A/N: The longest chapter so far! Maybe even a tad bit too long, to be honest. Hope you still enjoy it!
Disclaimer: Digimon belongs to Bandai & Toei Animation.
"This is not the Digital World."
The notion drew Takeru back from the darkness the sea and the voices created. Away from the promise of pain and perdition.
"This is not the Digital World," Taichi repeated louder. It still wasn't an accusation but a genuinely flabbergasted statement. It was accompanied by Joe's "Where are we?"
Takeru focused on pulling the tablet from his bag.
Maybe he should have responded immediately. But the area was affecting himself as well, even more strongly than the others, even if they didn't know that. There was a relentless feeling of drowning just beneath the surface, and, for him, with his ankles being washed by the small waves, it was more important to get a direction than take part in the chit-chat.
"This is the place where we…" TK began slowly before being prompted by Taichi.
"Where what?"
"Where Hikari disappeared," Koushirou answered, having clearly managed to put the two plus two together. The notion made everyone take notice of Hikari and Ichijouji's tense postures. Ken swallowed hard while Wormmon tugged his trouser leg to pull the boy from the place his mind was held captive.
"Correct," Takeru confirmed, not caring to cushion the shock that followed his words. Everyone's heads snapped to him, but Hikari beat everyone with her hesitant comment.
"I don't think it's fully the same." The comment didn't weaken the shared feelings of anxiety or the sense of being at loss, but it generated a lighter feeling, that things weren't as bad as they could have been.
Takeru heard Miyako's 'What do you mean?' response, and let the silence follow it, appreciating the rest the following seconds provided him by allowing him to stay outside the conversation.
"Technically that was most likely Guard Level two or three, we are still on the edges of the first level." Takeru finally clarified.
"You knew we were going to end up here?"
Takeru grimaced at the idea of Taichi openly challenging him from so early on, but battled with himself to let it slide. "We are trying to get to the Digital World. The original portals are not in our control. The Guard Levels with the slight distortions are closer to the Human World than the Digital World is, reality-hopping wise it's the easiest."
"But if we are in a completely different world..." Daisuke continued thinking along the same lines as Taichi.
"—Or a dimension," Koushirou added.
"Technically we are in the Digital World, just a secluded part of it," Takeru specified. "We shouldn't stay loitering around." He tabbed a few times on his tablet, sent a quick note to Angemon and started scrolling through the information of the surrounding area.
"We should head to the forest," Taichi concluded after a small silence, taking a collective look over the group, seeking for consensus.
"No. We should walk through the clearing that begins a little bit further on the beach." Takeru negated, raising his eyes from the tablet in mid-sentence.
"But that would leave us with no cover." Joe commented as the polite version of the 'Are you crazy?' that Takeru could read on more than one face.
He sighed. "The things that live here prefer a shadowy forest over an open field. They also prefer the cover it provides for them. Only the most powerful creatures roam around, they might give us some trouble but it will save us from more constant attacks. Okay?"
There was a long silence.
"And how do we get to the Digital World?"
Takeru wasn't sure whether the question was genuine or a test for his trustworthiness, either way, he didn't really care.
"We need to move closer to the boundary between the areas and find a pathway through. The pathways are quite few and afar." 'Not the least because Angemon has been fortifying the walls for the past few weeks' Takeru added mentally.
Eventually, the group seemed to come to an agreement and accept his words. This sparked a tiny flicker of unhappy relief in him as they began their journey on the beach. The footprints he left in the wet sand were already heavy enough.
The wind was harsher than it had been in the future and his younger self had to hold onto his hat every so often to prevent it from being blown away. It was clear that no-one liked the area and he could even hear Patamon and Tailmon's notes to utter the feeling out loud. Ichijouji was the quietest of the group and Takeru had to keep an eye on him to check that the boy hadn't fallen behind of the group or become catatonic altogether.
Their steady progress was thus hindered by the need to stop often to keep the group tight and safe.
Angemon had warned him that it might rain but seeing the dark clouds over the sea fortified the feeling of looming peril. The nightmare of the walls collapsing and the darkness flooding to both worlds crossed his mind as a momentary jab of a knife but the danger wasn't imminent at the moment.
They had been walking for quite some time before finally reaching the open land that could provide them a path away from the beach. There wasn't much anything besides the treeline quarter of a mile to their left. They had passed a shantytown to their right many miles ago and he had felt the inquiring looks others had given to the grey building aside his own much more monitoring gaze.
In the sense, it was a relief that Angemon had offered to use the old methods to alter the time difference between the worlds. The emergency procedure gave them time to cross the barrier and hopefully fix the situation in the Digital World. The small changes in the system would cause a snowball effect were the existing distortions would evoke the Celestial defense that would increase the time difference in similar way the original distortion did. It had been originally a precaution against human-based threats, giving time for the Digital World to annihilate or adapt to the changes.
At the current time, the area was affecting everyone's mood so much that no-one had uttered a word for over an hour — despite their stop for a snack. Sora's words thus felt like an explosion when she finally broke the silence while hand taking a piece of fruit from the plastic container. "You mentioned the Guard levels before, what are they?"
He meticulously put the onigiri back to its wrapping before answering; it was very clear that despite the superficial unresponsiveness, everyone was listening to the exchange. "Metaphorically it depicts Dante's seven circles of Hell," he began, earning a few taken aback reactions, "–in the Digital World's perspective it's sort of prison. Digimons that disrupt the order of things are banished from the mainland so that their effects are limited to these designated areas. Similar to the human concept, there are seven levels, each farther away from the area we perceive as the Digital World. The more serious the crime, the deeper they are condemned — HolyAngemon's Heaven's Gate tosses Digimons here." Takeru added, making many of the group to glance at Patamon who was currently sitting next to TK.
"Piedmon?"
Takeru nodded to Joe's question. "Or what used to be." A feeling on uneasiness rolled through his back and shoulders.
"Used to be?"
"The darkness changes the beings thrown here. They become one with it. Get swallowed by it or relish it so much that it becomes their blood and bone."
His words silenced the older teens from making any further questions, leaving an uncomfortable, dread-filled silence.
"The Divermons we saw metamorphosed into something different the last time we were here," TK commented quietly.
"Darkness doesn't have a form."
He threw the last bit of onigiri into his mouth, and stopped himself from asking if the words scared them, keeping the budding mania to himself.
Miles after miles were passed in the persistent silence. They had stopped to take cover after spotting a looming figure on the edge of the horizon, barely visible under the low-hanging clouds. It had begun to drizzle an hour earlier, leaving an imprint on everyone's clothes.
"Are we going to walk much further?"
"We should stop for today." Yamato continued on the topic after Sora's innocent question. Sora was not a person to ask for a break for herself but she was worried over the youngest Chosen. Everyone was getting tired, and the oldest boys had taken turns for the past hour and a half to carry Iori on their back.
It wasn't wise for them to stop but Takeru swallowed his opposition, knowing they still had over two hours of the journey left. "Sure."
They eventually stopped near the forest line. It was getting darker and the temperature hadn't been too warm in the first place. This only added to the gloominess and coldness of the damp clothes. "We need to gather some wood to spark it up," Taichi noted, looking around and conquering the small patch of land they had with his demeanor. Despite the authority, it was clear that Taichi was feeling of the absence of Agumon.
"No fire," Takeru stated, pushing the bag strap over his head, feeling the pain from the movement. "Sun rarely, if ever, shines here. There are no natural light sources. If we make a fire it will be visible for miles, maybe even dozens of miles. The energy of it a lot farther than that. It will make a note of us to every single creature in the vicinity, like blowing a whistle and waving a giant red flag." Takeru hurried to explain to stop the objections. "The temperature is not fatal. It's better to be slightly drenched than eaten." He concluded, noting the effects the moist sea-wind and the lack of sun had had on their clothes, fur, and hair.
Everyone submitted to the words and Takeru ignored the 'This sucks.' that Daisuke remarked and the extra seconds that Taichi stood unmoving on his spot.
In the end, they put up a tiny camp, agreeing to his terms that at least one older and one younger Digidestined should stay up with him, while the others tried to get some sleep. Most of the group was still awake, more or less miserable under hats, gloves, extra jumpers, and disposable rain-ponchos. The Digimons were more accustomed to cold weather conditions, but the combination of water and cold was novel even to them. Takeru kept the laugh to himself at the sight of Veemon, Armadillomon and others having a leg, pawn or a wing sticking out under the bundle clothes their partners had pampered them in.
"It seems so harsh."
Hikari's voice was quiet and only a few paid attention to her words. While the rest just raised their brows as a question, Miyako broke the silence with a small and teeth-clattering, "What is?"
Takeru could guess the answer beforehand, despite that Hikari's words were a reply to a discussion that had passed hours ago.
"To be imprisoned here, forever."
The young girl's knees were drawn closer to her chest with Tailmon resting on her lap. Hikari's brown hair was just short enough to be framed by the clear poncho, whereas Miyako's hair battled against her will to be on the mercy of the soft drops despite her best efforts. Takeru let his eyes sweep over the direction they had came from, noting the sadness in the young teen's tone. He could remember the times when he had thought the same thing — that at times — he would still question Angemon's ethics over the matter. But it wasn't his call. "The Digital World has its own order of things, we have very little say in that." He replied in what had to be one of his most honest and gentlest admissions of the day, despite the throbbing pain in his left arm.
"Law of nature?" Koushirou asked, making Takeru look at him ponderingly.
"Maybe in a way, although the wording lacks the refinement."
"It's surprising that the Digital World is so organized like this," Joe answered eyes following the same lines Takeru's eyes had less than a minute earlier.
It was more of a statement than a question, and Takeru chose not to comment back. The difference between the levels of knowledge making him wary. The tranquilizer he had thrown into his food unnoticed by the others made him feel calmer, more distant to the current situation. Moreover, a fleeting line of thought of all the times they had used this area to cross between the Words with Angemon was rifled through in his head. Angemon's worry, outward fright, of losing him in the area provided a comforting feeling. However, as expected, the mood was instantly overridden by the memory of HolyAngemon's distress after he had actually gotten too close to the Heaven's Gate a few years back. Angemon never got angry at him outside the times when he acted like a jerk and started a fight, but the dogmatism behind Angemon's rebuking made the point come across. And, he was left with the feeling of failure to meet the expectations set to him.
His thoughts continued on their jumbled, sometimes distant, sometimes sparking up travel from the unknown corners of his mind to his awareness, amidst the tangible darkness around them that was only illuminated by the weak radiation from between the clouds. He had dismissed the offers to sleep while others would stay up, and by the fourth dismissal the offers had died down. Sometime during the night, the rain had stopped. Still, everyone was wrapped in a variety of coital positions to stay warm on the damp field.
"TK, wake up."
His fitful world of sleep was gradually diminishing from his consciousness only to pave way for being cold, wet and hungry. Honestly, the feelings had pierced his mind throughout the night but intermittent sleep had offered him brief escapes.
"TK, I'm sorry, but it's your turn to keep watch."
TK opened his eyes groggily, seeing Miyako's yawning face, her hand shook his shoulder gently. The campsite was still dark despite that his watch-turn was the last one. Patamon mumbled an objection as he pushed himself upwards, the wet, hard ground feeling startlingly inviting after yesterday's trek. Joe was already up, sitting hunched underneath his blanket.
TK thanked Miyako for the wake-up, gathering the sleeping Patamon in his arms and moving the few meters closer to the other two awake people; although he could see from the movements of the others that many seemed to be sleeping the same light and cognizant sleep he had shared a few content minutes earlier.
His older self had a dark cloak or a wide blanket on his shoulders; he wasn't fully sure of what the garment was. The man didn't greet him but looked at him for a good time — much longer than he would have preferred in his yet to be vanquished mistrust. Eventually, they settled for a silent and boring vigil. There was nothing to do, no fire to watch over, and everyone had stayed so close by that they couldn't really keep up an active chatter.
"Have you slept at all?"
Takeru contemplated Joe's quiet question for a second, "Short naps. It's quite normal when keeping watch."
"It can't be good for a long-term."
"Better than to be eaten." Takeru hmphed. Despite that the response was just as fast as the first one, something in the words gave TK an impression that the notion was much more deliberate.
He himself didn't like this place at all. There was something similar to the whirlpool in the ocean but it was only a faint whisper. What scared him more was the darkness around them, the abnormality of the scenery and the talks they had had of the place. He wasn't alone like he had been in the amusement park three years ago, but this wasn't a place where he was supposed to be either.
Takeru checked his electric device without any clear expression.
"Will we arrive at Digital World today?" Joe asked quietly.
Takeru gave a slow nod his eyes still on the device, before opening his mouth to answer but closing it immediately, eyes darting somewhere on his left.
They followed suit with Joe. TK's eyes couldn't focus instantly and he heard the Digimon, thing, before finding it with his eyes. There was a quiet sound that sounded closest to an exotic bird taken to a horror movie than a shriek or a melody. The noise was almost cackling and he had never heard a Digimon make a noise anything close to it. Finally, his eyes managed to find the shadowy, flying figure, probably two or three miles away from them based on his estimation.
Despite that they were all keeping an eye on the figure, Joe appeared the most shaken under the threat. However, even TK turned to his older self, his own hand curling slightly over Patamon's form. However, his older self gave him a minute shake of the head, eyes never fully leaving the object of their interest. TK couldn't help but wonder what kind of a Digimon was out there, lurking to get them. Were the Digimons more powerful here? Did it know that they were here? How fast could it reach them?
In the instant, the withered trees seemed to close them in, and despite that the feeling of coldness was pushed far back in his mind, the rustling leaves and the wind were acute sensations.
A new, closer, cackle made him look at his older self again, who still hadn't taken his eyes off the figure, expression neutral, but body tensed.
The third noise was the closest, less than a half-a-mile from them, but Takeru just raised his hand to indicate that they should adhere from action. As on cue, TK could see the Birdramon-sized figure fly over and continue its way over the forest, letting him catch up his breath with Joe.
The next hour passed by much more calmly, but the close-call made all the noises and illusions louder in its wake. The morning was finally beginning to dawn — as much as it did amidst the constant clouds — and the earliest risers were starting to wake-up and eat crumbs of their food supply.
TK had already taken a slight snack during their vigil and resolved to watch Patamon's eating. His older shelf appeared bored again, but not in a detached sort of way. The effect was contagious as a yawn, and his own ears tried to pick up any perceptible noises.
He managed to hear a few rustles that were barely detectable before Takeru's voice stopped him in mid-thought.
"They'll jump up."
For the first millisecond, everyone was confused for Takeru's apparent answer to no-one, but with everyone trying to understand the words and looking up from their snacks, they could notice Angemon behind Koushirou and Miyako's back; making everyone, indeed, jump a little from the surprise. Taichi and Sora calling Angemon's name as if to confirm their eyes.
"Young," Angemon said as a discussion piece, clearly directing his words to Takeru, while his gaze surveyed the group.
As Angemon walked around the group to where Takeru sat, TK couldn't tear his eyes away. He could sense that everyone else as well, including Yamato who had woken up from his slight sleep thanks to the commotion, was taking in Angemon's appearance. Seeing Angemon always brought a sense of calmness in him — a higher protector who would look after him and offer guidance. Whether a product of Angemon's heroism, or simply a culturally etched image, or a combination of both, the feeling was one of a kind. However, he couldn't overlook the changes in his partner's appearance. Beneath the immediate resemblance, something in Angemon carried a different air. The weathers, while still white, had more rustle in them — a mark of wear and tear he had never even considered possible. There was a jagged scar starting from Angemon's left cheek and continuing its path under while skin-tight fabric. It wasn't angry red in color, but visible enough to generate a sympathetic feeling of phantom pain in his own neck.
He didn't want to envision what other scars his partner's future doppelganger might have been forced to acquire.
Apart from the scar and the wings, there were, in general, few more pieces of armor, a few more straps in the outfit. TK knew that Angemon wasn't the type to openly sport his stance or battle hardenedness, but for the very reason, the aura was there. The complete lack of surprise, the neutrality and the indifference with which Angemon was taking the situation in, resembled TK of an action movie hero.
With Veemon still discreetly elbowing Daisuke, Angemon dropped the identical carryall bag next to Takeru's one, and accepted the thermos Takeru handed out to him out of old custom. Angemon didn't pay attention to their attention, but he gazed at TK for a longer than a quick glance.
Angemon drank almost one-third of the thermos in one go, wiping his mouth with his right hand.
The juice spout pouches and energy bars disappeared slowly into everyone's mouth, despite the fact that no-one paid any clear interest on what they were eating, not to mention what it tasted like.
"The path looks good?"
Angemon snorted at Takeru's words, opening Takeru's bag and taking a lot of stuff out to transfer it to his much emptier one: "Should be. We'll have to decide where we want to continue from the Forest Entry, once we get there."
Takeru tapped his fingers against the thermos in his hands.
"The connection pathways?"
"The two near the White Sandstream River and the Northern Tree Reservoir are closed. Singular ones are left."
The two discussed solely between themselves, not even bothering to include the rest of the Chosen into it. TK could only watch the act of utmost meticulousness, in other words, Angemon packing his carryall bag, before Koushirou piped into the discussion, "But we'll meet the Digimons in the Forest Entry?" earning a nod from the two.
Angemon proved out to be an even brisker walker than Takeru. Not to mention that they didn't stop nearly as often to navigate. They did take breaks, during which Takeru focused on his tablet but it seemed to be less for finding the right direction as much as it was for something else.
Angemon hadn't said anything to them but TK got the impression that it was to refrain from commenting their pace or age. His quite open surveying was revealing him that the only person whom Angemon seemed sincerely and acutely care was his older self — despite the fact that the man wavered the least in the pace they walked in.
Despite the worn-out and concerned looks, the young teens exchanged once in a while, their spirits were raised by every mile they covered further away from the sea. The landscape was less bare and the air felt easier to breathe.
Ultimately, they reached a spot near tall boulders, and after checking the surroundings for any possible threats, Angemon began writing in the sand with his staff in a similar manner Takeru had in the Human World the day before.
The crossing itself didn't feel any different, but the change of environment was instantaneous.
The sun was shining.
And there were colors.
Miyako even took her helmet off in awe of the life around them. It didn't take a long trek before they could hear familiar voices calling for them.
"Taichi!"
Their partner Digimons rushed from behind the trees, and Agumon huddled to Taichi's open arms.
With Patamon on top of his head, TK felt the others' relief strongly. A quick look around proved that the other younger Chosen shared his sentiment, smiles on their faces as they watched the older Chosen's obvious happiness.
However, Palmon didn't have a partner to greet. "Don't worry, we'll find Mimi soon." Miyako comforted the green plant-Digimon and picked the Digimon in her arms.
Even Takeru and Angemon watched the reunion with understanding.
"How will we get Mimi here?" Sora asked once everyone had settled down.
"We should move closer to a portal. We can try to work on it with Koushirou." Takeru answered amidst his quiet discussion with Angemon.
"But why didn't we all then come through a portal?"
"Because unfortunately, I lack the technical expertise. Plus the journey was safer with more Digimons with us. We still don't know whether it will work or when, so…" Takeru answered to Iori.
"We should head on," Angemon added, his voice neutral but unyielding.
"Can't we take a small break?" Sora asked, complementing Taichi's "Now?".
"It's not a long journey and you can have plenty of rest once we reach the spot, okay?"
TK was surprised that the rebuttal was given by Angemon; the Digimons rarely, if ever, herded their trips in the Digital World. His older shelf's non-reaction was another thing that caught his eye; he had gotten used to that Angemon or Pegasusmon pursued to guide his actions only when he couldn't see past his motivations himself, thus leaving him surprised and forced to reflect the angel Digimon's words at critical times. His older self's lack of surprise, on the other hand, spoke of singlemindedness, preconceived agreement.
He could see his reaction mirrored on the faces of others as they weren't accustomed to arguing against their partners.
Their destination was an idyllic, small island amidst crossing streams. There was some forest, small patches of land and rocks on the north-western side. Near the south side sat a 90's computer, drawing Takeru and Koushirou's focus.
Gomamon and Tailmon were fishing while Agumon started a fire. The sun was less blistering here and the wind offered a soft breeze. All in all, the place was a stark difference compared to the Guard Levels.
TK watched his older self and Koushirou discuss over the computer, they both staring and occasionally pointing something on the pineapple laptop's screen.
Angemon had disappeared from view once they had arrived. However, no-one paid any clear heed, happy just to be able to sit down, eat and relax.
Eventually, Takeru walked closer to the group.
"Any luck?" Taichi asked, two fishbones on the ground next to him.
The same feeling TK had had from their first meeting sprung to life as he watched the polite smile on the man's face. "I'll leave Koushirou to it."
"You're leaving Koushirou to ––you're leaving?" Yamato exclaimed dumbfounded after a collective silence.
"You are just going to leave us here?" Taichi questioned, right hand held up in a stopping signal as if the mere gesture could freeze the situation. Angemon had already hoisted the bag on his back when Takeru had walked to the group.
"You are actually leaving? Where? — Why?"
"This is not your battle, nor is it your war," Angemon stated to silence the cacophony of questions. The words weren't dismissing in tone but they were in meaning.
"You should stay on the island, it's safe." Angemon continued, helping the second carryall on Takeru's back. "Koushirou and myself have a way to contact us if anything happens." Takeru continued while grimacing faintly from the weight of the bag.
"How long will you be gone?" Yamato asked, standing up.
"It's impossible to estimate. Might be a few days, might be a few weeks or more." Takeru answered curtly.
Everyone, humans and Digimons alike, were left dumbfounded to stare after them.
"You can't just leave us here!" Daisuke shouted to the two gradually disappearing backs, never getting a response.
A/N: Juice spout pouches (if that is the correct term) are a very rare item in my country and I didn't know the correct term in my native tongue either. It was fun to try and find it from the web with word like 'jelly', 'plastic' and 'Japan'.