I wish I could see him right now, just to know if he's alright.
"Oh Takuya..." I murmured. My heart almost stopped beating. I can feel my stomach turning into ice. Terror held onto me like a vice grip.
"Swiftmon, where's Takuya?" Bokomon asked.
"He's in the Emergency Room."
"Oh dear! Is he alright?" Bokomon asked.
I looked back towards the swordsman Digimon. And once again, I noticed him slowly shaking his head. That could only mean one thing. Takuya's in really bad shape. His injuries were probably a lot worse than mine. He could be seriously hurt, or in a coma... or worse...
"Swiftmon?" I asked. "Is Takuya... Is he...?"
"No. But he's in critical condition. Our entire team of Blisseymon are working hard healing his injuries."
"Takuya... Oh God, no!" I felt like I was going to have a heart attack if I don't see him.
Without thinking, I immediately got out of the bed and sprinted out of the room. I ran passed a few Digimon walking down the lobby and searched frantically for the Emergency Room. I can feel sweat dripping down my cheeks and my heart beating rapidly. I thought about Takuya and the kind of pain he's in, which makes me even more worried.
The last thing I remember was seeing him trapped inside a dark sphere filled with evil energy. If I recall, that seems to be Malevomon's ultimate attack. Poor Takuya. He took that move at full blast. I heard Takuya screaming like his body was on fire. But after that, everything went black.
Finally, after running for five minutes, I came across two very large steel doors with a lit red cross on the top of the wall.
"Takuya..." I said, placing my hand over my broken heart.
A small tear fell out of my eye. I had never been this scared in my life. Behind those metal doors is a boy fighting for his life. I cursed myself for not being by his side, especially when he needs me the most. Oh, if I could only hold his strong hands, brush his brown hair, stroke his soft cheeks, touch his warm heart... taste those tender lips.
"Zoe!" Someone shouted.
I wiped away my tears and saw Bokomon and Neemon catching up to me. I also saw Swiftmon coming up from behind them. He walked in between the two rookies and stood in front of me. His eyes gazed into mine. I stared back at the second-in-command, silently begging him for me to see him. But Swiftmon replied by simply shaking his head.
"I'm sorry. But the Blisseymon inside are busy healing your friend's injuries. Best left undisturbed, my child." He told me.
I looked down at the floor and more tears started to fall. I'm usually not the type of person who cries. But I can't help it. All I want to do is cry. My heart was in so much pain, it's unbearable. Takuya is hurt real badly, and there's nothing I can do. I can't neither speak to him, nor hold his hand to let him know I'm here. Why can't I see him? Why can't I help him?
I felt Swiftmon's hand resting on my shoulder. I looked up at those incomprehensible eyes once again.
"Stay strong, my girl. Everything's going to be alright. Your friend will be back on his feet in no time. But he can't do it alone. He needs all of us... especially you."
"But... what can I do?" I asked. I opened my ears and waited anxiously for what Swiftmon's orders. I really wanted to help Takuya, but how can I help him if he's in there and I'm out here? Swiftmon looked at me and detected my strong resolve.
"You have to believe." He told me.
"Believe?" I asked.
"Yes. Your friend is as tough as they come. I know, without a doubt, there's no way Malevomon can destroy him that easily. But if you believe, my child. Believe as hard as you can. And I can guarantee you that he'll be standing right here, waiting for you." That alone was enough to make me smile. I'm willing to do anything to see Takuya smiling in front of me again.
"Believe? I don't get it!" Neemon randomly blurted out.'
*bam*
Once again, Bokomon slammed his book on Neemon's thick skull. I looked back at the two Rookies and giggled to myself. At that point, the tension in my heart was lifted off of me. I'm still a little worried about Takuya, but I know he can fight through this. I know that weird goggle-head better than anyone. And I definitely know that quitting is not a word in his vocabulary.
I gave Swiftmon a quick nod, letting him know I can do this, which made the swordsman nod. Finally, he turned around and walked into another room to take care of some business. I looked back at the doors to the Emergency Room, which concealed my best friend.
"Takuya..." I said to myself. "... Be strong for all of us... and for me."
I decided to walk down the hallways to pass the time. My legs felt kinda stiff, so a little exercise wouldn't hurt. And, with Bokomon and Neemon tagging along, it will be entertaining along the way. As we walked through the lobbies, we passed by a few battlefront Digimon and a few of them said "hi" to me. After a while, we came across a few rooms. I stopped by and took a peek inside each room to see what's inside and to learn a little bit more about the Digimon Battlefront's home base.
Some rooms had a ton of computers and electronic devices in them. Others looked like training rooms. They had mats, targets, weapons, training dummies and a lot of Digimon sparring against each other, trying to keep their fighting skills sharp. We left the Training Room and I noticed we were approaching the Briefing Room. I remember meeting most of the Battlefront members, as well as Eldestmon in that room. I decided to take a small peek to see if anyone's inside.
"UNACCEPTABLE!" shouted a voice from another room, catching my attention.
It turned out that the voice came from the room across the Briefing Room. I tiptoed towards entrance and took a peek inside. I saw two Digimon arguing with each other. But upon closer inspection, it turned out to be Eldestmon and Beautymon. I saw a disappointed look on Eldestmon's face. He must be really angry at Beautymon for doing something terribly wrong. If Eldestmon was screaming at you, you would be trembling in fear, just like me.
However, I saw Beautymon's eyes and it she looked just as calm as ever. She had those same incompressible eyes like she's not interested in what he has to say. To be more specific, she was looking at anything in the room, except her superior. I noticed Beautymon stroking her long olive hair, which usually is an indication that she doesn't care what the elderly Digimon has to say.
"Please be gentle, Eldestmon. My ears are really sensitive and very delica...?"
"SILENCE!" Eldestmon yelled, shaking the room with his voice.
"Hmph! I'll have you know that raising your voice is very annoying, not to mention rude." I shook my head after hearing Beautymon's pathetic comment.
"Enough." Eldestmon ordered, finally shutting up the senseless hag. Eldestmon turned his backside toward the female Digimon as he spoke again. "Beautymon, do you know why I called you in hear?"
"To say how beautiful I am?" answered Beautymon.
"No! It is about your inexcusable behavior at Breezy Village!"
"What are you talking about?"
"Swiftmon told me everything."
"He did, huh? Why, that tattle-taling, ungrateful little..."
"Beautymon!" Eldestmon interrupted. "When Malevomon attacked the village, you abandoned your post and left the Legendary Warrior of Wind alone with the malicious ruler. It's your duty to protect her. It's your duty to defeat Malevomon and his army of dark creatures. And it's your duty to...
"But Eldestmon, Sinistromon was there too, and he called me ugly."
"And... how is that relevant?"
"Um... hello? No one calls me ugly and gets away with it. That little plush toy got what he deserved."
"How foolish of you! Because of your selfish behavior, we lost another Spirit! Malevomon now has the Beast Spirit of Wind in his possession! Unacceptable, Beautymon! Unacceptable! What do you have to say for yourself?"
Beautymon placed her hand on her chin and looked up at the ceiling. She appeared to be pondering about what she was going to say. But I know Beautymon. Simply put, she has no regard for others around her. She only cares about herself and her good looks. (if she had any.) Finally, she looked back at the leader of the Digimon Battlefront and shrugged.
"It's not my fault that ugly little girl's so weak."
"Unbelievable." Malevomon sighed. He let out a soft sigh and started walking out of the room. However, just when he was about to reach the exit, he stopped and glared back at Beautymon.
"I'm very disappointed in you, Beautymon. And for that, there will be consequences. You will not be part of the next few missions. Instead, you will be staying here, training and disciplining our new recruits."
"Oh lovely. Working with pathetic monstrosities. I'm underwhelmed..."
"And..." Malevomon once again interrupted. "You will formally apologize to the Legendary Warrior of Wind for your misconduct."
"WHAT?" Beautymon screamed, shaking the entire room. My eyes widened and a huge smirk appeared on my face.
"Oh no, Eldestmon! I won't do it! I refused to... to apologize to this... this... garbage, who calls herself a Legendary..."
"Beautymon! Do what I say, or else."
And with that, Eldestmon walked out of the room. When he stepped into the lobby, he turned his attention to me and gazed into my eyes. He then gave me a small nod and walked away. I waited until he was out of sight, before turning back to Beautymon, who was already standing in front of me.
I could see her olive hair, her unfathomable eyes, and her sleeve covering her mouth. I stood there with my arms crossed, waiting for her to apologized. But she didn't. She turned her head away from me and gave me the cold shoulder, followed by soft, "Hmph!"
"Well? I'm waiting!" I said impatiently.
"Waiting for what, child? Waiting for your next assignment? Waiting for me to give you tips to improve your looks? Waiting for..."
"I'm waiting for you to apologize, you stupid wackjob."
"Apologize? Me? Apologize to you?" You guessed it. Her annoying giggles entered my ear. I don't know about you, but listening to her laugh drives me crazy. She stopped laughing a few seconds later and glowered back at me.
"Blondie, you don't deserve an apology. It's not my fault you were so... weak, and got a good beating. Let's face it. You couldn't handle Malevomon by yourself. You're just too weak... and too ugly. You don't belong here. You're just holding all of us back. Why don't you go back to the Human World and leave the rest of the fighting to us beautiful and strong warriors... like me?"
She winked back at me and I turned my face in disgust. She turned around and walked away without saying another word. And what's worse, she didn't even apologize like Eldestmon ordered. If anything, she's put more fuel in the fire burning inside me. My anger towards the disgusting female Digimon grew exponentially. I just want to snap her neck in half or mess up that atrocious face of hers.
I walked down hallways, back to the Emergency Room. My thoughts turn back to that one special person, Takuya Kanbara. My heart leaps for joy every time I think of him, yet stands still when I come so close to confessing my feelings to him. If I only had his courage, his strength or his bravery, I would be able to tell him how I feel about him... how much I need him... how much I lov...
"Hey Zoe!" A voice said, snapping me out of my thoughts.
I thought I was hearing things. I thought I was dreaming. Either that, or the voice I just heard was only my imagination. But when I looked up, I was wrong. A teenage boy in the middle of the hallway waving to me. I noticed his hat, his clothes, and the signature goggles on his head. I also saw his smile; his one of a kind, goofy smile that makes my soul do backflips. The smile that gives everyone hope and strength.
"TAKUYA!" I screamed as I ran to my best friend.
I dove into his arms and buried my face in his chest. Many of my uncontrollable tears fell on to his clean shirt. I couldn't help but let everything out. I thought I would never see Takuya again and just seeing him in front of me... no... having his arms around me is a feeling even words can't describe. I wish I could stay in this position forever.
"Uh... Zoe? Are you okay?" Takuya then asked. I gazed deep into those memorizing chocolate orbs. He looked kind of confused, seeing my face covered with tear drops. I placed both of my hands on his shoulders.
"You idiot!" I cried. "I was so worried about you! I thought I'd lost you for sure! I'm so glad you're okay!"
"Okay? Zoe, I feel great! There's nothing wrong with me."
"I know, I know." I smiled while wiping away my tears, even though a few more continued to fall.
"Aw, Zoe." Takuya said, using his finger to wipe the rest of the tears off of my face. "You don't have to worry about me! This is nothing! That jerk Malevomon got nothing on me! Next time I see him, I'll be sure to return the favor for hurting my friends!"
I couldn't help but giggle at his confident, yet cocky remark. He noticed me laughing softly and looked somewhat confused. Now, where have I seen this look before? Hmmm... I remember Takuya having those same eyes when I sort of teased him about something. But what was it about anyway? Hmmm...
Oh yeah! I remember now.
"Look at you pretending to act like a tough guy. How adorable." I chuckled.
Again, Takuya looked at me kinda strangely, wondering where I was going with this. The way I said my last statement, I was hoping he had a clue to where I was going. It turns out that this young man is a lot smarter than I thought. A huge smirk appeared on his face, but then was quickly replaced by a look of faked annoyance.
"Hey, what do you mean pretending? I am the leader after all, Zoe. Haven't you forgotten?"
"Really? You're the leader of this little brigade?" I asked with a mild amount of sarcasm.
I slowly walked away from Takuya, like I did last time. I stopped after a few feet, just to tease him. Of course, Takuya had already caught on this little act of mine, but I decided to have some more fun with him. I turned around with my hands on my hips and a huge grin on my face.
"Who'd have thought? I was sure you were one of them slackers who can't do anything right... at least."
"Wait a minute, what's that supposed to mean?" Takuya asked, trying hard to hold back his laughter.
"How many Digimon you had to defeat to get your Spirits? And who?"
"Um... One! And that's SkullCerberumon."
"Ha! I knew it! I am better than you! I defeated Chyrsanthemon, Hederamon and Foliamon! That makes a grand total of three Digimon compared to your measly one."
What's supposed to happen next is Takuya gritting his teeth together in annoyance, since he lost to a girl, once again. You know, just like a couple of years ago. But this time was different. He place a hand behind his head and started to laugh. At the same time, I too began to laugh. It was wonderful seeing Takuya happy once again. The sound of his laughter is like magic. I know it sounds kinda cheesy, but it can't be further than truth.
We stopped laughing after a few seconds and stared into each other's eyes. I looked around the hallway and noticed there was no one around us. I finally looked back at Takuya, who still had that goofy smile of his. It's a smile I've known for so long, and yet I can never get tired seeing it. Just seeing that gorgeous smile on his face at least once is enough to help me get through the day.
"This is my chance." I said to myself. "Finally, after waiting for so long, I can now tell Takuya how I feel about him. This is the perfect opportunity, Zoe. Seize it now! Don't let it slip by."
"Zoe, are you okay?" Takuya asked me. I looked back at him and nodded my head. I let out a soft sigh before speaking again.
"Takuya?"
"Yeah? What' up Z?"
"I... I have something... to tell you." I gulped nervously.
"Oh? What is it?"
"Well...*gulp*... I, uh... I've been wanting to tell you this... almost a long time ago. I wanted to tell you when we got home from the Digital World a couple years ago, but I just couldn't bring myself to do it. That's because... I, um... I was afraid of what you would say, or how you would react."
"Come on Zoe! You know you can tell me anything. I mean, seriously! You and I are best friends. We pretty much tell each other everything."
You big dummy. Oh, Takuya. Why are you so dense? I have given you so many signs and clues to show how I feel about you. And you're wrong. I haven't told you everything; about how you make me feel, about how much of an impact you made in my life, about how much you mean to me... how much I love you.
"Well then, here it goes." I said. I took a deep breath and quickly rehearsed what I'm about to say to Takuya. This was it. Once when I say it, there's no turning back. The moment of truth has arrived. I opened my mouth and was ready to tell Takuya the truth about my...
"Ah! There they are!" A voice interrupted us. We turned and a couple of Rookies approaching us.
"Bokomon! Neemon!" Takuya grinned. "What's up guys? It's good to see you again!"
"Takuya!" Bokomon cried, running towards the teenage boy and giving his leg a great big hug.
"You big oaf! Don't scare me like that. I thought you were a goner after what Malevomon did to you."
"Oh come on, buddy. You're overreacting again. I'm perfectly fine! No need to get so emotional about it."
"Sorry, my boy. It's just... I was so worried when Malevomon defeated you and Zoe."
"But the important thing is that you're safe. That's all that matters." I sighed happily.
"Yeah, I guess." Takuya smiled. "By the way, guys, when's our next mission?"
"Our next mission?" I asked. "I don't know. No one has called in or anything."
"Aw man, staying in this crowded place is driving me crazy! I'm ready for some action. I want to go out there, find some more Spirits and kick some more Digimon butt as soon as possible!"
"My, my. Aren't you high on energy, Takuya?" Bokomon grinned, while crossing his arms.
"Let it go, Bokomon." I said. "Takuya's always pumped up like this whenever he's suffered a huge defeat. I mean, one time after his team got thrashed in a soccer game, I saw him practicing and working harder than anyone else out there. It's just like Takuya to become stronger than ever when..."
But before I could finish my sentence, we heard beeping noises coming from the intercom above our heads. After a few squeaks, scratches and clicks, a voice came from the radio above our heads.
"Attention. Would Groups D, G and M please report to the Digiporter Room immediately? I repeat. Would Groups D, G and M please report to the Digiporter Room immediately? Also, would the humans please report to the Digiporter Room as well? Again, would the humans please report to the Digiporter Room? Your next assignment awaits you."
"D.G.M? What does that spell?" Neemon asked.
Of course, upon hearing such a ridiculous question, Bokomon slammed his green book and Neemon's noggin. The poor rabbit slumped to the floor in daze. After the announcement, the four of looked at each other. I looked back at Takuya and noticed a huge smile on his face; probably bigger than usual.
"Well, duty calls, guys. Come on! Last one to the Digiporter Room's a rotten Digimon!" And with that, he took off in running down the hallways.
"Wait for me! I hate being a rotten Digimon!" Neemon hollered as he followed Takuya and disappeared into lobbies. Bokomon and I stared at the empty hallways before looking back at each other.
"Strange." The mutant Digimon spoke.
"What's wrong?"
"It's Takuya. He doesn't appear to be... himself."
"What are you talking about? Takuya's just fine. He's just a little too excited. That's all. There's nothing to worry about, Bokomon. I can reassure you."
"I hope you're right." The Rookie told me.
"I hope so too..." A part of me still skeptic about Takuya's condition.
"Come on, Zoe. Let's go meet the others."
"Right!" I agreed. Bokomon and I raced down the hallways and ran as fast as we could towards the entrance of the Digiporter Room.
Moments later, we saw Takuya and Neemon ahead of us. Both of those two pinheads had their hands on their knees, gasping for air. When we finally joined the two, Neemon spoke again.
"Ha! Beat you Takuya! That means you're a rotten Digimon! Hahaha!"
"Oh, shut up, Neemon! You cheated." Takuya complained, although he was just pretending. I could tell he was playing around, by that tone of his.
"Nu uh! I won fair and square! Now you can kiss my Digimon but..."
"Hey!" A high-pitch voice shouted. We turned and saw Gotsumon standing in front of us with his arms crossed.
"Are you freak shows coming in or not? We're all waiting for you!" The rock-type Digimon walked in between Takuya and me and entered the Digiporter Room. Well... that was sure rude.
"Come on, Zoe! Everyone's waiting for us." Takuya said.
We entered the Digiporter Room, with Bokomon and Neemon behind us. When we got inside, we noticed a good number of Digimon standing on top of the Digiporter, conversing with each other about all kinds of things. The four of us made our way toward the center of the room and stood on the Digiporter. We looked up and saw Swiftmon and Eldestmon in front of their troops. Everyone in the room gave the two Digimon their undivided attention. The leader of the Battlefront took a step forward to brief us on our next mission.
"Listen up! Our scouters have found the location of another Legendary Spirit!"
"Which one?" I asked.
"Spirits of Earth." answered Eldestmon.
"Where is it located?" questioned Bokomon.
"It's in a village somewhere on top of Terra Hills."
"Terra Hills? Never heard of it" I said.
"Ah, yes. The Terra Hills Village" Swiftmon stepped forward. "The village on that hill may be small, but it is heavily guarded with tons of highly trained Digimon. We must all be careful. These Digimon are not fond of outsiders."
"Plus, if we don't act soon, Malevomon and his army of mind slaves will be one step closer in taking over the Digital World! We cannot allow him to take more Spirits." added Eldestmon.
"Looks like we have to keep our guard up." I said.
"Don't worry, Eldestmon!" Takuya grinned, giving the old Digimon the thumbs up. "We'll get those Spirits! That creepazoid, Malevomon doesn't stand a chance!"
I couldn't help but giggle at his confidence. Okay, sure we both got our butts kicked by Malevomon last time, but Takuya believes that this time will be different. I've never seen Takuya speak with such confidence. It gives me strength and confidence that we are going to win this ongoing war. Eldestmon just nodded his head at Takuya's confidence.
On the other hand, Swiftmon had a different expression. His eyes were focused on the fearless boy standing next to me. However, when I read his eyes, they revealed to me that something's not right. To make things worse, he turned his attention towards me and shook his head. I looked at him, feeling somewhat puzzled. What is he trying to tell me?
"Very well. You know what to do. Failure is not an option. Good luck out there! The fate of the Digital World is in your hands." Eldestmon said before walking out of them room.
"Gotsumon, turn on the Digiporter!" Swiftmon ordered.
"Yes, sir!" The rock monster saluted. He pushed a red button on the side of the wall. The room was then filled with buzzing noises and squeaky whistles. I looked at the platform below and noticed it starting to glow.
"Digiporter's at 25%, sir!"
"Listen up, here's how things are going to work!" Swiftmon spoke. "Our mission is to retrieve the Spirits of Earth! Be aware that there are villagers on top of Terra Hills! We're not here to start a fight, but protect yourselves at all costs!"
"Yes, sir!" Everyone shouted.
"Digiporter's power at 50%, sir!" said Gotsumon.
"Say, where's Beautymon?" Takuya asked.
Just hearing that name made me purple as a plum. My heart was filled with so much anger and hate for that one lousy excuse of a Digimon. My fist were so tight, and my head was seething with rage. I just want to punch the living daylights out of Takuya for mentioning that name in front of my face.
"Digiporter's power at 75%, sir!"
"Beautymon won't be joining us on this mission. She has... other priorities." Swiftmon answered.
"Thank... God!" I exclaimed. Everyone looked at me kinda strangely, but I didn't care. I never liked that lousy wench. Just saying that out loud actually felt kinda good.
"Okay then..." Bokomon said, breaking the awkward silence.
"Digiporter's power is at 100%!" Gotsumon confirmed. "Ready to teleport on your command, sir!"
"Excellent, Gotsumon. Take it away!" ordered Swiftmon.
"Entering coordinates to Terra Hills." Gotsumon said, typing the numbers on the computer.
"Coordinates are set, ready for teleportation. Teleporting in five, four,..."
I could feel my heart beating rapidly. It happens every time we're sent on another mission to retrieve another Legendary Spirits. My only hope was we don't run into Malevomon. Believe me, fighting him once was bad enough. I'm not ready to face him again... at least, not yet anyway.
"Three, two..."
I looked back at Takuya. I noticed him hopping in place, and loosening his shoulders. I noticed his mouth going up and down, like he was pumping himself up. I have to admit, it's kind of strange seeing Takuya this excited for a simple mission such as this. Then again, based on our past experiences in retrieving Legendary Spirits, there's no such thing as a simple mission.
"One..."
Now when I think about it, Takuya has been acting kind of weird ever since he's stepped out of the Emergency Room. I can't help but wonder if there is actually something wrong with him. He may look really confident on the outside, but I wonder what's happening on the inside. A sense of doubt and a sense of danger was planted in my mine as my attention shifted away from Takuya.
"Commence teleportation!" Gotsumon shouted, slamming his fist on a blue button.
A white light shot out from the bottom of the Digiporter, engulfing us with its bright light. Before long, the entire room was covered with white, blinding light as I felt myself being teleported from one side of the Digital World to the other.
Normal POV:
Meanwhile, back in the Dark Kingdom, bright colors of light could be seen from the windows of Malevomon's castle. A few fireballs, explosions and energy shots blasted out of the walls of the castle. A few cries of agony followed seconds later.
Inside the Throne Room, a violent energy blast sent Sinistromon crashing into the walls. His body goes limp as he slumped back down to the ground. Malevomon slowly marched towards his beaten subordinate. He wrapped his ginormous hand around Sinistromon's little head and lifted him off the ground. The wicked emperor squeezed the poor little devil's skull, making Sinistromon's cries even louder, which echoed throughout the area.
"You're such a failure, Sinistromon!" stated the evil Digimon. "And you know very well how much I despise failures. They don't deserve to live."
He then viciously threw the imp Digimon into the wall behind him. Again, Sinistromon crashed hard into the stone walls, creating a small sized crater. His body dropped to the floor and the Digimon fell flat on his face. He was gasping for air, but couldn't move, due to the tremendous amount of pain he's going through.
"My... My Lord..." cried Sinistromon. He struggled to get back to his feet. "Please, oh excellent one! Gi... Give me another chance. Let me atone for my mistakes. P... Please, master! I'm begging you. Give me another chance and I'll destroy those pesky humans!"
"You? Defeating the humans? HAHAHAHAHAHAHA! Nonsense, you insignificant little fool." Malevomon then grabbed Sinistromon's neck and once again, lifted him high off of the ground. Sinistromon coughed and struggled to breathe as the malicious emperor continued to mock his loyal servant.
"Why should I believe the likes of you could ever defeat two Legendary Warriors? Huh? ANSWER ME!" He growled, tightening his grip around his throat.
"I... I have some excellent news... your highness. But... But please... let go of me. I can't... breathe..."
Malevomon gazed at the nearly lifeless body in the palm of his hand. He lets out a disappointed sigh and finally released Sinistromon. The little devil-like Digimon landed face first on the ground. It took him a while to regain his strength and breath. Finally, he got back to his feet and turned his master.
"Sir, I have located the Spirits of Earth. It is hidden somewhere in the village on top of Terra Hills."
"Hmmm... The Spirits of Earth? This is perfect. Another Spirit to add to my collection!"
"Yes, my Lord! Leave this to me! I'll send a few of our strongest fighters, retrieve the Spirits of Earth and destroy those meddling kids once and for all!" Sinistromon turned and started to fly out of the Throne Room.
"Not so fast, you fool!" Malevomon ordered, stopping the small Digimon from going any further.
"What's wrong, master?"
"You failed me more times than anyone, Sinistromon! Because of your reckless behavior and poor decisions, we lost a lot of battles to the Digimon Battlefront! This is your mission now, Sinistromon! If you're going to defeat the Legendary Warriors, you're going to do it all by yourself!"
"Wait, what? My Lord, what are you saying?"
"You heard me! If you're so confident, then I want you to retrieve the Spirits of Earth and destroy those meddling kids, along with the rest of the Digimon Battlefront... on you own!"
"But sir? I can't do it alone! They have me out numbered, and those two humans have their own Legendary Spirits! Taking on the entire Digimon Battlefront is like walking into a slaughter! They'll tenderize me!"
"Well then, at least you'll be serving your purpose." Malevomon sighed as he turned back towards his throne.
"Wait, master! Please!" Sinistromon begged, falling down on one knee. "I beg of you! Help me! I can't do this alone! I need your help! Please, Please, PLEASE! Help me, master!
Malevomon closed his eyes in disgust. Sinistromon may not be the smartest or the strongest Digimon in the world. But as long as he can remember, he's been the most loyal. The wicked emperor opened his eyes, sighed and turned back to his pitiful servant. With a snap of his fingers, a Chaos Sphere appeared in front of Sinistromon. The imp Digimon took the powerful device and placed it in his backpack.
"Do not waste it, Sinistromon! You get one, and one only! And remember, do not fail me! Otherwise, there will be 'severe' consequences! Do you understand?"
"Yes sir! I will not fail you my Lord! I promise you!" Sinistromon bowed.
He flapped his little wings together and flew out of the castle. Malevomon sighed once again as he turned back towards the throne. He snapped his fingers again and a portal opened up. He walked into the mystical portal and disappeared into another dimension.
A bright flash of light appeared somewhere at the pass of Terra Hills as the Digimon, along with Takuya and Zoe reappeared after teleporting themselves from the Digimon Battlefront's home base. Once the teleportation was completed, all of the Digimon and humans walked off of the platform.
Immediately, Takuya took his D-Tector out of his pocket. He looked down and a small map appeared on the screen. Zoe looked over Takuya's shoulder and observed the map. However, she noticed there wasn't any kind of dot to indicate where the Spirits might be located.
"Come on! Why won't this thing work?" Takuya complained.
"Oh boy..." groaned Zoe.
"Stay focus. There's a village on the top of that hill. If I were to guess, that's where the Spirits might be." Swiftmon said, pointing his blade to what appeared to be a really tall, steep, rocky mountain.
"Alright, listen up! Group M will stay here and guard the Digiporter! Signal us if there's any trouble!" said the second-in-command.
"Yes, sir!" saluted one of the Digimon.
"The rest of us will go into the village and find the Spirits! Remember, do not harm the villagers, but protect yourselves at all cost! Do you understand?"
"YES, SIR!" The rest cheered.
"Well, what are we waiting for? Let's get a move on!" said Takuya as he took off in running down the path.
"Takuya, wait!" Zoe called out.
Unfortunately, her cries didn't seem to get through his head. The goggle headed boy continued to run up the hill, full of energy and excitement, without thinking of the dangers ahead of him. After letting a sigh of disappointment, she instinctively started running to catch up to her best friend. But before she could go any further, she felt a hand grabbing her right arm. Zoe looked behind her and saw Swiftmon gazing deep into her eyes. The swordsman shifted his attention towards the remaining Digimon groups.
"Follow him. Make sure he doesn't get into trouble." Swiftmon ordered.
"Understood!" The rest of the Digimon complied. They began sprinting up towards the path, to catch up to the stubborn human. Bokomon and Neemon followed in the rear. But before going on, they turned towards the teenaged girl.
"Zoe, aren't you coming?" Bokomon asked.
"Just give me a second. Go on without me." Zoe smiled. Bokomon and Neemon nodded as the sped up the hill. When the two were out of sight, Zoe turned back to the warrior-like Digimon.
"Swiftmon?" She asked.
"There's something I need to ask you." He spoke softly. "Hasn't your friend been acting... strange recently?"
"No!" Zoe replied. But she looked back towards the hill, thinking about Takuya and his somewhat odd behavior he had been displaying the past ten minutes. She looked back at the swordsman.
"Well, I'm not really sure. I mean, he seems to be really excited about this mission. Then again... maybe a little too excited. But don't worry, Swiftmon! Takuya's just fine. He just couldn't wait to get back into action. That's all."
"If you insist." Swiftmon sighed and gave Zoe a small nod. He and Zoe raced down the path to catch up to the others.
Zoe checked her surroundings and noticed luscious plants and trees on the sides. As she moved along the path, the plants were replaced with dirt, with bunch of rocks and boulders. Zoe stopped to gaze at the remarkable view. The crisp air brushed against her face as the hair golden hair danced with the wind. The color of the blue sky was more vibrant than ever. The glorious view of the Digital World was spectacular. If she only had a camera to capture this breathtaking view.
"ZOE, LOOK OUT!" Bokomon shouted from behind.
The blonde snapped out of her thoughts and looked behind her. She noticed a giant boulder falling from above. She sprinted out of harm's way as the gigantic rock crashed into the ground and crumbled into pieces. Zoe looked back with a hand over her heart, gasping for air. That could have been her head if she reacted a little bit late.
She looked back to see what was going on. It turned out to be complete chaos. The Digimon Battlefront were once again in a huge battle against a lot of Digimon who appeared to be controlled by Malevomon. These Digimon looked like giant jagged tortoises. They also had tough, armored spikes all over their back and a few on its head. It unleashed a loud roar, which sounded just like a lion.
"Bokomon, what is that?" asked Zoe.
"Oh no! Tortomon!" Bokomon cried.
Digimon Analyzer:
Name: Tortomon
Level: Champion
Attacks: Strong Carapace; Grand Dash
Description: These ferocious reptiles Digimon are called Tortomon. Even when they are hiding underneath their shell, they can still unleash their powerful attacks. Their most devastating move is the Strong Carapace. The spikes on their shells glow with energy as they launch them at their enemies.
"Attack! Destroy them all for Lord Malevomon!" One of the Tortomon order.
Upon command, more Tortomon appeared out of the mountains and attacked the Digimon Battlefront. Some of them used their thick, strong paws, while the rest of them launched their heavy spikes at the Digimon Battlefront. Cries of intense pain echoes throughout the area from both sides. Zoe stood there in shock. She couldn't comprehend what's going on right now.
Five minutes into the mission and they already have their first battle. Zoe was about to take her D-Tector out, when she spotted something else, which made the situation even worse. To the left, were some more Digimon running for their lives with their children next to them. Swiftmon shifted from station to station, taking out the evil Tortomon and protecting the defenseless Digimon.
"We'll take care of this! Protect the villagers!" Swiftmon ordered. Zoe nodded in agreement. She went over to the group of panicking Digimon. The blonde guided the villagers back up the hill, while keeping them under control and out of harm's way.
"Come on! This way!" Zoe command "It's okay! Everything's going to be alright! Just stick together!"
There were a lot of Digimon Zoe had to protect, but at least she doesn't have to fight anyone... not yet, anyway. While keeping the villagers in line, she looked around, searching for Takuya. Bodies, spikes, and weapons were flying all over the place. Dust and debris started to fill the area. The sounds of Digimon screaming in pain were deafening.
It wasn't long, before Zoe saw a young boy with goggles on head. But he wasn't in a defensive position, in his Spirit form or helping other Digimon get to safety. In fact, he wasn't doing anything at all. He was just standing there, watching what's going on in the battlefield. Zoe looked confused and worried at the same time. It's not like him to hesitate at a time like this.
"What is he doing?" Zoe asked. Suddenly, she saw a Tortomon slowly crawling behind the defenseless boy. Takuya was completely unaware of what's going. Without thinking, Zoe sprinted towards her best friend.
"TAKUYA, BEHIND YOU!" She screamed.
The Bearer of Flame turned around and saw a gigantic turtle towering above him. He released a thunderous roar, which made Takuya's body as cold as ice. Fear was written all over his face. His eye widened as if he's seen a ghost. Tortomon lifted up one of his paws, ready to give the young boy a vicious strike, potentially finishing him off for good.
"Grand Dash!" Tortomon shouted. He swung his paw at Takuya.
Thankfully, Zoe was there in time. She tackled his friend to the ground as the two rolled on the dirt, creating a cloud of dust along their tracks. Zoe helped Takuya back to his feet.
"Takuya? Are you alright?" She asked. Zoe looked at him, feeling very concerned. She waited for an answer, but never got one. The look of fear was still on Takuya's face. He looked back at Tortomon, feeling completely terrified.
"Takuya, what's wrong? Why won't you fight?" Zoe asked. Again, Takuya ignored her questions. Zoe's concern was slowly being replaced by anger. She thought about giving Takuya a huge slap to the face to wake him up.
"DADDY!" Someone cried. "DADDY, HELP ME!"
Zoe and Takuya looked behind them and saw a small lion cub with one of its hind legs trapped underneath a rock. The little beast Digimon tried to move, but he was stuck. The rock was too heavy. Zoe looked at the tiny Digimon, and then back at Takuya. She had no idea what's going on inside Takuya's head, but now's not the time to make assumptions.
"Takuya, I'll rescue him! You cover me!"
She ran as fast as she could towards the lion cub Digimon. She got on one knee and placed one of her soft, warm hands on the creature's head. It looked like an ordinary cub with a golden coat, a ball of fiery red hair on his head and, what appears to be, a Holy Ring around his neck. She noticed a couple tears dripping down the poor cub's face.
"Hey, little guy. It's alright. I'm going to get you out."
She dug her fingers underneath the boulder and bended her knees. She used all of her strength, attempting to lift up the huge rock. At first, the rock seemed to be too heavy for a young girl to lift. But she wouldn't give up. She got down low once again and uses her legs to lift the boulder off of the cub's leg. She pushed the heavy rock out of the way and got down to her knees. The little lion was still crying.
"It's okay. Everything's going to be alright." Zoe said softly, wiping a tear off of the creature's face. "What's your name, little one?"
"L... Liollmon." stuttered the Digimon.
Digimon Analyzer:
Name: Liollmon
Level: Rookie
Attacks: Lio Claw; Critical Bite
Description: Liollmon has a strong sense of territoriality, so he doesn't show mercy to those who enter his territory, even if they are the same kind of Digimon. But if threatened, the hair on his head tingles with static electricity, producing a terrifying sound. His Lio Claw attack can slice his enemies into ribbons.
"Daddy. I'm looking for my daddy. Haven't you seen him?" Liollmon asked.
"No, but we can look for him together. What do you say?" smiled Zoe.
But before she could get back on her feet, there was a huge dirt explosion a few feet away from her and Liollmon. A large cloud of dust filled the vicinity. Zoe covered her eyes so that the debris won't get inside. When the smoke had cleared, the girl saw Takuya lying on his stomach, with his D-Tector next to his side. The young woman felt her heart skip a beat
"TAKUYA!" Zoe screamed.
The teenaged boy slowly started coming to his senses. He struggled to get back to his feet. He did manage to stand on one knee. However, a violent stomp from a nearby Tortomon caused a vicious earthquake, sending Takuya back to the ground. He rubbed his injured head and turned his attention to the Champion level Digimon with the same look of terror on his face.
"Takuya! Hurry up and Spirit Evolve!" yelled Zoe. But her words fell on deaf ears. Takuya stood there frozen like a statue. He had never been so scared in his entire life.
"What's the matter with him?" She thought.
Tortomon took another step forward, causing Takuya to drop his D-Tector to the ground. The evil Digimon backed Takuya up into a nearby boulder. The young boy leaned against the rock, still shaking in fear. He looked to his left and to his right for a way out, but Tortomon managed to seal all of the boy's exits. Takuya slowly turned his head and gazed into Tortomon's eyes.
"It's time for me to destroy you, human." Tortomon proclaimed. His shadow covered Takuya's entire body. Finally, Tortomon lifted up one of his paws, ready to strike the Legendary Warrior.
"Takuya, no!" Zoe cried.
"DIE, HUMAN! GRAND DASH!" Tortomon yelled as he swung his paw at the defenseless boy.
"NOOOOOOOOOOOOO!" Takuya cried, as he shielded his face, bracing himself for the end.
"TAKUYAAAAAAAAAA!"
Author's Notes: So that's chapter eleven.
What's going on with Takuya? Can Zoe save him in time? Will our two heroes find the Spirits of Earth before Sinistromon does? These questions will be answered in the next chapter. Stay tuned to find out what happens on the next Digimon Frontier: Chaos Rising.
*Don't forget to review!*