Yo, people. So, listen up; I just started spring break (yeah, college is weird, not that I'm complaining), so, as a treat, I'll upload one chapter a day for this fic. So, that's going to be a whopping 11 chapters until my next quarter starts on the 26th.

Disclaimer: It's disgraceful, isn't it? If I don't put this little label on my stories, saying that my intent is not to claim Digimon asmy intellectual property, I immediately get sued for copyright infringement. No wonder people say this country is messed up.

LAST TIME:
DAICHI: Kiyoko just got done telling us everything that happened to her during her first week in the Digital World when a horde of Bakemon suddenly attacked us. We managed to hold them off until they pulled back. But it wasn't a retreat; it was a chance to control Locomon and throw us off the tracks. Now Isamu, and Kiyoko, and I are seperated. Who knows where we'll end up.

Chapter 29
Monster

Daichi landed on his back to make sure Dracomon didn't touch the snow on the ground. He got up and looked at the Digimon in his arms. "You okay, Dracomon?"

Tiredly, Dracomon responded, "Yeah, but I'm starting to think that idea to attack the Bakemon was a dumb one."

Daichi started shaking his arms. "Stay awake, Dracomon; you don't want to fall asleep out here."

"I can't help it," Dracomon replied. "I get sleepy when I get cold." Daichi remembered that reptiles begin to shut down when the temperature around them drops. He took his gloves off his hands and slipped one over Dracomon's tail and laid the other on his body.

"This might not be much," Daichi admitted, "but it should keep you breathing a few more minutes." He looked around through the falling snow. The wind was still blowing hard, limiting his visibility, but he could see where the mountain began to descend. "If we head that way, we should be able to find the tracks again. With any luck, Locomon's still there."

Due to the thick snow and the cold temperature, Daichi slowly began walking, continuing to carry Dracomon and keeping him awake. He walked for what seemed like hours but there was no sign of any familiar landmarks, not that he could see much anyway.

"Hey!" a voice said. It was faint, but not too far away. It sounded rather gruff. Daichi turned to find the source of the voice. It called out again, saying. "Over here!" Daichi finally found a light coming from the mountain wall. He ran over to it as fast as his legs would allow.

When he got close enough, he saw that the light had come from a cave. In front of it was a large, white-furred Digimon. Daichi thought it looked like a yeti. "Over here, you guys!" it yelled in that same gruff voice. It waved into the cave. Daichi immediately recognized what it was doing and ran into the cave, with the Digimon following him.

"You okay, kid?" it asked when they reached what appeared to be the Digimon's living area.

"Just barely," Daichi admitted. "Dracomon's even worse, though." He motioned to the small dragon in his arms. The Digimon went to get a blanket and Daichi set Dracomon down by a fire in the center of the chamber. He took the gloves off his body and put them back on his own hands. The Digimon returned and wrapped Dracomon in a twine-knitted blanket.

"Thanks," was all Daichi could say. "Will he be okay?"

"I wouldn't worry," the Digimon replied. "Dragons can warm up faster than most reptiles. He should be okay within the hour."

"Glad to hear it," Daichi said. "I'm Daichi, by the way."

"Name's Mojyamon," the Digimon said back. "I gotta tell you, you two got a lot of guts coming up here without proper protection. Either that or rank stupidity."

Daichi tried not to chuckle. "Actually, we didn't expect to be coming up a mountain in the first place. And we were riding a Locomon."

"So why'd you get out of the Locomon?" Mojyamon asked.

"We got attacked by an army of Bakemon," Daichi answered.

"Bakemon?" Mojyamon repeated. "That's odd. They almost never come this far outside Castle Drac."

"Well, I think they never needed a reason to," Daichi said. "You see, I'm a Digi-Destined, and… Wait, that reminds me; you haven't seen two more humans with other Digimon, have you?"

Mojyamon looked away. "Actually, you're the first human I've ever seen."

"Oh," Daichi said disappointedly. "We were heading to Castle Drac because we think a Digi-Agent is there."

"You mean you're trying to take on GranDracmon?" Mojyamon asked in surprise.

"You know its name?" Daichi asked.

"'Who doesn't?' is the real question," Mojyamon said. "He's the only one who makes his presence known. He claims to be, 'Master of the Digital World,' although between you and me, if what I've been hearing about the other Digi-Agents being destroyed is true, he won't be using that title much longer."

"Yeah, that was actually us destroying those Digi-Agents," Daichi said. He looked back at Dracomon. "Me, him, the others…"

There was a short pause before Mojyamon said, "How about I get you some tea. It'll warm you up." Daichi nodded and Mojyamon left the room.

When he came back, he had two cups in his hands. He also claimed to have a cup on hold for Dracomon for when he woke up. Daichi drank and felt warmer and calmer. But he still couldn't remove one fact from his mind: he was now separated from his friends and they probably weren't faring as well as he was.

"These friends of yours sound pretty tough," Mojyamon said after Daichi finished telling his story. "I know you're worried about them, but, just listening to you, I bet they can handle anything GranDracmon may have done."

"What's this GranDracmon like, anyway?" Daichi asked.

"He's got a real ego, that's all I can say," Mojyamon replied. "But he's no idiot; he's smart and knows almost everything that's going on."

"Which is probably how he knew we were coming," Daichi thought aloud.

"He's also in touch with every other Digi-Agent in the Digital World," Mojyamon continued. "He claims to have the master plan and often gives them the information he has. Now, he doesn't say this, but there's a strong chance he's actually the leader of the entire organization."

Which would explain why we dreamed about him and not the others, Daichi thought.

Suddenly, they both heard a groan. They looked at Dracomon and found him waking up. Daichi went over to his partner.

"Dracomon! Are you all right?"

"Ugh, yeah, I'll be fine," Dracomon said. Daichi hugged his partner; his scales felt warm again. Mojyamon offered Dracomon the cup that he had set aside.

"This is Mojyamon," Daichi explained. "He's the one who got us out of that storm." Dracomon took the cup and drank from it.

"Oh yeah," he sighed as he let the warmth flow through him. "That hit the spot."

"Maybe," Daichi said, "but you should take it easy now. Try to conserve as much energy as possible." Daichi spent the next few moments relating to Dracomon everything Mojyamon told him about GranDracmon.

Suddenly, there was a loud moan from the outside of the cave. Mojyamon went to the cave entrance to investigate. "Oh, not good."

"What's wrong?" Daichi asked as he got up.

"Looks like Wendigomon's on the loose again," Mojyamon replied.

"Windigomon?" Daichi pulled out his D-Power and activated the Analyzer.

Daichi found the image of the Digimon; it looked humanoid, but the term "beast" could describe it better. Its arms dragged along the ground and its body seemed to be covered in brown fur in patches on the arms, legs, and torso; where no fur was found, there was red skin. It had two large spikes sticking up from its back and its head was covered in a helmet that had three smaller spikes, as well as ear attachments (or possibly its own; Daichi could not be sure). It had a wide smile that appeared to be drooling. Mojyamon said, "He's a fierce guy, and the result of a dark Digivolution. His Koko Crusher attack will leave no one standing." What actually unnerved Daichi was that Wendigomon's image looked familiar, like he had seen it recently.

He put the D-Power away and said, "I take it you know him?"

"More than I'd like to," Mojyamon said. "He comes around rarely, but when he does, you can expect a lot of tragedy and disaster." Daichi tried to focus though the storm winds and finally saw the dreaded creature. Wendigomon seemed to be sniffing around for something. What worried Daichi the most was that it was walking toward the cave.

"You stay here," Mojyamon told him. He stepped outside and an icicle formed in his hand. "I'll handle him."

"But you said…" Daichi started.

"Listen, there's a reason I know him so well," Mojyamon interrupted and walked further into the storm.

Daichi walked back to Dracomon. "So what do we do?" the dragon asked.

"We are not doing anything," Daichi said. "You only just woke up from near hypothermia."

"Cable Crusher!" a slow, dark voice yelled. Daichi ran back to the cave entrance and saw Mojyamon getting smacked by Wendigomon's large arms. "Koko Crusher!" Two cannons appeared mysteriously on its chest and fired, knocking Mojyamon back. Having done its damage, Wendigomon resumed walking up the mountain slope.

"So, what now?" Dracomon asked. He had gotten up and was at the cave entrance with Daichi.

"Forget it, Dracomon," Daichi said. "I'm not sending you out there. You just barely survived last time!"

"Better than what he's offering," Dracomon returned. "Wendigomon's not just coming up the mountain, but he's also coming toward us." Daichi turned to look at Wendigomon; like Dracomon said, he was facing their part of the mountain. But one thing that struck Daichi's notice more was the creature's silhouette through the vision-limiting snow.

"Wait, now I remember," Daichi said out loud. "Wendigomon's one of the creatures I saw in my dream last night."

"Just another reason for me to take him down," Dracomon said. Daichi turned to argue still, but Dracomon cut him off. "Look, he's obviously after us, and we stand a better chance facing him out there than in here. You said it yourself, you bear the Crest of Acceptance. So accept that this is something I have to do."

Daichi stared at Dracomon. "Really, Wormmon is starting to rub off on you."

Dracomon just sighed. "When this is over, remind me to get him for that."

"I can tell I'll regret this," Daichi said as he pulled out his D-Power and Blue Card, "but I guess that just means I've accepted it as well."

Digi-Modify! Secret Digivolution, activate! Dracomon Split Digivolve to… Coredramons!

Daichi cringed as both Coredramons went out into the snow. "Complete Core Blast!" They shot out a merging fireball that hit Wendigomon and forced it back. "Cable Crusher!" Wendigomon held both its arms out and swung at the dragons. "Double Strike Bomber!" The Coredramons flipped over and blocked the arms with their tails.

"Koko Crusher!" Wendigomon brought out its cannons and fired. The force generated by them caused the two dragon Digimon to pull back, with Blue lifting Green into the air. The energy blasts continued on to the face of the mountain, dislodging some of the snow from it.

"One more blast like that," Daichi said to himself, "and he can bring the whole mountain down. Wait… That's it!" He turned to the airborne Coredramons. "Guys, get ready for a big avalanche!" He placed his hand on his crest and the card appeared in it.

Digi-Modify! Crest Digivolution activate! Coredramons Twin Digivolve to… Wingdramon! Groundramon!

"Groundramon!" Daichi yelled. "See if you can bring the mountain on top of him!" Wingdramon, who was still carrying Groundramon as they Digivolved, took him up to the mountain wall where Wendigomon's last blast hit.

"I'll keep him busy," Wingdramon said. "Do what you can." Wingdramon flew off toward Wendigomon. "Wing Blast!" He flapped his wings and blew the creature back.

Meanwhile, on the mountain wall, Groudramon raised his claws. "Scrapless Claw!" He stuck them into the snow repeatedly. The snow became loose and began to slide downward. "Incoming!" he yelled. Wingdramon left Wendigomon, leaving the monster in confusion, and swooped down to grab the barely conscious Mojyamon.

The snow continued its downward course. Wendigomon saw it and tried to fire another Koko Crusher into it. Daichi couldn't help snickering at this futile attempt. The snow fell onto Wendigomon, who was carried down the mountain.

Wingdramon flew to the cave entrance and let Mojyamon down. Groundramon slid down the mountain, meeting up with everyone else. Wingdramon and Groundramon converted into energy and reformed into Dracomon.

Mojyamon finally regained his senses and looked around. "Did I miss something?"

"Long story short, Mojyamon," Dracomon replied, "we just took out Wendigomon."

"Technically," Daichi said, directing this word toward Dracomon, "we caught him in an avalanche. But I'd be amazed to find him still walking after that."

"Well, even if he does, he's smart enough to know when he's had enough. Still, you two must be tougher than you look," Mojyamon said. "Maybe you guys can defeat GranDracmon, after all." Before Daichi could thank him for the compliment, they all heard a loud whistle. At first, they thought Wendigomon was back, but as the sound was heard once more, Mojyamon said, "That's odd. The tracks are still a Digi-Mile away."

Suddenly, a white line appeared, taking the appearance of what Daichi recognized as the tracks at the station. "You were saying?" Dracomon said smugly. With the tracks having suddenly appeared, Locomon was not far behind. His engine finally stopped in front of the cave.

"Thank goodness," he said. "For a while, I thought I'd lost you. Wouldn't look too good for me if I'd lost some of my passengers."

"Good to see you too, Locomon," Daichi said. "Hey, you got Isamu and Kiyoko in there as well?"

"Sorry," he said, "but my track record is just one human right now, including you." Daichi bowed his head in disappointment. "But if I found you, the others might be found too. Hop on." One of the cars behind Locomon opened.

Daichi turned to Mojyamon. "Thanks for helping us out, Mojyamon."

"My pleasure," the Digimon answered. "Good luck finding the others, and with GranDracmon." With these words, Daichi and Dracomon climbed into the car and Locomon sped off.

Once comfortably seated, Daichi said to Locomon, "So, how did you find us anyway?"

"I've been looking all over the mountain for you guys," Locomon answered, "blowing my whistle as an attention-grabber. When I'd heard the avalanche, I decided to check it out."

"But how did you get there in the first place?" Dracomon asked. "I mean, those tracks seemed a little outside what you could do."

"I don't suppose it would be too childish to say, 'A wizard did it?'" Locomon quipped.

"A wizard?" Dracomon repeated. He looked at Daichi.

"I'd say Kiyoko still has someone looking out for her," he responded.


That's one pair down, but where are the others? Are they as lucky as Daichi? Or perhaps as unlucky? You'll have to find out on the next Digimon: Digital Monsters!

See you all tomorrow (figuratively speaking of course).

This is CF signing out.