Chapter 12: The Realm of Data
"Everyone's here." Firion notes. He looked around the members gathered in the room. It was only them six inside right now. "Queen Hilda's in another meeting right now, so she requested I brief everyone about the mission." He explains in advance.
Another mission? Vivi turned to look at Al, who was discharged from the hospital a week and a half after that visit 'with' the amnesiac Digimon, Ryu. He appeared fine in terms of appearance, the recovery sigil on his body long gone from his platings. Al looked over at Vivi, waving an arm to affirm the little Black Mage that he was alright. Even though in his mind, he didn't want his friends to tackle the world they'll go to with no knowledge of what to expect. Firion began his debriefing and showed the destination to be a sector of the area part of the world that still stands well. "...At this Sector, begin the investigation at an area we are dubbing the 'Beginning Village'."
Noct looked at the image of that world. He could spot 1s and 0s? These 1s and 0s seemed to be part of that world. "Last time we were there, we went to that destroyed section... so the other half not destroyed... Is it still..." he questions.
"A greater probability of safety. The survivors, if they are still present there, may be able to provide information about the calamity that befell their world." Firion explains. He turned back to the target sector. "It may have been in a war during then, so there might still be some opposing factions. But at least, we know that this area is unaffiliated. "
"That's right..." Al nodded and crossed his arms. "Before it was destroyed, it was in a war between its kingdoms. Because once Heavensfall ended, the data around the region became scarce that drove the inhabitants to wage war against each other over who would remain as the one to live on this world."
Opposing forces... That would mean that they would easily treat anyone, native or foreign beings, as their enemy... Will they be alright?
Firion held something with him. It was a pair of green goggles. "It was found in an quick investigation of the destroyed sectors. It might have belonged to someone, or it could lead to a breakthrough." Firion told them. "Someone inside could analyze this set of goggles, maybe they could extract information it has experienced."
Vivi looked at those goggles. Didn't he see those goggles before?
Noct nodded and wondered when will they start this mission. Were they waiting for someone? "...Uh, are we gonna go off anytime soon?" He asks.
Firion looked at his watch. "...He is late." He remarks.
"He?"
"Ah! Aaaaah! I forgot the alarm!!"
They heard the door slam from behind. They turned to see the Digimon panting and sweat trickling down his shirt that his well-built muscles could be seen through them. He must have been in a hurry and those large malfunctioning wings made it hard for him to get to this place.
"S-Sorry, I snoozed it again..." Ryu apologized.
"Again?"
"...5 times." Ryu confessed while stroking the horn on his chin.
Firion sighs. "You cannot continue to repeat this from time to time." He reminds.
The dragon looked away in embarrassment... his tardiness could be an issue alongside his impatience. "...I was having a hard time sleeping..." Ryu confessed. "Don't know why, but the dreams I had were weird."
"What form of dreams? You could seek consultancy and describe it to them."
"Like some sort of army and I was with pretty girl..." Ryu began, his scales turning redder when he uttered "pretty girl." "I don't know much else. Just that I was fighting alongside her."
"As I've said... You can describe these dreams to the consultants. In my opinion, at best: it could be a description of history. But at worst: superstition."
Ryu wondered about it then nodded. He turned and jumped upon spotting Al. "Hey, you're alright!" He spoke, nudging the Eidolon by the shoulder. "How are you? Did those fruits help?"
"Well, I am..." Al muttered, taken aback by how youthful this Examon was despite his age being the same as the rest. "But...I appreciate the thought. Please, you don't have to spend much. It isn't your fault that I got injured."
"I am just happy to help," Ryu replied. "Besides, that's what heroes are supposed to do."
"To be a hero?" Al wondered.
Ryu stroke his horn again. "...Well, something like that." Ryu muttered. "I am not a hero yet, just some rookie with this power. But...I need to climb up the ranks if I want to be one."
Vivi wanted to say something, but he silently shook his head.
"You will be one day," Al encouraged. "For now, it is an honor to fight by your side."
"Yeah! ...So...Where are we off to again?"
"...The Digital World..." Vivi decides to answer.
The team of six stepped onto cleanly polished stone flooring as they left the portal. They took in the appearance of the Beginning Village that was set as the destination. It appears to be a world, a giant realistic dream for children to play and enjoy themselves with the assortment of buildings decorated as stuffed animals or constructions of toys.
"This... is really... uh, awkward. I already feel like we already aren't welcome here." Locke honestly spoke.
"..." Ryu just remained silent. This place...felt nostalgic. The buildings... the decorations... there really must have been a lot of playing around with children, perhaps he even was part of the activities... Yet, only feelings were brought to him. Not memories.
This place... He had this feeling... he has been here before...! But... how?
"It was known as where Digimon were born," Al explains with the rest turning to him. "It was from the information I got from the late king of the Digital World. Palladium.. I didn't know what happened to him now. Why did he disappear? Along with his Royal Knights."
"...Palladium? Royal Knights?" Ryu held his head when he heard about the Royal Knights. Why did it jugged his mind?
"Palladium is the protector of this Digital World, as well as its king," Al explained. "He also founded a group of knights with him called the Royal Knights, which formed eleven among the most powerful Digimon who existed at that time. They had been defending the Digital World for years. But now...They're gone once Heavensfall ended."
Even when Heavensfall ended, its effect affected several worlds. This world was among those affected by it. Now, it was partially destroyed. What should be done to stop this war? "..." Ryu looked at Al. "Am I...A Royal Knight?"
"...Your evolution is one." Al answered. "But you aren't part of the Royal Knights I spoke of. Nobelium was his name."
Ryu remained silent and then looked away. That name, why was that name...so...familiar? Noct watched him ponder Al's words and the area around them.
"Looks like... nothing's dangerous or of notice yet..." He notes, surveying from where they stood. Maybe they really should begin covering more ground...
Just as he said that, he kicked something hard. It was hard as a rock that Noct felt his foot hurt. "Ahh...!" His hands shot down and held his foot. Reopening his shut eyes from instinctual reaction, he stares at what he hit.
It was...An egg? The egg was as large as an ostrich's egg but it wasn't fragile. "What the..." He looked around it. Just perfect oval roundness, yet it was capable of achieving equilibrium. He picked it up, surprised that despite its hardness, it was very light. "Just... what is this?" He wonders, looking under it. No cracks there either... He hadn't realized that the others have already went on ahead away from him. He moved his head back to look at the egg again, turning it around and seeing a crack and turning it agai-
...A crack?
I shall hand you over the Emblem of the Dragon.
...Chomp!
"Hmm... Nothing else here..." Stella notes to herself. "For an habitant area, it doesn't have any inhabitants around the settlement..." This village was untouched by the war. She wondered why, was it because everything was born here? Or that none had chosen to procreate to bear a new life in the time of war.
No, that just can't be... could it? It could... be possible for those theories to be factual.
She continued walking, when she heard a voice.
I shall hand over the Emblem of Light to you.
"Huh?" She stopped walking and she looked around her. Was that someone? Is someone else other than them inside this settlement? As she turned around to look, she spotted an egg. Lying there, alone. "An egg?" She examined it. Was it there because two procured life? That should be the case, should it? Beings made of digital elements, yet they are still quite organic in features...
She went there and held the egg. At her touch, a crack formed onto the shell.
"Hm?" The shell's cracking already? Is everything within it already prepared to step into breathing land?
"Uninhabited land..." Al muttered while he looked around for anyone. But even as his colossal size would allow it, his vision didn't capture any lifeforms inhabiting the village. The buildings already felt empty enough, but the streets, the outside lands... all having no one else other than just them here..
"What happened, while we were gone..?" He murmurs to himself, contemplating the feeling of widespread desolation after the news. No... he mustn't think so negatively... There must be something to tell them answers. He took a look at the building beside him at his current height.
I shall hand you the Emblem of Machine.
Al went toward it and held it close. A child, ready to be born. "Homeostasis?" His large palm could feel each pulse as more cracks spread around the shell until it was surrounded with intertwining of each and every crack as possible as it could.
"Why...Am I...a Digidestined...?"
Locke landed down from one building with a shrug. No one was there. "Can't believe it... No one's really here..." He observed from his spot. "Did the others come up with any luck? Better go check on them.
Just as he went to regroup wiith his friends...
I shall hand you the Emblem of the Bird.
"Huh?" He looked around, who said that? But as he did, he didn't notice a chain of events from an elevated area that had an egg cracking as it tumbled down from a slope before it's shadow was overhead of Locke's position before he took notice of the shadow and looked up... And was promptly smacked by an egg that was as hard as stone at the face. Locke was thankful about having a durability better than an average human or else his head would had been smashed like a tomato.
As he fell back, the egg burst open.
Vivi waddled around the village, his hands wrapped around an egg he found during his search. An lonely egg in the silent village... He felt really bad about leaving it, maybe he could find it's parents... It should have parents, right?
He wondered about his own parents, if he had any. All life were born because of the love of two people who shared an eternal bond by a ritual of pure physical connection. This egg must be the product of love or something else entirely. Vivi often wondered the reproduction of Digimon. Whether they have genders for beings made of data.
How does it work? Does it work the same way as do humans and many non-humans? Or does it form by themselves?
He didn't know and wondered if there were any texts in the Great Library to show him. He decided to return to his friends when...
I shall hand you the Essence of X.
"H-Huh?" Vivi looked around. Was that someone? Is someone else in this village? This might be good news for everyone-
His thoughts were interrupted as he felt a shake to make him yelp from surprise, refocusing his eyes onto what: the egg on his arms.
He saw cracks spread from the top. It was, it was hatching!
"Nothing here..." Ryu sighed with disappointment while he laid on the ground. Those stupid wings again... He stared at the sun above him. He wondered about what to do. Was this world...his home? What was he forgetting? Those questions filled his mind before taking out the pair of goggles... what this item meant for him.
Ryu looked shocked when before the group could leave, Firion handed the pair to him. Ryu wondered about its size being wider than the man holding them. Heck, it should be too heavy for him to even carry it with one hand.
"I'm not sure about these goggles, it might belong to someone out there. Though you may not remember what you could have been, I think you should hold onto these."
Why him? He was shown to be somewhat untrustworthy with something important with his impatience and negligence. Heck, with things he displayed, trusting him to handle things was the last thing Ryu would thought of them doing. He gave a confused look and pointed at himself with one claw.
"Yes, you. Again, these may belong to an inhabitant there. It could give a feeling to you, an inhabitant from that world."
Firion tossed the goggles to him. The sudden throw caused Ryu to stumble around, to prevent the goggles from falling to the ground. Once he managed to secure it, he held it close and sighed with relief that it was okay.
"I hope these will provide answers, for you especially."
"Answers..." Ryu let out an exhale. "I wonder if I should wear them."
Raising his legs up, he pushed himself up. Looking at the pair, he stretched the garter, placed it behind his head between some of the shorter horns, and fit the lenses on his eyes. He whistled, they fit him perfectly.
"Hey, th-"
He was cut off from his remark when his vision was filled with 1s and 0s, spiralling his mind into a migraine that he held his head tight. The pain was unbearable. His wings, that used to be dead weight, began to spasm uncontrollably. Ryu screamed in pain. The goggles...they were uploading something.
"Second Class, Ryuunosuke Sato of the Rebel Army, here to serve!"
"Field tactician, wow, it feels nice to meet someone older than me...Wait, you're younger!? Why do you sound more mature than me?
"Just a country bumpkin but I want to be just like him. Yeah, it's too ambitious but I can't stop dreaming, can I?"
"Emblems? Emblems of this world that hold the balance. If we found them, then...we could..."
"Why do things have to do with me involved? But...It's my chance to fulfil my duty. Because...I...I want to..."
"Ah...!" Ryu gasped for breath. He panted to calm his nerves and take in more oxygen that was lost when the migraine stopped. He looked around, testing if his mind wasn't blocking out. He sighed, it was okay...for now.
My apologies, Master Ryuunosuke.
"Huh?"
Ryu looked around for that voice he just heard. No one was there. What was happening? He felt his wings fold to avoid having air from catching and throwing him back. The dragon stared at them.
...Did they... just... move? That voice...
"Did you just call me, Master?" He spoke.
Yes, I did, for I am your wings, Caledfwlch. Caledfwlch...? Does that name... does it...?
"About time..." Ryu grumbled. "I was wondering why I can't operate the wings."
My apologies, it was because that blast that wiped out half the Digital World severely damaged your body. I had to swiftly upload my conscience into your goggles to ensure that I would continue to assist you. It was honourable of you to save Lady Chiyoko's life rather your own. Seems your dream of becoming a hero is not far.
Chiyoko, Chiyoko, Chiyoko... Who... who was that? He needed more answers. If these talking wings know something, he needed it.
"Who's...Chiyoko...?"
...I see, the damage done to your body also took away all your memories...She is your partner and the tactician of the army. She's your fiancée, you promised to marry her once everything was over.
...Or as much as he's be frightened to assume, Ryu could think he may actually be going rather crazy. Not remembering anything was enough, but talking wings? That may be on levels of self disillusion.
But then again... what would a pair of wings gain by lying? And further on, when he read some books, Examon had sentient wings.
"Caledfwlch, was it?" Ryu asked. "Do you...remember anything else? Can it help jog my memories?"
...I'm afraid that the upload I did was hasty and these were the only memories I managed to save. I apologize, Master Ryuunosuke.
"...Hahaha..." Ryu laughed. "So...I'm not crazy, am I? Examon, a rookie, talking wings, fiancée, so many things I don't even understand."
Master...It seems like we had something that needed our attention. It seems the world had found five Digidestined. Or Tamers, if you wanted that term. Five? ...All at once? Or-
Ryu heard a scream. A child's tone... Vivi!
"Vi!" Ryuunosuke exclaimed before feeling his wings unfold. He looked at them before they beat, causing him to fly and dive down toward a particular area. He spotted...some kind of devices?
Take them. Was what Caledfwlch told him to do.
He didn't need to question right now since the wings are already controlling his flight, and as Ryu neared the devices, he scooped them up. Five of them.
"Caledfwlch, to Vi!" He orders.
Caledfwlch didn't need to reply to comply, it already made the movements required to send Ryu over to his destination. Midway, through the flight, Ryu's worry turned into confusion just as the screams turned into laughter?
And just as he could see the little Black Mage in view, his confusion became physical.
"...Vi?" Ryu wondered.
"Ahhahaha! S-Stop! That's en-haha! Enough..!" Vivi squealed.
Ryu stared at the sight. Vivi was on his back, frantically flailing his limbs with the purple roundish furry creature onto his stomach. Ryu could see that the blue coat Vivi wore was parted to the sides, the orange strings holding the coat closed hanging messily at one side. The creature rubbed against his bare black skinned stomach, earning more laughs from him.
"...Um..." Ryu muttered, putting the goggles on the base of his neck. "Are you okay, Vi?"
Reopening his tearful eyes brought out of laughter, Vivi took notice of Ryu. "R-Ryu!": He watched the wings fold and at the creature on his stomach. "Your... wings... and this... this just, hatched from an egg I found..." His voice responded, worn well from laughter.
Ryu stroke his horn and looked at his left arm. The devices that Caledfwlch told him to get. The little purple furball waddled its stubby limbs as Vivi held its sides. "What are... those?" Vivi had begun to relax himself, his voice returning back to normal.
"I...don't know." Ryu confessed.
"You don't know? Um, can I take a look?" Vivi politely requests. Ryu nodded and looked at the purple and grey device with a red diamond at the top. It seemed to match the color of that little creature Vivi had. He decided to choose that one and handed it over to Vivi, holding the small creature with one arm and the other hand looking at the device.
Vivi looked at it and then back at the creature. The device he held was compact as a phone and it is easy for him to carry it around. "It looks... really normal..." Vivi comments, looking back at Ryu while he pressed the device onto the creature. It purred cutely.
"It's so cute..." Vivi cooed. "Is it a Digimon? What is it called...?"
Ryu wondered about too. The wings shook and Ryu got his answer. "I may sound crazy but the wings told me it is."
"The wings? Oh... it's been moving ever since I just saw you come over... How did it come back to work?"
"Sentient wings..." Ryu answers, voice hitting confusion. "It's these goggles."
"The goggles?"
Ryu pointed at them hanging on his neck. "He said, if it has any gender, that these belonged to me." He stroked his horn again. "Calls himself Caledfwlch, I am his master for he is my wings. That and that I have a dragon fiancée."
The wings beat. I never specified that she was a dragon. More like a human woman.
"Oh..."
...
...
The realization hit him and he sputters. "Wh-wh-wh-what!?!?!? How? Ah? She pretty? No, um big? Tiny? Old? Young? Does that... How is it logically possible!?"
Vivi realized that Ryu was looking at him specifically for answers. He didn't know what to answer but he thought back in Unita. About how couples walked around the streets. For the boundary of humans and non-humans was not present, there was no difference between them. Which...meant...
"Um... It... is...?" Vivi answers very slowly.
"..." Ryu grumbled. "I...Won't ask."
"..." A nod in agreement before Vivi realizes just as he places the small purple creature in front of him. "What about the others?" He went to fix his coat back on just as the thought lit up in Ryu.
"If this was for you then..." he scooped them both. "Everyone...!" He turned to his wings, ordering it to search for his friends. Vivi was alarmed, they were going to fly!? Without any word, he quickly averted his gaze away from height and held Ryu tightly, hoping that he doesn't fall off from him.
He unfolded his wings and flew off to search for his friends...
"Al, here you are..." Stella headed over to the Eidolon while holding a cute white puppy in her arms.
"...I...I am a Digidestined..." Al muttered while he held a green blob over his large hand. It slept softly beside him, Al held it as if it was his child. "It was rare for this to happen... At this time, it would be impossible for this to occur. And why me? And not children?" Stella watched him carefully hold the child on his hand. Making sure no harm would happen to its fragile and soft body. He pat it with a finger due to how big his body was. It slept peacefully and hummed with the soft touch. Blissful as a parent soothe their child.
"It could be because the world's rules could have changed?" Stella ponders. "Without an entity to uphold the rules of their domain, the world is doing all it can by its' own will..."
Al silently looked back at the small blob. There were some worlds that completely changed the moment it lost all its' Gods that governed it. Massive changes, that made many hypothesise that the world is doing this now, and not the Gods.
"...I wonder too," Al muttered. "This bond was like an Eidolon and their Summoner. I never knew this was also possible." Stella looked at her own. Al himself sat on the ground and leaned on the side of the building. He wanted to keep the Digimon child comfortable as it slept. Stella wondered about how Al instantly bonded with his when he just got it. Hers, on the other hand... it appears to not pay much attention to her or rather, have focus on any certain area for a brief period of time. It was more... hyperactive, couldn't try to stay still.
There was some muffled sounds coming out from somewhere. She wondered what that was before spotting Noct's body going around the area. Something was... biting onto his head.
A large, circular, pink thing with two strip-like ears and large red eyes, with a mouth as giant as it could spread to cover a head. Noct's garbled voice continued to ask for help as he stumbled over to a wall, hitting onto it and turning about, waving his arms about in front of him again to try and find someone.
"Noct..." Al muttered. "Be careful with that." He reached down and gently separated the creature from Noct's head.
He shook his head vigorously, sending saliva around his spot. "Thanks... No matter how hard I pulled, it wouldn't get off...! It was dark, slimy..."
Chomp! Al looked at his finger, looking at the creature nibble on it. He didn't mind.
"It's...hungry," Al confirmed.
"...Hungry? What do we feed... it?"
"It has to be somewhere around this place," Al looked around.
"Where?" Noct and Stella joined the search while Al carefully stood up. He held the two carefully and began to scan the area. He spotted...someone flying toward one direction.
It was... some sort of black feathered owl. The chest area of it was differently colored; purple chest feathers, a chainmail esque pattern and yellow shuriken to make as if it was wearing a vest. That owl landed in front of them in a spectacular fashion.
"Another one of these?" Noct asks.
"If you're referring to me, yes. I am a Digimon." The owl begins. "Though I am of Rookie-Level, I pride myself as a warrior who lurks through the shadows an-"
Ryu suddenly dropped down between them with some enthusiasm. Not realizing that his tail's end whipped from the ground and-
Kraaaack!
The owl's pupils shrunk massively, appearing to bite onto his own beak with a tapered tail between his taloned feet and pressing against the area between his legs. "...M-My... Digi... Eggs..." was all the owl croaked in an anguished voice before he fell over to the side and his wings went over to hold his groin.
"Hey, guys!" Ryu greeted while putting Vivi down gently. "Seems you are what Caledfwlch called the Digidestined or something."
"Did you just... fly?" Stella asks.
"Yes, I realized now thanks to these goggles." Ryu pointed at the goggles he wore over his eyes before placing it on his neck. "They were sentient wings and his conscience was stored in these goggles. I am not crazy, he told me everything."
"...How-No, I don't think I'm going to digest all this anytime soon." Noct shook his head. Noct stared at Ryu's wings shaking. They were...quite embarrassed about Ryu's shock over finding these things so suddenly. Seems he wasn't the only one getting a migraine. Even the one explaining it was also having a migraine.
Locke came over to the group, first looked over Ryu and his now-functioning wings and them at the quivering owl holding his groin. "...I don't want to ask, but can I ask why that bird's on the ground like that?" Locke bluntly questions.
"What happened to your face?" Al asked.
He placed a hand on his head. "Would you believe, an egg hit me in the face?"
"Huh?" Ryu looked at the black eye, swelling cheek, and a broken nose with blood seeping out of it on Locke's face. Seems he wasn't lying about the egg hitting his face but... "Do thieves have to be durable?"
"I'm a... treasure hunter." Locke countered.
"Hold still." Stella sighed and she healed Locke's injuries.
After the last of those disappeared, Locke blinked a few times and he nods. "Yeah, I can see better now."
Ryu strokes his horn and handed them the devices he carried. Each of them bore different colors as follows:
Yellow, silver, and red.
Viridian, yellow, and white.
Lime, yellow, and white.
Black and violet.
He analysed everyone and the devices. Thinking about who owned that device for their partner. He decided with a snap and gave the devices to their respective owners from what he guessed.
The others stared at him while Vivi looked at the one Ryu gave him earlier. He could see that the little creature that was with him was getting hungry. "It's hungry..." Vivi murmurs.
"It has to be here somewhere..." Al let the one Noct got down while it groaned with hunger. Noct held his head, he didn't want it to be eaten as a meal.
"I realized: What are we searching for, anyway?" He asks. At that question, he received some beepings on his device. Looking over, he saw some dotted lines that resembled an arrow. Pointing at a direction from where he was and then flashed a dot art of a meat on a bone seen in several cartoons.
"What the...?" He starts off. They watched him follow the direction. The group looked for a while before hearing the same beep. The same direction Noct went off to so they all decided to follow him.
Noct observed the display and took a few looks around his surroundings to make sure he was going the right way and not into an obstacle. He nodded and continued following the directions, noting that the beeping got louder and faster while he walked. Perhaps it was a sign that he was arriving at the destination.
He could see from a distance that made him question his sanity for what he saw was a plantation. Well taken by skilled farmers and managed with little pesticides. A plantation...of meat growing from plants.
"...It's meat." Meat... The kind where they were made from animals... Not the type that grow on plants. And not only that, it looks completely ripe in appearance, like it's already prepared for consumption! He looked over this device, before the creature from earlier jumped on his head and into the fields.
"He-" He stopped as he watched the pink creature engulf one large piece of that meat whole. Gobbled...in one bite...Noct looked over his device and spotted some hunger meter. He watched as that bar begun to rise up from that red colored gauge, slowly turning into orange as it did so.
It continued to fill up. Until finally, it was full with green before hearing a loud burp. He looked back at the pink creature, it seems to be satisfied with its'... meal... "Ah...So full, thank you so much for showing me this place, Aniki!"
Noct stared at the creature. "...Aniki?" Aniki.. .He didn't know where it was originated but...It was some honorific in a country which meant for older brother with an indication for respect. So much respect.
"Yes, Aniki, you are my partner, my Tamer." the creature explained. "I had been waiting for you to come." Partner? What did he mean about that? Just as he wondered, the rest came with their partners beside him. They came to eat the crops presented. They looked at their devices presenting the same displays as Noct's own had done just recently.
"That was what we were looking for..." Al muttered. "They loved to eat and grow." Like babies... But Noct wondered...The one he had, it acted like a baby a while ago...Now it acted like it was the same age as him. His mind was confused, what were these creatures? He looked over at Ryuunosuke, who was pretty upset about something. Just watching the team with their partners, while he lacked someone.
"So... how fast do they gro-" he wanted to ask.
Just then, the device beeped and saw something displayed on the screen. It was glowing while the body of the creature glowed.
Digivolution Ready.
"Wait, Digivoluti-"
Ready to Digivolve Koromon?
"What? ...Uh, Yes? Wait, that's it's na-"
Upon his apparent command, 1s and 0s appeared out of the device and covered the creature, now known as Koromon. It glowed and floated above him. It grew in size, no longer the size of Noct's head, gaining arms and legs. The human could only just watch as this Koromon changed into something, something different...
When the changes stopped, the binary codes around the creature dispersed. And what stood from where Koromon used to be, is an yellow dinosaur-like creature with large nails and a short tapered tail. The claws that acted as its arms were covered by what seemed to be like red fingerless gloves. It jumped and down joyously.
Congratulations. Your Koromon has Digivolved to Agumon.
"Agu...mon?" He looked at the new creature. That's its name?
As on signal, the device showed him a new interface. Would you like to name your partner? Name? He is allowed to give them a new name? He wondered...This Agumon...Then reminded of Examon. He looked over at Ryuunosuke, he was an Examon, yet he called himself Ryuunosuke "Ryu" Sato. Something he would preferred to be called as. It was simple, not that terrifying, a symbol for being a country bumpkin.
So... a name... what can he call this Agumon... his... new partner? His partner...He looked over the others. They seemed to be bonding with them, Vivi bonding faster with his than the rest. Al, on the other hand, seemed to be teaching his about several things and he swore he spoke...
"Gargo." Did Al give his partner a name? He watched as Gargo Digivolved. The amorphous being... it transformed into a still considerably small white furred dog with green at its long ears, ends of paws and collarbone and a solitary horn at the top of its head.
Al held him tightly. "Congratulations, Gargo." The new creature waved happily at Al from the hug. Meanwhile, Vivi saw his own Digimon evolving. "Oh...!" He looked at his own device. "Um... Uh... Yes, please!"
The small roundish creature soon becomes a larger purple creature with a tail reminiscent to a fox. The chest, paws, tail end and snout are white furred, the ears having more prominent pointed ends, a pair of very small wings that appear incapable of flight and at its brow, a triangular red gem.
It went near Vivi slowly, rubbing its head tenderly at his legs. "Oh! Ehehe..." Vivi giggled at the tender nuzzling it was giving him. He took a look at his device. "Doru...mon..." he read. "...Doru?"
It appears to like it, purring loudly and it moved its head to rub against Vivi's clothed stomach.
Stella sat beside the puppy while, unlike the rest, didn't change its appearance and remained its puppy-like appearance. She pat its head. "..." She tenderly brushed the puppy, called Salamon. "...Maybe I should call you... Lumen."
Locke looked at his one. His didn't change, either. Falcomon, as it says. Though the device informs him that this is a variation known as Ninja Falcomon.
"Maybe Gale fits you." Locke suggests. "You're as quick as wind."
"Gale... It rings well to me." The owl nods.bSeemed they named theirs. Only Noct hasn't given his Agumon a name.bHmm... He looked at the Agumon. A name... maybe something deriving from its features? Personality?
"Geez, Sephirot," a woman spoke in his mind. "You did got into trouble training him at that part outside the city. Do you know how dangerous it was?"
Noct held his head. What was this? Why did he get this? The sword he gained when he defeated Zurvan... he felt it tremble.
"Hey, it's alright: He's still safe and sound since I'm watching him." Another voice replies, a male's.
"I know you tend to be reckless. Heck, you found the sparring sessions with the Crystallian soldiers boring. I think teaching him Lightning Magic is better than running to a Behemoth King."
"But look: Everyone's out and fine, so all's well that ends well, no?"
"...The Prince's bravery...Really something if he ever agreed to join you."
"He's growing well, and that's pretty enough to make me glad!"
"And...did you remember to get that halberd Zurvan asked you to get?"
Silence. And more silence.
"...Don't you run away from me!"
"Scoot! Scoot!"
Noct breathed out after hearing that conversation. What was that? Prince? Who were those?
He looked, no one else said that, right?
His eyes went back to Agumon, still waiting for a name... His mind thought of that term used... bravery... bravery...
...A name was coming to his mind, an identity... "...For...tem?"
"...For...tem?" Agumon repeated.
Noct knelt down and nodded. He rubbed the head of the small Digimon with affection. "Yeah, Fortem. That's your name."
"Fortem..." Agumon, now known as Fortem, smiled. "I...like this name." Fortem bowed before Noct, like a knight to honor His Majesty. Noct felt something with him, why he was feeling like this over this Digimon's action. A king...He didn't know why, he was the last Crystallian. Yet...
It felt so... so... nostalgic...
The team looked around. Should they investigate further? Or...They turned to Ryu and the functioning wings that were sentient. Were the answers...
"Umm...Guys?"
"..." Their focus were on the wings. They were sentient but it could only communicate vocally with Ryu. It only can do so to them through its movements. However, the wings were their only lead of what to find why they were here in the first place. To find answers the events that led this world the way it was now.
"Are you sure this is okay?" Ryu asked, wearing nothing, confined to a bed where multiple apparatus were around his chest and head. Rapid nods came from his attending doctor... Which was...Him...
Noct and his team wondered that the reason Ryu was told to strip was for him to see them. However, poor little Vivi was told to wait outside. While the wacky duck-tor had to run the tests. Noct wondered, he looked over Fortem and outside the Beginning Village had scans of Champion-level. While Fortem and the rest of their partners were on the stage of Rookie. And they just started off in this world, so they weren't exactly prepped to challenge tougher foes in their standards right away.
It must be luck that they didn't need to wander off to a dangerous area that they found what they would need was on Ryu's wings. They looked at the monitor while the doctor waved for Ryu to relax. He did so, though it made him feel sleepy that his eyes shut and fell asleep instantly.
The team watched as the duck checked Ryu's vitals. All were green across the board but there was some foreign nodes appearing through Ryu's spinal fluids that accessed the wings and grant communication to his brain. Those nodes... They were...
"Caledfwlch..." Al muttered. "It seemed to be checking around his body. Awake to protect its master as he slumber." He turned to the doctor. "Atad, would you grant someway to establish a communication with the wings?"
"Ho-ho!" The duck waved. "Checking, checking!" He began to click several keys on the keyboard. He scanned over the bainwaves and the nodes around them. The nodes seemed to move around, until it noticed something prying around the master's brainwaves. They spotted Glitch installing some speakers to the monitor. That was when...
"You...You're...Master Ryuunosuke's new allies, aren't you?" The voice from the speaker asked.
"Caled...fwlch?" Stella asks. "That is what you're called, right?"
"Indeed, I am Master Ryuunosuke's wings," Caledfwlch answered. "I apologize, how long was it once I've managed to re-establish my connection to master?" So... Ryu wasn't crazy about talking wings. These wings may have no eyes but they could help position Ryu at parts he wouldn't see. A perfect synergy for a sniper. However, their question was... What happened to the Digital World? These wings must remember more than what Ryu can remember.
"Hey, you can experience what happens around Ryu while you are active, right?" Locke asks. "So... did you know what happened to the Digital World? What caused the destruction?"
"I was confused as the rest of you but..." Caledfwlch answered. "I felt...strong sense of magic. Magic so powerful that it managed to wipe out so many Digimon that those of Ultra Level may survive it. When Master Ryuunosuke survived the attack, I...I heard...voices."
Voices? What did it mean?
"Voices...They were hurt. Tormented. Asking to be killed. What else... I just recently felt the same power when we went to the first member of the team that I met. Young but the same power as the one that destroyed half of the Digital World." First member? Wait, the one who was with Ryu when he got to use his wings again was...
Vivi.
"You mean...Vivi...?" Al muttered, despite his mechanical body, the color of his body got paler.
"...If that was what you call him, then yes." Caledfwlch confirmed.
This news... it brought surprised devastation, registration of answered questions quickly falling into grim realization. The Black Mages... they were used... as fuel for that weaponry...
"It isn't coincidence that these months, Black Mages have been disappearing without any traces or any news of their locations..." Locke realized.
"They have been disappearing!?" Noct was alarmed.
A nod from Locke. "Yeah, mainly them... And from hearing this, they're being taken for their aptitude of offensive magic."
"To be honest... In light of the news here, it means we're more worried about Vi..." Stella looked at the direction to outside. "He must be a target..." Just saying that caused Noct to bolt out of the room. Vivi, he may be taken now. He needed to...
Vivi just sat on the waiting room, playing with Doru. Safe and sound, he looked around for any threat. There was none... "Mr. Noct?" Vivi turned and blinked. "Did something happen in there?"
"...Uh, it's..." Noct swallowed. "...No, everything's alright. That duck did get us to hear from Ryu's wings."
"Really? That's great news...!" Vivi's eyes beamed brightly, holding Doru's head and stroking behind the head tenderly. "Um, so... how much did I miss from inside? Can I go in?"
He wanted to tell him about the things they've found but...He shook his head, if he did so, he may cause the little boy to be frightened and paranoid. Was it the right thing? To keep this news away from him?
"...We... didn't find anything to follow up." Noct breathed out. It was a lie. He knew it was bad to lie to his friend concerned about this topic. But, was it for the best? He didn't know.
"Oh..." Vivi looked down. "I... hoped that we could find out more about what happened to Ryu's home..."
"Master Vivi..." Doru bemoaned. "Don't worry, we'll help."
"Oh, hehehe... That's right, Doru..." Vivi looked over at Doru. He stroked Doru carefully. "We can work a little harder to help..."
Noct watched and looked at his device, one thing that Al called the Digivice. Fortem's face appeared on the interface, Vivi couldn't hear what Fortem said once Noct placed headphones over one of the ports.
"Are you sure about this, Aniki?" Fortem asked.
"...Yeah, I am." Noct responded.
Fortem remained silent, respecting his decision but felt some uncertainty about keeping Vivi in the dark. He may just had met his Tamer today but...He felt some connection that granted his loyalty to him. Noct re-entered the room, spotting the team wondering about their next move. What can they do for the Digital World.
"Before Master Ryuunosuke lost all of his memories, most on my case, I do remember a possible way to save the Digital World and prevent another event that would cause its destruction."
"You do? How?" Locke asks Caledfwlch.
"...I sense the Emblems around you." Caledfwlch answers. "Dragon, Machine, Bird, and Holy." The waves wavered. "That might not be the right term. Sorry, I forgot what they were called."
There was a short pause as Caledfwlch tried to remember.
"Ho-ho?" Glitch looked over.
"There were other Emblems Master Ryuunosuke and Lady Chiyoko were searching for. Aside from the four, there are four more of these emblems they were searching. Dark, Aquan, Beast, and Insect-Plant. They're the remaining emblems not currently not present."
The group nodded.
"If we were to find them all," Al began. "Does this mean, we'll be able to save the Digital World?"
"That was what Master Ryuunosuke and the army believed for they are the types every Digimon species have," Caledfwlch answered. "But, I do not know how it is done. How would these emblems...save the Digital World." Save the Digital World...That was among the mission for the Organization to tackle. Like it always was, to save worlds that filled Fidem.
However, something bothered Locke. He turned to the monitor to ask something. "Caledfwlch?"
"What is it?"
"Do you know who Chiyoko is?"
"...Lady Chiyoko Biwako is Master Ryuunosuke Sato's fiancée." Caledfwlch answered. "She is the army's tactician and a beautiful one at that. The reason Master Ryuunosuke was at this state was because he sacrificed his spot to save the love of his life. I do not know where she is now but I know that she is safe. Call it a hunch."
Locke fell silent. "...I... I see."
"I know Lady Chiyoko would never stop finding these Emblems," Caledfwlch praised. "Even if she were to lose her memories, she would follow her instincts to get this mission done."
Locke thought of this. A lover, that event, even when she got to safety, the escape must had the same result of how Noct was found. She may be there, lost. Who knows wha-
"...Locke...?"
"Y-Yes, I'm... here..."
There was no response...
"...Ra-Rachel? No... don't... do this...! Open your eyes, Rachel!"
He flinched and held his hands close. This memory, how he failed to...
"Is there something wrong?" Caledfwlch asked.
Locke blinked and looked back at the monitor. "I didn't see anything with Master Ryuunosuke asleep, but I heard you grunt." Caledfwlch told him. "It was filled with pain. Is something the matter?"
Locke averted his gaze. Should he confess about this? Not keep it a secret? The only ones who knew this secret was from his friends from his world.
...
...As much as it is painful... he can't. This has always been something he has to do... and something he needed to do without dragging anyone else with him.
But...With him...He looked at his Digivice. Gale...He would eventually learn about this secret. For being his partner...Maybe...He'll help him find it.
"...No, I'm alright." A simple lie.
"I'm afraid these are the only ones I was able to recall." Caledfwlch confessed in an apologetic tone. "For that, I apologize."
"It's alright." Stella assures. "We can all inform Ryu about these."
"Thank you and...please, be a good friend to Master Ryuunosuke. He can be...pretty reckless and rash."
"So...Digital World is my home..." Ryu spoke to 'himself' inside his room. The place he resided was typical of the other members of the organization. Filling the necessities and personalized items Ryu used like for the bullets of his weapon and a television. Though, compared to the one VIvi had, it was much bigger, considering Ryu's size along with Caledfwlch. "...I've survived, but what of the half...?"
I am as clueless as you, Master Ryuunosuke Caledfwlch confessed.
"...Heh, we aren't invincible after all..." Ryu laughed. "But...I am glad I can use my wings again and didn't know I had a personal butler as wings." Ryu looked over his bed, situated at center of the bedroom. He looked over the pillows, not punctured by his horns. "I wonder...How durable these things are..." Ryu wondered. "Been some time and I was impressed that I can lie on my back better." He eyed the spikes on his shoulders and his bare chest. Lying on the side was difficult with the spikes and his wings being too big to like comfortably. He could lie on his front, but the bed would not fit all and curling would mean he might hit the spikes on his shoulders. So lying on his back was better, the sheets, pillows, and mattress managed to make him comfortable even with the horns and spikes.
Ryu yawned. "...Man, didn't get into any action today." he complained. "But...thinking a lot hurt my brain too much."
Indeed, we may begin searching tomorrow but I'm afraid that with this amnesia, you wouldn't be able to fight as well back then... Caledfwlch agreed before everything went dark. What was that?
"Relax, it's just an Angry Bird discharging." Ryu assures that it wasn't an uncommon event.
...This place is quite weird but...Finding allies would help with this endeavor. Caledfwlch told him.
"Yeah..." Ryu yawned and stared at the goggles. "Say...Who gave those to me?"
I don't remember the details but...It is from your father. Caledfwlch answers.
"My old man, huh?" Ryu mumbles, shutting his eyes. "Well... Good night, Caledfwlch..."
Good night to you too, Master Ryuunosuke.
Locke walked down towards a village... desolate as its appearance shows. He looked around. No one else but him technically. He looked over his Digivice, wondering why he brought Gale along. His hunger meter green, as well as his bladder. He may keep the secret away from his friends not of his world, but not him. He had the hunch he couldn't keep his partner in the dark.
"...Why are we out here again?" Gale asks.
"...You'll find out eventually..." Locke told him. He continued walking on until he stopped by a cottage. It was victim like the other buildings, but it looks as if it had been worked on to fix it into a manageable state.
"The rest are abandoned but this..." Gale realized. "But...Why was all effort put into this single building?"
"..." Locke quietly entered the cottage, prompting Gale to follow behind his partner. Gale remained quiet while Locke looked around the area. The items around were broken but kept in place, the Falcomon swore he smelt something fragrant. Like the fragrance was here just this hour. But how could it last so long?
He turned and observed Locke continuing his way to a set of stairs leading underground. The fragrance was wafting from there... He followed him down, arriving at a basement flourished with flowers. These flowers were well-maintained. He didn't know the language of these flowers but they kept some meaning that meant a lot for Locke. To remember those dear to you.
"..." He saw Locke stop walking in front of him, why? Gale decided he'd take a look himself. He fluttered over and he could see... someone... He didn't see her chest rise and fall. Her skin pale as a ghost. Eyes closed, as if she was asleep. She remained beautiful... Beautiful even at death. Yet, he knew it was long when she died. However, despite that, her body never showed signs of decay. Even with the internal ones. Was this...some kind of spell? But...the healing spells only worked on the living. Why was it able to heal the deceased?
Gale looked over at Locke, noticing his solemn expression of guilt now.
"..." Gale remained silent, knowing what he was thinking.
"...This... is Rachel." Locke tells Gale, looking at the woman. "She... was my loved one."
"I was thinking the same thing..." Gale nodded. "You were dead silent when Caledfwlch told you who that Chiyoko was."
"...It's my fault... that she is like this in the first place. I shouldn't have left her... If I stayed around, I could have..." He stared and shook his head. "I had to make up, to apologise to her for everything... That's why... I'm searching, searching for a legendary treasure that can revive the dead."
"...Revive the dead?" Gale wondered. "But, is it possible? I know I just had awoken but...Is such a thing possible?"
"It has to, it can and it will."
"...Just like the Digimon of the past can make this possible..." Gale spoke. "But because of Heavensfall, that ability was forever lost..."
"...That is why, the legendary treasure. I have to find it. I've been searching for it the whole time ever since I've come across information about it."
"...Then, why did you leave the rest behind?" Gale asked. "Who else knows this?"
"Only my friends, the ones who I am with... know about this." Locke answers. "I can't let anyone else shoulder any burden they think there is here."
"Then...Why did you show me this?" Gale interjected.
"You'll find out eventually and... I thought you could help with the search."
"...Huh?" Gale turned around, Locke hearing a beep from his phone. It was from Terra. It seemed urgent, with the time Terra called him. Locke took a look in his phone. "...What!?"
Dulled are attacking Kohlingen!
Locke looked over from the table he was at.
Kohlingen...Where Rachel...
He shot out of the table, out of the bar building, and making a beeline for the village.
"Locke!" Gale snapped. "What is it?"
Locke breathed and turned. His breathing started to relax from the acceleration it received. Dulled, attacking Kohlingen. This time, it was in the present. He bolted out of the room, to protect Rachel's body. He bolted out of the door and scanned the area. There were Dulled as Terra warned, their numbers... Six, and from the appearances... a combination of Rank B and Cs. Two melee oriented with one having a more durable appearance, three ranged oriented with one being a spellcaster... and one appearing to be balanced, but more of the supportive side.
He drew out his knives from his hammerspace, holding one in each hand. "You aren't getting anywhere close to her!"
"Locke!" Gale was able to reach his partner and looked at the opponents. "What are these!?" He readied his stance.
"These are the monsters we're fighting: Dulleds." Locke answers.
"Dulled..." Gale repeated softly. He studied their appearance, wondering what they were. One had the appearance of a man. Thin yet fit, body covered by cloth wraps and a gi. Those cloth wraps...they were self-treated that Gale wondered if it had a home or a family. An assassin, perhaps? A master? There was none.
One was a large and bulky being, made from shards of stone. Ancient writings filled them but all were of a lost language. Its body, large torso and arms but short legs. A protector, thrown and forgotten. Wondering a world where it was no longer needed.
One had many a number of drawn assortment of dirty cloths worn around it's body, though the build appears quite lean. It had a hat that appears to be fixed from its various wears and tears. Beside its' gloved hands are two revolvers. The revolvers appear to be old, but function well to fire.
Another was a... book. It really is a book. But the cover it had was of ancient writing and aged tears to the cover. Perhaps it once belonged to a place that allowed inanimate objects to live, but it has been long deserted.
One, a woman that hid her beautiful face beneath a mask. Wearing a once beautiful white robe, now in tatters and torn. Greyish skin that were once rosy beneath those robes. Numerous scars were around her body while she held a staff that was once used to guide her with her Faith. Now lost, aiding the ones in "need" of her protection.
Finally, the last of them is a dais. An aged dais belonging to ancient ages, but it is surprisingly held onto together despite the various cracks that spread around its surface. Gale could notice some form of black substance constantly leaking out of certain areas of the cracks, sliding down onto beneath it. It could be... some form of curse?
"How are they made?" He asked. "Are they...from ancient times?"
"There are various other methods... but most of them are living artefacts." Locke answers. "Some... are more humanely cursed or more monstrous forms worse than what you see right now." Locke knew he couldn't handle this alone. He looked at Gale, he needed his help if he wanted to keep Rachel's corpse safe. For her to be back to his arms once the one he was searching for was found.
He glanced back at Gale. "You'll need to listen carefully if we both are going to make it out of this."
Gale nodded and Locke checked his Digivice. Gale's moves. There was plenty of assortment of techniques, but he understood that Gale uses his agility or tricks his opponents with his techniques that derive from being a ninja. Shadow Screen... works well as an evasive move... And using that technique called Firecracker Smokescreen...
Just like him, both were using speed.
The rest were okay, but the main problem was the Forgotten Monolith. Will their attacks even dent that Dulled? Much worse with the Accursed Pilgrim's healing potency that would heal any damage done to it. The Aimless Assassin disappeared with the wind. Locke knew how unpredictable those Dulled were. The speed was impressive, but their offense and defense were weak. The problem was where to hit them.
Locke looked over at Gale. He ran while he inputted his commands to the Digivice. Gale got the command through the data sent and nodded. He quickly performed signs with his wings and soon afterwards, created a few illusive clones of himself. They turned to him and nodded, dispersing into directions.
Locke heard a gunshot and evaded a projectile fired at him. He turned to the Quickdraw Hunter, its revolver smoking while it fired its other revolver right after drawing it. The bullets, able to pierce through objects like a hot knife through butter. He jumped to the side to evade the barrage while ice erupted from the ground. Locke did a vault jump and looked at the Forgotten Tome.
The book was already open, the inscriptions on the pages glowing to unleash its spells. He threw a knife at it, piercing through the entire object but it disappeared like a mirage. Locke grunted, of course, that dias.
The afterimages it could create... could spread to its own allying forces...
Locke flipped when he heard the magic the Forgotten Tome fired the spell it chanted. Once he landed, he quickly dashed in front to evade the incoming spell of dark energy, then kicked off to the side as another stream of darkness came over and jumped to evade bullets from the Quickdraw Hunter.
It aimed again, ready to shoot him down.
"Firecracker Smokescreen!" Bamboo bombs were thrown between Locke and the Quickdraw Hunter, they emitted smoke out to block the vision of the Dulled as it fired its bullets. Missing the intended target before Locke charged in. The Dulled sidestepped backward, aiming the revolver as Locke evaded the bullets and kicking the revolver away. He thrusted his dagger, causing the Dulled to evade to the side and fire that Locke rolled to evade.
A shadow of an arm appeared and Locke jumped to evade the slam of the Forgotten Monolith. A dagger wasn't enough to cut it, he flipped above the Dulled and jumped.
"Shuririnken!" Gale threw some ninja stars at the Aimeless Assassin. Its speed outran the projectiles and jumped toward him. Gale took out a kunai and deflected the attack. He could had gritted his teeth if he had any, but this Dulled was persistent. He jumped back and deflected several strikes from the Aimless Assassin, who appeared around him like a blur of darkness. Trying to strike him with its own kunai.
Just then, he evaded an attack from the Accursed Pilgrim that he didn't realize Locke's command before he evaded from the last second but he gritted his teeth when the bullet's heat graze his wing.
"Grr...!" Gale snarled. "Shuririnken!" He threw the ninja stars at the Quickdraw Hunter. Locke watched Gale fly in a rocky manner, must be from the grazed wound. He avoided the palm strike of the Accursed Pilgrim.
He clicked his tongue, this was off to a rocky start and not one has been cut down yet.
Just as his luck, the Aimless Assassin had drew its blade. He knew what this move was, Through Winds Thy Wonder. It ignores any form of defense, it instantly incapacitates the target and Locke realized he was at the position needed for it to guarantee for it to hit him. "Locke!" Gale exclaimed, diving down, not realizing that he was in clear shot for the Quickdraw Hunter to shot him.
The clones he has created had all recently been cleared out by the others they have faced, so there was nothing to stop anyone from being attacked...
Slash! Slash! Slash! SLASH! Clank! Clank!
...
...
Gale stared at the bullets meant for him with shock while Locke saw the blade stop in front of him upon his landing. The bullets where blocked by a shield. Gale was safe while the bullets fell from the shield. Meanwhile, the blade fell. The Aimless Assassin was shredded to pieces and they fell to the ground. Locke just stared in awed silence then turned his gaze toward the new arrival in front of him. Twin laser sabers, from her hands, blue on the right and pink on the left. The sabers... they shredded the Dulled.
"...Reckless for an assassin, try again another time," she mocked the fallen Dulled.
Chapter 12 Concluded
