I opened one of my eyes slightly to peek what was going on. I had
recognized where I was and opened my eyes completely. I was back at the
digimon hut resting on the same cot.
"Thank goodness you're awake." Someone had replied
I looked around to see that it was Sora who had said that. I said with my weak voice, "What happened? How'd I get here again?"
"Well, me, Gatomon, and Biyomon went to go find you." Agumon had said
"But how'd you know I was back at the fort?" I looked over to Floramon. She shrugged her shoulders as she replied, "I'm sorry Wizardmon I just had to tell them where you were."
Tai added, "It's a good thing too, you almost died out there. You're wounds from before weren't even healed fully. Why'd you go out in the first place?"
"Uh..." was all I could mutter out.
Kari reached for her brother's hand, "Tai, I think you should let Wizardmon rest first."
"Huh? Oh yeah, I guess you're right Kari." Tai noticed
I had to find a way to get out of answering his question. I was healed, but only about at half strength. I could have easily responded back, but I don't think saying, "I went back to the fort and risked my life to get back my staff," would be a good answer. I continued to lie back on the cot as I slowly closed my eyes. With my eyes closed, I relied more on my hearing to find out what was going on.
I heard as each person left the digimon hut. Hearing Agumon and Biyomon leave together, then Tai was talking to Floramon, as Kari left right after them. One by one they left, conversing about some things until only one was left. I could easily tell who it was as Gatomon walked over to me.
I thought, "She must have been worried about me. She's probably going to sit there like before when I first came back from the stone fort." I sank into the cot as I pulled the blanket closer to me.
I could tell Gatomon came closer as I heard her footsteps drawing near to me. I thought, "She probably just wants to check up on me."
Surprisingly to me Gatomon said, "Get up you moron!" as she kicked me right at my shoulder. I rolled out of bed from the impact as I quickly opened my eyes. I asked her, "What's gotten into you?"
"Oh, what's gotten into me? You want to know what's gotten into me?" She said with attitude
"Yeah, I wanna know what's gotten into you." I said back, "You know I am still injured."
She shouted back, "Oh come on, I know you're not that hurt. Were you crazy?"
"What?" I said back to her
"You know what I'm talking about. Did you want yourself to get deleted by some evil digimon? Is that it? Cause I can't think of any other reason why you would go back alone." She said
I couldn't tell her the truth, "Gatomon..." I said as I thought of nothing to say to her.
She shook her head, "I can't believe you. Why?"
I stood there in silence as I looked down to the ground. Gatomon on the other hand just continued to stare at me with her blue eyes. She was waiting for an answer, but unfortunately I had none to offer to her. She replied, "You could have been deleted if we didn't show up. Listen to me Wizardmon! I don't want to lose you like before..." She had realized what she had said as she turned her back to me and sank her head low. While we stood there I heard her slightly sobbing.
I walked over to her quietly as I responded, "Before...you're referring to the other Wizardmon aren't you? The one that died saving you and Kari." I placed my hands at her shoulders as she continued to cry. "You're afraid that I'm going to die like he did. Gatomon...I don't die easily, not without a fight." I spun her around as she I knelt down to her level. "Listen to me Gatomon, I know you really care about me, but you have to have a little bit more faith in me. That's not going to happen to me."
She muttered, "That's what I thought, I never thought that he would died. But he did and he left me alone. He was my first friend and also my first love."
I protested, "No, he didn't leave you alone. He left you with Kari. He did that for you, it was his last gift for you. It seems that he loved you too, why else would he give his life for you? So you see he knew all along on how you felt about him. And on that day, that was the way how he showed how he felt for you."
"Wizardmon..." Gatomon said as I stared at her. She let go of the tears as she wrapped her paws around back and lowered her head and cried at my shoulder. I patted her at her back as I replied, "Just let it all go Gatomon, no more feeling guilty about yourself."
For that moment as we had our arms wrapped around each other, I saw myself not as a keeper, but a companion for her. I forgot all about the rules and just comforted her as she continued to cry at my shoulder. I held her only thinking; "I will protect you with all my power and strength, no matter what the cost maybe." It was a strange feeling that had overtaken me. I had wondered if it had happened. Was I showing the same type of love as she did for me? For now I didn't think about it as I patted the back of her head. She lifted her head as she we locked eyes. We continued to look at each other as her eyes slowly began to dry up. We inched closer and closer until our foreheads where nearly touching. Breathing deeply we both slowly closed our eyes and drew closer to another.
As our lips where about to touch, my eyes shot wide opened as I had suddenly realized what was going to happen. I swerved my head away and looked to the side. Gatomon opened her eyes, "What's wrong?" she asked
I continued to breath, "Gatomon...I have to tell you something. I wanted to tell you this a long time ago, but I didn't have the courage to tell you."
She looked at me, perplexed to what I was about to say. I knew I had to tell her, but could I? Telling another I couldn't return the love they had for me. I began, "Gatomon...about this love you have for me. I just have to confess something to you."
She sat back, interested to what I had to say. I would hate to have to hurt her like this, but I had no choice. I'd rather still be around her, then not be able to see her at all. "Gatomon, the time I've spent with you have been a time in my life that I could never forget. I will always be and forever will be your loyal and cherished friend and that's all I can be."
"What? What are you saying Wizardmon. I thought..." Gatomon began to question things.
"I'm sorry, but a friend is the only thing I can be to you." I explained to her.
She started to back away as she continued to shake her head left to right. "No...no...Wizardmon why? I thought, we we're..." she continued to back away from me.
I held my hand out, "Gatomon, please. Just wait for just a moment, lets just talk about this."
She continued to reply; "no...no..." and then she turned her back and ran out the hut as she crying her eyes out. I shouted to her, "Gatomon!!! Wait!!!" as I ran out the hut to only see Gatomon continuing to run into the forest.
I was about to run after her, when I thought about what I could do if I ever did catch up with her. I would have nothing to explain to her, nothing to try and say and make everything better. I looked to the side and re-entered the hut. I looked around, not really trying to see something, but something to distract me. Having no such luck, I adjusted my thought to another object. I suddenly without warning punched the wall of the hut. "Grr...darn it!"
I had to blow off some steam some how as I thought about it some more. "I shouldn't have told her that. What am I going to do now? Then again, maybe this is something I couldn't avoid. Do I really love Gatomon? I wish I could answer my own questions." Suddenly an unexpected event was taking place. The room began to foggy and white. I didn't understand it, but the room was hardly noticeable now. I looked down at my hands to see my I had changed into my human form. I didn't know what was going on until I heard it.
"The cadet known as Chronos, please kneel before the high council." A voice had proclaimed. I didn't know what just happened, but I followed the voices' instructions. It shouted again, "the cadet's status is keeper, currently on his first mission. His location is dimension universe number thirty-one, the digital world."
I opened my voice, "What's going on here?"
I heard a voice from above call out to me, "Chronos, you were summon here by the high council."
"Why, what has happened? Was it because I had not reported?" I asked
"No Chronos, you were summoned before the council because you are accused of breaking one of the dimensional laws set thousands of years ago. The law stating that a keeper, sage, or master of time did or had attempted to draw into a deeper relationship with they're charges. Chronos you have been accused of this. Do you deny this at any level?" He said to me.
I didn't say anything. Instead a voice from nowhere responded, "The keeper does not deny."
It spoke again, "You are familiar to what the consequence of breaking this law?
I nodded my head. He replied, "Do you have anything to say in your defense?"
I replied, "I have nothing to say, but this...I cannot deny the fact that this had occurred. Though I had at some time agreed to this relationship. It had pained me to end it after I had taken it to consideration. Although that still has no reason what so ever that could excuse me. I await your decision."
There was a moment of silence. Slight whispers echoed through the hollow and bright hall. Until they spoke once again, "We have come to a decision. Chronos you have shown great potential for a keeper at your age. You were aware of the punishment and rules and yet you still chose not to abide by them. However, we are aware of compassion and understanding for the most part. You are still young and inexperienced, to us at least. For now, we give you a warning. Something that we rarely give to anyone, but in your case and position...we'll make this one exception. For now, we are concerned in other matters; we do not have time to pass harsh judgment. You will return to the digital world shortly, only a few seconds have passed."
I let out a breath of relief as I bowed humbly before them. I knew that I was given the chance to redeem myself. Few have ever return from the same path I had chosen, if any. As the bright lights all dimmed before me and I was slowly returning back to the digital world mentally, thoughts had entered my mind as now I began to sort everything out.
"So I was spared, if I can say that. I made sure that it wouldn't continue this little obsession, if it were even an obsession. I was given a second chance to do this mission right, without the distractions. That still won't explain why I feel so inadequate and so...empty inside." I thought of this as things had shuffled through my head.
I blinked twice as image of the hut soon reappeared before my eyes. I had returned and just as the council had said, only a few seconds had passed while I was within the time realm. Then suddenly a key detail I had overlook had just entered my mind. I must have not realized it at first because I was too worried on what they were about to do to me. What the council had said, "we are concerned in other matters; we do not have time to pass harsh judgment." What had seemed wrong with this sentence was the fact that voice was speaking on behalf of all the members of the high council. Something is up, and they're guard is down. Their wary and watchful eyes that had kept tabs on all keepers, sages, and masters in other dimensions were slowly diminishing. I can't really say this was good, but it was the break I was waiting for. I could at least relax for a while, as they we're dealing with the larger problem at hand.
I took in a large breath and exhaled. I looked around the hut, observing every detail once more. As my eyes wandered I observed the cot I was resting at. My cloak and hat were off to the side once again. It seemed all too familiar, as if I had already experienced this before. Then I remembered I had experienced this before. "My staff..." I thought as I rushed over and picked up my hat and cloak. Only difference this time was that my time staff was right under them. I let out a sigh of relief as I picked it up in my hand and let it's power flow through my body. I put on my hat and cloak on as I sat down right besides my cot.
Again, an odd sense had entered my mind. It felt like something was trying to remind me that I had forgotten something. The emptiness inside was also churning as it too was forcing me to remember. I looked down to where I was sitting at the cot I was previously resting in. Then it hit me, as I whispered, "Gatomon..." I rushed out of the hut as fast as I could.
"Even though I had set things straight, she was hurt now. I had to make sure she was all right, she could hurt herself in such a weakened condition." I reminded myself.
I peered into the distance at the forest up ahead. Deramon so happened to be walking by as I suddenly stopped him and asked, "Deramon! Have you seen Gatomon recently?"
"Oh Wizardmon you're up. Uh, why yes I have Gatomon." Deramon replied
"You did, well where is she?" I asked him
He put his wing to his chin, "Well let's see, the last time I saw her was a few moments ago. She seemed to be running furiously over in that direction." He pointed to where she had seen her. I thanked Deramon as I quickly began to run towards the forest. I continued to run across the fields trying to see any trace of a white digital cat. The problem was that she had a head start; she could have gone much farther into the forest. If it was not for my time abilities and training, Gatomon would be far much faster then me in speed and agility. I tilted my three-pointed hat to keep the sun from blinding me, as I surveyed the area. It was pointless of me to even try and suspect that I could catch her running around the field.
However, as I moved my eyes across the plain I saw a slight figure within the forest. It couldn't be Gatomon, could it? I had to find out for sure if my eyes were either playing tricks on me or was it really Gatomon. I rushed towards the direction the figure resided. As I got closer the figure became sharper, as I could easily describe it. It was a slightly tall digimon, but was not as tall as me. It seemed to be in a grayish texture as it ran quickly throughout the plains. The nearer I got the more details I spotted; it seemed to have a bulky figure with indications of a rocky formation. I knew for sure it was not Gatomon, but it couldn't hurt to find out what it was.
Actually, I had already identified the being as Gotsumon. A rookie level digimon I had seen earlier in the digimon village. However, something seemed out of place, as his movements were a bit frantic as if something was chasing him. I looked behind him to see nothing at all that could be frightening the poor digimon, so I rushed over to see if he needed help. I called out to him to try and draw his attention, "Hey! Gotsumon!!! Do you need any help or something!?!"
Gotsumon turned his head to see me running towards him. He quickly started to head in my direction as he was waving his hands in the air like a maniac. He started to shout about something, but I couldn't really pick it up. Each time I got closer, I managed to hear a little bit more on what he was screaming about. Finally I heard him completely as we were only a several feet from one another. It sounded like, "I have to warn them! I have to tell them! What I saw! What I saw!" I was just completely perplexed on why this poor Gotsumon would be running about screaming these messages. As I finally reached him I grabbed a hold of his arms. He was just completely out of control as I tried my best to calm him down. He continued to rumble around as he tried to get free. "Hey! What's wrong, come on...what is it? Just calm down, alright?" I said to him.
All he replied in response was, "I have to warn them! I have to tell them! What I saw! What I saw!" He just continued to repeat these messages. It didn't even seem like he was breathing right as I continued to calm him down. It was no use; he was not paying attention to me. With all his constant ravings and his shortage of breath, he lost consciousness and fell to the floor. Luckily for him I was there to catch him. "Well, I don't know you're story, but I know I have to get you back to the digimon village. They could take better care of you."
I turned my head to see the village, but the only problem was that it was far from it. I could easily carry him across, but that would take too long even if I did run. Suddenly an idea struck my head as I looked around to see no one in sight. I looked down to see the Gotsumon still out cold. "Good no one's looking." I grabbed a hold of the Gotsumon's hand and closed my eyes. Getting a clear picture of the place, I soon faded away bring Gotsumon with me. I reappeared right as I expect to be. I was only a few feet away from the village as I placed him under my arm. I started to walk towards the town as I shouted, "Help! I need some help over here!"
No sooner did I say this, a couple of the digimon looked through their windows to see me carrying a fallen Gotsumon under my arm. Some rushed over and gave me hand with him. We escorted him back to the hut where I had staid recently. As Floramon tended to Gotsumon's condition, Agumon, Biyomon, Tai, Sora, and Kari arrived. I greeted them as they stepped into the hut.
"Oh you're here," I said to them
Sora replied, "Wizardmon, I thought you were suppose to be resting."
"Oh yeah, well...I just felt so energized that I just got out of bed and started to go for a walk." I said to them.
"So how'd you come across him?" Tai asked me.
I started to explain, "Well when I was walking, I found him screaming through the forest. I tried to calm him down, but he just didn't listen. Eventually he just passed out and I carried him back here."
Kari suddenly asked, "Hey where's Gatomon?"
It caught me off guard, but I couldn't reveal everything right there. I had no choice, but to make up something, "Oh, yeah...well she took off and went into the forest a little while ago. I'm sure she'll be back soon. Uh...can I talk to you Kari, in uh...private."
"Ok..." Kari replied a little confused. I notified Tai, "Oh, don't worry about it Tai. I just want to talk to her for a few moments. It's nothing serious, but I rather not tell anyone."
Tai had a perplex face, "Uh...sure I guess that's ok."
I started to walk towards the exit of the hut as Kari followed. Tai and the others had their suspicious, but they had other things to tend to. The Gotsumon was running and yelling for a reason and the fact that he was yelling, I saw it! And I have to tell them! Encouraged the children's curiosity. I left the hut and swiftly turned as I leaned against the wall. Kari soon stepped out and signaled her to sit besides me. She followed as she sat down.
"So what did you want to tell me about?" Kari asked
I cleared my throat, "Listen Kari, what I said back there about Gatomon, it's not really true."
"What?" Kari said with an innocent voice
"What I mean about Gatomon is, well...a little while back. When Gatomon and I were still in there, we had a slight conversation," I began, "You see, I'm telling you this because I know you know her little secret and this is something I just have to get off my chest. The point is I had to tell her something. I had to tell her that I couldn't be her little boyfriend."
"What? But why..." Kari said as she looked at me.
"I'm sorry, but I can't tell you that. It's not like I didn't like her, I actually liked her a lot."
Kari was confused, "So, if you did like her then why..."
I stopped her before she could continue with her sentence, "Yes, I did like her, but I didn't know if I loved her. Even if I could love her, I couldn't...she just (sigh). She just took things so fast, that you could say I couldn't quite keep up. I just wish I could tell her that I'm still a friend for her."
Kari was more confused then ever, but she managed to ask just one question. "So where is Gatomon right now? Cause I thought she was with you."
I sighed again as I turned my head, "I don't know. She ran off after I had told her. I can't really blame her for running, but after I realized the magnitude of what I said I tried to find her. That's when I found that screaming Gotsumon. I just decided to help him out."
Suddenly a voice belonging to neither Kari nor me replied, "Well, knowing her. She's still probably in the forest, either taking out her anger on something or sobbing quietly on a rock."
We looked around to see where the voice was coming from. Kari looked around to see that Agumon was talking through the window. "Agumon! Have you been there this whole time?" she asked. He smiled as he left the window and exited through the door. "Well...yeah." "Oh just perfect, another one wants to get involved." I said as I placed my hand at my forehead.
Agumon quickly answered back, "Oh, you mean about you and Gatomon, I already know about that."
"What? You do? How?" I asked him
"Well Gatomon told me a little while back. I think we can help though," Agumon replied
"I don't know. I know she'll eventually have to come back, for you're sake Kari. I think she wants to take on this situation by herself. If I even tried to locate her, me being there wouldn't help." I said
Kari spoke up, "But we can't just leave her there. Wait, I think I know what to do." She suddenly figured out. She grabbed a hold of Agumon's arm and started to run out of the village. I started to run after them as I called out, "Wait! Where are you going!?!"
Kari called back, "Oh don't worry, Wizardmon!!! We'll be back in a little while. Just tell Tai that I decided to take a walk and to not worry cause Agumon is with me."
"Uh ok, just um...be careful then!" I shouted to them. I murmured, "Oh great, I'm beginning to sound like Tai. That can't be good." I started to make my way back to the digimon village.
Kari who was dragging Agumon was approaching the forest. Agumon replied, "Kari! Where are we going and what are we going to do?"
Kari let go of his hand as Agumon softly thanked her. "We're going to find Gatomon and when we do we're going to have a little talk with her about Wizardmon."
"You sure that's a good idea? I mean you heard what Wizardmon said; she has to take this one by herself. Do you think it's a good idea that we butt in?" Agumon asked.
"Oh Wizardmon is just too shy to admit it. He really does like Gatomon just the way she does for him. I think if we just help them out with this little problem they'd easily get back together." Kari explained. Agumon himself thought about it as he asked her, "But still, how are you going to get them back together. Do you know what to say?"
"Uh...not really. I didn't really think about that, but how hard could it be." Kari replied
"Great Kari...just great..." Agumon replied as he continued to follow her.
"Well it shouldn't be to hard. I mean if you're here and I'm here, we can easily influence her." Kari explained, "But first we have to find her, you said she might be the forest?"
"Yeah, but I don't know where she could have gone to. The forest is huge, you do know that right?" Agumon asked her.
Kari started to think about things. Where would Gatomon have gone off to if she just wanted to be alone for now? Then something entered Kari's mind. "I know where she is! Hey Agumon, do you remember where you fought Puppetmon?"
Agumon nodded, "Yeah, I remember, but what does that have to do with anything."
She grabbed a hold of his arm again and started to run, "I'll tell you later, just show me where it is."
"Uh...ok, I guess I can show you." Agumon said as they continued to run through the forest.
After a few moments had past, Agumon had finally located where the battleground had taken place. He said, "Well here it is, so what's so important that you wanted to find this place again?" No sooner did Agumon finish up his sentence he turned to see that Kari was already gone. "Eh? Kari! Where'd you go off two now!?!"
"I'm right here!" She shouted as she wave from a few feet away. "Hurry! Agumon!" Agumon didn't need a second invitation as he ran to where she stood. After he had caught up, Kari disappeared into the trees. Agumon tried his best to try and see where Kari was going, but with all the forest brush and tree branches, it was pretty hard to see a little girl. "Kari! Wait up!" No sooner did he do this, he bumped into a small figure and fell to the ground taking along with whatever he had bumped into with him. The figure replied, "Um...Agumon can you get off me?"
"Oh sorry Kari, I didn't see you there." Agumon said as he got up and help her up as well.
Kari dusted herself off, "That's ok Agumon. But we're here."
"Here? Where? We are in the middle of the forest if you didn't notice that." Agumon replied
Surprisingly Kari pulled back a couple of tree branches and leaves to reveal a hidden cave. "Hey, how'd you find that?"
"Wizardmon showed it to me a little while back when he brought us all here." Kari replied. They started to walk in when they heard a distinct noise echo through the small cave. They could make it out as a small sobbing. Kari spoke up, "Gatomon?"
"Kari? (Sniff) is that you?" a voice asked within the darkness.
"Gatomon!" Kari rushed over to see Gatomon sitting on stone. Kari quickly went over and gave her a hug as Gatomon asked, "Kari? What are you doing here? And how'd you find me?"
"Well Wizardmon brought us here when you took on Puppetmon. Agumon help too." Kari said as Agumon stepped in before her. "Hey Gatomon..."
Gatomon tried to clean herself up, "Oh, hey Agumon. But Kari this place is pretty hard to find."
"Well that's why I used my digivice to help me locate exactly where you were." She held it up to her. Agumon replied, "Hey why didn't I think of that in the first place?"
Kari giggled as she placed her hands at her shoulders. As she knelt down she noticed a small item hanging around her neck. "You still have my whistle eh? Listen Gatomon, we've come here to help you."
"Help me? What? I don't need any help." Gatomon answered as she wiped her eyes.
"Listen, I know that you have this little thing for Wizardmon." Kari replied. Gatomon was slightly shocked as she looked to Agumon. She sneered at him; she looked like she was about to attack when Agumon held out his hands, "Hold on! I didn't tell her!"
"That's right Gatomon, I found out on my own." Kari replied
She calm down as she sat back down. "Well it doesn't really matter anymore. What I thought I had is no nothing more then just leaves blowing through the wind."
Kari replied, "Aren't you taking this a little dramatic, Gatomon. Listen we have something to tell you that Wizardmon told us a little while ago." She sat down besides her.
"What?" Gatomon replied curious to know what she was going to say.
After they had had their long talks and explanations, Gatomon got up from where she was sitting. "So do you actually think he was just shy or even scared?"
Kari nodded as Agumon too agreed. He replied, "Like I said before on that night, you probably just scared him off. I sure if you just took it slowly, he'd show his feelings to you."
"I don't know," Gatomon replied, as she doubted herself. "Listen you guys, I need a little time to think this through. I'm going to go out and walk around."
Kari requested, "Maybe we should head back to the village. I'm sure that that Gotsumon has recovered and is going to tell us, whatever it's suppose to tell us.
"I guess that's ok," Gatomon agreed as they all started to head out of the cave. As all of them started to exit the cave, Kari who knew it wasn't the best time to talk with Gatomon started to strike up a conversation with Agumon. "So Agumon, are you and Biyomon going on a date any time soon?"
Agumon almost tripped as he turned to look at her. "Wait how'd you know we were..."
Meanwhile...
Tai, Sora, Biyomon and I were walking through the forest. I asked Tai, "So what did the Gotsumon say exactly when he recovered?"
"He said he saw some hologram in the forest. He described it as being an old man repeating the word digidestined. Whatever it is, it's for us and the old man is probably Gennai. He's sort of like...uh...well he's kind of apart the help center here."
"Oh," I replied. Then something had rung through my head. "Gennai...Gennai...that name sounds very familiar. Where have I heard it before, maybe Gatomon brought it up when we were talking one time." I wasn't too sure where I had heard the name Gennai, but I didn't pay much attention to it as we continued forward, deeper into the forest.
Sora asked, "Tai, you know where we are going right?"
"Of coarse Sora, I remember every word Gotsumon said." Tai said confidently
Biyomon tugged at Sora's hand, "Don't worry Sora, if anything happens me and Wizardmon are hear to protect you, so don't worry."
"That reminds me, where is Agumon? Actually where is Kari and Gatomon?" Tai replied
I replied, "Don't you remember Tai, I told you that they went to out for a walk and not to worry cause she's got both Agumon and Gatomon guarding her."
Tai was reassured, "Hmm...I guess you're right. But I did want to have Agumon here, I guess if he's protecting Kari, that' s ok."
As we treaded into the forest, we located the device that Gotsumon had described. Sure enough the image of the old man, Gennai, appeared before us. As we approached the device his voice started to come alive. I could tell that the others had probably seen this thing before on account that they weren't nervous or afraid to approach the device.
"It's good to see you kids again. I'm sure you're wondering why I'm here again." The hologram said. Tai answered, "Yeah, you see Gennai, back in the real world..."
But the hologram replied, "You've probably forgotten that this is just a recording, so I can't really answer any of your questions." Tai felt a little embarrassed as he shut his mouth as the hologram continued, "Don't worry Tai, these things happen to everyone."
I whispered to Biyomon, "How'd he know that it was Tai who was going to mess up?"
Biyomon just shrugged her shoulders, "I actually don't know, but he's always be able to do stuff like that. Things like answering questions, even though it was just a recording. It's like he can expect things to happen, but we don't seem to mind."
The hologram of Gennai continued, "Well, kids what I have to say is that you're old foe, Apolycamon has come back from the dead and return to wreak havoc upon the digital world."
"What!?! How is that possible, we all defeated him back the last time we came here!" Tai shouted.
The hologram answered, "Calm down Tai, it seems that Apolycamon has not entirely resurrect itself. It managed however to slowly regenerate its powers. He could have continued at that slow pace until he regains all of his power, but he desired much more. To increase his regeneration, he used parts of his own data to create tiny devices, which would bring back the Dark Masters. Since he already had a little data of each Dark Master, he would have to just send them and they would gather the rest of the data where the Dark Master had fallen. That excludes of coarse Piedmon, because he is trapped in the Gate of Destiny. He then would order the Dark Master to start draining the energy of the digital world"
Sora replied, "Well that made some sense."
"Hold on, I'm not finished yet." Gennai had replied, "Apolycamon couldn't create a perfect clone of each Dark Master, because he did not have efficient data to do so. That explains when you did take on one of them, they weren't too bright. Of coarse Apolycamon made sure that this time, they wouldn't lose so easily. He increased they're strength, but at cost was they're intellect. Now, I've sent two other devices like this with similar messages in different places of the digital world. I'm pretty sure that all of you are watching this right now, so I've discovered where Apolycamon is hiding."
An image of a map appeared as Gennai's voice continued, "Here! If you want to stop Apolycamon from reviving himself and save the digital world, I suggest you meet here. We'll I have to feed my fish now, good luck digidestined." And the imaged faded away.
"Hey guys we better hurry," Tai said.
I said to him, "Tai, shouldn't we get the others?"
"Do you know where they might be Wizardmon?" Tai asked.
"I think I'm pretty sure where they are. Follow me!" I replied as I tried to navigate through the trees and bushes. I was guessing that Gatomon could be at that cave. I hope that I could still remember where it was. I began to walk around and some of the settings did seem familiar. We continued through the forest when I heard it. It was a loud roar of some sort, in fact it was two loud roars. I quickly rushed forward as the other called out to me, "Hey! Where are you going!"
I didn't have the time to answer back I just ran. Finally I pulled away some leaves to reveal an unexpected event happening before me. It was Agumon and Gatomon fighting two monstrous beasts. I knew what they were as I identified them as DarkTyrannomon. Most likely digimon controlled in order to take out the digidestined. I noticed that Kari was hiding behind a few trees as Gatomon and Agumon faced two evil digimon.
Gatomon shouted, "Kari! I have to digivolve to take these guys out!"
She held up her digivice, but to her surprise nothing had happened. "What?" Kari questioned as she then realized what had happened. She called out to Gatomon, "Gatomon! I must have dropped my crest somewhere when we were running!"
"Uh...we're toast!" Gatomon replied as she started to back away.
"PEPPER BREATH!" Agumon launched a fireball at them. Of coarse it didn't exactly hurt them too much as they started to come closer. "Come on Gatomon!"
I could tell that Gatomon wasn't in any condition to fight right now. She has gone through a lot and I'm guessing a fight was the least thing she would want. I observed the surroundings, they were on a slight cliff, and she could be an easy target for the DarkTyrannomon.
Suddenly one of them started to reach out for her. She froze not knowing what to do. Agumon was too preoccupied with the other, as he shouted, "GATOMON!!! Get out of the way!"
Enough was enough, I ran out of the trees and attacked, "MAGICAL GAME!!!" the blast of energy that was emitted through my staff hit its hand. With it distracted I rushed in and picked up Gatomon, getting her out of harms way. I then realized a minor detail I forgot to consider, as now my back was turned to DarkTyrannomon. It spun around and hit me at my back with its tail. The force was enough to send me flying. I held on to Gatomon, making sure she would not be harmed.
At that moment Tai and the other showed up to see the predicament I was in. Sora shouted, "WIZARDMON!!!" I looked forward as I was approaching the cliff. I shouted back, "I'LL MEET YOU GUYS THERE!!! GO ON!!!" and we plunged over the cliff and started to fall.
Kari ran towards the edge, "NO! Gatomon!!! Wizardmon!!!"
We fell towards the ground. I looked to see we were about to hit the trees. I needed to protect her, so I spun my body around so that I was at the bottom. I covered Gatomon as best as I could as the tree branches whipped at my body. It was brutal, but I tried to withstand it. I heard branches crack and leaves bend until finally we hit the ground. I had taken on the full force and impact as I landed on the hard ground on my back.
I lay there, completely beaten down. I loosen the grip as Gatomon got out. She had had her eyes closed and when she had finally opened them, she saw me lying on the hard ground. She knelt down and said, "You saved me..."
I managed to say, "I had to protect you with all my power and strength, no matter what the cost may be..." With that said she held on tight to my hand. She looked at me with tears in her eyes. I replied weakly, "No...don't cry...I'm going to be alright, don't you worry."
"I'm not crying because I'm sad. I'm crying because I finally know the truth..." She replied as we continued to rest there and looked deep into the others eyes.
"Thank goodness you're awake." Someone had replied
I looked around to see that it was Sora who had said that. I said with my weak voice, "What happened? How'd I get here again?"
"Well, me, Gatomon, and Biyomon went to go find you." Agumon had said
"But how'd you know I was back at the fort?" I looked over to Floramon. She shrugged her shoulders as she replied, "I'm sorry Wizardmon I just had to tell them where you were."
Tai added, "It's a good thing too, you almost died out there. You're wounds from before weren't even healed fully. Why'd you go out in the first place?"
"Uh..." was all I could mutter out.
Kari reached for her brother's hand, "Tai, I think you should let Wizardmon rest first."
"Huh? Oh yeah, I guess you're right Kari." Tai noticed
I had to find a way to get out of answering his question. I was healed, but only about at half strength. I could have easily responded back, but I don't think saying, "I went back to the fort and risked my life to get back my staff," would be a good answer. I continued to lie back on the cot as I slowly closed my eyes. With my eyes closed, I relied more on my hearing to find out what was going on.
I heard as each person left the digimon hut. Hearing Agumon and Biyomon leave together, then Tai was talking to Floramon, as Kari left right after them. One by one they left, conversing about some things until only one was left. I could easily tell who it was as Gatomon walked over to me.
I thought, "She must have been worried about me. She's probably going to sit there like before when I first came back from the stone fort." I sank into the cot as I pulled the blanket closer to me.
I could tell Gatomon came closer as I heard her footsteps drawing near to me. I thought, "She probably just wants to check up on me."
Surprisingly to me Gatomon said, "Get up you moron!" as she kicked me right at my shoulder. I rolled out of bed from the impact as I quickly opened my eyes. I asked her, "What's gotten into you?"
"Oh, what's gotten into me? You want to know what's gotten into me?" She said with attitude
"Yeah, I wanna know what's gotten into you." I said back, "You know I am still injured."
She shouted back, "Oh come on, I know you're not that hurt. Were you crazy?"
"What?" I said back to her
"You know what I'm talking about. Did you want yourself to get deleted by some evil digimon? Is that it? Cause I can't think of any other reason why you would go back alone." She said
I couldn't tell her the truth, "Gatomon..." I said as I thought of nothing to say to her.
She shook her head, "I can't believe you. Why?"
I stood there in silence as I looked down to the ground. Gatomon on the other hand just continued to stare at me with her blue eyes. She was waiting for an answer, but unfortunately I had none to offer to her. She replied, "You could have been deleted if we didn't show up. Listen to me Wizardmon! I don't want to lose you like before..." She had realized what she had said as she turned her back to me and sank her head low. While we stood there I heard her slightly sobbing.
I walked over to her quietly as I responded, "Before...you're referring to the other Wizardmon aren't you? The one that died saving you and Kari." I placed my hands at her shoulders as she continued to cry. "You're afraid that I'm going to die like he did. Gatomon...I don't die easily, not without a fight." I spun her around as she I knelt down to her level. "Listen to me Gatomon, I know you really care about me, but you have to have a little bit more faith in me. That's not going to happen to me."
She muttered, "That's what I thought, I never thought that he would died. But he did and he left me alone. He was my first friend and also my first love."
I protested, "No, he didn't leave you alone. He left you with Kari. He did that for you, it was his last gift for you. It seems that he loved you too, why else would he give his life for you? So you see he knew all along on how you felt about him. And on that day, that was the way how he showed how he felt for you."
"Wizardmon..." Gatomon said as I stared at her. She let go of the tears as she wrapped her paws around back and lowered her head and cried at my shoulder. I patted her at her back as I replied, "Just let it all go Gatomon, no more feeling guilty about yourself."
For that moment as we had our arms wrapped around each other, I saw myself not as a keeper, but a companion for her. I forgot all about the rules and just comforted her as she continued to cry at my shoulder. I held her only thinking; "I will protect you with all my power and strength, no matter what the cost maybe." It was a strange feeling that had overtaken me. I had wondered if it had happened. Was I showing the same type of love as she did for me? For now I didn't think about it as I patted the back of her head. She lifted her head as she we locked eyes. We continued to look at each other as her eyes slowly began to dry up. We inched closer and closer until our foreheads where nearly touching. Breathing deeply we both slowly closed our eyes and drew closer to another.
As our lips where about to touch, my eyes shot wide opened as I had suddenly realized what was going to happen. I swerved my head away and looked to the side. Gatomon opened her eyes, "What's wrong?" she asked
I continued to breath, "Gatomon...I have to tell you something. I wanted to tell you this a long time ago, but I didn't have the courage to tell you."
She looked at me, perplexed to what I was about to say. I knew I had to tell her, but could I? Telling another I couldn't return the love they had for me. I began, "Gatomon...about this love you have for me. I just have to confess something to you."
She sat back, interested to what I had to say. I would hate to have to hurt her like this, but I had no choice. I'd rather still be around her, then not be able to see her at all. "Gatomon, the time I've spent with you have been a time in my life that I could never forget. I will always be and forever will be your loyal and cherished friend and that's all I can be."
"What? What are you saying Wizardmon. I thought..." Gatomon began to question things.
"I'm sorry, but a friend is the only thing I can be to you." I explained to her.
She started to back away as she continued to shake her head left to right. "No...no...Wizardmon why? I thought, we we're..." she continued to back away from me.
I held my hand out, "Gatomon, please. Just wait for just a moment, lets just talk about this."
She continued to reply; "no...no..." and then she turned her back and ran out the hut as she crying her eyes out. I shouted to her, "Gatomon!!! Wait!!!" as I ran out the hut to only see Gatomon continuing to run into the forest.
I was about to run after her, when I thought about what I could do if I ever did catch up with her. I would have nothing to explain to her, nothing to try and say and make everything better. I looked to the side and re-entered the hut. I looked around, not really trying to see something, but something to distract me. Having no such luck, I adjusted my thought to another object. I suddenly without warning punched the wall of the hut. "Grr...darn it!"
I had to blow off some steam some how as I thought about it some more. "I shouldn't have told her that. What am I going to do now? Then again, maybe this is something I couldn't avoid. Do I really love Gatomon? I wish I could answer my own questions." Suddenly an unexpected event was taking place. The room began to foggy and white. I didn't understand it, but the room was hardly noticeable now. I looked down at my hands to see my I had changed into my human form. I didn't know what was going on until I heard it.
"The cadet known as Chronos, please kneel before the high council." A voice had proclaimed. I didn't know what just happened, but I followed the voices' instructions. It shouted again, "the cadet's status is keeper, currently on his first mission. His location is dimension universe number thirty-one, the digital world."
I opened my voice, "What's going on here?"
I heard a voice from above call out to me, "Chronos, you were summon here by the high council."
"Why, what has happened? Was it because I had not reported?" I asked
"No Chronos, you were summoned before the council because you are accused of breaking one of the dimensional laws set thousands of years ago. The law stating that a keeper, sage, or master of time did or had attempted to draw into a deeper relationship with they're charges. Chronos you have been accused of this. Do you deny this at any level?" He said to me.
I didn't say anything. Instead a voice from nowhere responded, "The keeper does not deny."
It spoke again, "You are familiar to what the consequence of breaking this law?
I nodded my head. He replied, "Do you have anything to say in your defense?"
I replied, "I have nothing to say, but this...I cannot deny the fact that this had occurred. Though I had at some time agreed to this relationship. It had pained me to end it after I had taken it to consideration. Although that still has no reason what so ever that could excuse me. I await your decision."
There was a moment of silence. Slight whispers echoed through the hollow and bright hall. Until they spoke once again, "We have come to a decision. Chronos you have shown great potential for a keeper at your age. You were aware of the punishment and rules and yet you still chose not to abide by them. However, we are aware of compassion and understanding for the most part. You are still young and inexperienced, to us at least. For now, we give you a warning. Something that we rarely give to anyone, but in your case and position...we'll make this one exception. For now, we are concerned in other matters; we do not have time to pass harsh judgment. You will return to the digital world shortly, only a few seconds have passed."
I let out a breath of relief as I bowed humbly before them. I knew that I was given the chance to redeem myself. Few have ever return from the same path I had chosen, if any. As the bright lights all dimmed before me and I was slowly returning back to the digital world mentally, thoughts had entered my mind as now I began to sort everything out.
"So I was spared, if I can say that. I made sure that it wouldn't continue this little obsession, if it were even an obsession. I was given a second chance to do this mission right, without the distractions. That still won't explain why I feel so inadequate and so...empty inside." I thought of this as things had shuffled through my head.
I blinked twice as image of the hut soon reappeared before my eyes. I had returned and just as the council had said, only a few seconds had passed while I was within the time realm. Then suddenly a key detail I had overlook had just entered my mind. I must have not realized it at first because I was too worried on what they were about to do to me. What the council had said, "we are concerned in other matters; we do not have time to pass harsh judgment." What had seemed wrong with this sentence was the fact that voice was speaking on behalf of all the members of the high council. Something is up, and they're guard is down. Their wary and watchful eyes that had kept tabs on all keepers, sages, and masters in other dimensions were slowly diminishing. I can't really say this was good, but it was the break I was waiting for. I could at least relax for a while, as they we're dealing with the larger problem at hand.
I took in a large breath and exhaled. I looked around the hut, observing every detail once more. As my eyes wandered I observed the cot I was resting at. My cloak and hat were off to the side once again. It seemed all too familiar, as if I had already experienced this before. Then I remembered I had experienced this before. "My staff..." I thought as I rushed over and picked up my hat and cloak. Only difference this time was that my time staff was right under them. I let out a sigh of relief as I picked it up in my hand and let it's power flow through my body. I put on my hat and cloak on as I sat down right besides my cot.
Again, an odd sense had entered my mind. It felt like something was trying to remind me that I had forgotten something. The emptiness inside was also churning as it too was forcing me to remember. I looked down to where I was sitting at the cot I was previously resting in. Then it hit me, as I whispered, "Gatomon..." I rushed out of the hut as fast as I could.
"Even though I had set things straight, she was hurt now. I had to make sure she was all right, she could hurt herself in such a weakened condition." I reminded myself.
I peered into the distance at the forest up ahead. Deramon so happened to be walking by as I suddenly stopped him and asked, "Deramon! Have you seen Gatomon recently?"
"Oh Wizardmon you're up. Uh, why yes I have Gatomon." Deramon replied
"You did, well where is she?" I asked him
He put his wing to his chin, "Well let's see, the last time I saw her was a few moments ago. She seemed to be running furiously over in that direction." He pointed to where she had seen her. I thanked Deramon as I quickly began to run towards the forest. I continued to run across the fields trying to see any trace of a white digital cat. The problem was that she had a head start; she could have gone much farther into the forest. If it was not for my time abilities and training, Gatomon would be far much faster then me in speed and agility. I tilted my three-pointed hat to keep the sun from blinding me, as I surveyed the area. It was pointless of me to even try and suspect that I could catch her running around the field.
However, as I moved my eyes across the plain I saw a slight figure within the forest. It couldn't be Gatomon, could it? I had to find out for sure if my eyes were either playing tricks on me or was it really Gatomon. I rushed towards the direction the figure resided. As I got closer the figure became sharper, as I could easily describe it. It was a slightly tall digimon, but was not as tall as me. It seemed to be in a grayish texture as it ran quickly throughout the plains. The nearer I got the more details I spotted; it seemed to have a bulky figure with indications of a rocky formation. I knew for sure it was not Gatomon, but it couldn't hurt to find out what it was.
Actually, I had already identified the being as Gotsumon. A rookie level digimon I had seen earlier in the digimon village. However, something seemed out of place, as his movements were a bit frantic as if something was chasing him. I looked behind him to see nothing at all that could be frightening the poor digimon, so I rushed over to see if he needed help. I called out to him to try and draw his attention, "Hey! Gotsumon!!! Do you need any help or something!?!"
Gotsumon turned his head to see me running towards him. He quickly started to head in my direction as he was waving his hands in the air like a maniac. He started to shout about something, but I couldn't really pick it up. Each time I got closer, I managed to hear a little bit more on what he was screaming about. Finally I heard him completely as we were only a several feet from one another. It sounded like, "I have to warn them! I have to tell them! What I saw! What I saw!" I was just completely perplexed on why this poor Gotsumon would be running about screaming these messages. As I finally reached him I grabbed a hold of his arms. He was just completely out of control as I tried my best to calm him down. He continued to rumble around as he tried to get free. "Hey! What's wrong, come on...what is it? Just calm down, alright?" I said to him.
All he replied in response was, "I have to warn them! I have to tell them! What I saw! What I saw!" He just continued to repeat these messages. It didn't even seem like he was breathing right as I continued to calm him down. It was no use; he was not paying attention to me. With all his constant ravings and his shortage of breath, he lost consciousness and fell to the floor. Luckily for him I was there to catch him. "Well, I don't know you're story, but I know I have to get you back to the digimon village. They could take better care of you."
I turned my head to see the village, but the only problem was that it was far from it. I could easily carry him across, but that would take too long even if I did run. Suddenly an idea struck my head as I looked around to see no one in sight. I looked down to see the Gotsumon still out cold. "Good no one's looking." I grabbed a hold of the Gotsumon's hand and closed my eyes. Getting a clear picture of the place, I soon faded away bring Gotsumon with me. I reappeared right as I expect to be. I was only a few feet away from the village as I placed him under my arm. I started to walk towards the town as I shouted, "Help! I need some help over here!"
No sooner did I say this, a couple of the digimon looked through their windows to see me carrying a fallen Gotsumon under my arm. Some rushed over and gave me hand with him. We escorted him back to the hut where I had staid recently. As Floramon tended to Gotsumon's condition, Agumon, Biyomon, Tai, Sora, and Kari arrived. I greeted them as they stepped into the hut.
"Oh you're here," I said to them
Sora replied, "Wizardmon, I thought you were suppose to be resting."
"Oh yeah, well...I just felt so energized that I just got out of bed and started to go for a walk." I said to them.
"So how'd you come across him?" Tai asked me.
I started to explain, "Well when I was walking, I found him screaming through the forest. I tried to calm him down, but he just didn't listen. Eventually he just passed out and I carried him back here."
Kari suddenly asked, "Hey where's Gatomon?"
It caught me off guard, but I couldn't reveal everything right there. I had no choice, but to make up something, "Oh, yeah...well she took off and went into the forest a little while ago. I'm sure she'll be back soon. Uh...can I talk to you Kari, in uh...private."
"Ok..." Kari replied a little confused. I notified Tai, "Oh, don't worry about it Tai. I just want to talk to her for a few moments. It's nothing serious, but I rather not tell anyone."
Tai had a perplex face, "Uh...sure I guess that's ok."
I started to walk towards the exit of the hut as Kari followed. Tai and the others had their suspicious, but they had other things to tend to. The Gotsumon was running and yelling for a reason and the fact that he was yelling, I saw it! And I have to tell them! Encouraged the children's curiosity. I left the hut and swiftly turned as I leaned against the wall. Kari soon stepped out and signaled her to sit besides me. She followed as she sat down.
"So what did you want to tell me about?" Kari asked
I cleared my throat, "Listen Kari, what I said back there about Gatomon, it's not really true."
"What?" Kari said with an innocent voice
"What I mean about Gatomon is, well...a little while back. When Gatomon and I were still in there, we had a slight conversation," I began, "You see, I'm telling you this because I know you know her little secret and this is something I just have to get off my chest. The point is I had to tell her something. I had to tell her that I couldn't be her little boyfriend."
"What? But why..." Kari said as she looked at me.
"I'm sorry, but I can't tell you that. It's not like I didn't like her, I actually liked her a lot."
Kari was confused, "So, if you did like her then why..."
I stopped her before she could continue with her sentence, "Yes, I did like her, but I didn't know if I loved her. Even if I could love her, I couldn't...she just (sigh). She just took things so fast, that you could say I couldn't quite keep up. I just wish I could tell her that I'm still a friend for her."
Kari was more confused then ever, but she managed to ask just one question. "So where is Gatomon right now? Cause I thought she was with you."
I sighed again as I turned my head, "I don't know. She ran off after I had told her. I can't really blame her for running, but after I realized the magnitude of what I said I tried to find her. That's when I found that screaming Gotsumon. I just decided to help him out."
Suddenly a voice belonging to neither Kari nor me replied, "Well, knowing her. She's still probably in the forest, either taking out her anger on something or sobbing quietly on a rock."
We looked around to see where the voice was coming from. Kari looked around to see that Agumon was talking through the window. "Agumon! Have you been there this whole time?" she asked. He smiled as he left the window and exited through the door. "Well...yeah." "Oh just perfect, another one wants to get involved." I said as I placed my hand at my forehead.
Agumon quickly answered back, "Oh, you mean about you and Gatomon, I already know about that."
"What? You do? How?" I asked him
"Well Gatomon told me a little while back. I think we can help though," Agumon replied
"I don't know. I know she'll eventually have to come back, for you're sake Kari. I think she wants to take on this situation by herself. If I even tried to locate her, me being there wouldn't help." I said
Kari spoke up, "But we can't just leave her there. Wait, I think I know what to do." She suddenly figured out. She grabbed a hold of Agumon's arm and started to run out of the village. I started to run after them as I called out, "Wait! Where are you going!?!"
Kari called back, "Oh don't worry, Wizardmon!!! We'll be back in a little while. Just tell Tai that I decided to take a walk and to not worry cause Agumon is with me."
"Uh ok, just um...be careful then!" I shouted to them. I murmured, "Oh great, I'm beginning to sound like Tai. That can't be good." I started to make my way back to the digimon village.
Kari who was dragging Agumon was approaching the forest. Agumon replied, "Kari! Where are we going and what are we going to do?"
Kari let go of his hand as Agumon softly thanked her. "We're going to find Gatomon and when we do we're going to have a little talk with her about Wizardmon."
"You sure that's a good idea? I mean you heard what Wizardmon said; she has to take this one by herself. Do you think it's a good idea that we butt in?" Agumon asked.
"Oh Wizardmon is just too shy to admit it. He really does like Gatomon just the way she does for him. I think if we just help them out with this little problem they'd easily get back together." Kari explained. Agumon himself thought about it as he asked her, "But still, how are you going to get them back together. Do you know what to say?"
"Uh...not really. I didn't really think about that, but how hard could it be." Kari replied
"Great Kari...just great..." Agumon replied as he continued to follow her.
"Well it shouldn't be to hard. I mean if you're here and I'm here, we can easily influence her." Kari explained, "But first we have to find her, you said she might be the forest?"
"Yeah, but I don't know where she could have gone to. The forest is huge, you do know that right?" Agumon asked her.
Kari started to think about things. Where would Gatomon have gone off to if she just wanted to be alone for now? Then something entered Kari's mind. "I know where she is! Hey Agumon, do you remember where you fought Puppetmon?"
Agumon nodded, "Yeah, I remember, but what does that have to do with anything."
She grabbed a hold of his arm again and started to run, "I'll tell you later, just show me where it is."
"Uh...ok, I guess I can show you." Agumon said as they continued to run through the forest.
After a few moments had past, Agumon had finally located where the battleground had taken place. He said, "Well here it is, so what's so important that you wanted to find this place again?" No sooner did Agumon finish up his sentence he turned to see that Kari was already gone. "Eh? Kari! Where'd you go off two now!?!"
"I'm right here!" She shouted as she wave from a few feet away. "Hurry! Agumon!" Agumon didn't need a second invitation as he ran to where she stood. After he had caught up, Kari disappeared into the trees. Agumon tried his best to try and see where Kari was going, but with all the forest brush and tree branches, it was pretty hard to see a little girl. "Kari! Wait up!" No sooner did he do this, he bumped into a small figure and fell to the ground taking along with whatever he had bumped into with him. The figure replied, "Um...Agumon can you get off me?"
"Oh sorry Kari, I didn't see you there." Agumon said as he got up and help her up as well.
Kari dusted herself off, "That's ok Agumon. But we're here."
"Here? Where? We are in the middle of the forest if you didn't notice that." Agumon replied
Surprisingly Kari pulled back a couple of tree branches and leaves to reveal a hidden cave. "Hey, how'd you find that?"
"Wizardmon showed it to me a little while back when he brought us all here." Kari replied. They started to walk in when they heard a distinct noise echo through the small cave. They could make it out as a small sobbing. Kari spoke up, "Gatomon?"
"Kari? (Sniff) is that you?" a voice asked within the darkness.
"Gatomon!" Kari rushed over to see Gatomon sitting on stone. Kari quickly went over and gave her a hug as Gatomon asked, "Kari? What are you doing here? And how'd you find me?"
"Well Wizardmon brought us here when you took on Puppetmon. Agumon help too." Kari said as Agumon stepped in before her. "Hey Gatomon..."
Gatomon tried to clean herself up, "Oh, hey Agumon. But Kari this place is pretty hard to find."
"Well that's why I used my digivice to help me locate exactly where you were." She held it up to her. Agumon replied, "Hey why didn't I think of that in the first place?"
Kari giggled as she placed her hands at her shoulders. As she knelt down she noticed a small item hanging around her neck. "You still have my whistle eh? Listen Gatomon, we've come here to help you."
"Help me? What? I don't need any help." Gatomon answered as she wiped her eyes.
"Listen, I know that you have this little thing for Wizardmon." Kari replied. Gatomon was slightly shocked as she looked to Agumon. She sneered at him; she looked like she was about to attack when Agumon held out his hands, "Hold on! I didn't tell her!"
"That's right Gatomon, I found out on my own." Kari replied
She calm down as she sat back down. "Well it doesn't really matter anymore. What I thought I had is no nothing more then just leaves blowing through the wind."
Kari replied, "Aren't you taking this a little dramatic, Gatomon. Listen we have something to tell you that Wizardmon told us a little while ago." She sat down besides her.
"What?" Gatomon replied curious to know what she was going to say.
After they had had their long talks and explanations, Gatomon got up from where she was sitting. "So do you actually think he was just shy or even scared?"
Kari nodded as Agumon too agreed. He replied, "Like I said before on that night, you probably just scared him off. I sure if you just took it slowly, he'd show his feelings to you."
"I don't know," Gatomon replied, as she doubted herself. "Listen you guys, I need a little time to think this through. I'm going to go out and walk around."
Kari requested, "Maybe we should head back to the village. I'm sure that that Gotsumon has recovered and is going to tell us, whatever it's suppose to tell us.
"I guess that's ok," Gatomon agreed as they all started to head out of the cave. As all of them started to exit the cave, Kari who knew it wasn't the best time to talk with Gatomon started to strike up a conversation with Agumon. "So Agumon, are you and Biyomon going on a date any time soon?"
Agumon almost tripped as he turned to look at her. "Wait how'd you know we were..."
Meanwhile...
Tai, Sora, Biyomon and I were walking through the forest. I asked Tai, "So what did the Gotsumon say exactly when he recovered?"
"He said he saw some hologram in the forest. He described it as being an old man repeating the word digidestined. Whatever it is, it's for us and the old man is probably Gennai. He's sort of like...uh...well he's kind of apart the help center here."
"Oh," I replied. Then something had rung through my head. "Gennai...Gennai...that name sounds very familiar. Where have I heard it before, maybe Gatomon brought it up when we were talking one time." I wasn't too sure where I had heard the name Gennai, but I didn't pay much attention to it as we continued forward, deeper into the forest.
Sora asked, "Tai, you know where we are going right?"
"Of coarse Sora, I remember every word Gotsumon said." Tai said confidently
Biyomon tugged at Sora's hand, "Don't worry Sora, if anything happens me and Wizardmon are hear to protect you, so don't worry."
"That reminds me, where is Agumon? Actually where is Kari and Gatomon?" Tai replied
I replied, "Don't you remember Tai, I told you that they went to out for a walk and not to worry cause she's got both Agumon and Gatomon guarding her."
Tai was reassured, "Hmm...I guess you're right. But I did want to have Agumon here, I guess if he's protecting Kari, that' s ok."
As we treaded into the forest, we located the device that Gotsumon had described. Sure enough the image of the old man, Gennai, appeared before us. As we approached the device his voice started to come alive. I could tell that the others had probably seen this thing before on account that they weren't nervous or afraid to approach the device.
"It's good to see you kids again. I'm sure you're wondering why I'm here again." The hologram said. Tai answered, "Yeah, you see Gennai, back in the real world..."
But the hologram replied, "You've probably forgotten that this is just a recording, so I can't really answer any of your questions." Tai felt a little embarrassed as he shut his mouth as the hologram continued, "Don't worry Tai, these things happen to everyone."
I whispered to Biyomon, "How'd he know that it was Tai who was going to mess up?"
Biyomon just shrugged her shoulders, "I actually don't know, but he's always be able to do stuff like that. Things like answering questions, even though it was just a recording. It's like he can expect things to happen, but we don't seem to mind."
The hologram of Gennai continued, "Well, kids what I have to say is that you're old foe, Apolycamon has come back from the dead and return to wreak havoc upon the digital world."
"What!?! How is that possible, we all defeated him back the last time we came here!" Tai shouted.
The hologram answered, "Calm down Tai, it seems that Apolycamon has not entirely resurrect itself. It managed however to slowly regenerate its powers. He could have continued at that slow pace until he regains all of his power, but he desired much more. To increase his regeneration, he used parts of his own data to create tiny devices, which would bring back the Dark Masters. Since he already had a little data of each Dark Master, he would have to just send them and they would gather the rest of the data where the Dark Master had fallen. That excludes of coarse Piedmon, because he is trapped in the Gate of Destiny. He then would order the Dark Master to start draining the energy of the digital world"
Sora replied, "Well that made some sense."
"Hold on, I'm not finished yet." Gennai had replied, "Apolycamon couldn't create a perfect clone of each Dark Master, because he did not have efficient data to do so. That explains when you did take on one of them, they weren't too bright. Of coarse Apolycamon made sure that this time, they wouldn't lose so easily. He increased they're strength, but at cost was they're intellect. Now, I've sent two other devices like this with similar messages in different places of the digital world. I'm pretty sure that all of you are watching this right now, so I've discovered where Apolycamon is hiding."
An image of a map appeared as Gennai's voice continued, "Here! If you want to stop Apolycamon from reviving himself and save the digital world, I suggest you meet here. We'll I have to feed my fish now, good luck digidestined." And the imaged faded away.
"Hey guys we better hurry," Tai said.
I said to him, "Tai, shouldn't we get the others?"
"Do you know where they might be Wizardmon?" Tai asked.
"I think I'm pretty sure where they are. Follow me!" I replied as I tried to navigate through the trees and bushes. I was guessing that Gatomon could be at that cave. I hope that I could still remember where it was. I began to walk around and some of the settings did seem familiar. We continued through the forest when I heard it. It was a loud roar of some sort, in fact it was two loud roars. I quickly rushed forward as the other called out to me, "Hey! Where are you going!"
I didn't have the time to answer back I just ran. Finally I pulled away some leaves to reveal an unexpected event happening before me. It was Agumon and Gatomon fighting two monstrous beasts. I knew what they were as I identified them as DarkTyrannomon. Most likely digimon controlled in order to take out the digidestined. I noticed that Kari was hiding behind a few trees as Gatomon and Agumon faced two evil digimon.
Gatomon shouted, "Kari! I have to digivolve to take these guys out!"
She held up her digivice, but to her surprise nothing had happened. "What?" Kari questioned as she then realized what had happened. She called out to Gatomon, "Gatomon! I must have dropped my crest somewhere when we were running!"
"Uh...we're toast!" Gatomon replied as she started to back away.
"PEPPER BREATH!" Agumon launched a fireball at them. Of coarse it didn't exactly hurt them too much as they started to come closer. "Come on Gatomon!"
I could tell that Gatomon wasn't in any condition to fight right now. She has gone through a lot and I'm guessing a fight was the least thing she would want. I observed the surroundings, they were on a slight cliff, and she could be an easy target for the DarkTyrannomon.
Suddenly one of them started to reach out for her. She froze not knowing what to do. Agumon was too preoccupied with the other, as he shouted, "GATOMON!!! Get out of the way!"
Enough was enough, I ran out of the trees and attacked, "MAGICAL GAME!!!" the blast of energy that was emitted through my staff hit its hand. With it distracted I rushed in and picked up Gatomon, getting her out of harms way. I then realized a minor detail I forgot to consider, as now my back was turned to DarkTyrannomon. It spun around and hit me at my back with its tail. The force was enough to send me flying. I held on to Gatomon, making sure she would not be harmed.
At that moment Tai and the other showed up to see the predicament I was in. Sora shouted, "WIZARDMON!!!" I looked forward as I was approaching the cliff. I shouted back, "I'LL MEET YOU GUYS THERE!!! GO ON!!!" and we plunged over the cliff and started to fall.
Kari ran towards the edge, "NO! Gatomon!!! Wizardmon!!!"
We fell towards the ground. I looked to see we were about to hit the trees. I needed to protect her, so I spun my body around so that I was at the bottom. I covered Gatomon as best as I could as the tree branches whipped at my body. It was brutal, but I tried to withstand it. I heard branches crack and leaves bend until finally we hit the ground. I had taken on the full force and impact as I landed on the hard ground on my back.
I lay there, completely beaten down. I loosen the grip as Gatomon got out. She had had her eyes closed and when she had finally opened them, she saw me lying on the hard ground. She knelt down and said, "You saved me..."
I managed to say, "I had to protect you with all my power and strength, no matter what the cost may be..." With that said she held on tight to my hand. She looked at me with tears in her eyes. I replied weakly, "No...don't cry...I'm going to be alright, don't you worry."
"I'm not crying because I'm sad. I'm crying because I finally know the truth..." She replied as we continued to rest there and looked deep into the others eyes.