( Okay, I'll just cut to the wonderful disclaimer I have prepared. You see, if you haven't seen or heard of any character in this fic on the show, then they are mine and I own right to them, and only rights to them. Too bad about that huh? Oh, and another character in this story is dedicated to Ishida, trust me, she's cool! )
Justice of the Heart part 2: Heirs to the power
If there was anyone Garuru could rely on more for help, it was his one and only best friend, Robbie Deckard. The guy was a complete computer nut, and somewhat better socialist at school than his friend; but they got along better than Darien had expected of anyone, so it didn't matter. Besides, Robbie knew all of his secrets, and of the Digital world. Garuru was always glad to talk to him. He lived only four blocks away from the Ishida's apartment, so he didn't have far to go.
There was a tap at the blonde boy's window and he turned to see his best friend perched on the thickest branch in the tree just outside his window. With a sigh, he rose from his seat at his desk, leaving his labtop booting up a certain program he'd been writing for months. Shaking his head, Robbie opened the glass for his good companion and headed back to his seat. " With all of your intelligence and skills, Garuru, you'd think you'd heard of a front door, let alone use one. "
" You know your folks don't like me, except for your little sister. ", the brunette boy grinned at him as he took his usual seat on the bed across the room from him. " Does she still have that little crush on me? She's what, 12? "
" 13, actually, but that doesn't matter. You look a little stretched dude, is there something up? ", Robbie asked him seriously. " You always have that look on your face when something goes bad. And you weren't in seventh hour. "
He had to let out a dry laugh. " Sometimes I think you know me too well, Robbie. But well, I skipped the last few periods, and Garurumon took me for a ride. I'm not here to brag about it, cause something attacked us. "
" What? ", the other boy gasped, his brown eyes wide behind the lenses of his glasses that seemed to be falling down his nose. " What was it? "
" Some kind of plant. And worst yet, it destroyed my Dad's digivice! I mean, it came out of no where and held Garurumon and me as it smashed that thing easy. I've never even heard of anything that could do that from my dad's stories. ", Darien told him in a cool tone. " I think I've totally screwed up, man. "
" I don't think your dad would blame you, Darien. How were you supposed to know that something like this would happen? ", his friend replied to reassure him. " But, why are you telling me this? Doesn't your dad know about that it's been destroyed? Come on, man, what can I do about this? "
" I need you to help me find whatever that evil vegetation and help me put a stop to whatever it is it's trying to do. ", Garuru said plainly, his tone serious. " I want to find this thing because I know it's gonna do something more than just roam around and break things. This vegetable's got a plan, Rob. "
" You've got to be kidding me, dude. A plant that can think like you and me, and you want me to help you find it? Are you insane, if you couldn't handle it the first time, what makes you think you'll win round two? ", Robbie demanded sounding a little frantic at the thought. " Come on, Garuru, what can I do? "
" Look, you're the only one I can trust with this, and I can't go to my dad or even Gabumon. I need you and you know it. Besides, you can't sit behind that labtop of yours forever, ya know. ", the older boy said sincerely as he stood up and his eyes turned almost pleading as they met his friend's. " You always told me that you and I would make a great team in the Digital world, well here's just as good. "
Robbie sighed as he shook his head of blonde hair. " I cannot believe that I'm going to agree to this. Somebody better tell my parents that I need help. "
" Thanks, man. Ya don't know what this means to me. ", Darien said solemnly, his gaze locked on the floor. But then he turned all business, looking over at the desk. " Okay, Rob, time to use your skills. See if you can find anything on a plant monster, ya know, like a police report or something. "
Pretending to crack his knuckles, the computer whiz sat down and began to do what he did best. Garuru watched over his shoulders until a puzzled look came upon his face, and he turned in his seat to look at his companion. " Uh, Darien, there's something wrong here. I tried to do what you asked, but all it brought up was this weird screen that I've never seen before in my life. It's so weird! "
The young man behind him gazed at the computer screen to see what he meant. There was this strange device in the middle of the screen surrounded by white, and it looked like some kind of design a scientist would use for a mock time travel machine or something. He stared at it for a moment, unsure what to think, then his eyes met that of his friend's. Darien shrugged, and then used one hand to lean onto the desk in front of him. What he didn't know, was his hand was accidentally holding down the Enter key on Robbie's computer.
As soon as the brunette young man let out a frustrated sigh and pulled away there was this high pitched screeching that erupted in the room. Robbie covered his ears while his friend tried to get out of whatever the computer had gotten into. It didn't work, for the computer screen began to shimmer like a rainbow, and then the two boys were instantly drawn into the screen before either of them could scream.
* * *
" Ohhhh, my head. You'd better be able to tell me what I think happened did not just happen! ", the blonde boy moaned as he sat up and rubbed his head. He slowly looked around to see that he and his friend were sitting in a clearing in the woods and Garuru was wearing a very weird outfit. " Duuuuuddddeee…. "
Darien was now wearing a dark blue tank top with high collar, light blue gloves, and a pair of baggy red pants. The brunette young man looked himself over in shock, but then he grinned to himself. " Hey, check out your duds. "
" I'm not sure I want to look. " But Robbie glanced down anyway, and liked what it was he saw. He'd been changed into a lime green vest with white muscle shirt under it and to top it off a pair of orange cargo shorts. What he didn't realize until then was he was wearing a pair of glasses with yellow lenses and thin silver frames. His grin then became wider until he looked around again. " Okay, now that we're over the whole outfit change, where are we, man? "
" You won't get mad if I tell you? ", his friend asked. He waited until the computer whiz nodded to answer. " I think we're in the Digiworld. "
" You're kidding! I thought that only the Digidestined could come here! And they came here to save the world and all that! Why are we here? ", Robbie exclaimed, sounding frantic. " I mean, we don't have to fight some freaky looking creature that wants to suck our blood and kill us so he can take over the world, do we? I mean, I've got a family that would not approve of me battling evil creatures! "
" Relax, Rob, I don't have any idea why we're here. Maybe we just came here by accident all right, don't freak out on me. ", Darien replied, gazing around at their surroundings. " Looks to me like we're gonna have to look for some sort of help, I mean, there's nobody around here to tell us why we're here! "
" Okay, but if we run into some monster that wants us dead you get to be the one to fight it because I do my job with a keyboard! ", his companion commented as they began to walk down a path just a few feet away from where they'd landed. " I hope you know that I refuse to get killed by a plant, or a bug. "
" And I hope you know you're going the wrong way. ", a girl's voice shouted from behind them. Darien whirled around his fists clenched ready for a fight, but what he saw seemed to be no threat. It was a girl, obviously their age, with long red hair pulled into a ponytail. She was wearing a pair of green leather pants and a red tank top that was made of the same slick material. They were stunned to see her, but there was something about her that made them stop and stare for a minute.
" If you want answers, follow me, boys. ", she implied gesturing for them to follow as she turned and headed for the tress. Robbie instinctually looked at Garuru, wondering if this was for real. Darien shrugged and headed after her.
There was no hesitance form Robbie to go with him, but he was worried on how Garuru would act around this girl. The computer whiz was sure he'd never seen her before in his life so he was sure that his friend would be slightly hostile toward her because he would have his guard up. Rob didn't want him to be all closed up right now, they were in a strange world and he was sure they'd need each other. He followed close behind them, almost on the older boy's heals.
She took them to a small building that seemed very old and flimsy on its foundation. To Darien's surprise she stopped by the front door and waited for them to catch up to her unlike before. There was a small bit of worry in his gaze as he walked past her with Robbie right behind him. Inside was brightly lit and well decorated by different types of furniture, but it was not that which made the brunette young man gasp, for it was the figure at the table before them.
" Welcome, Darien, I trust your father has told you of me. And greetings to your friend as well. Robbie, isn't it? ", the man's old, crackling voice welcomed them. Both of the boy's eyes were wide, and Darien shook his head in disbelief.
" You can't be Gennai! You were an old man when my father first came to the Digiworld. How can you still be alive? ", Garuru demanded, almost sounding angry at him. His stare was piercing, and he seemed to be ready for a fight. " What do you want form us? I thought you were gone since my uncle TK came back the second time with the new Digidestined all those years ago! "
Gennai let out a dry laugh. " I was on my vacation back then. "
" Hey, I recognize you now! ", the red headed girl spoke up from at Darien's side. She's been watching him carefully since he'd entered the strange room, and now her eyes were wide as she backed away and pointed at him with what could've been a sneer on her face. " You're that freak from Odiba Public High! "
" I'll show you freak! ", Garuru hissed, and was about to dive at her when Rob grabbed him from behind, holding his arms behind his back so that his companion wouldn't do something he'd regret. Because the focus seemed to be on the enraged child, no one noticed Gennai standing until he spoke.
" That's no way for the new Digidestined to treat each other. ", he commented with a grin. That made Garuru instantly stop struggling against his friend and pull away to stare at the old man in shock.
" You've got to be kidding me. ", Rob murmured. " Us? "
" Yes, kids, that's right. I've brought you here because there is a threat once again to both worlds. But this time, it has an even more dangerous power, for you see, not only can it battle you here in this world, but it can travel to your world as well. ", he explained slowly, his tone grave serious. " You're the only ones who can stop the creature from destroying everything and everyone around you. "
" I don't get this. What is he talking about? ", the girl asked, her tone frustrated and confused as she looked over at Robbie. " Why are we here? "
" We were chosen to save two worlds, okay? Can you handle that, or should we escort you home? ", the brunette boy snapped angrily.
" Don't be like that, Darien. Once you get to know Laura I'm sure you'll like her. Just give her a chance. ", Gennai urged gently from in front of him.
" Like she gave me? ", he exclaimed viciously. " It just comes to show you that I don't need anyone. Rob's been the best friend a guy could have but anyone else has just turned a blind eye. I don't need her for anything! Why would I? "
" Sounds like our new partners are here. ", a sassy female voice said as a small figure came out of the shadows. Darien knew what it was instantly even before it walked over to the girl named Laura and climbed up her to sit on her shoulder. It was a Gatomon, plain and simple, and even Robbie knew it.
" I can't wait, this is gonna be awesome! Another creature cheered as he ran to stand by the computer whiz wearing a big grin. He reminded Darien of Davis's Veemon, but its screen was green and where it surrounded his mouth and on his stomach was sea green, plus he had bright purple eyes. " Finally! "
" I'm sorry, Darien, but unlike the other children, I don't have a digimon for you. Besides, someone else here needs to talk to you. ", Gennai said before the kids could say a word. He then gestured to the shadows where the two creatures had emerged from seconds ago. Everyone remained silent as someone stepped forward.
" I know this seems strange son, but we need to talk. ", Yamato Ishida remarked as he came into plain sight. " It's about your mother. "
To be continued: