Disclaimer: I don't own the Digimon, but the characters belong to the moderators and members of the Digital Connections forum – found here forum/ Digital-Connections/ 22352/ and under the "So you want to be a Digidestined?" topic
A/N: Another chapter, another delay so sorry!
Special thank you to Miss Anonymous hp for her amazing notes and background that have really assisted in piecing together this chapter, so thank you
Without much more waiting, I give you, the next chapter!
Chapter 05
Ryan had a fake Digivice from Datamon.
The Hawkmon flyers had taken Jake, Kate and Marie to the rebellion's base.
Heather, Charles, Sonja, Akiza and Chris were still trapped in a cave…
Hope was not on anyone's mind.
-o-
"I guess there is only one way to go," Heather said, turning to look deeper into the cave where it was complete darkness.
All that was lighting up the caves was the tiniest glow of light from the group of five's Digivices that they held up in front of them to weakly illuminate parts of the cave.
The older girl held her Digivice up in front of her, hoping to find out what might be found deeper within the cave. Her heart was beating harsh against her ribcage as she shuffled her way along the cave. "Let's just follow the cave and see where it leads..." Heather said calmly, keeping her Digivice up high.
The walls of the cave looked wet and shiny as the pale lights from the devices reflected off them. There was a gentle breeze blowing through the cave hat told the group there was an exit to the cave somewhere.
Sonja was still feeling apprehensive and stayed close to Heather. "How far into the cave do you think we have to go?"
"Well there's a breeze blowing through here and that must be coming from somewhere." Heather squinted up ahead. "Hopefully it leads to an exit..."
Over Heather's shoulder, Charles examined the mucus like film he could see on the walls and floors. It looked almost web like which made him skin crawl.
"Gross..." he muttered, refraining from touching it for fear of what could happen to him.
As he glanced up at the path ahead, he realised the group had accidentally left him behind.
"Hey, wait up!" Charles called out, running after them and stopping when it reached a sudden fork in the pathway.
Left... or right... Right... or left.
Charles instinctively followed his gut and went left, quickly walking along to catch up to the group if they had gone the same way.
"Hello," a voice echoed from deeper in the cave.
A voice that Charles didn't recognise and made him feel weary about approaching.
A string of screams and shrieks startled Charles so much that he let go of his Digivice and backed up against the cave wall, feeling the watery wetness on his back. Rather than complain, Charles sidled along with anticipation.
"Four little kiddies... four little Digidestined kiddies!" cackled the voice again. "Webbing thread!"
Charles noticed a soft light at the far end and paved quickly towards it. It was clear that his newfound friends had been captured, and he wasn't about to just run away without knowing more details.
Leaning around the bend, Charles' blue eyes widened at he sight of his friends who had been constructed by a thick web.
Then he saw the Digimon. It was a big spider with red talons on the end of its legs and more than the usual amount of eyes.
"What is that?" Charles mumbled quietly, squinting as if it helped him get a better look at the Digimon.
"KoDokugumon, the in training virus type Digimon. This Digimon attacks in swarms-"
The voice in Charles' Digivice was loud and immediately alerted the KoDokugumon of his presence. Charles slapped and poked the device as it continued its analysis.
KoDokugumon turned, its legs rhythmically scrabbling on the stony floor. "Five? Oh Arukenimon is going to be so pleased when she gets to deliver you to him..." KoDokugumon snarled, spraying spit from its mouth. "Come now, don't run away..."
Charles went to run away, but the way was blocked by the aforementioned swarm.
"Oh... god-"
-o-
Kate, Jake and Marie were dropped abruptly onto the ground by the Hawkmon flyers.
"Well I will no longer complain about a bumpy plane landing anymore," Kate winced, standing up slowly. "Woah..."
In front of the three teens was a large and ancient temple structure. There were trees growing into the foundations with their roots digging into the walls and cracks. It reminded Kate of the Tomb Raider films that her family used to watch.
The lead Hawkmon called out for the three to follow quickly, before disappearing inside.
"Let's not keep the bird brain waiting," Jake said, trying not to laugh at his own joke. "I tell you something, this is totally insane."
Marie shook her head as the trio made their way up the steps and into the temple building. Her eyes were drawn up to the ceiling, which gave off the impression that it was being supported solely by the tree roots that were growing into the building.
"Hawkmon- why have you brought strangers into my home?" a confident feminine voice shouted.
The avian Digimon bowed down in front of the children. "Darcmon- these are no strangers, but the children of legends... They are here to restore the Digital World to how it was when the Royal Knights ruled. It is our duty to teach them about the D-Connect."
"Come forth children, I mean you no harm. Let me look upon the faces of legends."
Kate nudged Jake ahead of her and Marie but stuck close by. She felt that even though the Hawkmon Flyers had saved them, there was no way of knowing whether they were really on the same sides.
Hawkmon lifted a red feathered wing up. "Children, allow me to introduce you to the Goddess of the Battlefields- Darcmon."
Marie squeezed the device around here neck and it spoke to her.
"Darcmon, the champion level vaccine Digimon. Darcmon is a fierce warrior and protector of the Digital World."
Darcmon looked down at the three from a raised platform. She had four powerful angel wings protruding from behind her and held a powerful staff in her hand that had a winged egg on the top. The goddess Digimon slowly walked towards the children, tapping the staff in time with her right foot.
"Such interesting creatures... humans... don't you agree Hawkmon?"
Kate smiled softly at the Digimon, her mind running amok with questions and crazy thoughts. "You called us children of legends. What does that mean?" Her fingers grazed the device on the chain around her neck. "And this? This is what you call a D-Connect, isn't it?"
A smile crept across Darcmon's face. "Your curiosity and determination for answers will aid you well in this world. I am sure you all have many questions, but you will learn the answers in due course. For now, I would like to show you something of great importance. Follow me. Hawkmon, send out a patrol team to Datamon's liar- if Datamon was holding the children captive, we need to know whether there were more of them there."
Hawkmon saluted Darcmon before retreating back outside.
Darcmon went over to one side of the room and waved the staff over it- backwards and forwards. The trio watched with curious eyes which turned to disbelief and amazement as the stone slabs began to quake and move to reveal a once hidden passageway. The Digimon remained silent as she went into the passage.
The walkway got gradually narrower the deeper in they went. Whilst Marie had obliged in going with Kate and Jake, she still felt like they should have been more cautious in placing their truth so quickly in Darcmon.
She was suddenly reminded of the time where she and her siblings had gone to a shopping centre and ended up trapped in an elevator. The terror that she experienced was enough to make her whimper loud enough for Kate to hear.
"Marie? What's wrong?" Kate asked, awkwardly turning to look at the other girl.
"I'm fine. Just not a fan of confined spaces," Marie replied shakily.
Kate pondered what to do next. Even though she exuded some confidence, she was also feeling a little uneasy. "I know the feeling. Would it help if you held my hand? One of my close friends is claustrophobic and she says that makes her feel better."
"Maybe I could go in front of you?" Marie suggested, unsure how this suggestion might make her feel better.
"Oh- sure!" Kate stepped to one side and allowed Marie to pass through.
Darcmon ducked down under a low archway and out of the passageway. "This is the Digital Paradise. Here, it is believed that the Digital World began," she explained to the teens who were staring with expressions of awe and wonder of the paradise.
The views reminded Kate of the photos in the holiday brochures she could spend hours flicking through. There was a small waterfall to one side that was flicking the odd droplet at them before flowing into a small lake. The paradise was full of different plants and trees - some of which they had never seen before. A large tree was growing out from the centre of the Digital Paradise that was blossoming with violet tinted leaves.
"This is insane," Jake said slowly. "If this is paradise, let's never leave."
Darcmon beckoned the three away from the passageway and towards the large tree. "This tree here is known as a DigiCore. Legends speak of four DigiCore trees that grow in the centre of the four quadrants of our world."
Marie slowly put her hand up as if she were in a classroom. "So not only is this world split into a north and south hemisphere, but also quadrants?"
Kate rolled her eyes. "You have got to be kidding me... I didn't come here for a maths lesson... ow!" she squealed when Jake sharply prodded her wither his elbow. "What was that for?"
Jake wrinkled his nose, "This is clearly important stuff for us to know."
"I know, I know. But Marie seems to have a pretty good grip on things already."
As they got closer to the DigiCore, they could see that there was a circular haze on the surface of the tree's trunk. Not what would be expected, but this was the Digital World after all - nothing made much logical sense.
Darcmon stood beside the DigiCore trunk, holding a hand out to indicate the haze. "Hidden within the DigiCore itself, is believed to be a test. If you are who you claim to be, then you will receive a gift, but if you are not- then there is no knowing what peril may come your way."
Kate tilted her head to one side. This is ridiculous, what does Darcmon expect ya to do?
A voice in her head whispered, Kate- is that you?
"Are you kidding me?" Kate blurted out, causing Jake and Marie to give her a quizzical look. "What? You're telling you that I'm the only one hearing a strange voice...?"
Jake scratched the back of his head. "Not to make you feel crazy, but no... what about you, Marie?"
Marie backed away slowly, feeling as though it was a little too much too quickly. "I don't know- maybe? Kind of."
Darcmon heaved a great sigh. "The test awaits your participation."
Kate pulled the pair closer to her. "I still don't get what Darcmon expects us to do?"
Marie suggested that they each put their hands into the misty circle and see if they can feel anything - to which the others agreed was a good idea.
Stepping up to the DigiCore, Marie lifted her hands up to its trunk. The sleeves of the green hoodie she was wearing was riding up her arms as she leant towards the circle.
"Okay," she mumbled. "Here we go."
Her hands immersed themselves into the tree and it felt as though she had put them into a bowl of slime.
Suddenly, she felt something pulling her into the tree trunk and she flinched, trying to pull away.
"Marie!" Kate called out, about to offer assistance, by Darcmon's staff was put out in front of her. "Let me guess... I must not interfere," she added sarcastically.
Marie closed her eyes to focus on what she was feeling and trying not to be pulled into the DigiCore too much. Her fingers felt wet and grazed something cold. A warmth burnt within her as she heard a voice talking to her.
"I can feel something!" Marie exclaimed, squirming to get a grip on the cold object.
With a firm hold, she pulled back with almost her whole weight until it gave way and she stumbled back, hitting the grass hard.
"It's an egg?" Marie questioned, looking up at Darcmon.
The egg in her hands was large and reminded the teens of the Easter eggs that seemed to be painted in an artistic manner. This egg was blue with white and yellow speckles.
"I wonder what it will hatch into." Jake bent down with his hands on his knees. "Maybe it'll hatch into your very own Digimon partner- how cool would that be?"
Marie started to rub and hug the egg enthusiastically as if it would help to speed up the hatching process.
Next up to take on the test as Darcmon called it was Kate who nearly threw her whole body enthusiastically into the tree and scourged through the core until she too felt something hard.
"I got it!" Kate squealed with delight, pulling out an identical egg that was white with a golden shape on one side. "This is so bizarre! Look at us now Marie! Come on Jake, it's your turn."
Jake nodded, stepping up to the DigiCore with his hands up and ready, but when he leaned forwards, it was as if there was a magnetic force stopping him from submerging his hands into the circle. He was reminded of the science experiment they would always do with magnets to see which of the two poles will attract and dispel.
Kate sat down beside Marie and watched closely as Jake floundered around the tree, trying to force his hands into the circle.
"As funny as this is to watch, could you hurry it up?" she asked in an exasperated tone.
Jake twisted to look over his shoulder. "I'm not doing this for the laughs, you know!"
Marie gasped, "Don't be mad, Jake. I'm sure there's a reasonable explanation."
"I'm not mad Marie, just annoyed!" grunted Jake.
"Maybe this is happening because your egg is hidden within another DigiCore? Like Darcmon said, there are four of them... and you said Wisemon told you there would be twelve of us- maybe your Digital Egg is in another one of the cores?"
A familiar Hawkmon came running into the Digital Paradise. "Darcmon, it's too late- that Datamon is on its way. One of the children must be hiding a tracker!"
-o-
Ryan woke up in the middle of the dark forest - he had grown tired after walking and took the risk of sleeping in a hollowed our fallen tree trunk. The sky was still a dark purple hue which didn't allude to what time of day it was. What he did know was that the Digimon called Datamon had tricked him with a fake D-Connect and he was desperate to get it back.
"Maybe I should have just faced my problem head on?" Ryan sighed, turning to look in the direction of Datamon's lair. "I have to. There's a reason I'm here and my D-Connect is clearly important."
The path was muddy and Ryan did his best to stick to the dry patches of ground. Whilst his outfit seemed new, he wanted to keep it that way, included the comfy hiking boots.
He paused, stopping in his tracks when he heard voices. At first, he thought that it might be other children - like the girl who had replaced him as Datamon's prisoner.
Ryan listened closely, leaning into a nearby tree and looking down at his feet in order to focus.
"We fooled Datamon, yes we did!" It sounded more like a chorus group of rough and gravelly voices now. "We took Datamon's treasure and he's never going to get it back!"
Datamon's treasure? Maybes it's my D-Connect? Ryan thought, feeling raised spirits at the prospect of getting his device back.
"Hey, you there!" Ryan bellowed confidently, completely improvising.
"Huh? Hey! Who are you?"
Ryan found himself looking at grey alley cats with rabbit features. One of them had a scar across its nose that made Ryan pin it as the leader. This assumption was also aided by the fact that it's claw was clamped around the leather throng holding Ryan's two tone blue D-Connect.
"Erm- I've been sent by the... dark lord- to retrieve the D-Connect. Now hand it over!" Ryan declared, holding his hand out to the Digimon.
"You mean, you've met the dark lord- that isn't just a myth?"
"Of course I have." Ryan flexed his fingers swiftly.
The small group of Digimon bowed down to Ryan, falling at his feet. The D-Connect was placed in his hand.
"It's good to see that the dark lord has chosen a human to be his servant," the Digimon spat. "Puts you in your place."
Ryan clenched his hand around the D-Connect. "The dark lord also insisted that you scavenge the ruins of Datamon's lair as there may be another one of these." He waited for some kind of response, but when they didn't say anything, he snapped, "Immediately!"
As the Digimon sped off into the distance, Ryan felt the adrenaline coursing through him.
"I honestly can't believe that actually worked..."
-o-
Charles was backed into the wall by the swarm of KoDokugumon. This is it...
"Webbing thread!" the Digimon shouted, opening their jaws wide to spray him with the sticky thread.
Caught off balance, Charles landed on the Digimon who started to carry him towards the others.
"Charles, they got you too!" Sonja cried out, writhing from the web constricting her movement.
"Someone go and find Arukenimon quick..." one KoDokugumon cackled.
The swarm threw Charles down beside Chris and Heather and then scurried away into the cave.
"Any ideas guys?" Charles asked looking over at Akiza and Sonja.
Akiza shook her head. "Get out of the web and then deal with things from there!"
"Okay," Heather said calmly, looking around at herself and the others. "Well what does everyone have in their pockets and bags? Someone must have something that can help us."
Chris patted his pockets. "Only the essentials- phone, wallet and keys..."
"Me too- although I've got my work card, lip calm and perfume. None of which are particularly useful." Heather wriggled her hands to open up the flap of her bag. "I mean, would perfume help deter that KoDokugumon?"
"Spider repellent- a neat trick, but we need to remember that's these are Digimon, not their Earth world counterpart." Chris struggled, rubbing his back against the cave wall in the hope of snagging the thread.
Sonja shuffled behind Akiza, trying to hide out of sight from the arachnid Digimon. Her hands just about managed to fumble for the small adjustable wrench that was in the plaid bag she was wearing. "Akiza, I'm just about to break you free..."
"Wait- Sonja, what are you doing with a mini wrench in your bag?" Akiza hissed, trying not to draw attention to them.
"Oh- Well... you never know... might come in handy..."
Sonja went on tip toes, trying to fit the thread into the gap of the wrench to then use her weight to drag it through the webbing.
Charles noticed the younger girl about to execute her plan and clicked his fingers to stop her. "Heather first- she can spray her perfume into that KoDokugumon's eyes and let us escape."
For a moment, Sonja was sure how she felt about being bossed about, but deep down she knew that it was a good idea. The KoDokugumon was distracted and wouldn't be expecting an attack. Squeezing past Akiza and Chris, Sonja hook the wrench onto the webbed restraints around Heather.
"Ready Heather?"
"Ready when you are, Sonja."
"Go!" Sonja dropped to her knees, causing the wrench to tear through the weak webs.
Heather shrugged the strings off and darted for the perfume bottle in her bag.
"What are you doing- No!" KoDokugumon screamed as the perfume was sprayed into its eyes.
Once Sonya freed them all in record timing, they ran as fast as they could, choosing to go left when they reached the fork from a new angle. Admittedly, they had a split second argument before Charles rightly explain that they came from the right and the sensible choice would be to go left.
"Is that -?..." Akiza wheezed when she saw a light at the end of the rocky tunnel. "We're nearly there!"
As the light grew brighter and brighter, the group came to a sudden abrupt stop when the path ended. To the left, there was a narrow walkway that hugged the side of the hill, before levelling put into a large field.
"Is that- are they... Train tracks?" Chris asked, squinting and clutching his side because of the stitch he was feeling. "That could be our ticket to safety."
"Webbing thread!" a voice shouted from behind them, giving them just enough time to jump aside and continue running, even if it was at a slower rate.
"I can see a train," yelled Charles. "Hurry up everyone!"
Without giving it much thought, Charles darted our onto the tracks when a blue train was hurtling towards him. The high pitch screeching of the brakes made Charles instantly regret his decision. Heather lurched forwards and pulled him back, just as the train came to a stop.
"Ooooo, more kinder! Must be my loocky day!"
Sonya's mouth hung open. "Did that train just... talk?"
Charles bundled the others onto the train before slamming the door shut. "Let's get out of here!"
The train whistled. "No need-a to tell me twice!"
Everyone was thrown back once the train sped off at what felt like warp speed. Stomachs were turning and somersaulting. No one could focus on anything or see where they were going. Until the train sharply hit the brakes and they were all thrown forwards, landing on each other in a big heap.
"End of-zee line- this stop, Mount Doc. This is-a Doc-you-Mount."
The group step of, dropping into a thin layer of snow and shivering at the cold weather.
"Did anyone else notice that the train said more kinder- as in children?" Chris turned to query this with the train but it roared and shot off backwards causing a burst of snow to smack him in the face. "Maybe they're nearby..."
The group made a united decision to go and explore the mountain, hoping that they might find somewhere warmer to sleep it out. It was only when they walked away from the train's tracks that they noticed a large tree growing near the summit of the mountain.
"So... who's up for a bit of mountaineering?" Heather said softly, trying to shed some humour onto the situation. "Because- and I don't know about you - but I have a strong feeling that whatever that tree up there is... it's important."
Thoughts from AspiringWriterGirl = tadah! This certainly has been long overdue, which is exactly why I've started writing chapter six already in the hope that it'll pick up some much need momentum!
