With a hard shove from the Goblimon behind him, Jou stumbled forward through the tree's entrance and fell on to his knees. He tried to catch himself but the vines handcuffing his wrists behind his back made that impossible. With the painful landing, he found himself looking at the raised platform in the tree's center. Noticeably higher than his current ground, it had some sort of large flower on top, with stems reaching down to the ledge, forming a ramp over the gap between the two surfaces. Jou's ground was actually a big ring-shaped ledge, going all the way around the tree's interior. And along that interior were darkened openings, each with what he could only guess were some kind of stems barring them off. Was he going to be locked up in one of them?
Above the ledge were more openings, though these ones held large flowers in each with their petals poking out. And he could just make out strangely shaped figures on top of them. A few he could tell were more Goblimon but he couldn't imagine what the others were called. Great. Just great. A stadium withan audience for my "Judgment of Woodsiemon". And hanging all from a ceiling that was far too dark to see were vines. Lots of vines, many of them having a some sort of bulbous plant giving off a red, blue, green, yellow, white or silver light.
The Goblimon in front of him grabbed him by the shoulder and yanked him to his feet. "Please!" he tried pleading again, "I didn't do anything!" Instead, he was shoved again, towards the center platform. "Okay, okay!" As he made his way up the surprisingly sturdy ramp, a vine lowered just in front of the platform, carrying that little blue traitor, Veemon.
"Stealers and liars like wickedshadow!" the Goblimon- no, the lying Goblimon shouted while pointing an accusatory finger at him, "Those of wickedshadow shall eat bramble! So say the Woodsiemon!"
"So say the Woodsiemon!" the audience's voices rang through the stadium. Jou's blood drained away. Were they seriously going to make him eat bramble?! For eating green plums, which he didn't even do?! Maybe this Woodsiemon will listen to reason… Or maybe Santa Clause will swoop in and carry me off in his sleigh. He knew something like this was going to happen. Other than those bruises he took from that first encounter with Tailmon, he had been relatively unscathed through this whole ordeal, so of course it all going to catch up on him at once.
Veemon raised his arms. "Order of the Green! Followers of the Woodsiemon! I have brought before you someone of great importance!" Scattered voices sounded. Jou's heart began racing. Now Veemon was saying he was important? What did that have to do with the Judgment?
"He eaters my sweetsie plums!" the Goblimon shouted. The stadium fell silent and Veemon's vine lowered to the ground. He walked up to the Goblimon who suddenly started looking a little nervous.
"That is dumb," Veemon said, "You are dumb." The Goblimon looked away, his face turning red. The lying Goblimon just grinned. Veemon returned to the river.
"As I was saying, someone of great importance has come to you! Someone you have waited centuries, no, millennia for! I give you a bearer of the Dark Virtues!" The air in the stadium felt like it disappeared under the collective gasp but Jou was too distracted by the term "Dark Virtue" to really notice. Somehow, it didn't sound like a good thing. Sure, virtues were good, but dark ones? What did that even mean? And why was he bearing a dark virtue? He never really believed himself to be a great person, but surely he was better than "Dark Virtue".
"But there is a problem!" Veemon continued, "He carries with him unlife!" Another collective gasp and, to Jou's worry, the Goblimon were looking afraid of him. "It is small, but it carries with it the unmistakable taint of the Unlife Kingdom's blasphemy! And so, I must call on the Grand Vine!" Jou found himself holding his breath again. From sweetsie plum eater to blasphemer? I should've just stayed at the camp. No, he shouldn't have gone to camp in the first place! He knew it would end badly! "I beseech you PetriWoodmon! I know you have just entered your slumber but the wisdom of Woodsiemon is needed! Give this Tainted Child the Judgment of Woodsiemon!"
A quiet chant of "Woodsiemon" echoed through the stadium. Jou could feel himself trembling and not having the will to stop. The lights started to dim with Jou's breathing speeding up. Slow, deep breaths! Slow, deep breaths! A green light appeared, a small speck. Then another. And another. The chants grew faster and louder. More and more lights appeared. They clustered together and exploded out into a shape that almost looked like a tree trunk, one that had its top half violently ripped off. Then he noticed the angry looking face covering its front side.
"Who disturbers my slumber?!" it demanded. It looked down and its voice softened. "Friendsie Veemon?"
"Sorry for waking you, big guy," Veemon said, "I know you just went to sleep and all, but seven Children of Virtue have arrived."
"What?!" the monster roared, "Six Darksie Virtues there bes! But one Deceiver, born of wickedshadow! One Destroyer, sent to strip away Darksie Virtues!" It glared down at Jou. He felt himself shrink under the gaze.
"I didn't eaters any sweetsie plums!" he found himself pleading. The face moved in closer and peered into his eyes.
"Unlife on eyes?!" it practically shouted.
"Th-They're my g-glasses," Jou stuttered, "I-I can't s-s-see w-well-"
"A defect!" the monster roared, "A defect you fix with unlife!" It looked up and roared before looking back down. "Bes you Deceiver?! Or bes you Destroyer?!"
"Th-They're just… Th-They're just…" Jou continued to mutter. Its eyes widened again and its head moved back with an enraged shriek.
"Taint! Unlife! Taint of the Unlife King! You not Darksie Child! You Deceiver! You Destroyer!"
"But I- I- I haven't even-" Jou tried to protest. PetriWoodmon peered down with its crushing gaze again.
"The unlife sleeps," it said, its voice calmer, "You not touchered it." PetriWoodmon must have been talking about the digivice. Jou stayed silent for fear of saying something to provoke the monster's rage again.
"They all have one," Veemon said, "All seven." It looked at Veemon.
"Awake the Deceiver's and Destroyer's will bes," it said, "Where bes Darksie Children?"
"Where else?" Veemon answered with a shrug, "That clearing by the lake. It's literally the only decent place left in File."
"How many Tainted?"
"Four."
"Four?!" the monster exploded. Jou fell over and he could swear the surrounding walls vibrated.
"Might be five," Veemon said, "I'm a little unclear on one of them."
"His body destroyed!" PetriWoodmon went on, "His soul banished! Yet ahead of us Unlife King of wickedshadow still is!" Jou found himself under the crushing gaze again. "No wonder you coward! I claims your Darksie Virtue! Judgement of Woodsiemon on all other Darksie Children!"
Yamato growled as his PhotoSaber bounced off the wall of roots frozen by the giant wolf next to him. Garurumon, for some reason Yamato he wasn't sure he wanted to know, had the same fur as the pelt that he wore as Gabumon. His ice powers were still intact, as freezing as Greymon's flames were burning. But somehow, that still wasn't cold enough for the roots. They weren't even that big; he could see the path they were blocking off, the path Sora's Tmail mentioned. The roots had emerged from the stone slab and his attempts to just break through only uncovered a spiderweb of them. He looked at the map again. No information about what was ahead but he did see Sora's gray digivice and the dark gray inactive digivice which was obviously Jou. They were separate and not moving. Not good.
With a snarl he turned and started heading towards Koushiro. Before hacking the slab apart, he got the other boy to analyze it and take a picture with the laptop in case it had anything important. Maybe he'd have an idea, or maybe he found something.
His eyes fell on Mimi and his mood soured further. She pretending to be the evil witch who kidnapped Princess Hikari and Prince TK had to save her. Why was she even playing with him like that?! Weren't prissy girls like her supposed to hate getting dirty?!
Knock it off! It's not Mimi-san's fault you never play with him! He was doing it again! Blaming everyone else for his own mistakes! His own selfishness! When the fighting between his parents got real bad, TK was first taken to the Yagamis. For the first couple times, Yamato went too, but he just couldn't stand Taichi. Everything about that bush-haired moron grated him and the two fought as badly as his parents. So instead Yamato ended up being taken to some other friends and he was just fine with that. And just like that, his last days with TK were given to Taichi and Hikari.
"Yamato, you really shouldn't let what Sora said bother you" Garurumon's voice broke him out of his thoughts, "She didn't mean anything by it."
"But that doesn't make it any less true," he countered, "TK needed me and all I had to do was put up with Yagami-kun. Couldn't even do that." Garurumon closed his eyes, like he was concentrating. He opened them again.
"I don't know much about human family relations but I am pretty sure those thoughts you are having are what you should be telling him." Yamato let out a bitter laugh.
"If I told him what I really thought, he'd never forgive me." In truth, he was actually relieved Hikari couldn't make it to camp. While he certainly did want to meet this little girl TK claimed was "too cool to have cooties", he was afraid that he hadn't fully gotten over his resentment towards her. After all, she was the one who was always comforting TK when the fighting got too much. It was because of her TK got to be friends with Taichi "Big Brother of the Year" Yagami. When he threw away his last days with TK, she was there to pick them right up. For a few years after the divorce, he absolutely hated her, struggling to keep his patience with TK gushing on about his "bestest friend ever" and, while he liked to think he was over it, that he was only grateful to her now, he was afraid that some of the resentment still remained. And I can't tell TK that I hated his best friend simply for being such a good friend.
Shaking his head, he turned his thoughts to the current problem. He had to get to Sora somehow, even if it meant braving the forest itself. Maybe Kabuterimon could get him above and Garurumon, with his agility, could get him a safe landing. Or maybe, since we already know where to go, Kabuterimon could just drop us past the roots. That was an idea. Sure, it did risk exposing the camp site but Sora and Jou were more important than that.
"Careful Yamato!" Garurumon suddenly spoke up, snapping him back to reality. He summoned his CoreBlaster as he looked around. Nothing. Besides, if it was dangerous, Koushiro would have Tmailed him. Other than being a bit darker… uh oh. He was not in the building that long, and it was darkening fast.
"We'd better hurry," Yamato said and hopped on the wolf's back. The two took off towards Koushiro and Yagami. He glanced over at TK and Mimi. Oblivious, from the looks of things. Let's see if we can keep it that way. As they raced to the others, bright green specks began appearing in the sky. Garurumon came to a stop and Yamato hopped down, next to a mesmerized Koushiro. Tentomon was hovering above his head while Agumon was between the lights and Yagami.
"What's happening?" Koushiro jumped a little at his question.
"Oh! Yamato-kun! Um, I'm not certain."
"But we know its bad," Tentomon added. Yamato nodded.
"Keep an eye on TK and Mimi-san," he ordered his partner.
"Understood," the wolf answered. The lights clustered together and exploded out in the form of a tree stump with its top ripped off. And a face. Yamato quickly glanced at Yagami. If this thing was dangerous, Agumon wouldn't offer much protection without evolving. Yagami needed him more than Koushiro did, but then again, this creature wasn't looking in Yagami's direction. Was it even noticing? In that case, Yamato should stay right where he was. He tried the DigiScanner. Nothing found. Hopefully that meant it was just a hologram or something, but then again, given those shadows from the palace, there was no telling just how harmless even a hologram could be.
The giant head glared down on him and Koushiro. "Darksie Children," it announced, "I bes PetriWoodmon, Grand Vine of the Woodsiemon!" Koushiro opened up his laptop and the PetriWoodmon's eyes widened. "Unlife!" it shouted, "You users unlife! Deceiver! Destroyer!" What?!
"W-Wait, wh-what are you-" Koushiro stammered
"You users unlife!" it repeated, "Tool of Deceiver! Tool of Destroyer! You servers wickedshadow! Taint other Childrens! One already consumes with Taint!" One already? Yamato caught his breath. Jou!
"What the hell did you do to him?!" he demanded.
"I absorbs! Claims Darksie Virtue!" Absorb?! "For rest of you, Judgment of Woodsiemon! Deceiver will fail! Destroyer will fail!" A rumbling sounded. Yamato started looking around. A section of the treewall which was starting to lower. That can't be a good thing.
"Garurumon!" he called out, "Something's up!" From the opening, some sort of dark, armored rhino came storming out. The DigiScanner called it Monochromon. Its shell and horn were as hard as diamond. It was ridden by a viscous looking white-haired, green monster with horns coming out of its body. Ogremon. Ogremon was much stronger than he looked, and that was saying something, and his skill his bone rivaled most swordsmen. He also wielded minor powers of darkness and electricity.
Right behind Ogremon and Monochromon came a giant red beetle, every bit as nightmarish-looking as Kabuterimon but worse, since this bug wouldn't have Tentomon's personality. It didn't wield Kabuterimon's electric powers but the crushing power of its pincers was far greater.
And just below was a blue bear with red metal claws. Grizzlymon was far more agile than he looked and very few metals could withstand even one swipe of his claws.
His head throbbing from the repeated scans, Yamato stumbled back a few steps. "Yamato!" Garurumon called out, "What's wrong!"
"J-Just too many scans," he answered, taking deep breaths. Some sort of roar sounded and he heard something big fly above him.
"Kabuterimon! Watch those pincers!" Koushiro called out, "Fight at range!"
"Don't have to tell me!" Kabuterimon responded. Yamato felt Garurumon lunge past him, at Grizzlymon no doubt, and sent his partner the Cryo Core. His vision cleared and he immediately found himself watching as Monochromon was charging… right at TK and Mimi!
"Those twos bes Untainted!" The floating head called out as Mimi picked up TK and started to run away, "Takes thems first."
"No!" Yamato shouted, looking back at Garurumon, who was leaping around Grizzlymon's slashes. He gritted his teeth and sent the Electro Core into the Blaster. That should work against Grizzlymon's claws. He aimed and waited. Now! Garurumon fired a freeze blast and Grizzlymon dug a claw into the ground, launching himself away. Now to see if all that practice paid off.
Grizzlymon was quite a bit further away than the tossed rock, but he was also a lot bigger. Yamato opened fire, three shots missed, but a forth struck a claw. Grizzlymon gave a quick yelp and glared at him. Perfect! TK and Mimi-san are in danger! Save them first! Garurumon responded to his order with an angry growl but Yamato knew he would obey. And be completely merciless with Ogremon and Monochromon, which suited Yamato just fine.
He fired again as the Grizzlymon charged towards him. The bear leapt around the shots while he ran away from Koushiro to draw the danger away. Grizzlymon lunged at him, time slowing down, when a big orange mass crashed into the bear. Greymon?! He didn't even bother looking at Yagami, instead focusing his attention to Garurumon. The wolf had just fired an ice blast at Monochromon. Monochromon jumped to the side while Ogremon went straight up and launched something. It was hard to tell from the distance but it was probably that dark energy the DigiScanner mentioned.
Yamato started running to the fleeing Mimi. Ogremon, as he dropped down, looked over and threw his bone. Yamato could only helplessly watch as it reached Mimi long before he was anywhere near, sending her and TK sprawling… and not moving. "TAKERU!" Ogremon landed on Monochromon's back and it took off towards the two at a speed Yamato couldn't hope to match. Garurumon could and ran up next to Ogremon, looking ready to lunge. And then I'll get Monochromon's attention! He aimed he CoreBlaster. Ogremon swung his club, Garurumon bit it, and was immediately thrown back with a spray of electric sparks. The electric powers!
Seconds later, Monochromon raced passed TK and Mimi and the pair were in Ogremon's hands. "Yamato! I'm sorry!" Garurumon called out as he ran up to Yamato. Yamato climbed on to Garurumon's back.
"After them," he ordered as Monochromon began racing back to the opening, "The treewall will probably close after they're through!" They took Takeru and Mimi-san! I'm going after them! He sent his message to both Koushiro and Yagami. "And don't blame yourself," he assured Garurumon, mentally kicking himself for not considering the big tree head thing trying something like this, and for not considering what Ogremon's darkness and electric powers might be, "It's more my fault than yours."
Tanglemon. That was the real identity of that grass. Tanglemon was an artificial worm-like assassin digimon that stayed underground, letting only its tentacles surface. The tentacles looked like grass but were stronger than steel. Each tentacle had tiny barbs inside that poke out once prey was snagged and would begin draining the victim's blood while injecting a toxin that neutralized a digimon's powers. While Tanglemon could live off just water, they preferred blood and the more blood they drank, the more malevolent they became, learning to enjoy their victims' suffering and keeping them alive as long as possible.
I'm going to die, Sora realized. This was even worse than the water from the palace. Worse than fighting the two Phantomons. With those she was able to do things to save herself. But here? Her legs were completely bound. Her arms pulled behind her back so tightly, she could feel her bones pressing against each other. Another tentacle was around her mid section, squeezing the breath out of her and two more over her mouth and neck making even the slightest squeak impossible.
She tried again to evolve Piyomon. The little bird was practically killing herself firing barrages of heated wind but the killer plant's, worm's, whatever's tentacles only shook a little under the assault. Tanglemon itself didn't even seem to notice her outside the brief moments she would drop into grabbing range, at which point a tentacle would take a quick swipe at her.
Still nothing. The winds that were supposed to rush through her would barely start before fizzling out, and Element Cores weren't working either as her failed attempts at strengthening Piyomon with the Aero Core revealed.
A freezing wind whooshed beneath her. Something cracked and she was on the ground, the tentacles no longer grabbing her. Then a strong arm wrapped around her, and quickly lifted her on to something big and furry. She let out a slight yip from both the fur irritating her cuts and just the roughness of the way she was lifted.
"S-Soraaaaaaaa…" Piyomon flopped down in front of her, breathing heavily.
"Y-Yamato?" Sora said as she wrapped her hands her rescuer's back, making sure to be close enough to hold Piyomon between their bodies.
"Sorry for the roughness," he practically growled, "but I'm in a hurry."
"What do-" She cut her question off as Garurumon took off, instead clenching her teeth, trying to bear the pain as she held on. Her head began burning as information poured in. A warning about an unknown contaminant entering her body. Contaminant identified as Tanglemon toxin. Too much toxin for anti-toxin functions. Toxin is disrupting digivice combat functions. Now you tell me. Toxin reduced to manageable levels.
Garurumon came to a sudden stop. Sora let out another yelp and so did Piyomon as she got squeezed. "You ride too rough!" the little bird complained, "Can't you see Sora's hurt?!"
"Seriously, Yamato-kun, what was so…" Sora trailed off as she looked ahead. A long bridge over a deep ravine with a green monster riding some sort of rhino thing on the other side. Her DigiScanner identified them as Ogremon and Monochromon. That's who Yamato was chasing, but why- "TK-kun! Mimi-san!" They were both tied up at the bridge's far end!
"You're not up to this," Yamato growled, "and Piyomon needs to rest. Garurumon and I will handle it."
"I'm sure I can deal with both of them," Garurumon growled as Sora picked up her partner and slid off.
"I'm not letting you fight both alone," Yamato retorted. Garurumon gave a reluctant sounding growl of acknowledgment and the two bolted across the bridge towards Ogremon who met the charge with Monochromon. With his PhotoSaber out, Yamato took a swing. Ogremon swung back with his bone with a spray of sparks. Yamato fell back as Garurumon slowed down. Ogremon reached Sora and Piyomon, licking his lips as he looked at them. Sora felt herself shudder as Piyomon fanned out her wings in front.
Ogremon turned around and Yamato had already began charging. Ogremon charged back, their swings making more sparks, Yamato falling back again, this time nearly falling off. Garurumon stopped as Ogremon charged again. Ogremon's just playing with them! Sora realized. She drew her CoreBlaster and aimed, considering what Core to use, but then lowered the gun. Yamato was already attacking again and there was no way she could get off a shot without hitting him. And waiting until Ogremon was close enough was just suicide.
Yamato gritted his teeth as he charged for the third time. The DigiScanner wasn't kidding about Ogremon's strength. PhotoSaber out, he swung at Ogremon again. This time Ogremon thrust his bone into Yamato's weapon, throwing him right off Garurumon's back, the PhotoSaber flying out of his hand.
"Yamato!" Garurumon cried out. Ogremon leapt off Monochromon and struck the creature with his club. Monochromon yelped and charged into Garurumon, the two breaking right through the rail and falling over.
"Garurumon!" Yamato shouted. Ogremon's club came right for his chest. He instinctively recalled the sword just in time to block the blow, though it lifted him into the air and on to his back. Ogremon swung down on him and he barely rolled away in time.
Scrambling back up, he took a desperate swing, barely seeing Sora hobble over. No sign of Piyomon. Ogremon sidestepped the swing and took an underhand swing with his club, giving Yamato a stinging pain in his hand followed by numbness. And then he saw his sword fall down into Ogremon's waiting hand.
Ogremon gave Yamato a feral grin and plunged the sword right at his body. Time slowed down for Yamato and he gave a clumsy sidestep, recalling the weapon, it appearing back in his flailing hand and sliced right through Ogremon.
He stared at the data particles, trying to catch his breath. Dumb luck. I got him with dumb luck.
"Yamato-kun!" Sora panted, reaching him, "S-Sorry I c-couldn't help!"
"I-It's fine," Yamato assured, "Garurumon and-" he caught his breath and ran over to where Garurumon and Monochromon broke through the guardrail. "Garurumon!" he called out, looking for some sign of his partner in the river below.
"Birdramon went after him," Sora said, sounding worried, "The Monochromon pulled her into the water." A bit of hope entered her voice. "But I can still bring up the evolutions." Yamato immediately brought his evolutions up. Yes, it still said Gabumon was Garurumon. And the Cryo Core was still in effect. He let out a relieved sigh. "The Cryo Core is still working." Sora gasped.
"I just sent Birdramon the Aero Core! I think they're okay! And I Tmailed her that you got Ogremon."
"Good idea." He sent a similar message to Garurumon, ignoring the frustration over the fact that his partner had no way of answering him. He stood up and shakily made his way over to where TK and Mimi were tied up. He looked at the sign over top, the DigiScanner translating it.
Builds thems unlife towers over the greensie trees and laughs theys at the Woodsiemon.
Fills thems coolsie waters with burnsie poison and laughs theys at the Woodsiemon.
Blocks thems warmsie sun withblackyclouds and laughs theys at the Woodsiemon.
Starves theys over unlife fruits, chokes theys over burnsie water, freezes theys under blacky clouds, and laughs the Woodsiemon at thems.
"Nice sounding guys," he commented.
"Woodsiemon?" Sora asked, looking at the same sign, "Veemon said these guys were the Order of the Green. Another name for them?" Yamato shrugged as he looked at TK. He was breathing okay, or at least he looked like it. Same for Mimi. Jou-kun should examine them to be sure- Jou-kun! How could he forget?!
He brought up his map. A blue digivice icon suddenly popped into existence. "Check your map," he said. Her eyes widened. Taichi's digivice was red. Sora's was gray. Koushiro's was yellow. His was white. And with TK and Mimi here, the only possible one for blue was Jou.
"Jou-kun awakened his digivice?! How?!" And did that mean he was absorbed, or whatever that green head talking about?
"Let's just worry about finding him," Yamato warned, "He won't be conscious after that."
"The Darksie Child bes fine," a familiar voice rumbled from above. Yamato glared at the head of green lights, wishing the DigiScanner would pick something up. "But defective his body bes!" it continued, "Ruined by unlife! Unfit to be Darksie Child! I shall claims his Darksie Virtue!"
"What are you doing to him?!" Yamato demanded.
"Silence!" it roared back, "Separated you bes from Deceiver! From Destroyer! Now Judgment of Woodsiemon will commence!"
Sitting up and trying to ignore her throbbing head, Mimi looked around. Darkness everywhere. It almost reminded her of that creepy palace but at least there wasn't that heavy feeling. And her head was hurting… oh, yeah. That monster hit her with its club.Beating up an innocent girl like me! What is wrong with that monster?! And sweet little TK-chan… TK-chan! She looked around for the boy. He had to have been taken too, so where was he?! Please be okay, TK-chan! Please be okay!
She suddenly found herself looking up at two girls, almost looking like sisters with their dark eyes and long black hair. The designer clothes confirmed the growing fear as to who these girls were. Minako-san! Aino-san! Her best friends, or rather, her soon to be ex-best friends, once they saw her in the dirt like this. She started backing away, praying they didn't see her.
Minako looked right at her, her expression filled with shock and disgust. "Mimi-san! What are you doing down there!"
"I-I'm sorry!" Mimi stammered, "I-It's just that-"
"Rolling around like a pig," Aino laughed, "That does fit her!" Mimi's mouth hung open in stunned silence. Aino was always so nice to her! Sure, she'd say things like that to other girls, but never to her!
"W-What?!" Tears started to well up. "A-Aino-san, i-it's not like that! I-I'm away f-from h-home, a-and-"
"Quite crying!" Minako snapped, "Look at you! You're a mess! Did you even think about how you're making us look?!" Mimi flinched. She never wanted to make Minako and Aino look bad. She always worried how she reflected on them, just like they always made her look good.
"Seriously Mimi-san," Aino continued, "We put our reputation at stake, letting you hang with us! And this is how you repay us?!"
"N-No! Please!" Mimi pleaded, "I-I haven't had a ch-chance to-"
"You're disgusting," Minako said, "I knew letting you-"
"Stop that!" TK shouted. Mimi jumped, suddenly aware of the little boy's presence. Where did he come from?!
"What are you supposed to be?" Minako sneered. Mimi swallowed nervously. Things were just getting worse and worse.
"Mimi-san's real nice!" TK continued, "So stop being mean to her!"
"TK-chan, please," she started. She didn't want TK getting on Minako's and Aino's bad side. They would not hold back and a little kid like him couldn't possibly take their cruelty.
"And what are you supposed to be, you little freak?" Aino asked, glaring down at the boy. TK seemed to shrink a little under the gaze. "You think that hideous blond hair makes you cool or something?"
"Th-That's my hair color…" TK's voice started to weaken. Just run away, TK-chan!
"Oh, yuck, a half breed," Aino sneered. She glared at Mimi. "Is this the kind of garbage you hang around with now?!"
"N-No!" Mimi said. She had to get TK out of the line of fire.
"Mimi-san's my friend!" TK blurted out. No! No! No! TK-chan, don't! "So, stop being mean to her!" She had to admit the bravado TK was putting out was impressive but Minako and Aino would see right through it.
Minako looked at her. "See this, Mimi-san?" she said, "Without us, this half-breed runt is the best you'll ever do."
"And she's the best he'll ever do!" Aino laughed.
"Mimi-san's prettier than you!" TK shout out. Mimi caught her breath as a deadly silence fell over. On one hand, she was absolutely stunned that little TK would say something like that. On the other hand, She didn't compare to Minako or Aino. They knew it. Everyone knew it. And to even imply otherwise…
"Will you shut up, Takeru-san!" she shouted. TK jumped back, staring at her, his eyes wide. "I'm sick of you always bugging me!"
"B-But M-Mimi-san…" TK trailed off as his eyes started to water. He started moving towards her.
"Get away from me!" she shouted and slapped her hand across his face. The look of pain and betrayal on his face ripped her heart in half, but it was the only way to protect him from Minako and Aino. TK let out a whimper.
"I-I'm s-s-s-sorry," his voice cracked. He turned around and ran off into the darkness. Mimi held back her own sobs. I'm sorry TK-chan, but Minako-san and Aino-san are… Are what? She wasn't really certain how she was going to finish that thought. Well, either way, it was time to face them again. To salvage what little regard they had left for her.
Taking a shaky breath, she looked to them… but they were gone. Instead, however, was something far more terrifying. Even more than a hundred Minakos and Ainos. An absolutely enraged Sora. Before Mimi could even start think to what to say, Sora yanked her to her feet.
"What the hell was that, Mimi-san?!" she demanded.
"Sora-san, I-I-I'm sorry…" Mimi started, trying not to think of what Sora was looking mad enough to do, which wasn't easy given how much stronger the other girl was than her. She looked for Minako and Aino, or anyone for that matter, but she was alone. "M-Minako-sain… Aino-san… Th-They would… To TK-chan…" she desperately tried to explain.
"I'm sorry too," Sora growled, "Sorry I ever thought you were a good friend to him."
It took all of Sora's willpower not to throttle Mimi. How dare she treat TK that way?! TK really saw her as a big sister! To reject him like that… and just because of those two girls?! Sora couldn't really make out their appearance, or what they were saying, but Mimi certainly seemed to know them. Well, that's who she'd rather be friends with, then fine.
Now Sora was running down the path TK had gone, praying that he'd gone in a straight line. This darkness was making any real search impossible. Was Yamato still with her or did he get separated? She lost sight when the darkness fell. Either way, he'd want her to focus on TK.
She screeched to a stop, a figure suddenly right in front of her. The blood drained from her face when she saw who. Mom?! How?! The older woman's harsh expression melted any question Sora might have had.
"What is wrong with you, Sora?!" her mother demanded, "That poor girl is exactly who I want you to be and look how you treat her?!" Sora had to work her mouth to force out a response.
"D-Didn't you see how she treated poor TK-kun?!" she demanded, "He saw her as a big sister and she just… just…" The thought made her too angry to even finish. She forcibly unclenched the fists she hadn't realized she was making. "I need to find him," she growled through clenched teeth.
"And swoop in like a vulture," her mother sneered, "Take a failing friendship for yourself. Easier than building, right?"
"W-What?!" Sora couldn't believe what she was hearing. Sure she wasn't exactly on great terms with her mother, but she never believed the older woman thought so little of her. She barely noticed the tears rolling down her cheeks. "I-I'm not… I mean, I-I just want to help TK-kun!"
"Like you helped Yamato-kun?!" her mother demanded. Sora caught her breath. She knew about that?!
"Th-That wasn't… I was just…" she forced herself to take a breath, "I just want him to stop blaming himself."
"You want! You want!" her mother practically exploded, "It's always about you! Remember that nice dress I wanted you to wear?! I only wanted you to look nice for once!" Sora was taken aback. She didn't like worrying too much about her looks, but she never considered herself ugly.
"I-It was an a-accident," she stammered, "I-I told you… Me and T-Taichi-"
"The Yagami boy," her mother snorted, "I always knew he was bad influence."
"What?!" That was insane! Her mother loved Taichi, even saying that if she ever had a son, she'd want him to be like Taichi! "Taichi's the best friend I ever had! And you know that!"
"He also nearly got his sister killed because of his own selfishness!" Sora's jaw dropped open. She couldn't believe her mother would say that! In fact, it was her mother who got her to understand that as awful as it could have turned out, it wasn't really any more careless than any other of the multitude of dumb things she and Taichi had done. "And that selfishness is completely rubbing off on you."
Sora tried to force out a response. A defense of Taichi. A defense of herself. Anything. But nothing came out. What could she say?
"All I wanted," her mother went on, "was for you to at least act a little lady like." She shook her head. "You are such a disappointment."
Yamato stared at Mimi, feeling himself tremble with a bare contained fury. It was taking all of his willpower not to storm over and give her a good beating. After the way she'd spent every waking moment clinging to TK, practically treating him like pet, and now she was throwing him away?! Did she think he was some type handbag or something?!
Growling to himself, he ran past the sobbing girl in the direction TK had gone. Sora had already gone ahead and Yamato was hoping to overtake her. While he knew she could be trusted with his little brother, TK needed actual family now and it was time for Yamato to act like it.
There he was… where was Sora? Don't tell me she got lost! It would be impossible to find her. Scout Mode wasn't working and any attempt to activate it only flashed an ERROR message across his vision. Sora's strong. She'll be fine. Right now, focus on TK. And then Mimi. As much as he hated her, it wasn't enough to abandon her.
As he drew closer to TK, two other figures came into view. The sight of them stopped him right in his tracks.
TK curled up on the ground, desperately pressing his hands against his ears, but the words got right through. His eyes were clamped shut, but the images still appeared in his mind. "An hour!" his mother shouted, "You kept him waiting for an hour!"
He barely remembered what had happened. Only that he was waiting for what felt like forever for his father. It ended up being his mother who came for him. The only thing he really remembered was the huge fight. The divorce came pretty quickly after that.
"I didn't mind!" he desperately cried out, shakily standing back up, "It didn't feel that long! Really!" He had to stop the fight somehow! He had to! It was his fault for causing it!
"Something important came up!" his father shouted, "If you were near your phone you would've known!"
"I already had something important!" his mother fired back, "That's why I needed you to pick up Takeru!"
"I'm okay! See?!" TK tried to interrupt, "I'm okay! It didn't bother me!"
"I'm already handling Yamato!" his father said, "I don't have time for Takeru too!" TK returned to covering his ears and eyes. If only he could block even just a few of those angry words out. Unfortunately, those words were determined to find his ears.
"I was handling Yamato today!" his mother reminded, "Takeru was your job!"
"My job is feeding this damn family!" his father shot back, "And in case you forgot, there's four of us now!"
"And who's fault is that?!" his mother said, "You were the one who wanted to celebrate getting that story! You knew how tight our budget was!"
"You weren't exactly against it!"
"I'm sorry!" TK cried out, "I'm sorry I'm so expensive! I'm sorry I waste your time! I'm sorry! I'm sorry!"
Whatever anger Yamato had felt towards Mimi was just a faint ember compared the volcano exploding inside him now. Those damn arguments from their worthless parents! Did they ever think about what they were saying?! What they were telling TK?! Like I did to Sora?! That sudden reminded him of that argument. Great! I'm turning into them! Maybe TK was better off with a big brother like Yagami instead.
He shook those thoughts out of his head. He put his attention back to TK, who was tearfully apologizing for… being born. His fury reignited, he rushed towards the boy, grabbing his hand. TK looked at him puffy, red eyes. "Y-Yama?" he sobbed.
"We're leaving," he said, struggling to keep some semblance of composure, "We need to find Sora-kun. And Mimi-san." He had to force out that last bit, but TK would worry about her, no matter how badly she treated him.
"B-But Mommy a-and D-Daddy!" TK sobbed.
"Forget them!" he snapped more harshly than he intended. TK's flinch made him feel worse.
"I can't forget them," TK said, "They're my Mommy and Daddy."
"So what?! It's not like they care about us!" Yamato immediately slapped his hands to his mouth. How could he say that?! The look on TK's face confirmed what a mistake it was.
"B-But I l-love Mommy and Daddy…" the little boy trailed off. Yamato mentally kicked himself. Damn it! Why is it every time I open my mouth, I just hurt him?!
"Failures!" the digimon's head reappeared in the sky, "You all failures trials!" Yamato was suddenly back in the forest with Sora and Mimi, exactly where he was when it turned dark.
Tailmon stared at the sea of trees towering over her rooftop. How nice the entrance those brats had picked would be shady, allowing her to peacefully wait until they left again. Which probably wouldn't be for a while, even that bush headed one had to have gotten the hint by now. Of course, she could try tracking down their little hideout but that would mean actually entering the forest which would be a very bad idea. For one thing, those giant trees had no branches below their tops and their bark was too hard for her claws, so climbing down was not an option. And neither was exploring, not with the Order of the Green in there. The Greenies would never tolerate one of Vamdemon's soldiers in their forest. Meh. I don't really need to know where the brats are all the time.
"Hiya, Tailmon!" Tailmon involuntarily flinched at the grating voice.
"Go away, Veemon." That irritating lizard who Vamdemon, for reasons she couldn't begin to imagine, had forced her to partner with. Even though she already had a partner. A good one.
"Hey, I'm just here with some good news," Veemon said.
"You've been transferred?" She should be so lucky.
"Very funny. No, what I mean is, I dealt with our little Chosen Children problem!" Tailmon's blood went cold. She whirled around, glaring at Veemon.
"What do you mean you dealt with them?" she hissed, almost afraid of the answer.
"I just sicced ol' Lifey on them," Veemon said with an oblivious smile, "Since it just woke up, it'll be nice and cranky too!" Tailmon just stared at her future scratching post, her jaw hitting the ground. She didn't want Veemon on this mission. She knew he'd find a way to screw things up. But this badly?!
No, no, no! Everything was perfect! PetriWoodmon had just entered its quadrennial slumber and it slept for a full year! Plenty of time to get the Children some battle experience with Miracles, Equality, and maybe even Destiny! But the Warden of Life? It was a completely different level from the others!
Why the hell did Vamdemon stick this idiot with me?! Oh, right. That oblivious cheerfulness made him real good at making friends and establishing underworld connections. Even with the Order. Given the Order's presence in File, it did make some sense to give her a connection to them. But on the other hand… She smacked him over the head with her tail, making sure hit him with the ring. "Ouch! Tailmon, what's the big idea?!" Veemon glared, rubbing his head.
"You idiot! Do you have any idea what just did?!"
"Yeah! I got the top Warden to get the brats!" Veemon shot back, "I mean, come on! The other Wardens are a joke compared to him! Why waste the time?!" This is exactly why she didn't want that blue idiot around! No amount of "connections" made up for Veemon's idiocy!
"Do you even remember why Vamdemon sent us after these brats?!" Veemon looked a little confused at the question.
"To kill them? That's how you deal with your ene- ow!" Another hit from the tail.
"I could've killed them all when they first appeared in the palace!" Tailmon snapped, "Did you even listen to the briefing?! What were our orders?!" Veemon looked thoughtful.
"Uh, find the brats and… uh… ow! What the hell is your problem?!"
"The Metal King's resurrection you idiot!" Tailmon exploded, "Remember Astrolomon's prophecy?!" She could feel herself trembling with anger. And… fear? The Metal King was said to be one who triggered the ancient war that ravaged the Digital World and was, quite possibly, the most dangerous being the Digital World's history. Well, him or the "First Shadow", whatever that was.
"Oh, yeah, the prophecy," Veemon scratched the back of head, looking sheepish, "Um, but wait! Only two of the kids were capable of beating him, right? So we only two of them alive! Ow!" She wasn't sure how much more of Veemon stupidity she could take.
"Did Astrolomon happen to tell you which two?!" she hissed, "Because he sure as hell didn't tell me!" That damn prophet! The eight Children of Virtue have been Chosen. The resurrection of the Metal King is at hand. Only the Two who Shine can stand against his Darkness and Shadow. But since they probably can't do it alone, you'll probably need all of them. Yeah, all of them. She had to take these eight little kids and somehow forge them into warriors capable of stopping the most feared being in the Digital World's history! And that reminded her of the other problem: where the hell was the eighth?! There was only seven here! What if the eighth was one of the two?! Were both of them even needed or was either of them enough?!
"Okay, I admit it, I mess up!" Veemon interrupted her thoughts, putting his arms up, "Sheesh. If they can't beat PetriWoodmon then-"
"I was preparing them!" Tailmon shouted.
"I just wanted to help!" Veemon countered, "You always do this! We're supposed to work together but you cut me out and try to do everything yourself!" She fought the urge to roll her eyes.
"You want to help? Go kill Etemon. He's the one who keeps digging up the Metal King's stuff!"
"Uh, yeah, I was thinking of something that wouldn't get me punched into low orbit."
"You've done enough. I'm going to have to call in some real help to straighten this mess out." She looked back at the forest. You brats better survive this, or we're all doomed.
